COWLEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Cowley County are investigating an aggravated assault and have a suspect in custody.
The Arkansas City Police Department arrested a barricaded suspect after an eight-hour standoff late Monday night into early Tuesday morning, according to a media release.
Police arrested Adrian Sotelo, 29, was on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of criminal possession of a firearm following an eight-hour standoff that ended early Tuesday.
Just before11:30 p.m. Monday police were dispatched to 1311 South B Street in Arkansas City for a report of a suspect who pulled a gun on a man and woman and threatened to shoot them, according to a media release.
The suspect then went to his home at 626 South C Street and barricaded himself inside with his mother.
The South Central Kansas SWAT was called to the scene and negotiations began with the suspect.
A command post was set up at the intersection of B Street and Madison Avenue. Negotiations continued from about 1 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., when the suspect, Adrian Sotelo, finally surrendered to police at the scene.
Sotelo is being held in the Cowley County Jail in Winfield in lieu of $45,000 bond.
In 2008, he was convicted of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a child and Furnishing alcohol to minor for illicit purposes in Harvey County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
William “Bill” Albert Strouse Jr., passed away Friday, December 16, 2016, at his home in Plainville, Kansas, at the age of 86. He was born on September 19, 1930, at the family home in Garber, Oklahoma, to the late William Albert Strouse, Sr. and Florence Olive (Scott) Strouse. Growing up the child of an oilfield driller, the family moved across Oklahoma and Kansas, wherever the work took them, eventually settling in Plainville, where Bill started eighth grade. He graduated from Plainville Rural High School with the Class of 1948.
Following graduation, Bill joined the United States Navy, where he went to radio school in Norfolk, Virginia, and served on the USS LST-603 until he was honorably discharged in 1950. In that same year he was united in marriage to Marcelle Crawford, on August 18th in Plainville. They were blessed with two daughters, Deborah Jane and Stacy Lynn.
Bill owned and operated Bill’s Standard Station for 8 years before establishing the S & S Tire Company, which he owned and operated for about 37 years. Always wanting to keep busy after retirement from the tire business, he worked part-time for Rooks County and later helped the Jake Keas family with farming for several years. During all of that time, he served on the Plainville Fire Department for 53 years, 37 of those as Chief.
Bill was a member of First Christian Church in Plainville and was baptized on April 25, 1965. He was a Past Master of Paradise Masonic Lodge # 290 of Plainville and received his 60-year membership pin in 2016. He was an avid reader and loved fishing and hanging out with his morning coffee buddies. He was also an enthusiastic Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan. His most cherished time was spent with family, especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren; he always looked forward to visits from friends and the communion servers from the church.
Bill is survived by his wife Marcelle Strouse of the home in Plainville; daughters Deborah Turnbull and husband Jeffery of Plainville, and Stacy Fischer and husband Donald of Hays; brother Charles Strouse and wife Margaret of Ellsworth; sister Ann Anderson of Northglenn, CO; grandchildren Cassie Grover, Ashleigh and Ian Mabb, Samantha Cooper, and Keegan Turnbull; and great-grandchildren Joey Cooper, Presli Grover, Aiden Siebert, Crosby Mabb, and Ivan Mabb.
He was preceded in death by his parents William, Sr. and Florence Strouse, brother James Strouse, and sister Virginia Gulickson.
As a Freemason, Bill took seriously the admonishments in his own life, to walk uprightly in his several stations before God and man, squaring his actions by the square of virtue, and remembering that we are all traveling upon that level of time from whose bourn no traveler returns. Although we are sad at the loss of our brother, we rejoice that he has at last become a living stone, in that spiritual house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at First Christian Church in Plainville. Inurnment will follow in the Plainville City Cemetery. Friends may sign the guest book from 3:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
The General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant (Photo by Susan McSpadden for Chevrolet)
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors will temporarily close five factories next month as it tries to reduce a growing inventory of cars.
Spokeswoman Dayna Hart says the factories will close anywhere from one to three weeks due to the continuing U.S. market shift toward trucks and SUVs. Just over 10,000 workers will be idled.
The company’s Detroit-Hamtramck and Kansas City, Kansas, factories will be shut down for three weeks, while a plant in Lansing, Michigan, will be down for two weeks. Factories in Lordstown, Ohio, and Bowling Green, Kentucky, each will be idled for one week.
The factories make just about every car in the General Motors lineup. Last month, almost 62 percent of all U.S. vehicle sales were trucks and SUVs.
Verla Mae Staab, 82 Hays, lost her battle with cancer on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society, Hays. She was born Dec. 13, 1934 in Hyacinth, Kansas to Isidor and Lidwina (Younker) Kreutzer. She was the fifth of eleven children. She attend Hyacinth grade school and graduated from Hays High School in 1952. She married Roger A. Staab June 2, 1954. From this union they raised five children. Glenn D. (May 1955), Lyle F. (May 1956) Dale J. (June 1957), Terri L. (Oct. 1967) and Mark A. (April 1970).
She worked several jobs over the years while raising their children. Including; Hays Job Center, State Distributors, Premier Wine & Spirits and Sunshine Connections. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Hays Eagles Ladies Auxiliary. She was a great cook and was known by family and friends that there was always plenty for those who stopped by for Saturday lunch. She also gardened and canned, loved playing Bingo and Lottery Tickets, was a good bowler and dancer. She also enjoyed embroidery and quilt making. During her later years you didn’t see her without a “Word Search Puzzle” book or newspaper in her hand. She had a quick wit and always ready to share a smile.
Survivors include her husband Roger, Hays Good Samaritan. Her children Glenn and wife Dottie, Hays; Lyle and wife Marilyn, Overland Park, KS; Dale and wife Stephanie, Hays; Terri Hamel and husband Kyle, Gilbert, AZ and Mark and wife Missie, Dallas, TX. Eleven grandchildren, Craig, Kevin & Michelle Staab; Lily Staab; Joey, Jayme, Darin, Tanner & Conner Staab; Kylee & Taylor Hamel and ten Great Grandchildren. Her brother LeRoy Kreutzer, Hays and sisters Anna Sander, Denver, CO; Imelda (Millie)Flax, Hays; and Firma Pfannenstiel, Wakeeney, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; Infant brother Leroy, Marvin and Kenneth. Three sisters; Alice Nemechek, Infant sister Viola and Neola Schmidtberger. Two Grandchildren: Justin Staab and Kimberly Staab
Services will be 10 AM Friday, December 23, 2016 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays.
Visitation will be Thursday 4 PM – 8 PM with a parish vigil service at 7 PM. Friday visitation will be 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine St. Hays.
Memorials are suggested to Hays Hospice or Hays Good Samaritan Society.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Edna Mae Kuhn, age 92, of Ellis, passed away Sunday, December 18, 2016 at Hays Medical Center. She was born June 26, 1924 in Victoria, KS to Frank and Catherine (Kuhn) Kuhn. She married Adolph “Shorty” Kuhn November 13, 1946 in Ellis, KS. He preceded her in death July 8, 2000.
She was a homemaker enjoying family time especially with her grandchildren as well as gardening, sewing and quilting. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the VFW Auxiliary both of Ellis.
She is survived by three daughters, Benita Cox (Glenn) of Wichita, Judy White (Ralph) and Barb Wolf (Brian) of Ellis; a sister, Irma Hood (Wayne) of Estes Park, CO; seven grandchildren and their families, Jeff Wolf of Ellis, Lee Wolf of Chapman, Mark Cox of Wichita, Michael Cox of Peoria, IL, Matthew Cox of Andover, Christopher White of Salina and Catherine Sury of Silver Spring, MD; 12 great grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren; four sister-in-laws, Donna Kuhn of Hays, Bern Kuhn of Hays and Velma Kuhn of Manhattan, Viola Kuhn of Henderson, TX and a beloved Godson, Pat Kuhn of Ellis.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Heddy Kuhn and a brother, Irvin Kuhn.
Services will be 10 AM Thursday, December 22, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday 6:30 PM – 8 PM with a rosary service at 7 PM all at Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E 17th Ellis, KS 67637.
Memorials are suggested to Via Christi Village of Hays or for Masses.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].
During Monday night’s Hays USD 489 Board of Education meeting, with input from Superintendent John Thissen, the board was able to come to a unanimous decision on selecting DLR Group as the architectural firm to head up the district’s capital outlay plan.
Hollis and Miller; Schaefer, Johnson, Cox, Frey; and DLR all were taken into consideration for the job, but the board rested on DLR.
“DLR and their track record in western Kansas really stood out,” said Lance Bickle, board president.
The most recent western Kansas successful bond issue for DLR was the award-winning work in Garden City, a $95 million bond issue.
Thissen said DLR was the best choice, but that the district had three good options.
“All three firms are excellent, anyone you decide on will be winners,” Thissen said.
Out of the three firms in consideration, DLR was the only firm that had passed a bond issue west of Salina of more than $50 million and has a success rate of 100 percent in western Kansas.
“The cost differences between the firms are minimal. This decision is not based on cost, it’s based on experience, it’s based on their track record,” said Luke Oborny, board member.
DLR has also been noted in doubling the original scope of a previously failed bond issue after switching to DLR according to Sarah Rankin, board vice president.
Many board members spoke on the communication the DLR had with all of the board members saying they were the only firm that called each of them multiple times to make sure that all their questions were answered.
“They went above and beyond with their communication with us board members,” Bickle said.
DLR will bring their own engineers into work on the projects, a luxury that many firms are not able to offer.
“Many firms do not have engineers on staff,” Thissen said.
The discussion Monday on which firm to select was brief as most of the discussion was held at last week’s board meeting.
Rural and city fire crews in Ellis County will begin combining their efforts to fight structure fires starting next year.
At Monday’s meeting, the Ellis County Commission approved an addendum to the mutual aid agreement between the Hays Fire Department and the Ellis County Fire Department.
In the 2008 Ellis County Fire Rescue Mutual Aid Agreement, both the city and the rural fire departments would provide aid, if requested by the other entity.
But Ellis County Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers said while both departments use the aid a number of times a year, an automatic aid agreement would be more efficient.
“When you need the resources on a structure fire, you need them ASAP,” Myers said. “You don’t want to wait until you get on scene to call for help.”
The addendum to the aid agreement approved at Monday’s meeting sets up an automatic agreement between the Hays and Ellis County Fire Departments. According to Myers, automatic aid initiates a response from two separate departments on the first report of a structure fire.
Myers said if there is a fire in the city limits of Hays, Ellis County Rural Company Five – stationed at 1105 E. 22nd – will respond on the first report of a structure fire. They will respond with one engine and one company chief and two firefighters will respond in a utility vehicle with extra equipment Myers said.
The Hays Fire Department will respond to structural fires in the shaded areas
If there is a structure fire reported in the county, within the agreed upon boundary, a city crew will respond on the first call. Myers said the boundary was set based on the population of the county and using the city of Hays Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.
Myers said the city will respond with their on duty shift commander, an engine and engine company along with a pickup with air recharging station. A total of six city firefighters will respond on the initial call according to Myers.
A firefighter from the city of Hays will respond to all calls in the county with the air recharging system, a result of the automatic aid agreement. The recharging stations are used to refill the air tanks and both Hays and Ellis have their own air stations but the county and Victoria do not.
Myers said they have already been working to put together to train and create guidelines and procedures.
“I wouldn’t be here today,” Myers said Monday “If I didn’t have the support from all of the firefighters from company five.”
They have budgeted $14,140 to implement the program in 2017, but Myers anticipates future cost savings including improved public protection classification ratings for both departments. The rating is an insurance rating score given to the department that determines insurance costs and the better the score the better chance residents see a reduction in insurance premiums.
A direct benefit to that, according to Myers, is that each department will get to include each other’s fire station as if it were their own. Ellis County will also get credit for another fire engine and they are working on a combined training station.
“The biggest benefit that we’ll get,” said Myers, “is those initial firefighters that are on scene.”
The city of Hays has committed to sending six firefighters on the initial call. Myers said it would cost more than $300,000 to have those full-time firefighters available.
Commissioner Barb Wasinger said she appreciated all the work that was put into the agreement and said “I just think that anytime we work with the cities within the county, as a group and as a whole everybody benefits.”
The commission voted 3-0 to approve the change to the agreement. Myers the aid will go into effect next year.
The county already mutual aid agreements with Victoria and Ellis and Myers said most of the same firefighters serve on both crews.
In other business, the commission voted to approve Environment Fees for 2017. The costs had not been increased since 2009. The increases will be:
Wastewater Permit increases from $25 to $60.
Water Well Permit increases from $25 to $60.
Property Transfer Evaluation increases from $25 to $60.
Water Screen increases from $15 to $20.
The fees are not intended to be a source of revenue for the county, instead they cover the cost of the services provided.
The commission also voted to approve the 2017 salaries for elected officials. The resolution does not change the salaries of the commissioners, the county attorney, clerk or treasurer. But it does increase for both the Register of Deeds and Sheriff positions, bringing them to the current level on the pay scale based on their years of experience.
The commission approved a contract for snow removal with Flatlander Dirtworks for 2016-17. The hourly rate is the same as 2015-2016.
The commission approved an update to the created new job descriptions of four positions within the County Health and EMS Departments and a contract with EMS Director Kerry McCue to serve as Health Services Director. McCue is taking on the responsibilities of the Head of the Health Department following the retirement of Butch Schlyer this year.
Karen Purvis, County Environmental Sanitarian, also presented the commission with a review of the wastewater regulations and informed them on the potential impact of making changes to the City of Hays Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.
Purvis said there are three potential issues with the change. The first is the splitting of lots. Currently in the county lots of less than 40 acres cannot be split up. Purvis said if the zone changed, they would have to look at the lots that fall into the county’s zoning jurisdiction.
The second issue is with enforcement in the “3-mile zone.” Currently Purvis said there is not a lot of enforcement of codes in the zone, and the county is limited with what it can do. The final issue is the city has building codes while the county has zoning certificates.
State Sen.-elect Rick Billinger also came before the commission to give a preview of the upcoming legislative session.
MANHATTAN — College graduates who want to teach at the elementary school level have an innovative, one-year pathway to the classroom thanks to the College of Education at Kansas State University.
Kansas Transitions to Teaching Fellowships are available for those interested in teaching in underserved districts in Kansas, such as in western Kansas, Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita. Funded by the Kansas Board of Regents, these $6,000 tuition fellowships and $750 technology stipends are for career changers who pursue the university’s Master of Arts in teaching degree and work in an underserved area. Successful program completers will also be recommended for a K-6 teaching license.
The Master of Arts in teaching is an intensive, 12-month online degree specifically designed for people who have already earned a bachelor’s degree but want to pursue their dream of teaching. It enables qualified Kansans and residents of other states to earn the degree in 12 months and be recommended for a Kansas initial teacher licensure in grades K-6.
The rigorous curriculum is delivered by online coursework, and field experiences are arranged in accredited elementary schools convenient to students in the program. Students are able to complete the program from any location in Kansas. Classes begin in May, and Kansas State University is now accepting applications at global.k-state.edu/education/mateaching/.
Kansas Transitions to Teaching fellows must complete the program, obtain the necessary licensure and engage in full-time teaching in an underserved geographic area in Kansas within six months of licensure.
Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education, believes this innovative program can help address the state’s and nation’s projected teacher needs while maintaining high professional standards.
“The college frequently receives inquiries from college graduates who want to become teachers but there has been no path available to them, other than the bachelor degree in education,” Mercer said. “Now, they have a road to that goal from a trusted, cost-effective program that has prepared teachers for more than 150 years.”
Thomas Vontz, professor of curriculum and instruction, said the program helps mitigate many of the financial, educational and geographic obstacles that prevent people who are highly interested in becoming a teacher from doing so.
“Our first cohort of 49 students — who will finish their degrees in May — included highly talented people from a variety of backgrounds who shared the common goal of wanting to become elementary teachers,” Vontz said. “We believe the Master of Arts in teaching and Kansas Transitions to Teaching programs will prepare highly effective elementary teachers for classrooms in underserved school districts.”
For more information about the Master of Arts in teaching program, visit global.k-state.edu/education/mateaching/.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.Some people forget about the true meaning of Christmas – celebrating the birth of Christ, love, friendship and spending time with the family. As a youngster, I have fond memories of Mom inside fixing turkey and dressing while my siblings and I would be playing outside throwing snowballs, playing “fox and geese” and just being kids.
One thing I’ll never forget about this period of my life are some of my dad and his friend’s favorite sayings. It seems like we always visited more during the holiday season and as children we had the opportunity to hear some of these words of wisdom more often during this time of year.
These sayings came from neighbors, brothers and cousins – folks he’d lived with for years, some as many as 70 years. A few were rare buddies, with special names (nicknames) like, Cactus, Drawers, Baldy, Short Legs, Fuzzy – you get the picture.
Here are just a few – the gems – the ones I’ll remember always:
* Your friends are the measure of your real worth.
* The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.
* Why do you think the good Lord gave you two ears and one mouth? So you could listen twice as much as you talk.
* Wait until you get a little older, then you’ll understand.
* If you’re going to train your dog, you must be smarter than the dog.
* Never be too quick to criticize yourself. It ain’t fair to your friends and relatives who are itchin’ to do it for you.
* If all your friends climbed up the elevator and jumped off, would you have to also?
* If you haven’t been bucked off a horse, then you’ve probably never ridden one.
* You can’t listen too much when a friend needs someone to talk to.
* Some things aren’t funny, even to your best friend.
* If we must love our enemies, we must treat our friends even better.
* A friend is someone who dislikes the same people that you do.
* The only way to have a friend is to be one.
* The best three friends a man can have are his wife, an old dog and ready money.
* A real pal will at least pretend to believe your lies.
* At the end of your life if you have two or three true friends, you’ve lived a good life.
* A true friend is someone who knows that when you’ve made a fool of yourself it generally isn’t permanent.
*When a friend drops by about dinnertime and you ask, “What brings you by here now?” You still must ask him or her to stay for a bite to eat.
* Good friends are hard to find and harder to lose.
Most of us have a few good friends. Be thankful for them. Don’t forget them during this magical time of the year. If you can’t stop by to see them, call them or drop them a text or e-mail message.
Remember during this holiday season that joy springs from the heart of those dedicated to caring and helping others. The Christmas spirit dwells inside each of us.
Merry Christmas.
John Schlageck is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
The eighth annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held at the VFW on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A traditional meal will be served, provided in part by the VFW and in part by donations received from the community, purposefully given toward the Christmas dinner. The venue is donated by the men of the VFW, who also give their time on Christmas Day, and prior to the dinner, to prepare the meal.
The vision of the Community Christmas Dinner is to provide a place where people from the community can gather together to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, and that is celebrating the birth of Jesus. We often find ourselves consumed by the busyness of the season and lose sight of the true purpose of Christmas; the dinner brings the community together to acknowledge this, as well as to fellowship with one another. The dinner provides a peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere open to all who wish to come and enjoy a Christmas meal at no cost, whether this means coming as a family, with friends, or alone. The dinner also allows members of the community to serve one another and be served through volunteering, which is a reminder of Jesus and who He is, and what He has called us to do. Though Jesus is acknowledged, all are welcome and invited to the Christmas Dinner regardless of personal beliefs.
Volunteers help to keep the dinner going each year and are vital to the dinner’s success; we are seeking people willing to serve this year as in years past—last year, approximately 80 volunteers served at the dinner in various areas, and over 700 meals were served in total. Volunteers are welcome to serve any portion of the day and can leave at any time. For those able to attend, a meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. the morning of the dinner. Information will be relayed during this time regarding areas of help needed, as well as getting the volunteers situated prior to the dinner. Tasks include (but are not limited to) decorating/set-up, greeting, filling drinks, distributing desserts, clearing tables, clean-up, delivering meals, and making sure other needs are being met. We are also asking for willing community members to provide desserts for the dinner, as these are solely provided by the community.
If interested in volunteering, providing dessert, donating, or if needing delivery of meals, please contact Brittany at (785) 259-3766 or [email protected]. Donations received will go toward the dinner itself or other areas of need within the community.
BUTLER COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 385 are investigating another threat at Andover Middle School.
On Monday, graffiti that included the word “bomb” was found in a bathroom at Andover Middle School after school was released, according to communication sent to parents.
There will be an increased presence of security Tuesday to provide additional safety measures at the school, similar to the security measures on December 8, after authorities found a written bomb threat in a bathroom at the school.
No changes were expected to school activities on Tuesday, according to the message to parents. “We feel that there is no danger to students and staff at this time.”
District officials encouraged parents to talk to student and ask if he or she may have information that would help determine who wrote the threat. and contact the Andover Police Department at 316-733-5177.
