Full house at Tuesday’s Manhattan City Commission meeting
MANHATTAN-A packed city commission chamber in Manhattan on Tuesday discussed all sides of the city’s chapter 10, civil rights prohibition against discrimination and whether to add gender identity, sexual orientation to the ordinance.
Business owners, members of the clergy, students and other concerned citizens were given time to share their thoughts on the controversial issue.
The ordinance protects various classes of individuals and provides for equal opportunities for housing, employment, public accommodation and created a human rights and services board.
State or federal law in Kansas protects neither sexual orientation nor gender identity.
The decision to add gender identity would become a local issue governed only by the local ordinance.
The commission took no action.
If the change to the ordinance were approved, a formal hearing process would need to be established along with how to enforce it.
Ellis residents voted Tuesday to continue the town’s one-cent sales tax for another 10 years.
City Clerk Amy Burton said Wednesday morning the unofficial vote tally was 316 in favor and 16 opposed. The voter turnout was about 23 percent, estimated Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus.
The tax will be used exclusively to help pay off the debt service of the 20 year bond for improvements to the Ellis water plant.
“By state law, the sales tax can be effective for a maximum of 10 years,” Burton explained. “This will be the second 10 years of the tax, which was to expire in October, to match the timing of the bond approved in 2006.”
April 5 was the final spring local election day in Kansas. The state law moving local elections from April to November of odd-numbered years goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017.
President Mirta M. Martin with Dr. Jack Horner and Dr. Laura Wilson at the fundraising gala at FHSU’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
By RANDY GONZALES FHSU University Relations and Marketing
If world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Jack Horner makes a return trip to Fort Hays State University, who knows — he might have a “dinochicken” in tow if everything goes according to plan.
Horner, curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies and Regents professor of paleontology at Montana State University in Bozeman, gave a lecture Friday night at FHSU’s Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center about the past, present and future of dinosaurs.
Horner also was a special guest at a Saturday night fundraiser for FHSU’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History, where one of his former students works.
“For me, it’s very exciting because he’s been such an important mentor for me,” said Dr. Laura Wilson, assistant professor of geosciences at Fort Hays State and curator of paleontology at Sternberg. “I get to share that with a community I’m a part of now.”
Wilson, who grew up in Georgia, went on summer vacations to Florida where she could experience firsthand her early love — sharks.
“I fell in love with ‘Shark Week’ back when it had real science,” Wilson said of the summer TV series. “My dad and I would get up early in the morning and collect sharks’ teeth on the beach.”
Wilson’s interest evolved from marine biology to paleontology, a path that led to Montana State — and Horner. He was Wilson’s master’s advisor.
Horner has been a technical advisor for the “Jurassic Park” movies and was partial inspiration for one of the leading characters. Horner said both he and director Steven Spielberg had no idea the films would become so popular.
“People hadn’t seen many dinosaur movies,” Horner said. “We thought the chances were pretty good but we never had any idea they would be so big.”
It has become accepted that birds are descendants of dinosaurs, and that is where Horner’s work is focused.
“It’s basically genetic engineering,” Horner said. “We know that birds are their descendants, and we know we can retro-engineer a bird to look like a dinosaur. We’re working on it. As long as evolution works, it works.”
The chicken has been chosen as the subject, with its embryo the key. Work on the project has stalled at making a tail; it has proven a more difficult task than originally anticipated.
“We’ve figured out how to grow a tail,” Horner said. “What we haven’t figured out is how to stop a tail from growing.
“Right now our experiments are to initiate growth but stop it at the right time,” he added. “That is our biggest obstacle right now.”
The “dinochicken,” as Horner called it Friday, will not be hatched before its time.
“We will never hatch anything until what we think our animal should look like hatches,” Horner said.
Horner’s appearance was part of a fundraiser for improved facilities at Sternberg.
“The ultimate goal is a new fossil preparation lab at the museum,” Wilson said, “by turning the small facility we have into a hands-on classroom.”
Perhaps one day, 15-year-old Bryan Williams will be in one of those classrooms.
Williams and his parents, Aaron and Megan Odegard, drove from Olathe to hear Horner speak. Bryan’s parents said he has toured Sternberg at least a dozen times. Bryan, who attends high school at Olathe North, is part of a specialized education program geared toward geosciences. He was in awe of Horner’s lecture.
“It completely changed what I thought about dinosaurs,” he said.
Bryan’s father, a Fort Hays State graduate, learned of Horner’s lecture on the university’s website. He knew it was a must-see for his family. His wife was trying to wrap her head around the idea of a “dinochicken.”
“That would be trippy,” she said.
After an hour lecture, Horner answered questions from young and old alike for another 45 minutes.
“I’m a professor. I’m an educator,” Horner said. “My whole job is about education. I enjoy the fact people are interested.”
Photo by Megan Hart/KHI News Service Advocates for Kansans with disabilities delivered letters Tuesday to the Topeka office of U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican. They are asking Roberts to co-sponsor Senate Bill 2427, called the Disability Integration Act.
Kansans with disabilities dug in for a long fight to change how Medicaid and private insurers cover long-term care.
More than a dozen people met Tuesday at the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center to write letters asking U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, to co-sponsor Senate Bill 2427, called the Disability Integration Act.
Mike Oxford, director of the center, said the bill would classify home and community-based services as a right for people who are elderly or have disabilities.
Under current federal law, Medicaid includes a right to care in a nursing facility, but states can decide if they want to offer home services as an alternative and can restrict what services they offer, how much they pay and the number of hours, he said.
The bill also would apply to publicly owned facilities, such as county-owned nursing homes, and long-term care insurance policies sold on the private market, Oxford said. “Right now if you say Medicaid, all Congress wants to talk about is how to cut it,” he said.
“This is not just a Medicaid bill, it’s a civil rights bill.” No one from the offices of Roberts or Sen. Jerry Moran, also a Kansas Republican, responded to questions about their stance on the bill.
Oxford said he doesn’t expect the bill to get through this session of the U.S. Senate, but its sponsor, Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, plans to reintroduce it next year.
Kathy Lobb, legislative liaison for the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas, said many Kansans who have a disability or are elderly don’t have the resources to help them remain in their communities. She receives some assistance through a program that allows her to remain eligible for Medicaid services while earning more income than typically is allowed.
The issue is personal, Lobb said, because she knows what it’s like to live in an institution. She said she went to a high school for disabled youth in Nebraska that functioned like an institution and didn’t have some basic freedoms until she graduated.
“We weren’t able to go out in the community,” she said. “We couldn’t choose when to eat or when to sleep.”
Linda Naugle said Tuesday she was writing to Roberts because offering community-based services could have helped her mother, who had to go to a nursing home because four hours a day of home care wasn’t enough to meet her medical needs.
“She never wanted to leave her home,” Naugle said. “She said, ‘I don’t care if I just lay on my couch and die, I don’t want a nursing home.’”
Most people will have medical needs or a disability for at least a short time at the end of their lives, Oxford said, so finding ways to serve more people in the setting of their choice will be increasingly important as the population ages.
“In another 15, 20 years, there won’t be a family in America that isn’t going through this because of the aging of the baby boomers,” he said.
Other provisions of the bill would:
Require states to plan for an adequate supply of affordable, accessible housing.
Prohibit waiting lists for home and community-based services.
Prohibit cost caps or service limitations.
End the practice of offering different services based on type of disability.
Increase the federal Medicaid match for home and community-based programs.
Require states to pay “adequate” reimbursement rates for home services. The average hourly wage for home care workers nationwide is about $9.60.
Megan Hart is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach her on Twitter @meganhartMC
DODGE CITY, Kan. – The Hays High baseball team opened up Western Athletic Conference play with a couple of wins over Dodge City Tuesday. The Indians beat the Red Demons 7-5 and 15-2 to move to 5-1 on the season.
HHS trailed 4-1 in the opener before scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth then four in the sixth. Cole Schumacher went the distance with seven strikeouts and two walks for the win.
The Indians scored five in the second then eight in the third to take control of the second game. Connor Rule had three of the Indians 15 hits and drove in three. Marcus Altman pitched all five innings with three strikeouts and one walk and gets the win.
Marvin Frederick Holle was born March 23, 1928 on the Holle farm near Ludell, KS to Rennig and Frieda (Rippe) Holle. Marvin died at the Rawlins County Health Center on April 4, 2016, at the age of 88. As an infant, he was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ludell, and then confirmed on March 29, 1942.
Marvin served in the US Army from 1950 to 1952. He married Mary Ann Focke on Nov. 29, 1959 at Grace Lutheran Church in Atwood. He was an active member at Immanuel Grace, and Redeemer Lutheran Churches throughout his life. The LLL men’s group was very important to him.
Marvin lived on the Holle home place his entire life and loved farming and working with his cattle. He was a good conservationist of the soil and wanted the land to be kept in good order for future generations.
He served as a board member for the Ludell and Atwood Coops, and as a director of the Farmers State Bank in Atwood, formerly the Farmers State Bank of Ludell.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sisters, Doris & husband Art Holste, Della & husband Harvey Niermeier, and Lorna & husband Gerhard Holste.
Survivors include his wife Mary Ann; sister-in-law Carol & husband Francis Hestermann; many nieces & nephews and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation is 4-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 7, 2016 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood, with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Lutheran Laymen’s League or God’s Little Saints Preschool. Online condolences to www.baalmannmortuary.com.
HAYS, Kan. – The TMP-Marian baseball team split with Garden City at the Monarch Sports Complex Tuesday. Gavin Schumacher’s double scored Ryan Ruder in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Monarchs to a 5-4 win in the opener. Schumacher’s game winner was the fourth straight hit in the innings. Ricky Hockett allowed four runs, two earned on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk and picked up the win. TMP (4-2) won the first game despite committing five errors.
Garden City scored 10 in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie and won the second game 12-4. Ryan Ruder gave up seven runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout and suffers the loss. Tate Garcia had two TMP’s six hits in the game.
Deltha Theresa Werth Legleiter, 80, Hays, died Monday, April 4, 2016 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.
She was born July 2, 1935 in Schoenchen, Kansas the daughter of Sylvester and Theresa (Pfannenstiel) Werth. She was a graduate of Girls Catholic High School in 1953. On October 5, 1953 she married Wilfred “Fritz” Legleiter in Schoenchen. He died May 8, 2001.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella. She was an avid gardener and loved to care for her lawn. She volunteered for many years at St. John’s nursing home in Hays and at various polling places during elections.
Survivors include three sons; Terrence Legleiter and David Legleiter, both of Hays, and Darrel Legleiter and wife Nadine of Frisco, TX, three daughters; Kathleen Dreher and husband Ron of Hays, Sheryl Hayslip and husband Jerry of Frisco, TX, and Sandra Bradshaw and husband Marc of Jetmore, Kansas, three brothers; Fr. Alvin Werth of Hays, Kenneth Werth and wife Elaine of Schoenchen, and Francis Werth and wife Rosie of Hays, ten grandchildren; Kimberly Middleton and husband Todd and their children Teagan and Tate, Tonya Reeves and husband Kelley and their children Brianna and Kaylie, Kristina Pasek and husband Kevin and their children Laken, Deklan, and Grayson, Tara Dreher, Tyler Legleiter and his son Taethon, Isaac Bradshaw, Isaiah Bradshaw, Brenna Bradshaw, Brianna Bradshaw, and Tia Bradshaw.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Fritz, a son Troy Legleiter, a sister Ludmilla “Millie” Dinkel, and a granddaughter Breona Ann Bradshaw.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 E. 13th Street, Hays. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm on Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:00 followed by a parish vigil at 6:30, all on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to TMP-Marian High School, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
Jarrod Paul Depenbusch, age 39, of Hays passed away Saturday, April 2, 2016 in rural Hays. He was born August 3, 1976 in Pratt, Kansas to Alan Depenbusch and Jean Eck. He graduated from Hays High in 1994.
Jarrod was working as a Cell Tower Technician for Nex-Tech and had worked for Frank Communications and Carrico Implements of Hays where he worked in the parts and service department for 9 years. Jarrod was an avid outdoorsman enjoying trapshooting and cutting firewood. He was also a history buff and a carry and conceal enthusiast. Above all things Jarrod was a family man who always put his family first.
He is survived by his wife, Kim Reel of Hays; his children, Connor and Abigail Depenbusch of Hoxie, KS, Chandler Depenbusch and Brittan Reel both of Hays; his father, Alan Depenbusch of Victoria; his mother, Jean Depenbusch of Hays; two brothers, Cory Depenbusch and wife Rachel and Luke Depenbusch all of Hays; a sister, Ashley Otzoy and husband Alex of Lawrence, KS; father and mother-in-law, Jim and Sherry Dibble of Hays; a brother-in-law, Andy Dibble and wife Kate and their children, Emery, Caleb and Boden all of Overland Park and nieces and nephews, Taylor and Dominic Depenbusch of Hays, Liliana and Alexander Otzoy of Overland Park.
Graveside Celebration of Life Services will be 3pm on Friday, April 8, 2016 at Mt. Allen Cemetery 26th & Vine Hays, KS.
Visitation will be Thursday 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM and Friday 1 PM – 2:30 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Memorial contributions are suggested for the Connor and Abigail Depenbusch Education Fund or the Chandler Depenbusch Education Fund or the Brittan Reel Education Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
Florence M. Butt, age 102, passed away on Monday, April 4, 2016 at her home in Wichita, Kansas. She was born on September 9, 1913 in Saline County, Nebraska, the daughter of Pat & Mary Rebecca Mead Ridpath. In 1951 she moved to Friend, Kansas from Saline County, Nebraska and then to Scott City, Kansas in 1953. She was a Food Supervisor for USD 466 retiring in July of 1983.
Having worked in the school system for more than 29 years, nearly everyone in Scott City was known to her. No matter when she went to town she was stopped by many people to visit with her. Visiting with someone was her favorite thing to do. She was also a good cook and loved to cook for anyone who came to her home. Florence’s other passion was making quilts. She has made 100’s for family members who graduated from high school, got married or had a new baby. Most of her family members have crocheted afghans and doilies made by Florence also.
She attended the First Christian Church of Scott City, Kansas and was a member of the VFW Auxiliary.
On September 26, 1931 she married George Kenneth Butt in Bird City, Kansas. He passed away on July 30, 1979 in Scott City, Kansas.
Survivors include her One Son – Kenneth L. Butt of Minneola, Kansas, Three Daughters – Marilyn J. Speer of Modoc, Kansas, Karen Lynn Huskamp of Wichita, Kansas, Kaye L. Gruver of Wichita, Kansas, One Brother – Maurice Ridpath of Hingham, Massachusetts, Two Sisters – Dorothy Weller of Earlham, Iowa, Lucille Lampi of Bremerton, Washington, 18 Grandchildren, 33 Great Grandchildren and 30 Great Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, One Brother and Three Grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2016 with Rev. Scott Wagner presiding.
Memorials In LIEU of Flowers may be given to the Gentiva Hospice of Wichita or First Christian Church % Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
HAYS, Kan. – The TMP-Marian softball team got a pair of shutouts from Alison Helget and Bailey Lacey as they beat Sylvan 3-0 and Plainville 15-0 Tuesday at the TMP-Marian Sports Complex. Helget struck out 12 and allowed only one hit, a leadoff single in the third inning against Sylvan. The Monarchs (4-2) scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
Lacy struck out seven and allowed just three hits, all singles, against Plainville. The Monarchs scored five in the second then added eight in the fourth for the four inning run-rule win. TMP taking advantage of 13 walks.
The Monarchs travel to Colby for a doubleheader on Monday.
NEW YORK (AP) — Allergan and Pfizer are calling off a record $160 billion merger after the Treasury issued new rules on Tuesday to make “tax inversions” less lucrative.
The aggressive changes to U.S. tax laws announced this week helped to kill the deal. The merger would have moved Pfizer’s address — but not its operations or headquarters — to Ireland where it would pay far less in corporate taxes.
Pfizer Inc., based in New York, has agreed to pay Allergan PLC $150 million for reimbursement of expenses.
By BECKY KISER
Deltha Theresa Werth Legleiter, 80, Hays, died Monday, April 4, 2016 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.
Jarrod Paul Depenbusch, age 39, of Hays passed away Saturday, April 2, 2016 in rural Hays. He was born August 3, 1976 in Pratt, Kansas to Alan Depenbusch and Jean Eck. He graduated from Hays High in 1994.
