The Ellis County Commission will consider implementing a burn ban at Monday night’s commission meeting.
Because of the current dry weather and drought conditions, Rural Fire Director Darin Myers will present a resolution for a countywide burn ban effective April 11. According to the latest report from the US Drought Monitor, most of the region was experiencing some drought at the end of March.
Trego and Rooks counties have already enacted burn bans.
In other business, the commission will discuss priorities for the 2017 budget and vote to close an escrow with Buckeye Wind Energy for road maintenance.
In December 2013, the commission and Buckeye Wind Energy created an escrow account to hold funds to guarantee the energy company met its obligations under the road maintenance agreement approved in November 2013.
William Duane “Bill” Driscoll, 63, of Russell, Kansas passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016 at his home.
Bill was born November 29, 1952 in Ellsworth, Kansas, the son of Jack D. and Hazel (Trast) Driscoll. He grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School. He then attended two years at Fort Hays State University.
Bill served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Indochina and Korea. After his tour of duty he returned to Russell.
Bill was united in marriage to Beverly Black on June 8, 1984 in Russell. This union was blessed with two sons; Chris and David. They made their home in Russell.
Bill was a carpenter and contractor most of his life. He was the owner and operator of Driscoll Construction. Early in life, he worked as a rig hand in the oil fields. He was a life member of the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240. He enjoyed skeet shooting with his boys, playing with his dogs, doing barbeques and boating at Lake Wilson.
Surviving family include his wife of 31 years, Beverly of the home; sons, Chris Driscoll and David Driscoll both of Russell, Kansas; brother, Jack Driscoll of Russell, Kansas; sister, Joyce Moore (John) of Severance, Colorado; mother-in-law, Melva Dortland of Gorham, Kansas; and two granddaughters, Macie Jo Scott and Lola Driscoll. He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law, Elmer Dortland.
Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Russell where the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240 Honor Guard will conduct Military Rites. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established at the Bill Driscoll Memorial Fund. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Emma N. Nelson, 77, of Oakley, died April 1, 2016, at Logan County Hospital, Oakley. She was born October 16, 1938, in Oakley, to Alvin and Julia (Bogart) Richardson. Emma married Donald L. Nelson on July 15, 1956. They lived on a farm in Page City until January, 1970, when they moved to Oakley. She loved flowers, gardening, her stuffed animals and wind chimes, which she collected and filled her home with. Emma worked at the school cafeteria and Logan County Hospital, until Don needed her at home. She also enjoyed working in the community, helping people with laundry, housecleaning, yard work and she was a caregiver for several people. She was always ready to help someone in need. Emma loved her children and brought them up to be firm in their faith. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Emma also served as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader and was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Craft Club and Card Club. She was always friendly and would talk to anyone that would listen.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Don; son, Douglas; two sisters and three brothers.
Emma is survived by her children, Sherrol Hamilton, Oakley, Gaylene (Philip) Basa, Brockton, MA and Kevin Nelson, Oakley; grandchildren, Brandon Basa, Brockton, MA, Carlos Basa, Brockton , MA, Cameron Nelson, Hoxie, KS and Kalli Nelson, Goodland, KS; brother, Albert Richardson, Holton, KS, sister-in-laws, Nelda Dinning, Northglenn, CO, Geraldine Richardson, Colby, KS and Darlene Agan, Oberlin, KS and brother-in-law Gene Meadows, Crestview, FL.
Visitation will be 4-8:00 p.m. Monday, April 4, 2016 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley. Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, Oakley with burial to follow in the Oakley City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Oakley VFW Ladies Auxiliary or the United Christian Church, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com
Albert L. Temaat, 80, of Oakley, died Friday, April 1, 2016 at Logan County Hospital, Oakley. He was born February 25, 1936, in Oakley, KS to John B. and Julia (Grasser) Temaat. He graduated from Oakley High School in 1955 and then served in the United States Army from 1955 – 1957. On June 1, 1959, he married Valeria Mannebach, in Seguin, KS. Al was a general contractor for 50 years. His legacy still stands in Oakley and the surrounding area where he built a large number of homes. His love for Christ and love for his family were apparent in his daily actions. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley and a 3rd and 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Al served on the St. Joseph School Council and also the Oakley City Council.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Robert and William and sister Bertha Lee.
Al is survived by his wife, Val; children, Brenda Temaat, Becky (Jim) Hulse, Julie (Roy) Tower, Janell Temaat, Audrey Temaat and Brad Temaat; grandchildren, Cassy, Jay, Grace, and Josh Temaat, Clayton Temaat, Austin and Amber Tower; brother, Paul Temaat; sisters, Mary Ann Porter and Lu Ewing and sister-in-law’s, Joan Temaat and Phyllis Temaat.
Visitation will be from 4-8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2016 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley with Vigil service starting at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oakley with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church or St. Joseph Catholic School in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com
Alita L. Wells Barrows, 76, died Friday, April 1, 2016, at Trego Manor, WaKeeney, KS. She was the daughter of William H. and Alice Flaiz Wells. She was born May 10, 1939, in Scott City, KS. She was a graduate of Scott County Community High School and attended Fort Hays State University.
She was united in marriage to Rodney T. Barrows on September 2, 1961, in Scott City, KS. Of this union were born two sons, R. Scott and R. Todd. They were married for 52 years until Rod’s death.
Alita spent her life devoted to faith, family and community. She cherished time with her husband and sons supporting her sons’ activities. She served as a Sunday school teacher, cub scout leader, 4-H community leader and encourager to all. She enjoyed serving as an officer for the Ness County Old Settlers Reunion. She enjoyed being a part of the PEO Sisterhood, Extension Home Unit and Bridge Club. Alita retired after 27 years from the Ness County Hospital where she worked in the business office.
She was preceded in death by four brothers: Malvin Wells, Willard Wells, Howard Wells, and Edd Wells; a sister Maggie Conine; and her parents. She is survived by sisters Willma Baker, Scott City, and Charlotte Holmes, San Diego, Cal.
Other survivors include her two sons, R. Scott “Bronc” Barrows, WaKeeney, and R. Todd Barrows (Janet), Manhattan; 4 grandchildren, Tara Ann Mahoney (Mark), Jordan Breit (Erica), Rachel McPherson, and Ethan McPherson; and 2 great-grandchildren, Tayler Mahoney and Addyson Mahoney.
Funeral service will be Tuesday April 5, 2016, at 11:00 A.M. at the United Methodist Church, Ness City with burial in the Ness City Cemetery.
Friends may call on Monday, April 4 from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
Memorial contributions may be given to United Methodist Church, Ness City, or Ness County Healthcare Foundation.
Time is a fickle thing. There’s never enough of it, and even when there is, finding the right time for the right thing can be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole while being both asleep and at the gym working out. Such has certainly been my experience. I have been meaning to; and, in fact, have been trying to, write a little something like this for many months now.
For anyone who has read my movie reviews over the past couple of years, it should be no surprise that I am a fearless, tireless, and unwavering “Star Wars” fan. When “The Force Awakens” came out last December, it was easily one of the highlights of my year, of the past decade, really. I went to a marathon screening that lasted about 21 hours where they showed all six original “Star Wars” films leading up to the galactic premiere of “The Force Awakens.” It was a nearly indescribable experience. Including the marathon, I saw “The Force Awakens” seven times in theaters. I pre-ordered both the digital release, which came out last Friday, and the Blu-Ray release, which came out today. Meaning, I purchased the home video release of “The Force Awakens” twice, one because it was the earliest it was available anywhere and the other because it has more special features and has the physical disks.
All of which is a mighty preamble to this next sentence. I didn’t write, haven’t written and will not write a review of “The Force Awakens.” That begs the question, why wouldn’t I write a review of a movie that obviously meant as much to me as “Force Awakens” did? I’ve had a difficult time answering that question; below are the best answers I have come up with.
First, “Star Wars” is just too sacred to me. In both my darkest nights and brightest days, the trials and tribulations of that galaxy far, far away have been firmly seared in my heart and mind. “Star Wars,” at the absolute perfect age, taught me what it means to be a hero. Reviewing the film that answered the question, “What happens next?”after, for me, 18 years of waiting proved impossible. Believe me, I tried. The experience of again seeing Luke, Han and Leia, in addition to a new generation of heroes and villains, still brings a great many tears to my eyes – even at 2:00 AM, completely alone in my apartment. This is as much of a review as I could muster on the subject: “The Force Awakens” is everything I could have hoped it would be, everything I needed it to be. It truly is the movie experience of a generation, filled with small joys and simple wonders.
Secondly, I’ve decided that, after all of these years reviewing movies, it’s high time that I got off the bench. Let me clarify. I’m not typically a religious person. I have very great doubts about the cosmos and our infinitesimally small place in it. The place in my heart, that organized religion fills for so many people, is filled by the act and art of storytelling. My clear eyes and full heart come from a story well-told.
That act; the act of telling a story, is the one great difference between the human race and every other species in the known universe. The octopus genome contains more protein-coding genes than the human genome – in many respects, the DNA of an octopus is more complex than the DNA of a human. Horses recognize and physiologically respond to emotions displayed on still images of people. They recognize and feel emotion across the boundary of species. Animals are smart, complex and can feel the things we feel. The one colossal difference between them and us is this: we, all of us, can get caught up in a story. Humans can see, empathize with, love, hate and laugh with imaginary people on planets that don’t exist. To our current understanding, that is unique in the whole of creation.
That is my calling. That is what I chose my life to be about. To that end, I need to get in the game, and reviewing the work of others is a poor substitute to making my own.
I felt I owed both the Hays Daily News and HaysPost.com readerships an explanation as to my sudden absence, as both audiences have been so immensely kind to me over the nearly four years that I have reviewed movies for these publications. My eternal thanks to both the Hays Daily News and to Eagle Communications for allowing me to contribute to their platforms. My thanks are also due to the great many of you who have sent me kind words over the course of the years.
So, what’s next? I have a great many plans. Plans that are actively in production, in one stage or another. They include, but are not limited to, ending my time in Washington, D.C., saving some money, and returning to school to study film. To quote Theodore Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
What’s next is this: I plan to live my life telling stories or, if I fail, at least fail why daringly greatly.
For any who may be interested in following my journey, you may do so at the following places: TemporalCanvas.com, my personal blog, and BlizzardForge.com, a fan-site about Blizzard Entertainment, both websites I own and plan to operate. Also, please feel to email me at [email protected].
Once again, and lastly, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the years of kind words and support. It is my great hope that some future movie-reviewer for the city of Hays may one day review a film that I have created.
YODER – Sixty-three new law enforcement officers were congratulated by Kansas State University Police Chief Ronnie Grice during their graduation from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on March 18.
The new officers were members of the 238th basic training class at the center. Located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, the center is a division of University of Kansas Continuing Education.
The graduates, who began their training November 30, 2015, represented 53 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.
Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.
Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, the center trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway patrol.
About 300 officers enroll annually in the 14-week basic training program. The center offered continuing education and specialized training to as many as 5,600 Kansas officers each year. Funding for the training center is generated from court docket fees from municipal and state courts. No funds from the state’s general revenue are used to operate the center.
Northwest Kansas graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by agency.
Barton County
Ellinwood Police Department; Jarrod Carr; patrol officer; Ellinwood
Barton County Sheriff’s Office; Michael Pata; deputy; Great Bend
Cheyenne County
Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office; Ann Burr; deputy; St Francis
Phillips County
Phillips County Sheriff’s Office; Kyle Pinkerton; deputy; Phillipsburg
Phillips County Sheriff’s Department; Wesley Tanksley; deputy; Phillipsburg
Rooks County
Rooks County Sheriff’s Office; Dain Carmen; deputy; Stockton
Thomas County
Colby Police Department; Damon Andrews; patrolman; Colby
The Department of Social Work at Fort Hays State University will host an annual Social Work Field Day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in the Black and Gold Room in the Memorial Union. This event includes a continuing education program.
The Field Day is being renamed to “The Judy Caprez Social Work Field Day” in honor of retired FHSU professor Judy Caprez, who retired in 2015 after 23 years at FHSU.
Caprez will speak about “Social Work Practice and the Contemporary Family” and will conduct the training provided to meet the continuing education requirement for Kansas licensure.
A minimal fee of $20 will be charged the day of the training. Only cash and checks will be accepted. All current field instructors are exempt.
Immediately following the CEU training, field instructors will meet with social work faculty for an opportunity to provide feedback on the program and the students’ preparedness for the field workshop. This meeting will be located in the Pioneer Room in the Memorial Union.
(Editor’s Note): Click here to see a “Community Connection” interview by Mike Cooper with Caprez about Teen Dating Violence.
As we wrap up National Nutrition Month in March and begin Walk Kansas (Extension’s 8-week health challenge) in April, the Ellis County Extension Office will offer several learning opportunities with research-based advice for a healthy lifestyle.
The public is invited to attend these educational programs. Please save the dates and register to reserve your spot by calling the Ellis County Extension Office at 785-628-9430.
The first program will be “ Simple Seasonal Meals” at noon on Wednesday, April 6. This free nutrition program will be held at the Extension Meeting Room, 601 Main Street in Hays. (This is the program which was rescheduled due to bad weather in January.)
Donna Krug, Barton County Extension Agent, will present information and recipes on cooking and eating with seasonal produce. Featured spring recipes will be sampled.
The benefits of harvesting and eating produce when at its peak are many. By choosing foods in season you get all the benefits– food that tastes good, is good for you, and is reasonably priced.
Please RSVP to the Ellis County Extension Office, 785-628-9430. Bring a lunch to enjoy during the program if desired.
The “ Nutrition Banking” program will be held on Friday, April 15, at 12:00 noon at the Extension Office meeting room, 601 Main Street in Hays.
“Nutrition Banking” is a fun way to make educated food choices to control the fat, sodium, and sugar in your diet. This interactive event will help participants determine a personal food budget and learn to make trade-offs with their food choices.
Participants will use Wise Bucks to “purchase” food choices at the luncheon meal. Cost for the event is $5 per person or $3 for Walk Kansas team members.
Space is limited, so advance registration by April 13 is necessary to ensure adequate materials and lunch supplies. Registrations are considered complete when fees are paid. Contact the Ellis County Extension Office at 785-628-9430 to register.
The regional Extension “ Full Circle Aging Expo” will be held on Friday, April 22 from 10:30 am to 3:15 pm at the First United Methodist Church in WaKeeney.
The agenda features a series of three keynote speakers. Bryan Noone, RN, begins the day with an informative session on “Sleep as You Grow Older.” The noon-hour speaker via distance technology is Andrew Crocker, Extension Gerentology Specialist in Texas on “Master of Memory.” In the afternoon, Dr Erin Yelland, KSU Extension Aging specialist, will present “Over the Hill and Between the Sheets” on sexuality in later life.
A resource fair will also be available for participants.
Those who attend the Full Circle Aging Expo will also receive four free follow-up sessions presented via technology at a variety of locations in the region. Sessions will cover these topics: Resizing Your Home, Alzheimer’s 101, Medicare, and Fall Prevention.
The cost for the Full Circle Aging Expo is $30 per person or $50 for two family members. Registration is due April 12. Late registration or walk-in fee is $35 per person (lunch not guaranteed for late registration.) Pick up a registration brochure at the Extension Office or register online at www.northwest.ksu.edu/fullcircle.
An added feature of the Full Circle Aging Expo is the “ Full Circle Track for Professionals” who can earn up to 6 CEU’s for participation. The hours for the professional track are 8:45 am to 5:15 pm and the theme is “Best Care Practices.”
Speakers from varied professional backgrounds will address nutrition aspects of wound healing, the connection between oral problems and overall health, sleep issues of aging, mastering memory, managing chronic pain with physical therapy and specialty wound care.
Cost for the full-day professional training is $85 including lunch. The cost for morning only (no lunch) or afternoon only (no lunch) is $60. Register by April 12. More information and online registration is available at www.northwest.ksu.edu/fullcircle.
Please join us for these educational opportunities in April and you’ll get reliable advice for living well. More information is available at the Ellis County Extension Office, 785-628-9430 or www.ellis.ksu.edu. You can also follow us on Facebook at “K-State Research and Extension- Ellis County.”
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
Beginning today, Monday, April 4, the alley between 13th and 14th Street from Main to Oak Street will be closed due to pavement repairs.
The project is scheduled to be completed in approximately three weeks.
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 628-7350.
TANEY COUNTY – A Kansas teen was seriously injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. on Sunday in Taney County Missouri.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Arctic Cat ATV driven by Alison R. Findley, 19, Pomona, was traveling around a curve and into a drive on Casey Road just north of Forsyth.
The ATV overturned and Findley was ejected. She was flown to Cox South Hospital in Springfield.
She was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Developers of a southeast Kansas casino say a Shawnee County judge’s ruling clears the way for construction of the state’s fourth nontribal casino to begin.
Judge Larry Hendricks last week rejected arguments made in a challenge to a decision by the state to award the southeast Kansas project to Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel.
The Pittsburg Morning Sun reports the $70 million proposal in Crawford County was the smallest of three submitted to the state Gaming Facility Review Board.
Cherokee County and Castle Rock Casino filed a lawsuit. Its $145 million proposal was the largest submitted, and it claimed the board didn’t follow state law when it picked the smaller project.
Kansas Crossing’s chief operating officer says the new casino should be open within a year.
Today will still be warm into Tuesday. A cold front will move into western Kansas late Tuesday afternoon and evening with isolated thunderstorms possible. Severe weather threat looks low. Ahead of the front critical fire weather conditions are forecast with a Fire Weather Watch on Tuesday afternoon from Syracuse to Jetmore and St. John and south. High Fire Danger is forecast again on Wednesday and Thursday.
Today Sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 7 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. South southeast wind 11 to 16 mph.
TuesdayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 20 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Breezy, with a northwest wind 21 to 24 mph.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 65. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 22 to 30 mph.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 41. Breezy.
ThursdaySunny, with a high near 71. Breezy.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 38. Breezy.
Albert L. Temaat, 80, of Oakley, died Friday, April 1, 2016 at Logan County Hospital, Oakley. He was born February 25, 1936, in Oakley, KS to John B. and Julia (Grasser) Temaat. He graduated from Oakley High School in 1955 and then served in the United States Army from 1955 – 1957. On June 1, 1959, he married Valeria Mannebach, in Seguin, KS. Al was a general contractor for 50 years. His legacy still stands in Oakley and the surrounding area where he built a large number of homes. His love for Christ and love for his family were apparent in his daily actions. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley and a 3rd and 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Al served on the St. Joseph School Council and also the Oakley City Council.
Alita L. Wells Barrows, 76, died Friday, April 1, 2016, at Trego Manor, WaKeeney, KS. She was the daughter of William H. and Alice Flaiz Wells. She was born May 10, 1939, in Scott City, KS. She was a graduate of Scott County Community High School and attended Fort Hays State University.
City of Hays
