REPUBLIC COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 11 a.m. Tuesday in Republic County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Jeep Wrangler driven by Mitchell D. McMillan, 21, Mankato, was northbound on U.S. 81 just south of Union Road.
The vehicle rear ended a Chevy Lumina driven by Rellen R. Goebel, 61, Mahaska, who was delivering mail.
The collision caused the Jeep to overturn in the median.
McMillan was transported to Republic County Hospital.
The KHP report indicated Goebel was injured but not where he was treated. He was actively delivering mail and not wearing a seat belt.
GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating two suspects on drug charges.
Just after 2p.m. Monday deputies stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 just east of McDowell Creek Road, according to the Geary County Sheriff’s Department.
They arrested Ezekiel Cochrane and Nathaniel Norwood III, both of East Bend, North Carolina on suspicion of Possession of Narcotics and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Norwood-photo Geary Co.
They are scheduled for a first court appearance later this week.
Richard and Dolores Fischli recently donated $5 million toward the construction of a new student center on FHSU campus.
When Richard Fischli purchased a hog at the age of 14, he likely couldn’t imagine what his first investment would lead to over time. Fischli and, later, his wife, Dolores Wills-Fischli, worked hard to build upon that initial investment.
Both earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fort Hays State University in the 1950s, then moved to southern California. Upon retiring from their careers in education with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Fischlis moved back home to Logan.
The couple continues to make sure students have what they need to be successful. Long-time supporters of their alma mater and the benefactors of several scholarship funds at FHSU, the couple recently committed $5 million to build a center for student success on the university campus. Their gift was announced at a news conference today.
In essence, the Fischlis are passing their hog onto their alma mater.
“We are recognizing this couple for literally changing the landscape of our campus with the naming of the future Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success,” said Tim Chapman, president and CEO emeritus of the FHSU Foundation.
With an estimated completion date of December 2020, the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success will be a convenient one-stop-shop for students to access academic, medical and mental health support. The center’s primary goal is to help students be successful, complete their degree programs on time and avoid falling through the cracks in any way.
“As lifelong K-12 educators, Richard and Dolores have been difference-makers to literally hundreds of students over the years utilizing their FHSU degrees to their fullest potential,” said Joey Linn, vice president for student affairs.
“With the addition of this building to our beautiful campus, the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success will forever touch the lives of thousands of students with their quest to walk across the stage as FHSU graduates,” he said.
The center will combine key services into a three-story building conveniently attached to the Memorial Union. All students will have day and evening access to much-needed services such as academic advising, career exploration, free tutoring, the Kelly Center and student health. Additionally, the offices of Student Government Association, the Center for Student Involvement and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will relocate to the Fischli-Wills Center.
“The ultimate goal of this innovative center is to increase retention and graduation rates and to make all students successful in their academic journey,” said Linn.
“These students are our family,” Dolores Fischli said after the news conference.
“We always knew that our estate would go to Fort Hays State University, but I often wondered what they were going to do with it,” she said. “It’s nice to know how they’re going to utilize the money and to see it all come to fruition. We’re just so thankful for the opportunity.”
One student on hand to attest to the benefit of the center was Emily Brandt, Beloit senior and president of the Student Government Association.
“As a first-generation student with one more year left, I feel like I am just now starting to understand how to navigate my undergraduate career,” she said. “With extended hours for services such as career exploration and academic advising, our students are getting the help they need to be successful not just here, but after their graduation date.”
Brandt described the center as a collaborative effort of private donors, the university administration, academic affairs and students, who voted in April to add a $4 per credit hour fee, effective beginning the fall semester of 2019, to support building the center. The fee will raise an estimated $5.6 million. The new facility is expected to cost $16.5 million.
The Fischlis’ journey with Fort Hays State University started with two rural Kansas kids pursuing college educations. They transitioned into a couple modestly giving back to FHSU with their earliest contribution on file showing a $5 gift in 1981. The Fischlis are now philanthropists designating a portion of their estate to support the needs of students.
The Fischlis are part of the Wooster Society, an elite group of planned-gift benefactors to Fort Hays State.
“Wooster Society members like Richard and Dolores have an everlasting effect on Fort Hays State as their generosity will be remembered and appreciated,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. “This is an incredible gift in support of FHSU’s Journey campaign, and one that will go down in the history of Fort Hays State University.”
“This gift helps us join a select few universities across the country to provide a comprehensive approach to student recruitment, support, retention and completion that will enable Fort Hays State to continue to thrive in service to our students,” said Dr. Andy Tompkins, interim president of FHSU.
The Kansas Legislature returns Monday to Topeka for its wrap-up session, when lawmakers must decide on a school funding formula that satisfies the state Supreme Court. The House has a working school finance bill, but the Senate has made little progress. STGERMH / FLICKR-CC
The Kansas Legislature faces a crucial deadline as the wrap-up session is underway this week:
It must have a school funding formula in place by June 30 that passes muster with the state Supreme Court or the justices will shut down public schools.
The Kansas House has done a good amount of work on a school funding bill. A working bill is in place, although it has yet to pass out of committee and make it to the floor.
The situation is different for the Senate.
“We preferred to have the House send over a bill,” said Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning of Overland Park. “We’ll work it during the first week we’re back.”
So the Senate has a blank page right now when it comes to funding for education.
“I think the Senate is going to have a … different position on school funding,” said Sen. Barbara Bollier, a Republican from Mission Hills. “That could be from how we calculate at-risk students to do we have more in the base for funding.”
Denning, Bollier and Sen. Molly Baumgardner of Louisburg are members of a special Senate committee formed late in the session to come up with a school funding formula. Some on the Senate panel suggest they aren’t thrilled with the House bill.
“If you look at what’s come out so far from the House side, it looks remarkably similar to the old formula,” Baumgardner said.
That’s true. The House bill does resemble the school funding formula that was scrapped two years ago for block grants. It provides additional money to districts for at-risk students, English language learners and transportation aid for students who have a particularly long bus ride.
It also provides $150 million a year in new funding over the next five years for a total of $750 million. Some lawmakers have questioned whether that’s enough money to satisfy the state Supreme Court.
But some senators also have other questions about the amount of school funding. Denning suggested that lawmakers may need to find $100 million to $150 million in new money next year only.
Baumgardner said the Senate will have to put in place some “policy changes,” such as using Census data rather than free or reduced lunch information to decide whether a student is at-risk.
She also said there is money to be saved. For example, she said, there are 700 students from bordering states who attend public schools in Kansas.
“In some cases, the school districts actually bus them over, pick them up the neighboring state and bring them into Kansas,” Baumgardner said.
The Senate also may look into cutting funding for virtual schools, she said.
But those two things are pretty small in a budget that consumes more than half of the state’s spending.
During the wrap-up session, legislators also must approve a tax package and find $900 million to balance the budget over the next two fiscal years.
Sam Zeffcovers education for KCUR.org and the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter@SamZeff.
Reva Ellen Snyder was born September 28, 1941, at the home of her grandparents, Silas and Venie Belle (Moler) Hessenflow, in rural Decatur County, Kansas, near Norcatur. She was the eldest child of Clifford LeRoy and Dorothy Ellen (Hessenflow) Snyder. Reva passed away Saturday, April 29, 2017, at her residence in Oberlin, Kansas, at the age of 75.
Reva attended 1st grade at Mount Vernon country school where her father was the teacher. The next year, she began attending Norcatur Grade School. The family moved to Oberlin in 1953, and she attended Oberlin Elementary School and Decatur Community High School, graduating with the Class of 1959.
On December 24, 1959, Reva married to James Ross Marshall at the home of Judge Nellans in Oberlin. To this union were born three children: Lawrence, Tami and Penny. The family moved to Syracuse, Kansas, after the 1st of 1960, where they lived until 1971. After Jim was hurt in a farm accident, the family moved back to Decatur County, buying their home in Oberlin in 1972.
Reva was a member of the Mini Sappa Antique Club and Needles and Pins Quilt Guild. In addition, she was a charter member of the Decatur County Genealogy Society and served on the museum board of directors for several years.
For 19 ½ years, Reva worked as a Motor Carrier Inspector for the State of Kansas. After the state scale house was closed, she went to work as the Main Street Coordinator in downtown Oberlin. In 1991 Reva began working for Decatur County as the Driver License Examiner. She retired from that position in 1998. Reva enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren, quilting, and doing genealogy.
She is survived by three children and their spouses, Lawrence Marshall of Oberlin, Tami and Brian Cook of Norcatur, and Penny and Robert Fringer of Oberlin; almost daughter, Susan and Van Payten of Aurora, CO; seven granddaughters and one grandson: Ellen (Martin) Osborne of Wichita, Cassandra (Robert) Moss of Arizona, Jame (Adam) Orr of Oberlin, Becky (Levi) Jones of Colby, Brandy (Matt) Kuhlman of Norcatur, Rodney Marshall of Oberlin, Sarah (Brandon) Wolf of Colby, and Briannan Cook of Norcatur; and 20 great grandchildren: Kara Sage Haselhorst, Madison Ann Schindler, Charles Andrew Schindler, Aiden Derrick Humphrey, Jacqueline Nicole Marshall, Julie Ann Schindler, Aidan Magee Marshall Kidder, Tara Sue Larson, Arika Taylor Marshall, Liam Gray Orr, Iris Ellen Osborne, Eric Matthew Kuhlman, Bailey Nicole Wolf, MaKayla Maize Marshall, Kaeleigh Jo Cook, Violet Louise Osborne, Dax Lamar Cook, Katherine Ann Kuhlman, Timothy Scott Moss, and Axten Edward Wolf; sister-in-law, Dixie Snyder of Colby; brother-in-law, Neil Marshall of Oberlin; aunt, Mildred Black of Oberlin; several nephews and nieces; two almost sisters, Maxine Wright and Leora (Wayne) Horner; and many cousins and friends.
Reva was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; mother, Dorothy Hunt; father, Clifford Snyder; brother, Ron Snyder; and sister-in-law, Barbara Marshall.
Funeral Service: Friday, May 5th at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Oberlin with Pastor Gordon Pettibone officiating
Burial: Norcatur Cemetery
Memorial Funds: Helping Hands of Decatur County or Norcatur Cemetery Fund
Visitation: Thursday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday after 8 a.m.
Martin James Gagnon, 72, of Grainfield, died Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Rose Medical Center, Denver, CO.
He was born May 2, 1944, to Emery and Jeannette (Boucher) Gagnon, in Grainfield. Marty graduated from Grainfield High School in 1962 and married Sharon Wagoner on August 22, 1964, in Park, KS. He was a lifelong Grainfield resident, running the family business, Gagnon Motors, where he sold GMC and Oldsmobile. After retirement he worked at Oakley Motors for several years. Marty was a member of the Knights of Columbus and also volunteered on the Grainfield Fire Department. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and especially spending time with his kids and grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Pauline McBride and Florence Bayack.
Survivors are wife, Sharon; three children, Dave (Lisa) Gagnon, of Victoria, Rich Gagnon (friend, Lynne Marcum), of El Dorado and Michelle (BJ) Ravnsborg, of Elkhorn, NE; brothers, Ed, Don and Jim (Robin) Gagnon; sister, Jeanine (Bill) Beamgard; eight grandchildren, Austin Gagnon, Corinna Dreiling, Connor Gagnon, Shayla Beck, Janae Gagnon, Ben Ravnsborg, Ally Ravnsborg, Ty Ravnsborg and three great grand-children.
Visitation will be 6-8:00pm on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at the St. Agnes Parish Center, Grainfield with vigil at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be 10:00am, on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at St Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield. Burial will follow in the Grainfield Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Grainfield Fire Department or Masses in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley KS 67748. For online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com
The Libertarian Party of Kansas’ Executive Committee embodies the political middle ground the party has claimed for years, following last weekend’s State Convention in Mission, Kansas.
Party leadership is predominantly female for the first time since inception with the election of the first ever female LPKS State Chair, Kris Logan (Lansing), Victoria French (Wichita) as 4th District Coordinator, and Heather Toot (Leavenworth) as 2nd District Coordinator.
Perhaps even more surprising, all three new members of the party’s leadership found the Libertarian Party as disenfranchised Democrats or Republicans.
People shouldn’t be surprised our leadership is made up of both former Democrats and Republicans. As Libertarians, we know we don’t have to agree on all issues, we simply have to agree that we will not use force to make others live as we personally believe is best. That is what makes us Libertarian.
As hyper-partisanship continues to escalate, could the Libertarian Party be the common-sense middle ground voters are looking for?
I thin so and I invite every Kansan disappointed with the establishment parties to learn more about the party of minimum government, maximum freedom. The Libertarian Party has been the fastest growing political party in Kansas for over a decade and I think that trend is only going to accelerate as both middle-ground Republicans and Democrats join us… not to mention all the Kansas Independents who simply don’t yet know that they are really Libertarians. Kansans are live-and-let-live people, and that is a core value of the Libertarian Party.
In addition to the above listed new officers, Ric Koehn (Cimarron) was re-elected to the position of State Treasurer.
The 2018 LPKS State Convention is slated to be held in the spring in Wichita, Kansas. The party expects to continue the momentum with ever larger and impactful events.
For more information contact:
Kris Logan– LPKS State Chair – [email protected] – (913) 240-9008
Heather Toot – LPKS 2nd District Coordinator – [email protected] – (913) 240-4286
Victoria French – LPKS 4th District Coordinator – [email protected] (316) 807-4685
The Cottonwood Extension District, a partnership between the Ellis and Barton County Kansas State Extension Districts, continued to move forward Monday, after both county commissions approved a revised operational agreement.
Both Ellis and Barton County Commissions had previously signed off on the agreement creating the Cottonwood Extension District No. 17 effective July 1, but the district also had to be approved by the Kansas State Extension Director and the Kansas Attorney General.
According to Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes, the Attorney General’s office suggested changes to two paragraphs dealing with the appointment and subsequent election of board members.
The Ellis County Commission voted Monday to allow Commission Chair Barb Wasinger to sign off on the agreement. Barton County commissioners also approved the changes at their meeting Monday.
The Ellis County Commission also appointed four people to represent the county on the district’s governing board at Monday’s meeting.
As part of the collaboration, each county is to appoint four members to an eight-member Extension board. District governing body members will then be elected by the public in general elections.
The Ellis County Commission selected Rhiannon Corn, Alan Roth, Nathan Leiker and Ramey Wasinger to the board. County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said all four have been involved in the creation of the district.
“Those four folks currently represent Ellis County Extension as members of the transitional board that has been meeting and discussing the formation in conjunction with Barton County,” said Smith-Hanes.
Corn and Roth will serve on the board through the remainder of the year and be up for re-election in November while Leiker and Wasinger will serve through 2019. Each county will have two members on two-year terms and two members on four-year terms.
They were nominated by the Ellis County Extension Council.
In other business:
the commission approved a resolution to become the host county for the Northwest Kansas Juvenile Services.
Approved Wasinger to approve expenditures for the Courthouse Preservation Committee
Approved the financed options for a new reclaimer and the purchase of cold mix asphalt and cold in place recycling to resurface current asphalt road surfaces
Gave the Public Works Director approval to advertise and hire a new Landfill Foreman
Approved revisions to the County Administrator’s job description to allow the administrator to appoint or remove department directors and approve employee change of status
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect on embezzlement charges.
In July of 2016, the Masonic Temple Foundation hired Timothy Fowler, 38, Solomon, as treasurer. By late July Fowler was embezzling money, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.
On April 10, First Kansas Bank alerted a foundation board member following a call from the First Bank of Kansas that the foundation’s account was overdrawn. That prompting an investigation.
Police arrested Fowler Monday for allegedly embezzling over $150,000 from the Foundation.
Bank records indicate Fowler had used foundation funds to book airlines, hotels and for adult website subscriptions. He had also allegedly been writing checks to himself and his business, Solomon City Regalia.
He was booked into the Saline County Jail Monday and charges of unlawful acts on a computer and theft.
DOUGLAS COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 9p.m. Monday in Douglas County.
A 2001 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by Seth Quick, 19, Lawrence, was southbound with a passenger at McDonald and Rockledge Road, according to a media release from police.
The motorcycle collided with a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer driven by a 19-year-old woman.
Quick was pronounced dead at the scene.
The juvenile passenger was flown to a hospital in Kansas City with serious injuries according to police. The Mitsubishi driver was transported to a hospital in Lawrence for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Quick was not wearing, according to police. The passenger was wearing a helmet.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police say an 81-year-old Topeka man has been arrested in the deadly shooting of another man.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the suspect has been booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated assault and first-degree murder in the Monday night killing in the southwest part of the city.
Capt. Jana Harden says police already had been contacted about gunfire when the suspect called police to report that he was the one who had fired gunshots.
The victim was found on the sidewalk leading up to the suspect’s home. His name wasn’t immediately released.
Harden says the suspect and victim knew each other but she didn’t know the relationship between them.
PRATT – They’re creepy-crawly, blood-sucking arachnids; nobody likes ticks. Unfortunately, they are a fact of outdoor life in Kansas. But you don’t have to stay indoors to protect yourself. There are some precautions you can take to ensure ticks dislike you as much as you dislike them.
Tick numbers usually peak in early June, but depending on spring temperatures, they can be common from April through July. And protecting yourself is serious business because they can spread dangerous blood-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.
To make yourself as tick proof as possible, start by wearing light-colored clothing with long sleeves and pants. Keep pantlegs tucked into your socks. Do periodic checks and be sure to examine yourself and your clothing after an outing.
Use a repellent. Most people who spend time outdoors are familiar with the ingredient DEET, contained in many commercial insect repellents. It can be sprayed directly on your skin, and repellents that contain 20 percent to 30 percent DEET will repel ticks for several hours. Permethrin is another option. Unlike DEET, which repels ticks, permethrin causes muscle spasms, paralysis, and death for ticks if they touch it or consume it. Because of its potency, permethrin can only be applied to clothing. Permethrin-based products currently on the market can also last up to six washes, making a bottle go a long way.
Permethrin-based sprays can be purchased at most major retailers and are roughly the same price as popular repellents containing DEET. Look for a spray that contains at least 0.5 percent of permethrin. Clothing pre-treated with permethrin is also available.
When treating clothing with permethrin, be sure to read the instructions carefully. Apply the spray in a well-ventilated area, or outside. Then, let clothes air-dry by hanging them on a line or by leaving them out on a porch or outdoor table. Once dry, the treated clothing can be worn immediately.
Self-checks are important. It can take up to 36 hours for a tick to infect you if it attaches, so prompt removal is critical. If you find one attached, the best way to remove it is to grasp it gently close to the skin with tweezers and pull steadily straight up. Other methods may cause the tick to expel saliva and increase the chance of infection. Watch the bite site for signs of redness or a “bullseye” rash, which can be a symptom of Lyme disease. If you experience aches and pains or other flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, see your doctor as soon as possible. Early treatment is important.
Don’t let an insect just larger than the head of a pin keep you inside this spring. Follow basic precautions and enjoy the best time to be outdoors in Kansas.
More than 1,000 square miles of Kansas grassland was burned in early March wildfires.
KDADS
TOPEKA – Keys for Networking, a non-profit family advocacy organization, and members of the Rural and Frontier Subcommittee of the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council, have scheduled a Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day roundtable discussion on helping children through natural disasters, and will offer community counseling opportunities on Thu., May 4, 2017 in Ashland, Kansas.
The intent is to assist Ashland residents and those from surrounding communities help their children understand and deal with the distress caused by the devastating, record-setting wildfires in early March that scorched about 75 percent of Clark County in southwest Kansas and caused severe damage in many other counties across Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
In Kansas alone, large wildfires in 20 counties damaged more than 651,000 acres — more than 1,000 square miles — and destroyed more than 40 homes and an unknown number of outbuildings. Thousands of head of livestock perished in the inferno.
“Partnering for Help and Hope – Supporting Children’s Mental Health Following a Natural Disaster” is the theme of the roundtable discussion scheduled for 11:30 a.m.in the Ashland High School gymnasium. The sponsors have invited junior and senior high school students, their parents, teachers, staff and community members to the participate. Children’s behavioral health specialists will answer questions and present research-based intervention models. Counseling opportunities for individual families and small groups will be offered in the afternoon and early evening.
Schedule:
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ashland High School Gymnasium
311 J E Humphreys Street, Ashland, KS
10 a.m. – Presentation for students
11 a.m. – Junior high school students will be dismissed for lunch, seniors may remain longer
11:30 a.m. – Roundtable for parents: Questions, answers and discussion with educators, mental health clinicians, substance use disorder experts and trauma specialists. Lunch will be provided for participants.
1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Ashland Community Library
604 Main Street, Ashland, KS 67831
Individual or small group appointments for parents, small group meetings with speakers and roundtable participants. Iroquois Center for Human Development and Keys for Networking staff will be available.
6 p.m.
Ashland Community Library
604 Main Street, Ashland, KS 67831
Celebration of National SAMHSA Mental Health Awareness Day, live via Internet from Washington, D.C. Honorees are Olympic champions Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt, an eight–time Olympic medalist, who also will serve as Honorary Chairpersons of SAMHSA’s National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. Teammates and personal friends, Phelps and Schmitt have spoken candidly about their respective struggles with behavioral health and how they have supported each other through difficult times.
Partners for the Ashland events:
Ashland United School District 220
Compass Behavioral Health, Garden City and Dodge City
DCCCA, Douglas County
Iroquois Center for Human Development, Greensburg
Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
Keys for Networking Inc., Topeka
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Saint Francis Community Services of Garden City
Community Engagement Institute at Wichita State University
For additional information on these events, please contact Keys for Networking at (785) 233-8732.
