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Month: December 2017

Dennis J. Robbins

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Dennis J. Robbins, 81, passed away Sunday, December 10, 2017 in Norton. He was born July 9. 1936 to Millard Eugene and Kathryn (Jewell) Robbins. He married Marlene Peters, January 29, 1956. He was a commercial electrician.

Survivors: wife, Marlene; sons: Eldon Robbins of Concordia, Randy (Cheryl) Robbins of Falls City, Nebraska, Dennis J. Robbins Jr. of Oxford, Nebraska and John Robbins of Lenora; daughters: Debra (John) Ninemire of Hoisington and Mary (Kenny) Leidig of Lenora; 13 grandchildren; brother, Laverne (Joyce) Robbins; and sister, Lavonne (Les) Savoboda.

There is no visitation or services planned at this time. Private family interment will be in Lenora South Cemetery.

Organizers prepare for ninth annual Community Christmas Dinner at Hays VFW

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Submitted

The ninth annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 11am to 1pm at the VFW in Hays. The dinner is donated and prepared by the men of the VFW, who give their time Christmas Day to prepare the meal.

The vision of the Community Christmas Dinner began nine years ago. At the time, the Thanksgiving Dinner was providing meals for community members on Thanksgiving Day, and it was thought that people likely needed a place to go for a Christmas meal and to be with others. It was also recognized that Christmas is a busy time of year, and people can often get caught up in the busyness of the season, at times forgetting the true reason for the season of Christmas – the remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

From here, the purpose of the Community Christmas Dinner unfolded – to provide a Christmas meal and a place for people to gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Christmas Dinner also provides the opportunity for community members to serve and be served, and this service extends beyond the walls of the VFW through the delivery of meals and the availability of transportation. The true vision is serving as we are called to do, and to enjoy time with others–as 1 Corinthians 13:8 states, “Love never fails”, and this is the foundation of the Community Christmas Dinner.

The dinner is provided at no cost for those who come, as well as for those whose meals are being delivered. Donations that are received will be given to organizations of need within the community, to ‘give back’ for all that has been given. For those wishing to volunteer, volunteer opportunities will be available on Christmas Day prior to the meal, during the meal, and after in cleaning the VFW Hall. Volunteer opportunities can include directing traffic, greeting community members, filling and providing drinks, assisting with carrying plates, clearing tables, delivering meals, washing dishes, cleaning after the event, and other miscellaneous tasks that arise. Desserts for the meal are also provided by community members, and these remain needed at this time. Additionally, transportation will be provided for those in need by Convenience Cab, who will be donating their time and service on Christmas Day. All calls for transportation will need to contact the numbers provided below. For any community members wanting meal delivery, needing transportation, wishing to volunteer, or wishing to provide desserts, please contact the Community Christmas Dinner using the following information:

785-625-5528 (Monday thru Thursday)
785-259-9735 (Friday thru Sunday)
email: [email protected]

Gail Louis Harris

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Gail Louis Harris, age 77, passed away on December 14, 2017 at the Ness County Hospital, Ness City. He was born on October 6, 1940 in Larned, Kansas the son of Clifford and Helen (Andersen) Harris.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Ness City. Gail was a retired farmer/rancher and school bus driver. He was previously a USD 302 Ransom Board of Education Member and Ransom Junior Farmers 4-H Club Community Leader. Gail was a veteran of the US Army and served as a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper.

On January 26, 1963 he married Kaye Stieben in Bazine, Kansas. They worked and raised their family in the Ransom area and moved to Ness City after retirement.

Gail is survived by his wife, Kaye; son, Jay Harris and his wife Kris of Hays; daughters, Kimberly and her husband Mitch, of Ness City and Kristin Pendergraft of Spring Hill, Tennessee; brother, Arlyn Harris and his wife Nancy of Jenks, Oklahoma; two sisters, Bertha Shannon of Liberty, Missouri and Carol Halsey and her husband Larry of Loveland, Colorado; five grandchildren, Hailey Hawkinson and her husband Dal, James Pendergraft, Kyle Harris, Jordan Pendergraft, and Kade Harris; and three great grandchildren, Paizley and Cruze Hawkinson and Kennedy Pendergraft.

He is preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Don, Merle, and Carl Harris.

Funeral service will be on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 2:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Ness City followed by burial in the Ransom Cemetery. Viewing will be on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church, Ness City from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Memorial contributions may be given to the First Baptist Church, Ness City.

Melissa Jo (Resley) Schremmer

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Melissa Jo (Resley) Schremmer, 54, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2017 after a courageous battle against Ovarian Cancer with her loving family by her side.

Melissa was born October 9, 1963 in Plainville, Kansas, the daughter of Robert and LaDeanne (Coles) Resley. She grew up in the Plainville and Natoma area and graduated from Plainville High School in the Class of ’82.

Melissa met, fell in love with and was united in marriage to Robert E. “Bob” Schremmer. This union was blessed with two daughters; Danielle and Adrienne. They lived a short time in Plainville before moving to Russell in 1983.

Melissa was a devoted wife and homemaker. She was the owner/operator of Angels-N-Training Daycare for over 18 years. She was a waitress for the Russell Elks Lodge. She was the C-Store manager at Agco, Inc. for over 15 years. She sold Mary Kay cosmetics for many years. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She was very active in the RHS Booster Club, Safe Night After Prom and many other activities of her daughters. She was a proud supporter of Relay For Life activities. Her grandchildren were the light of her life, but giving people a hard time at Agco & making people smile was a real passion of hers.

Melissa is survived by her husband of 35 years, Bob of the home; daughters, Danielle Bachman (Caleb) of Russell, Kansas and Adrienne Schremmer of Russell, Kansas; three brothers, Bob Resley and Brian Resley both of Wichita, Kansas and Shane Macke of Catherine, Kansas; three sisters, Debbie Burton and Mitzi Keith both of Wichita, Kansas and Becky Eklund of Spingdale, Arkansas; and three grandchildren, Chaysie Bachman, Koby Schremmer, Breygan Bachman. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, step-father Leo Macke and two brothers, Danny Resley and Richard Resley.

Celebration of Melissa’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A memorial has been established with Hays Hospice. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Kathleen Ann ‘Kathy’ Edsall

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Victoria, Kansas – Kathleen Ann “Kathy” Edsall, age 66, died Saturday, December 16, 2017, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. She was born August 29,1951, in Hays, Kansas to Alvin P. and Shirley Jean (Weigel) Braun.  She married Jerry Spiess and later she married Ivan R. Edsall on March 23, 1996, in Hays, Kansas.

Kathy was a homemaker, a day care provider and was a cook at St. John’s Rest Home in Victoria for a few years.  She grew up in Victoria and was a 1969 graduate of Victoria High School.  She was a member of the Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas,    enjoyed cooking, crocheting, music, fishing and her pets.

Survivors include her husband, Ivan R. Edsall, of the home; one son, Jason Spiess and his companion, Nicole Wallace, Victoria, KS; two daughters, Kelly  Wellbrock and husband, Brett; Melanie Spiess and her fiancé, Travis Dennis, all of Salina, KS; one brother, Dennis “Mike” Braun, Hays, KS; four sisters, Marilyn Stoffel and husband, Jerry, Victoria, KS; Deborah Seitz and husband, Steve, Victoria, KS; Rosie Hammerschmidt and husband, Gerald, Hays, KS; Paula Younker and husband, Dale, Jetmore, KS; one sister-in-law, Yvonne Braun, Victoria, KS; five grandchildren, Sophia Spiess, Gage  Spiess, Jace Spiess, Carson Wellbrock and Julia Wellbrock; three step-grandchildren, James, Kelton and Lakyn.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents, Adam and Clemetine Braun; Dan and Catherine Weigel.

Services are 10:00 A.M. Thursday, December 21, 2017, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas.  Inurnment will be at St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Clines-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Wednesday and from 8:30 to 9:45 A.M. Thursday all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary Victoria, Kansas.

Memorial to The Basilica of St. Fidelis.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: 2017 Christmas shopping list for your outdoorsman

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Once again I thought it might be helpful for you last minute Christmas shoppers if I offer a few suggested gifts for the outdoorsmen and women on your lists. So having been designated and certified by Santa himself an official outdoor gift advisory elf, Ho, Ho, Ho, here we go!

Steve Gilliland

Ozone generators for the serious hunter have taken the hunting world by storm the past few years. Ozone is a naturally occurring gas found in earth’s atmosphere that helps clean the air we breathe. Ozone can also be commercially produced with machines called ozone generators.

Ozone generators use high voltage electricity to create (03) molecules that are predatory oxidizing molecules that destroy any scent carrying molecules they contact, much like the oxidizing process of chlorine bleach. In short, ozone is an oxidant that destroys bacteria. After destroying bacteria molecules, the (03 ) molecules revert harmlessly back to oxygen (02). I read several testimonial articles written by serious deer hunters, one featured in Field and Stream that used a law enforcement drug dog to test the technology. They all agreed that while nothing will fool a critters nose forever, ozone technology does work to fool a critters nose for awhile.

The Christmas .22 ammo

There are several companies marketing hunting gear featuring ozone technology; today I happened to be at Heartland Outdoor just south of Hutchinson, and they carry the Scent Crusher brand. Scent Crusher offers several options; there is an actual closet to store hunting gear complete with ozone generator for $300, a large fiberglass tote with lid and generator also for $300, a smaller gear storage bag with generator for $200, a room plug in ozone generator good for 320 sq. feet for $150 and a nifty little generator station to cleanse boots, hats and gloves for $80. This technology is not cheap and is probably only sensible for serious hunters. Check out their website at www.scentcrusher.com.

Big round hay bales are a common denominator of the landscape these days most everywhere you look, and there commonality makes them excellent camouflage for deer, turkey, predator and waterfowl hunting. YouTube abounds with videos and ideas for making round bale hunting blinds. Muddy Outdoors offers The Bale Blind, a steel framework over which a denier fabric and burlap cover is stretched, making the blind appear very much like an actual hay bale. The blind has several different shooting windows that can be opened in different spots, making it ideal for waterfowl, as well as deer, predator and turkey hunting, or just wildlife watching or photography. The blind sells for $380 at Heartland, and can be viewed with their other products at www.gomuddy.com.

At Mud River Dog products, a company that specializes in hunting dog accessories and training products, their goal is Dirty Trucks, Lonely Wives and Happy Dogs. They make a really slick organizer that hangs over the back of a seat and provides 4 large Velcro pockets for gear and dog training supplies and 2 padded gun cases. Heartland has them for $100. See the rest of their products at www.mudriverdogproducts.com.

Now for some neat stocking stuffers; Hunter Safety System offers a 2-pack of pop-up hunter orange safety signs that state “Hunter In Area,” to warn passers-by or other hunters that you are hunting in the marked area. They’re highly reflective and also show up easily after dark. Check out their many products at www.huntersafetysystem.com. Ever Mark Sales has a line of durable plastic signs designed to mount on “T” fence posts. They’re available in “No Trespassing,” “No Hunting,” “Leased” and blanks so you can add your own wording; www.evermarksales.com.

And once again this year, ammo dealers have captured the Christmas spirit with special Christmas ammunition. CCI has bricks of 300 – .22 LR ammo with red and green bullets for $17 a brick. Not to be outdone, Winchester is offering 400 rounds of .22 LR shells in a specially made collectable wooden box for $29.

If you have just read this, “I have no idea what to buy my hunter(s) and outdoorsmen for Christmas” is no longer a viable excuse. Get out and check out these and the thousands of other gifts Heartland Outdoor has to offer this year. Merry Christmas from Steve and Joyce at Exploring Kansas Outdoors, and please keep Christ in your Christmas.

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

MADORIN: Share what you know and learn something new

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If you ask, I’d bet every American believes they’re the real deal–100% red, white, and blue. Unfortunately, some media outlets highlight divisions, making us question what’s true. Travelers remind us one cure for confusion is visiting new places and welcoming tourists to our state.

Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.

While regional and cultural differences exist, they offer educational opportunities for visitors and locals. It’s best to keep a straight face when strangers ask about something natives consider obvious. Their mistake is probably sincere. I hope they do the same to correct other’s confusion without embarrassing them.

A friend who manages a rural clothing and collectible store has occasion to enlighten urban travelers stopping to shop. Many vacationing city dwellers end up in her locale which is populated by boot and cowboy hat wearing citizenry. Outside town limits, deer and antelope defy fences to join domestic cows and horses in the munching and digestion of native grasses or hay. Viewing western fashion and wild critters eating alongside domestic herds seems perfectly normal to this entrepreneur and her fellow residents. However, chats with out-of-state customers informed this woman that some see her world as unusual or exotic.

Several times during tourist season, folks stopping through inquire, “What’s going on in town today?” Typically, she hands them a visitor guide and encourages them to explore area museums and nature sites. Eventually, one visitor was more direct and added, “No, why are so many people dressed up like cowboys?”

She peered out the door to note locals dining at the hometown restaurant? “Like those guys?” she asked.

“Yea. Are they dressed for a special event?”

Striving to promote her town, she considered her response. “No, that’s how many people who live here dress. It’s lunch hour.”

Clearly, this confused someone used to urban professional attire. In their experience, business people don’t wear western shirts, jeans, and cowboy boots to the office. As a counter point, those accustomed to rural dress codes would be curious about someone showing up on the job wearing an Armani suit or Manolo heels. It’s not what we’re used to.

Later that summer, more out-of-staters paused to shop and inquire about the area. This approachable woman encourages customers to chat. Before long, someone mentioned farms and ranches they’d passed on their cross-country journey. They wondered how farmers and ranchers managed raising cattle or horses as well as the deer and antelope grazing alongside livestock. Keep in mind, these weren’t high-fenced game farms. These were standard agricultural operations.

A quick glance told my friend the misconception was genuine. She explained only the cows and horses were domestic. Deer and antelope are wild and leap over or crawl under fences anytime they wanted.

She shared these insights with me during a discussion about differences between American regions and how that affects what people know. Though citizens share a common government, it’s clear we don’t necessarily understand one another’s lifestyles. Anyone can take a lesson from this kind woman and make time to clarify misunderstandings. We’d all get along better.

Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.

Kansas panel to review effects of shifting funds to schools

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FILE PHOTO / Kansas News Service

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislative committee is planning to consider the potential problems caused by diverting hundreds of millions of dollars to public schools from other parts of the budget.

The special joint committee is scheduled to meet Monday and Tuesday to continue gathering information. Lawmakers have started work on a response to a Kansas Supreme Court order in October to boost spending on public schools.

Legislators aren’t so much interested in slashing spending in other parts of the budget to provide more money for schools as spelling out the potential harm. Many also don’t want to increase taxes next year.

Lawmakers earlier this year phased in a $293 million increase education funding over two years to make it $4.3 billion annually. The court said that still wasn’t constitutionally adequate.

Domestic violence the topic of January human resources meeting

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The Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall), One Tiger Place, on the campus of Fort Hays State University.

Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m. The program for the January meeting will be “Domestic Violence and Your Workplace: Be Aware. Take Action,” presented by Jenny Cheney, Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services. The program will be submitted for HRCI and SHRM continuing education credits.

If interested in attending as a guest, RSVP to wkhrma.shrm.org no later than noon on Jan. 5. WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management. For more information on WKHRMA, visit www.wkhrma.org.

No. 21 Tigers finish tied for 17th at the Midwest Classic; No. 3 Brandon Ball earns runner-up finish

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Fort Hays State wrestling team finished in a tie for 17th with West Liberty University in the 39th annual Midwest Classic on Sunday (Dec. 17). The Tigers finished with 38 team points. Third-ranked Brandon Ball earned a runner-up finish in the 141-pound weight class in one of the toughest tournaments of the season.

Conrad Cole wrestled in the 125-pound weight class. Cole lost to Joe Arroyo of Wisconsin-Parkside by way of a fall in 6:27 in the first round match. He defeated Alberto Perez of Emmanuel with a 9-1 major decision in the first round of the consolation side. Cole was defeated by Giuseppe Penzone of Tiffin with a 12-4 decision, ending his tournament.

Dy’Juan Carney defeated Chris Spano of Bellermine with a 17-2 technical fall in the first round of the 133-pound weight class. Carney lost to Airk Furseth of Wisconsin-Parkside with a 9-2 decision in the second round match. He picked up a couple of pins in the next two matches, defeating Mike Stewart of Findlay in 4:28 and defeating John Burger of Limestone in 2:51. Carney was one of three Tiger wrestlers to make it to the second day of the tournament. He lost to Naquan Hardy of McKendree in the fourth round on the consolation side with an 11-5 decision.

Third-ranked Brandon Ball defeated Joel Cawoski of Seton Hill with a 9-0 major decision in the first round of the 141-pound weight class. He then defeated Colin Ayers of Augustana with a 5-0 decision to continue rolling through the bracket. Ball used an 11-4 decision over Angelo Robles to advance to the semifinals. With that win, he qualified for day two of the tournament. Ball started Sunday’s action with an 8-2 decision over Robert Mason of Ashland to advance to his fourth title match of the season. He faced Darren Wynn of McKendree, the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at 141 pounds and last season’s runner-up at the NCAA Championships. Ball ultimately dropped the match to Wynn with a 9-3 decision. Ball sits at 17-2 overall on the season.

Ryne Cokeley entered the Midwest Classic in the 157-pound weight class for the Tigers. Cokeley defeated Jake Willochell of Seton Hill with an 8-6 decision in the first round match. He then defeated Ryan Strope of McKendree with a fall in 1:13 to advance to the quarterfinals. Cokeley dropped his next match to Pernevlo Shepperd of Wisconsin-Parkside with a 3-0 decision. Cokeley became the third Tiger to enter the second day of the tournament. He dropped the fourth round match on the consolation side to James Wimer of Findlay with an injury sustained in the match.

Marty Verhaeghe wrestled in the 165-pound weight class for the Tigers. He defeated Jacob Ramsey of West Liberty by way of a fall in 1:57 in his first round match. He then lost two straight matches, ending his tournament to Bret Romanzak of Ashland (6-3 decision) and Regan Bye of Augustana (4-1 decision).

Micah Felton competed in the 184-pound weight class for the Tigers. He won his first round match over Zach Breeden of Mercyhurst with a medical forfeit. He then lost two straight matches, ending his weekend. He fell to Jordan Murphy of Ashland (9-3 decision) and Charlie Hill of Marion (18-11 decision).

Senior Rakim Dean defeated Jody Crouse of Seton Hill with a 12-4 major decision in the first round match of the 197-pound weight class. He then fell to Wes Phipps of Mercyhurst with a 5-3 sudden victory defeat and dropped to Jesse Palser of Lake Erie with a 3-1 decision, ending his tournament.

The Tigers will take some time off for the holidays and come back to host Adams State on Thursday (Jan. 11). The dual against the Grizzlies is set to commence at 7 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Sunny, mild Monday

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Today Sunny, with a high near 59. West southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

Tonight Clear, with a low around 29. South southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 60. Light south southwest wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

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