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Month: January 2018

Low Income Energy Assistance applications start Jan. 16

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DCF

TOPEKA – Heating your home during the winter months can create a financial burden. In an effort to help keep Kansans warm this winter, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) will begin accepting applications for its Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

“No family should have to endure the frigid temperatures of the winter months without proper heating,” DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel said. “Our LIEAP program ensures low-income Kansans are able to escape the cold in the warmth of their homes.”

LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In 2017, nearly 38,000 households received an average benefit of $525.

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.

Applications for the program have been mailed to households that received energy assistance last year. LIEAP applications are also available at local DCF offices and through partnering agencies starting Jan. 16. They can be requested by calling 1-800-432-0043. To apply online, visit www.lieap.dcf.ks.gov. More information is available athttp://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Energy/EnergyAssistance.aspx.

Applications will be accepted from Jan. 16 to March 30.

 

HHS pep band students contribute to home basketball games

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Sophomore Chloe Fitzhugh plays her trumpet during a break in the basketball game. (Photo by Abby Balman)

By Rebekah Porter
HHS Guidon

At every home varsity basketball game, high school band can be heard playing the Fight Song along with many other songs.

Pep band is made up of students in the Spring Semester M1 band class, who spend their class periods rehearsing for concerts, and basketball games, and are directed by Matthew Rome.

“Every now and again we get a day dedicated to pep band, but we mainly focus on music for contest and concerts,” sophomore Joanna A CarrilloMaldonado said.

In pep band the students play several songs, some from the marching season, but they also play several new songs.

“Both (marching band and pep band) are really fun, but if I had to choose I guess I would say pep band because it’s inside and I don’t have to learn marching routines,” sophomore Michaela Austin said.

Musicians are typically in the stands of the band section ready to play by 5:50 and play music to entertain the crowd before and during the game. They usually take the third quarter of both boys and girls games off to get a snack and do anything else they need to before reporting back to the stands.

Junior Paige Zamecnik said that her favorite part of the games is getting to hang out with friends and making memories.

Pep band plays for all home varsity basketball games, entertaining the crowd during timeouts and between games. They always close the night by playing the Alma Mater, a tradition started by Rome.

“Playing the Alma Mater was a tradition I stole from my college,” Rome said. “It started when I was a student at Fort Hays, and I thought it was just a really cool thing. It just kind of grew and that’s what I wanted to bring here, and it was kind of fun, my first year, to watch the same process happen. That first game everyone was confused, then a few games in they caught on and were like ‘hey, lets go do that thing.’”

HaysMed welcomes new orthopedic spine surgeon

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De Carvalho

Hays Medical Center

Dr. Max Franco De Carvalho, spine surgeon, has joined the Medical Staff of HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System.

Dr. De Carvalho received his medical degree from the Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil. He completed an orthopedic residency at the National Institute of Trauma and Orthopedics in Rio de Janeiro. Dr. De Cavalho completed fellowships in spine surgery at the Klinikum Karlsbad Langensteinbach in Germany and a minimally invasive spine surgery fellowship at Wooridul Spine Hospital in South Korea. He completed Advanced Fellowship training in Orthopedics Trauma at the New Mexico University in Albuquerque, New Mexico; spine surgery at Twin Cities Spine Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Pediatric Orthopedics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He has conducted research in Brazil and the United states and has published extensively in orthopedic books and journals.

When away from the office, Dr. DeCarvalho enjoys many physical activities including tennis and swimming. He also enjoys studying foreign languages and is fluent in English, Portuguese, German and Spanish.

Dr. DeCarvalho’s areas of focus include Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Trauma, Pediatric Orthopedics and General Orthopedics. He joins Dr. Gulraiz Cheema, Dr. Timothy Wright and Dr. Wally Walstrom at the Orthopedic Institute.

To schedule an appointment call 785-261-7599.

Kan. man jailed for alleged online threat to shoot up hospital

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Penland-photo courtesy Ottawa Police

FRANKLIN COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged criminal threat.

Just before 8:30 Saturday, police arrested Jeremy Penland, 38 years old, of Ottawa, Kansas, after  criminal threats were posted publicly in his name on social media threatening to “shoot up” Ransom Memorial Health (RMH) located at 1301 S. Main Street, in Ottawa, Kansas, according to a media release.

Before attempts were made to locate Penland and confirm the threats, RMH chose to lock down the facility at 7:17 p.m.  Ottawa Police Officers and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to the hospital to protect the staff and patients from potential harm.

A separate team of officers were assembled in order to locate Penland.  During this effort a vehicle was seen leaving the house of a Penland associate.  At 8:18 p.m. officers made traffic stop on E. 2nd Street near the intersection with S. Cedar.

The driver of the car was cooperative, but a man ignored officers’ instructions and exited the car.   He was recognized by officers, deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers as Penland.  Penland would not follow officers’ instructions and concealed one of his hands behind his back before fleeing down an alley between E. 2nd and E. 3rd Streets.

Penland ran west between houses and was apprehended near S. Cedar Street after being subdued with a Taser and taken into custody at 8:22 p.m.

Officers arrested Penland and transported him to the hospital for a medical evaluation because of the Taser deployment.   The driver of the car was cooperative and released from the scene of the traffic stop.

After treatment, officers transported Penland to jail on suspicion of making criminal threats in the RMH incident. He was also arrested on charges in other cases from earlier in the day and in past several days.

He is being held on held on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal threat, child endangerment, domestic battery, reckless driving, aggravated criminal threat and interference of judicial process according to the Franklin County Jail.

Priscilla Marie (Newell) Burton-Emigh

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Priscilla Marie (Newell) Burton-Emigh, 95, passed away peacefully January 13, 2018, in Hays, Kansas. She was born on the family farm in Rural Rooks County, January 21, 1922. Priscilla was the oldest of seven children born to Arthur and Alice (Thibault) Newell. As the oldest, it fell on Priscilla’s shoulders to help her mother with all the younger children and the household chores.

When Priscilla started grade school her only language was French. So not only did she have to learn the usual things, but to understand and speak English. After the eighth grade, Priscilla was needed at home, so her formal education was over.

On February 5, 1940, Priscilla was joined in marriage to Fremont Burton in Damar, Kansas. To this union was born five sons: Lester, David, Albert, Raymond and Martin. When Martin was only two, Fremont suffered a fatal heart attack, August 11, 1956. Now Priscilla was alone to raise these five boys with the oldest only 16. Somehow she managed. She moved the family into Damar and became the school cook and a self- taught beautician. Following the tragic car-train accident of her brother Mitchell, who was not only severely injured, but also lost his wife and son, Priscilla moved to his home in Lyons to see him through his long recovery.

Mitchell did recover and repaid Priscilla by sending her to cosmetology school in Wichita. The boys at that time lived with their Newell grandparents. After completing her course, Priscilla purchased a double wide trailer which served as both a home and a beauty shop.

Priscilla married Norris Emigh November 30, 1968 and moved to his farm south of Selden. They were married 21 years. Norris died in 1989.

Now Priscilla moved to Hays to be close to her mother. Hays became her home till her health required her to have more assistance. She moved to Salina to an assisted living facility. Eventually she returned to Hays to be closer to family and more hands on care. She entered Via Christi and was so happy to see the Chapel that gave the opportunity to attend Mass on a regular basis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Robert and Mitchell; sisters: Odella Bedard, and Eleanor Bellerive; sons, David and Raymond; and stepson Keith Emigh.

Leaving to carry on her legacy of hard work, unconditional love and undying faith are her sons: Lester (Verlee) Burton of Salina, Albert (Leonore) Burton of Hill City and Martin (Anita) Burton of Bird City; and stepson John Leigh (Sherian) Emigh; brother Eloise Newell of Hays; sister Patricia (Duane) Belisle of Damar; 25 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and 27 great great-grandchildren; many other relatives and friends.

While her 95 plus years were filled with good times and laughter, she also endured hardships. Through these trials, her faith allowed her to remain an example of faith, hope and love for her family and all those who knew her. Her devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Holy Rosary began at an early age and remained strong to the end. Rest in Peace, Priscilla.

Services will be 10 am Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Damar Kansas. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan 16, 2017 6 pm – 8 pm with a family led rosary service at 7 pm all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Home & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.

Wednesday visitation will be at the church from 9 am until service time.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph’s Church in Damar or for Masses.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]

Elmer F. Herrman Sr.

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The Janousek Funeral Home of La Crosse, Kansas, has announced funeral services for Elmer F. Herrman Sr., 87, of Liebenthal will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal.

Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Liebenthal.

Neil A. Kuhn

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Victoria, Kansas – Neil A. Kuhn, age 77, died Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at his home in Victoria, Kansas.

He was born September 10, 1940 in Hays, Kansas to Emil A. and Luella M. (Walters) Kuhn.

Neil was a forklift operator and worked for 7 UP Bottlers in Hays for 10 years, then he worked at Western Bottlers in Victoria for 8 years. He was a mechanic and repaired engines and built racing engines for many years at his home. He attended Victoria High School, was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis and was a caregiver for parents for many years.

Survivors include one brother, Jim Kuhn, Coldwater, KS; two sisters, Helene Staton, Hays, KS; and Carol Kuhn, Hays, Ks, one sister-in-law, Gail Kuhn, Carl Junction, MO; eight nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Dave Kuhn; and one niece, Jennifer Bishop.

Services are 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at the Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas. Inurnment will be in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

The family will receive friends for 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. Fidelis Cemetery or Masses. Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.

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

Marie L. Hogan

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Former Prairie View resident Marie L. Hogan passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at the Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, IL at the age of 92.

She was born in Phillips County on July 28, 1925, the daughter of Jake & Bertha (Lokhorst) Van Loenen. In 1946 she married Wilmer L. Hogan in Prairie View. He preceded her in death on July 14, 2014.

Survivors include her sons, Leon, of Annandale, NJ and Lauren, of Northbrook, IL; two grandchildren; two great grandchildren; a brother, James VanLoenen of Madison, WI; and a sister, Bette Tien of Prairie View, KS.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 10:30 a.m. in the Luctor Christian Reformed Church in Phillips County, with Pastor Aaron Rust officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery, Prairie View.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family greeting friends from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Luctor Christian Reformed Church, Delta Kappa Gamma, or the Rehoboth Christian School.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.

SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest is underway

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SHPTV

BUNKER HILL – Children have incredible imaginations and what better way to foster that imagination, than for them to write their own stories. We would like to invite you to join Smoky Hills Public Television as we encourage children in central and western Kansas to build critical literacy skills by creating their own stories and taking part in the SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest.

Smoky Hills Public Television is looking for stories from kids throughout the viewing area. The SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest is designed to be a valuable, hands-on, active learning tool. The contest is for children in grades K-3.

The contest is currently underway, and entries can be submitted to SHPTV through March 30, 2018. Smoky Hills Public Television will select local winners and award prizes in April or May. The rules and entry form are available at www.smokyhillstv.org.

Ellis City Council to continue talk of property condemnations

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ELLIS – Although Monday is the federal holiday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Ellis City Council will still meet on its regular day.

Agenda items include continued discussion of resolutions for condemnation of properties. In new business, council members will discuss a high efficiency toilet rebate program and also consider an ordinance that would set special sanitation rates by resolution.

The complete meeting agenda follows.

 

AGENDA

January 15, 2018

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS

City Hall – Council Meeting Room

 

BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)

  • CONSENT AGENDA
    1. Minutes from Regular Meeting on January 2, 2018
    2. Minutes from Regular Meeting on January 8, 2018
    3. Bills Ordinance #2037

(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda.  By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes.  If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson.  ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment.  Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)

  • PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
    1. Presentation of Citizen’s Awards – Senior Citizens Advisory Committee
  • SPECIAL ORDER
    1. Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Dustin Vine
    2. Presentation of Advertising Proposal from the Ellis Review
  • UNFINISHED BUSINESS
    1. Consider Resolutions for Condemnation of Properties
  • NEW BUSINESS
    1. Discuss High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program
    2. Consider Ordinance Setting Special Sanitation Rates by Resolution
    3. Consider Purchase of Street Material
  • REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
    1. Administrative
      • Public Works
        • Summary of Violations Cited at 210 E. 11th Street
        • Department Update
      • Police
        • Department Update
      • City Clerk
        • Health Insurance Savings Report
        • Catastrophic Sick Leave Summary
        • Safety Committee Annual Report
        • Department Update
      • Attorney
        • Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
      • Mayor Update and Announcements

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

  • ADJOURNMENT

Eugene D. ‘Gene’ Hotz

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Hays, Kansas – Eugene D. “Gene” Hotz, age 85, died Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.

He was born April 15, 1932, on the farm at Almena, Kansas to Walter Harold and Alice Cora (Wilmot) Hotz. He married Carol Marie (Holsman) on March 28, 1959 at Hays, Kansas. She preceded him in death on August 20, 2017.

He worked for the Social Security Administration for over 30 years in offices at Burlington, Iowa; Lincoln, NE; Ottumwa, Iowa, and then in Hays, Kansas. He retired in 1994 as the administrator/manager. He was a veteran of the US Army. Gene was a 1949 graduate of Almena Rural High School, he attended one year at Kansas State University and a graduate of Fort Hays State College.

He was an avid outdoorsman and in his early years he enjoyed hunting and then his later years he spent his time fishing. He enjoyed pitching horse shoes, darts, pool and playing cards. During his college years he was a pitcher with the semi-pro circuit.

Survivors include one son, Steven Hotz, Liberty, MO; one daughter, Susan Kreutzer and husband, Roger, Hays, KS; one brother, Richard Hotz, Camre LaCourna, Spain

three grandchildren, Hayden, Collyn, and Emily Kreutzer; four nephews and three nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carol; and one brother, Keith Hotz.

Services are at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. Burial in Stockton City Cemetery, Stockton, Kansas.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Memorial to the Kansas Fish and Game. Condolences can be left by guestbook at
www.keithlkeyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

MADORIN: Getting used to country noises

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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.

Those who’ve grown up in urban areas get used to round the clock mechanized sounds. Hearing lawn mowers, leaf blowers, drivers gunning engines, or jets roaring overhead causes no panic. In fact, car alarms, sirens, and even crashes at nearby intersections generate only short-term interest. Move that same population to the country and note how their eyes widen at every noise.

No matter a sound’s origin, imagination multiplies it. A squeak or scritch in the wall is a rodent infestation. Coyotes howling alarms pets and humans alike. You’d think werewolves had invaded. A rabbit shrieking its death cry is enough to send former city dwellers into a catatonic state. Knowing this about my former big city neighbors, I wondered how I’d handle living a mile from our nearest neighbor when we moved from the edge of Ellis to an isolated hilltop in Trego County.

It didn’t take long to find out. We moved in December, and resident wild canines serenaded us to sleep on wintry nights. In short time, I looked forward to these rural lullabies. We also had nesting owls in a tree outside our bedroom. Again, once I recognized the source of those sleep inducing hoots and murmurs, I nodded off quickly. The occasional death cries of expiring cottontails raised my heart rate, but once I identified the source, I knew another hilltop inhabitant had dined well.

What I wasn’t prepared for were unexpected and repetitive tap, tap, tappings of woodpeckers. All those trees lining nearby Big Creek and the cedar siding on our house turned the area into a battle of feathered percussionists. Because we fed black oil sunflower seeds and suet to resident birds, we regularly enjoyed watching the unique flight pattern of sapsuckers, flickers, redheaded, hairy, and downy woodpeckers. They joined a myriad of other species at our feeders. All our guests were delightful, but the hard-headed, sharp-beaked creatures especially charmed us.

That is until they decided to drill for insects in our cedar siding. The first time this happened, it was early morning and our resident game warden was on duty checking hunters. A sharp and continual rapping on the north side of the house awakened me and our young daughters from deep sleep.

After peering out windows, expecting to see someone parked in the drive and pounding unceasingly on the outside wall, I was surprised to find no vehicle in sight. When we couldn’t identify the source of the intense and unending tapping, the girls’ and my imaginations went into over drive. We’d watched one too many scary movies.

For just a while, had someone been recording, the three of us would have qualified for America’s Funniest Home Videos. Pajama clad, we crept about looking for our tormentor and trying to decide whether this situation required a 911 call. Thank God, we identified our intruder before we punched that button.

Upon further inspection, I found a pair of flickers wildly attacking our siding. Intent on a tasty meal, they hammered til my presence drove them from their perch.

Recalling that incident and my response still makes me blush. After years of hearing only nature’s noises, I’m a country convert. A few hours in a metropolis and my brain reels from so much man-made sound.

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.

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