Ronald E. Colglazier, 82, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. Services are pending at this time. Please check back later for funeral service date and time.
Month: March 2018
Glenn L. Hackerott
Glenn L. Hackerott, 85, of Wichita, Kansas and former Natoma resident, died on Monday, February 26, 2018, at his home in Wichita.
Services are pending at this time. Cremation has been selected by the family and a service will held at a later date. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Douglas Blehm
Douglas Blehm, 68, of Hays, Kansas, passed away Monday, February 26, 2018 at his home in Hays.
Douglas was born May 18, 1949 in Russell, Kansas, the son of Frederic and Phyllis Mae (Shipman) Blehm. He grew up in Russell. Douglas has had to deal with disabilities his whole life and this has limited what he could do.
Douglas’ surviving family include his brother, Mark Blehm (Tia) of Russell, Kansas; nieces, Katy Nuss (Brandon) of Russell, Kansas and Jessica Blehm (Ron Bieberle) of Great Bend, Kansas; and three great nephews, Micah Nuss, Caleb Nuss and Samuel Nuss. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Michael Blehm.
A Graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Hill Crest Cemetery in Florence, Kansas with Pastor John Branson officiating. No visitation will be held. A Memorial has been established with DSNWK Volga House in Hays. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, who is in charge of these arrangements.
North-central Kansas hospital warns of phone scam
SMITH COUNTY — Authorities in Smith County are investigating an alleged scam.
The Smith County Hospital reported on their social media account they had been made aware that residents in the community have recently received telephone calls with caller ID indicating that it is someone from Smith County Memorial Hospital calling.
Apparently the caller then has been asking the resident for credit card information to process a payment.
The hospital reminded area residents that the telephone calls are not coming from Smith County Memorial Hospital
The hospital staff may make calls about outstanding accounts but you will never receive a call from Smith County Memorial Hospital staff asking for payment unless you have first receive a written statement from the hospital with the amount owed.
If at any time you receive a call that caller ID says is from SCMH, and you have any reason to question the validity of the call, hang up and call the hospital from your phone. If the call was valid, hospital staff will confirm. It if is not valid you can help authorities trace the source of the call.
Equifax: Another 2.4 million impacted by 2017 data breach
NEW YORK (AP) — Equifax said Thursday that an additional 2.4 million Americans were impacted by last year’s data breach, however these newly disclosed consumers had significantly less personal information stolen.
The company says the additional consumers only had their names and a partial driver’s license number stolen by the attackers, unlike the original 145.5 million Americans who had their Social Security numbers impacted. Attackers were unable to get the state where the license was issued, the date of issuance or its expiration date.
In total, roughly 147.9 million Americans have been impacted by Equifax’s data breach. It remains the largest data breach of personal information in history.
The company says they were able to find the additional 2.4 million Americans by cross referencing names with partial driver’s license numbers using both internal and external data sources. These Americans were not found in the original breach because Equifax had focused its investigation on those with Social Security numbers impacted. Individuals with stolen Social Security numbers are generally more at risk for identity theft because of how prolific Social Security numbers are used in identity verification.
Equifax Inc. says it will reach out to all newly impacted consumers and will provide the same credit monitoring and identity theft protection services they have been offering to the original victims.
Hays Area Children’s Center Executive Director
The Hays Area Children’s Center, Inc. (HACC) seeks an individual to oversee all programs of the agency, including an 82-child licensed child care center, Infant/Toddler Early Intervention services, Special Health Care Needs program, and Healthy Start Home Visitor services.
Applicants must be licensed as a Director of Special Education or Special Education
Supervisor/Coordinator with District Leadership (Pre K-12). A minimum of two years’ experience with Part C services is required; Early Childhood endorsement preferred. The selected candidate will oversee personnel, financial, licensure, and collaboration with community partners. HACC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, through employment with USD 489 – Hays which includes health insurance. For additional information or to download an application, visit www.hacc.info.
The anticipated start date is June 11, 2018; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
To apply, submit application, resume, cover letter, and three references to:
HACC Executive Director Search Committee
94 Lewis Drive
Hays, KS 67601 EOE/AA
Ellis Co. Undersheriff Hertel retires after four decades in law enforcement
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
After more than four decades in law enforcement, Wednesday marked the final day on the job for Ellis County Undersheriff Bruce Hertel.
He began working as a volunteer for the Hays Police Department in 1971 and retired Wednesday after serving in law enforcement for the past 46 years.
After starting out as a reserve volunteer for the Hays Police Department, the Ellis County native followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in a number of law enforcement positions that included dispatch and clerk, sheriff’s deputy, detective and undersheriff all before being elected sheriff until 1981 — a position he held for 12 years.
Hertel worked in the private sector for a year, before returning to the sheriff’s department as a dispatcher in 1994 and worked in that position until Ed Harbin was elected sheriff in 1997. Harbin picked Hertel to be his undersheriff, a position he has held ever since.
“I enjoyed coming to work, I enjoyed trying to help people, I enjoyed the type of work,” said Hertel, “because you never knew what was coming next.”
But now after all these years, Hertel said he’s “tired of being ready.”
“I dream about sitting back and relaxing for a little while,” he said. “I can do what I want, when I want and not have to worry about going out on a call or worrying about what’s next.”
Hertel said he’s not sure how he will react the first time he sees a police car with its lights and sirens going driving by.
“I’m going to want to know what’s going on,” Hertel said.
While he has no regrets, Hertel admits there have been ups and downs.
“We always think the worst, police officers always have to be prepared for the worst,” Hertel said. “It’s hard to leave it at the door.”
Serving in law enforcement for the length of time and the number of positions that Hertel has he has seen a number of changes.
One of the most significant changes that Hertel has seen is the change in attitude toward law enforcement.
“There’s more disrespect for authority, in general,” Hertel said.
Hertel’s father served as a Lieutenant in Charge of Communications for the Hays Police Department and worked for the Hays PD for more than three decades.
“I know when I was growing up, if I ever talked backed to an officer or ever got in trouble, I was more worried about going home to see Dad then I was about the police,” said Hertel. “We respected police officers and that’s changed quite a bit.
“Unfortunately that turns into your daily life. Even when you’re off duty, you’re looking at people suspiciously.”
Hertel has also seen changes to facilities and equipment.
When he started, the jail capacity was approximately 12. Two law enforcement center remodels later, the current jail has a capacity of about 70.
The changes in equipment might be the biggest change Hertel has seen over the past four decades.
Hertel said, when he started, officers didn’t have portable radios because they would be out of range outside of city limits. Now they can communicate across the state on portable radios.
The implementation of cellphones has also made a dramatic change in the way things are done.
“The (smart) phone I carry right now, it does so many things that I don’t need a lot of different equipment,” Hertel said. “My phone does it.”
From using Polaroid cameras in the early days to developing his own film as a detective, Hertel said the phones have made it much easier.
But not all of the technological improvements have been great, in Hertel’s opinion.
Social media and the press have also made law enforcement’s job more difficult.
“I feel like the information age is sometimes too good,” Hertel said. “We’ll get to a scene and before we need to talk to people or we need talk to family members or notify next of kin and we find out it has been on Facebook for two hours.
“People make determination of things, because of the information age and all the information that gets out, people seem to rush judgement.”
He said it is law enforcement’s job to “find the truth” and make sure not to release information that could hurt the investigation or taint a potential jury.
Hertel said he is looking forward to spending his free time fishing, playing golf and spending time with his family. And while he looks forward to retirement, he will miss the job.
“I’m going to miss the people I work with,” Hertel said. “You’re kind of all brothers, and we kind of rely on each other because some people don’t like law enforcement, they don’t like authority.”
During his 46 years in law enforcement, Hertel worked his way up from the bottom to the top not once but twice and, while he may be seen enjoying a cup of coffee at the Law Enforcement Center from time to time, he said, “there won’t be a third time.”
Kan. couple charged with string of armed robberies
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man and woman have been charged for a string of armed robberies at local businesses in Wichita, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
A federal grand jury indictment charged Savannah Cole, 20, Wichita, Kan., and Kenneth W. Cade, 28, Wichita, Kan., with four counts of robbery and four counts of using firearms to commit robberies. In addition, Cade was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction.
The indictment alleges Cole and Cade committed the following robberies:
- Dollar General Store, 915 S. Glendale in Wichita, Nov. 22, 2017.
- C-Store, 837 S. Oliver in Wichita, Feb. 7, 2018.
- Arby’s, 4308 E. Harry in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018.
- Circle K Store, 515 N. Seneca in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018.
If convicted, they face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each robbery count, and no less than seven years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of using a firearm in a robbery. In addition, Cade faces up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of unlawful possession of a firearm. The FBI and the Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting the case as part Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative targeting violent crime.
🎥 Possible mini-roundabout to be discussed by city commission
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Since Canterbury Drive between 13th and 27th Streets will be restriped later this year for three lanes instead of four, it may be an opportunity to install the first traffic roundabout in the city of Hays.
Mayor James Meier asked for the discussion at tonight’s city commission work session.
The “mini-roundabout” would be temporary, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty, depending on how well it works and how well it’s received by the driving public.
“We would just remove the four stop signs. There would be a movable obstruction placed in the middle of the intersection that would divert traffic around it. There would a little bit of signage going into the roundabout so people would know where to go,” Dougherty explained. He said there little paint would be needed.
Dougherty thinks the intersection would function better as a roundabout.
“It’s a four-way stop that carries periodic heavy traffic. Most of the time when you go through the intersection, you may or may not meet another car you have to wait on. But there are times when school’s getting out, when the hospital employees are getting off shift, or when you have a lot of eastbound traffic on 27th heading out of town, where you can get backups quite a distance, especially waiting on left hand turns.
“If you have the constantly moving vehicles in a roundabout, that traffic should clear out of there a lot quicker and create less of a backup.”
High Plains Baptist Church and its affiliated school sits on the northeast side of the intersection. The Hays Medical Center campus is a couple blocks south of the intersection on Canterbury.
Meier is a pharmacist who works at the hospital.
The complete March 1 city commission work session is available here.
Options offers raffle for Brews on the Bricks tickets
Options Inc.
St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and Options, Inc. has the pot of gold everyone in Hays is looking for—Brews on the Bricks tickets.
Options, Inc. is excited to announce it will have an “Its your Lucky Day! Brews on the Bricks” Raffle, which includes four general admission tickets to the ever popular “Brews on the Bricks” event on April 7 in downtown Hays.
The tickets are paired with two Brews on the Bricks T-shirts, two bottle openers and four lanyards, over a $230 value.
The raffle tickets are $30 each, are available now and can be purchased at Options, Inc. office or at Cervs on Vine Street or Hall Street. The lucky winner will be chosen on St. Patrick’s Day March 17. There are only 150 raffle tickets available so hurry and purchase your tickets for a chance to win.
This year Brews on the Bricks sold out in 10 minutes. Ticket holders will enjoy a wide selection of American craft beer options from over 20 breweries, including Three Rings Brewery out of McPherson, a variety of food vendors, live music and merchandise.
A very big thank you to the Downtown Hays Development Corporation for its generous donation to help Options raise funds for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.
Questions regarding the raffle can be answered by calling 785-625-4202 and asking to speak with Jennifer Hecker, executive director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.
MASON: Professional dress becomes another student service at FHSU
In the mid-1970s, researcher John Molloy wrote “Dress for Success” – a book about the impact of clothing on a person’s success in professional and personal life. The results of his scientific research demonstrated that perceptions matter. Early in my career I was coached to dress for the job you aspire to rather than the job you currently occupy. I found that advice to be wise.
On Friday, Feb. 16, joined by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Fort Hays State University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Tailored for Tigers – a professional clothing closet for all FHSU students. The closet provides professional clothing appropriate for interviews, business presentations, career fairs, or other professional activities.
Student success has always been at the core of everything we do at FHSU. We focus on opportunity by keeping our tuition low and providing scholarships. We deliver a myriad of student support services facilitated by a faculty and staff who focus on student achievement from application to graduation and beyond. Tailored for Tigers is another great example of how our ethic of care and attention to a holistic student experience contributes to a post-graduation success rate of 96 percent for acceptance into graduate or professional school or employment within six months of graduation.
I know our dedicated and very talented faculty create learning experiences that produce outstanding, highly qualified graduates. But as Molloy demonstrated, it takes more than just knowledge to successfully navigate one’s career. As the Tailored for Tigers website says: “A nice appearance is an investment in your career. An interviewer’s decision not to hire an applicant is usually made within the first thirty seconds of an interview. That’s a lot of sizing up in a little time – mostly on the basis of your appearance.” The site goes on to indicate that about 80 percent of that impression comes before a word is spoken, and that the more professional a person looks not only increases the chance of being hired but may also increase the starting salary by as much as 8 to 20 percent!
We know that some of our students do not have the financial means to purchase professional attire. Others may have clothing back home but long distances – from out of state to out of country – may hinder a student’s ability to get the required clothing in time for an important opportunity that may arise spontaneously. Regardless of the situation, Tailored for Tigers is a readily accessible service for FHSU students.
I always enjoy learning the story behind the story, which in this case began with alumna Jessica Thompson, a high school business teacher who graduated in 2013 with two degrees. Jessica mentioned to her former professor and Collegiate DECA adviser Scott Jones that she was in need of materials for her classroom. As they explored her vision, a poster campaign on business attire for men and women was created. Working with Mr. Jones, FHSU student Felix Albl led the effort to create the campaign. Current students served as models, and six posters depicting business and business casual attire for men and for women were produced and mailed to high schools throughout the state. Those posters continue to be requested.
Fueled with passion and a vision for something impactful on campus, the team set out to create the professional clothing closet. Felix and Mr. Jones found stores that were closing and called to acquire clothing racks, mirrors, and other store essentials. Faculty, staff, and community members donated clothing. Key partnerships were formed: Deb Ludwig, dean of Forsyth Library, offered space in the library to house the program; Karen McCullough, director of Career Services, stepped up to staff the closet; and Master Cleaners signed on as a corporate sponsor providing dry cleaning services. Thus, a meaningful new FHSU program was born thanks to the inspiration of Jessica Thompson, the vision of Felix Albl and Scott Jones, the long-term commitment of Career Services, and the generosity of Master Cleaners, the library, and many others who continue to donate time, talent and treasure. Tailored for Tigers is indeed another example of heart and home alive at FHSU!
Tailored for Tigers (fhsu.edu/Tailored-for-Tigers) is always accepting donations. New or gently used professional attire may be dropped off at Career Services (Sheridan Hall 214) or Master Cleaners (200 West Eighth St.); monetary contributions may also be sent to the FHSU Foundation.
George Warren Kee
George Warren Kee passed away on February 18, 2018 at his residence in Brownwood, Texas at the age of 54. He was born on January 17, 1954 in Hays, Kansas to James Warren and Evelyn Irene Kee. He lived in Alton, Kansas briefly and spent the majority of his childhood on the family ranch in Woodston, Kansas.
George attended schools in Woodston and Stockton and graduated from Stockton High School. He dearly loved football, hunting, and fishing.
George is survived by his son Adam Kee of Hays; mother Evelyn Kee of Plainville; and brothers Ray Luhman and wife Diana of Colby, Jim Kee and wife Erny of Stockton, Wayne Kee of Alton, and Gary Kee and wife Karin of Oxford, IA.
He was preceded in death by his father Jim Kee and his sister Nancy Harmon.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 12, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., at the Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton, Kansas. Inurnment will follow in the Woodston Cemetery in Woodston, Kansas.
KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 3/1/18
Good Wishes
A retired man who volunteers to entertain patients in nursing homes and hospitals went to a hospital and took his portable keyboard along. He told some jokes and sang some funny songs at patients’ bedsides.
When he finished he said, in farewell, “I hope you get better.”
One elderly gentleman replied, “I hope you get better, too.”
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