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Month: April 2018

Warm, windy Thursday

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Today Sunny, with a high near 88. East northeast wind 7 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Breezy, with a southeast wind 17 to 21 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.

Friday A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 60. Windy, with a northwest wind 17 to 26 mph.

Friday NightA chance of rain and snow before midnight, then a chance of snow and freezing rain between midnight and 1am, then a chance of snow after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Very windy, with a northwest wind 31 to 39 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday A chance of snow before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 2pm and 3pm, then a slight chance of rain after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Very windy, with a north northwest wind around 39 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Very windy.

Longtime Kan. Farm Bureau president chosen to chair Colyer campaign

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Former Kansas Farm Bureau president Steve Baccus
Governor Jeff Colyer today announced the selection of former Kansas Farm Bureau President and long-time advocate for agriculture in Kansas, Steve Baccus to serve as Campaign Chairperson for Colyer for Governor.

“From years of association with Dr. Colyer I know very well how committed he is to serving the people of Kansas and growing our state,” said Baccus. “I look forward to helping him continue that service by winning the 2018 gubernatorial election. He is the right person to continue leading our great state forward.”

Baccus is a fourth generation farmer from North Central Kansas, where he has run a significant grain operation since 1977. He has a wide range of experience serving on city and county boards and committees including the 4-H Foundation and Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership. Over the past twenty years he has served in various branches of the local, state and national Farm Bureau associations. Most notably, serving 14 years as the president of the Kansas Farm Bureau from 2002-2014.

“We could not have asked for a stronger, more qualified individual to join our campaign for Governor,” said Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., “Steve knows Kansas and its people, and cares about our state’s success and growth as much as I do. He will be my trusted advocate and advisor as he travels the state listening to the concerns of Kansans and communicating regularly with me on how I can best serve them as their Governor.”

“I have worked with Steve for many years to advocate for Kansas’ rural and agricultural communities. I have complete confidence that he will be a great partner and advisor for Governor Colyer and I, as we travel the state listening to Kansans concerns and working on the issues that matter most to them,” said Lt. Governor Tracey Mann, “Steve will help us get that message across and show Kansans that Governor Colyer is the right choice to lead Kansas in to the future.”

— Submitted

Tiger baseball falls to Lopers in offensive explosion

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KEARNEY, Neb. – Despite putting up 17 runs on a season-high 19 hits, the Fort Hays State baseball team came up on the losing end of an offensive extravaganza Wednesday, falling to Nebraska-Kearney in the Tigers’ final trip to Memorial Field, 26-17. The Tigers tallied four home runs in the loss while the Lopers totaled eight long balls, one off the conference record.

Fort Hays State is now 13-23 on the year and 5-17 in MIAA play, while UNK improves to 20-15 overall and 13-8 in conference action.

The lead changed hands five times in the back-and-forth affair before the Lopers took control once and for all with a seven-run fifth inning. At least one runner reached base in all but one half-inning. Both teams had plenty of other scoring opportunities, both stranding nine runners on base.

After being shut out by UNK two weeks ago in Hays, the Tigers came out with a vengeance, pushing across three runs on three hits in the first inning thanks to Cody Starkel’s opposite-field home run. The Lopers responded with a five-spot in the first to take a two run lead after one frame.

The Tigers closed within one when Marcus Altman, who reached on a double into the right field corner, came in to score on an RBI groundout from Jason Nicholson. Following a pair of two-out base hits, Alex Weiss sent an outside pitch soaring over the fence in right center, plating a trio of runs to give the Tigers the lead once again, 7-5.

The Lopers had two runners reach base in the bottom of the second, but a double play ended what would prove to be the only scoreless inning for UNK all afternoon.

Fort Hays State doubled its lead when it manufactured a pair of runs in the third. Starkel pulled the first pitch into the left field corner for a double before Ryan Grasser worked a walk. Starkel later came in to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Altman before Nicholson picked up his second RBI of the day with a sharp single to center, stretching the FHSU advantage to 9-5.

Nebraska-Kearney went back in front with six runs across the next two innings, but the Tigers still had a few tricks up their sleeves. The bottom three of the order all reached base to open the top of the fifth, bringing leadoff man Addison Kaasch to the plate with the bases loaded. The infielder swung at the first pitch he saw, pulling a line drive just over the wall inside the left field foul pole for FHSU’s first grand slam of the season. Kaasch’s third home run of the season put the Tigers in front yet again, 13-11.

The home team went in front for good after swatting three home runs in the fifth inning, grabbing an 18-13 lead in the process. After the Lopers tacked on three more runs in the sixth, Fort Hays State rallied for four seventh-inning runs to close within 21-17. Kaasch led off with a double before coming around to score on Weiss’ second home run of the game, this time a two-run blast to straightaway center.

Starkel kept the inning alive with a two-out single down the line before a pitch hit Grasser and an error allowed Jordan Wilkerson to reach and load the bases. Altman and Nicholson followed with back-to-back singles, both driving in a run to keep the Tigers within striking distance.

Kaasch and Weiss both finished a triple shy of the cycle, picking up four hits apiece on the day. Four other Tigers collected multiple base knocks, including three each for Starkel and Altman. Weiss drove in a career-high five RBI after recording his first multi-homer game as a Tiger. Cole Schumacher struck out three batters in two innings of relief, while Austin Weiser (1-1) took the loss.

The Tigers will return to Larks Park on Thursday (April 12) when they take on Northeastern State in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

Kansas man admits killing his grandmother

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MOUND CITY – A Kansas man Wednesday pleaded no contest to two counts of first-degree premeditated murder for the 2016 deaths of two family members, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

McNabb-photo Linn Co.

David Patrick McNabb, 32, Pittsburg, pleaded no contest to the two counts of first-degree premeditated murder as well as one count of felony theft and one count of interference with law enforcement. District Court Judge Mark Ward accepted the pleas and adjudged McNabb guilty of the crimes. The charges stemmed from the November 2016 deaths of McNabb’s uncle, Kenneth McNabb, and grandmother, Betty McNabb.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Linn County District Court.

The case was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Attorneys General Jessica Domme and Jason Oxford of Schmidt’s office are prosecuting the case.

Kansas to post mug shots of those owing back child support

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas plans to post mug shots of people who owe back child support in an effort to shame them into paying or get tips on their location.

Image courtesy Kansas DCF

The program called Child Support Evaders features a website hosted on the Kansas Department for Children and Families showing people who owe more than $5,000 in late support. It includes their name, photo, amount owed, number of children owed support. It also allows the public to submit tips anonymously on where the person might be located.

The initiative is among a growing number of similar programs around the country.

Arizona launched a campaign in 2016 to post on Facebook and Twitter the names and photos of individuals behind on support. Texas, Louisiana and Georgia also have similar programs.

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Police: Kansas officer injured in motorcycle crash

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say one of its motorcycle officers is in serious condition after a crash in Wichita.

Her injuries are not life-threatening.

First responders on the scene of the motorcycle crash-photo courtesy KWCH

Lt. Jeff Allen says the officer was caught in an “accordion effect” as vehicles began slowing down Wednesday for construction. The Wichita Eagle reports that as the officer tried to change lanes, she clipped the back of a pickup truck.

He says the pickup had a topper that is believed to have prevented her from seeing that other vehicles were slowing down.

She was taken to a hospital with significant injuries to her face.

Allen said the officer has been with the department for 20 years and trains other motorcycle officers.

Seager’s homer in 8th sends Mariners past Royals

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Scott Servais reclined in a chair in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, a big smile on the Seattle manager’s face, and spoke before the first reporter could ask a question.

“Long road trip, happy road trip,” he said. “Cold road trip.”

Most of it.

The weather finally turned Wednesday and gave Seattle a warm, sun-splashed afternoon in Kansas City, and Servais’ club made sure to relish the spring-like temperatures. Kyle Seager hit a go-ahead homer with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Mariners held on to beat the Royals 4-2 to wrap up a winning seven-game journey that covered 10 days and about 5,200 miles.

Seattle went 4-3 on its visits to San Francisco, Minnesota and Kansas City.

“I thought we played really good baseball, and getting these wins the past two games really sets the pace for us going home,” said James Paxton, who matched a career-best with 10 strikeouts over six sharp innings before turning the game over to the Seattle bullpen.

Nick Vincent (1-0) worked a perfect seventh, and Juan Nicasio retired three in a row after putting runners on the corners, before closer Edwin Diaz entered for the ninth.

Diaz worked around shortstop Jean Segura’s second error of the game to earn his fourth save.

“Our guys up and down the lineup, but probably the top of the lineup, have been outstanding, really driving the train for us,” Servais said. “I like where we’re at.”

The Royals’ Danny Duffy and Brad Keller turned a 2-2 game over to reliever Justin Grimm (0-1), and he quickly got the first two outs in the eighth. But after walking Mitch Haniger, the reliever hung a 1-1 pitch that Seager popped into the Royals’ bullpen in right field.

Seager also drove in a run with sacrifice fly in the first to provide most of Seattle’s offense.

“After the first inning really good, but you don’t get to subtract any inning from any outing,” Duffy said. “When I take the ball, I expect the bullpen not to be used much, and that hasn’t been the case. I was off in the first inning. There was no excuse for that.”

What turned into a pitchers’ duel Wednesday looked as if it’d be a high-scoring affair early.

Duffy gave up a single, walked three, withstood an ugly error by his catcher and at one point loaded the bases, only to escape the inning having surrendered just two runs.

Paxton countered by walking his first batter and allowing a single, but came through unscathed when Jon Jay was thrown out trying to steal third and Cheslor Cuthbert grounded out to end the inning.

The Royals eventually knotted the game at 2 in the fourth on Paulo Orlando’s two-out double.

Duffy’s pitch count did him in, and the left-hander was lifted after getting the first out in the fifth inning. He allowed four hits and three walks but also struck out seven.

Paxton scattered six hits and a walk while keeping the Royals at bay.

“Paxton did a great job of bearing down when we got runners in scoring position. We were 1-for-11,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Not real productive in that phase of our game today.”

STATS AND STREAKS

The Mariners’ Dee Gordon extended his hit streak to 16 games dating to last season. … Seager had four go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later last season. … The Royals fell to 3-7, their worst start through 10 games since 2012. They’ve allowed 42 runs in their seven losses and no runs in their three wins. … The Royals’ Mike Moustakas went 2 for 4, his fourth straight multi-hit game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: DH Nelson Cruz (sprained ankle) did some running before the game. Servais said he hopes Cruz will be able to return to the lineup this weekend.

Royals: RHP Nate Karns (elbow inflammation) continues to throw side sessions, and Yost said the last hurdle to his return is some fluid on the outside of his elbow dissipating. Yost says that Karns will likely head to the bullpen when he returns.

UP NEXT

Mariners: After a day off, RHP Mike Leake takes the mound Friday night when the Mariners open a seven-game homestand with three games against the Oakland Athletics.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy tries to build on a solid start to his season when the Royals begin a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Record-setting effort highlights national runner-up finish for FHSU Shotgun Team

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Team has members from Colorado, Nebraska, California, Wisconsin, Kansas

By DIANE GASPER O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

When his team finishes in the top five at nationals for 10 consecutive years, a coach tends to have high expectations for post-season action.

The Fort Hays State University Shotgun Team didn’t disappoint Dr. Duane Shepherd the last week of March at the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Collegiate Clay Target Championships in San Antonio.

The team of American Skeet shooters recorded a near perfect score of 499 out of 500 to win that event. That set a tournament record and also is FHSU’s best score in the history of the sport, surpassing the club’s previous best mark of 496.

That performance propelled FHSU into second place overall among Division II schools. It marked the fifth runner-up national finish for Fort Hays State since 2011 to go along with three national titles. Two of those national championships have come in ACUI competition, while the other came in the fall of 2016 at the Scholarship Clay Target Program (SCTP) season finale.

Shepherd, an assistant professor health and human performance at FHSU who is in his 13th year of coaching the team, calls this his deepest squad ever.

“We have kids all across the board putting up big numbers,” he said. “We’ve had several shoot 100s, but the thing is can they all do it at the same time?”

They did last week in American Skeet when Michael Saint, Wyatt Pursell, Riley Ross and Austin Svoboda all shot perfect 100s, and Cody Escritt was just one point shy of perfection with a 99.

“I’m really not too amazed at anything these kids accomplish,” Shepherd said. “The great thing is, not only are they quality shooters, they are quality young men and women.”

The majority of the FHSU squad is made up of men, but one of the women on the team records some of the top scores on the team.

Heather Gordon, a sophomore from Pine Valley, Calif., was part of two first-place teams and recorded the highest overall (HOA) score for women in trap events. Svoboda, a senior from Burwell, Neb., also earned HOA honors in combined American events for men. In all, Svoboda was part of three championship teams at nationals and helped two others place third en route to earning first-place All-America honors.

Ross earned second-team All-America honors, while Escritt and Saint made the honorable mention list. Ross, a freshman from St. Paul, Neb., brought home one of the top individual honors by winning the long target contest.

It was the fifth All-America effort in as many tries for Svoboda. But he is quick to give the entire squad credit for FHSU’s success.

“It’s fun because we haven’t had this deep of team until this year,” he said. “We’re all pretty well best friends and have the same common interests, so it makes the trips fun. I get to do what I love with friends.”

The trip to San Antonio was the second fun, and successful, one to that city in an eight-week span for Svoboda and Co. In February, FHSU swept all three events en route to winning the ACUI Lower Midwest Conference Championship in San Antonio.

Four weeks later, Fort Hays State won all six events at the ACUI Clay Targets Western Super Shoot in Tucson, Ariz. FHSU was led by Svoboda and Gordon, who won HOA honors in both International and American events for male and female shooters, respectively.

That meet then was followed by another impressive showing at nationals.

“It’s been a great spring for sure,” Svoboda said, “but everyone’s a little bummed how we did at nationals. We thought we could have done better and won it all.”

Students are able to compete in shooting sports six years in college, so Svoboda is looking forward to his final collegiate competition during the 2018-19 school year.

“We’ll have the same team next year, so we’ll be hungry,” said Svoboda, who is set to graduate with a degree in construction technology this December.

Svoboda knew he wanted to participate in either football or shooting sports in college after growing up with both – he played football since grade school and participated in shooting sports as a youngster in 4-H, then in high school as well. After he was injured in football during his senior year of high school, he decided to look for a school that offered construction technology degree and a solid shooting sports team as well. He found both at Fort Hays State.

“That’s the way it works for a lot of our students,” Shepherd said. “They’re looking for a college that has a good reputation in their major field of study and a good shooting sports team. We’re very blessed to have the number of degree programs that we offer here at Fort Hays State and that we have the opportunity to compete at the highest levels in shooting sports, too.”

Following are the names of students who competed at nationals and the regional meet in meet – and the results from both events.

National and Regional Super Shoot competitors
Akron, Colo. (80720): Jenny Schoenecker, junior (nationals)
Aurora, Neb. (68818): Lane Sorensen, freshman (nationals)
Burwell, Neb. (68823): Austin Svoboda, senior (both)
Cambridge, Neb. (69022): Jake Whipple, junior (both)
Crete, Neb. (68333): Caleb Scholz, senior (nationals)
Colby (67701): Keegan Morgan, junior (both)
Cole Ziegelmeier, freshman (nationals)
Jay Ziegelmeier, Colby (both)
Janesville, Wis. (53548): Luke Heinzen, sophomore (both)
Jewell (66949): Michael Saint, senior (both)
Minneola (67865): Jerrod Lies, senior (both)
Pine Valley, Calif. (92036): Heather Gordon, sophomore (both)
Pleasanton (66075): Hunter Secrest, freshman (nationals)
Pleasanton, Neb. (68869): Cody Escritt, senior (both)
St. Paul, Neb. (68873): Riley Ross, freshman (both)
Topeka (66610): Wyatt Pursell, sophomore (both)
Yoder (67585): Cordell Waggoner, freshman (nationals)

FHSU national results
(ACUI Collegiate Clay Target Championships)
Individual awards
• Gordon – third, American trap (women) and third, Olympic ISO ladies bunker; HOA combined trap events (women).
• Svoboda – NRA first team All-American; HOA combined American events (men).
• Ross – First, long target contest; second, American Skeet; NRA second team All-American.
• Escritt – NRA honorable mention All-American.
• Pursell – third, American skeet.
• Saint – NRA honorable mention All-American.
Team awards
• HOA (highest overall) – second, Division II.
• American skeet – first: Escritt, Pursell, Ross, Saint, Svoboda (499 of 500).
• American trap – first: Gordon, Morgan, Secrest, Svoboda, Waggoner (492 of 500).
• International trap – first: Gordon, Lies, Svoboda.
• International skeet – third: Pursell, Saint, J. Ziegelmeier.
• Sporting clays – third: Escritt, Lies, Pursell, Ross, Svoboda.
• Super shoot – third: Escritt, Lies, Saint, Ross, Svoboda.

FHSU regional results
(ACUI Clay Targets Western Super Shoot)
Individual awards
• Escritt – first, super sporting; second, sporting clays; third, international skeet.
• Gordon (women’s division) – HOA female International and American events; first in trap, skeet, sporting clays and international trap; second in super sporting; third in international skeet.
• Lies – third, skeet and super sporting.
• Svoboda – HOA male International and American events; first, sporting clays and international trap; second, trap.
• J. Ziegelmeier – second, skeet and super sporting; third, trap and international trap.
HOA team awards
• International skeet – Escritt, Lies, Ross, Svoboda, Whipple.
• International trap – Lies, Pursell, Ross, Svoboda, J. Ziegelmeier.
• American trap, skeet and sporting clays (combined) – Gordon, Lies, Saint, Svoboda, J. Ziegelmeier.

Kansas man accused in death of 6-month-old son

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged murder of his son.

Gwyn-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections

Just before 11a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to Via Christi St. Joseph Hospital for a six-month-old child who arrived at the hospital not breathing, according to Wichita Police Lt. Tod Ojile.

Officers learned the boy’s mother and father brought him to the hospital. The father told hospital staff he was shadow boxing with the child when the boy stopped breathing, according to Ojile. The boy died a short time later.

Homicide investigators responded to the hospital to conduct interviews. Following a Tuesday afternoon autopsy, detectives learned the boy had severe internal injuries, according to Ojile. On Tuesday evening police booked the father Doral Gwyn, 28, into the Sedgwick County jail on requested charges of felony murder and child abuse.

Police will present the case to the district attorney on Thursday, according to Ojile. The family has three other young children. Two were in school at the time of the incident. The older children are now staying with grandparents. A 3-year-old is still with the mother, according to Ojile.

Gwyn had been on parole since January. He has previous convictions for criminal threat, aggravated battery and flee/attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Hays Girl Scout earns Gold Award for music therapy project

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Rachelle Lumpkins

GSKH

WICHITA — Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland honored three new Girl Scout Gold Award recipients during the Recognition Breakfast and Annual Meeting on April 7, two awardees from south central and one from northwest Kansas.

Earning the Gold Award is one of the most challenging, exciting and rewarding experiences a Girl Scout can have and one of the most prestigious recognitions she’ll accomplish. The Girl Scout Gold Award stands as the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, comparable to the Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts.

The award recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through Take Action projects that have a sustainable impact in their communities and beyond. Girl Scout Gold Award recipients who join the armed forces enter one rank higher than other recruits, and they qualify for exclusive scholarships.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement in the program.

“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award is truly a remarkable achievement, and the young women who earn this award exemplify leadership in all of its forms,” said Liz Workman, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. “They saw a need in their communities and around the world, and took action. Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance and leadership are making the world a better place.”

Rachelle Lumpkins of Hays noticed a rising trend in children between the ages of 3-17 being diagnosed with ADHD. After researching methods and practices, she found that music therapy could help children with the disorder. She created a portable sound garden for preschools to utilize and include in the daily routines of children ages 2-4.

The Hays Area Children’s Center partnered with her on the project, where she provided musical instruments to interact with and raise cognitive functioning in those with ADHD.

Lumpkins, now in college, stresses the importance of this project on her development of key skills helping her today. “I have already stepped into leadership roles in college because of what I’ve been taught,” said Lumpkins.

Kan. Adoption Update Snagged Over Which Parents Agencies Can Exclude

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By MADELINE FOX

A bill to update state adoption law was sailing through the legislature. Until it wasn’t.

The state’s rewriting of adoption and foster care rules has been caught up in the politics of religion and same-sex parenting.
FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

It’s been gummed up because of a faith-based protection provision that would allow adoption agencies to receive state funding while turning away prospective parents who don’t fit with an organization’s religious beliefs.

The underlying bill would clarify definitions such as the child’s place of residence and who counts as an interested party in an adoption. It would also expand some definitions. For example, “married adult couple” will replace “husband and wife” in explaining who can adopt a child.

Yet an amendment adds in religious exemptions for child placement agencies.

Those private agencies currently can choose not to serve some people, such as single parents or same-sex couples. The bill would protect that ability even if Kansas policies change. It also prohibits the state from denying those agencies state grants and contracts because of their religious objections.

“There’s a place for diversity in the realm of child-placing agencies,” said Rep. Susan Humphries, a sponsor of the bill. “That’s what we want to do, keep everyone here.”

Kansas’ current foster care contracts expire next year. The legislation exempts the two state contractors currently handling foster care and adoption placement. Those agencies can’t impose their faith in sorting out who can adopt children.

But opponents of the bill worry the new provisions could open up state contracts to organizations that wouldn’t be willing to serve some foster or adoptive parents based on a group’s objection to, for instance, same-sex or single parents.

“This is putting the religious beliefs of the child placement agency over the needs of the child,” said Rep. Jarrod Ousley, a Merriam Democrat who opposes the religious protection amendment.

The legislature didn’t have the votes to pass the religious exemption before it left for spring break. Rep. Susan Humphries, the Wichita Republican who has championed the faith-based exemption, said the language updates will happen no matter what.

“We’re committed to making sure the underlying bill passes,” she said.

Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox. 

Phyllis Dorene Sleichter

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Phyllis Dorene Sleichter, 90, Wichita, formerly of Hays and Palco, died Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at Regent Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Wichita.

She was born October 23, 1927 in Palco, Kansas the oldest child of Hugh and Zelma (Marcotte) Meade.  She graduated from Palco High School and attended nursing school at Fort Hays State and received her teacher’s certificate from Fort Hays State University.  She taught at Palco Grade School and was a substitute teacher for many years.  On September 20, 1947 she was united in marriage to George H. “Slick” Sleichter at the First United Methodist Chapel in Hays.  He preceded her in death on March 4, 2010.  She was a housewife, living in Phillipsburg, Kansas while her husband worked for Kansas Nebraska Gas Company.  They later moved back to Palco where they started Slick’s Ditching Service.  In 1991, they moved to Hays where they belonged to the First United Methodist Church and Dorene belonged to the Naomi Circle.  She enjoyed being a mother and grandmother, was very faith filled and giving, was an awesome cook, and she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter; Sheryl Terry and husband Bill of Great Bend, Kansas, a son; Kirk Sleichter and wife JeanAnn of Wichita, a sister; Jean Berland of Hays, five grandchildren; Angela, Chad, Shawn, Meredith, and Lydia, and six great grandchildren; Triston, Darby, Kalyssa, Payton, Cameron, and Rocco.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George, and two brothers; Marion and Harlan Meade.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th, Hays with Pastor Mike Rose officiating.  Private family interment will be in the Pleasantview Cemetery in Palco, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Friday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, and on Saturday from 1:30 pm until service time at the church.  Memorials are suggested to the First Evangelical Free Church in Wichita or to Gideons International, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

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