Pamela J. (Nelson) Harter, of Hays, Kansas, age 60, died Friday, June 22, 2018, at her home in Hays, Kansas.
She was born April 5, 1958, in Salina Kansas, to Maynard E. and Barbara (Hamilton) Nelson.
She was a Sales Associate for Target and also worked for Dollar General. She grew up in Salina, Kansas and was a 1976 graduate of Salina High School. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Kansas Wesleyan University at Salina, Kansas. She moved to Hays in 2008. She enjoyed her cats, doing crafts, watching T V soap operas, her trips to Colorado and Utah, and her family.
Survivors include two son, Ryan Harter and wife, Allison, Aurora, CO; Nicholas Harter and wife, Kylie, Eagle Mountain, UT; her companion, Robert Windholz, of the home; three brothers, Rick Nelson, FL; Steve Nelson and wife, Ruth, KY; Mike Nelson and wife, Gypsy, Salina, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 30, 2018, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
The family suggest memorial to the Humane Society of the High Plains.
Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]
MEADE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 6a.m. Tuesday in Meade County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge Dakota driven by Nicholas A. Finke, 21, Fowler, was traveling on 15 Road eleven miles south of Meade.
The driver lost control of the truck as it traveled around a corner at an excessive speed. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle entered the east ditch. The driver corrected again and the truck’s wheels caught in the dirt and it one rolled.
Finke was pronounced dead at the scene and transported Fidler – Orme – Bachman Mortuary. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
The Hays school board voted Monday to delay action on a third bond attempt until January.
The board has been discussing for months what a third bond attempt should look like after bonds failed in 2016 and November.
The board was supposed to decide Monday night about the composition of a committee, which would develop several bond plans to present to the board. The board was also set to define parameters for what those plans might look like.
However, the board was unable to come to a consensus. Ultimately, on a 4-3 vote, with board members Paul Adams, Mike Walker and Luke Oborny in opposition, the board voted to table any further decisions on a bond until January.
Board member Greg Schwartz discusses delaying any action on a bond during the Hays school board meeting Monday.
Board member Greg Schwartz proposed the move to delay. His first motion was to delay action for a year, saying he did not think the community supported a bond at this time.
Fox said she agreed with Schwartz and added if the board is not unified on a large decision such as a bond, the perception in the community would not be positive.
“I am a person who likes to keep moving forward and not necessarily stand still and keep checking the boxes. In this particular case and the feedback I have received and us not being in a strong consensus, I feel some waiting time … I am not sure a year is where I want to go, but I do feel we need to take our foot off the gas for a little a bit,” she said.
Board member Sophia Rose Young said she supported delaying action on a bond, but wanted to continue to discuss consolidation of schools, especially elementary schools. The board, in its debate leading up to the vote last night, had discussed moving to two or three elementary schools instead of four. However, all of those plans included a new elementary school or an expansion of one of the existing schools, which would have to be financed with a bond.
Adams spoke in opposition of the motion and presented an alternative motion to form a committee and set parameters that had been proposed by administration at a meeting in May. He said if the board charged a committee with creating bond plans it would likely be six months to a year before the school board made any decisions on a bond.
He said was concerned a delay would likely result in increased construction costs due to inflation. He said the new tariff’s levied on steel by the Trump administration also might drive up the cost of construction materials.
“Are we shrugging our ultimate responsibility?” Adams said. “Are we doing the right thing for the students? At the end of the day, the students are there and the board of education does its part. At the end of the day, it is what are we doing to improve the students. … I know we have fiscal responsibilities, but ultimately are we doing the right thing for the education of students?”
Walker said he agreed with Adams. He said the board has already been talking in circles for six months, and it is time to put a committee together and get things moving.
Oborny said the board did not need to rush into another bond, but said he supported the creation of a committee to continue to work on bond plans.
“At some point, safety becomes a factor,” he said. “I am not talking about secure entrances like everybody thinks. I am talking about the buildings falling in around them—46 years on an AC. At some point, that has to start affecting education value. Just the facilities are falling apart.”
In other business:
• The board discussed a pilot study on the use of Chromebooks at the Learning Center and elementary and middle school levels. The board is set to vote on the pilot program at its next meeting.
• The board approved property insurance and workers compensation insurance contracts
TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Christopher Sook, an attorney from Hays, and David Trevino, an attorney from Lawrence, to three-year terms on the Client Protection Fund Commission.
Their terms begin July 1 and end June 30, 2021. The two succeed Charles “Ed” Watson, an attorney from Wichita, and Aaron Kite, an attorney from Dodge City, who completed their terms on the commission.
The Lawyers Fund for Client Protection, which the board oversees, compensates people who suffer economic loss as a result of dishonest actions by Kansas lawyers. The fund is financed by annual registration fees paid by attorneys to practice law in the state.
Out of nearly 11,000 lawyers actively licensed to practice in the state, typically fewer than 15 lawyers each year have been subject to claims made to the client protection fund.
The commission is composed of one judge, four actively practicing attorneys, and two nonattorneys.
Other members of the commission are Carrie Allton, attorney, Lawrence; Douglas Anstaett, nonattorney, Topeka; Thomas Hammond II, attorney, Overland Park; Beth Love, nonattorney, Dodge City; and District Judge Michael Ward, who serves in Butler County of the 13th Judicial District.
Douglas Shima, clerk of the appellate courts, serves as secretary of the commission.
EUREKA, Mo. (AP) — A water ride at Six Flags in suburban St. Louis has been closed after a woman said she was flung from a tube and suffered whiplash.
Image courtesy Six Flags
Sondra Thornhill, of the Missouri town of Lebanon, told KMOV-TV that the accident happened Saturday on the Typhoon Twister at Hurricane Harbor in Eureka. She was taken to a hospital, where she underwent a CAT scan and X-ray.
“Only my hands were on the handles. My whole body went off the raft and of course, when it went back down, my hands were still on it and it threw it me so far forward and back so fast, all I heard was my neck pop,” Thornhill said. “I thought I broke it at first then it was just a little sore and I stopped panicking. I’ll be alright.”
Six Flags said in a statement that it’s investigating but released no information how long the ride will be closed.
“The well-being of our guests is always our priority,” the statement said. “As standard protocol, we have closed the ride while we look into the circumstances surrounding a guest coming out of their tube.”
The park hasn’t returned phone or email messages Tuesday from The Associated Press.
In neighboring Kansas, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was decapitated in August 2016 while riding the 17-story Verruckt waterslide at the Schlitterbahn water park. Two other women riding with Caleb also were injured when their raft went airborne. Two Schlitterbahn maintenance workers, the park’s co-owner and the designer of the ride have been indicted in Caleb’s death. The Verruckt never reopened afterward and plans call for it to be demolished.
Shelley Rene Casper, 55, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, June 24, 2018, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Shelley was born on April 19, 1963, in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Gary Meis and Gracia Lee (Ostrom) Meis. She grew up in Denver the first few years of her life before moving to Russell, Kansas. She graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1981. She was married to Jack Casper and from this union they were blessed with two children Treysa & Cody. She lived in Russell most of her life and worked as a cook and caregiver. She enjoyed riding motorcycles, being at the lake, cooking, dancing and celebrating the 4th of July. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Surviving family include her father Gary Meis of Russell, Kansas; daughter Treysa Casper of Lawrence, Kansas; son Cody Casper of Russell, Kansas; brother Rick Meis (Kay Sellers) of Russell, Kansas; sister Tessa Meis (Joe Ernst) of Wilson, Kansas and granddaughter Jozie Ludy and grandson Jaxton Casper as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother Gracia L. Rassette, infant daughter Randi Rene Casper and brother Randy Meis.
A celebration of Shelley’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, June 28, 2018, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler of Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Michael Eurit officiating. Burial will follow at the Dorrance City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at the mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Russell County Food Bank and sent to the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Transmission project located in Kingman, Harper and Sumner counties
Mid-Kansas Electric Company Inc. placed the Harper-to-Milan Transmission Project in service on May 25. The project, located in Kingman, Harper and Sumner counties, enhances electric reliability and will support economic development in the area.
Mid-Kansas provides wholesale generation and transmission services to its six member-owners, one of which is Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc., the electric distribution cooperative that serves the area. Operated on the cooperative business model, the mission of Mid-Kansas is to provide reliable service to its member-owners at the lowest possible cost.
“When Wheatland acquired this service territory in 2007, we quickly learned that additional infrastructure was needed to better serve our members,” said Bruce W. Mueller, CEO of Wheatland. “This large project not only improves electric service to our current members, but it is also robust enough to handle considerable future growth of industry in our south central service territory.”
The 138 kV line includes 58.9 miles of new line from Harper to Milan, 12.6 miles of new line from Harper to Rago, 5.8 miles of rebuilt line between Milan and the Viola tie, and the new connection to Westar’s Viola Substation. The $65 million project also includes the new Bluff Creek Substation and modifications to the Harper and Milan substations. Public meetings to determine the route were held in 2015 with the final route determined in early 2016. POWER Engineers Inc. provided technical services, including routing, siting and permitting support and engineering for the transmission lines and substations. POWER also provided material procurement, construction contracting, and construction management of the project. As part of POWER’s team, Land Services Inc. performed the right-of-way acquisition for the project.
“Mid-Kansas is proud to have partnered with POWER and Land Services on the Harper-to-Milan Project, one of our largest transmission projects to date,” said Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Mid-Kansas. “The new line provides a large conductor, looped transmission configuration to the region that provides greater capability and improved reliability to this part of the service territory.”
The Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization to which Mid-Kansas belongs, identified a need for the project to support growing demands on the transmission grid, both locally and regionally.
“While this project has far-reaching benefits, it’s Wheatland’s local members and other area residents who can take great pride in their cooperation and efforts in seeing this project to fruition,” Mueller said. “It’s an effort that will benefit many generations.”
About Mid-Kansas Electric Company, Inc.—Mid-Kansas Electric Company Inc. is a coalition of five rural electric cooperatives and one wholly owned subsidiary that serve approximately 200,000 Kansans throughout 33 counties. Mid-Kansas’ members include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative Inc., Dighton; Prairie Land Electric Cooperative Inc., Norton; Southern Pioneer Electric Company, Ulysses; The Victory Electric Cooperative Association Inc., Dodge City; Western Cooperative Electric Association Inc., WaKeeney; and Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc., Scott City, Kansas. For more information, please visit the Mid-Kansas website at www.midkansaselectric.net.
Kansas has become the national epicenter for voter suppression. In the last election, thousands of people were denied access to the polls and were willfully misled about their voter status. This election, we’re not going to let that happen again!
Join the ACLU of Kansas for an in-depth conversation and action night to make sure Kansas voters know their rights! We will cover everything from ID requirements to what to do if you encounter an issue at the polls. RSVP HERE: https://go.peoplepower.org/event/action_attend/14289
As Kansans go to the polls in the August Primary and November General Elections, voters will encounter a patchwork of different laws and policies about voting. Come hear from ACLU staff exactly what the laws are for voting in the upcoming elections!
These events are FREE and open to the public.
Know Your Voting Rights Training will be held in Hays Thursday, June 28, 6 p.m., at the Hays Recreation Commission, 1105 Canterbury Dr. in the large meeting room.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries, rejecting a challenge that it discriminated against Muslims or exceeded his authority.
The 5-4 decision Tuesday is the court’s first substantive ruling on a Trump administration policy.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by his four conservative colleagues.
Roberts wrote that presidents have substantial power to regulate immigration.
Nations on the travel ban list include North Korea, Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Venezuela.
The court may have signaled its eventual approval in December, when the justices allowed the policy to take full effect even as the court fight continued and lower courts had ruled it out of bounds.
KANSAS CITY. – A Kansas man who was arrested with methamphetamine, heroin and $67,000 in cash was sentenced Monday to 164 months in federal prison for drug trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Lopez -photo Wyandotte Co.
Juan Lopez, 23, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, he admitted he drove away from a residence on the 3400 block of Georgia Avenue when the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department came to serve a search warrant there. He abandoned his car near West 42nd Avenue and Thompson Street and he ran into a wooded residential area carrying two bags.
Police recovered one of the bags with more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine and more than half a pound of heroin.
When residents of the 4100 block of Lloyd Street reported a prowler in their garage, police found Lopez hiding there with the second backpack, which contained $67,000 in cash. When police searched the residence on Georgia Avenue, they found firearms, including three assault rifles, a pistol grip shotgun, a Mac-10 and two bulletproof vests.
Ava June Scranton, lifetime resident of Graham County Kansas, passed away June 23, 2018, at the Graham County Hospital one month before her 94th birthday. She was born in rural Graham County to the late Adelbert Downs (A.D.) and Oakie Belle (Washburn) Worcester.
She married Alvin Scranton September 9, 1942. He preceded her in death July 25, 1990. Ava June was an accomplished seamstress, capable carpenter, creative landscaper, and crafty bridge player. She was a real estate broker in the state of Kansas and held a real estate license from 1972 to 1984. She was a member of the Hill City Presbyterian Church.
Ava June was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Scranton; a son-in-law, Hillon Steeples; a brother, Bill Worcester and a sister, Esther Henderson. Survivors include a daughter, Sonja Steeples of Hays, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Martha Scranton, Larned, Kansas; three grandchildren: Kobie Kobler, Tyler (Brenda) Kobler, and Kim (Jay) Holthaus; seven great grandchildren; two sisters: Darlene Wilson, McPherson, Kansas and Bonnie Ginther, Hays; a brother Leonne Worcester, Towanda, Kansas; and a sister-in-law, Esther Worcester, Hill City, Kansas.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Pamela J. (Nelson) Harter, of Hays, Kansas, age 60, died Friday, June 22, 2018, at her home in Hays, Kansas.
