KANSAS CITY – Fort Hays State Coach Chris Brown and tight end Matt Wendelberger and Linebacker Jose Delgado addressed the media Tuesday in Kansas City for the annual MIAA Media Day.
Month: July 2018
Dr. Donna L. Commons
Dr. Donna L. Commons, age 78, of Hays, KS, passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2018 surrounded by her loving family at her home. She was born on November 20, 1939 in Baxter Springs, KS to Randolph and Nola (Turrentine) Commons.
Dr. Donna was a lifetime educator. She served in all capacities from teaching Kindergarteners to college students. She held different positions from administrative, secretarial to becoming a Principal and a Professor. Her passion for teaching impacted many students throughout her career. Among teaching, she had a love for the arts. She had collected many different forms of art.
Survivors include her two sons, Dustin & Doug Boshart of Hays; and a brother, Randy Commons and his wife Sue of Baxter Springs, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Kenny & Tom Commons.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 2, 2018 from 5-8:00 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.
A visitation will then take place in her hometown of Baxter Springs at Derfeldt’s Baxter Chapel, 328 E. 12th Street, Baxter Springs, KS 66713 on Saturday, August 4, 2018 from 2-5:00 PM. Cremation will follow after the visitation with inurnment taking place a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Dept. 41831, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265. Contributions can be left or mailed to the funeral home.
To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via email to [email protected].
Arrangements are by Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.
2 Kansas Mennonite churches offering sanctuary to immigrants
NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Two Mennonite churches in Kansas say they could provide sanctuary to immigrants who are living unlawfully in the country.
The Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton has voted as a congregation to help such immigrants, and church members are working on transforming part of the basement into living quarters.
First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge also says it is willing to offer sanctuary.
While neither church has hosted any immigrants, both are ready to help.
Shalom pastor Rachel Ringenberg Miller says they have been told by attorneys that immigration agents could come, but churches along with other areas like hospitals and schools are considered sensitive spaces. She acknowledges she be facing possible legal issues for offering sanctuary.
Both churches say they are getting support the Mennonite community.
Merlyn E. Boll
Longtime Sherman County resident Merlyn E. Boll, 94, died Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland.
Merlyn was born on October 26, 1923 in rural Cheyenne County to Fred and Sophia (Rust) Boll. He was baptized with his brother Raymond, at the Cheyenne Valley Lutheran Church, south of Wheeler, Kansas. He graduated from St. Francis High School in 1941. He then served in the Korean War in the 20th Infantry, 6th Division.
In October of 1950, Merlyn married Shirley Mitchell. They had four children. Merlyn and Shirley farmed in Northwest Sherman County until 1996 when they retired and moved to Goodland.
Preceding him in death was his parents, his wife Shirley, one son Donald and a brother Raymond.
He is survived by his sister Darlene Feikert and brother Laverne Boll of St. Francis; two daughters, Susan (Johnny) Jones of Basehor, Kansas, and Janice Boll of Hutchinson, Kansas, and one son Wayne Boll of Denver, Colorado. He is also survived by five grandchildren.
Cremation has been chosen and a Memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be designated to the Ronald McDonald House or to Hospice Service of Northwest Kansas – Sherman County and may be sent to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Services are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
Gregory Allen Mills
Longtime Brewster, Kansas, resident Gregory Allen Mills, 62, passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at the Hays Regional Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Greg was born on March 19, 1956 in Loup City, Nebraska to Douglas and Joyce (Livermore) Mills, III. He was one of six children. He grew up and attended school at the Ansley Public School and the Burr Oak School before graduating from the Broken Bow High School in 1975. He then went on and completed his schooling for Ag Mechanics at the University of Nebraska, School of Technical Agriculture.
On October 8, 1977, Greg married Nancy Ann Wullschleger at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Leigh, Nebraska. To this union, two children Matthew and Katherine were born. They lived in Central City, Nebraska and Ravenna, Nebraska where he worked for John Deere. In 1981, the moved to Brewster, Kansas where he worked as a farm hand for 37 years. Greg enjoyed feeding cattle, and loved the different seasons of farming and what it all involved.
Greg accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior when he was 8 years old and was baptized in the South Loup River. He was a member of the Pleasant Home Church where he served as a Junior High and Adult Sunday School Teacher and was on the Church Board for many years. He served on the Union Township Board, and for 12 years he served on the Brewster USD 314 School Board.
Preceding him in death was his father Douglas Elmer Mills, III.
Surviving family includes his mother Joyce Mills of Holdrege, Nebraska, his wife Nancy Mills of Brewster, KS, son Matthew (Jerlyn) Mills and their children Joseph and Jordan of Goodland, KS, daughter Katherine (Andrew) Pope and their children Aubrie, Ella Pierce, Anslie and Emerie of Manhattan, KS. He is also survived by his siblings, Peggy (Allen) Neth of Broken Bow, NE, Creig Mills of Holdrege, NE, Pam (Jim) Canady of Crawfordsville, IN, Rusty (Kirsten) Mills of Oconomowoc, WI and Amy (Joe) Kellerof Holdrege, NE.
Funeral services for Greg will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Pleasant Home Church north of Edson with Pastor John Paulson officiating. Burial will follow in the Brewster Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 3, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
Memorial contributions may be designated to the Pleasant Home Church and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Funeral services are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
USD 489 Hays central enrollment Wednesday, Thursday
USD 489
USD 489 central enrollment will be from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Hays High School cafeteria.
At central enrollment, you can speak with any of the building administrators, get building-specific information, speak with the Nutrition Department, the Special Education Department, and many other services as well as community information.
If you need to pay enrollment fees, there will be an express line for people who have enrolled online and need only to make payment.
If you have any questions, contact the Rockwell Administration Center, 785-623-2400, or your student’s school.
Hays High School 785-623-2600
Hays Middle School 785-623-2450
Lincoln Elementary 785-623-2500
O’Loughlin Elementary 785-623-2510
Roosevelt Elementary 785-623-2520
Wilson Elementary 785-623-2550
If you have problems going through the enrollment steps, you may contact Amy Arnhold at [email protected] for assistance.
Please also note any families with new students or incoming kindergarten students should attend central enrollment in person. Information regarding enrollment and the 2018-2019 school year can be found at https://www.usd489.com/?p=5559.
Kan. man accused of sex crimes with teen during play rehearsals
RENO COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged sex crimes.
Three years ago Lynn Conrad Hase, 36, Buhler, became friends with a 15-year-old girl during the rehearsals for the Family Community Theatre’s production of Shrek the Musical at Hutchinson’s Memorial Hall, according to investigators.
The friendship went further leading to an inappropriate relationship, according to Reno County Sheriff Captain Steve Lutz.
The parents of the girl suspected something, discovered the truth and contacted the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.
On Friday, deputies arrested Hase on four charges including two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, sodomy and indecent solicitation.
He’s free on $50,000 bond. He is expected to make a first appearance in court later this week.
Frances L. ‘Francie’ Copper
Smith Center – Frances L. “Francie” Copper, 90, passed away Sunday, July 29, 2018 at Smith Center Health and Rehab.
Francie was born September 26, 1927 in Portis, KS, the daughter of Ruth (Lammey) and William Moate. She lived on a farm north of Portis until she was 13 when her family moved to a family farm east of Smith Center. Francie attended junior high and high school in Smith Center and graduated in 1945. After high school she attended college at Kansas State University graduating in 1950 with a Home Economics degree. Francie met her future husband, Don, while they both were attending KSU.
After college graduation, she became a Home Demonstration Agent in Stockton, KS for three years. On March 11, 1951 Francie married Don Copper in Smith Center at the United Methodist Church and were married for over 67 years.
In 1953 Don and Francie moved from Stockton to the family farm east of Smith Center where she had grown up. She and Don were always involved in community and school activities. They were members of the Smith Center United Methodist Church. She was a member of the United Methodist Womens’ Circle for many years. They always had a huge garden and shared their vegetables with as many friends as possible. The always fixed fresh vegetables for church and funeral dinners. She was also a member of the Over 60’s club, Pinochle club, Picnic club and she and Don were crowned the Old Settler’s Day King & Queen in 2017.
Francie enjoyed judging 4-H and open class for many years at county fairs throughout Kansas. She also judged at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. While judging at the fair she met many lifelong friends. Francie was always involved with 4-H and taught many kids cooking, sewing, baking and canning. She was a leader and very involved when her children were growing up.
She was a substitute teacher at Smith Center High School for many years. She always enjoyed the students and they enjoyed her sense of humor. Francie also taught Special Education for three years before it was started in public schools. She dearly loved her students and always followed how they were doing as they grew up.
For many years in Smith Center, Francie was known as “The Avon Lady”. She always enjoyed visiting with her customers. So many women over the years have said that they always looked forward to her stopping by their homes when they were little girls because Francie would always give them lipstick samples! She received numerous awards for her Avon sales and was an Albi award winner for many years which was a top award in Avon.
Don and Francie always enjoyed traveling with their daughter Nancy and going on cruises with Mike and Linda Nebel. They travelled to Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, Western Caribbean, South America and many places in Europe. Don and Francie have many cherished memories of their travels and cruises.
For many years Don and Francie went camping at the lake with their motor home. They both enjoyed spending lake time with family and friends and had lots of good times. Going to KSU football games over the years became their favorite thing to do in the fall. They always loved tailgating with family and friends. The presence of Willie the Wildcat was everywhere in their home.
Francie resided at Smith Center Heath and Rehab for the last nine years. She enjoyed getting to know the employees and was always interested in what was going with their families. Many of them have said how much she will be missed. They all made her home away from home more enjoyable.
Francie was always known for her sense of humor and wit. She cherished the time she was able to spend with all of her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and a son-in-law Jim.
Francie is survived by her husband Don of Smith Center; a daughter Nancy Roberts of Wichita; two sons, Jeff (Marla) Copper of Hays and Jim (Pam) of North Newton; two sisters, Betty Jane Lambert of Manhattan, Carolyn (Kurt) Heaton of Topeka; a sister-in-law Marilyn Copper of Wichita; eight grandchildren, Josh Copper of Newton, Joey (Alicia) Copper of Bel Aire, Ashley Roberts of Wichita, Aaron (Brittany) Roberts of Wichita, Molly (John) McMurtrie of Hays, Michael (Charlotte) Copper of Hays, Maggie (Cameron) Moeder of Ellis and Millie Copper of Kansas City, MO; fourteen great grandchildren, Miley, Ally, Remy and Reed Copper, Hudson and Brynn Roberts, Jack, Jacy and Jerzy McMurtrie, Emersyn and Elliot Copper, Camdyn Copper, Weston and Callen Moeder and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 2, 2018 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Dennis Lambert officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS. Memorials may be given to Smith County 4-H and sent in care of the funeral chapel.
Candidate McClendon seeks to improve voter registration, security through technology
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Democratic Secretary of State candidate Brian McClendon said he wants to make registering to the vote easier and voting more secure in Kansas.
He was in Hays on Monday to speak to the Rotary Club.
McClendon said all states are facing election security problems, but he ranked Kansas’ concerns an 8 out of 10.
McClendon was the founder of the company that ultimately became Google Earth. He has also worked for Uber and currently is a researcher at the University of Kansas, his alma mater, and works with tech startups in Kansas.
McClendon spoke to a group at Hays High School in November about his time at Google and Uber.
See related story: Would you give up your car to Uber to work in a flying car? Maybe in the future
McClendon became active in Kansas voting issues when he helped develop a voter registration app for the state, ksvotes.org. It’s a web app, so type the web address into the web browser on your phone. The app uses the federal election form, can be accessed through a cellphone and sends an email to your county clerk’s office. The form takes less than three minutes to complete.
McClendon said more than 6,000 Kansans in 102 of the state’s 105 counties have been registered through the app, which he claims is more accurate than paper entry.
“I think as we roll up to the general election, we’ll get a lot more Kansans registered, get a lot more Kansans participating ” he said, “and I think that is important because I think we need to make some very good decisions this year. There are some very good people on the ballot. Let’s see if we can pick them, and have a good race in November.”
The site will allow you to make changes to voter registration, for example if you have moved. You can also check your registration. This will allow you to see your voting district, polling place and a sample ballot.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is running for governor, has not gone on the record about the app. His office has given verbal approval of the use of the app, and the creators of the app have been receiving positive feedback from the state’s county clerk about the registrations they have been receiving.
Kobach championed a state law that required people to provide proof citizenship when registering to vote in Kansas. That portion of the law was struck down by the courts, and Kobach defended the state in its last appeal in May.
See related story: Kobach lost. What’s that mean for voting in Kansas?
Kobach was given the ability by the Legislature to prosecute those who voted illegally. Kobach fought for the law on the grounds it was needed to keep illegal immigrants from voting. Only one non-citizen was successfully prosecuted in seven years for voting illegally. That was someone who had a green-card and was in the citizenship process.
The other eight people who Kobach prosecuted were all Trump voters who had voted in two states, McClendon said.
The law also blocked 35,000 Kansans from voting because they were unable to produce a birth certificate.
“We had 35,000 citizens disempowered for one apparently guilty immigrant citizen,” he said. “I think that is a terrible, terrible ratio and against everything that the United States stands for.”
A portion of that law that requires voters to present ID at the polls is still in effect. McClendon said he would support the voter ID portion of the law if Kansas can easily make IDs available for free to all non-drivers, but he said he did not think that was the current reality. Some counties have been proactive in getting IDs for people who can no longer drive or young people who chose not to drive.
On the issue of security, McClendon said he supported the use of paper ballots so that elections can be audited.
“Without a paper ballot, if a machine was compromised, you couldn’t detect it,” he said. “If we can detect it, we can stop it.”
He said the second step would be to use voting machines with better operating systems that can be tested from the outside more effectively.
McClendon also expressed concerns about the Crosscheck System. This system sends voter registration records from Kansas to 26 other states to determine if a person has moved out of state. However, there was a breach in the security of that system last year, when an election worker in Florida sent 945 Kansas voting records to a private person as part of an open records request. This information included partial Social Security numbers.
See related story: Private voter data for Kansans exposed in Florida
McClendon said Crosscheck is still vulnerable to hacking and could open the state up to lawsuits if the database is compromised.
He said there is a risk of someone hacking the voter registration files and moving or deleting voters’ registration records. This would mean people would have to vote provisionally, which could discourage voting. It could also result in long lines at the polls, which could also discourage voters.
“The biggest risk is really around people,” he said, “having people give out their password information, which allows a hacker to get in and allows them to portray themselves as one of our own employees. I would make sure through training that people don’t fall for these spear phishing techniques that are intending to steal identity and steal login information.”
He said both workers in the Secretary of State’s office and local county clerks’ offices need to have thorough training, something McClendon said he did not think is happening now.
McClendon also said he thought the state needs to invest more wisely in its technology.
“Right now the state struggles with technology purchases,” he said. “We spend $400 (million) to $500 million on technology each year, and if you look at systems like the DMV and the other purchases we have made, we do not spend it efficiently. I think there is an opportunity to make the state far more efficient and reduce costs in technology and get twice as much out of it.”
Although registration is closed for the Aug. 7 primary, you can still use the ksvotes.org app/website to register for the Nov. 6 general election. The deadline to register for the general election is Tuesday, Oct. 16.
In-person advance voting is under way and can be done at the Ellis County Clerk’s Office. Advance voting ends at noon on Monday Aug. 6. Primary polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7. Find a list of polling places by clicking here.
NW Missouri edges FHSU for top spot in MIAA coach, media polls
MIAA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri topped both the coaches and media poll in the 2018 MIAA Football Preseason poll. The Bearcats received 14 first-place votes and 382 points in the media poll. NWMSU had four first-place votes and 103 points in the coaches poll.
Fort Hays State came in second in both polls after receiving five first-place votes but was edged out by a point in the coaches poll. In the media poll, the Tigers had 13 first-place votes and 375 points.
In third place, for both polls, was Central Missouri as it received eight first-place votes between the two polls. UCM had 349 points in the media poll and 96 points from the coaches. Pittsburg State came in fourth place for the two polls and earned one first-place vote from the media. PSU had 311 points from the media and 81 points from the coaches.
The coaches had a tie for the fifth spot between Emporia State and Central Oklahoma. The Hornets took the fifth slot in the media poll, followed by the Bronchos. Washburn claimed the seventh position in both polls. Missouri Western was picked eighth in the media poll and ninth by the coaches. Lindenwood was tabbed ninth by the media and eighth from the coaches.
Nebraska Kearney was slotted 10th followed by Northeastern State at 11th in both polls. Missouri Southern rounded out each poll in the 12th spot.
MIAA Football kicks off its opening week on Thursday, August 30 as all 12 teams are in action that night. For the complete 2018 MIAA Football schedule, click HERE.
MIAA Coaches Poll
Northwest Missouri (4) – 103
Fort Hays State (5) – 102
Central Missouri (2) – 96
Pittsburg State – 81
Central Oklahoma – 67
Emporia State – 67
Washburn – 63
Lindenwood – 46
Missouri Western – 40
Nebraska Kearney – 30
Northeastern State – 19
Missouri Southern – 12
MIAA Media Poll
Northwest Missouri (14) – 382
Fort Hays State (13) – 375
Central Missouri (6) – 349
Pittsburg State (1) – 311
Emporia State – 243
Central Oklahoma – 229
Washburn – 223
Missouri Western – 171
Lindenwood – 160
Nebraska Kearney – 98
Northeastern State – 66
Missouri Southern – 45
Two more nights left at Graham County Fair
From the annual Jayhawker PRCA Rodeo to an inflatable carnival, there’s still plenty left to do at the 2018 Graham County Fair.
Click HERE for more.
Kansas teen hospitalized after truck hit his bicycle
RILEY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Monday near the intersection of Avery Avenue and Robinson Drive in Riley County, according to the RCPD activity report.
When officers arrived on scene they found a bicyclist, James Baustert, 15, of Manhattan had been struck by a vehicle.
Baustert was transported to Via Christi for treatment of minor injuries, according to to RCPD spokesperson Hali Rowland.
The vehicle described as a dark colored truck fled the scene of the accident, according Rowland.
K.C. brewer will release beer crafted in honor of fallen soldiers
Two Hays veterans among those lost in 2011 in Afghanistan
A Kansas City, Mo., brewery will once again honor fallen veterans — including two from Hays — by releasing a beer crafted in their honor.
Torn Label Brewing’s “31 Heroes” will be released for the third time, in honor of the soldiers who died in August 2011 when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.
Among the fallen were 1998 Thomas More Prep-Marian graduate Bryan Nichols and 1982 Hays High School graduate Dave Carter.