ELLIS — Volunteers, including Thomas More Prep-Marian faculty, worked Tuesday to help make repairs to St. Mary’s Catholic School after a portion of the roof was ripped from the school on July 25.
School Principal April Pfeifer said many volunteers have helped with the work at the school, including putting in new surfacing on the school’s playground, which was not part of the storm damage.
The school still anticipates it will be open for classes on Sept. 10. However, the gym, which lost a substantial portion of its roof and had a portion of its rear wall collapse, will not be open to students until at least January, Pfeifer said.
“It is taking a lot of hours, but luckily with all the volunteers we have, it’s going very well. We have spent quite a few hours painting and pounding in staples in the floor,” Pfeifer said.
The preschool kindergarten, third, fourth, fifth and sixth-grade classrooms as well as the office all received damage during the storm.
Carol Brull, former St. Mary’s teacher, helps paint a wall in her former classroom.
Carol Brull, current TMP teacher, used to teach in the very room she was helping paint on Tuesday. She said she jumped at the chance to aid St. Mary’s rebuild.
“People in the parish really work hard to keep this school going,” she said.
The school is still in need of volunteers to help ready the school for classes. People interested in volunteering can call the school or the rectory to work out scheduling.
The diocese still does not know how much of the damage will be covered by insurance. It is still taking donations to cover the cost materials that were damaged in the storm.
Monetary donations can be sent to Equity Bank, Attn: St. Mary’s, PO Box 255, Ellis, KS 67637.
The St. Mary’s gym still needs significant repairs and won’t be ready for students until January.
OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Officials say a guard at a northeast Kansas juvenile detention facility has been placed on leave after a teen was injured so severely that his mother said he required emergency brain surgery.
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Franklin County juvenile services director Ken Halliburton told The Associated Press that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation was asked to investigate after the juvenile was rushed to a hospital Saturday morning. The KBI said in a statement that the juvenile sustained critical injuries Friday at the county’s juvenile detention center.
The juvenile wasn’t identified. But KCTV reports that Jennifer Davis says a guard slammed her 15-year-old’s son to the ground, leaving the boy with a skull fracture, bruises and cuts.
Halliburton says the county is “cooperating fully” and “awaiting the outcome of the investigation.” The guard isn’t charged.
Dr. Mary Martin, professor of applied business studies, was announced today by President Tisa Mason as Fort Hays State University’s 2018 President’s Distinguished Scholar.
The presentation came at the Fall 2018 Convocation.
“Mary has a consistent record of high quality teaching, scholarship and service as a member of the FHSU faculty,” said Mason. “It is only fitting to honor her contributions with this year’s award.”
As the President’s Distinguished Scholar, Martin will receive a medallion and a $1,500 cash award.
The President’s Distinguished Scholar Award was first conferred in 1989. All unclassified employees of the university are eligible for consideration and are evaluated for this honor by analysis of their performance in the categories of research and creative activities, service, and instruction. Acceptable levels of performance must be demonstrated in service and instruction, with the primary focus of this award on research and creative activities.
An evaluation committee reviews applications and a recommendation is forwarded to the president. The committee is composed of five of the most recent award winners. The provost serves as chair of the committee and is responsible for administration of the award process.
Several other awards were also presented at the convocation.
Dr. Jenny Manry, professor of nursing, was named the Faculty Member of the Year.
This award is selected from the past year’s recipients of faculty awards for teaching, research and scholarly activity, and service. Commerce Bank provides a $1,000 stipend. The award was presented to her by Dr. Jeff Briggs, interim provost, and Deron O’Connor, president of Commerce Bank.
The fall 2017 and spring 2018 winners of the faculty awards were also introduced.
Manry was a research and scholarly activity award winner, along with Dr. Mohammad Riazi-Kermani, professor of mathematics and computer science. The 2017-18 service award winners were Jeff Sadler, instructor of mathematics and computer science, and Ken Windholz, instructor of psychology. Last year’s outstanding teaching award winners were Dr. Hong Biao Zeng, professor of mathematics and computer science, and Angela Walters, associate professor of informatics.
The Edmund Shearer Faculty Advisor of the Year Award went to Dr. Steve Sedbrook, associate professor of health and human performance. The Shearer Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding academic advising of students.
Shearer, a former chair of the Department of Chemistry, was known for the high value he placed on student advisement. One advisor can be recognized from each of the five academic colleges.
The recipient of this award will also be nominated for the National Academic Advising Association Award. Each FHSU winner will be presented a certificate and a monetary award. The nominees receive a stipend of $150 and the winning recipient receives $500. Commerce Bank also sponsors this award.
Besides Sedbrook, the nominees were Sharon Wilson, instructor of English; Brad Goebel, instructor of applied business studies; Dr. Sarah Broman, assistant professor of teacher ducation; and Dr. Laura Wilson, associate professor of geosciences.
The John Heinrichs Outstanding Research Mentor Award, which recognizes faculty members for their commitment, time and energy in promoting undergraduate research, went to Dr. Trey Hill, associate professor of psychology and chair of the Department of Psychology.
All current faculty and unclassified staff members at levels comparable to academic faculty are eligible. The $500 of budget funding is provided to the winner’s home department to benefit the recipient. The Office of the Provost, the Undergraduate Research Environment Committee and the Office of Scholarships and Sponsored Projects sponsors the award.
For the Closing the Loop Department Award, a tie meant this year’s award was divided between two departments, the Department of Social Work and the Department of Teacher Education.
This award, sponsored by Voya Financial, is given to the academic department that has implemented degree program improvements as evidenced by analysis of, and improvements in program and student learning outcomes.
The award provides $2,000 to be deposited in the department’s operating budget to be shared with departmental faculty. These funds can be used for any valid operating expense such as faculty development, professional travel, hospitality, equipment and instructional support purchases.
A new award this year, the Advances in Assessment Award, which recognizes a department that has achieved advances in their assessment procedures. The award provides $1,000 to be deposited in the department’s operating budget to be used for any valid operating expense such as faculty development, professional travel, hospitality, equipment and instructional support purchases.
This award was also a tie, this one between the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Health and Human Performance.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run accident and have a suspect in custody.
Matthews-photo Saline Co.
On Tuesday evening, a 15-year-old girl walking south on Lewis and was at the intersection with McAdams in Salina when she was struck by a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara driven by Michael Matthews, 55, of Salina, according to Captain Paul Forrester of the Salina Police Department.
Matthews continued west on McAdams without stopping, Forrester said.
An off-duty Kansas Highway Patrol trooper who witnessed the accident reported it to police and then followed Matthews, Forrester said.
Salina Police located Matthews and the Suzuki at the intersection of Minneapolis and Quincy, however, Matthews failed to stop.
Instead, he turned onto the 300 block of East Minneapolis, which has a a dead end. The officer was able to block the vehicle from turning around, according to Forrester.
After Matthews was physically removed from the vehicle and was transported by officers to Salina Regional Health Center and later booked into the Saline County Jail, Forrester said.
The girl was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of a broken pelvis and some abrasions, according to Forrester.
Matthews faces charges including DUI, aggravated battery, failure to stop at an injury accident, failure to exercise due regard to pedestrians, driving while license revoked and no proof of insurance, according to Forrester.
A rezoning request for a tract of land north of Reservation Road and east of Logan Drive is scheduled for a public hearing by the Hays Area Planning Commission on Mon., Aug. 20. The land is located southeast of Hays.
The rezoning request from Agriculture (A-L) to Residential Suburban (R-S) and Light Industrial (I-L) is for approximately 25 acres in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), or three miles outside the Hays city limits. Four lots on the north side would be rezoned Residential Suburban. Three lots south of Reservation Road would be rezoned Industrial Light.
The property is an extension of a subdivision that was developed 12 to 15 years ago
known as the Big Creek Estates Addition, according to information provided to the Planning Commission.
There are several new homes within the subdivision where South View Drive is the primary residential road. No further road improvements are planned in the proposed plat for Big Creek Estates Second Addition.
Big Creek Estates Second Addition proposed plat (Click to enlarge)
There is a 25-foot buffer yard easement between the residential lots and the light industrial lots.
At four acres each, the proposed residential lots are larger than those in the developed subdivision and will have their own septic systems and water wells.
Property owner Doug Shaw, Ellis, is working with the Ellis County Environmental office to meet the requirements.
Water rights for the Industrial Light use is required to be approved through the Kansas Division of Water Resources.
The complete agenda is available here. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
Long Island resident Phyllis J. (Leichliter) Winslow passed away July 29, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE at the age of 76. She was born July 14, 1942 in Norton, KS, the daughter of James & Iris (Jones) Leichliter.
Survivors include her daughters, Retina Jacobs of Wichita, KS and Redeara Godfrey of Long Island, KS; her sister, Jeanett Cozadd of Goodland, KS; 7 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren & 3 step great grandchildren.
Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be held Sat., August 18th at 4:30 p.m. in the Long Island United Methodist Church with Pastor Ted Stapleton officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Phyllis Winslow Memorial Fund.
Walter Mathew Rohr, 83, Neosho, MO passed away August 13, 2018.
He was born March 25, 1935 in Quinter, KS to Martin and Matilda (Herman) Rohr.
Walter served in the US Army from 1958 until 1960. He worked in the transportation industry as a supervisor/fleet manager. Walter enjoyed woodworking. His was the first family to receive the Exchange Club Golden Book of Deeds, 2007.
Walter and Margaret Coker were married August 17, 1963 in Ness City, KS; she survives of their Neosho home.
He is also survived by one son, Martin “Marty” Rohr; one brother, Frank Rohr and wife, Myrtle; six sisters, Florena Heili, Amelia Schwindt and husband, Delano, Barbara Howard, Elnora Kuehler, Esther Walker, and Martina Stanton and husband, Paul; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three siblings, Wendelin Rohr, Edward Rohr, and Helen Zerr.
Graveside memorial services will be 10 am Friday, August 24, 2018 at Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery, WaKeeney, KS.
Contributions in honor of Walter may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66, Neosho, MO 64850.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY— Emergency management authorities have identified a father and son who died in flooding Tuesday evening.
Flooding after over 7 inches of rain in Southeast Kansas-photo courtesy KOTV
The two Montgomery County Kansas men were killed when their vehicle was swept off on CR 2950 south of CR 5400 during heavy rainfall. The two identified 72-year-old Dennis Clark Catron Sr. and 39-year-old Dennis Clark Catron Jr., both of rural Elk City, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Roberts Dierks.
During the heavy rain Deputies responded to multiple calls of stranded motorists and in some cases Rural Firefighters and Deputies were going door to door to warn individuals of high waters.
Deputies also responded to an incident at CR 4500 and CR 5000 where a vehicle was found on its side in the ditch. No one was found in or around the vehicle and attempts to contact the owner of the vehicle were unsuccessful.
During the storms the northern part of Montgomery County received high amounts of rain. Rain fall totals for the area range between seven to eleven inches unofficially.
There are also reports of a tornado in the Elk City area. Several videos have surfaced on social media of the funnel cloud near Elk City, according to the sheriff’s department.
Veteran Service Representative Schedule for September 2018
1st Tuesdays 9/4/18 Stockton Courthouse 9:30 – 11:30 AM
2nd Tuesdays 9/10 & 11/18 STATE FAIR in Hutchinson ALL DAY
Resume normal rotation in October
Odd months – LaCrosse
Even months – Ness City
3rd Tuesdays 9/18/18 Osborne Veterans Building 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Russell City Hall 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
4th Tuesdays 9/25/18 Phillipsburg EMS Building 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Smith Center Courthouse 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs assists veterans and authorized family members, free of charge, in matters pertaining to their VA claims and benefits.
All itinerants are on a first come first served basis. No appointment needed.
For more information contact:
Douglas Storie, VSR
Douglas Storie, VSR
Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs
Veteran Service Representative
205 E. 7th Suite 107
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: 785-259-0364
FAX: 785-650-0392
E-mail: [email protected]
Betty Lou Betz, 87, of Salina, passed away Friday, August 10, 2018. She was born March 14, 1931 in Bazine, Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Alice (Kleweno) Margheim; and her husband, Lowen Betz (2000).
Survivors include her, children, Connie Ann (Phil) Hurd of Salina, and Cleo Elaine (Randy) Witman of Neosho, MO; and her
Grand-children, Darrin (Courtney) Hurd of Salina, Katelyn (Ambrose) Willard of Salina, Elizabeth (Kenny) Arnold of Joplin, MO, Rebecca (Cory) Danner of Joplin, MO; and her
Great grandchildren, Ryder, Addyson, Lowen, Landon, Coby, William, Lucas, Emma and Ella.
Visitation will be at Friday, 2-7 with family from 5-7 Saturday, August 18, 2018 at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel, 1920 East Crawford, Salina.
Funeral services will be held at Saturday, 11:00 AM, August 18, 2018 at the First Covenant Church, 2625 E. Magnolia, Salina.
Memorials can be made to First Covenant Church, 2625 E. Magnolia, Salina, Kansas 67401
Stacey Renee Demanett, 56, Hays, died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018.She was born Dec. 3, 1961 in Plainville, to Wilbur and Earline (Christenson) Demanett.
She graduated from Plainville High School and Fort Hays State University. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Plainville.
She was a homemaker and loved spending time with her sisters, brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews. She had a smile for everyone and made fast friends with every dog she met.
Survivors include four sisters, Virginia (Terry) Lynch, Kingman, AZ; Judy Sherard and Dianne (Frank Carrasco) Meyers, Hays, and Debra (Ron) Becker, Plainville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Carol Harris, a niece, Lindsay Meyers, and brother-in-law, Danny Hrabe.
A memorial service is planned for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 13, 2018 at First Lutheran Church in Plainville, Kansas. Memorials are suggested in lieu of Flowers to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, Kansas 67663.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
