BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue their work on a major drug investigation in Barton County.
Murel Dean Amador-photo Barton County
The one remaining suspect who was being sought in connection with the drug raid has turned himself in at the Barton County jail, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
Photo courtesy Barton Co. Sheriff
Just after 11 p.m. Monday, Murel D. Amador surrendered himself to sheriff’s deputies. He was booked on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
After executing nine search warrants to search homes and vehicles Monday, authorities seized substantial quantities of illicit drugs including 200 doses of LSD, 10 kilos of high-grade marijuana, 1.5 kilos marijuana wax, 2 ounces of black tar heroin, 160 fluid ounces of liquid codeine, 1 kilo of methamphetamine, 2 kilos suspected china white heroin, 8 oz. cocaine,6 oz. suspected Fentany, according to Bellendir.
Estimated street value of the drugs is believed to be in excess of $500,000. Authorities also made six arrests.
FORT SCOTT, Kan. (AP) — Officials say Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott will close by the end of the year.
Entrance to the hospital in Fort Scott -google map
Mercy officials said on Monday that declining patient numbers and reduced reimbursements from government programs, which is the largest source of the hospital’s revenue, led to the decision. The statement said hospital officials tried for months to find a way to keep hospital services in the community of about 7,800 people in southeast Kansas.
Mercy officials said they are working on an agreement with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, based in Pittsburg, to maintain primary care services in Fort Scott.
The hospital, which opened in 1886, is a 46-bed acute care center. It is expected to close Dec. 31.
Fort Hays State Weekly Football Press Conference October 2nd, 2018
Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown conducted his weekly press conference in advance of the Tiger’s upcoming game with Emporia State Saturday afternoon in Emporia. Brown and select players met with the media inside Lewis Field on Tuesday, a session that can be seen by clicking on the video below.
(00:00 Head Coach Chris Brown, 9:05 Cornerback Aquil Knowles, 11:13 Defensive Lineman Ian Nordell, 14:05 Offensive Lineman Romello Burke)
On October 1, 2018, God called Ralph James Dolezal to his heavenly home. He reached the age of 99 years, 3 months and one day. He resided for a short time at Medicalodges of Great Bend. He was born June 30, 1919, at rural Timken, to Martin and Emma (Chlumsky) Dolezal. He married Margaret Eloise Grow on June 3, 1948, at Great Bend. She survives.
Coming from Rush County in 1948, Ralph was a Great Bend resident. He was a farmer, stockman, and carpenter, and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a life member of the American Legion Argonne Post 180 and former member of I.O.O.F, all of Great Bend. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII.
Survivors include, wife, Eloise Dolezal of the home; one son, William J. Dolezal, Sr. and wife Joleen of Beatrice, Nebraska; one daughter, Dianne Willesden and husband Bob of Great Bend; one sister, Laura Reiser and husband Elmer of Great Bend; six grandchildren, William J. Dolezal, Jr., Brian Ewing and fiancé Jenni Miller, Brandy Gaddis and husband Mark, Tiffany Nily and husband David, Aimee Farris and husband Bill and Robert Willesden, III; nineteen great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Randall Mark Dolezal and one granddaughter, Destiny Dolezal.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, October 5, 2018 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 6, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, with Rev. Barbara Jones presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church or Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
Glade, KS, resident Gary R. Calhoon passed away Sunday, September 30, 2018 at the Bryan Health Medical Center East, Lincoln, NE at the age of 68.
He was born September 24, 1950 in Phillipsburg, KS the son of Raymond & Ruby I. (Chestnut) Calhoon.
Survivors include his wife, Rhonda of the home; son, Jason Calhoon of Alma, NE; and brother, Kenneth Calhoon of Bartlesville, OK.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 5, 2018 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Blake Stanwood officiating. Burial will follow in the Marvin Cemetery, Glade, KS.
Gary will lie in state from Noon until 9 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, in the funeral chapel, with the family receiving friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gary Calhoon Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date.
Inside a Textron Aviation facility in Wichita, Kansas TEXTRON AVIATION
The Kansas economy has been sluggish the past few years, but the candidates running for governor each have a plan to jumpstart things.
Will any of them actually work?
Experts say every plan faces an uphill battle.
With Kansas lacking the power to add some mountains, or beaches, or Stanford/MIT-level research universities, experts say the state will be stuck where market forces have already landed: a little farming, a little aerospace, a little manufacturing, all driven by forces beyond the control of Kansas politicians.
“I don’t think there are a lot of policy levers, especially at a state level, that can make a whole lot of difference,” said Art Hall, director of the Brandmeyer Center of Applied Economics at the University of Kansas.
But all is not lost. Hall says some policies can make a difference, however small.
Republican Kris Kobach
Kris Kobach during a September visit to Salina Tech.
Kobach’s one big idea to grow the economy is to cut regulations, along with income, property, and sales taxes, much like what was done six years ago. He’s credited similar steps taken by the Trump administration for the growing national economy.
“All of these can be done in a responsible way without breaking our budget,” Kobach said. “And if we want to get our businesses going we’ve got to do it.”
The thinking is that if you can remove barriers, existing businesses will grow and new ones will be attracted to the state.
Dan Rickman, a professor of economics at Oklahoma State University, has done extensive research on the impacts of tax policy on state and local economies, including looking specifically at the tax cuts that came when Sam Brownback was governor.
“Most states that dramatically cut their taxes are underperforming what you would have expected they would have,” Rickman said.
If Kansas were to try the tax-cut approach again, he said, it would get the same result.
The evidence, here in Kansas and around the country, just doesn’t support the use of state tax cuts to spur economic growth.
“If you’re going to get gains from tax cuts you have to very carefully understand and figure out where you can get the cuts without hurting programs that are needed,” Rickman said.
Too often, he said, the budget cuts used to offset decreases in revenue go too far. State budgets generally don’t have a lot of fat to begin with and increasing efficiencies only goes so far.
Conservatives have said the Brownback tax cuts faced two significant problems. One, they weren’t accompanied by a sufficient rollback in the size of state government. So the state’s finances fell into crisis.
Secondly, conservatives argued that low commodity prices for Kansas grain and oil offset the economic spark lit by the Brownback plan.
Democrat Laura Kelly
State Senator Laura Kelly
The long-time state senator from Topeka says the key to economic growth starts with getting businesses and employees to come to, and stay in, Kansas. How? Better schools.
“When I look what are the huge economic drivers of this state, number one is education,” Kelly said, “and we have defunded that over the past eight years.”
Kim Rueben is a senior fellow at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.
“I feel like doing things like investing in schools and human capital feels like it has pretty big bang for the buck,” she said.
But the details about that investment matter. Just spending more on education won’t cut it.
“It’s figuring out what kinds of jobs you’re looking to attract,” Rueben said, “and what kind of skills you need your labor force to have.”
For Kelly, that means more focus on career and technical programs. But that idea isn’t unique to her; it’s a sentiment shared by both of her opponents.
Money for those kinds of investments could be tough to come by, too. While the governor can set the tone, the Legislature controls the purse strings. Even if Kelly wanted to increase education spending, she’d likely face a tough battle from Republican lawmakers.
Independent Greg Orman
Photo courtesy Orman -Doll for Kansas
Orman, the leading independent in the race, says Kansas should invest more in transportation infrastructure.
“Kansas is at the geographic center of the United States,” he said. “We should be the intermodal manufacturing and distribution capital of America.”
Experts say that kind of spending could help — maybe.
“Here’s one way to think about it,” economist Art Hall said. “If you didn’t have any road, building one road would probably have a very large economic impact. But, if you have lots of roads, one more road is probably not going to have much of an economic impact.”
Basically, you don’t want infrastructure that’s crumbling. But spending more on the margins isn’t likely to have a huge impact on economic growth.
“Just building roads doesn’t necessarily solve anything,” Rickman said. “But if you need to keep them maintained and developed in places where they’re heavily used, just the same thing as education, these things can all very much help promote growth.”
Ultimately, all three economists agree that stimulating economic growth on a statewide level won’t come from politics. The answer won’t be found by simply raising or lowering taxes.
“There’s really no silver bullet,” Hall said. “I’ve come to the basic conclusion that economies grow because they’re growing.”
HODGEMAN COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Hodgeman County Sheriff’s Office are investigating after a body was found Monday night in a field in Hodgeman County.
At 10:09 p.m. Monday, the Hodgeman County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an area farmer reporting that he had located a body in his field. Responding deputies located a deceased Hispanic male approximately 3 miles west of Hanston and east of the intersection of NE 225 Road and N Road.
The sheriff’s office requested KBI assistance at approximately 10:45 p.m. Monday. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate.
The deceased male has not yet been identified. An autopsy will be conducted. The case is being investigated as a homicide.
This investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Sunday evening crash and have identified the victims.
Sunday night crash scene -image courtesy KAKE
A pickup driven by Natalia Reyneros, 38, Wichita, was traveling at 63rd Street west and Kansas 15 near Derby when it smashed through the railroad crossing arms and into the path of a train, according to Lt. Tim Myers of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department.
Reyneros and a passenger 39-year-old Brian David Gile of Derby were pronounced dead at the scene.
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DERBY, Kan.— Authorities say two people are dead after a driver smashed through railroad crossing arms and into the path of a train.
The crash happened Sunday night just west Kansas 15 in Derby. Lt. Tim Myers, of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, says the 38-year-old driver and her 39-year-old male passenger died in the crash.
Authorities are expected to released their names Tuesday.
Thirsty’s Brew Pub and Grill for United Way Dine Out Day #5
The United Way of Ellis County will be hosting a Dine-Out Day with Thirsty’s Brew Pub and Grill on Monday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 2704 Vine in Hays.
Come join in the social media fun! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the United Way and their 15 partner agencies.
Watch for upcoming Dine-Out Days with participating restaurants online at www.liveunited.us.
Barbara Gail Tebow, 77, of Salina, passed away Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 peacefully at her home. She was born Aug. 8, 1941, in Southwest City, Mo., to Walter “Jack” Lett and Ethel Mae (Cantrell) Lett. She married Billy Joe Tebow, Sept. 11, 1960, in Southwest City. They were married for 50 years before he died in 2011.
She was a banker for 33 years. She loved to crochet, cross-stitch and was a gifted seamstress. She enjoyed working in her yard and growing prized roses. She enjoyed cooking meals for her family, especially during the holidays, and teaching her grandchildren how to cook. She was an active member in her church, working with young children in Sunday school and the Cubbies in AWANAS. She was known as “Grandma” to everyone.
Survivors include: her children, Melanie Leepers (Fred) of Salina, and Jack Tebow (Doris) of Quinter; grandchildren, Terah Robinett (Todd), Tabia Norris (Spencer), Tiana Leepers, Jordan Kiser (Tyler), and Ryan and Leah Tebow; great-grandchildren, who were the joy of life, Iylah Robinett, and Kamryn and Eliza Norris, and a fourth on the way; brothers, Harry P. Lett, and Dick Lett (Pam) of Southwest City; and nephews, nieces, and beloved friends and extended family.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Bill Tebow; her parents; and twin brother, Jackie Lee.
Family will receive visitors 10-11 a.m., with services following at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, at First Southern Baptist Church, 2401 S. Ohio, Salina. Private inurnment will be at a determined later date in Southwest City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to: Hospice of Salina, and First Southern Baptist Church of Salina building fund, in care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.
Patricia “Patt” M. Coulter was born on November 26th, 1933 to her parents Otillia “Tillie” and Alvin Deen in Hays, Kansas. She grew up surrounded by many aunts and uncles and was proud to call Hays her hometown.
Patt passed from this life on September 30th, 2018, at the age of 84 in Wichita, KS.
Patt is survived by her children, Brent (and Jennifer) Coulter, Bryan (and Jodi) Coulter, and Connie (and Patrick) Erbert.
Patt was so proud of her grandchildren; Jeremy Coulter, Josh and Rosemary Coulter, Aubrey Coulter, Fr. Isaac Coulter, Erin and Scott Cooper, Eli Coulter, Emma Coulter, and Alaina Coulter. Patt was blessed to be a great grandmother to Sophia Mickelson-Coulter, Riley Coulter, and Gianna Cooper.
Patt was the oldest child in her family. She leaves behind her siblings; Rich (Bernice) Deen, Eileen Maxwell, and Anita Deen. She was also graced with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Patt is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved first born, Cindy, brother-in-law Bob Maxwell, niece Karen Deen, and numerous aunts and uncles.
She was the heart of a very large and loving family who will miss her dearly. Patt lived the majority of her life in Kansas, mostly in Hays. After graduating from Girls Catholic High School, she briefly contemplated a career in vocal music after winning a national competition. But Tillie wanted her daughter close to home, so Patt chose a career that would define her life and character. St. Anthony School of Nursing was a sisterhood of women who became some of the best nurses, friends, and colleagues. Nursing was more than a career for Patt. It was a natural part of her lifelong conviction and passion to caring for others.
Patt married Mel Coulter on April 23rd, 1958. As a military wife, she traveled to various states while creating a family of four children. She truly was the super glue that held her family together through many moves and adventures. Patt returned to Hays in 1972, delivering her family closer to home and loved ones. Patt worked fulltime as a nurse at St. Anthony Hospital while also being a fulltime mom at home (with much help from Grandma Tillie). Patt’s nursing career is a testament to her heartfelt dedication and headstrong determination. She began as Head Nurse of the Pediatrics Unit, soon became Clinical Director and was finally promoted to Nursing Director. She retired in 1992. Patt moved to Wichita in 2009, after the death of her daughter Cindy. (Rest assured, that reunion in heaven was glorious!) Living in Wichita brought her closer to children and grandchildren, who were fortunate to have her in their lives.
Patt was a pistol! Though short in stature, she was famous for her big sense of humor! She was known to laugh until she cried. Of course, she was also a wee bit feisty, opinionated, and stubborn. Oh, the stories we could tell! But her heart was always good. ALWAYS! She loved deeply and forgave easily, even in the most difficult circumstances and deepest hurts. Patt’s unwavering Faith was the absolute foundation of her life, and her example inspired all who knew and loved her.
James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
In addition to prayers, Patt and her family request that individuals honor her memory by considering adoption! Please, adopt an elderly person who is a shut-in or lives in a nursing or care facility. There are so many lovely people spending their final days waiting for time to pass and longing for meaningful human contact. A hand to hold. Far too many of our elders rarely have visitors. Mom was so fortunate to have family and friends love her daily.
She enjoyed wonderful neighbors who became family to all of us. Consider a weekly gift of time at your local nursing home. It will change their lives AND yours. Catholic education was also close to Patt’s heart. Memorials can be made to Thomas More Prep- Marian High School, Hays, Kansas or Holy Savior Church and Academy, Wichita Kansas.
Memorials to: Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, 1701 Hall St., Hays, Kansas 67601; Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa c/o Diocese of Wichita, 424 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202. Rosary 6 pm, Wednesday, October 3, St. Elizabeth Chapel at Catholic Care Center. Funeral Mass 11 am, Thursday, October 4, at Church of the Resurrection. Celebration Mass 11 am, Friday, October 5, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays, KS. Burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays, KS. Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.
