NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Authorities say a DNA test has confirmed that skeletal remains found in Alabama decades ago belong to a missing Louisiana woman believed to have been killed.
Courtney-photo KDOCMary Ann Perez -photo courtesy NOLA Police
Authorities said Tuesday that they learned this week the remains belong to Mary Ann Perez, who disappeared in 1976. Authorities say Perez’s daughter provided a DNA sample that matched DNA from the remains. The findings have revived the possibility that a man who claimed responsibility for Perez’s slaying may be charged in her death.
That man, 74-year-old David Courtney, is currently serving a life sentence in Kansas in an unrelated killing.
News outlets at that time report Perez was having car trouble near a New Orleans lounge when she was spotted by Courtney, who’s believed to have strangled her.
Eugenia Lucille Pfannenstiel, 91, Hays, died Monday, November 12, 2018 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.
She was born September 24, 1927 in Copperas Cove, Texas one of eight children to George and Delores (Helmecke) Deorsam. She graduated from Gatesville High School and was a homemaker. On November 12, 1945 she was united in marriage to Henry Pfannenstiel in Munjor, Kansas. Eugenia died on what would have been her and Henry’s 73rd wedding anniversary, however Henry preceded her in death on October 5, 2015, just shy of their 70th wedding anniversary.
She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, and she loved Charlie Pride music, admired beauty and flowers, enjoyed gift giving for the grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she was always there when needed. She painted china, noticed details, was an antiques dealer, the family cook, and she possessed a great sense of humor and loved life and everything in it. After many years of not allowing a pet in the home, she was smitten by her beloved cat Alex.
Survivors include three sons; Dennis Pfannenstiel and wife Crystal of Port St. Lucie, FL, Merle Pfannenstiel and wife Romey of Garland, TX, and Gary Pfannenstiel of Hays, five daughters; Audrey Herold and husband Ron of Hays, Marsha Hupfer and husband Dennis of Shawnee, and Brenda Kroeger, Karen Gilmore and husband Louie, and Pamela Allen, all of Hays, fourteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Henry, three brothers; Louies, Carl Lee, and Raymond Deorsam, and four sisters; Tillie Kindler, Edna Haedge, Lillie Schaub, and Irene Phillips.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 pm on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of HaysMed or to the Hays Good Samaritan Society, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences and memories of Eugenia may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
The USD 489 Migrant Education Program received a $315 grant from Midwest Energy.
The grant was written by Starla Gano, who serves as the district’s migrant services coordinator.
The Kansas Migrant Education Program is designed to address the unique needs of migrant children and their families and offers support for high-quality and comprehensive educational programs to reduce the educational disruption and other problems that result from repeated moves. It seeks to ensure migrant children are provided appropriate educational and supportive services to address their special needs.
This grant will help children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet.
The grant will allow for the purchase of Science Technology Reading Engineering Arts & Math (STREAM) learning experiences with learning labs.
Fr. Toney Kulandaijesu, Mark Herl, Rene Michaud, Fr. Fred Gatschet during the 24/7 Travel Store check presentation to the St. Joseph Food Pantry in Hays.
Submitted
For 10 days in October, locally owned travel center 24/7 Travel Stores donated 5¢ for every gallon of gasoline sold at its stores to their local food banks.
The 24/7 Travel Stores donated $1,932.07 to the St. Joseph Food Bank in Hays. The funds raised during the event can be used however the food banks wish, including operating costs and perishable groceries.
24/7 Travel Stores has 10 locations across nine cities, spanning the state of Kansas: Goodland, Colby, WaKeeney, Hays, Russell, Salina, McPherson, Abilene and Maple Hill.
The amount raised across all locations totaled $23,917.24. President of the company, Mark Augustine, is excited to see the impact these funds will have.
“Food Bank Fill-Up was a huge success far exceeding the amount we set out to raise, Augustine said. “24-7 Travel Stores wants to thank each food bank, their volunteers and our local communities for getting involved and supporting this event.”
Each night in the United States, an estimated 600,000 people live on the streets.
This October, the goal was to get 2 million people to show that even a small act of love, such as donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are homeless or need assistance.
The Thomas More Prep-Marian Key Club collected 663 pairs of socks in October.
The socks will be donated to the Mary Elizabeth Maternity Home and First Call for Help in Hays.
TMP STUCO supported the project and matched money donations to purchase socks.
The Hays Public Library has hired Callie Kolacny as communications and projects coordinator.
Kolacny comes to the library after serving five years as the marketing director for Smoky Hills Public Television. Prior to that, she spent 14 years as news director for Eagle Radio in Hays.
An Ellis native, Kolacny has lived in Hays for 19 years. She began her duties at the library on Nov. 12.
MANHATTAN — Water right owners in Kansas soon will be expecting a familiar letter in the mail, requiring them to submit a complete and accurate water use report to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources. This year’s mailing will look different, because starting with the 2018 water use reporting period KDA–DWR is implementing a $20 per water right paper filing fee on each water use report (except for domestic use) when that report is submitted in paper form. This $20 fee can be avoided by reporting water use online, which is recommended by KDA–DWR.
This is the fifth year that online water use reporting has been available, and many water right owners have already taken advantage of that option. Online reporting allows water right holders to enter official annual water use reports online and receive immediate feedback to help ensure that the report is accurate. It also provides access to other features such as previous reports submitted online. KDA has supported the cost of the transition to online reporting as it will help the agency achieve long-term cost savings. Instead of implementing online “convenience fees,” KDA has taken an entirely different approach and instead will charge a paper filing fee for water use reports beginning with this 2018 water use reporting period.
Complete your online water use report at www.kswaterusereport.org from January 2–March 1. If you need help completing your report, visit or call any of the KDA–DWR field offices or watch the online video tutorials available soon. You can find contact information and a link to the videos at agriculture.ks.gov/wateruse or call the water use team at 785-564-6638. If you choose not to take advantage of the online water use report option, you can send in your report by mail along with the paper filing fee.
Water use data is essential for management of the state’s resources. Each owner of a water right or permit to appropriate water is required by law to submit a complete and accurate water use report every year. This process ensures that the people of Kansas — and officials responsible for managing or monitoring water resources — have access to complete information about how water is used. The information collected is used by many agencies including the Kansas Water Office, U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas Geological Survey, groundwater management districts, Kansas Department of Revenue, county appraisers and others.
B.J. Rupp, Doerflers’ Harley-Davidson sales associate, talks to Tigers Motorcycle Club members about bikes during a recent visit to the store.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Some Fort Hays State University faculty are hoping to pass on their love of the open road to students in the newly formed Tigers Motorcycle Club.
Sponsor for the group, Dennis King, FHSU assistant vice president of student affairs, has been riding for years and has a large collection of bikes.
He said the joy of riding is all about the experience of the ride.
“You see, smell and feel things that you just don’t when you are in a vehicle,” he said. “You are much more aware of your surroundings. When you do ride, you are much more in touch with the road — when you are taking a curve, going around a turn.
B.J. Rupp, Doerflers’ Harley-Davidson sales associate, talks to a Tigers Motorcycle Club member about bikes during a recent visit to the store.
“You can be going 60 miles an hour on a windy day, and the wind is behind you and it is like you’re standing still. You can be going 60 miles an hour and it is just an awesome surreal feeling. … It’s just the thrill of the ride.”
King has a Suzuki, Yamaha, a few Hondas and a Harley, but his favorite bike is a 2005 Triumph America.
“It was one of those that I snuck down to Wichita and bought, and then called home and said, ‘Hey, I bought this bike.’ Depending on the reaction, I was going to come home or not come home,” he said.
Turning a wrench, King said has been his midlife crisis. Ten years ago he couldn’t do anything with a motor. King and a friend work on bikes for a hobby, and that is how he has built up his collection.
“Each bike is unique. Each brand is unique, and each one is a thrill to ride,” he said.
The club already has 18 members in its first semester, but they hope to grow.
The goal of the club, King said, is safe rides and educating young people about maintenance and safety. King hopes to grow the club to the point where they can have regular rides and attend area bike events together.
A FHSU faculty member talks to Tessa Stump, junior in animal science and agribusiness, about a bike during a recent club tour of Doerflers’ Harley-Davidson.
The group recently took a tour of Doerflers’ Harley-Davidson in Hays.
Club President Austin Krejdl, senior in agribusiness, only has a moped right now, but he is saving up for a motorcycle.
“I really like being on two-wheels,” he said. “I like being out on the open road. It is relaxing too after a long day to go on a ride.”
Tessa Stump, junior in animal science and agribusiness, also has dreamed of having her own bike ever since she rode her dad’s Screaming Eagle Harley.
She grew up around horses in Funk, Nebraska, and compared riding a bike to riding a horse.
“I love the fact that I can be on the open road and just enjoy it,” she said, “so it is kind of more peaceful for me.”
Even though Stump doesn’t have her own bike yet, she said she has enjoyed the club.
“It gives me one day out of my week to go out and do something I actually enjoy,” she said.
The club is open to FHSU students, faculty and staff. You can sign up for the club by logging onto to your TigerLink account and searching for Tigers Motorcycle Club.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ordered a mental competency examination for a 19-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting a girl in a child welfare office.
Hamer is accused of the sex assault -photo Johnson County Sheriff
Michael Anthony Hamer is charged in Johnson County with rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Prosecutors allege Hamer assaulted a 13-year-old girl in May while they were at a KVC Health Systems office in Olathe. They were both in the state foster care system at the time.
Defense attorney Courtney Henderson sought the evaluation because he thinks Hamer doesn’t fully understand the gravity of the charges against him and would not be able to effectively help in his own defense.
District Judge Brenda Cameron granted Henderson’s request. A hearing on the competency issue is scheduled for Jan. 10.
