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Month: January 2019

Travis Larsen

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Travis Larsen, 44, of Salina, passed away Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. He was born April 4, 1974, in Bremerton, Wash., to Donald and Jean Larsen.

Travis received his Ph.D. in history from Oklahoma State University and taught at Fort Hays State.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ralph and Evelyn Schumacher and Alfred and Georgie Fisher, and brother, Brandon Larsen.

Travis is survived by his wife, Darlene; son, Kailar; stepsons, Derek (Kimbre), Adam, Ryan and Logan Fritz; parents, Don and Jean Larsen; sister, Jennifer Pfannenstiel (Jake), and niece, Alexis Pfannenstiel.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina. Cremation was chosen; there will be no visitation. Inurnment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, in care of Ryan Mortuary.

Anna Marie Dykstra

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Hanston – Anna Marie Dykstra, 70, passed away January 17, 2019 at Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore.

She was born January 2, 1949 in Dodge City, Ks, the daughter of Robert S. and Thelma K. Francis Durr. A longtime area resident, she was a cook at several restaurants, including Gun Smoke and The Pancake House.

She attended the First Baptist Church in Scott City, KS.

Survivors include: two sons, Dale Jr. (Gina) Farr, Hanston, Ross (Tammy) Farr, Scott City; daughter, Kim (Kevin) Coats, Hanston; four brothers, Robert Lee Durr, Jetmore, Donald (Jane) Durr, Palco, KS, Ross (Theresa) Durr, Bloom, KS, Dalmer Durr, Dodge City; three sisters, Twila Payne, MO, Roberta Harper and Naomi Durr, Both of Dodge City; twenty one grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step mom, Pat; daughter, Dena Warta; sister, Rosemary Hammons and a great grandson, Wyatt Raney.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 26, 2019 at First Baptist Church, Scott City, KS, with Pastor Kyle Evans presiding. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Cremation will follow the service.

Memorials may be sent to Anna M. Dykstra memorial fund in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, KS 67854.

Gwynn A. Ward

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Gwynn A. Ward, 88, formerly of Clayton, Kansas went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at his home in Loveland, Colorado. He was born on July 9, 1930 to Ross and Stella (Griffith) Ward on the homeplace northwest of Clayton, Kansas. He graduated from Norton High School. On November 6, 1951 he enlisted in the United States Navy. While still in the Navy, he married Mary Mathes September 16, 1952 in Norton, Kansas. Gwynn served in the Navy for four years working as a 2nd Class Aviation Machinist Mate, being on the blimp crew and working as airplane mechanic. On November 4, 1955, he was discharged and returned home to Clayton, Kansas and his family where he farmed until his retirement.

Gwynn enjoyed being a farmer and rancher. He was active in the Clayton United Methodist church and Prairie Dog 4-H club serving as a community Leader. When he wasn’t farming you might just find him watching a baseball game, cooking ribs, or sitting quietly. Gwynn liked to collect things and was a collector of pens, caps, John Deere memorabilia, clocks, watches, and knives. When Gwynn was around, one definitely wanted to keep a close eye on their pen or it might end up in his collection. He also liked to listen to the news but not more than once a day.

In March of 1994, Gwynn’s first wife, Mary, passed away after being married for 42 years. Fourteen years later, Gwynn was lucky enough to meet Judith (Ryser) McIntyre, and they were married December 13, 2008 in Clayton, Kansas at the Clayton United Methodist Church. They moved to Loveland, Colorado and shared ten happy years of marriage.

Gwynn is survived by his wife Judith Ward of Loveland, Colorado; son, Allen Ward of Norton, Kansas; daughters, Kris Mizell and husband Harold of Norton, Kansas and Gail Eckart and husband DeMerle of Minneapolis, Kansas; step-son, Dennis McIntyre and wife Charity of Goodland, Kansas; step-daughters, Shelley Blau and husband George of Manhattan, Kansas and Connie Mathes and husband Lewis of Johnstown, Colorado; sister-in-law, Norma Ward of Norton, Kansas; four grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and four step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded by his first wife, Mary Ward; parents, Ross and Stella Ward; brother, Max Ward; and grandson, Michael Ward.

A Funeral Service is planned for Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at the Clayton United Methodist Church, Clayton, Kansas at 10:00 A.M. Visitation will be held Monday, January 21, 2019 at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kansas from 10:30 A.M. until 7:30 P.M. Memorials are suggested to the Pathways Hospice-Loveland, Colorado and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Avenue, Oberlin, Kansas 67749. Online memorials may be left at www.paulsfh.com

Gwynn was a nice, quiet, gentle man with a big heart who loved to work the land and watch his crops grow. Gwynn had unconditional love for his family and the Lord Jesus Christ. When you are sad, remember his caring heart, warm embrace and being there when he was needed and know he is still with you.

Click HERE for service details.

Teresa J. ‘Terri’ (Vestring) Hamlin

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Teresa J. “Terri” (Vestring) Hamlin, 63, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Teresa was born August 6, 1955 in El Dorado, Kansas. She was one of three children born to James W. and Delores “Dode” (Murray) Vestring. She grew up in Burns, Kansas and attended school there, before moving to Wichita and graduating from South East High School. She then attended a year at Kansas University.

Teresa was united in marriage to Christopher Hamlin on February 7, 1981 in Wichita, Kansas. This union was blessed with three children; Jennifer, Cody and Tyler. They made their home in Russell.

Teresa was a caregiver and CNA for Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell for over 18 years. When she was younger she worked in the Burn Unit at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She was a family oriented person, everything evolved around her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed going to the lake, camping, fishing, and boating. She was a strong supporter of KU Athletics, WSU Athletics, Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. She was also known for her great cooking.

Teresa’s surviving family include her husband of 37 years, Christopher of the home; daughter, Jennifer Klaus (John) of Hays, Kansas; two sons, Cody Hamlin (Holly Creamer) of Russell, Kansas and Tyler Hamlin (Alisha) of Hoisington, Kansas; and eight grandchildren, Charlie Stieben, Max Steiben, Meg Taggart, Jesse Taggart, Kooper Hamlin, Hayden Creamer, Karsyn Hamlin and Adalynn Creamer.

Teresa was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Randall Vestring; sister, Catherine LaForge; grandson, Joseph Alexander Klaus; and daughter-in-law, Malorie Hamlin.

Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A memorial has been established as the Terri Hamlin Memorial Fund. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Mary Lou Lambert Bell

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On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, Mary Lou Lambert Bell, loving wife and mother of four children, passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 82.

Mary Lou was born on August 10, 1936 on a farm near the Redline in Graham County Kansas, to James and LuLu (Boatman) Lambert. On June 10, 1954 she married Verlan Leslie Bell. They had three children, Leslie, Debbie, and Diana Kay before moving to Littleton Colorado in 1959. Jim, their younger son, joined the family in 1970.

Mary Lou attended grade school through high school in Hill City, Kansas, graduating in 1954. She always looked forward to attending her high school reunion over Memorial Day weekend and having lunch with her classmates. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens in Colorado along with making silk flower arrangements and fans for family and friends. She was an avid book reader and enjoyed puzzles and word searches. She reminisced fondly of the many trips taken with Verlan and various other family members in their motor home, to Kansas and Texas to visit family and friends. Many memories and laughs were made on their trips including one from Colorado to Florida with many stops throughout the trip.

She was a hard-working and dedicated employee to all the various jobs she had throughout her life, but cherished most her time spent raising her children and keeping the books for the family business.

Numerous people commented on Mary Lou’s smile and compassion, remembering that no matter what she was going through she greeted them with a smile, said she was doing great and always asked how they were doing.

Mary Lou, in addition to her parents, is preceded in death by siblings, Enid and Alex McKenna, Viola and Bill Jones, James Ivan Lambert, Wilma and David Brinkmeyer, and Geneva and Willard Bell; daughter in law, Kay Bell.

She is survived by husband, Verlan Bell; children, Leslie Bell, Debra and husband Kjell Snemyr, Diana Kay and Don Missel and James Bell; grandchildren, Bobby Anderson, LeAnne (Arlo) Padilla, Kristine (Janak) Garg, Erik Snemyr, and Stephanie Missel; great grandkids, Mirabai Garg, Kiran Garg, and Hayden Snemyr; also survived by many other nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Click HERE for service details.

Frank J. Leikam

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Frank J. Leikam, 91, passed away on January 18, 2019 at the Cedar Village Care Center in Ness City, Kansas. He was born on June 14, 1927 in Ness City, Kansas the son of John and Rosa (Krannwitter) Leikam.

Frank graduated from Sacred Heart Grade School and Ness City High School. He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1945 and received an honorable discharge in 1946. He worked for the railroad for 42 years. He started with the B&B Gang, worked in the Signal Department, and then as a Switchman for the Kansas City Southern Railway Company. Frank and Jean lived in North Kansas City, Missouri for many years before moving to Girard, Kansas in 2007. They moved to Ness City after 2008. Frank was a member of Sacred Heart Church and he was a Knight of Columbus achieved the Fourth degree in 1972. Frank and Jean enjoyed traveling. They traveled to Europe and Hawaii numerous times. They were in Rome for the installation of John Paul II. Frank will be remembered for his congeniality and his welcoming smile.

He married Winnogene Mae (Leach) on Saturday, January 14, 1956, in Kansas City, Missouri. She preceded him in death on April 15, 2014.

He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Michael Francis (dod: 5 Feb 1961; seven brothers, Celestine, John, Leonard, Lewis, Jacob, Joseph, and Alphonse and three sisters, Anna Hopper, Alma Curtis, and Dorothy Drake.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Ness City, Kansas. A rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m before the funeral. Burial in the Resurrection Cemetery, 5001 NE Cookingham Drive, Kansas City, MO 64156 on Thursday, January 24, 2019, 1:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to Cedar Village, Ness City.

SPONSORED: Hays chamber seeks Communications Coordinator

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The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking qualified applicants for the full-time position of Communications Coordinator. This position reports to the Executive Director of the HACC and works closely with the rest of the HACC staff, Board of Directors, Chamber members and other stakeholders. This position is responsible for writing, design and production of any internal and external communications for the HACC.

Must have proficiency in general computer skills in Word, Excel and Adobe Creative Suite; strong written and oral communication abilities; photography experience; be highly energetic, organized and self-motivated with superior attention to details; be able to understand, assist and promote the Chamber mission. Must have portfolio of work to share during interview stage. Send cover letter and resume to:

Tammy Wellbrock

Hays Area Chamber of Commerce

2700 Vine Street

Hays, KS 67601

[email protected]

Resumes will be accepted until position filled.

Exploring Outdoor Kansas: Just ASK

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Steve Gilliland

You gotta’ love it when an idea is good enough to take off and become more than just an idea, and especially when that idea gets more people out into the Kansas outdoors. Such is the case with an all new program launched by the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) named Adaptive Sportsmen of Kansas, (ASK.)

Accessibility to outdoor activities has always been a barrier to people with mobility disabilities; the ASK program seeks to help remove those barriers by providing electric all-terrain track chairs for disabled sportsmen and women to use. Eight Action ST22 Trackchairs have been purchased and are available for free use on a first-come, first-serve basis at hunts and other pre-approved outdoor events put on by the KDWPT and ASK program sponsors including Bushnell Optics and the National Wild Turkey federation.

Each chair is joystick controlled and has a four-point harness to hold the rider safely in the chair on rough terrain. They also have front stabilizer wheels, padded armrests, an LED headlight, gun holder, fishing rod holder, head and foot rest and a storage box. ASK Program Administrator Jessica Rice told me they have also purchased remote controls so a second party can control the chair remotely in situations where the rider needs both hands to control a gun or fishing rod. Jessica, who goes by Jess, says anyone with a mobility disability is welcome to use the chairs. Additional funds for the chairs came from money we sportsmen pay for license fees, etc through the Pittman-Robertson Act.

Photo courtesy of Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website

Rice told me they recently took a disabled veteran from Arizona who was sponsored by the Pay-It-Forward Foundation on a guided deer hunt near Topeka. The weather forecast was for nasty, snowy weather and they weren’t sure how the new chairs would perform in the snow. She said the Trackchair performed flawlessly in several inches of snow and allowed the veteran to harvest both a buck and a doe from the chair.

Jess says the national Wild Turkey Federation and Bushnell Optics have both become valued sponsors of the ASK program, and backing from additional corporate partners is being pursued. More events are being planned where the chairs can be utilized, and Bushnell has also committed to donating optics for use at applicable events. For more information on the ASK program or to request use of one of the new Trackchairs, call Jess Rice at 913-278-2362, or email her at [email protected] ; yet another great way for people with mobility disabilities to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

Billinger newsletter, Jan. 20

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State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland

Monday, January 14, 2019, the gavel fell and we began the 2019 session. Even though it was not an election year for the Senate we had five Senators sworn in, four are new Senators and one replaced a Senator last year and he was reelected in November.

This year I will serve on the same committees as I have served the prior two years. If anyone is interested in attending any of these meeting they are as follows: Agriculture and Natural Resources 8:30-9:30 a.m., Financial Institutions, Insurance, Pensions and Benefits of which I am Vice Chairman 9:30-10:30 a.m. From 10:30-12:00 I serve as Vice Chairman of Senate Ways & Means. On the Ways & Means committee I serve on five budget sub committees. I will still be a member of the Buildings and Construction Committee. The Chairman of this committee is alternated from the House to the Senate each year, so I will no longer be the Chairman of this committee. The other committees I serve on are: 911 Commission, The Disabilities Concerns Commission and the office of Technology Commission. We have several rural group caucuses, which I participate in along with serving on the Transportation Task Force, which will recommend a new ten-year highway improvement plan.

On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly, delivered her first State of the State address. Some of her main agenda items include, more money to public education, increased funding to hire more social workers for DCF, and Medicaid expansion. Governor Kelly launched her agenda of increased spending in numerous areas, but vowed to keep her campaign promise not to increase taxes. Governor Kelly explained she would be proposing a one-year budget with a separate proposal for a two-year education plan. Kelly recommended a $92 million inflation adjustment to state aid for K-12 public schools. This would be a phase in of $364 million over four years. With this increase, the state’s education funding would increase 5.5% during the next budget year, to nearly $4.4 billion. The budget proposed a 14% increase in spending on foster care programs. Kelly’s agenda includes hiring 55 additional social workers, which would increase the department’s budget 8.7%, to $727 million. The budget includes $14 million to initiate Medicaid expansion in Kansas. The budget provided $22 million for a 2.5% salary increase for state employees, excluding the judicial system and legislative branch. An additional $3 million was earmarked to increase wages for officers of the Kansas Department of Corrections. The budget proposal would complete restoration of a 4%, or $30 million, cut in 2017 from the Board of Regents. Most of the money was previously restored to universities, but Kelly offered the final $8.9 million to be recovered. This restoration does not include previous cuts from 2008. Governor Kelly’s budget was built around the re-amortization of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System which essentially refinances the remaining $8.9 billion debt over 30 years. This is meant to provide $160 million in “short-term savings” but will extend the system’s debt until the year 2049. Larry Campbell, Governor Kelly’s budget director, said the debt would become an additional cost of approximately $7 billion. Senate leadership issued the following in response: “Governor Kelly’s budget is simply taking a different path that inevitably spends us right back into the red. She is willing to fund her irresponsible spending agenda at the expense of our Kansas retirees while placing an additional $7 billion burden on our future generations.” The budget will continue to draw $200 million annually from KDOT to finance basic government.

Thursday the Senate voted to confirm seventeen governor nominated appointments and two attorney general nominated appointments.

HARD FACTS: According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, in 2018 Kansas added over 11,000 new jobs and $1.7 billion in capital investment. GEICO announced a new service center in Lenexa, adding 500 new jobs. Spirit Aerosystems announced another major expansion with plans to add over 1,400 new jobs in the Wichita area. Since December 2017, Kansas gained 20,100 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 17,200 private sector jobs.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 236-E.

Sheriff: 3 teens accused of burglaries at Kan. bed and breakfast

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JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of burglaries and have suspects in custody.

Trevor James Hurteau-photo Jackson Co. Sheriff
Christopher Lee McGee-photo Jackson Co. Sheriff

Sunday night, Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies served a search warrant at a residence located at 307 Highland Avenue in Denison, according to sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies seized property believed to have been taken in the three burglaries including a Sunday morning burglary to the Muleskinner Lodge, 10910 W. Road in Denison.

The lodge in recent years had been operated as a bed and breakfast facility. Trevor James Hurteau, 18, and Christopher Lee McGee, 18, and a 15-year-old boy, all of Denison were arrested on burglary, theft, criminal damage to property and trespassing charges, according to Morse.

The trio allegedly broke into the lodge after 1:30 am Sunday morning and removed property from the premises. Hurteau and the 15-year-old allegedly committed two additional burglaries, thefts, trespassed and damaged property at the same location between November to mid-December of 2018.

Hurteau and McGee are currently being held in the Jackson County Jail. The juvenile is being held in a juvenile detention facility. All three subjects are awaiting bond at this time.

 

 

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 1/21/19

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khaz cheesy joke logo 20110802

A lost dog strays into a jungle. A lion sees this from a distance and says with caution “this guy looks edible, never seen his kind before”.

So the lion starts rushing towards the dog with menace. The dog notices and starts to panic but as he’s about to run he sees some bones next to him and gets an idea and says loudly “mmm…that was some good lion meat!”.

The lion abruptly stops and says ” woah! This guy seems tougher then he looks, I better leave while I can”.

Over by the tree top, a monkey witnessed everything. Evidently, the monkey realizes the he can benefit from this situation by telling the lion and getting something in return. So the monkey proceeds to tell the lion what really happened and the lion says angrily “get on my back, we’ll get him together”.

So they start rushing back to the dog. The dog sees them and realized what happened and starts to panic even more. He then gets another idea and shouts “there you are monkey! I told you to bring me another lion an hour ago.”

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

Tickets on sale next month for 2019 Brews on the Bricks

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Downtown Hays Development Corp. and Eagle Communications will present the fourth annual Brews on the Bricks in downtown Hays on May 4.

“With the success of the past few years, overall ticket numbers have increased from 1,500 to 2,000. The event as a whole is expanding to include more tents, more breweries and more activities,” DHDC said in a news release.

Tickets, which have quickly sold out in years past, will go on sale Friday, Feb. 1.

Ticket sale locations will be:

• 7 a.m., Downtown Visitors Center, 1200 Main, Ste. 102
• 8 a.m., online sales at www.downtownhays.com
• 5 p.m., Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing Co., 117 E. 11th
• 5 p.m., Defiance Brewery, 2050 East U.S. 40

There will be a total four-ticket purchase limit per person, per location.

Ticket prices are:

• VIP, $80 in office, $85 online
• General admission, $40 in office, $45 online

DHDC is partnering withe SafeRide and other entities to ensure event-goers arrive home safely.

For more information, call (785) 621-4171 or email [email protected].

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