We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Month: January 2019

Kevin F. Roberts

Posted on

Kevin F. Roberts, 79, passed away January 8, 2019 at Medicalodges of Great Bend. He was born May 28, 1939 at Topeka to Frank & Elizabeth (Smith) Roberts. He married Hilda Means, January 28, 1967 at Iola. She survives.

Coming from Pittsburgh in 1969, Kevin was a math teacher for Harrison Middle School and Great Bend High School until he retired in 2001. He graduated from Leavenworth High School and Pittsburgh State University. He coached wrestling for Harrison Junior High and was a member of the gun club. He loved to hunt, fish and had a great sense of humor.

Survivors include, his wife, Hilda of the home; a daughter, Carrie Rivera and her husband David of Chicago, Illinois; a brother Giles Roberts of Tallahassee, Florida; and two grandchildren, Ethan Rivera and Megan Rivera. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Elizabeth Roberts.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 11, 2019 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Louis Hoang presiding. Inurnment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the USD 428 Education Foundation for innovative math projects, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Roberts to lead Agriculture Committee in 116th Congress

Posted on

Senate Agriculture Committee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., has once again been tapped to lead the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, during the 116th Congress.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead the Agriculture Committee for another two years,” said Chairman Roberts. “We just succeeded in passing the bipartisan, bicameral 2018 Farm Bill, and I look forward to overseeing the Agriculture Department’s implementation.”

“As I said when I first became Chairman of this Committee in 2015, my first priority is the American farmer and rancher. That laser focus has not changed one bit. We will continue to hold hearings, consider legislation in a fair and transparent manner, and consider nominations.”

“I’m pleased that Senator Stabenow will also continue her important role in the Agriculture Committee as Ranking Member. Working with Senator Stabenow on past Farm Bills, and various legislation in between, we have proven that we are the least partisan Committee, reaching across the aisle where we can to deliver results for rural America.”

Republican members of the Senate Agriculture Committee include:

  • Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
  • John Boozman, Arkansas
  • John Hoeven, North Dakota
  • Joni Ernst, Iowa
  • Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
  • Mike Braun, Indiana
  • David Perdue, Georgia
  • Chuck Grassley, Iowa
  • John Thune, South Dakota
  • Deb Fischer, Nebraska

“I welcome Senator Mike Braun from Indiana to the Agriculture Committee,” said Chairman Roberts. “I know he is guided by the best interests of his rural constituency and will be a valuable member of the Committee.”

“My goal from day one in the U.S. Senate is to put my real world experience to work finding solutions for Hoosiers, and the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee will be an excellent place to put my skills as a farmer and timber-ground manager to work for Indiana,” said Senator Braun. “Agriculture is the foundation of our state, and I’m excited to get to work and get results for Hoosier farmers on the Ag Committee.”

Roberts is the only Member of Congress to hold the titles of both Senate and House Agriculture Committee Chairman and Ranking Member. As the House Agriculture Committee Chairman during 1995-1997, then Congressman Roberts led the reform of outdated federal farm policies. He also reformed the federal food stamp program, reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. His advocacy for farmers and ranchers continued in the Senate as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee since 1997. In 2000, he wrote sweeping reforms to the federal crop insurance program. He also has called for a more aggressive U.S. trade policy and has fought to regain access to overseas markets for U.S. beef exports.

During 2011-2013, Senator Roberts served as the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. In 2012, with then Chairwoman Stabenow, Roberts passed a Farm Bill through the Committee, which was later approved by the full Senate.

During 2014-2016, Senator Roberts served as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Under his leadership, the Committee held more than 25 hearings and business meetings, passing bipartisan legislation, including Child Nutrition Reauthorization, Agriculture Biotechnology Disclosure Solution, and the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015. The Committee also passed emergency wildfire legislation and reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, protected the current Farm Bill from changes and cuts, and took action to resolve the Country-of-Origin Labeling trade dispute.

During 2017-2018, Chairman Roberts authored his second farm bill. Under his leadership, the Agriculture Committee held dozens of hearings, listened to more than 90 witnesses, and received thousands of public comments to develop the 2018 Farm Bill. He shepherded the Farm Bill through the Senate with the most votes ever received by a single farm bill, and it was signed into law on December 20. Roberts also was instrumental in providing more flexibility for harsh and unworkable school meal standards; dismantling the disastrous Obama ‘Waters of the U.S.’ rule for a clearer rewrite; rolling back two Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration rules that would’ve dealt a billion dollar blow to American agriculture; and cutting red tape on organic livestock and poultry regulations that would have jeopardized the livelihood of those producers.

Brett D. Eisenhour

Posted on

Brett D. Eisenhour, age 57, passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at the St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas.

He was born on October 9, 1961 in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Vearl D. & Betty L. Beeson Eisenhour. A lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas, he was the owner and operator of Ike’s Body Shop & Glass and was currently employed by Midwest Mixer Service of Scott City, Kansas.

He was of Christian faith and had bee a member of the Masonic Lodge of Scott City and was a member of the NRA, Pheasants Forever, Kansas Bowhunters Association, SCHS Beaver Booster and supporter of SCHS Wresting and the Scott City Take Down Club as well as serving as a youth coach for many activities.

On September 12, 1981 he married Kathleen M. Weides in Scott City, Kansas. She survives.

Survivors include his Wife – Katie Eisenhour of Scott City, Kansas, Two Sons – Blake & Grace Eisenhour of Moscow, Kansas, Brice & Sarah Eisenhour of Scott City, Kansas, Mother – Betty Eisenhour of Scott City, Kansas, One Sister – Jeanette & Steve Price of Ottawa, Kansas, Seven Grandchildren and Numerous Nieces & Nephews & Extended Family.

He was preceded in death by his Father – Vearl D. Eisenhour.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 11, 2019 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City, Kansas with Fr. George Fajardo presiding.

Memorials in Lieu of Flowers may be made to the Brett Eisenhour Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.

There will be no calling times.

Volunteers needed for ‘Night to Shine’

Posted on

We are very short on volunteers for Night to Shine. Please consider volunteering.

For more information, call Haley Nixon, Adult and IDD Program Director at Hays Recreation Commission at 785-623-2650 or Brent Kaiser at Arc of Central Plans at 785-628-8831.

Thank you for making this a Night to Shine.

On February 8, 2019, Celebration Community Church will host Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.

Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities ages 14 and up.

As a part of this worldwide movement, more than 450 churches, representing 29 denominations, and 175,000 volunteers in 50 states and 15 countries will come together on one night to celebrate more than 90,000 honored guests with special needs, ages 14 and older.

Norma Jean Gross

Posted on

Goodland, Kansas, resident and former St. Francis, Kansas, resident Norma Jean Gross, 86, passed away on Sunday, January 6, 2019.

Norma was born on August 11, 1932, in Denver, Colorado, to Alexander and Nina (Schlatter) Miller. She was one of two children.

Norma attended school in Denver and graduated from Denver South High School in 1950. She then went on and attended school for two years at Denver University where she met her husband Robert H. Gross. Norma and Robert were married on November 2, 1952 at a Methodist Church in Denver. To this union, three children, Sally, Doug and Kevin were born.

Norma spent her life as a homemaker and helping to raise their children. She was a member of PEO, and she was an avid needle pointer and made Christmas stockings for each of her family members. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in St. Francis.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Sally Priest, a granddaughter Erin Marie Priest and her brother Donald E. Miller.

She is survived by her husband Robert of 66 years, two sons; Doug (Denise White) Gross and Kevin (Michelle) Gross all of Ft. Lupton, CO, a son-in-law Barry Priest of Conifer, CO; four grandchildren, Stacy Kaup, Sean Gross, Meghan Kinen and Ashley Bueker; and eight great grandchildren, Brody, Angel, Brayden, Blane, Casen, Cooper, Reece and Finnian.

Memorial services for Norma will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 2:00 PM CT at the St. Francis United Methodist Church in St. Francis, Kansas with Pastor Warren Cico officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the St. Francis Cemetery.

Memorials may be designated to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 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.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

AP: Broncos pick Vic Fangio as new head coach

Posted on

By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos general manager John Elway has decided on Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as his new head coach, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced the hiring.

Fangio is a first-time head coach at age 60.

He replaces Vance Joseph, who posted the franchise’s first back-to-back losing seasons since 1971-72 and was fired on New Year’s Eve with an 11-21 record.

Fangio has been an NFL assistant for 32 years and for 34 years overall, including two years in the old USFL.

Elway also interviewed former Colts coach Chuck Pagano, Steelers O-line coach Mike Munchak, Patriots defensive play-caller Brian Flores and Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor while searching for his fourth head coach in six seasons.

Elway said he also plans to take a self-assessment this month to review the moves he’s made that have led to Denver’s three-year playoff drought since Peyton Manning retired a month after the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 title.
The Broncos have had four starting quarterbacks over that span, including free agent Case Keenum, who was underwhelming in his first year in Denver in 2018.

Elway concurred with star cornerback Chris Harris Jr.’s assessment last week that the Broncos need to modernize their offensive and defensive schemes to keep up with teams such as the Rams and Chiefs, who have fully embraced the run-pass option craze and other college concepts.

Elway didn’t believe that innovation required a young up-and-comer, however. So, instead of going with a fresh-faced offensive-minded coach in the mold of the Rams’ Sean McVay, he zeroed in on the grizzled teacher who’s more like his first head coaching hire, John Fox, or the Chiefs’ Andy Reid.

Elway, who turns 59 this summer, and Fangio, who turns 61 in August, will make up one of the oldest coach-GM duos in the NFL in 2019.

Fangio has 19 years of coordinating experience for the Panthers, Colts, Texans, 49ers and Bears. He’s built dominant defenses in different eras, successfully adapting to changes in personnel, philosophies and style.

The 2018 season was his best as Fangio guided a defense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL, allowed a league-low 17.7 points per game and led the Bears into the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Four Chicago defenders were selected to the Pro Bowl under his watch in 2018: pass rusher Khalil Mack, safety Eddie Jackson, lineman Akiem Hicks and cornerback Kyle Fuller.

Much as former Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips used to draw praise from players less than half his age, Fangio was greatly respected in the Bears’ locker room.

“He’s an evil genius,” Mack told NFL.com in November. “The guy knows the game in and out and he knows his players, and ultimately, he wants the best for us out there on the field, so he puts us in positions to make plays.”

The Bears’ playoff run came to a shocking end Sunday night when Cody Parkey’s last-second field-goal attempt was tipped and bounced off the left upright and the crossbar for his 11th miss of the season, sealing Philadelphia’s 16-15 escape in the wild-card round.

The Eagles had taken the lead when Nick Foles hit Golden Tate with a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining against the NFL’s stingiest defense.

Broncos star linebacker Von Miller suggested last month that the Bears’ defense could lead Chicago to the Super Bowl title much as Denver’s defense had three years ago — even in an age of potent offenses capitalizing on ever friendlier rules to run up scores.

“The Bears have been doing it right. They get takeaways, they play tight coverage and they got a great run defense,” Miller said. “I feel like the Bears definitely got a defense that can go all the way.”

Instead, the Bears’ season ended earlier than expected and now the man Mack dubbed an “evil genius” will join Miller in Denver.

Donald Dale ‘D.D.’ Howard

Posted on

Donald Dale “D.D.” Howard, age 82, passed away on January 7, 2019 at the Grisell Memorial Hospital in Ransom, Kansas. He was born on May 9, 1936, in Ness City, Kansas the son of John and Agnes (Burling) Howard.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, January 12, 2019, 10:30 A.M. at the United Methodist Church, Utica with Pastor Bud Tuxhorn presiding. Friends may call on Friday, January 11 from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family receiving friends from 6-8 P.M. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Burial will be in the Utica Cemetery with Military graveside rites by the McKinstry-Jones American Legion and Sons of the American Legion, Utica, assisted by the United States Navy Honor Guard.

Memorials may be given to the Utica United Methodist Church, the Utica American Legion, or the Ness County Honor Flight.

News chopper captures video of ‘Mario Kart’ game on Kauffman video board

Posted on

While shooting aerials of Arrowhead Stadium, KCTV-5 was surprised to find an enormous game of “Mario Kart” being played on the Crown Vision board at Kauffman Stadium.

Check out the Tweet from KCTV-5 and the response from Royals Charities 🙂

UPDATE: HMS, Wilson on soft lockdown while search warrant executed

Posted on

UPDATE 1:59 p.m. Wednesday

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said Wednesday the Hays Police Department requested a lockdown of Hays Middle and Wilson Elementary schools Wednesday because it was executing a search warrant in the 2700 block of Hickory, which is within a block of both of schools.

The search warrant was related to an armed robbery that occurred in Hays. No arrests were made at the time the search warrant was executed.

Scheibler said the case is still being investigated and no more details about the case could be released at this time.

“I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for the relationship with our school district that we have this open line of communication,” Scheibler said. “At the end of the day, our goal is make sure everyone is safe. I appreciate their cooperation in ensuring the kids wren’t out in the yard during that time period.”

Hays Post

Parents of Hays Middle School and Wilson Elementary School students were notified of a lockdown at the schools as of 12:55 p.m. Wednesday. The lockdown lasted about 20 minutes before the school was given the all-clear.

The following email was released:

At approximately 12:55, Hays Middle School and Wilson Elementary have gone into a soft lockdown in cooperation with the Hays Police Department as they conduct an operation. As a reminder, this means no one is allowed to enter or exit the school during this time. School will be business as normal inside the building. We will send another message when the operation is complete. 

Superintendent John Thissen said the district was notified by the HPD about an hour in advance of the soft lockdown that a police operation would be conducted in the vicinity of the school.

Thissen said that operation was completed at about 1:15 p.m., and both HMS and Wilson were given the all-clear.

Check Hays Post for more information as details become available.

Corrected at 2:29 p.m. for incorrect block of Hickory where the search warrant was issued.

Barbara Jean Potter

Posted on

Barbara Jean Potter, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother entered Heavens gates January 7th, 2019 surrounded by her family. A lifelong resident of northwest Kansas, Barbara was born June 14, 1957 in rural Thomas County Kansas to Sam and Pearl (Schmidt) Medford.

Barbara attended school in Winona until her sophomore year when she joined her sister Beverly at a boarding school in Laramie, Wyoming. She returned to Winona where she completed high school in 1955. Following graduation she trained to be a teletype operator, she then worked in Topeka and Denver.

On May 11, 1957 Barbara married Robert Potter. She devoted her time to being a homemaker and mother to their four children. Barbara loved cooking and sewing for her family. She served as a volunteer EMT in the Winona area, was editor for the Winona Leader, operated Potter’s Market with her husband and was a great supporter of all community activities. She taught her children the value of loving and caring for family, working hard and doing things right the first time.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Wayne; sister Beverly and great grandson Talon Mackley.

Survivors include children, Tawny (Ross) Stover, Platte City MO, Blake (Debbie) Potter, Winona, Tracee (Bob) Mackley Colby, and Tyler (Laura) Potter Lynchburg VA; nine grandsons and their loving wives, Shiloah Stover, Heath Stover, Trey Potter, Dillon Potter, Preston Mackley, Mason Mackley, Carson Potter, Logan Potter and Ethan Potter; thirteen great grandchildren and sisters, Virginia Sanders, Sandra McCune, Alana Keck and Pamela Medford.

Barbara leaves a legacy of steadfast love and devotion to her family.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 10, 2019, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Funeral Service is 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 11, 2019, at the Colby United Methodist Church, with burial to follow in Beulah Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Winona United Methodist Church, the Foundation for Hope or the Prairie Museum, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

Kansas suspicious death investigation goes cold

Posted on

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Police say eight months after a woman died of a head injury, investigators have not determined whether she was the victim of crime.

Sabrina Frock -photo courtesy Wright Funeral Home
Allen -photo KDOC

Sabrina Frock died in May at the home of a Lawrence man she met online.

The man identified as 33-year-old Shane Allen currently is in prison after violating probation for abusing another woman he met online two years ago. He is being held in the El Dorado Correctional Facility, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Frock’s mother, Denise Slaughter, of Brookfield, Missouri, says she suspects foul play and is frustrated with the police investigation.

Police are investigating Frock’s death as suspicious but say they have no new leads.

Frock’s autopsy report has not been released.

Slaughter said police told her Frock died from a brain injury but the coroner’s ruling on whether the death was a homicide or an accident was undetermined.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File