HARVEY COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a Tuesday morning fire at a home in Newton.
Newton Fire/EMS crews responded to a structure fire in the 200 block of W. 1st Street, according to a social media report.
The occupant was home at the time of the fire and escaped unharmed.
Fire crews quickly extinguished the large volume of fire, containing it to the back half of the house.
Damage to the house was extensive. Authorities have not released a dollar amount of damage.
Johanna “Jo” M. Hauptman, age 90, of Hays, KS, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 28, 2019 at HaysMed in Hays. She had resided at Via Christi Village in Hays.
She was born on October 23, 1928 in St. Marks, KS, the daughter of Bernard “Ben” and Anna (Zoglman) Landwehr. She was raised on a farm near Fredonia, KS. Jo married Emil Hauptman on May 1, 1954.
She was a homemaker and worked as a florist. She loved working as a Foster Grandparent at Wilson and Roosevelt Elementary Schools. Jo spent most of her adulthood in Lyons, KS. She loved people, socializing, volunteering and helping others. She had a great sense of humor and enjoyed bingo, playing cards and doing crafts to make gifts for her family.
Survivors include three sons, Greg Hauptman and his wife Doreen of Murdo, South Dakota, Mark Hauptman and his wife Jeanne of Hays, Mike Hauptman and his wife Lisa of Topeka; sister, Jean Liebman of Washington state; seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Jo was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Martina Watts, Bertha Breazeale, Elenora Lane, Alice Powers and four brothers, Robert, Edward, Leo and Leonard “Lenny” Landwehr.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. in the chapel at Via Christi Village, 2225 Canterbury Dr., Hays, KS 67601. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery-Hays.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 1, from 5-8:00 P.M. at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays.
A Rosary will be held at 6:30 P.M., followed by a vigil service on Friday at the funeral chapel.
Memorial contributions can be made to Via Christi Village-Hays, designated to the Activities Fund. Contributions can be left or mailed to the funeral home.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].
Arrangements are by Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.
Buddy Shaine Graf, 33, Great Bend, died Friday, January 25, 2019 at the University of Kansas Health Systems of Great Bend, Kansas.
He was born August 15, 1985 in Dodge City the son of Vonda K. Cox. In 2004, he graduated from Jennings High School. He enjoyed helping people while working as a CNA and working with youth at the Larned Juvenile Correction Facility. Buddy was a jack of all trades and liked to joke around and make people smile. His hobbies included fishing, four-wheeling, being at the lake, target shooting, listening to music, and shooting pool. He loved spending time with family, friends, and his children.
Survivors include Katie Baker and children; Kalee Bryant, Gage Graf, Kade Graf, and Madeline Graf all of Great Bend, a sister; Nakita Robinson of Selinsgrove, PA, a brother; James Graf of Larned, step-Dad; Dwayne “Cope” Tucker of Sedgwick, and a niece Kadynce Robinson of Selinsgrove, PA.
He was preceded in death by his mother Vonda K. Vacura and his grandparents.
A celebration of Buddy’s life will be at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 1, 2019, at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays. Family will receive friends from 1:15 pm until service time on Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested for Buddy’s children. Condolences and memories of Buddy may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly released a Medicaid expansion bill Tuesday that will expand affordable healthcare to 150,000 more Kansans, protect and strengthen rural hospitals, and bring Kansas federal tax dollars back to the state, according to a media release from her office.
“It’s long past time to expand Medicaid so that more Kansans have access to affordable healthcare, our rural hospitals can stay open, and the tax dollars we send to Washington can come back home to Kansas to help our families,” said Kelly. “This bill meets the unique needs of Kansas patients, hospitals, providers, and diverse communities while remaining financially sustainable.”
The Governor’s Medicaid expansion bill is based on the version of the 2017 Bridge to a Healthy Kansas bill that passed the House and the Senate and was later vetoed by Governor Sam Brownback.
“Kansans overwhelmingly support Medicaid expansion,” said Kelly. “They know it will mean access to quality, affordable healthcare and support for our rural hospitals. It’s time we listen to the people of this state and expand Medicaid.”
Kansas is one of just 14 states left that has not yet expanded healthcare to families who desperately need it.
“I’ve seen first-hand how illnesses are diagnosed late, and how Kansans have been hurt financially, by not having access to healthcare,” said Lee Norman, acting secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). “I know we can do better, and this bill is a monumental step forward.”
To view the governor’s Medicaid expansion bill, click here.
“Medicaid expansion will benefit the state of Kansas, our families and our children in many ways,” said Laura Howard, secretary of Kansas Department for Children and Families and Aging and Disability Services. “It’s the most important tool Kansas can utilize to provide the necessary treatment and services to vulnerable Kansans.”
Tiger women jump two spots in both the WBCA and D2SIDA polls
After a pair of convincing home victories last week, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team climbed two spots in the latest release of both national polls, released Tuesday (Jan. 29). The Tigers moved up to No. 6 in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll while the squad jumped to fifth in the D2SIDA National Media Poll.
The Tigers are one of three teams to earn at least one first-place vote in either poll this week, earning one first-place vote in the media rankings. The Black and Gold picked up 460 points in the voting process in the coaches poll, just two points behind fifth place.
Fort Hays State played three games as the sixth-ranked team in the coaches poll earlier this season when they sat in that position in weeks four and five (Dec. 11 & 18, 2018). The Tigers are 7-1 all-time when they are ranked sixth in the coaches poll.
The Tigers are one of two MIAA programs recognized in the rankings, joined by No. 23 Central Missouri in the coaches poll.
Fort Hays State heads back out on the road for three conference contests over the next two weeks, opening with a Saturday afternoon trip to take on Nebraska-Kearney. First tip from Kearney, Neb. is set for 2:00 p.m.
Below are the complete national polls for January 29, 2019.
| WBCA DII Coaches Poll – Week 10 | D2SIDA Media Poll – Week 10 | |||||||||
| Rk. | Team (1st) | Rcd. | Pts. | Prev. | Rk. | Team (1st) | Rcd. | Pts. | Prev. | |
| 1 | Drury (23) | 19-0 | 599 | 2 | 1 | Drury (15) | 19-0 | 392 | 2 | |
| 2 | UC San Diego | 17-0 | 555 | 4 | 2 | Jefferson | 19-0 | 371 | 4 | |
| 3 | Ashland (1) | 18-1 | 521 | 5 | 3 | UC San Diego | 17-0 | 370 | 5 | |
| 4 | Thomas Jefferson Univ. | 19-0 | 501 | 6 | 4 | Florida Southern | 17-1 | 343 | 6 | |
| 5 | Indiana (Pa.) | 16-1 | 462 | 1 | 5 | Fort Hays State (1) | 18-1 | 331 | 7 | |
| 6 | Fort Hays State | 18-1 | 460 | 8 | 6 | California | 17-1 | 298 | 12 | |
| 7 | Union (Tenn.) | 19-1 | 449 | 7 | 7 | Union | 19-1 | 270 | 8 | |
| 8 | Northwest Nazarene | 17-1 | 404 | 3 | 8 | Northwest Nazarene | 17-1 | 268 | 1 | |
| 9 | University of the Sciences | 18-1 | 402 | 9 | 9 | USciences | 17-1 | 267 | 9 | |
| 10 | California (Pa.) | 17-1 | 386 | 13 | 10 | IUP | 16-1 | 255 | 3 | |
| 11 | Alaska Anchorage | 17-1 | 383 | 10 | 11 | Lewis | 16-2 | 239 | 10 | |
| 12 | Virginia Union | 17-1 | 367 | 11 | 12 | Colorado Mesa | 16-1 | 239 | 13 | |
| 13 | Florida Southern | 17-1 | 318 | 12 | 13 | Anderson (S.C.) | 17-2 | 235 | 11 | |
| 14 | West Texas A&M | 16-2 | 268 | 14 | 14 | Southwestern Okla. | 17-1 | 233 | 14 | |
| 15 | Grand Valley State | 17-2 | 266 | 15 | 15 | Alaska Anchorage | 17-1 | 178 | 15 | |
| 15 | Southwestern Oklahoma State | 17-1 | 266 | 16 | 16 | Ashland | 18-1 | 157 | 17 | |
| 17 | Bentley | 18-2 | 220 | 17 | 17 | Virginia Union | 17-1 | 147 | 16 | |
| 18 | Lewis | 16-2 | 199 | 18 | 18 | Angelo State | 14-2 | 140 | 19 | |
| 19 | Colorado Mesa | 16-1 | 179 | 20 | 19 | Bentley | 18-2 | 110 | 20 | |
| 20 | Angelo State | 14-2 | 168 | 19 | 20 | West Texas A&M | 16-2 | 83 | 23 | |
| 21 | Anderson (S.C.) | 17-2 | 129 | 21 | 21 | Cal Poly Pomona | 16-2 | 56 | 24 | |
| 22 | North Georgia | 14-3 | 82 | 22 | 22 | Wingate | 14-4 | 46 | NR | |
| 23 | Central Missouri | 13-4 | 62 | 25 | 23 | MSU Moorhead | 17-3 | 44 | 21 | |
| 24 | Le Moyne (N.Y.) | 16-2 | 41 | NR | 24 | Grand Valley | 17-2 | 34 | NR | |
| 25 | Azusa Pacific | 16-3 | 33 | NR | 25 | Le Moyne | 16-2 | 29 | RV | |
By JOHN P. TRETBAR
Drilling activity in eastern Kansas continued to slow down last week even as it picked up west of Wichita. Independent Oil & Gas Service reports just three active drilling rigs in the eastern half of the state, down two, and 31 in Western Kansas, which is up three over the week before. Drilling is underway at one well in Ellis County, and operators are about to spud new wells in Barton and Russell counties.
Baker Hughes reported an increase of ten oil rigs in its weekly nationwide drilling rig count. Texas was down four rigs, New Mexico was up four and North Dakota added three rigs over last week.
Operators filed 12 permits for drilling at new locations across the Sunflower State last week, with just one of those in eastern Kansas. Eleven were west of Wichita, including one in Barton County.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports operators completed 66 new wells last week across Kansas. Ten of those were dry holes including one in Ellis and one in Barton County. Out of 22 wells completed in Western Kansas last week, seven were dry holes. One producing well and one service well were completed in Barton County last week.
The government said U.S. commercial crude oil inventories increased 8.0 million barrels from the previous week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says current stockpiles are about nine percent above the five-year seasonal average. EIA said U.S. crude production for the week was down slightly, from the all-time high reported the week before. The total for the week ending January 18 was 11.891 million barrels per day, about two million barrels more than the same week a year ago. Imports averaged 8.2 million barrels per day last week, up more than half a million from the previous week. The four-week average is about 2.1% less than a year ago.
The Lone Star State produced 25% more crude oil last year than the year before. A report from the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association pegged the state’s production in 2018 at 1.5 billion barrels. That’s about 4.1 million barrels per day, or about 40% of total production in the United States. EIA estimates that U.S. crude oil production averaged 10.9 million barrels per day last year.
The top oil and gas regulator in Idaho has resigned amid charges he bought and sold stock in an oil and gas company doing business in his state. Governor Brad Little accepted the resignation of Conservation Commission Chairman Kevin Dickey, and said his office would work to fill the vacancy as quickly as possible.
Crude-oil production from the seven largest U.S. shale plays is forecast to climb by 62,000 barrels a day in February to 8.179 million barrels a day, with output from the Permian Basin leading the way. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said Tuesday the Permian, spanning the Texas-New Mexico border, is expected to see the largest climb among the big shale plays, with a monthly increase of 23,000 barrels a day in February.
As the State of New Mexico considers raising royalty rates for oil & gas production on state lands, lawmakers are learning that the state already cllectss a greater share of revenue from the patch than eight other states, including Kansas. Lawmakers in Santa Fed heard from the New Mexico Tax Research Institute, which reported royalties and taxes in the state already return more than 20% of the so-called “production value” of oil developments on state lands. Texas was next at more than 14%. Richard Anklam of the Institute says their new study shows Kansas with the lowest combined taxes and land income as a percentage of energy production. Anklam says thats largely because Kansas has very little production on federal land, and none on state trust lands. According to the study, the states energy operators kicked in more than $201 million to state coffers in fiscal year 2017, out of slightly more than $2 billion in total production value, or a little more than 10%. That includes personal income taxes, severance taxes, ad valorem property taxes, sales and use taxes, and revenue from the feds.
Saudi Arabia plans to build an oil refinery and a petrochemicals plant in South Africa as part of $10 billion of investments in the country. According to Reuters, the Saudi Energy Minister announced Saudi oil would be used in the planned refinery. Construction will be led by state energy company Saudi Aramco. The exact location of the refinery and petrochemicals plant will be finalised in the coming weeks.
Oil tankers exporting crude from ports in the Black Sea are contending with spiraling delays when navigating Turkey’s key shipping straits, stalling the delivery of millions of barrels rom Kazakhstan and Russia to refineries on the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. According to a report from Bloomberg, the long lines are blamed on rule changes requiring more vessels be escorted by tugboats. A local port agent estimates tankers holding about 39 million barrels of oil are being held up.
Phyllis J. Lancaster, 84, died Monday, January 28, 2019 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. She was born June 4, 1934 in Dighton, Kansas the daughter of Serrell Douglas & Opal Ruth (Stine) Beamer.
Phyllis grew up in Dighton where she was raised by her aunt, Addie Reed. She attended Dighton schools. On May 9, 1950, she married Charles G. “Charlie” Lancaster in Raton, New Mexico. They lived in Garden City and later moved to Ulysses, Kansas. Phyllis later moved back to Garden City in 1989 after the death of her husband. A homemaker, Phyllis was a member of the Eagle’s Auxiliary, Moose Lodge Auxiliary, and the American Legion Auxiliary. Phyllis enjoyed playing Bingo, cooking, reading, going to the casino, and she especially loved to spend time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include a son Dean (Barbara) Lancaster of Sterling, Kansas; four daughters Peggy Palmer of Garden City, Pamela (Michael) Komlofske of Garden City, Sherri (Mark) McMillan of Garden City, & Terri Caldwell of Garden City; a sister Paquita Couch of Denver, Colorado; a brother Loren Doyle Beamer of Clayton, New Mexico; 9 Grandchildren; 28 Great-Grandchildren; and 1 Great Great-Grandchild. Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband Charlie who died on April 12, 1988. She is also preceded in death by her parents; 2 brothers Bob Stine and Darell Beamer; a sister Armella Bieker; and a Great-Grandson.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. to service time Thursday all at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. The family suggests memorials given to the Finney County Humane Society in care of the funeral home.
Donald “Donnie” R. Martin, died Tuesday, January 22, 2019 in his assisted living facility in Garden City, KS, due to complications from diabetes. He has been in an assisted living program, where he’s received constant care and social opportunities since 2008, Don died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 73.
He leaves behind his sister, Caroline Schemm; niece Deena Tameris, husband Mat Tameris, and great-nephew Sean Tameris; nephew Andrew Schemm and nephew James Schemm and wife Renata Lopes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen Martin in 2007 & Homer Martin in 1984, along with his brother, Dale in 1952.
Born in Fulton, MO October 30, 1945 where his father owned and operated a family farm. In 1949, the family moved to a farm north of Tribune. After entering school in Greeley County school district at Mt. Olive Country School, in 1951-52, he was diagnosed with learning disabilities by Fort Hays State University. The school district did not have a special education program in 1953, so Don was sent to a special-needs school at Parsons State Training Center, in Parsons, KS. He remained there until 1961, when he left to help the family with farming in Wakeeney, KS, where they had relocated in 1960.
In 1972, they again relocated to Horace, KS, where Don started to make an impact on the community by always being a hard worker to those and need, and having a smile for those same people in need. He was known being an interesting and helpful member of the community and a perpetual kindness. The friends and family remember him with eternal fondness and will greatly miss his sparkling stage presence when performing private country music recitals.
The family would like to thank everyone for their support during this mournful time. A memorial fundraising campaign has been established for funeral costs at gofundme.com/18wheeler or donations can be made directly to Price & Sons Funeral Home. The memorial service will be held at a later date.
“To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are planning more than $10 million in upgrades to Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs announced Monday that the renovations will include a “modernization” of the Arrowvision scoreboard, along with waterproofing and new seats — with cup holders — in the stadium’s upper deck.
Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release that the last stadium renovation was completed a decade ago.
The team said the scoreboard will remain the same size but will have new LED panels to improve clarity.
The work could begin next week.
The Chiefs are paying for the work but can ask in the future to be reimbursed by the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is among the agencies investigating Monday’s fatal officer involved shooting in Wichita and have identified the suspect who died as David Michael Bosiljevac, 55, of Wichita, according to Lt. Tim Myers with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department.
On Monday afternoon, deputies received a tip from a citizen that Bosiljevac, who had a felony drug warrant from 2015 was going to be at a storage unit facility in the 3300 Block of south Hydraulic in Wichita, according to Colonel Greg Pollock with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department
Just before 1p.m. two Sedgwick County Deputies arrived at the storage unit and observed Bosiljevac, 55 standing near a maroon Ford Fusion parked at the front of a storage unit.
Bosiljevac ran from the deputies to the driver’s side of the vehicle. The deputy gave several commands asking him to stop.
Bosiljevact did not comply and retrieved what the deputy believed to be a pistol and pointed it at the deputy, according to Pollock.
Fearing for his life and the life of the other deputy at the scene, the deputy fired several rounds at the suspect. Bosiljevac was pronounced dead at the scene at 1p.m., according to Pollock. His body was transported to the Forensic Center for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
During the investigation and after the crime scene was processed, an air-soft pistol that closely represents a firearm was recovered near the suspect’s body.
The deputies involved were not injured, according to Pollock. The deputy who fired the shots is a 40-year-old, 18-year-veteran of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department. The other deputy is a 50-year-old, 20-year veteran of the agency. They were not wearing body cameras.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the district attorney.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is among the agencies investigating Monday’s fatal officer involved shooting in Wichita.
On Monday afternoon, deputies received a tip from a citizen that a 55-year-old man with a felony drug warrant from 2015 was going to be at a storage unit facility in the 3300 Block of south Hydraulic in Wichita, according to Colonel Greg Pollock with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department
Just before 1p.m. two Sedgwick County Deputies arrived at the storage unit and observed the suspect standing near a maroon Ford Fusion parked at the front of a storage unit. The suspect ran from the deputies to the driver’s side of the vehicle. The deputy gave several commands asking the suspect to stop. The suspect did not comply and retrieved what the deputy believed to be a pistol and pointed it at the deputy, according to Pollock.
Fearing for his life and the life of the other deputy at the scene, the deputy fired several rounds at the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene at 1p.m., according to Pollock. His body was transported to the Forensic Center for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
During the investigation and after the crime scene was processed, an air-soft pistol that closely represents a firearm was recovered near the suspect.
The deputies involved were not injured, according to Pollock. The deputy who fired the shots is a 40-year-old, 18-year-veteran of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department. The other deputy is a 50-year-old, 20-year veteran of the agency. They were not wearing body cameras.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the district attorney.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a man during a confrontation in Wichita.
Sheriff’s Lt. Tim Myers said a 55-year-old man was shot and killed Monday afternoon at a storage facility in south Wichita.
No officers or deputies were hurt.
Further details were not immediately released.
Charles “Chuck” Lindsay, age 84, of Oakley, passed away at his home on Monday, January 28, 2019.
Arrangements and Services with Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home are pending.
Draft Diamonds, a sports website that helps promote small-school football players to NFL scouts, recently interviewed Fort Hays State University’s Wyatt Parker.
Parker, a Blue Springs, Mo., native, played defensive tackle during his time with the Tigers.
Click HERE for the Q&A from Draft Diamonds.
Doris R. Peterson died Monday, January 28th, 2019, in Atwood.
On obituary and services are pending with Baalmann Mortuary.
