NORTON COUNTY —The Norton County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a stolen vehicle from rural Norton County.
According to the sheriff’s department’s facebook page, the stolen vehicle is a Maroon 2016 Chev Malibu 4 door. It had a KU license plate on the front.
If you have any information please contact the Norton County Sheriff’s Office at 785-877-5780.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for a fatal shooting in 2015.
Fernando Diaz was sentenced Friday for involuntary manslaughter in the death of 22-year-old Christopher Galvan.
Topeka police responding to a call of a vehicle crash in east Topeka found Galvan inside a car suffering from a gunshot wound. He died three days later.
Diaz fled to Mexico, where he was arrested in September 2018. He originally was charged with second-degree murder.
Diaz was sentenced to about 10½ years. That will be served consecutively with a 2014 case in which Diaz pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and interference with a law enforcement officer.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications from farmers who want to be part of the state’s industrial hemp research program, which state lawmakers created last April.
One of the farmers eager to get on board is PJ Sneed, who is building infrastructure, clearing land and establishing a cover crop on his land in western Reno County.
“I’m very excited; for me, it’s been a long time coming,” Sneed said. “It has for a lot of people, especially the grassroots movement. We’ve all been waiting for this moment.”
Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer signed legislation last April to allow industrial hemp production only for research purposes, with a goal of encouraging the resurgence of hemp as a production crop and to promote economic development. The 2018 federal farm bill also legalized hemp farming.
The agriculture department has spent the last year gathering public input and establishing regulations for the program. Applications are due to the department by March 1.
Before the federal farm bill was approved, Kansas could only establish a research program for hemp growing but the state is now open to establishing commercial growing if the legislature approves.
“So nothing is changing yet. The law that passed last spring and the regulations that go with it are what’s on the books,” agriculture department spokeswoman Heather Lansdowne said.
Lansdowne said the earliest the state could have additional laws to allow industrial hemp would likely be 2020.
Sneed agreed and predicted a large increase in hemp growers in the new future.
“I think in year two you’ll see a huge boom after people see what it is and how it’s grown,” he said. “In 2020 I think you’ll start to see more banks open up for commercial loans and things like that.”
The application process will include background checks and more.
The Hemp Biz Conference and the Planted Association of Kansas, of which Sneed is a member, will host a symposium on hemp growing in Hutchinson on Feb. 23. He said it’s designed to help farmers network and find markets but the focus this year will be on rules and regulations and the application process.
USD 489
The KNEA Reading Circle gave a donation of $847 worth of books to the Hays Middle School and Hays High School libraries.
The KNEA Reading Circle was established in 1926 to assist in reading and screening children’s literature each year.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas registered offender on new charges.
Just before 4 p.m. Saturday, police conducted a traffic stop in the 1200 Block of SE 37th Street in Topeka for expired registration, according to Lt. Robert Simmons.
During the investigation, officers found the passenger, 40-year-old Lamar Moss, in possession of a handgun and marijuana.
Moss is a convicted felon and prohibited to possess a firearm. Police arrested him and booked him into the Department of Corrections on the charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Marijuana.
Moss is a registered violent offender in the state of Kansas for Murder in the 2nd Degree.
This is the 16th case in 2019 with a charge involving a felon in possession of a firearm reported by the Topeka Police Department.
“Why are we sending this message to New York? Because we want to our let our Kansas Supreme Court know that we would find this abortion mentality in our state as totally unacceptable,” state Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, a conservative Kansas City-area Republican, told her colleagues during debate on the resolution.
The New York law was designed to codify protections for a woman’s right to obtain an abortion granted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and other court rulings a time when abortion-rights backers fear a more conservative high court might strike down Roe. It replaces a 1970 state law legalizing abortion.
Opposition from “people who are anti-choice” isn’t surprising, said New York state Sen. Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat and a longtime supporter of the legislation.
“Lies and attacks are not going to intimidate New York from standing up for women’s rights,” said Mike Murphy, a spokesman for New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Yonkers Democrat.
In Kansas, Democratic senators are likely to send their own statement to counter their state’s formal resolution, which would be sent to New York’s governor and all its legislators. Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City Democrat, told his colleagues during their debate that New York “really doesn’t care” that Kansas legislators oppose the law.
Criticism of other states’ laws can spill over into formal action. A handful of liberal states have restricted travel by government employees to states with laws viewed as discriminatory against LGBTQ individuals. Kansas is on a list of nine states targeted by California.
In Missouri, a resolution introduced this week in the state Senate urges GOP Gov. Mike Parson to boycott New York and other states with similar abortion laws and prevent state workers from traveling there except in emergencies.
“Many, many of my constituents have reached out to me and said, ‘What can we do about this?’ Well you know, sorry, there’s not a whole lot we can do about it,” said the resolution’s sponsor, Sen. Paul Wieland, a conservative St. Louis-area Republican.
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a conservative Wichita Republican, said New Yorkers’ celebration of their new law “just made a lot of people cringe.”
“We believe in Kansas in a culture of life, and most people in America believe in protecting life,” Wagle said during the debate on her state’s resolution.
In other red states, officials have condemned the New York law as they’ve pursued new abortion restrictions.
Supporters in Arkansas of a proposed “trigger law” to ban most abortions if Roe is overturned mentioned New York’s policy. In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds mentioned it as an impetus behind a proposed state constitutional amendment meant to overturn an Iowa Supreme Court decision last year protecting abortion rights.
In Kansas, legislators have adopted the approach of the anti-abortion group Kansans for Life in seeking incremental expected to survive federal court challenges. The group is pursuing legislation this year to require providers to tell women using medication to terminate their pregnancies that the process still can be reversed after the first of two pills.
But work on any legislation is clouded by the case before the Kansas Supreme Court, which heard arguments from attorneys nearly two years ago.
Abortion opponents haven’t introduced a proposed constitutional change yet, arguing that they need to see how the court actually rules. And Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, said abortion opponents also could have an easier time building support for an amendment after a ruling than before it.
Meanwhile, abortion opponents acknowledged that it’s helpful to keep abortion issues visible by highlighting opposition to the New York law. Haley said the resolution creates a test vote on abortion issues to help GOP leaders in lobbying for other measures.
“There are other shoes to drop,” Haley said. “By no means at all do I think the discussion regarding abortion is done.”
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Stephen C. Rush, 72, died Wednesday February 13, 2019 at the Osborne Co. Memorial Hospital. Steve was born on April 27, 1946 to Merritt and Maxine (Hughes) Rush in Smith Center, Ks. He attended school in Smith Center and graduated from Smith Center High School in 1964. He then joined the Air Force for a 4 yr. term. It was during this tour of duty that he married the love of his life, Kathy Martin. To this union 3 children were born – 1 daughter and 2 two boys.
Steve retired after 44 yrs. working in several capacities at Hardman Lumber Co. in Osborne. He was a member of the United Christian Church, VFW, American Legion and served as the Chief of the Osborne City Fire Dept. for 10 yrs. Steve’s second love after Kathy was golf.
He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Kathy of the home; daughter Janae of Bellevue, Neb.; son Tim (Stacie) of Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin and Todd (Kathya) of El Paso, Tex.; sister Carol Rush of Osborne and brother Richard of Big Springs, Tex. and 4 grandchildren.
Click HERE for service details.
Sheldon Jay Rous, 61, passed away Feb. 15, 2019, at his home in rural Claflin. He was born Nov. 28, 1957, in Great Bend, to Clarence and Winnifred (Slayton) Rous.
Sheldon was a lifetime Barton County resident and farmer. He was an avid NASCAR fan and loved to garden and BBQ, especially enjoying Memorial Day celebrations at he and Bennie’s home. In his younger years, Sheldon relished many camping trips to the lake.
Survivors include his partner of 27 years, Bennidetta “Bennie” Krier; three brothers, Vernon Rous of Hays, Steven Rous and wife Linda of Fairview, Okla., Calvin Rous and wife Terri of Hoisington; three sisters, Susan Klug and husband Mark of Lawrence, Kathy Kirmer and husband Alan of Claflin, and Kayleen Gaddis and husband Mike of Claflin; two step sons, Michael Paul Krier and fiancé Valerie of Shawnee, and Kody Krier of Saben, Minn.; one step daughter, Jennifer Dolney and husband Ray of Overland Park; one step brother, Kirby Shaw and wife Paula of Bison; one step sister Vicki Webb of Ellinwood; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in passing by his parents.
A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington, with the family receiving friends from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Rev. Daniel Harders will preside and inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Beaver. Memorials may be given to Claflin Ambulance Service, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, Hoisington, KS, 67544.
Susan Marie Aldridge, 64, from Russell, Kansas, died Saturday, February 16, 2019, at the Wilson Care and Rehabilitation Center.
Services are pending at Clines-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
Rosalind Allaire Surface passed away January 28, 2019 in Austin, Texas. She was born October 5, 1940 to Dr. Gardner Allaire Surface and Jessie F Surface of Ellis.
Rosalind is survived by a son Kendall King, wife Laura and grandson Nick of Austin, Texas and a daughter Debra King of Hays.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a half-sister Shirley Marx.
A private burial will take place a later date in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ellis, Kansas.
Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or email at [email protected]
Elaine Gonzales, age 83, passed away on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas. Elaine was born June 9, 1935 at Mud Hen Lake, Wisconsin, the daughter of Harry & Mabel (Anderson) Hochstetler. Elaine graduated high school in St. Paul, Minnesota then earned a Registered Nursing degree from nursing school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She also attained a degree in Nurse Anesthesiology. She was a nurse at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas retiring in the 1999.
Elaine had a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed playing the accordion. She was well known for her nursing abilities which she enjoyed providing for others.
On January 15, 1984 she married Emilio Gonzales at Leoti, Kansas. Emil passed away on September 7, 2016 at Leoti, Kansas.
Elaine’s surviving family includes-
Three Children-
Brian Hogan-Aiken, South Carolina
Diana Hogan-Leoti, Kansas
Carol Hogan-Leoti, Kansas
Nine grandchildren-
Christopher, Jessica, Karen, Brigit, James, Ian, Michael (Shawn), Colin James (CJ) and Alyssa.
Three siblings-
Carl Hochstetler, Dennis Hochstetler and Hope Sjodin
Her parents, a daughter Cheryl in 2015, one brother and four sisters precede her in death.
A gathering will be held Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 3:00 pm at the Parkview Apartments common room in Leoti, Kansas.
Memorials may be given to the Elaine Gonzales Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.
David Michael Rothenberger died February 13, 2019 at his home. He was born July 27, 1942 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Waldon and Delana (Pearce) Rothenberger. He attended Great Bend High School and graduated Osborne High School in 1960.
David joined the Air Force in 1960 and served 4 years as an Airman First Class. He then attended Indiana University. David married Marie Jimenez on December 30, 1967 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Wichita, Kansas. They celebrated 51 years of marriage in 2018.
David was a draftsman in structural steel at Central Steel of Wichita until he retired in 2008. He loved to travel with his wife and was a active member of the Wichita Garden Railroad Society, in which he took great pleasure creating his train world with handmade buildings and figures for display. David was also an avid bicyclist and enjoyed riding for most of his life. He was a man of high intellect with many talents in woodwork, and home remodeling.
David was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Dana and Randy Rothenberger. David is survived by his loving wife, Marie; son, James “Jim” Rothenberger and wife, Tammi; grandchildren, Quentin, Vanessa, Destiny, Noah, Dylan, Phoenix, Gabriella, Malachi, and one great-grand-child, Sophia. He is also survived by brothers Kim (Linda), Minersville, Utah; Danny (Jackie), Olathe, Kansas; Von, Lucas, Kansas; and sisters Sue Parker (Dan), Salina, Kansas; and Nina Stanton (Mike), Laporte, Colorado.
Services were held at 5:30 pm, Sunday, February 17, 2019 at Christ the King Church in Wichita, with the Viewing and a 6:30 pm Rosary.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wichita Garden Railroad Society, in care of club treasurer Heather Reeves, phone: (316)204-8914, email: [email protected].
Funeral Home: Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services, 4408 West Central Wichita, KS 67212. (316) 945-8108.
KDOT
The Kansas Department of Transportation will host a public meeting regarding an upcoming multi-phase reconstruction project on a portion of I-70 in Gove County. The meeting will take place on Friday, Feb. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the KDOT sub-area located at 4677 U.S. 40, Grainfield.
The project area covers a 9-mile area starting one mile west of the K-23 spur near Grainfield and ending four miles east of K-211. KDOT will be replacing the pavement on the eastbound lanes in 2019 and westbound lanes in 2020. Project work will also include pavement replacement at the east and westbound rest areas near Grainfield, construction of new right-of-way fencing, lighting installation at exits 95 and 99, and reconstruction of the box structure carrying county road 62 under I-70 into two new span bridges. Gove Road 62 is expected to be closed for several months during the bridge reconstruction. Temporary closures will also occur at exits 95 and 99 as well as the K-23 and K-211 bridges over I-70.
KDOT engineers will be available to outline the construction phasing, provide details on the official state detour and answer questions regarding access to county roads. Construction is expected to begin in March 2019.
The meeting location is ADA accessible. Persons in need of a sign language interpreter, an assistive listening device, large print or Braille material, or other accommodations to participate in this meeting should notify Lisa Mussman at (785) 877-3315 or [email protected].
