October 27, 1923 – April 14, 2019
An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.
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Month: April 2019
FHSU grad who bought out Payless heading to ‘Ellen’ show
By HANNAH BRANDT
KSNT
A Kansas woman got viral attention for donating 204 pairs of shoes to Nebraska flood victims after buying all the remaining shoes at a Payless store that was closing.
On Wednesday, Addy Tritt will be featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” A show spokeswoman said that while Tritt generously gives back to her community, she is actually in debt herself with student loan and even relies on family support to buy groceries.
Tritt, a Fort Hays State graduate, said she wanted to help others because so many people have helped her in the past. When the price at a Hays store dropped to $1 per pair, Tritt negotiated with the business to buy the remaining shoes for $100.
They included 162 pairs of baby shoes, two pairs of men’s shoes, and the rest were women’s shoes.The retail price of the shoes would have been more than $6,000.
— Republished with permission
Tritt’s story, which was originally published by Hays Post, went viral, being distributed by news outlets globally.
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is scheduled to air at 4 p.m. Wednesday on Eagle Cable on CBS Chs. 10 and 610.
🎥 City approves additional rezoning request at 22nd & Wheatland
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A request by the owner of a lot on the southeast corner of 22nd and Wheatland in Hays was approved last week by the city commission for rezoning of the south 60 feet of Lot 2 from Neighborhood Conservation District (NC.3) to Commercial General District (C-2).
The same rezoning was approved by the city commission in January for Lot 1 to the north plus the north 20 feet of Lot 2.
Lots to the west, across Wheatland, are already zoned C-2, while 22nd is a major collector street. The area is identified as Medium Density Residential in the city’s current Comprehensive Plan.
According to Jesse Rohr, public works director, a bufferyard between C-2 and NC.3 zoning districts is required.
“The developer will have some options,” Rohr told city commissioners, “whether they incorporate a certain amount of fencing or landscaping. … It is a minimum of six foot.”
According to Rohr, the developer plans installation of a privacy fence at least six foot high plus some landscaping and screen shrubbery.
There are several other areas in Hays – along Vine, 27th and 13th Streets – where the same zoning situation exists with commercial districts directly abutting residential districts.
Both rezoning requests by property owner Darrell Dreher were first approved by the Hays Area Planning Commission.
Mayor Henry Schwaller said it would have been best if both lot requests were brought forward at the same time, noting the city cannot require that.
“We heard from the neighbors the first time around. This couldn’t have helped. I appreciate you contacting the neighbors again,” Schwaller told Rohr.
Some property owners near the rezoned lots have expressed concern about the wide range of business types permitted in the C-2 zone.
C-2 zoning allows 28 types of businesses or uses:
In other business, the city commission:
- Heard a financial statement for February 2019 in which month-to-date general fund sales tax collections were $718,340, an
increase of 9.8% as compared to last year. Year-to-date general fund sales tax collections are up 10.9%. - Approved purchase of two 96″Exmark Lazer Z Diesel Mowers from Kansas Golf and Turn with trade-ins for $62,198 to be used at the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course
- Approved appointments of Tammy Younger to the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee and Stacey Lang to the
Sister Cities Advisory Board
Sean Musil was absent from the April 11 meeting.
Dorothy Louise Crist
Dorothy Louise Crist, age 96, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. The second of five children, she was born on August 29, 1922 in Scott County, Kansas, to George and Grace Bush Graham. She was a 1940 graduate of Shallow Water High School in Shallow Water, Kansas.
In March of 1943, she traveled by train to Leesville, LA, to marry her sweetheart, Wilford D. Crist on March 27, 1943 who was stationed at Fort Polk. Accompanied on the train by her mother, the newly married couple soon realized they would need to share their wedding night with Louise’s mother, as there were no hotels available for her overnight stay.
Returning home at the end of WWII, they moved onto the Crist farm, in southern Scott County, where they raised their two children, Connie & Terry. They remained on the farm for fifty years, moving to Scott City, in 1995, where they built a new home to enjoy and share with their family and many friends. Their home was always open to visiting ministers and missionaries. Louise and Wilford were married for 70 years.
Louise was an active member of the Prairie View Church of the Brethren near Friend, Kansas, where she was baptized, along with her husband, in 1945. They both taught Sunday school classes and served faithfully so long as they were physically able to do so. Both of them were avid Bible students, taking many Bible classes and courses across the years. A memorable highlight of her life was a trip to Israel with her husband.
Survivors Include her One Son – Terry & Cindy Crist of Sunrise Beach, Texas, One Sister – Jean & Keith Burgess of Scott City, Kansas, Three Grandsons – Mark & Gretchen Graber of Wichita, Kansas, Treven & Cathy Crist of Lakewood, Colorado, Colten & Samantha Crist of Waxahachie, Texas, Two Great Grandchildren and Two Great Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, One Daughter – Connie Crist Cate, One Brother – Tom Graham, Two Sisters – Mary Alice Dean, Lucille Duff and One Grandson – Bradley Graber.
Funeral Services will be held at the Prairie View Church of the Brethren in Friend, KS at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2019 with Rev. Jon Tuttle & Rev. Don Williams presiding.
Memorials in Lieu of Flowers may be made to the Prairie View Church of the Brethren or Pence Community Church in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
Interment will be in the Prairie View Church Cemetery in Friend, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday and 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
Brent D. ‘Grunch’ Mulligan
Brent D. “Grunch” Mulligan, age 47, passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2019in Lansing, Kansas. He was born on June 16, 1971in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Kenneth George & Norma Jean Jewell Mulligan. A lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas, he was a handyman.
Survivors Include his Mother – Norma Jean Mulligan of Scott City, Kansas, Two Brothers Brad Mulligan of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Bryan & Linda Mulligan of Scott City, Kansas, Two Nieces Nickole Saulsbery of Damascus, Maryland, Three Nephews Clay & Emily Mulligan of Scott City, Kansas, Trace Mulligan of Scott City, Kansas, Legend Mulligan of Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth G. Mulligan, and brother, Brett Mulligan.
Private family inurnment will be held at a later date and time.
Memorials In Lieu Of Flowers may be made to the Brent Mulligan Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
There will be no calling times.
New hematologist/oncologist joins staff at HaysMed
Mark Hancock, MD, hematologist/oncologist, has joined medical staff of HaysMed at the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute at HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System. Hancock has been seeing patients on a part-time basis and has moved to full time status.
Hancock completed medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed a residency at Parkland Health and Hospital Southwestern Medical School and a fellowship at Simmons Comprehensive Cancer, Southwestern Medical School. He is board certified in Medical Oncology.
Hancock joins the cancer team of Anthony Accurso, MD, hematologist/oncologist; Lyle M. Harrison, MD, radiation oncologist; Babu Prasad, MD, radiation oncologist; Lyle M. Harrison, MD, radiation oncologist; and Robert Rodriguez, MD, hematologist/oncologist.
Hancock is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment please call 785-623-5774 or go to https://www.haysmed.com/dreiling-schmidt-cancer-institute/
— HaysMed
Kansas man, 4 children hospitalized after pickup rollover accident
BARBER COUNTY — Five people were injured in an accident just before 7a.m. Tuesday in Barber County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Shawn Edwin Read, 44, Hazleton, was northbound on Tri-City Road at Crooked Post Road five and a half miles south of U.S.160.
The vehicle traveled off the road to the right as it rotated counterclockwise, crossed both lanes, entered the west ditch and rolled.
Read and passengers Victoria Alize Roberts, 4; Trinity Leeann Roberts, 9; Gerald Henry Constantine, 13 and Alexander Michael Constantine, 11, all of Hazleton, were transported to the hospital in Medicine Lodge. None of the occupants of the pickup were wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
Kenneth Dale Steinert
Kenneth Dale Steinert, 84, passed away April 15, 2019 at his home in Great Bend. He was born June 30, 1934 in Barton County, KS to Albert Leo & Martha (Steitz) Steinert. He married Donna L. Sarver August 15, 1954 in Russell. She survives.
A Great Bend resident, Kenneth was a member of the St. Mark Lutheran Church. He was a floor covering installer for Steinert’s & Kimple Furniture and self-employed for 38 years. He liked gardening and cutting wood.
Survivors include, his wife Donna of the home; three sons, Chris K. Steinert of Great Bend, Royce A. Steinert and his wife Kimberly of Hutchinson and Nolan H. Steinert of Kalamazoo, MI; one brother, Robert Lee Steinert of Aurora, CO; two sisters, Alberta M. Brack of Hoisington and Anna Marie Powell and her husband Bill of Salina; four grandchildren, Christen Steinert, Valerie Adams, Lance Steinert and his wife Amanda and Makya Steinert; and four great grandchildren, Braxton, Ryder, Aliza, and Seth. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kelly Duane Steinert; and two brothers, Eugene L. Steinert and Waldean O. Steinert.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 19, 2019, at the Great Bend Cemetery, with Pastor Andy Addis presiding. Memorials are suggested to Quilts of Valor, in care Bryant Funeral Home.
Claudine M. (Wertz) Coker
Claudine M. Coker, age 83, of Sharon Springs passed away Monday, April 15, 2019 at the Wallace County Community Care Center in Sharon Springs.
Claudine was born June 3, 1935 to Claude DeCliffton and Freda Marie (Walker) Wertz at home in Wallace County. She grew up and went to school in Sharon Springs. On September 15, 1951 she married Glenn Coker at the Sharon Springs Methodist Church.
Claudine worked as a CNA, CMA and Activities Director at the Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland,and Prairie Manor in Sharon Springs .She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, Bowling League and Dart League. She enjoyed playing cards, Yahtzee, dancing, cooking and most of all spending time with her family.
Preceding her in death are her parents and grandparents; infant daughter, Donna Marie; son, Claude Edward; great grandson, Michael Wayne Langdell; and her brother, Jack Wertz.
She is survived by her sons, Glenn Wayne (Shelly) Coker of Sharon Springs, KS and David Lee (Sherry) Coker of Apache Junction, AZ; brother, Donald (Connie) Wertz of Tulsa, OK; sister Beverly (Richard) Henderson of Sharon Springs, KS; grandchildren, Kimberly Langdell; Wayne Edward Coker; John Coker; Laramie Coker; Wade Harvey; Brandi Osberg, Shyann Coker and Morgan Coker; nephews, Shaun Wertz, Bill, Don and Robert Henderson; nieces, Kimberly Belieri and Tami Laughlin; 24 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
Funeral service will be Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. MT at the Gateway to Grace Church, 201 2nd Street in Sharon Springs. Interment will follow the service at the Sharon Springs Cemetery, 1605 KS Hwy 27. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 17, 2019 from 4 to 6 p.m. MT at the Gateway to Grace Church in Sharon Springs. Memorials will be designated by the family later and may be left at the services or mailed to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences and informationwww.batemanfuneral.com
Governor signs bill making voting more convenient in Kansas
OFFICE OF GOV.
TOPEKA – In an effort to expand and improve voting opportunities in Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly signed House Substitute for Senate Bill 130 Monday afternoon, amending the law concerning advance ballots, signature requirements and polling places.
“Over the past decade, we have seen countless efforts aimed at making voting more difficult in this state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I hope this will be the first of many laws that help ensure that every voice is heard in our democratic process and that every vote is counted.”
House Substitute for Senate Bill 130 will give county election officials the discretion to allow all registered voters to cast their ballot at any polling place in their county on election day. It also requires county election officers to attempt to contact each voter who submitted an advance voting ballot without a signature or with a signature that does not match the signature on file. The voter will be allowed to correct their signature before the commencement of the final tallying of votes in that county.
“This law is about local control and protecting every vote,” Kelly said. “I applaud all of the local and state officials who worked together to make this law a reality, especially those in Sedgwick County who were the driving force behind it.”
This brings the total number of bills signed in the 2019 Legislative Session to 37, with one being vetoed. By law, the Kansas governor has 10 calendar days to sign bills into law, veto bills or allow bills to become law without her signature.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has signed a bill that requires election officials to notify voters before their mail-in ballots are thrown out because of signature problems.
An Associated Press analysis of rejected ballots in the 2018 primary in the state’s most populous county found that 153 mail-in ballots were not counted because of signatures that didn’t match county voting records.
Then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach defeated then-Gov. Jeff Colyer for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in that race by only 343 votes. The close Republican primaryhighlighted differences in how Kansas counties handled mail-in ballots.
The legislationKelly signed Monday gives voters an additional week or longer to provide a signature.
Candlelight vigil to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month
Whether you know someone who has been abused, you just want to show your support for survivors, or you are an abuse survivor yourself, you are invited to a community event!
The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center is hosting a Community Candlelight Vigil on April 18th at 8:00 p.m. The vigil will be held at the Hays East Frontier Park on Old Highway 40.
Glow sticks will be provided.
Come share a story or just be a supportive ear!
For more information contact:
Tabitha Wolf
Forensic Interviewer / Child & Family Advocate
Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center
Cell: 620-214-0706
– SUBMITTED –
HHS girls’ swimmers finish fourth in Manhattan
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Hays High girls’ swim team finished in fourth place with 168 points at the Manhattan Invitational Tuesday. The host Indians from Manhattan won the meet with 484 points.
Megan Flavin won the 500 Yard Freestyle by .61 finishing with a time of 6:14.00. The sophomore finished second in the 200 Yard Freestyle coming in with a time of 2:16.05.
The 200 Yard Freestyle Relay comprised of Siera Smith, Sophia Durham, Megan Flavin and Alex Hagerman finished fifth (2:09.67) while the team comprised of Myranda Berner, Andrea Lopez, Kaitlyn Christen and Taylor Deines finished eighth with a time of 2:20.94.
The 400 Yard Freestyle Relay team consistin of Siera Smith, Taylor Deines, Sophia Durham and Megan Flavin finished sixth (4:57.80).
The Indians placed four in the top-20 in the 100 Yard Freestyle. Sophia Durhan was eighth (1:12.61), Taylor Denies 10th (1:15.75), Siera Smith 13th (1:16.04) and Myranda Berner 16th (1:19.32).
Hays placed seven in the top-20 of the 100 yard Backstroke. Hanna Dannar finished seventh (1:32.46), Sophia Durham eighth (1:34.46), Katie Christen 10th (1:36.33), Kayli Potter 13th (1:41.86), Hannah Durham 14th (1:42.59), Sydney Wittkorn 15th (1:49.66) and Paige Beamer 16th (1:49.94).
The Indians placed five in the top 15 in the 100 yard Breaststroke. Myranda Berner led the was with a seventh place finish (1:35.83), Andrea Lopez was eighth (1:37.06), Caitlin Leiker 12th (1:43.27), Gracie Wente 13th (1:45.38) and Alex Hagerman 15th (1:49.36).
Eagle Cares fundraiser nets more than $16K for Nebraska flood recovery
CENTRAL CITY, Neb. — When catastrophic flooding hit central Nebraska this spring, Eagle Communications employee-owners went into action — both in the field during recovery efforts and over the airwaves collecting money for the American Red Cross.
Eagle operates broadband, television and telephone systems in 29 Nebraska communities, as well as radio stations and broadband services in Kansas, Missouri and Colorado.
As part of the fundraising effort, Eagle’s Kansas radio stations kicked off Eagle Cares, a cash drive that will result in $16,515.12 being donated to the American Red Cross to aid recovery efforts in the Midwest. The donation also includes a generous contribution from the Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation.
“Eagle Cares really started as soon as our broadband field teams in Nebraska set out to work to ensure our communities stayed connected in the midst of the flooding,” said Travis Kohlrus, vice president of broadband. “Those teams inspired our employee-owners, companywide, to come together to give back to our friends and neighbors in the communities we serve.”
As part of a check presentation at Eagle’s Central City location Tuesday, Rachelle Lipker, executive director for the American Red Cross Central and Western Nebraska area, expressed her gratitude.
“We are certainly proud of the work the Eagle staff has done to rally Kansas communities to help those affected by the recent flooding. Donations of time and money are vital in ensuring the Red Cross is able to mobilize quickly and help those during times of need,” she said.
Besides the cash donation, Eagle employee-owners put in countless hours working to restore critical broadband services in the flooded region. Crews quickly restored services to the community of Silver Creek, where a washed-out bridge cut the fiber-optic network.
“We worked as fast as we could, constantly assessing the safety of our teams, to ensure we could get our communities back up and running,” said Kelly Bandt, Eagle system maintenance technician. “We are thankful for your patience and hopeful our communities will recover quickly. We are proud to be Nebraska Strong.”
About Eagle Communications
Eagle Communications, Inc. is a Kansas-based Broadband Services and Media Company with more than 290 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri as well as broadband, TV and phone services in 59 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers business solutions, including technology as a service, broadband, telephone, TV and advertising in most service areas. For more information visit www.eaglecom.net.
Disclosure: Eagle Communications is the parent company of Hays Post.