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Month: July 2019
New record low set in Hays after 100 years
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
It was cooler than usual Monday night in Hays.
The temperature dropped low enough to set a new record low for July 22 – just barely.
According to official records from the K-State Agricultural Research Center, the overnight low was 52 degrees.
That beats the previous low for July 22 of 53 degrees set exactly 100 years ago in 1919.
Monday’s high in Hays was 83 degrees.
One year ago it was 89 degrees with an overnight low of 69 degrees.
St. John Lutheran invites area children to attend Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School at St. John Lutheran Church is scheduled for Monday through Friday, August 5-9. This year’s theme, “Who Is My Neighbor: Learning to Love Like Jesus,” will be utilized while teaching kids (from pre-K through 5th grade) through music, crafts, activities and fellowship.
Vacation Bible School will start each evening at 5:30 p.m. and wrap up by 8:30 p.m. A light supper will be provided each evening. The VBS program will be presented in the St. John Lutheran Sanctuary on Saturday, August 10.
There is no registration fee to attend Vacation Bible School at St. John Lutheran, but a donation of $3 per child is requested to help defray meal costs. Donations of supper and craft supplies are also being accepted at this time. A current donation list is available in the church office.
Registration forms for Vacation Bible School are available in the St. John Lutheran office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you have any questions, or for more information, call 785-483-5358.
Hays gets $1M KDOT grant for S. Vine Street reconstruction
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The city of Hays is among 23 Kansas towns selected for grants from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for projects to improve intersections and roads.
Norton, Colby and Phillipsburg will also receive KDOT grants.
KDOT’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities.
John Braun, project manager for the city of Hays, says the Hays award of $1 million will be used for reconstruction of south Vine Street/Highway 183 in state fiscal year 2021 – a $4 million dollar project.
“This will start south of 13th Street – about where McDonald’s is – south through the intersection with the Highway 40 Bypass.
“It will also involve adding pedestrian crossings at 8th and Vine.”
The city applied for the grant in March, according to Braun.
“The pavement is starting to get really bad. We did a concrete patch 15 to 18 years ago. After consulting with engineers and with KDOT about doing a patch again, we decided it would be money better spent to completely replace the pavement,” Braun said.
The city of Hays will provide $3 million in matching funds for the grant, which is in the Capitol Improvement Projects portion of the city’s budget.
The work will be a KDOT project.
“It would be coordinated with KDOT with a KDOT bid letting in Topeka and they would manage the project,” Braun explained. “We would get it designed and then basically turn it over to them, paying our share up front.”
The cities will receive a combined total of approximately $18 million in funding under the CCLIP for the 23 projects. The total includes $7 million in state fiscal year 2021 and $11 million in state fiscal year 2022.
“KDOT was able to add $5 million into the CCLIP because of the additional $50 million that the governor provided as a one-time transfer from the State General Fund,” said Deputy Secretary Lindsey Douglas in a Tuesday news release. “Communities then provided an additional $6.5 million in matching funds to create a total of $11.5 million beyond the initial plan to expand the amount invested in various projects.”
Under the CCLIP, a city is required to contribute up to 25 percent of the project cost based on its population, though some cities contribute significantly more. Cities under 2,500 in population aren’t required to provide a match. Projects in this program may fall into one of three different categories including Surface Preservation (SP), Pavement Restoration (PR) or Geometric Improvement (GI).
SP projects involve maintenance work such as resurfacing and are funded up to $300,000 per project. PR projects typically involve full-depth pavement replacement without changes to the overall geometric characteristics and may also address drainage issues. GI projects address geometric issues such as adding turn lanes, improving intersections or modifying the lane configuration to address capacity. The PR and GI categories are funded up to $1 million per project.
For the state fiscal year 2021, the city, category and amount awarded include:
Concordia Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Gardner Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Hays Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Independence Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Norton Geometric Improvement $1,000,000
Pratt Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Winfield Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
For the state fiscal year 2022, the city, category and amount awarded include:
Cimarron Pavement Restoration $800,000
Colby Surface Preservation $300,000
Dodge City Geometric Improvement $1,000,000
Ellsworth Geometric Improvement $600,000
Emporia Geometric Improvement $600,000
Garden City Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Gardner Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Garnett Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Herington Surface Preservation $300,000
Lyons Surface Preservation $300,000
McLouth Pavement Restoration $500,000
McPherson Geometric Improvement $1,000,000
Minneola Geometric Improvement $1,000,000
Newton Surface Preservation $300,000
Phillipsburg Pavement Restoration $1,000,000
Yates Center Surface Preservation $300,000
USD 489 extends contract with developer to buy Washington school
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved a contract extension Monday night for a developer who wants to buy the Washington school building.
Overland Property Group presented an addendum to its contract to allow it to reapply for tax credits to turn the school into low-income apartments.
The school is being vacated by the Early Childhood Connections, which is moving to the Oak Park complex next week.
The addendum will allow the school district to re-market the building for two months. The school district can take an offer equal to or higher than the $500,000 purchase price being offered by Overland Property Group.
Board member Greg Schwartz said he did not think the school district would find a buyer that will offer more than $500,000. He supported signing the addendum to the agreement.
“The risk is if we don’t sign it, they can yank it at any time,” he said.
A representative of the Overland Property Group told the board at a prior meeting he is hopeful his organization will be able secure the tax credits needed for the project next year.
The developer received a letter form the director of Housing Development supporting the project. The department indicated the developer’s application had scored well on all aspects of its application with the exception of the rent structure. Overland Property is working to restructure its application to meet this requirement.
Overland Property Group has another housing complex on Main Street in Hays. That complex is consistently full, according to the developer.
Rod Petty
Rod Petty, 64, died on Friday, July 19, 2019 at his home in Garden City surrounded by family. He was born on December 6, 1954 at Cheyenne Wells, Colorado the son of Francis Eugene & Norma Jean (Hobson) Petty. He married Vickie Regan on June 4, 1994 at Garden City.
Rod was a 1972 graduate of Sharon Springs High School. Foregoing opportunities to play football at the next level he immediately started working for the Sharon Springs Co-op pumping gas and fixing tires, and quickly worked his way into the ranks of management. In 1991 he moved to Garden City to manage the tire distribution center for Cenex for 4 years. He then moved to Mt Pleasant, Iowa to become Vice President of Petroleum for the Co-op there. In 2000 he moved back to Garden City to be Vice President of the Garden City Co-op Petroleum Division. In 2008 he became the manager of APM Energy and after it was bought Rod became a self-employed consultant for MFA out of Columbia, Missouri. Rod was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church and enjoyed traveling, hunting and especially fishing. He was preceded in death by his Father.
He is survived by his Wife- Vickie Regan Petty, Mother- Norma Jean Petty of Lakin, Daughter- Stephanie Regan of Fairfield, Iowa, Son- Stephen Regan of Montezuma, Iowa, Brother- Jerry Petty (and wife Jo) of St George, Kansas, nephew Tim Petty of Wamego, Kansas, niece Amy Glaves (Scott) of Clay Center, Kansas, & 3 grandchildren Kevin, Taylor, and Brooklyn of Iowa.
Vigil Service will be at 7:00 PM Wednesday at Garnand Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM Thursday at St Dominic Catholic Church with Rev. Warren Stecklein as Celebrant. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Memorials are suggested to St Catherine Hospice in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Friends may call from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Wednesday at Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com
Robert Joseph ‘RJ’ Dickman Jr.
Robert Joseph “RJ” Dickman Jr., 76, of Grinnell, died Sunday, July 21, 2019, at his home.
He was born July 16, 1943, in Wichita, KS, to Eunice (Andregg) and Robert Joseph Dickman, Sr. RJ graduated from Grinnell High School in 1961 and served in the United States Army from 1965-1967, stationed in Germany. He married Leona Schwarz on November 21, 1973, in Grinnell. RJ farmed with his grandfather, Walter Andregg, until 1994. He then started his own mechanic and electric shop in 1995 “RJ’s Repair”. RJ went to work for CD Clark and Sons, in Oakley, from 1999 to 2001, when he started Dickman Memorial with his wife. He also ran a mail route for four years. RJ was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and served as the church cemetery sexton.
RJ was preceded in death by his parents and brother Tommy Dickman.
He is survived by his wife, Leona, of the home; sons Walter (Julie) Dickman, of Grinnell and Jeffrey (Bretta) Dickman, of LeCompton; siblings, Julie (Neal) O’Brien, of Scott City, Becky Roberson, of St. Francis, Cindy Degenhardt, of Oakley and Ben (JoAnn) Dickman, of Grinnell and five grandchildren, Trevor, Taryn, Rylan, Regan and Theodore.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center, Grinnell, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 25, 2019, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Grinnell, with burial in the church cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the church or Hospice, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Alvin R. Colbert
Alvin R. Colbert entered into his earthly life on September 26, 1934. He was the eldest child of Roy and Mildred (Derringer) Colbert.
Alvin married Margaret Bell on October 28, 1956, and together they experienced the joys and they endured the challenges of this world. Alvin and Margaret worked together for many years as janitors of the schools at Morland, Kansas, and, then, continued to work together as the resident managers of Epworth Towers in Hays, Kansas.
After fully retiring, Alvin became the primary caregiver to Margaret, very lovingly provided care to her for approximately 15 years as she suffered with great pain caused by Renaud’s Disease. Alvin will be most remembered for being a humble servant of God and his fellow man. Two children, Stanley and Janet Katherine, were born to the marriage.
Two children, Stanley and Janet Katherine, were born to the marriage. Alvin is preceded in death by his loving wife, Margaret, his parents and his brother, Galen Colbert. He is survived by his children, a son-in-law, John Scott, two granddaughters, Haley and Jamie Scott, a sister, Alberta Colbert and two brothers, Albert, Gerald and Roland Colbert.; sister-in-law, Wilda Wenthe.
He was preceded in death by: parents; wife, Margie November 2, 2018; brother, Galen; sister-in-law Bernice Fountain.
Alvin will be sorely missed, but has joined his Lord and Savior and the love of his earthly life.
Click HERE for service details.
Defense attorney: Kansas boy was legally justified in killing mom
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An attorney argues that a boy who was 14 when he shot and killed his drunken mom at a mansion near Wichita was legally defending himself and his then 12-year-old brother.
The defense is seeking the dismissal of a voluntary manslaughter charge in the June 2018 shooting death of 41-year-old Lisa Trimmell. Her sons were the only people present at the time of the shooting, which occurred about a month after her husband filed for divorce.
Attorney Dan Monnat says the older boy “acted bravely and legally in defending himself and his younger brother … from her attack.”
The autopsy found Trimmell had “acute and chronic alcoholism” and scarring of the liver. Her blood-alcohol level was more than double the legal limit for driving.
FHSU Alumni Association announces new board members
FHSU University News
The Fort Hays State University Alumni Association Board of Directors has announced the addition of three new board members for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
New members announced at the June 8 board meeting in Hays were Dr. Kendall Krug, Hays; Eric Norris, Lawrence; and Mari Tucker, Topeka.
Krug, an optometrist, graduated from FHSU in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in general science. He will serve a two-year term on the board and serve on the Awards and Recognition Committee.
Norris, librarian for the state of Kansas, received a Master of Arts degree in 2009 from FHSU. He will serve on the Membership and Marketing Committee.
Tucker, a partnership liaison for registered nurse education at the Washburn School of Nursing, has earned two FHSU degrees, a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems in 1986 and a Master of Business Administration in management in 1987. She will serve on the Finance and Operations Committee.
“These highly talented Fort Hays State alumni bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the FHSU Alumni Board of Directors,” said DeBra Prideaux, executive director of alumni and governmental relations. “We are fortunate to have such expertise added to an already talented board as we continue our commitment to strengthen Fort Hays State University.”
The 2019-20 Executive Council is comprised of Betty Johnson, Lawrence, board president; Mike Koerner, Hays, vice president; Dr. Mike Slattery, Hays; Lance Tilton, Chapman; Dr. Jennifer Brantley, Wichita; and Chelsey Ladd.
Johnson, a 1980 FHSU graduate, received a bachelor’s degree in communications. She is president of Betty Johnson and Associates. This will be her second one-year term as president.
Koerner, operations and systems manager for Eagle Communications, has two degrees from FHSU, a bachelor’s degree in information networking and telecommunications, 2000, and a master’s degree in INT in 2005. He is vice president of the board and holds a position on the Finance and Operations Committee.
Slattery is a retired FHSU professor of education administration. He received three degrees from FHSU: a 1973 B.S. in physical education, a 1977 M.S. in education administration (secondary), and a 1989 Ed.S. in education administration (superintendent). He will serve as chair of the Awards and Recognition Committee.
Tilton, market president and ag/commercial lender for Astra Bank, is serving as chair of the Finance and Operations Committee. He graduated from FHSU in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Brantley, director of Sedgwick County Research and Extension Center, will serve as chair of the Membership and Marketing Committee. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from FHSU in 1993.
Ladd will serve in an at-large position on the Executive Council and as a member of the Membership and Marketing Committee. Ladd is the manager of constituent services for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
Other members of the board:
• Leo Lake, Manhattan, retired educator.
• Rob Schocke, Castle Rock, Colo., senior implementation analyst for VISA Inc.
• Larry Daugherty, Russell, retired.
• Dean Lavielle, Newton, retired high school principal.
• Brooke Oleen Tieperman, Denver, program manager for the Environment, Energy and Transportation, National Conference of State Legislatures.
• Dr. Doug Wright, Humboldt, clinical director of the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center.
Brad DeMers, Osceola, Neb., president of the FHSU Student Government Association, will also serve on the board in an ex-officio position along with FHSU President Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke, and Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation – all of Hays.
Retiring board members were recognized for a combined 29 years of service: Cathy Domsch, Atwood; Angela Gaughan, Wichita; Mitch Hall, Harper; Denise Riedel, Overland Park; and Dave Voss, Colby.
Established in 1916, the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association serves the population of FHSU graduates by identifying needs and providing solutions. More than 69,000 graduates live throughout the United States and approximately 77 foreign countries.
The board sets the policy and direction of the association in developing life-long relationships between the university and alumni.
Board nominations are accepted as positions become available. For more information, visit www.goforthaysstate.com, email [email protected] or call 785-628-4430 or toll free 1-888-351-3591.
TMP grad’s photo of Mister Rogers featured on stamp
Editor’s Note: This story originally was published May 8, 2018. Tom Hanks will star as Mr. Rogers in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which is scheduled to open in theaters this Thanksgiving. Watch the trailer above.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The United States Postal Service recently released a stamp featuring children’s show legend Mister Rogers.
The photo used for the stamp was taken by a graduate of Thomas More Prep-Marian, Walter Seng.
Seng, 74, who now lives in Arizona and has retired from photography, spent over a decade creating promotional images for Fred Rodger’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Seng, TMP class of 1961, said he made some lifelong friends at TMP and still keeps in touch with some of his classmates.
Seng drew and painted from the time he was young. He learned to paint from his grandfather, but he fell in love with photography at Carnegie Mellon University, when he attended his first black and white photo exhibition.
“The spirit of those images really drove home to my particular personality and my psyche. It picked me. I didn’t pick it,” he said.
Seng attend TMP as a residential student because his uncle was a priest and teacher at the school. However, he was from Pittsburgh, where “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” was filmed, and Seng became connected with the show there.
Seng began taking marketing photos for the show in 1972 and worked with Rogers through the 1980s.
Seng was notified by the USPS about the stamp more than two years before its release March 23. However, he had to keep the release a secret.
The USPS receives more than 20,000 applications each year for new stamp designs and picks only a handful for publication. The photo that was chosen for the stamp features Rogers in a red sweater with one of the puppets from the show, King Friday.
Seng said the photo was one of a number of publicity photos that was taken in about 1985 to showcase Rogers with all the neighborhood puppets and props, including Queen Sara Saturday, X the Owl and Daniel Striped Tiger. All the puppets lived in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, and children were transported there via a trolley. The show aired nationally from 1968 to 2001.
For those with younger children, Daniel Tiger now has his own animated series on PBS.
Rogers was known for starting the show by donning a sweater and putting on his sneakers as he sang, “Won’t You be My Neighbor,” one of many songs Rogers composed for the show. Besides composing for the show, Rogers also voiced most of the puppets. Seng said there was a reason behind the sneakers. When he first starting working on TV, he found sneakers made less noise when he was walking backstage during filming.
Seng said Fred Rogers the man was much like his TV persona — kind and professional. Rumors Rogers was a former marine are not true. He was actually a minister, who found his calling in TV and working with children.
Rogers also had a sense of humor, which Seng said helped the two work together. Soon after Seng started taking photos for the show, he was set to take a series of photos with Rogers on various emotions, including love and anger.
For the love photo with King Friday and Queen Saturday, he placed a pencil under King Friday’s robe. Rogers came in and laughed and said, “Why King Friday, aren’t we feeling amorous today?”
“It was really what connected us in terms of irony and humor,” Seng said.
Seng described Rogers as a genuinely warm, approachable, considerate, kind person.
“He was quiet in spirit and really strong in intellect,” Seng said. “He was a brilliant person.”
Rogers also had a knack for listening.
“Fred was one of the best listeners on the planet,” Seng said. “When you spoke to him, he wanted you to talk, not him. It was very disarming because people when they are talking to someone, they are thinking about what they are going to say next. Fred thinks about what you are going to say next. It puts it on you to carry a lengthy and well-thought-out conversation with him. He draws out the best in you that way.”
Rogers throughly researched his shows and tackled tough topics for kids, including anger, divorce and death.
Seng said Walters was very responsive to the children who watched the show. A blind girl who listened to the show sent a letter in saying she was concerned Rogers was not feeding his fish. When he fed the fish on the show after that, he talked about it so she would know he was taking care of the fish and sometimes mentioned her name. Rogers also worked with children off screen and frequently visited a nearby school for disabled children.
In addition to getting to work with Rogers, Seng was often brought in to take photographs of visiting celebrities. One of his favorite celebs was Wynton Marsalis, who brought his whole family to the set. Others included Yo-Yo Ma, Big Bird and Peggy Fleming. For the visit from Olympic gold medalist, Seng photographed Fleming and Rogers skating at the Pittsburg Civic Arena.
The favorite project he did with Rogers was a book titled “Who Am I?” The story was about an African-American girl who wore hearing aids. The book taught children to embrace differences. They shot photographs of the girl playing and jumping rope. Another photo depicted the girl whispering something into a friend’s ear and then him whispering something into her ear.
Seng said Rogers was a good subject.
“He once said to me, ‘Walt, you are the only photographer that I give myself to.’ I said, ‘That is a good compliment. Don’t make me cry. I won’t be able to shoot.'”
Rogers died in of stomach cancer in 2003, but Seng said he thinks he would have appreciated the Postal Service honoring him with a stamp.
Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan dedicated the stamp honoring Fred Rogers where it all began 50 years ago — WQED’s Fred Rogers Studio in Pittsburgh.
“Mister Rogers and his Neighborhood of Make-Believe made the ups and downs of life easier to understand for the youngest members of our society,” said Brennan in a USPS press release. “In ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,’ children learned, in a safe space, how to be a friend and create relationships. He shaped generations with his kindness and compassion. It’s why we honor him today.”
Seng continued to work commercially and artistically after he stopped photographing Fred Rogers.
“I liked photographing people on the street,” he said. “I always had my camera with me.”
Seng, who was an avid biker, said his favorite image is a picture of four bikers under Mount Rushmore.
“It was a coincidence. It helped me believe in God once again,” he said. “That there could be four guys — a Mexican, an Indian, an Irishman and a Norwegian — just like the faces of the presidents and they were bikers. I thought about doing a shot just like that, but thought it would take months to find the right models and there they were. They were all there. They were friends right there at the base of the mountain waiting for my camera.”
He said the best part of being a photographer was meeting people.
“I could work with a homeless guy sitting by a garbage can and an executive making millions a year and have a rapport with all of those people. That is why I got along with Fred so well. It was not about me, and it was not about him. It was about the process. It was about getting the best out of both of us without wearing it as a label on your chest to do a good job. I loved it. I loved photography.”
Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Redneck garden remedies
What do you get when you mix equal amounts of water and cider vinegar in a jar with a drop or two of dishwashing soap? According to a friend of ours, you get a redneck fruit fly trap. This time of the year along with all the fresh fruit and veggies from our gardens also comes those pesky tiny fruit flies that buzz around our produce. This concoction draws them to the scent of the cider vinegar and the dishwashing soap eliminates water surface tension so that when they land in the jar they sink straight to the bottom. She says it works great!
An effective hillbilly mouse trap can be made by filling a five gallon bucket a couple inches from the top with water, smearing peanut butter on the upper lip of the bucket or pouring grain or livestock feed to float on the water, then leaning a board at an angle from the floor to the top of the bucket for a ramp. Mice searching for an easy meal will attempt to hang onto the rim to get the peanut butter or lean out over the water to eat some floating feed and ultimately end up in the drink.
After hearing from my brother last night about all he has to go through to protect his garden from deer and other critters where he lives deep in the southern Ohio woods, I referred to a book by America’s Master Gardener, Jerry Baker, entitled “Bug Off” in which he presents bushels full of down-home remedies for keeping all manner of critters, especially raccoons, rabbits and deer, out of gardens and truck patches.
- Raccoons are the bane of the sweet corn patch. Jerry recommends corralling all the electric fans you can barter for at garage sales, then, using outdoor extension cords place them all around the garden and run them on high all night for several nights in a row to dampen the coon’s interest.
- Evidently raccoons hate the smell of both bleach and ammonia, so fill old margarine tubs with either liquid and place them among your most vulnerable plants.
- As a trapper, I know that coons’ have very sensitive feet and this hindrance uses that weakness against them. Around the perimeter of the garden, lay a three foot wide strip of broken pot shards, jagged stones, thorny rose or bramble canes, wire mesh or anything else sharp or prickly and coons’ will refuse to cross it. This one requires the most work but will last the longest.
- Rabbits can devour a patch of greens’ overnight. Much of Jerry’s advise for deterring rabbits centers around fencing where practical, and making your yard or garden less inviting by removing nearby cover, growing plants rabbits don’t like and luring them away from the garden with plants they can’t resist. He does however have a couple novel suggestions.
- The first is a spray he calls his Hot Bite Spray, concocted from cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce, ammonia and baby shampoo. He guarantees that any critter who tastes this stuff will never come back for a second bite (contact me for the formula and directions.)
- The other suggestion is to buy a ferret, or make friends with someone who owns a ferret and offer to babysit.
- Someone recently asked me how to keep deer away from his grapes and berries, and a friend of mine in Minnesota who operates a full time animal control business recommended electric fence about waist high around the patch. Jerry Baker takes that one step further and says to smear the fence with peanut butter. The smell of the peanut butter will cause them to smell it or lick it, resulting in a zap to the snoot or tongue, and they will never return.
- Instead of washing or tossing your husband’s old smelly socks and sneakers, hang them around your truck patch. Jerry calls this a classic deer-chasing trick.
- We trappers use all manner of strange animal scents and smells, and Jerry says that urine from any major predator will send deer running. Coyote urine is readily available, and a little sprinkled around your garden will never be noticed by you, but the deer will surely flee.
These are just a few of the more novel suggestions Jerry Baker has for keeping four-footed critters from ravaging your produce, and this book is just one of many he has published full of the same kind of down-home suggestions. Although there’s really nothing “Redneck” about any of these remedies as the title implies, I figured it might grab your attention and get you to read further, and if you’re reading this sentence, I’d say it worked! So eat well as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Allison ‘Al’ Francis Davis
Allison “Al” Francis Davis, 76, of McPherson, KS, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 21, 2019, surrounded by family at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wichita.
Al was born on December 28, 1942, in Hays, KS, the son of Albert and Florentine (Bieker) Davis. During his early years, he was raised on a farm outside of Schoenchen and graduated from Larned High School. He joined the Army in 1964 and served six years in the National Guard.
On December 28, 1966, Al was united in marriage to Dolores “Dee” Diane Nicholson in Larned, KS. This union was blessed with four children, Chris, Frank, Alicia, & Diane.
Al worked at Safeway as a produce manager, Kit Manufacturing, Pyle Construction as a heavy equipment operator and plumber, and retired from General Air Plumbing and Heating in 2006.
He was a member of American Legion Post #24, McPherson and the British Car Club, Wichita. Being a lifelong car enthusiast, he rebuilt a 1976 MGB, which he and Dolores enjoyed driving coast to coast with the British Car Club.
One of his favorite pastimes was golfing with his brother, Ron, in Sterling. He loved outdoor sports, which included camping, boating, fishing, shooting, and hunting. He especially enjoyed playing with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. They will always remember the spur of the moment trips.
Survivors include: his wife, Dolores “Dee” of the home; three children, Frank Davis (Ruth) of McPherson, KS, Alicia Barkhurst (Dave) of Kansas City, MO, and Diane Curtis (Terry) of Moundridge, KS; brother, Ron Davis (Vickie) of Sterling, KS; four grandchildren, Arial Conklin (John) of Newton, KS, Andrew Davis (Arii Weis) of Canton, KS, Dusty Gallope (Andrew Harris) of McPherson, KS, and Myles Davis of Wichita, KS; three great-grandchildren; two special “adopted” granddaughters, Angela Shields and Kaylynn Chick; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Albert & Florentine Davis; two brothers, Rick Davis and Lynn Davis; and son, Chris Davis.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at Stockham Family Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 25, at Stockham Family Funeral Home with David Nicholson officiating. Burial of cremains with Military Honors will follow at McPherson Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be given to McPherson County Humane Society or the American Legion Post #24 in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.