Phyllis C. Wilson Geist Rowland, age 86, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at the Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2019 at the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas.
A full obituary is pending.
Harry E. Williams, age 90, of Hays, KS, passed away on August 9, 2019, in Hays, at HaysMed. He was born on June 10, 1929, in Embreeville, PA to Harry Stanley and Louise Williams.
He met and married Neilda Gazaway in the early 1950’s and from this union, a daughter, Patricia, was adopted from Korea. Neilda preceded Harry in death in 1984. He later met and married Laurice Abel on June 23, 1996 in Fresno, CA.
Harry served his country in the United States Air Force, was an avid woodworker, and could always be found cheering on the Royals, Chiefs, and Rams.
He is survived by his wife: Laurice of Hays, KS; daughter: Patricia Williams (Calum Cunningham) of Fremont, CA; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, John, and sister, Mabel.
Harry’s family will receive guests for a combined Visitation and Funeral Service on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 4 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601, with Troy Miller officiating. Military Honors to be provided by Hays VFW Post No.: 9076.
Cremation under the direction of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Georgina Jacobs, age 92, of Gorham, Kansas died Thursday, August 8, 2019, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. She was born May 8, 1927 on the family farm at Hyacinth, Kansas to Zacheus and Monica (Rupp) Fisher. She married Louis G. Jacobs on May 25, 1948, at Hays, Kansas. He preceded her in death on June 10, 2011.
She was a homemaker, and a farmer’s wife. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Daughters of Isabella both of Gorham, Kansas. She was a volunteer for the St Mary’s Funeral Dinners, and enjoyed cooking, canning, sewing and Tri-Chem painting, flower and vegetable gardening. She grew up on the farm in Hyacinth and attended a country school.
Survivors include one son, Louis G. Jacobs and wife, Velinda “Vicki”, Sublette, KS; two daughters, Ruth Resley and husband, Paul, Garden City, KS; JoAnn Bender and husband, Daniel, Russell, KS; three brothers, Victor Fisher and wife, Lillian; Francis Fisher and wife, Josie; Cyril Fisher and wife, Alice; all of Hays, KS; one sister, Delores Pfannenstiel and husband, Virgil, Munjor, KS; one sister-in-law, Diana Fisher, Hays, KS; 14 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Edwin, Alvin ,her twin, Ralph Fisher; two sisters, Agnes Waldschmidt and Rita Mae Giebler.
Services are 9:30 A.M. Saturday, August 10, 2019, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis Victoria, Kansas. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery Gorham, Kansas.
A vigil service, and a Gorham Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Friday at The Basilica of St. Fidelis Victoria, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Friday, and from 8:30 to 9:30 A.M. Saturday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis Victoria, Kansas.
The family Suggests memorial to masses.
Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected] or can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com
During my time as Kansas State Treasurer, we have innovated several new ways to reach out to Kansas taxpayers and return their unclaimed property, with great success. We’ve been able to give back record numbers of money for the past two years running, and we are not about to stop now.
This month we are launching an initiative we call “Bucks Back to Business,” which involves partnering with counties all across Kansas to get unclaimed property back in the hands of Kansas businesses.
At the state treasurer’s office, we are on the phone all week long reaching out to businesses in Kansas letting them know we have money that belongs to them that we’d like to return.
As you can imagine, we are finding that with the increasing number of telephone scammers calling people, it is difficult for business owners to believe us when we tell them we have money for them, and we’d like to give it back for free. While it sounds too good to be true, it is our mission to get these dollars back to their rightful owners. So, we decided to try a different approach.
For the next several months we will be traveling across Kansas meeting with local chambers of commerce and city and county officials talking to them about how we can best reach Kansas businesses in their home towns and encourage those business owners to claim their cash. It is our hope that with the help of these trusted neighbors and friends, more business owners will feel safe and confident contacting us. We plan to get to as many counties as we can this year and hope to keep putting more money back in Kansans’ pockets.
In the meantime, anyone wanting to check for themselves or others can always go to our website Kansascash.com and see if we have any unclaimed property waiting to be returned to them.
And please remember, we never charge for web searches, processing claims, or returning money. Anyone who asks for a fee, you can be sure is not the Kansas State Treasurer’s Office.
Jake LaTurner is the Kansas State Treasurer.
Herbert A. “Herb” Harms, 64, passed away Friday August 9, 2019, at his home in Great Bend. Herb was born September 24, 1954, in Great Bend, the son of Herbert Alan and Gladys (Bitter) Harms. Herb was united in marriage to Sharon Cruse on February 22, 1985 in Great Bend. She survives.
Herb is a life-long Great Bend resident. He obtained a BA, was a farmer and also an employee for USD 428. Herb was a member of the group Artists at Large and loved to garden, paint and read. He enjoyed traveling, watching the Royals, Chiefs and KU basketball. He especially loved spending time with his kids and grandkids.
Survivors include, his wife Sharon of the home; one son, Andrew Harms and wife Meg of Omaha, NE; two daughters, Kara Harms and husband Austin vonBehrens of Kansas City, MO and Katy Harms of Kansas City, MO; one brother, Robert Harms of Hutchinson; and two grandchildren, Roeland and Charlotte.
There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, September 21, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Humane Society and the Smithsonian Institution, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
ELLIS COUNTY — A small earthquake shook Ellis County Sunday morning. The quake just before 2:30a.m. measured a magnitude 3.0, according the U.S. Geological Survey. It was centered approximately 4 miles north of Victoria.
This is another in a series of quakes reported in Ellis, Russell and Rooks County since June 1.
There are no reports of damage or injury from Sunday’s quake.
USD 489
SABINA HOFFMAN
Where are you from? I’m originally from Manhattan, Kan., but have lived in the Hays/Victoria area for nine years.
KYLE PORTER
Where are you from? Holton, Kan.
NICOLE LINENBERGER
Where are you from? I was born and raised in Stockton, Kan., but my husband and I have lived in Hays since 2007.
BECKY MEAGHER
REBECCA KUEHL
KALEIGH WENTWORTH
Where are you from? I am from Hays.
KAREN WILSON
Where are you from? I am from Oklahoma.
COLE CHERRYHOLMES
Where are you from? I am from Potwin, Kan.
EMALEE TAYLOR
Where are you from? I am from Holcomb, Kan.
FRED WINTER
What did you teach before coming to our district? I just recently completed my second year as the principal at Horton High School. During my 21 years as an educator, I have enjoyed a variety of experiences in the classroom. I have had the opportunity to instruct k-12 health/PE, strength and conditioning, American government, U.S. history, sixth-grade math and science, as well as 7-12 special education. While in the classroom, I have always enjoyed collaborating with other educators, parents, and community members to do what’s best for all students. Outside the classroom, I was involved as a head and assistant in high school football, basketball, track, FCA, and junior/freshman class sponsor.
JENNIFER OLT
Where are you from? Milford, Kan.
CHRISTINA SRAMEK
Where are you from? I am coming to Hays from Great Bend, but I am originally from Walker.
STU BOTT
Where are you from? Perth, Western Australia.
LISA SCHROEDER
Where are you from? I am originally from Garden City.
THERESA CLARK
Where are you from? I am originally from Salina. My husband and I moved to Hays 14 years ago from Alabama.
MEGAN ENGLERT
Where are you from? I’m local, from Hays.
What did you teach before coming to our district? I taught ELA and MTSS at Ruppenthal Middle School in Russell, Kan.
Where in the district will you be located? I will be teaching seventh-grade reading at Hays Middle School.
Where did you go to school? I received my English literature and secondary education degrees from Fort Hays State University.
What do you do in your spare time? My spare time is spent having fun with my family and reading.
JESSICA AUGUSTINE
Where are you from? Originally, I am from Ellis, Kan., but I just moved back to the area from Manhattan, Kan.
BRITTANY BALDWIN
Where are you from? I am originally from Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; however, I have lived in Hays for the past 20 years. I love aspects of each location and consider both places home!
ALYSA ERWAY
Where are you from? I am originally from Larned, Kan. Hays has been my home away from home for about four years now!
ERIKA NORRIS
Where are you from? I am from Glade, Kan,, just an hour north of Hays.
CASSY WATSON
Where are you from? I am from Montezuma, Kan.
ASHLEY BUTLER
Where are you from? I’m from Ellis, Kan.
JARED MICK
Where are you from? I am from Ellis, Kan.
HANNAH POLAND
Where are you from? Ellis, Kan., currently, originally from Plevna, Kan.,
HANNAH HESTON
Where are you from? I am from Topeka, but I have lived in Hays for two years.
JACK GARCIA
Where are you from? I am originally from La Crosse
JOHN NEAL
Other new staff members who did not respond to Hays Post’s request for biographical information include:
WICHITA — Sarah Stephens stands over a brightly lit table in a detached garage-turned-grow shed as she trims away unnecessary leaves from a recently harvested hemp plant.
When she’s finished, only the floral material of the plant will be left. The flowers will eventually be processed into CBD oil.
Their outfit is one of the first growers in Kansas’ fledgling industrial hemp industry to begin harvesting.
While the harvest is a major milestone for the state’s hemp pilot program, the industry still faces many challenges before it’s deemed a profitable alternative to corn, wheat, soybeans and the other crops that dominate Kansas farming.
Most hemp growers who planted outside in fields won’t begin harvesting until early September. Sarah Stephens is harvesting so early because she grew a relatively small number of plants indoors.
Before she could begin her harvest, she had to contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture to schedule a pre-harvest inspection. It’s part of a mountain of red tape required to participate in the program including filing planting and harvest reports.
At the pre-harvest inspection, KDA officials take samples of the hemp plants to send to a state laboratory in Topeka. The lab tests the hemp for its THC levels. THC is a psychoactive chemical that gets you high. If a hemp plant has more than 0.3% THC it is by definition no longer hemp — instead it would be considered marijuana and would have to be destroyed.
Stephens had to wait a week for her results. It was the most nervous she’d been since she’d started growing hemp.
She ultimately got the news she was hoping for. Her sample came back with 0.19% THC.
As part of the industrial hemp research program, each licensee had to come up with some kind of research proposal. Stephens experimented with growing hemp hydroponically — or suspended in water — versus growing it in dirt.
“I did screw them up a little bit,” she said. “I had a whole ’nother container of the hydroponics and I killed them.”
It’s a relatively small operation. She’ll only end up harvesting around 50 plants. But she’s already got plans for growth next year.
Besides growing floral material, she’s also begun “cloning” her plants. That means trimming off stems to create new, genetically identical sprouts for other people interested in growing hemp.
Another challenge, and one that’s more immediate, will be finding a processor willing to purchase the hemp. She said she’d like to sell her hemp to a Kansas processor.
“We’re all kind of a part of this new little group of people trying to make it,” she said.
There are only 34 licensed processors in the program, many of which have never done it before and are learning as they go.
“It’s not a small undertaking at all,” KDA Industrial Hemp Specialist Braden Hoch said. “It takes quite a bit of planning to actually get one of these facilities up and running.”
Stephens said she thinks she’s got a processor lined up, but that it wasn’t quite ready to purchase her hemp just yet.
Another option would be to sell their hemp to processors in states such as Colorado and Kentucky, which have more mature programs.
Brian Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett (at) kmuw (dot) org.
The annual Youth Outdoor Fest is scheduled for Aug. 17.
Cover photo courtesy KDWPT
TOPEKA — The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Emporia Community Foundation and Hedges family are delighted announced last week that Elsi Miller, an undergraduate student from Great Bend studying biology at Fort Hays State University, has been awarded the Lance Hedges Conservation Award. The scholarship, named in memory of the former Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy, is available only to interns and other student employees of TNC in Kansas who are studying wildlife biology, conservation management and other related fields.
“Lance was the driving force behind us establishing our intern program,” says TNC director Rob Manes. “He recognized that growing the next generation of conservation professionals was a task equal to our current on-the-ground conservation work.”
This was Miller’s third summer spent working at Cheyenne Bottoms, first as an AmeriCorps volunteer at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and then two years as an intern for The Nature Conservancy. Her experience ran the gamut of conservation activities, from shorebird and grassland bird surveys and wetland restoration planning to hands on land management jobs like removing invasive species and cleaning water tanks.
“Elsi is hard working, punctual and never complains about anything. She might be the most level headed 20-year-old I have ever met,” said Robert Penner, Cheyenne Bottoms and avian programs manager for The Nature Conservancy.
— Submitted
Plan your fall garden with the help of the Extension Master Gardeners -Cottonwood District.
KDWPT
PRATT – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KWPT) Commission will conduct its next public meeting on August 15, 2019 at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus, Best Conference Center, 12600 Quivira Rd. in Overland Park. All are welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Time will be set aside for public comment on non-agenda items at the beginning of both the afternoon and evening sessions.
During the afternoon session, attendees will hear a report on agency and state fiscal status, and a 2019 legislative session update. Staff will then present information for a general discussion on big game regulations and deer research, outdoor mentors, and microchemistry in fisheries. Then, a series of workshop topics – items that may be voted on at a future commission meeting – will be discussed. Workshop items include electronic licensing, threatened and endangered species regulations, fishing regulations, state park regulations, turkey regulations, and electric bicycles.
Commissioners will recess by 5 p.m. and reconvene at 6:30 p.m. to vote on the following items:
If necessary, the Commission will reconvene at 9 a.m. at the same location, August 16, 2019, to complete any unfinished business. Should this occur, time will again be set aside for public comment on non-agenda items.
Information about the Commission, including the August 15, 2019 meeting agenda and briefing book, can be downloaded at ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission.
If notified in advance, the Commission will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Commission secretary at (620) 672-5911.
The next KWPT Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2019 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center in Great Bend.
