Eloise J. “Frenchie” Newell, age 92, of Hays, Kansas passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at Hays Medical Center.
Funeral services will be 10 AM Friday, August 9, 2019 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday 6 PM – 8 PM with a combined rosary and parish vigil at 7 PM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt Tuesday announced the appointment of Gina Meier-Hummel to serve as the first Kansas Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator, a position created by the Legislature in May to implement recommendations of the Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force, according to a media release from Schmidt’s office.
Gina Meier-Hummel photo KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
“Gina will give the serious problem of the rising rate of youth suicide the attention it requires,” Schmidt said. “I’m confident her leadership and implementation of the task force’s recommendations can begin to change the trend line so the number of youth suicides in Kansas stops increasing and instead begins to decline. I look forward to working with her in this effort.”
Meier-Hummel has spent her career working on behalf of children and families. She currently serves as the Executive Director of O’Connell Youth Ranch in Douglas County. Previously she served as the Deputy Director of the Victims Services Division in Schmidt’s office. She also served as Secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) from November 2017 through January 2019. Prior to leading DCF, she was the Executive Director of The Shelter, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on crisis intervention for at-risk youth in Douglas County and Northeast Kansas. Before that, she served in varying capacities at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), DCF and its predecessor agency the Department for Social and Rehabilitation Services, and KVC Behavioral Health System.
Meier-Hummel also served as a member of the Child Welfare Task Force, Commissioner of the Governor’s Mental Health Task Force, Chair of the Governor’s Subcabinet on Behavior Health, a member of the Social Services Policy Council, as well as on the steering committee for KanCare.
“I am honored to be appointed to this position by the Attorney General, and grateful to have the opportunity to work on this very important issue impacting Kansas families and communities,” Meier-Hummel said.
In June 2018, Schmidt and the Tower Mental Health Foundation formed the task force to survey efforts underway in Kansas to reduce the incidence of youth suicide and provide recommendations on further steps that could be taken. In May, the Legislature adopted several of those recommendations by passing the conference committee report on House Bill 2290, which created the coordinator position and requires the coordinator to:
Lead the development, implementation and marketing of a website, online application and mobile phone application to facilitate communication with youth for the purpose of preventing youth suicide and promoting youth safety and well-being.
Develop and promote multidisciplinary and interagency strategies to help communities, schools, mental health professionals, medical professionals, law enforcement and others work together and coordinate efforts to prevent and address youth suicide.
Organize events that bring together youth, educators and community members from across the state to share information and receive training to prevent and address youth suicide in their communities.
Gather, disseminate and promote information focused on suicide reduction.
Meier-Hummel will serve in a part-time capacity beginning today. Schmidt said other employees in the Attorney General’s office will support the suicide-prevention work as needed. Although the coordinator’s position was created by statute, no additional funding was appropriated to support it.
In 2016, the most recent year for which data is available from the State Child Death Review Board, the number of suicides in Kansas by persons 18 years of age or younger was 20 at a rate of 3.0 deaths per 100,000 population. Unfortunately, this continued the steady increase since 2005, which had eight suicides at a rate of 1.1 deaths per 100,000 population.
A copy of the task force report, including a full list of its members and its recommendations, is available at https://ag.ks.gov/ysptf.
Wednesday’s fourth annual Duck Derby promises to be a lot of fun, but will also help support a good cause as the event serves as one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County.
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park, 300 Main, with hot dogs and snacks and will feature a variety of family-friendly activities.
“There will be kids games such as hula hoop contest, duck waddle races and other fun activities,” according to the event website. With “free swimming in the Hays Aquatic Park’s zero-entry pool starting at 5:00 p.m.”
“It’s a great community event,” said Jenny Bates, area director, Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The first heat of ducks is set to launch at 6 p.m., kids’ ducks will launch at 6:15 p.m., and the first cardboard races are set for 6:45 p.m.
“There will be thousands of ducks racing around the Lazy River at Hays Aquatic Park,” the event website said. “The ducks will be split into heats of about 2,500 ducks per heat. The top 500 ducks from each heat will get to compete in the big Championship Race. Prizes will be awarded to the first 10 ducks crossing the finish line at the Championship Race.”
While ducks have been on sale throughout the community in recent weeks, attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase ducks prior to the event.
“We will have ducks available until probability about 15 minutes before the first duck race starts,” Bates said.
The Auto World’s Man Overboard Challenge will feature boats made from cardboard and “duck” tape with awards for the fastest boat as well as the Titanic Award, Spirit Award and Best of Show.
All of the funds raised from the event will go to support the BBBS mission.
“Everything from the duck adoptions for the duck races to the boat races, everything goes back to support Big Brothers Big Sister here in Ellis County,” Bates said. “This is one of our biggest fundraisers during the year.”
BBBS works to support area children that may be struggling according to Bates.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring program,” Bates said. “We match children one-on-one in mentoring relationships with an adult in our community … who are needing some extra support and encouragement in their life to help them through what they may be going through at home, or if they are having some struggles at school.”
She said the organization currently has 120 matches in Ellis County, but another 50 children are waiting for a match.
“The Duck Derby and the funds from that help us to continue working to find volunteers for those kids so they can have their Big Brother or Big Sister,” Bates said.
Martha Becker, seated in chair, reads to Georgia the dog, along with her daughters Lanie, 11, left and Bella, 4, right, on Thursday afternoon at the Humane Society of the High Plains.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
A family of three reads to a dog Thursday at the humane society as part of jointly sponsored program by the humane society and the Hays Public Library.
More than 100 kids and adults sat next to dog cages and curled up with cats Thursday at the Humane Society of the High Plains to read to animals.
Officials from the Humane Society and the Hays Public Library, which co-sponsored the event, said they thought the reading program benefited both the animals and the children.
Sara Schoenthaler, HPL early literacy librarian, said reading out loud helps build literacy skills.
“I think one of the big benefits is reading aloud and working on verbal language in a way that isn’t intimidating or frightening to the kids, because it can be scary when you are asked to read in front of the class and you are not good at reading,” Schoenthaler said. “This is a way students can read to animals. Maybe they can start doing it more. They can start coming out here more and really work on their verbal skills.”
A girl pets a cat as she reads her book Thursday at the humane society. The program was meant to give kids more confidence reading aloud.
Schoenthaler said the library was very impressed with the turnout. The library provided books for the event, although some children brought their own books. Youth of all ages from preschool to teens participated.
Betty Hansen, shelter manager, said shelter workers have found the animals seem to be more calm when people sit in front of their cages and talk to them.
“It would give the kids the reading and the dogs the company,” Hansen said of the project.
“The animals seem to love it,” she added.
Even though the shelter was swamped with many more people than it expected for the event, Hansen said she thought the dogs seemed to be more calm as the children read to them.
Hansen said the event also helps promote the humane society and its mission of encouraging responsible pet ownership and adoption.
A girl reads to two puppies at the humane society. The puppies fell asleep as she read to them.
Both Schoenthaler and Hansen said they were interested in repeating the reading program. However, in the future the program would likely require registration, so the shelter is not inundated with so many people all at once.
Kori Poe, 9, Hays holds a cat during a reading event Thursday at the humane society.
About a year after the El Charro Convenience, 2020 E. Eighth, store closed its doors, new owners are to reopen the location with a new look and offerings.
Co-owner and manager Liz Smith said she was interested in purchasing the business last year after driving by the location.
“When we saw it was for sale, it sparked our interest,” she said.
Smith has a background in retail and thought this would be an opportunity to once again be self-employed.
“It’s nice to work for yourself,” she said.
Since completing the purchase on June 4, Smith began on full remodel on the building, bringing new life into the old solid brick walls.
“We have repainted, put in new floors, brought in all new appliances, all new countertops and shelving, everything is new,” she said.
That work is not expected to end when the store reopens, as Smith has plans to continue to grow the business with a kitchen that will be completed in the future, allowing the sale of freshly made breakfast and grab-and-go lunch items.
“I will be able to make anything I want,” Smith said. “It’s not just convenience store food.”
She is also excited about new fuel pumps installed at the location and new fuel options.
“They will be open 24 hours and will be card accessible and will have 91 octane with no ethanol in it,” Smith said.
She believes they will be the only location in town that will offer the ethanol-free 91 octane.
“There are a lot of people interested in having the no ethanol in the 91 for their motorcycles, their jet skis and their older cars,” she said.
They will also have treated diesel fuel.
“We have a diesel pickup and we know what it is like to have it untreated and trying to start it when it is cold,” Smith said.
Early interest is also encouraging, Smith said.
“We took the paper off the windows (Thursday), and we can’t believe how many people have tried to stop in, which is great.”
Once finishing touches are complete on the exterior and the kitchen is up and running, Smith said a grand opening will be planned, hopefully in about a month.
Some of the employees of the previous business have returned to work in the new business.
“There will be quite a few familiar faces for those that used to come in here,” Smith said.
Hours for the Ol’ 40 Express will be from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, and the fuel stations will take card payments 24/7.
Neil F. Maune, age 64, went to be with the Lord August 2, 2019 at his residence in McDonald, Kansas. Neil was born to Victor & Iona Maune of Washington, Missouri where he grew up and lived.
He met Shelia Sramek and married December 13, 2003.
Neil has two lovely children, Jennifer Hauther and Michael Maune, nine grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
He served in the Marines 1974 – 1980 stationed state side where his fuel and electrical systems skills were used to maintain aircraft. He was honorably discharged and awarded a M-16 Rifle Expert Badge.
Most of his working years were spent with companies manufacturing and maintaining specialized equipment. The later years were spent in agronomy.
He was a loyal, gentle, honest man and very knowledgeable. His hobbies were enjoying river life, kayaking and motorcycles. He liked the challenge and was great at troubleshooting.
He’s preceded in death by parents Victor & Iona Maune and survived by wife Shelia (Sramek) Maune, daughter Jennifer Hauther (Michael), son Michael Maune (Lisa), sister Marie Filla (Harlan), brother Ronald Maune, sister Patricia Rommelman (Dave), brother Thomas Maune (Marilyn), sister Linda Overschmidt (Vern), Stanley Maune (Vicky), sister Pamela Carter, 9 grandchildren and 1great grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2019, at the Wesleyan Church, Bird City, KS.
CONCEPTION, Mo. (AP) — A Benedictine monastery north of Kansas City has released the names of eight priests or brothers who had credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors made against them.
The Conception Abbey said on its website Monday that seven of the priests are dead and the eighth was removed from the ministry.
The abbey, which is about 95 miles north of Kansas City, hired retired FBI agents to review personnel files of priests and brothers who served there in the last 70 years.
In a statement on the website, Abbot Benedict Neenan apologized to the victims and said he hoped publishing the list would help them heal.
David Clohessy, with the Missouri Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the abbey should release more information.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman for alleged animal cruelty.
Cordova photo Sedgwick Co.
On Sunday, deputies responded to a rural area of Sedgwick County after homeowners called to report a woman was attempting to dump a small black dog near their residence, according to Lt. Tim Myers.
Deputies arrested the woman identified as 56-year-old Gabriela Cordova. She was booked just after 1:30p.m. Sunday on requested charges of cruelty to animals; abandon without provisions for care, according to the Sedgwick County online jail records and is no longer in custody.
Animal control officers took the dog, according to Myers. Authorities released no additional details.
The House has kicked off August recess and I was happy to be home back in Kansas with my beautiful wife, Laina, to celebrate our 36th anniversary. We have four wonderful children, and two grandchildren, who are jewels in our crown. She takes a dull day, and suddenly makes it seem worthwhile and she is a saint for putting up with me! Thank you to everyone who prays for us, as we continue this wonderful American journey, 36 years later.
Scam Alert
The Social Security Administration is working with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to create a new fraud prevention placemat to help you identify and avoid Social Security scams. You can order free copies of the placemat to use at home, or to share with friends and family.
Here are a few things to remember to help others avoid scams:
Talk about it! Social Security scams haven’t been as common until recently. Share the message with others to make them aware of this type of scam.
Government employees will not threaten to take away benefits or ask for money or personal information to protect your Social Security card or benefits.
Report Social Security scams to the SSA Office of Inspector General Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov/report and to the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov/complaint.
If you think you are being targeted by a scammer, please call my office at (785) 829-9000 for assistance. We are always happy to help!
Champlin Tire Recycling
Last week, members of my staff visited Champlin Tire Recycling in Concordia, Kan.
This small, family owned business looks for new and innovative ways to recycle old tires, turning them into items such as park benches, picnic tables, and playground mulch.
Owner Gary Champlin is the chair-elect of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc – an international trade association representing scrap commodities. While there, they spoke about a number of issues facing the industry, including ways we can all work to do more with less.
Thank you, Gary, for showing my team around and helping them better understand the creative ways recycling can benefit our communities.
Beef Up Sustainability
Cargill recently announced they are launching a new initiative, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, called “BeefUp Sustainability.”
The project is committed to achieving a 30% greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity reduction across its North American beef supply chain by 2030. The opt-in initiative will reduce GHG emissions throughout Cargill’s beef supply chain from a 2017 baseline, measured on a per pound of product basis.
BeefUp Sustainability is designed to engage a variety of stakeholders including producers, customers and innovators. The initiative will focus on four areas: grazing management, feed production, innovation and food waste reduction. The 30% reduction builds on the industry’s existing GHG efficiency efforts and will equate to removing 2 million cars from U.S. highways for a year.
My office hosted a roundtable in McPherson to discuss issues of importance to rural broadband providers. The providers emphasized the need for updates to the national broadband maps, which are necessary for closing the digital divide. The roundtable included discussions about the need to empower stakeholders by establishing a strong challenge process to the FCC and USDA, to ensure the accuracy of data being reported. These providers are working tirelessly to build out future-focused networks in rural America, and I appreciated them taking the time to share ways in which I can help support these efforts.
Big News for Kansas Ranchers
President Trump has announced a trade deal to sell more American beef to the European Union. Kansas is one of the top beef-producing states in the nation – each year the industry contributes more than $9 billion to the state’s economy.
Thank you to the Trump Administration for fighting to deliver new and fair trade deals on behalf of Kansas farmers, ranchers, and producers.
FCC Open Meeting
The Federal Communications Commission held its August meeting and considered a number of rural-focused agenda items. The FCC is working to make access to their programs easier, by streamlining and simplifying the way health care providers can apply for telehealth support, and by formally establishing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Reducing the red tape for providers is critical to continue building broadband networks, and to ensure rural homes, small businesses, and community institutions are able to connect.
Lou Ann Kibbee, Hays, is seated in front.
National Council on Independent Living
Last week, I had a great meeting with Kansas representatives, including Lou Ann Kibbee of Hays, from the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) the longest-running national disability and grassroots organization led by people with disabilities.
The conversation focused on health care, as well as employment and economic equity. We discussed my support for H.R. 3253, the Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019, which reauthorizes funding for the “Money Follows the Person” program, so elderly people and those with disabilities can use federal dollars to pay for care by providers of their choice.
I am pleased to report this legislation is now on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Volunteers Needed!
My office is looking for volunteers to help out at my booth at the Kansas State Fair on Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 15. Volunteers are needed to hand out fliers and take down contact information from constituents with questions.
Gate admission and WiFi will be provided – couples welcome! If you are interested please contact my District Director, [email protected] for more info.
Dr. Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend) is the First District Kansas Congressman.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the city of Norton. The advisory was issued because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Norton indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
Serving up extra helpings of its signature hospitality in honor of the National Waffle Day holiday, the Hays Comfort Inn & Suites is hosting its 3rd annual free waffle breakfast for first responders 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wed., Aug. 21.
The Comfort Inn & Suites, located at 1001 E. 41st St., has joined a brand-wide #ComfortSaysThanks movement, with similar National Waffle Day celebrations taking place coast to coast.
During this annual event, Comfort brand hotels invite local “hometown heroes” and community groups—such as first responders, teachers and volunteers—to enjoy a complimentary breakfast, featuring the brand’s signature fresh-baked waffles, to thank them for their service to the community.
