Penelope “Penny” Smith, age 53, of WaKeeney, passed away, Saturday, October 5, 2019, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney.
Arrangements are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.
Month: October 2019
DCF investigation leads to arrest of Kan. man on sex allegations
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on sex allegations.
Following an investigation into allegations that arose over the summer that included a five-year-old girl and a nine-year-old girl, deputies arrested have Archie Lee Holmes, 50, Gypsum, on suspicion of multiple counts, including rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.
One of the girls was a family member and one was a friend of the family, according to the sheriff.
The incidents allegedly occurred at Holmes’ residence in Gypsum and were reported to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office by the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
Holmes remains in custody on requested charges of Rape, Aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Aggravated intimidation of a witness, Aggravated criminal sodomy, according to online jail records.
Sen. Moran to be in Nicodemus Friday
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) will visit Nicodemus as part of his Kansas Listening Tour on Friday, October 11, 2019.
Moran will be at the Nicodemus National Historic Site, 304 Washington Avenue, Nicodemus at 3 p.m .
Area residents are encouraged to attend and share feedback with Sen. Moran on the critical issues facing Kansas and the nation.
Police: Persian rug worth $12K taken in Kansas business burglary
RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking the public for help to locate suspects.
Just before 7 p.m. Saturday, police filed a report for burglary in the 3000 block of Anderson Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.
A 78-year-old man reported an unknown suspect took a Persian rug from his business. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $12,000.
Police ask that anyone with information please contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers.
UWEC Dine Out Day Thursday at Tiger Burgers
Come join the United Way at Tiger Burgers, 700 Main, Hays, on Thursday, October 10 for our Dine Out Day!! Tiger Burgers will donate a portion of the proceeds to the United Way!
Hearing on water use regs includes Edwards Co., site of R9 Ranch
KDA
MANHATTAN — A public hearing will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2019, to consider the adoption of proposed regulations regarding water use. The hearing will be held in room 124 on the first floor of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1320 Research Park Dr. in Manhattan.
The hearing will consider a proposal to repeal K.A.R. 5-21-7, which adopted change in use rules applicable only in Western Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 1; repeal of this rule would result in the statewide rule (K.A.R. 5-5-9) being applied within GMD 1.
The other proposed regulations — K.A.R. 5-25-2, 5-25-4, and 5-25-22 — will assist water users in Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5 in developing an augmentation project.
The R9 Ranch in Edwards County, owned jointly by the cities of Hays and Russell as a long-term water supply, is located in Groundwater Management District No. 5.
SEE RELATED STORY: City manager says Quivera water impairment claim should have little effect on R9.
The proposed regulations can be found on the KDA website: agriculture.ks.gov/PublicComment. Written comments can be submitted online at this site as well.
All interested persons may attend the hearing and may present comments either orally or in writing, or both. In order to give all parties an opportunity to present their views, it may be necessary to request that each participant limit oral presentations to five minutes. Individuals wishing to participate by teleconference may go to either the KDA Garden City Field Office or the KDA Stafford Field Office on the date and time of the public hearing.
Any individual with a disability may request accommodation to participate in the public hearing and may request a copy of the quarantine in an accessible format. Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least five days prior to the hearing. For more information, including special accommodations or a copy of the regulations or their economic impact statement, please contact Ronda Hutton at [email protected] or 785-564-6715.
MARSHALL: Doctor’s Note Oct. 7
Friends,
President Trump delivered on his promise to America’s farmers and to rural America. Building off of the year-round E-15 rule President Trump announced earlier this year, a new agreement between the USDA and EPA will not only work to expand renewable fuel volumes but bring transparency to the RINs process.
Under an agreement announced by the USDA and EPA, the two agencies will work together to expand biofuel requirements, including seeking comments on actions to ensure that more than 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol be blended into the nation’s fuel supply beginning in 2020. The agencies will also confirm volume obligation for biomass-based diesel is met, including accounting for relief expected to be provided for small refineries.
Additionally, the EPA will continue to evaluate options for RIN market transparency and reform. And the USDA will look for opportunities to consider infrastructure projects to facilitate higher biofuel blends.
The renewable fuel industry is not only good for producers and consumers but good for Rural America and our environment. I applaud the work of President Trump and his administration to remove burdensome red tape and uphold the RFS.
Medicare Open Enrollment Tele-Town Hall Opportunities
It’s time to get ready for Medicare open enrollment. From October 15 to December 7, America’s seniors will have the opportunity to find a plan that best suits their needs. During this period, I will host three tele-town halls to connect seniors in the Big First with regional experts from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide a general overview of 2020 options and answer questions.
Tele-Town Hall Dates: (conference call information to follow)
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- Wednesday, October 23, 2019 – 2:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 13, 2019 – 10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, December 4, 2019 – 6:00 p.m.
For those that want to preview and compare 2020 health and drug plans, Click Here to get started with the newly updated Medicare Plan Finder.
NBAF Director Named
The United States Department of Agriculture announced the hiring of Dr. Alfonso Clavijo as the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility’s first permanent director. Dr. Clavijo brings international experience in animal research and diagnostic work that will help the new, state-of-the-art facility achieve its goal of protecting U.S. agriculture and consumers through cutting-edge research and the development of vaccines and countermeasures.
Since taking office, I have been a champion of the NBAF facility in Manhattan, doing my part to ensure it has the resources needed to meet its mission of protecting animal health. Congratulations to Dr. Clavijo, and if you would like more information on the appointment, Click Here.
National Manufacturing Day
Kansas is home to over 2,500 manufacturing companies, from Fuller Brush in Great Bend to AGCO in Beloit. These companies play an important role in growing local economies, contributing over $25 billion to the state economy annually.
Kansas manufacturers are constantly innovating, helping to maintain U.S. global leadership in the industry. I’m proud of all of the great manufacturing companies in Kansas and am happy to honor them.
Rural and Independent Innovators Conference
The Kansas Small Business Development Center will be hosting one of their Rural & Independent Innovators Conferences (RIIC) at Fort Hays University on October 15th. These conferences are modeled around supporting Kansan entrepreneurs and innovators with information and education, with the goal of fostering connections and business opportunities.
Executive Director of Grow Hays, Doug Williams, will be the keynote speaker at this upcoming RIIC and will be speaking on “Growth Through Innovation.” There will also be presentations on business growth, market access, and raising capital. This is a great opportunity to network and learn, and I hope many of you have a chance to attend. Additional information, along with registration details, can be found on their website Here.
Department of Labor Fighting for Workers
U.S. Department of Labor recently announced an update to its rules related to overtime pay eligibility under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
This rule gives hard-working American employees a much-needed opportunity to earn overtime pay. President Trump and his administration recognize the changing workforce climate and worked hard to deliver a rule that will deliver more income and prosperity for American workers.
The current rule was issued in 2004, and set the standard qualified salary level at $455 per week, or around $23,600 annually. Starting in 2020, that threshold will be raised to around $35,000 annually, which means that an additional 1.3 million American workers will now be eligible for overtime pay.
President’s Award for Distinguished Public Service
I was named the recipient of the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 2019 President’s Award for Distinguished Public Service.
ACC, which represents over 52,000 cardiovascular health care professionals across the US, recognized my efforts to advance legislation to streamline prior authorization in the Medicare Advantage program, advise the Trump Administration on various quality and access issues, and to address surprise billing. Having worked as a doctor for 25 years before coming to Congress, it has long been a goal of mine to advocate for policy issues that would best serve patients.
I will be honored to receive this award in person at ACC’s legislative conference next month.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Fall exhibit opens Friday at DCC
RUSSELL – From 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, October 11 the Deines Cultural Center in Russell will be hosting an opening reception for our Fall Exhibition.
Come see art from local and regional artists working in photography, ceramics, and painting:
- Mike Frost, Andrea Moreland, and Evelyn Moreland of Russell
- Petr Grigorev and Stephanie Keller of Dodge City
The Deines is located at 820 N. Main Street in Russell. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Call 785-483-3742 for information.
Run/Walk to Help Children Talk
Join us October 19 for the 7th annual Run/Walk to Help Children Talk charity event.
This event will be held at the Fort Hays State University quad outside of the Memorial Union.
Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. with the races beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Prices for early-bird registration are $15.00 for FHSU students, $20.00 for adults, and $10.00 for children. Add $5.00 for registration after October 4, 2019.
Proceeds from the 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun walk will provide client scholarships to children in need of speech/language services and support the purchase of clinic materials for the FHSU Herndon Clinic.
The Run/Walk event is sponsored by the Salina Valley Scottish Rite Masons and the FHSU National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
For event information and registration, please visit our website www.fhsu.edu/runwalk.
City manager: ‘Quivira water impairment claim should have little effect on R9’
KDA
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources (KDA-DWR) will host two public meetings on Monday, October 21, 2019, to share information related to upcoming action responding to the impairment complaint by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.
Water rights owners in the area were sent notice this week of the KDA-DWR plan to regulate water rights. The meetings will review the anticipated regulation and the ongoing work with local stakeholders to develop a Water Conservation Area (WCA) that will provide flexibility in use for those regulated water rights.
Groundwater Management District 5 and the R9 Ranch in Edwards County (owned by the cities of Hays and Russell as a long-term water supply) are included in Zone A.
According to Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, “only a small portion (few acres) of the R9 is in the Rattlesnake basin. Whatever the result of the Quivira impairment claim, it should have little, if any, effect on the R9.”
All area residents are welcome to attend one of the two meetings. KDA also plans to livestream the presentations and archive them on their website.
The public meetings will take place at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Stafford County Courthouse Annex, 210 E. 3rd Ave. in St. John. Both meetings will include the same information.
More information related to the impairment complaint and investigation findings, the planned water administration, and plans to develop a WCA to provide flexibility can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/Quivira. Questions can also be addressed by calling KDA–DWR’s Stafford Field Office at 620-234-5311.
Ellis Co. restaurant and lodging inspections, 9/30 – 10/06
Last week’s inspection results from the Kansas Department of Agriculture:
Washington Elementary 8100 E. 13th St., Hays – Oct. 3
A routine inspection found one violation.
- On the floor mixer arm, there was dried food residue present. The mixing bowl was being stored directly underneath the arm.
Indigo by Jasmine 111 8th St., Hays – Oct. 1
A routine inspection found one violation.
- In the GE single-door refrigerator, there was an opened container of Silk Milk that did not have a date of when it was opened.
Walmart 4301 Vine, Hays – Oct. 1
A follow-up inspection to an administrative order found three violations.
- In the self-service meat department, there were eight containers of a raw plant-based burger that was being stored directly under six sealed containers of raw ground beef. No evidence of leaking was observed.
- In the self-service reach-in cooler, there were six containers of uncured raw turkey bacon that were being stored directly next to six containers of raw pork bacon. No evidence of leaking was observed.
- In the deli sliding door cooler, there was a container of cooked ham that had an expiration date of 9/30/19.
Hays Middle School 29th St. and Fort, Hays – Sept. 30
A follow-up inspection found no violations.
Super 8 Hotel 3730 Vine, Hays – Sept. 30
A routine inspection found no violations.
Woodrow Wilson Elementary 101 E. 28th St., Hays – Sept. 30
A routine inspection found one violation.
- In the Hobart three-door refrigerator, there was a container of opened milk with no date of when it was opened.
Healing Hearts meeting Oct. 10
Raymond Torvie Parrott
Raymond Torvie Parrott, 80, a longtime resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, died September 12, 2019 at the Nathan Adelson Hospice after a prolonged illness.
He was born December 5, 1938 in Cleburne County, Arkansas in a log cabin to Jake O. and Jessie Pearl (Tidwell) Parrott. He married the love of his life, Joyce Halling, December 29, 1962 in Hanston, Kansas.
Ray or Torvie as many knew him, served proudly in the Navy and then went to college. He attended Dodge City Community College and Wichita State University. He received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Saint Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas in 1971. He then completed a Master of Science degree in Education in 1975 at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. He taught in many schools across Western Kansas and influenced countless lives as a teacher, coach, mentor, principal and superintendent. In 1989, he retired from school administration and relocated the family remaining at home to Las Vegas. He embarked on a second career as a croupier. (Look it up!) He really enjoyed interfacing with the public and sharing his particular brand of humor at the table.
He loved his family and friends, sharing his love of his second home, Las Vegas, with all who came to visit. He also loved going to movies and the many restaurants available around town. As his health declined, he found a way to stay connected through Facebook, sharing his love of old country music, playing games and making friends with people all around the world. He had a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh when he got really tickled about something.
Ray is survived by his wife of 56+ years, Joyce of Las Vegas; daughter Monica Scrudder of Gig Harbor, Washington; son Greg (Stefanie) of LaCrosse, Kansas; son Scott of Las Vegas; son Richard (Eva) of Hays, Kansas; daughter Jennifer York (Daren) of Scott City, Kansas; daughter Myrna of Las Vegas; 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; sisters Wanda Abernathy (Robert) of Hutchinson, Kansas; Linda Rehmert of Eufala, Oklahoma; Brenda West of Corinth, Mississippi; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jake O. and Jessie Pearl Parrott; his brother Andrew; a half-sister Opal Woodam; granddaughter Alexa Leigh Whalen; daughter Janelle Parrott Whalen; and son Michael Brett.
Remembrances can be sent to Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery, 7600 S. Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89123.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 10:30am at Christ the King Catholic Community, 4925 S. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118. Interment will be Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 1:00pm at Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery, 7600 S. Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89123.