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Month: November 2019
SPONSORED: California Dried Fruits & Nuts sale on the way
California Dried Fruits & Nuts will be on sale Nov. 8 and 9 at Whiskey Creek Banquet Room, 3203 Vine, Hays. Selling hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Mud on the boots
This time of year, when the eight-letter word “football” fills many people’s thoughts, our thoughts as hunters and trappers should dwell on another eight-letter word, “scouting.” Here in the farm country of the Midwest, game movement patterns often change from year to year and even from season to season because of annual crop rotation, weather extremes and habitat changes, among other things. Although many good hunting and trapping hotspots produce game and fur year after year, many do not because of these factors.
Annual crop rotations play a huge part in the daily lives of wildlife. Where we used to hunt deer in southern Meade County, the terrain is rather bleak and the main crop by far is wheat. There’s always some hay around for deer to eat, but the tender green wheat is their mainstay. Any changes in wheat field locations from year to year mean certain changes in deer patterns and often in their home ranges. Here around McPherson County, annual crop changes don’t have such a drastic effect because there’s always an edible field crop of some sort near a deer’s chosen home range. Crop changes here effect wildlife movement most of all. For instance, tall crops like corn and silage offer excellent cover for deer and coyotes as they travel. Movement or harvest of those crops probably won’t change where these animals hunt, feed and bed, but it will often change the way they travel to get there.
Weather extremes, namely droughts and floods change wildlife patterns dramatically. Floods have a very temporary effect as they dictate where wildlife can and cannot travel, feed, hunt and bed during those times of high water. When the waters recede, life soon goes on again as usual. Drought on the other hand can have a long-lasting effect on wildlife patterns as they are often forced to relocate nearer to the few sources of water.
Habitat changes probably have the most effect on wildlife patterns. Removing overgrown tree and fence rows, bulldozing old orchards, tearing down and cleaning up old buildings in overgrown woodlots and even new construction such as building a new home on a previously empty and overgrown lot all destroy travel ways and hunting areas of local wildlife.
So, what to do? It’s called “mud on the boots!” Physically getting out into the areas you plan to hunt and trap before season is the only way to compensate for man and natures changes. Trail cameras are a good way to do that’ especially for deer. Hanging it near a trail will soon show you if the trail is used, by what and how often. Another good way is scouring the area for tracks. Be it deer, raccoons or coyotes every creature has four feet and wherever you find tracks you can bet the animal belonging to those four paws was mighty close! Last week I drove into and walked some new property I have permission to trap. I was becoming disappointed at the few coyote tracks I saw…until I crossed over a brushy overgrown lane into another field and suddenly found more coyote tracks than I’d ever hoped to see. I had walked that field this summer and found nothing, proving my point about seasonal wildlife patterns.
Even in this age of digital trail cameras and GPS technology the best and most reliable scouting tool available to the hunter and trapper is still the farmer and land owner. If you have permission to harvest game on their land, they are usually more than happy to talk with you about where and when they see that game, especially deer and coyotes, and no one knows that better than the farmers.
Just like we have to find new ways to travel around construction projects, or choose a new place to shop when our favorite grocery store is closed, so wildlife must adapt to the ever-changing world in which they live. So, to remain successful harvesters of that wildlife, we must occasionally get “some mud on our boots” and adapt our harvesting strategies to their changes…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Three-day weather outlook
Grow Hays accepting applications for board positions
Grow Hays is accepting candidate applications for board of director positions that will open in 2020. There will be three open positions the board will fill.
Prospective candidates must be willing to serve a three-year term. The Grow Hays Board meets a minimum of once a month, on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. Board members are occasionally asked to serve on additional committees, which meet as required.
Grow Hays is a nonprofit organization aimed at advancing the economic health and vitality of Ellis County. Long known for its efforts to promote a robust economy through business creation, retention, expansion, and recruitment, Grow Hays continues to develop and maintain strong relationships with local, state, and federal organizations in an effort to bring resources and support to businesses located in the community.
If you have any questions regarding the expectations if they are elected to the board, or the nature of the work required of Grow Hays Board member, call Doug Williams or Ernee Sly at (785) 628-3102.
Candidate applications are available at www.GrowHays.com or at BriefSpace, 219 West 10th. Deadline to apply is noon Nov. 15.
Bridge replacement over Cedar Creek planned in Smith County
KDOT
The Kansas Department of Transportation this week expects to begin a bridge replacement project along K-9 in Smith County.
Crews will be replacing the bridge over Cedar Creek located approximately one mile east of Cedar. Work this winter will consist of constructing a temporary bridge and shoofly detour in preparation for the bridge replacement work to take place next spring. The project is expected to be completed by November 2020, weather permitting.
L&M Contractors is the primary contractor with a total project cost of approximately $2.5 million. For more information, contact Phillipsburg area construction engineer Jim Riener at 785-543-2163 or [email protected].
Police complete another successful sex trafficking sting in Wichita
SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating 16 more suspects on sex related charges after weekend arrests.
On Friday evening, police from the Wichita Police Vice Section, the Patrol South and Patrol West Community Response Teams and the Broadway Corridor Team worked together during a sex trafficking sting along the Broadway Corridor, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Police arrested 16 men including Melvin Teufel, Xong Vo, Terry Powers, Koby Konecne, Jamie De La Torre, Dagoberto Aguilar-Ramos, Michael Briggs, Shawn Craven, Christian Dunn, Vondell Kelly, Koby Konecne, Gerano Marin-Hernandez, Juan Martinez, Nabil Nikoula, Mark Rodriguez, Mario Sanchez and Raylon Snovelle on sex related charges. They also arrested one other man for an outstanding warrant, according to Davidson.
This the 18th sex trafficking sting in Wichita this year resulting in 154 arrests including 27 women, according to Davidson.
Police reminded that those who come to the Broadway Corridor for this activity will be arrested.
Kansas to vote on ending census adjustment for redistricting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas voters are deciding whether to end the state’s unusual policy of using its own numbers in addition to federal census data to redraw boundaries of state legislative districts.
The ballot in Tuesday’s election includes a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution to eliminate a requirement for the state to adjust federal census figures when the Legislature redistricts itself.
The adjustment counts college students and military personnel not where they’re living but in a “permanent” home elsewhere. That’s outside Kansas for thousands of people and the practice has cost university towns some political clout.
Secretary of State Scott Schwab argues that the policy is outdated and says the next adjustment for 2022 would cost $835,000.
Kansas is among only a few states that adjust federal census figures for redistricting.
Toddler’s killer gets 13 more years for stabbing Kan. prison guard
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man serving a life sentence for killing a toddler has been sentenced to 13 ½ more years in prison for stabbing a guard at least three times in the abdomen with a shank.
34-year-old Mark Anthony Baker was sentenced to the extra time Friday for the Dec. 6, 2018, attack at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Prosecutors say it happened after the officer denied Baker’s request to talk to a counselor. Records indicate that the officer spent one night in the hospital.
Baker previously was sentenced to life for the March 2011 killing his then-girlfriend’s 19-month-old son, Zane Pennington. A forensic pathologist testified that Zane suffered from severe head trauma and abdominal injuries.
In the plea, an aggravated criminal sodomy charge was dismissed.
‘A Range of Realities’ presented by FHSU Science Café
Deanna R. Dewey
Deanna R. Dewey, born Dec. 2, 1943, died Sun., Nov. 3, 2019 in Colby, Kansas.
Services are pending.
Arrangements are with Baalmann Mortuary, 190 S. Franklin Ave., Colby, Kansas, 67701.
David “Dave” Gallagher
David Lee Gallagher, age 66, passed away on November 4, 2019, at his home in Oakley, KS with his family by his side, after his bout with pancreatic cancer. Dave was welcomed in to this world on December 6, 1952, in Wichita, KS. Dave was one of six children of Frank and Joyce Gallagher.
Dave grew up in Hoxie and spent his days hunting, fishing, and had an abundant love for cars. He expended a lot of time with his adored maternal grandparents, Loyal and Elsie Jacob. He was active in sports and had many friends through school. In 1970, Dave graduated from Hoxie High School and attended Goodland Vo-Tech specializing in auto body repair.
The newly high school graduate, Rosemary Vahling, caught Dave’s attention while in passing in Lenora, KS, and they were wed in St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Almelo, KS on December 2, 1972.
Dave and Rosie made their home in Lenora, then Garden City where Dave worked at local auto body shops. They were happy to move closer to home, returning to Hoxie in 1973 and continuing work in auto body repair.
During their marriage, they bore a son, Christopher Lee [1977], and daughter, Sonya Kay [1980]. The family loved Hoxie and having family close, however, they chose to relocate to Oakley in 1990 where Dave’s Body Shop flourished. Dave became the proud ‘PaPa’ to his three adorned grandchildren.
Dave surpassed many in trap shooting across Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado and family loved to watch. He made many memories with his family, taking his restored ‘hot rods’ to cars shows across the tri-states. The family loved camping, fishing, boating, and hunting and still share stories of their adventures. Dave had the opportunity to hunt in Alaska, go to Canada fishing, take a buffalo south of Oakley, elk hunt in Colorado, and years of hunting and fishing locally. Dave enjoyed nature and the outdoors and was a lifelong archery hunter. He enjoyed the challenge and thrill of archery turkey hunting – his favorite. He and Rosie loved to golf as they traveled to many courses to golf together and with friends. Dave & Rosie also loved to go dancing with a group of good friends. Their favorite destination was Hawaii.
Dave was a man of many talents. He was a generous, honest, hardworking man, and volunteered in his community. He built his business on a handshake and good word. He is proud the name carried on after retirement in 2014 and sale to his longtime employee, Mike Chrisler.
Dave was a member of Pheasants Forever, National Rifle Association, Oakley Trap Club, Oakley Chamber of Commerce, and Oakley Country Club. He served as Master Hunter Education Instructor for many years and loved to hear successful stories from now adults that he mentored at a young age.
Dave’s surviving family includes his wife Rosie Gallagher; two children, Chris Gallagher, and Sonya (Robert) Cooksey, all of Oakley, KS; three grandchildren, Preslee, Karver, and Jentry; his mother and father, Frank and Joyce (Jacob) Gallagher; three sisters, Leanna (Tom) Sloan, Ladonna (Mark) Joslyn, and Mary (Alex) Dumler, all of Hoxie. His surviving in-laws are Florence Vahling, Hoxie, KS, Laura (Joe) Dorenkamp, Selden, KS, Jim (Christine) Vahling, Mesa, AZ, Marcia (Russ) Aumiller, New Almelo, KS, Paul (Donna) Vahling, Denver, CO, Estella (Phil) Kirkham, Sharon Springs, KS, George Vahling, Plainville, KS, and Annette (Clint) Follis, Hoxie, KS, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Stan Gallagher and Maryln Rogers; brother-in-law, William ‘Bill’ Vahling, and father-in-law, Henry Vahling.
There will be a visitation for Dave’s family and friends on Thursday November 7, 2019 at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center in Oakley from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Funeral services for Dave will follow, starting at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services will be at St. Frances Cemetery, just west of Hoxie at 4:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Oakley 4-H Shooting Sports or Logan County Physical Therapy and Wellness Center, send to David Gallagher, PO Box 244, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.
Kensington celebrates 100 years of honoring veterans
Fred Marran American Legion Post #166, 114 S. Main St., Kensington, the Sals, and the Kensington community invite you to their 100th celebration of honoring all military veterans at 11 a.m. Nov. 9, 2019.
Enjoy the free beef and beans after one of the largest parades in Kansas.
The speaker and parade participant is retired Master Sgt. Marti Mace, American military bagpiper. Mace devotes her time to playing her bagpipes to honor living and deceased veterans. Last June she was invited to play on Omaha Beach honoring the 75th anniversary of D-Day.