The Ellis County Commission will hold a special work session meeting Tuesday to review a number of personnel items.
Among the items on Tuesday’s agenda are the salaries of elected officials, employee insurance and the possibility of contracting out some county services.
The meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. at the Schenk Building at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.
You can find the agenda HERE.
Jerry Lee Brand, age 78, of Quinter, Kansas, passed away on September 27, 2019, at Hays Medical Center, Hays. Jerry was born September 23, 1941, in Lexington, Nebraska, to Walter and Ruth (Wheeler) Brand. Jerry graduated from Lexington High School.
Jerry was united in marriage to Karen Lunz on May 26, 1968, and they were married for 51 years. Jerry and Karen met while both working at Waldbaum’s egg factory. Jerry proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army. Following his military service, he spent several years working on different farms, and 32 years as a production worker for Swift Bullet in Quinter. In his free time, Jerry was an avid fisherman who enjoyed gardening, playing with his dog, helping his neighbors and mowing lawns. He also enjoyed reading the Hays Daily News, Gove County Advocate, National Geographic, and Readers Digest. Jerry also enjoyed watching National Geographic, in addition to watching the Kansas City Chiefs and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Jerry was actively involved with the Church of the Brethren.
Jerry is survived by his beloved wife Karen; his son Robert (Peggy) Brand of Imogene, IA; his daughter Patty Knoll of Great Bend, KS; Grandson Lochlan Jerry Brand of Imogene, IA; Brothers Dean (Pam) Brand of Lexington, NE and DeWayne (Beth) Brand of Kearney, NE; Sisters Bonnie (Rich) Suhr of Pender, NE and June (Jeff) Walker of Lexington, NE.
Jerry was preceded in death by both parents, Walter and Ruth Brand; and daughter-in-law Jessica Knoll.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2019, at the Church of the Brethren in Quinter, KS. Pastor Keith Funk will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter.
Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5 pm to 7 pm at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jerry Brand Memorial Fund. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S Main St. Quinter, KS 67752.
Keith Leroy Roush passed away Sunday, September 29, 2019 at his home in Wilson, Kansas at the age of 79.
He was born on October 21, 1939 to Harvey Lee Roush, Sr. and Elma Marie (Killian) Roush in Lincoln, Kansas. Keith was a graduate of Vesper High School. He was united in marriage to Rose Mary Ahlquist on June 24, 1961 in Sylvan Grove, Kansas. They were blessed with three children: Rob, Barbara, and Beverly.
Keith was a carpenter and a school bus driver for USD 112. He was a member of the Lions Club in Wilson. Keith enjoyed collecting rocks, camping, and bingo; but what he really loved was fishing, especially ice fishing, and spending time with his grandkids.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Rose Roush of Wilson; son, Rob Roush and wife Carol of Lincoln, NE; daughters, Barbara Evans and husband David of Ottawa, KS and Beverly Vopat and husband Valan of Ellsworth, KS; brother, Harvey “Butch” Roush Jr. of Vesper, KS; sisters, Betty Zelenka of Minneapolis, KS and Jeanette Feldkamp of Vesper, KS; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Keith is preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Elma; and sister, Helen Stephens.
Keith was a hardworking, loving, and dedicated family man. He loved what he did and did what he loved. Although he will be greatly missed, his life, his love, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.
Funeral Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Wilson on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 10:00AM. Visitation will be held on Wednesday at the funeral home from 1:00PM until 8:00PM with the family receiving friends from 6:00PM until 8:00PM. Visitation will also be held on Thursday at the church from 9:00AM until service time.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Ellsworth County Cancer Fund, and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, PO Box 533, Wilson, KS 67490. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com
Waltraud “Susie” Butler, age 77 of Plainville, passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center, in Hays, Kansas. Susie was born to Friedrich and Adelheid (Jockschat) Stuttfeld in Essen, Germany on March 19, 1942. She attended school in Germany and graduated from high school before moving to Zurich in 1968 and later making her permanent home in Plainville in 1977. She married and later divorced Richard Butler. They had two children: Jutta and Dick.
Susie worked as a CNA for the Plainville Hospital for over 30 years and retired in 2007. She enjoyed spending her time with friends, cross stitching, and reading her bible. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Stockton. Her faith and family were her priorities; she loved spending time with her family, especially the grandchildren.
Susie is survived by her children, Jutta Smee and husband Gary Handler of Liberty, MO and Dick Butler and wife Christina of Plainville; grandchildren, T.J. and Dyson Butler, Caden Hunt, Stephen Smee, Johnathan Smee, and Stephanie Crawford; great-grandchildren, Chalel, Jaithyn, and Zahya Crawford, and Eleanor Louise Smee.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Friedrich and Adelheid Stuttfeld; and brothers, Gustauv and Fritz Stuttfeld.
Susie was a woman of deep love and devotion. Her faith in God was not only a constant source of strength for herself, but also for her family and friends. Although she has now gone home to be with her Lord, her memories and kind and caring ways will live on in our hearts for all eternity.
A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church of Plainville on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 10:30 AM. Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to Susie Butler designated for a memorial bench in Plainville’s City Park and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St, Plainville, KS 67663.
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a weekend arrest.
Just after 4p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the Super 8 Motel, 911 Grant Street in Great Bend in reference to a suspicious subject on the property, according to a media release.
Upon Officers arrival, they made contact with the subject later identified as 35-year-old Leroy Bowers inside the business. He initially provided officers with a false name. Officers were able to identify Bowers, who was wanted on five warrants. Bowers was placed under arrest, and found to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Bowers was transported to the Barton County Jail, where he was booked and confined on his five warrants, along with his new charges.
He has previous convictions for burglary, theft and obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He had been out of prison since December 2017.
Patricia Claire “Pat” (Hoffnagle) Berry, daughter of Clair and Marie (Kaiser) Hoffnagle, was born September 29, 1930, in Denver, Colorado, and passed away at the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Hays, Kansas, on September 28, 2019, at the age of 88.
Pat grew up in Denver and graduated from East High School with the class of 1948. She joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 and served at the U. S. Naval Station, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, until honorably discharged upon her marriage. On July 15, 1954, she and Delbert “Red” Berry were united in marriage in Denver, Colorado, and made their home in California until Delbert completed his service in the Navy. In 1955, they moved to Kansas where Delbert farmed with his father, and they lived on Bow Creek in Graham County for a short time before relocating to Lenora. After retirement, they moved to Norton.
Pat was an active member, Past Worthy Matron, and Past Worthy Grand Matron of The Grand Chapter of Kansas (1991-1992), of the Order of the Eastern Star. She served the Lenora community as a Brownie Scout Leader, a 4-H Community Leader, a member of the Lenora Library Board, a member of the Northwest Kansas Circulating Library Board, and a member of the Harmonson-Redd American Legion Post #63. A member of the Episcopal Church from her young adulthood, Pat was also active in the United Parish in Lenora for many years.
Pat worked as the Lenora High School secretary in the 1970s and 1980s, until choosing to devote more time to the travel required by her responsibilities to The Grand Chapter of Kansas. In retirement, she and Delbert traveled in the United States and internationally; and wintered in Arizona near her niece’s and nephew’s families for many years. Pat dearly enjoyed time spent with family and many friends.
Survivors include: daughter, Dawn Berry, Hays, Kansas; nieces and nephews Thea and Bob Cable, San Tan Valley, Arizona; Ron and Arlene “Skip” Ancker, Mesa, Arizona; Steve and Joni Berry, Lenora, Kansas; Janet and David Oswalt, Lenexa, Kansas, Elizabeth and David Epperson, Minnetonka, Minnesota; John and Annette Berry, Los Angeles, California; sister-in-law Ann Berry, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 18 grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, sister Vivian, and husband Delbert.
FUNERAL SERVICE – Friday, October 4, 2019 – 10:30 A.M.
PLACE – Lenora United Parish Church – Lenora, Kansas
VISITATION – Thursday, October 3, 2019 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Enfield Funeral Home in Norton.
INTERMENT – Lenora South Cemetery – Lenora, Kansas
Memorials are suggested to The Alzheimer’s Association; Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer; and The Grand Chapter of Kansas, Order of the Eastern Star, OES Scholarships.
UPDATE 2 p.m. Monday
INDEPENDENCE — Police reported just after 1 p.m. Monday that a cougar on the loose after escaping from the zoo has been captured. According to a social media media report from the Independence Police Department, the animal is safely back in its enclosure.
Authorities have not released details on the escape or where the animal was found. There have been no injuries reported.
—————-
INDEPENDENCE (AP) — Officials at a southeast Kansas zoo say a cougar is on the loose after escaping from the zoo.
The cougar escaped Monday morning from Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence.
The zoo said in a news release that park officials and police officers are searching for the animal. They urged citizens to be cautious and not approach the cougar if they see it.
Details on how the cougar escaped have not been released.
Independence is about 113 miles southeast of Wichita.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has opened a review of options for expanding Medicaid in Kansas with warnings against work requirements and a limited expansion.
Kelly gave opening remarks Monday at the first meeting of a council she appointed to provide the Republican-controlled Legislature with policy guidance ahead of next year’s expected debate on the issue.
Kelly said she wants the council to develop “guiding principles” for lawmakers. She described work requirements and a limited Medicaid expansion as ideas that haven’t worked well in other states.
The governor took office in January pushing to expand the state’s Medicaid health coverage for as many as 150,000 additional residents. An expansion plan passed the House, but conservative GOP leaders blocked it in the Senate, expressing concerns about its potential costs to the s
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a child and have made two arrests.
Just after 11a.m. Sunday, police responded to a residence in the 1100 Block of Munnell in Wichita where a two-year-old boy was not breathing, according to Captain Brent Allred. Despite efforts by police, fire and EMS crews, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators found the child had extensive bruising all over his body. This led to the arrest of the boy’s mother Stephanie Avilas, 24, for alleged aggravated child endangerment and her boyfriend Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia, 31, Wichita for alleged child abuse, according to Allred.
The mother had called 911. She was on an errand and not home at the time and the boyfriend had contacted her about the child not breathing. Gonzalez-Mejia and the 2-year-old were home alone at the time of the incident.
An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. That will determine if additional charges will be filed, according to Allred. He did not release the boys’s name.
Two other children in the home a 6-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl are in police protective custody, according to Allred.
There was one report from the Department of Children’s Familes in 2015 on the family. It did not involve abuse, according to Allred.
Harriet B. Wittig, age 88, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2019 at her home in Leoti, Kansas. Harriet was born June 20, 1931 in Jerome, Kansas, the daughter of William John & Edith Mae (Garner) McLean. A resident of Leoti since 1976 moving from Oklahoma, she was a homemaker and custodian for Wichita County School System.
Harriet was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Scott City, Kansas
In the 1950’s she married Freddie Hammons. On May 30, 1978 she married Virgil Wittig at Larned, Kansas. Virgil passed away on September 7, 2017 in Tribune, Kansas
Harriet’s surviving family include her Seven children – Marvin Hammons of Alderson, Oklahoma, Gary Hammons of Garden City, Kansas, Margaret Hammons of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, Sharon Paxman of Tribune, Kansas, Donnie Hammons of Blytheville, Arkansas, Dell Hammons of Pennsylvania, Keith Hammons of Carnegie, Oklahoma, Two step children – Tammy Banta of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, Connie Stiles of Altoona, Kansas, One sister – Eunice Maurer of Chino, California, Thirty-three grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and friends.
Funeral services will beheld at 11:00 am Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas with Pastor Warren Prochnow officiating.
Burial will be in Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas
Friends may call from1:00 pm until 5:00 pm Wednesday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.
Memorials may be given to the Wichita County Library in care of the funeral home.
Jerry Lee Millard, 69, of WaKeeney, Kansas passed away on September 22. Jerry was born January 24, 1950 to Jack and LaVanche Millard. Jerry was a graduate of Trego Community High School. He is survived in death by his son Jeremy and his wife Ashley and their son Hunter; daughter Megan (Mowery) and her husband Jason and their children Jessica, Kiera, Brylee, Taryn and Lucas; and niece Tara and husband John and great niece Oasis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cathy, his parents Jack and LaVanche, and brother Monty.
Jerry served in the Navy from 1969-72. He was stationed in Bermuda, Nantucket and Greenland, and attended Colby Community College after his discharge. Jerry joined his father in running the Western Kansas World in 1973. The newspaper in every sense of the word was his life. He worked in varying capacities as Editor and co-owner/President of the business until it sold in 2017. Jerry also served on the Board of Directors for First Federal Savings and Loan for several decades until the merger with Lyons Federal.
Jerry was a caring husband, father, and grandfather. His friends often mentioned how often and how fondly he spoke of his children, how proud he was of both Jeremy and Megan, and the love he had for Cathy. After Cathy passed Jerry spent time traveling, visiting friends, and tinkering on the farm. Jerry loved the outdoors, fishing, cooking, creating stained glass and wood working. He also spent many hours enjoying his pond. After retirement, his greatest joy was doting over his grandchildren, especially when they played at his pond. He enjoyed feeding them dessert before and after dinner, and exploring the farm with them. He would always go outside his comfort zone with them, whether it was dancing, searching for farm kittens, smiling about little handprints on the mirror, or scooping them up when his body really didn’t want to, he enjoyed every moment with his grandkids.
Jerry will be missed. He had a profound impact on so many folks over the years.
A memorial visitation will be October 1, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in WaKeeney. The family will hold a private graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Donations made to the hospital may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Members of the Hays Volga German Society, organizers of the Hays Oktoberfest, have released the full schedule for the newly extended event. The 47th Annual Volga German Oktoberfest will take place Friday, October 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12, in Municipal Park.
The mission of the Hays Oktoberfest is to celebrate the rich German heritage of Ellis County while generating scholarship money for students of Volga German descent and fundraising for area churches in need.
The NCK Tech Drive Thru will again feature German food made by NCK Tech Culinary Arts students. Menu items available for pick up include bierocks, green bean dumpling soup, and spitzbuben cookies. Patrons can order in advance by calling the main office at NCK Tech at 785-625-2437. Food can be picked up on Friday only at the drive-up window at the NCK Tech building directly across from Municipal Park.
Anyone interested in being a vendor at Saturday’s German Market should call the Downtown Hays Development Corporation at 785-621-4171. Vendor forms can be downloaded at www.DowntownHays.com on the Downtown Hays Market page under the Events section.
Gates will open at Municipal Park on Saturday at 10 a.m. with activities starting after the 11 a.m. Fort Hays State University Homecoming Parade ends. New this year, for-profit businesses and organizations will be allowed to set up on this second day, alongside non-profits.
Late registration for Oktoberfest vendors is available through Friday, October 4. Vendors can reserve a spot by calling vendor committee chair Lee Dobratz at 620-803-2258. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.haysoktoberfest.com.
For details and updates on the event, check the group’s website at www.haysoktoberfest.com or the Hays Oktoberfest Facebook page.
