Year: 2019
Mary Joan Sage
Phillipsburg resident Mary Joan Sage passed away Sept. 10, 2019 at the Norton County Hospital in Norton at the age of 89. She was born Feb. 3, 1930 in Cherryvale, KS, the daughter of Frank & Cora Parret.
Survivors include her son S. Scott & wife Candace of Phillipsburg; her daughter, Stephanie Dusin & husband Allen of Phillipsburg; 2 sisters, Nelda Hutsell of Edmond, OK & Barbara DeWitz of Conaway Springs, TX; 6 grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sat. Sept 14 at 10:00 a.m. in the United Methodist Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Blake Stanwood officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or to the Phillips Co. 4-H Foundation.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Thursday & 9:00 to 9:00 Friday at the funeral home.
Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Kan. woman’s toddler consumed enough methadone to kill adult
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Court records say a Wichita toddler who died at a motel had enough methadone in his system to kill an opioid-addicted adult.
The details were included in an affidavit released Tuesday in the case against 23-year-old Kimberly Compass. She’s charged with first-degree murder in the May 31 death of her 2-year-old son, Zayden JayNesahkluah. He is among several children to die in the Wichita area after state welfare officials were contacted with concerns.
The affidavit says police found three empty or mostly empty bottles of methadone that had been prescribed to Compass in an unlocked child’s Avengers pencil box.
Compass told investigators she only had one of the bottles herself. She said she didn’t give Zayden methadone, but fruit punch that she said he drank tested positive for the drug. Methadone is used to treat pain and narcotic drug addiction.
Dr. William A. Huseman
Dr. William A. Huseman, age 67, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2019, at his home in El Dorado Springs, Missouri.
He was born on February 8, 1952 in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Arthur A. and Catherine E. Janssen Husemen. Bill became a resident of Scott City, Kansas in 1978 pursuing a career of farming and ranching. He carried his passion of conservation and land preservation for over 50 years. In 2000, he moved to El Dorado Springs, Missouri, continuing his love for land and cattle.
After graduating from high school in Scott City, he attended Kansas State University earning his degree in Veterinary Medicine. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Scott City, Kansas, American Veterinary Medical Association, Kansas Livestock Association and the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.
Survivors include his Two Sisters – Cheryl & Leon France of Scott City, Kansas, Joann & Jerry Riemann of Dighton, Kansas, Five Nephews and Nieces – Kim & Mark Sorensen of Garden City, Kansas, Chanelle & Corey Stephens of Dighton, Kansas, Tracy France of Kansas City, Kansas, Clint & Amy France of Marienthal, Kansas, Heath & Tara France of Hays, Kansas. He was also loved and adored by many Great Nieces & Nephews
He was preceded in death by his Parents, Aunt – Velma Huseman and Two Nephews – Justin Martin and Dallas Martin.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 13, 2019 at the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas with Rev. Rodney Hopper presiding.
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.
Memorials can be made out to the Dr. William Huseman Scholarship Fund or First Christian Church in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
Mark Reif
Mark Reif, age 56 of Plainville, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2019 at his home in Plainville.
Mark was born on August 21, 1963, in Great Bend, Kansas to Charles and Lucille (Pierce) Reif. Mark spent his life in Rooks County, graduating from Plainville High School with the class of 1981. He furthered his education at Northwestern Kansas Technical College in Beloit before enlisting in the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany for 3 years. After his honorable discharge he returned home to raise a family of four children and later pursued his dreams of owning and operating his ranch and continued to run Reif Welding and Construction.
With a ranch and a welding and construction company, there was always work to be done, but away from work he enjoyed kayaking, shooting guns, traveling, and above all, spending time with this kids and grandkids. Mark was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and belonged to the Knights of Columbus.
Left to cherish Mark’s legacy are his parents, Charles and Lucille Reif of Plainville; children, Vincent (Brittany) Reif of Pittsburg, KS, Patrick Reif of Plainville, Amber Reif of Lawrence, Peony (Kyle) Weber of Palco, and Callee Pfannenstiel of Hays; brothers, Michael (Emily) Reif of Hays, and Marvin Reif of Plainville; sisters, Tabea Reif of Hutchinson, Sarah McWhirter of Dighton, Laura (Kendall) Foss of Plainville, and Donna (Shane) Oaks of Grainfield; and grandchildren, Denali Reif, Keralina Reif, Kelsey Reif, and Kayley Reif.
Mark is preceded in death by his brother-in-law Neil McWhirter.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville on Friday, September 13, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. with burial to follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Plainville. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, September 12, 2019 with family receiving friends 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30 P.M.
Memorials are suggested to the Mark Reif Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St, Plainville, KS 67663.
GM recalls over 3.4M pickups, SUVs to fix brake issues
DETROIT (AP) — Under pressure from the federal government, General Motors is recalling more than 3.4 million big pickup trucks and SUVs in the U.S to fix a brake problem.
The recall covers the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2014 through 2018 model years. Also included are the Cadillac Escalade from 2015 to 2017, and the GMC Yukon and Chevy Suburban and Tahoe from 2015 through 2018.
GM says that as it ages, the pump in the power-assist brakes can put out less vacuum power than needed, increasing stopping distance and the risk of a crash.
The recall comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the problem in November of last year.
Dealers will recalibrate the electronic brake control module at no cost to customers. Owners were to be notified starting Sept. 6.
NHTSA, the government’s road safety agency, began investigating the problem last year after getting 111 complaints from owners of poor brake performance. At the time the agency had nine reports of crashes that had caused two injuries.
GM says the problems occur rarely and mostly at low speeds like driving in parking lots. Even with the problem, the brakes “continue to function and exceed the requirements of the appropriate federal motor vehicle safety standard,” GM spokesman Dan Flores said.
The vacuum pump is lubricated with engine oil that flows through a filter screen. In some of the trucks, oil sludge or other debris can clog the screen, reducing oil flow and causing the pump’s vacuum output to drop, Flores said.
The trucks, he said, have a secondary power brake assist system which works when there are problems with the main system, but it is limited at lower speeds. The reprogramming will activate the secondary system faster.
GM isn’t replacing the pumps because pump failures are rare and already are covered by an extended warranty, Flores said. “This remedy will improve brake performance in any situation where brake vacuum drops,” he said.
The recall comes 10 months after NHTSA opened its investigation. Asked why it took that long to do the recall, Flores said only that the company has been cooperating with NHTSA and providing data.
Drivers could feel a vibration in the brake pedal or a change in pressure required to push the brake pedal if their trucks have the vacuum pump problem. If the problem surfaces, owners will see a message on their dashboard telling them to service the brake assist system, Flores said.
Although the recall is a large number, the cost will not be high enough for GM to report it to the Securities and Exchange commission as an event that will materially affect earnings, Flores said. He said he didn’t know the cost.
KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 9/11/19
Q: What do you get from a pampered cow?
A: Spoiled milk.
Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry
U.S. House candidate from Garden City seeks better future for everyday workers
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Kali Barnett, Democratic candidate for the Kansas 1st District U.S House seat, was in Hays on Tuesday meeting with the Young Democrats and FHSU professors on policy.
Barnett, 34, of Garden City is taking time off from her job as a music teacher to run for the House.
From a third-generation farm family, Barnett said she understands the plight of farmers in the recent trade war.
“It is a really challenging situation we are in,” Barnett said. “I have worked really hard, especially in the last few weeks. I have met with several professors. This afternoon, I am meeting with the ag professor here at Fort Hays State University and working very hard to learn from the experts on ag policy and really have a positive movement for our farmers and support for the future.”
As a teacher, Barnett said she struggled to keep funding for her position as a teacher during the Brownback years.
On the national level in education, she said, “It is really challenging as a teacher to have someone like Betsy DeVos in a leadership position, and it is one of the biggest reasons why I am running.”
Barnett has worked in both public and charter schools, but she said support of charter schools should not come at the expense of public schools.
Barnett stopped short of suggesting a specific fix for health care.
“Health care is a combined issue,” she said. “Health care for me is really taking care of our mind, our body and our soul. We need to make sure we are supporting our mental health care facilities and making sure that our insurances are providing options for people wanting to receive different types of services.
“We need to make sure our insurance system is serving all people — people who have pre-existing positions and emergencies. We need to make sure that our health care facilities remain open, especially here in western Kansas. We cannot allow our hospitals and clinics to not be funded and be closed.”
She continued, “I know even some of my close family use Obamacare as we call it,” she said. “It is not something that we can end today. I do think we can put things in place for the future that would be much more sustainable for working families and much more affordable.”
Growing up in Garden City, Barnett said she learned to appreciate other cultures.
“For me, immigration, the No. 1 thing we need to do right now is love our neighbors,” she said. “We need to make sure we are being inclusive, not exclusive. We are hearing a lot of messages that are making people scared. … It is a lot about embracing the people that we have and the cultures that we have and making sure with immigration policy that we are keeping the United States safe, but it is really making sure that we are taking care of the people who are here.”
Barnett does not have foreign policy experience, but she said she would look to experts to keep the nation safe.
Barnett said she is excited to be bringing a woman’s perceptive to the race. She is the first Democratic woman to file in Kansas’ 1st District. She said she was inspired by Kathryn O’Loughlin, who was elected in 1932 to Congress in what was then western Kansas’ 6th District. O’Loughlin Elementary School in Hays is named for her.
“In a lot of ways, we are already changing the way our Kansas history is written,” she said.
When O’Loughlin was elected, Barnett said Kansas was in a similar political climate. Farmers were frustrated. People were frustrated with the economy.
“It is extremely exciting for me to be in a place with this campaign that as a country we are empowering more women to have a really strong voice. That is what I want to do as a representative is be a voice for our community,” she said. “I want to work really hard to build policy and support policy in Washington, so all of us here in Kansas and across the United States, including teachers and farmers and everyday working members of society like you and me, [can] have a better future.”
KBI investigating homicide in rural Rooks County
ROOKS COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a homicide that occurred near Plainville, according to a news release issued Tuesday afternoon.
The KBI said that the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, and special agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.
The Rooks County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 9:10 a.m. Monday morning when a family member went to 2610 19th Road in rural Rooks County and found 56-year-old Mark E. Reif deceased inside his home. Deputies arrived at the residence around 9:20 a.m. and discovered that Reif had died from gunshot wounds.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office at (785) 425-6312. Callers may remain anonymous.
The investigation is ongoing.
Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The opportunity of change
By JACKIE MUNDT
Pratt County farmer and rancher
Change is in the air. Children have grown over the summer and are starting the new school year a little more grown up. The promise of sunny, brisk days makes many of us excited to breakout hoodies and sweaters. Fall foliage soon will begin to show the colorful signs of a new season, and in coffee shops or local co-ops across the state the conversation has turned to football.
The theme of these conversations has been uncertainty, a mix of nerves and excitement. The legacy and family Kansas State University coach Bill Snyder spent his career building will not be lost overnight. Coach Klieman has a promising record but is unproven in big leagues. What will our team look like under new leadership?
Within my own K-State family, the start of football season had an extra layer of emotion this year. It was the first tailgate without a beloved member of our group. As we gathered in Manhattan, we had plenty of reasons to be optimistic: a fresh season of football, the joy of tailgating and great friends to share in the fun. However, there was the subtle tone of sadness that can be felt when something is missing.
That is the hard part about change; it means you are losing something. Sometimes that loss is big like a loved one or our trusted coach and other times it is smaller like missing the ease of a habit or the annoying feeling that comes from not being able to complete a task in your preferred way. This loss can make us sad, bitter, resentful, heartbroken, mad or hateful.
The other hard thing is, amidst all the negative emotions, understanding that you also gain something with every change.
I experienced my first truly life-altering experience when I was 13. My 16-year-old brother died in a car accident, and it was heartbreaking. Everything in my life changed: relationships with family and friends, appreciation for community and religion, attitude and outlook on life.
Time and maturity have allowed me the perspective to understand how my brother’s death fundamentally altered me. I now know I am strong enough to survive the grief of loss.
That might seem simple, but it is a pivotal paradigm shift. In your greatest moment of grief and fear, if you know you will survive, it totally changes your outlook and actions. You move from, “How can I go on?” to “How will I go on?”
Change always gives us something new. When we make up our minds to embrace the new, opportunities will present themselves. Maybe a new job would make you happier. Changes to a traditional community event could get more people involved. The new football coach is definitely going to bring some great changes to the program. An open and positive mindset makes it easier to get excited about changes.
I no longer fear change because I am always looking for the opportunities it presents. I often find myself asking the big, important questions: What is not working? How can this be better? Where do we go from here?
Sometimes the answers to these questions will fill you with enthusiasm and excitement. Other times they will make your heart sink because change cost you something dear. That’s OK; something good will happen that you don’t know about yet.
Change is inevitable. Change is uncomfortable. Change is good.
“Insight” is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.
NCK Tech welcomes new faculty and staff
NCK Tech
The new school year has brought many new faces to NCK Tech along with the creation of new positions and reorganization of several existing positions.
President Eric Burks outlined the changes prior to school starting in August. New faculty/staff also were introduced.
“NCK Tech has always been student centered,” commented Burks, “But with several resignations and retirements, we had the opportunity to refocus positions to be even more intent on student success.”
Shane Britt has been hired as the new Dean of Student Experience. He will be located on the Beloit campus and will focus on ensuring current and prospective students have a great experience and are engaged while at NCK Tech. Britt is originally from Mankato, KS and holds an AAS from Cloud County Community College, BFA from Emporia State and a Masters in Higher Education/Student Affairs from Fort Hays State University. He has prior higher education experience at both Cloud County Community College (Concordia, KS) and Tarleton State University (TX).
The Dean of Enrollment Management is located on the Hays Campus, but oversees enrollment on both campuses. Tricia Cline has been hired for this new position. Cline has nearly twenty years of experience in higher education and enrollment services, most recently as the Director of Admissions at FHSU. Cline, from Ellis, holds a BS and MLS from Fort Hays State University.
Sandra Towns has joined the staff as an administrative assistant on the Hays campus. She is a graduate of NCK Tech with an AAS in General Business.
Several new faculty members joined NCK Tech this fall. Sam Bailey, a graduate of NCK Tech in Electrical Technology is the new instructor for the first year electrical students. Upon his graduation from NCK Tech, Bailey has accumulated over thirteen years of experience in the electrical field.
Brian Badger is the PHAC instructor for the Hays Campus. Badger is not new to NCK Tech. He previously taught on the Beloit Campus in the same program. Badger holds an AAS from Cloud County Community College and a BS from Pittsburg State University.
A 2019 graduate of NCK Tech has been hired as the PHAC instructional aid. Colter Engelbrecht holds an AAS in Building Construction Technology, which included both the Carpentry and PHAC program.
Keri Maricle has been hired in the General Education Department on the Hays campus teaching health sciences. Marical holds both a BS and MS in biology from FHSU. She previously was the biology instructor at TMP-Hays, serves adjunct faculty for Barton County Community College and instructs elementary science camps at Sternberg Museum.
Silver VanWey is the instructor for CNA/CMA, Hays Campus. VanWey received her LPN from NCK Tech and her RN from Colby Community College. She has worked in the medical field for over 15 years.
Joining the NCK Tech, Hays campus nursing staff is Brenda Orr. She has extensive experience in the field of nursing. Experience includes family practice, hospital setting as floor nurse, outpatient, ER, OR and recovery. Orr served as Director of Nursing for KVC Hospital and has experience in long-term care. Last school year she served as a part-time clinical instructor for NCK Tech before moving to a full-time teaching position this semester. Orr received her RN/ADN, BSN and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN).
On the Beloit campus, Danea Buschkoetter has joined the faculty as a full-time instructor in the Welding program. Buschkoetter received her welding certificate and AAS degree in welding engineering technology from NCK Tech and finished her Bachelors in Applied Technology/Manufacturing from FHSU this past May.
Sara Arnold has joined the nursing staff on the Beloit campus as a full-time instructor. She holds a BS in Life Science from Kansas State University and a BSN from the University of Kansas.
A complete listing of faculty and staff are available on our website along with job opportunities for both campuses. To learn more about NCK Tech check out www.ncktc.edu.
Sheriff identifies man who died from shock at Kansas grain bin
ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — Federal officials are investigating the death of an Indiana man at a northeast Kansas grain processing plant.
Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie says 26-year-old Angel Silas-Deleon, of Logansport, Indiana, died from an electrical shock Friday at the CargillAg plant in the Cummings area.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the death.
Laurie said Silas-Deleon was working on a grain bin with a contractor crew from CCSGroup of Seward, Nebraska. The company said another employee is recovering from injuries suffered by the shock.
That employee’s name and condition were not released Tuesday.
Three-day weather outlook
