2019 – Page 435 – Hays Post Archive

Bethany College president accepts job in Kentucky

Posted on July 1, 2019July 1, 2019

Bethany College President Will Jones is stepping down. *Photo courtesy Bethany College*

LINDSBORG – Will Jones will step down as Bethany College President this summer, Board of Directors Chair Corey Peterson, ’84, announced.

According to Peterson, an interim president will be identified in the coming weeks for the 2019-2020 academic year. Vice President of Academic Affairs Beth Mauch will serve as acting president until then.

“We have accomplished much at Bethany thanks to Will’s leadership, tireless work ethic, and skills. Fortunately, Will is leaving Bethany in a good place. We have had back-to-back record Freshman classes and strong enrollment growth over the past three years. The college is in good standing with the Higher Learning Commission, has an excellent cabinet, faculty and staff in place, and has enjoyed several years of balanced budgets. Looking forward, Bethany has the pieces and plan needed to continue strengthening its financial standing and to successfully carry on its mission,” Peterson said.

“I am deeply saddened to have Will leave, but am thrilled for him and his family to have an opportunity to move back to his home state to serve an excellent college where they will be near their family and friends. I will be forever grateful to Will and Amy and all they did to allow Bethany to not only survive a very difficult situation, but to thrive. Lindsborg will miss them and their wonderful children, and I wish them the very best.”

Jones said, “Serving Bethany with the college’s faculty, staff, and board the past three years has been a professional honor. I am deeply grateful for the confidence placed in me to help Bethany College to rise. It has been great to have been a Bethany Swede.”

Jones will become the president of Georgetown College effective July 1.

Since arriving at Bethany in the summer of 2016, Jones has led the college in increasing full-time enrollment nearly 25 percent. Jones also led the college in launching the Good Life Scholarship, Swedes to Sweden, and Bethany College Swedish Crafts. The college benefited from a renovation of Alma Swenson Hall and the construction of a new tennis complex during Jones’s tenure. In addition, Bethany also secured a USDA loan to purchase New Hall and refinance the college’s long-term debt and completed a five-year strategic plan.

Following the appointment of an interim president in the coming weeks, the college’s board of directors will begin a national search for a permanent successor.

John Robert Geisinger

Posted on July 1, 2019July 1, 2019

John Robert Geisinger, 85, of Selden, died Saturday, June 29, 2019, at Prairie Senior Living Complex of Colby. He was born April 30, 1934, in Sheridan County, KS to John and Anna (Goscha) Geisinger. John graduated from Leoville High School in 1952 and served in the United States Army from 1952-1954 as a payroll officer in Germany. After the service he attended Fort Hays State University for 2 years, then returned home to farm. John also had his own construction company. On February 4, 1961, John married Julia Ann Martin. John enjoyed gardening, woodworking and building wooden toys for his children and grandchildren. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Leoville.

John was preceded in death by his parents; wife Julia Ann Geisinger; sister Doris Ann Short and brother William Geisinger.

He is survived by his children, Jacqueline (Mike) Wiens, of Colby, John Geisinger, of Selden, Joe (Patty) Geisinger, of Austin, TX and Jason (Dana) Geisinger, of Selden; brothers Jim and Eugene Geisinger; ten grandchildren, Johnna (Josh) Dexter-Wiens, Kaylin Wiens, Madison Wiens, Josh (Brittany) Geisinger, Jessica Geisinger, Libby Geisinger, Mary Geisinger, Jake Geisinger, Karlee Geisinger and Nash Geisinger and two great grandchildren, Luca and Aubrey.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Leoville, KS, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass is at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2019, also at the church, with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery, Leoville. Memorials are suggested to local Catholic Youth Organizations or the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.

Solid pitching, timely hitting leads Larks to win over Liberal

Posted on June 30, 2019June 30, 2019

HAYS – The Hays Larks thin pitching staff received a solid outing from starter Michael Gilliland as they held off a ninth inning rally to beat the Liberal Bee Jays 7-4 Sunday night at Larks Park. The Larks (20-5, 19-4 KCLB) have won two of the first three games in the four-game series to take a one-game lead over the Bee Jays (16-9, 14-9 KCLB) in the KCLB Jayhawk West Division.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Gilliland walked the game’s first batter which led to a run then threw five scorless innings before allowing a run in the seventh. Gilliland ended his night with a strikeout of Cayde Ward with the bases loaded to preserve a 6-2 lead. The Jacksonville State product who’s coming off a lat strain, allowed two runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and one walk over seven innings for his first win of the season.

Drew Marrufo worked a scoreless eighth but issued a leadoff walk and hit a batter to start the ninth. After giving up two runs and with two runners on base, he struck out Corbin Truslow to end the game.

The Larks scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead for good. George Southerland hit a one-out double and scored on Alex Strachen’s infield single. Jerrod Belbin drove in Justin Lee with a base hit to right. Brook Brannon’s groundout drove in Strachen for the third run of the inning.

The Larks pushed their lead to 5-1 on Southerland two-run single to right field in the second

The lead grew to 6-1 on Strachen’s two-out RBI double which scored Jimmy DeLeon in the fourth.
Liberal scored in the seventh with a two-out single from No. 9 hitter Aiden Shepardson then loaded the bases before Ward struck out to end the threat.
Jon Sotto (1-1) went four innings and suffered the loss for Liberal. He allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

The Lark and Bee Jays close out their season series Monday night at 7 p.m. Pregame at 6:45 p.m. on KAYS (94.3-FM, 1400-AM).

Man convicted of killing corrections director released from Kan. prison

Posted on June 30, 2019June 30, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A man who has spent nearly three decades in prison for the 1989 killing of Oregon’s prisons director was freed Friday while the state appeals the ruling that led to his release.

Frank Gable left prison after a U.S. magistrate found in April that the trial court made an error in excluding evidence of third-party guilt.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta also found that Gable’s attorneys provided him with “ineffective assistance in failing to assert Gable’s federal due process rights in the face of the trial court’s error.”

Gable, now 59, left the prison in Lansing, Kansas, and had to report directly to a federal probation officer in Kansas City. He’ll be allowed to live with his wife in Kansas.

“We don’t really want to talk about the case or nothing, just glad to be out,” Gable told Fox 4 News.

“He thanks those who believed in his innocence all these years,” said Nell Brown, one of two assistant federal public defenders who represented Gable in challenging the murder conviction.

Francke’s brothers, Pat and Kevin Francke, have been staunch defenders of Gable and believe he was wrongly convicted.

Gable was convicted in the stabbing death in Salem of prisons chief Michael Francke, 42, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Gable leaving the Lansing prison Friday photo courtesy KOIN TV

He must participate in drug and mental health assessments and counseling as directed by the U.S. Pretrial Services Office. Gable was not placed on electronic monitoring, although the state urged it.

The April ruling came after multiple witnesses recanted their testimony and defense lawyers cited a record of improper interrogation and flawed polygraphs used to question witnesses and shape their statements to police.

Acosta then ordered Gable to be released or retried within 90 days of his order.

The state’s appeal contends another man’s confession was unreliable because he had changed his account multiple times.

Acosta agreed to put his order to retry Gable on hold while the state’s appeal is pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Police: Kansas City murder suspect was naked when caught after car chase, crash

Posted on June 30, 2019June 30, 2019

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities say a man has been charged with second-degree murder and other counts in the death of his girlfriend, whose body was found inside her rural Jackson County home near Kansas City earlier this week.

44-year-old Dana Jones is charged in the death of 54-year-old Kimberly Alcorn.

Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were called to her home late Tuesday night for a report of a shooting, and arrived to see a car leaving the home and gave chase. Deputies say Jones was driving the car, which soon crashed. Jones, who was naked, was arrested.

Inside the home, deputies found Alcorn and a dog dead. Alcorn, who had also been stabbed, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jones remains jailed on $250,000 cash bail.

Soler homers, drives in two as Royals beat Blue Jays

Posted on June 30, 2019

TORONTO (AP) — Jorge Soler homered and had two RBI, Brad Keller pitched five innings to win for the first time since May 22 and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 Sunday.

Soler reached base three times as the Royals snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the first time in six games north of the border.

Justin Smoak homered twice for the Blue Jays, who had won 14 of their previous 17 home meetings with the Royals. It was the 10th multihomer game of Smoak’s career. The home runs were his 13th and 14th of the season.

Smoak hit a two-run homer in the second and a solo homer in the fifth but ended the game by fouling out against Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy in the ninth, stranding the tying run at second base.

Whit Merrifield reached base three times and Alex Gordon drove in a pair as Kansas City answered Toronto’s five-run second inning with a five-run third against struggling Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez (3-11).

Keller (4-9) allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings to end a streak of six straight losing decisions. The right-hander has allowed six or more runs twice in his past three outings.

Kevin McCarthy worked two hitless innings and Jake Diekman struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 eighth before Kennedy finished for his 11th save in 13 opportunities.

Royals DH Lucas Duda opened the scoring with an RBI double in the second but the Blue Jays scored five times in the bottom half. Soler lost Luke Maile’s fly ball in the sun, leading to a two-run triple, Eric Sogard hit an RBI single and Smoak followed with a two-run homer.

Handed a four-run cushion, Sanchez promptly allowed the first six batters to reach safely in the third. Humberto Arteaga and Merrifield walked, Nicky Lopez loaded the bases with a single and Gordon’s single brought home two runs. Hunter Dozier and Soler hit RBI singles and a fifth run scored when Cheslor Cuthbert grounded into a double play.

Sanchez allowed six runs and seven hits in three-plus innings to lose his 10th straight decision. It’s the longest such run by a Toronto pitcher since Ricky Romero lost 13 consecutive decisions in 2012.

Soler made it 7-5 with a solo homer off Nick Kingham in the fifth, his 22nd, but Smoak replied with a leadoff blast in the bottom half.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Adalberto Mondesi (strained right groin) went 1 for 5 as the DH in a rehab game at Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Saturday night. Mondesi has been out since June 18.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Glenn Sparkman (2-3, 4.07) surrendered a season-worst three home runs in his previous start, June 25 at Cleveland and has allowed seven homers in his past four outings.

Blue Jays: LHP Clayton Richard (0-4, 6.89) has allowed at least one home run in six of his seven outings this season, including a season-worst three in his previous start, June 25 at Yankee Stadium.

19-year-old sentenced for fatal Kansas home invasion robbery

Posted on June 30, 2019June 30, 2019

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 19-year-old Kansas man was sentenced 30 years in prison for his role in a shooting death and three robberies.

Dion Jha ‘Dantaye Troupe had previously pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and three counts of aggravated robbery.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay says Troupe and three others were involved in the February 2018 killing of Tyrone Baggett.

Baggett was shot during a home invasion. He died later at a hospital.

The shooting came less than an hour after Troupe and three others robbed a Daylight Donuts in Topeka.

Two other men have been found guilty in Baggett’s death and the robberies. Erion Dijon Kirtdoll was sentenced to 46 years in prison, while Eli Perry awaits sentencing.

Kansas program helps teachers incorporate cultural history

Posted on June 30, 2019June 30, 2019

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas lawmakers are encouraging teachers to incorporate culturally relevant studies into their lesson plans.

Democratic Reps. John Alcala and Valdenia Winn have spearheaded the Kansas Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Summer Intensive program, which is in its second year.

Alcala helped create the initiative after noticing a lack of representation of various ethnic groups in history text books.

The four-week-long program teaches Kansas educators about culturally relevant pedagogy, including Native American, Chicano/Latino, African American and Asian American studies. Teachers then implement the lessons in their classrooms, and share with program directors what did and didn’t work.

Alcala said all teachers who participate will be certified in culturally relevant pedagogy upon completion of the program. Those educators can then share the information with other teachers, he said.

“As far as we know, this model we have created in Kansas is unique,” said Christina Valdivia-Alcala, founder of the Tonantzin Society who also helped organize the program.

Valdivia-Alcala said the program helps educators teach students about “important footprints across America that different cultures have made,” as well as the importance of critical thinking.

Michelle McClaine, an English teacher at the Sumner Academy of Arts and Science school in Kansas City, Kansas, is among the educators participating in the program. She said Mexican American students make up about 60% of her students.

“Having a program like this where you can really ask those uncomfortable questions or get that info that you can be able to show all perspectives of what it means to be Americans, or what that story is of America is very cool and very empowering,” McClaine said.

Stacy Reneé Shearrer

Posted on June 30, 2019

Stacy Reneé Shearrer, 41, passed away June 26, 2019 at North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born July 16, 1977 in Larned, Kansas; the daughter of Charles Leon and Virginia Kaye Swartz Shearrer. A longtime area resident; she worked in the Medical field for over 19 years.

She was of the Christian faith.

Survivors include; two sisters; Jennifer (Ryan) Eakin, Lawrence, Rebecca Knauf (W.G. Wilson), Larned; four nieces and nephews; one great nephew; one daughter, Jasmine Kingcannon, Charlotte, North Carolina; two sons, Antowine Lamb, Little River, Kansas and Scott Blackmon, Kansas; her partner, Charleeka Thigpen, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; her lifelong friend, Keke Blackmon, Blue Springs, Missouri; one granddaughter, Kasydi Blackmon and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by; her parents.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned with Pastor Eugene Blackmon and Pastor Damon Bradley presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary. Casket will remain closed. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the Pawnee County Humane Society, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Jace Ashton-Lee ‘Smo’ Smothers

Posted on June 30, 2019

Jace Ashton-Lee “Smo” Smothers, passed away June 28, 2019, in Lyon County, Kentucky, at the age of 19.

Visitation will be held at the Enfield Funeral Home in Norton, Kansas on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 10:30 AM at the Norton Christian Church. Burial will be held at the Norton Cemetery.

A full obituary is pending.

Kory Taylor

Posted on June 30, 2019

Kory Taylor passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at the age of 47. He was born on December 2, 1971 in Hoxie, Kansas to Louis “Tuffy” and Lodema (Coberley) Taylor . Kory grew up in Hoxie where he attended Hoxie Grade School, graduating with the Hoxie High School class of 1990. He attended Kansas University (KU) and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science.

Kory married his high school sweetheart, Stacie Randolph, on October 26, 1996, at the Hoxie Christian Church. They lived in Hoxie, Kansas where they raised their three sons, Josh, Cayle, and Peyton. Kory, loved all things green, managing Taylor Implement. He was a genuine friend and humble leader. In 2017, Kory and Stacie purchased the Hoxie Stop 2 Shop. It was his dream to make it a fun place to be for the community.

Kory loved people generously. His witty humor brought a smile to everyone. He didn’t know a stranger and believed everyone had value and a story worth hearing. He was a proud dad, never missing an opportunity to play and be involved in the life of his boys. He adored his grandchildren, Kadence and Harper, and never missed an opportunity to spend time with them. He relished and appreciated the time he spent with the love of his life, Stacie, his family and his dog, Lucy. Kory loved deeply and always put his family first.

Kory was an adventurous person from an early age and grew into a man of many talents and interests. Two of his favorite hobbies were hunting and fishing. He could hardly wait until Fall when the hunting season was getting into full swing. Kory was a life-long KU fan. He enjoyed flying and often used his passion as a pilot to help others. He was a true competitor. With a healthy dose of humor and love, he made his boys earn their victories, whether it be a video game, backyard basketball, and even all the way out to the ski slopes.

Kory is survived by his wife, Stacie of the home, Hoxie, Kansas; sons, Josh & wife Ashli of Hays, Kansas, Cayle Taylor of Hays, Kansas, and Peyton Taylor of Hays, Kansas; grandchildren, Kadence and Harper Taylor; father, Louis Taylor of Colby, Kansas; father and mother-in-law, Bob and Linda Randolph of Topeka, Kansas; brother, Kyle Taylor of Colby, Kansas; sister, Kami Booi and husband Brandon of Colby, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Jamy Taylor of Lawrence, Kansas and Shelley Johnson and husband Warren of Aberdeen, North Carolina; brother-in-law Ryan Randolph and wife Hanna of Lawrence, Kansas; nieces and nephews, Sophie and Ethan Taylor, Hagan and Hali Booi, Alexis, Macey, Gabriel, Chloe, Haven and Matthias Johnson, Joe, Jayden and Riley Randolph, and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lodema Taylor and his grandparents.

A funeral service is planned for Tuesday, July 2, 2019, 10:30 A.M. at the Hoxie Christian Church with Pastors Ben Rhodes and Carl Dumler presiding. A visitation will be held Monday, July 1, 2019 from 11:00 A.M. until 7:30 P.M. with family receiving friends from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas. Family suggests memorials to the Kory Taylor Memorial Fund and may be sent to Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, P.O. Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

Kory was a kind, gentle person who was loved by many and dearly loved his family . He will be missed, but he would tell you all to keep up your chin and go on with your life because the day will come when all will be together again.

Alberto Carrasco Jr.

Posted on June 30, 2019

Alberto Carrasco Jr., 71, Hays, died Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Ellis Good Samaritan Society.

He was born December 30, 1947 in Hays, the son of Alberto and Evelyn (Speier) Carrasco. He was a graduate of Hays High School, worked in the oilfield, and also in lawn care.

Survivors include his six brothers; James Carrasco (Sue) of Hays, Robert Carrasco of Gillette, WY, Paul Carrasco (Linda) of Victoria, Frank Carrasco (Diane Meyers) of Hays, Daniel Carrasco (Colette) of Hays, and Mike Carrasco of Hays, three sisters; Carol Susie Hood (Howard) of Wichita, Debbie Carrasco of Hays, and Lisa Gillpatrick (Bob) of Overland Park, his children, grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Private family inurnment will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested for family wishes in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Condolences and memories of Alberto may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Joyce Irene Langhofer

Posted on June 30, 2019

Joyce Irene Langhofer, 76, of Russell, Kansas, joined the Lord on Friday morning, June 28, 2019, at the Homestead Assisted Living Center in Russell, Kansas.

She was the daughter of Samuel and Dolores (Sprinkle) Langhofer, born on June 30, 1942, on the family farm south of Bunker Hill, Kansas. She attended school in Bunker Hill. She later relocated to Towanda, Kansas, with her parents and brothers where she spent the majority of her life. She was a caregiver to her mother for 21 years. She enjoyed mowing the lawn, riding her bicycle and working on crafts. She baked cakes and gave them to her neighbors and she also liked to walk. After her mother went to be with the Lord, she located to Camdenton, Missouri to be with her sisters. In 2016, she moved to Russell, Kansas, and resided at Parkside Manor. In 2019, she moved to the Homestead Assisted Living Center in Russell. She accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized in Fairview Baptist Church in Towanda, Kansas, the same day her Daddy was baptized. She was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Russell. Joyce never met a stranger and was always willing to help a person in need.

She is survived by her three sisters Janice Jack of Russell, Kansas, Marilyn Bond (Graden) of Riverton, Wyoming, Carolee Robie (Donnell) of Russell, Kansas; brother Sam Langhofer (Connie) of Benton, Kansas; son Shannon W. (Shannon) Nicholas and 2 grandchildren Garrett and Liddy from Chandler, Oklahoma and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother Ronald whom she had a special bond with.

A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, July 02, 2019, at the Bible Baptist Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Dale Lane officiating. Burial will follow at the Dorrance City Cemetery in Dorrance, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Monday, July 01, 2019, at the mortuary with family present to greet guests from 7 P.M. to 8 P.M. Monday evening. Memorials can be given to the Bible Baptist Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.