Joyce Irene Langhofer, 76, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, June 28, 2019, at the Homestead Assisted Living Center in Russell.
Services are pending with Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas.
Year: 2019
🎥 City pays 2% insurance increase; next renewal expected to be 25% higher
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The increase in the renewal of property/liability insurance for the city of Hays was just 2% – $4,475 more than the prior period.
City commissioners Thursday night unanimously approved renewal of the 2019/2020 coverage with Midwest Public Risk (MPR) for $228,228.26 to be funded from the Intergovernmental Insurance and Surety line item in the budget.
The increase was capped at 2% for all MPR members. The city has been with MPR since 2017.
However, a property reappraisal conducted in August 2018, is expected to force a considerable hike in the premium for 2020/2021, according to Kim Rupp, finance director.
“I’ll caution that we’ll likely see a significant increase in our required contributions of the next renewal given [property] values have jumped quite a bit,” Rupp told commissioners. “It could be north of $25,000.”
The most notable valuation change was in buildings with an increase of almost $15.6 million.
MPR is a pool of public entities that includes cities, schools, counties, health departments, fire protection districts, ambulance districts, election boards and housing authorities.
Rupp is pleased with the city’s experience with the group in the past year, both in services offered and claims response.
“We’ve learned our 2% increase is well below the average in the marketplace of 6%,” he reported. “We’ve also learned insurance carriers are becoming more selective due to a huge influx of applications because of rate increases. Carriers are also tremendously cautious particularly due to convective storms that include tornadoes, hail and wind.”
“Given the tornadic activity we’ve seen in the last few years, I think we were very fortunate that we didn’t have some catastrophic weather incident here,” said Commissioner Eber Phelps, “especially when you look at the water treatment plant value at $3.8 million and the new appraised value at $9 million. That would have been quite a blow to the city to have to come up with that for rebuilding purposes.”
Mayor Henry Schwaller also noted the city has been fortunate when it comes to flooding.
“We’ve had a lot of rain last year and this year, and we’ve not had the flooding we’ve had historically.
“Part of it’s nature and city staff has done a really good job making sure the infrastructure is prepared,” said Schwaller.
The anticipated insurance premium increase is figured into the 2020 draft budget.
Commissioners will conduct their first review of the budget at the July 2 work session. Because Thursday falls on the July 4 holiday, the meeting will be held Tuesday.
Kan. man dead, 9-year-old hospitalized after pickup crash, fire
SEDGWICK COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Friday in Sedgwick County
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Jose Elco Vasquez, 39, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 35 in South Wichita. The pickup left the road, traveled through a fence, struck two trees and caught fire.
Vasquez was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Sedgwick County Forensics Center.
EMS transported Vanessa Vasquez, 9, Wichita, to Wesley Medical Center,
Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Lucinda Jane Cozad
SMITH CENTER – Lucinda Jane Cozad, age 57, passed away Monday June 24, 2019 at her home in Smith Center. She was born the daughter of Adam & Nancy (Hoover) Stokesbury in Osborne on December 24, 1961.
She is survived by her sons Anthony (Elizabeth) Stokesbury and Billie Stokesbury both from Jacksonville, FL; 2 brothers Roy Stokesbury of Kensington and Glenn Stokesbury of Mississippi; a sister Peggy Wagenblast of Athol, KS; 3 Granddaughters.
Click HERE for service details.
Police locate owner in Kan. dog attack; city prosecutor will determine charges
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attack by a dog on two children and after three days have both the dog and have located the owners.
Just before 3:30p.m. Monday, Animal Control and officers and police were dispatched to Chesney Park in 1800 block of SW Buchanan in Topeka on reports of a dog bite, according to Lt. Jennifer Cross.
Witnesses called reporting that a tan colored dog bit a juvenile boy before being removed from the area by the owner.
While Animal Control was investigating, authorities learned that the same dog had bitten a second child. The two boys were treated at a local hospital, according to Cross.
On Wednesday, police reported they found the dog and that is being quarantined at the city’s veterinarian office. The canine was positively identified by several individuals as the same that bit the two children, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
On Thursday, police identified and located the dog’s owner (an adult female) and the adult male from social media pictures, according to Beightel. Officers have spoken with them. The case has been forwarded to the city’s prosecutor’s office for charging consideration.
Bernadine Iva Hinkson
Bernadine Iva Hinkson, age 90, of Arnold, Missouri, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away on June 17, 2019 in the company of family at Mercy Hospice South de Greeff Hospice House, St. Louis, Missouri.
Iva, known affectionately as Ivy to many close family and friends, was born May 9, 1929 near Phillipsburg, Kansas, the daughter of the late Earl and Mary Ann (Henry) Roller. As a young woman, Iva worked for the Kansas State Hospital System as a nurse’s and psychiatric aide, and was a homemaker for many years.
Iva was united in marriage to Dr. Bryce Alden Hinkson, M.D. on December 17, 1960 at the First United Methodist Church in Osawatomie, Kansas. Bryce and Iva made their home in Osawatomie, followed by moves to Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Meade, South Dakota; and Poplar Bluff, Missouri where they lived for over 30 years. Bryce’s beloved Ivy was a loving and devoted wife and mother, running a tight ship at home taking care of most household and parenting duties. Iva’s support and encouragement made it possible for Bryce to pursue his life’s work, thus their loving partnership allowed for countless military veterans and their families to receive necessary assistance. Iva had more recently made her home with her daughter, Karen, in Arnold, Missouri as it became necessary for her and Bryce to be closer to their children.
Iva loved spending time with her family and was very proud of them. She was a voracious reader her entire life. She loved gardening and flowers, especially the homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers she enjoyed eating and sharing with friends and neighbors. She also enjoyed country music, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, animals, word puzzles, and going for rides in the car to see wildlife and flowers or to make an ice cream run.
In addition to her daughter Karen Sue Hinkson of Arnold, Iva is survived by her son Robert Charles Hinkson and his wife Rose Mary (King) Hinkson of rural Kaiser, Missouri, grandchildren Sara Smith of Jefferson City, Missouri, Rachel (Josh) Bang of Auxvasse, Missouri, Jonathan Pratt of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Elijah (Lillian) Hinkson of Jefferson City, and great-grandchildren Kayla and Lori Bang and Aiden Smith. She is also survived by sons Herb (Cathy) Deines of Hays, Kansas and William E. (Donna) Deines of WaKeeney, Kansas, and son-in-law Charles Rhoades of WaKeeney, and their families, including eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. Iva is survived by her brother Darrell “Bud” (Clara) Roller of Greeley, Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Iva was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Bryce, daughters Polly (Deines) Rhoades and Mary Belle, infant great-grandson Nathan Samuel Bang, sister Pauline (Roller) Kappers, and brothers Orval Dean Roller, Sr. and Donald Duane Roller.
Services: Celebration of Life Visitation July 12, 2019, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and luncheon from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Rd., Saint Louis, Missouri 63125. A committal service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery will follow the luncheon at 2:15 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Iva’s memory be made payable and mailed to Mercy South de Greef Hospice House, 10024 Kennerly Road, St. Louis, MO 63128.
Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HoffmeisterSouthCounty.com.
Gerald and Donna Feist
Gerald LeRoy Feist, age 85, of Warsaw, Missouri, passed away June 25, 2017. He was born on October 20, 1931, in Plainfield, Wisconsin, the son of Grover and Sarah Mae Losey Feist. His wife, Donna D. Feist, age 82, of Warsaw, passed away May 3, 2019, at the Hermitage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on September 15, 1936, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of Pete and Georgia Shetler Schoonover.
Gerald grew up in Wisconsin and graduated high school in Plainfield, Wisconsin. He then served in the U.S. Army for a couple of years, moving to the Kansas City area after his discharge. Donna had moved with her family to the Kansas City area and met Gerald and they were married on January 18, 1955. They made their home in Overland Park, Kansas, and unto this union, four children were born. Gerald worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, as well as owning his own tree service business and trash service business, all at the same time. He worked hard and the whole family was involved in the businesses. Donna stayed home with the kids for a while but then worked as a nurse and later at the school cafeteria.
Gerald retired from the railroad in 1991 but continued his tree service business until retiring from it in 2005. They moved to Warsaw in 2009.
They were members of the Assembly of God Church in Overland Park. Donna enjoyed playing bingo and doing needlepoint quilts. They both loved to spend time with their grandkids.
They were both preceded in death by their parents and one granddaughter, Daisy Ann Ward.
They are survived by four children, , Kenneth Feist, of Tennessee, David Feist, and his wife, Jane, of Holden, Missouri, Gloria Andrew, and her husband Damen, of Edmonds, Kansas, and Anita Ward, of Warsaw. They are also survived by ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, Gerald’s Sister, Myrna Gunderson, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, other relatives friends.
Memorial services for Gerald and Donna Feist will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, June 28, 2019, at the Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw. Graveside services and interment will follow the funeral at 3:00 P.M. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.
Gene Vogel
Former Stuttgart resident Gene Vogel passed away June 26, 2019 at the Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg at the age of 83. He was born Feb. 19, 1936 in Phillips County, the son of Alvin & Martha (Merklein) Vogel.
He is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 1 at 10:30 a.m. in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, with Pastor Lorna Paulus officiating. Burial will follow in Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Stuttgart Community Center or the Phillips County Retirement Center.
Visitation will be from 12:00 to 9:00 Saturday and Sunday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 Sunday evening.
Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Kansas man indicted for robbery at two cash loan stores
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was indicted Thursday on charges of robbing two cash loan stores, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Derick Renee Crawford, 29, Topeka, was charged with two counts of commercial robbery. The indictment alleges Crawford committed the following robberies including Advance America, 2232 Louisiana Street in Lawrence, on Feb. 21 and Advance America, 1947 Northwest Topeka Blvd. in Topeka, on March 29.
If convicted, Crawford faces a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 6/28/19
A Birthday Number
A couple phoned a neighbor to extend birthday greetings. They dialed the number and then sang “Happy Birthday” to him. But when they finished their off-key rendition, they discovered that they had dialed the wrong number.
“Don’t let it bother you,” said a strange but amused voice. “You folks
need all the practice you can get.”
Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry
🎥 Hays wastewater treatment plant ‘final completion in a couple of weeks’
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The end is in sight, and sooner than expected, of the $28.4 million rebuild of the Hays wastewater treatment plant.
“We kicked off the project May 31, 2017, with the notice to proceed and final completion is set for Sept. 15, 2019,” Eric Farrow, HDR on-site engineer at the facility told city commissioners at the halfway mark last August.
“Final completion will be within the next couple of weeks,” City Manager Toby Dougherty reported during last night’s commission meeting.
“Now they’re working on very small punch-list items. There are some things we’re making sure get tweaked with the vendors.”
Substantial completion was done June 3, more than three months ahead of schedule.
“That means the liquid side’s up, the solids sides are up,” Dougherty explained. “All of the processes are working.”
The entire design/build team will appear before the city commission in July with a final update. Commissioners will later tour the improved facility.
According to Dougherty, the project not only was completed ahead of schedule but also under budget.
The city was fined $18,000 in 2012 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for excessive levels of phosphorous and nitrate. The wastewater treatment facility was built in 1953. The plant had to be upgraded to meet stricter permit requirements of the EPA and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Hays CVB highlights July events
From the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau
Former Tiger, Oberlin native accepts position at Texas Tech
Colby Community College Athletics
Colby Community College men’s basketball coach Rusty Grafel submitted his resignation after accepting a position with the Texas Tech University men’s basketball program. He notified the Board of Trustees at the June 17 meeting.
“Everything in life starts with a foundation,” Grafel said. “And without a foundation, it’s not possible to build anything special. The foundation of this program was laid far before me, and I’m beyond honored I could be part of adding to it and passing it on.”
Grafel came to Colby in 2009 and served as an assistant before being named head coach in 2012. He hired his brother Egan as the associate head coach, and over the next seven seasons compiled the most wins in program history with a record of 104-116.
“To all the Trojan fans, there is not a community and support system that is better,” he said. “You have opened your wallets, doors to your home, and hearts to a small town man from Oberlin. It’s been a dream come true to coach in front of family and friends, have Egan along side of me, and call Colby home!”
Grafel played at Hutchinson Community College and helped the Blue Dragons to a Jayhawk West championship in 2004. He transferred to Fort Hays State where he played three years for the Tigers and was part of the 2006 Rocky Mountain Athletic Association championship team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation. After graduating, he stayed at Fort Hays State and began his coaching career as an assistant in the men’s program until he joined the Trojans staff in 2009.
“I never thought I would have been back in northwest Kansas after college,” he said. “To say it was a blessing when Dustin Pfeifer called and asked me to be a part of the Trojan family is an understatement. What this college, community, athletes, and people of Colby gave me can’t be put in words, and I will forever be grateful.”
Interviews for the vacated position are complete, and CCC expects to announce a new head coach by the end of the week.