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Year: 2019

Fire Marshal: Explosive device causes damage to Kansas home

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SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after an explosion on the front porch of a home early Wednesday in Shawnee County.

First responders on the scene of Wednesday morning investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV

Just after 12:30a.m., fire crews and police responded to a home in the 300 Block of SW Harrison in Topeka, according to Fire Chief Michael Martin.

An investigation revealed some type of explosive device was used. The explosion caused approximately $2000 damage to the home at 306 SW Harrison. Flying debris caused an additional $500 damage to the home at 302 SW Harrison, according to Martin. The Topeka Police Department bomb squad assisted at the scene to search for additional explosive devices.

There were no injuries reported.

Billy Jean Wahl

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Billy Jean Wahl, 78, of Russell, Kansas passed away on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Hays Medical Center.

Billy was born on on November 7th, 1940 in Denver, Colorado. She spent most of her childhood and all of her adult life in Kansas. For the last 29 years, Billy lived in Russell, served by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas. Billy enjoyed dancing and singing to music, shopping for new clothes, wearing big sunglasses, hats and jewelry, and spending time with friends. Billy will be deeply missed by many loving friends and staff.

A memorial service to celebrate Billy’s life will be held at 1:00 pm on March 28, 2019 at the Pioneer Developmental Center at 15 N Maple in Russell, KS. Memorials can be given to help with the funeral and can be made and sent to the mortuary. Burial of cremains will take place after the service at the Russell Catholic Cemetery.

Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the arrangements.

Sheriff: Barton County man dies in rollover accident

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BARTON COUNTY— One person died in an accident Tuesday in Barton County.

Scene of Tuesday fatal rollover accident -photo courtesy Barton Co. Sheriff

A 2002 Chevy Tahoe driven by Michael T. Kern, 58, Ellinwood, was eastbound on SE 50 Road near SE 20th Avenue, according to a social media report from the Barton County Sheriff.

The Tahoe traveled off the road toward the south ditch. The driver overcorrected. The SUV overturned as it came back onto the road and rolled.

Kern was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office office.

Nurse, Physician and Associate of the Year awards presented by HaysMed

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Beck

HaysMed

The annual HaysMed Service Awards Banquet was held last night at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall in Hays. The highlight of the banquet was the presentation of the Norman W. Jeter Humanitarian Award, the Sister Mary J. Mollison Nurse of the Year Award and the Vic Eddy, MD, Physician of the Year Award.  These awards are the highest level of recognition that an associate of HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System,  can receive.

The Norman W. Jeter Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual’s human kindness and dedication to medical excellence.  The award was presented to Andy Beck.  Beck is the controller at the hospital and has been with HaysMed since 1994

Recipient of the Sr. Mary J. Mollison Nurse of the Year Award was Cheryl Glassman, RN.     This award honors a nurse who displays excellence in the areas of job knowledge and performance, quality improvements, self-development and participation in hospital and community affairs Glassman is part-time chaplain at the hospital.

Hodny

The Vic Eddy, MD, Physician of the Year Award was presented Dr. Lee Hodny, OB/GYN at HaysMed.   The award recognizes a physician who displays a high level of clinical experience and an extraordinary dedication to improving healthcare delivery in the community. 

The following service anniversaries were also recognized:

45 Year

LeAnn Keener

40 Year

Joyce Heffel

Paulette Kroeger

Maggie Leiker

Debra Miller

Cindy Robben

JoAnn Schauvliege

Stephanie Staab

35 Year

Glassman

Kay Kruse

Debbie Linenberger

Susan Little

Dr. Kevin McDonald

Linda Waldschmidt

30 Year

Michelle Beyer

Vicky Sauer

Terry Siek

Donna Younger

25 Year

JoDee Altman

Chris Augustine

Wanda Augustine

Jamie Dinkel

Bonnie Jamieson

Deb Krier

Pam Mayers

Shawn Mulkey

Denise Pfeifer

Ann Robinson

Melanie Urban

20 Year

Holly Bittel

Sarah Dreiling

Tanya Fross

Courtney King

Lesa Klozenbucher

Patti Lane

Patty Larson

Pam Leiker

Kathleen McGinnis

Connie Mermis

Mandy Meyers

Nikki Mihm

Stephanie Niblock

Sue Noll

Leslie Olmstead

Chada Schleicher

Laura Schwindt

Diane Scott

Mary Selensky

Christy Stahl

Marsha Stremel

Carolyn Terry

Cammie Townley

Phyllis Vonlintel

Annette Voss

Lona Werth

Gayla Wichman

15 Year

Lindsy Allen

Steven Balthazor

Stephanie Banker

Amy Barnes

Kelly Brungardt

Dr. Ross Buckles

Shanna Carrillo

Sandy Cearley

LeAnn Dix

Deloris Farthing

Sarah Fischer

Joy Glick

Patrick Green

Sarah Green

Dr. Heather Harris

Traci Jacobs

Jason Livesay

Laura McCarter

Melanie McCoy

Cristina Meier

Kelly Myers

Crystal Raat

Cari Readle

Tara Roa

Amanda Schmidt

Warren Smith

10 Year
Kirsten Angell

Kim Befort

Kristina Befort

Charles Brungardt

Brenda Bryant

Willy Cadoret

Shawn Clark

Roxie Einsel

Tami Grover

Tara Harding

Dr. Anthony Hornick

Aubrey Jones

Shauna Keil

Carmen Keller

Jessica Koerner

Dustin Koster

Kalin Labarge

Lynn Leiker

Lori Lowe

Shelly Moeckel

Maggie Moeder

Laura Monroe

Jim Mortinger

Kathy Nieman

Andrea Paul

Carrie Pfannenstiel

Megan Pray

David Ranker

Brenda Reiff

Kaitlin Robben

Jennifer Schmidt

Glenda Schuetz

Mary Schumacher

Tiffany Scott

Cameron Stremel

Devere Walker

Amy Wasinger

Mackenzie Waugh

Sharon Wendell

Debra Wendland

Arlene Werth

Cindy Werth

Kimberly Wiles

Jennifer Williams

5 Year

Jennifer Anderson

Chelsea Angel

Donna  Augustine

Camilla Ballinger

Stephanie Beougher

Jim Billinger

Kylee Bombardier

Michelle Braun

Shelbie Brooks

Michelle Chittenden

Jeffrey Droegemeier

Lindsey Fox

Ashley Garcia

Kylie Geist

Jenna Gilliam

Elizabeth Goetz

Tonya Grogg

Lydia Hynek

Dr. Mohammed Janif

Shannon Kibel

Leroy Kleinsorge

Holly Kraus

Desirea Long

Nancy Luecke

Katie McQueen

Kelly Miller

David Montgomery

Alison Nuttle

Emily Nuttle

Noelle Robinson

Beth Rohleder

Lesly Rupp

Travis Rupp

Meredith Sarver

Kelsey Schrant

Calie Sherman

Gwendolyn Sillmon

Abby Stenzel

Gaylene Thayer

Lisa Thummel

Kellie Werner

Kaylee Wilkens

Molly Wilkens

Nicole Winstead

Kathy Younger

Kansas House bill changes criminal penalties for abusing a child

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By GRANT HEIMAN
KU Statehouse News Service

TOPEKA — A recent bill introduced to the Kansas House of Representatives changes the criminal penalties for abusing a child.

in January 2018, Aaron Peck was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the child abuse related death of an infant girl in Shawnee, Kansas. Photo courtesy KBI offender registry

House Bill 2394 decreases the level of severity for child abuse while adding the separate crime of aggravated abuse of a child.

“This legislation is extremely important to proportionately respond to extreme and serious abuse of a child,” said Kim Parker, prosecutor coordinator for the Kansas County and District Attorney’s Association.

The current Kansas statutes regarding child abuse group all acts of child abuse together as severity level 5 regardless of the amount of harm done to the child. For example, rape is a severity level 1 felony while a first-time misdemeanor is a severity level 10.

“Many of the acts of abuse perpetrated on children are overlooked by [the current] statute,” Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in his testimony to the committee. “Furthermore, many acts of abuse against children vary in the nature of their severity, a consideration also not taken into account by our current statutory language.”

The bill would decrease the level of severity from 5 to 7, or 9, depending on the nature of the abuse. The change in severity would alter sentencing regulations to “proportionately respond to extreme and serious abuse of a child,” according to Parker.

The Office of Judicial Administration notes the bill could increase the number of cases filed in district court, which would result in more time spent by court employees and judges processing and deciding these cases. A financial effect cannot be estimated until the judicial branch has operated under the bill’s provisions.

The KCDAA and the Leavenworth County attorney supported the bill while the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Sheriffs Association and Kansas Peace Officers Association testified as neutral.

The neutral groups recognized the positive intentions of the bill but noted that the vagueness within the bill “may unintentionally include law enforcement use of force or restraints.”

Grant Heiman is a University of Kansas junior from Wichita majoring in journalism.

Stephan R. ‘Steve’ Barnes

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Stephan R. “Steve” Barnes, 60, Hays, died Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at his home.

He was born April 21, 1958 in Hays, the son of Tom R. and Mary C. “Cathy” (Werth) Barnes. He graduated from Hays High School and attended Fort Hays State University.

On April 28, 1990 he was united in marriage to Kim S. McNeal at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. They celebrated over 28 years of marriage. He worked for the City of Hays as the sexton for Mount Allen Cemetery and Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, enjoyed playing guitar, treated people well, and was always smiling and had the right thing to say. He always put his family first, was very hard working, and was a loving husband, daddy, and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife; Kim of the home in Hays, two sons; Jeseph Scott “Jesse” Barnes and John Paul Barnes, both of Hays, three daughters; Hayley Dawn Barnes, Brandi Marie Barnes, and Bailey Nicole Barnes, all of Hays, four brothers; John Barnes and wife Mary of Hays, Howard Barnes and wife Lucy of Yocemento, Tom Barnes II and wife Lori of Topeka, Wilfred “Willie” Barnes of Hays, three sisters; Tamera Lang and husband Wayne of Hays, Glenda Grosnick of Ocala, FL, and Ronda Hall and husband Ron of Enid, OK, an adopted brother; Tyron Barnes of Sarasota, FL, three granddaughters; Jacey, Bentley, and Peyton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 9:30 am on Friday, March 22, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Allen Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Thursday and from 8:30 am until 9:15 on Friday all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A combined vigil service and rosary will be at 7:30 pm on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Cancer Council of Ellis County. Condolences and memories of Steve may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Earl J. Befort

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Earl J. Befort, age 92, of Munjor, Kansas, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019, at the Hays Medical Center.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, March 22, 2019 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor. Inurnment will follow in the St. Francis Cemetery.

Memorial visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with a combined rosary and vigil service at 7:00 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to TMP-Marian High School.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].

A complete obituary is pending.

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Arleen A. Wittman, age 76, of Hays, Kansas, died Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at her home.

Services are pending at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Prairie Doc Perspectives: To straighten the bent bones of children

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Rick Holm

Starting sometime in the middle ages, throughout many lands, there were “bonesetters” who knew about splinting, how to treat broken bones with splints made from sticks, leather and clay. They even had a guild, a medieval union of sorts, a cohesive group of workers organized to ensure quality, consistency and education. Medical schools for physicians existed at that time, but neither bonesetters nor surgeons attended those schools.

In the 1700s, Nicholas Andre’, a researcher and professor of medicine at the University of Paris, formally described splinting, a technique used by bonesetters, as a method to treat boney deformities, such as clubbed feet in newborn children. He likened it to the straightening of young tree saplings. Andre’ wrote a textbook on the subject entitled L’Orthopedie. The ancient Greek word orthos means free from deformity, to straighten; and the ancient Greek word paideia refers to the art of raising a child. Together they provide for the name of a present-day surgical specialty. Literally, orthopedics means to straighten the bent bones of children.

Surgical methods in the 1700s and 1800s were very immature. Anesthesia was first developed during the early 1800s and ether was widely used during the Civil War. After the war, surgeons brought their surgical experience home to small towns throughout the U.S. It wasn’t until after the war that we learned of bacteria and discovered we could avoid infection following surgery. In addition, X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, which allowed for the marvelous and revealing image of our internal boney structure.

These advancements helped set the stage for expanding the focus of orthopedics from casting and making-straight the boney deformities of children. In the 1890s, Evan Thomas, a well-known bonesetter from Liverpool, England, encouraged his son Hugh to go to medical school. While learning medicine, Hugh learned from his father bone setting and casting methods, which at the time were not being taught in schools. The younger Thomas was influential in bringing this curriculum to medical schools. He later set up practice with his nephew Robert Jones, and the two worked to develop orthopedic surgical methods in treating bone injuries in construction workers, and then war injuries in military men during World War I.

Thus, we trace the evolution from bonesetters, and straightening the bones of children; to anesthetized yet unsterile amputations during the Civil War; to bone setting taught in medical school; to surgical repair of boney injuries in World War I; to the marvelous ever-developing field of orthopedic surgery today.

For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® library, visit www.prairiedoc.org and follow The Prairie Doc® on Facebook, featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&A show streaming live most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central. 

Hays Larks still need host families

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The Hays Larks are still looking for host families for the 2019 season.

The Larks are Hays’ summer-collegiate baseball team, with players staying with host families from late May through early August. The host families program started almost 30 years ago, and Larks manager Frank Leo, who will begin his 37th season as Larks manager this summer, said the host families program is integral to the team’s success.

“It is a tremendous part of our organization,” Leo told hayslarks.org in a story last summer. “We would not have this program – I don’t care if we had all the money in the world – if we would not have homes to put these players in. I can’t say enough times thank you to those people for what they do.”

Families interested in hosting a Larks player this summer should leave a message with their contact information at the team’s Facebook page.

The season opener is May 31. A First Pitch Dinner will be held at Thirsty’s Brew Pub & Grill on April 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Burgers, hot dogs and fries for $10, with tickets available at Phaze 2, Meckenstock Group and Arnett Chiropractic Care, or at the door.

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