RILEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged assault, robbery and kidnapping and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 2:15p.m. Saturday, police arrested 22-year-old Joshua Christopher Miller of Manhattan, in connection with a report of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, kidnapping and criminal damage to property in the 500 block of Moro in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police activity report.
Miller is being held on a total bond of $250,000.00 for Aggravated Robbery; Armed w/ dangerous 1 weaponAggravated burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, sex 1 Aggravated kidnapping 1 Aggravated assault; With intent to commit any 1 felonyKidnapping; Inflict bodily harm or terrorize the 1 victimCriminal damage to property; Without consent 1 value $1000 to $25,000. Police released no additional details on Monday morning.
Helen Marie Dannenberg, age 78, of Gaylord, Kansas passed away Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Smith Center Health and Rehab in Smith Center, Kansas.
Helen was born May 22, 1940 in Smith Center Kansas to Arnold and Esther (Kirchhoff) Beckmann. She was the oldest of six children. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church of Gaylord, Kansas and graduated from Gaylord High School in 1958.
On October 25, 1959 she married Max Arden Dannenberg, also at Christ Lutheran Church.
Helen worked many years in nursing, receiving her Associates Degree and becoming a Registered Nurse in 1982. She worked at Smith County Memorial Hospital and served as the Director of Nursing for several years before her retirement.
Helen had a passion for gardening and flowers. During her retirement, she enjoyed participating in many activities including Garden Club, Red Hats, and FCE. She was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church of Athol and joined in many Bible studies and Morning Circle. Helen had a great love for her grandchildren and relished the time spent with them.
Helen is survived by her husband, Max of the home. Son Maurice and Inci (Duysak) of Wildwood, MO and their three sons Kenan, Erek, and Devran. Son Mark and Jocelyn (Conaway) of Littleton, CO, and daughter Marsha and Anthony Fangman of Overland Park, KS and their four children Ellie, Jack, Sam, and Logan. She is also survived by one sister, Rebecca and Ronald Powell of Southern Pines, N.C., one brother, Dennis and Kathy Beckmann of Mankato, KS, sister in-law Roberta Beckmann of Wichita, KS, brother in-law Andy Corcoran of Topeka, KS, sister in-law Cindy Beckmann of Gaylord, KS as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Paul Beckmann of Wichita, KS, sister Laura “Ann” Corcoran of Topeka, KS, and brother David Beckmann of Gaylord, KS.
ELLIS – The Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home in Ellis is facing some financial difficulty and has turned to the city for help.
During the Feb. 18 meeting, city council members agreed to the museum’s request for the city to take over mowing the museum property. City employees already mow the grounds of the Ellis Railroad Museum.
The council also suggested museum board members pursue grant opportunities to help pay electricity costs.
In other business, bids received for the campground expansion project were presented by Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group. The estimated project cost of $100,474.83 does not include picnic tables or in-kind cost of city staff labor and equipment. The city council voted for the Campground Committee to proceed with a Dane G. Hansen grant application for the project.
The complete meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
February 18, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Martin LaBarge, Jolene Niernberger, and Bob Redger. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Dustin Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member Steve Ferland was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Glen Keller, Verda Flinn, Buck Driggs, Sam Polifka, Myles Vine, Maleah Vine, and Westin Vine.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 4, 2019 and Bills Ordinance #2063. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Sam Polifka, Board Member for the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home, discussed the financial struggles surrounding the museum. At the last Council meeting, Chad Pritchett stated the Museum could save $75 per month by combining two electric meters. Mr. Polifka presented updated information that the cost savings would actually be closer to $25 per month.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Report
Fire Chief Dustin Vine presented his monthly activity report. The Department is still looking for volunteer firefighters to fill vacancies in the Department.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Campground: Special Project
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, LLC, presented cost estimates from bids received for the Campground Expansion Project. The estimated project cost of $100,474.83 does not include picnic tables or in-kind cost of City staff labor or equipment use. Those costs will be added in prior to submission of the application. The deadline for application for Dane G. Hansen grant funds is February 25th. Council member Bret Andries moved to authorize the Campground Committee to proceed with the Dane G. Hansen grant application. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Museum: Repair/Maintenance
Council discussed the requests from the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home to take over mowing of the museum property and to bear the expense of combining the two electrical meters. The City already mows for the Ellis Railroad Museum and it was the consensus of Council to take over that maintenance item for the Chrysler Museum as well. Regarding the expense of combining the two electrical meters, Council requested the Chrysler Museum explore grant opportunities such as the Ellis Community Foundation, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, or Midwest Energy, to help with that cost. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve mowing the property at the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
General Government: Policy
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner requested additional time to review the document revising the City’s Small Cell Aesthetic Standards. Council will further consider the document at the next Council meeting.
Sewer: Special Project
City Attorney Olavee Raub updated Council on the progress of obtaining the easements for the Cedar Lane Lift Station project. Letters have been sent out to the two property owners affected; however, Ms. Raub has not received a response back from either property owner.
NEW BUSINESS
Parks: Event Request
Council discussed the Public Property Permit Application and Event Request for Traffic Control for the annual Chrysler Car Show. The Public Works Department normally supplies extra poly carts; however, the number requested was not completed on the application. Also, the incorrect street was referenced in the Event Request for Traffic Control. Council requested the applicant make corrections to the application for consideration at the next Council meeting.
General Government: Financial
Council considered a claim submitted by Janice Leiker for reimbursement for repairing her concrete edging damaged during repair of a water break in July 2018. The edging was within the City’s right of way. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve paying damages to Janice Leiker in the amount of $220.00 for damage done to her property within the City’s right of way. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Policy
City Clerk Amy Burton and City Attorney Olavee Raub discussed proposed revisions to the City’s Catastrophic Sick Leave Program. The Program has reached its calculated maximum value cap. Although newly eligible employees are allowed to enroll into the Program when the cap has been reached, Ms. Burton requested clarification on how long these employees have to enroll under these circumstances. Since the open enrollment periods occur quarterly, Council suggested a 90-day window for newly eligible employees to enroll in the Program. Ms. Raub will make the suggested revisions to the Program for consideration at the next Council meeting.
Water: Policy
Ms. Burton presented the updated Water Emergency Operating Plan for consideration. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends the Plan be updated annually. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the 2019 Public Water Supply Emergency Operating Plan as presented. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Sewer: Acquisition
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the purchase of aluminum hydrochlorate from Brenntag in the amount of $1,140 with funds to come from the Sewer Utility fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Streets: Acquisition
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to ratify the invoice from Crafco in the amount of $11,965.50 for street material for the 2019 Street Maintenance Program. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. Council had originally approved an amount of $11,925 at the January 21st Council meeting.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented two bids for the purchase of a Skid-Steer loader. Mr. Scheuerman recommended the low bid from Bobcat. Council member Martin LaBarge requested additional time to consider the purchase. The purchase will be tabled until the next Council meeting.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Consideration of the purchase of the jack hammer attachment for the Skid-Steer loader will also be tabled until the next Council meeting.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Council member Martin LaBarge thanked the Public Works Department for their recent work in the alleys.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates reported that the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center is already full for the March and April sessions. Currently, Officer Kolas is scheduled for the October session.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Health Insurance Savings Report for January and the updated concept plans for the swimming pool. The City plans to apply for Community Development Block Grant funding in May.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub requested an executive session at the end of the meeting.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Council member Jolene Niernberger reported that a citizen has approached her about the City developing a dog park.
Mayor David McDaniel announced that Senator Billinger and Representative Rahjes will hold a Town Hall Meeting at the Library Community Room at 8:00 a.m. on March 1st.
Executive Session
Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session at the request of City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss staffing in the Public Works Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with City Attorney Olavee Raub, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, and City Clerk Amy Burton present. The open meeting will resume at 9:24 p.m. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
Executive Session
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 5 minutes to discuss staffing in the Public Works Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with City Attorney Olavee Raub, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, and City Clerk Amy Burton present. The open meeting will resume at 9:30 p.m. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:31 p.m.
Two important bills continue to move through the legislative process.
SB9, which will make a $115M, postponed payment from 2016 to KPERS, passed out of the House this week.
Since this bill has passed both chambers it will now head to the Governor’s desk. The Governor has three options: she can sign the bill and it will become law, she can veto the bill which will send it back to the Senate where it will take 27 votes to override her veto and then to the House where it will take 84 votes to override her veto or the Governor can leave it on her desk for 10 days without signing it and the bill will then become law.
The vote was very bipartisan and passed both chambers unanimously.
Governor Kelly is not interested in making the missed payment to KPERS. Governor Kelly has her own plan to amortize the KPERS unfunded liability, which would cost the state an additional $7.4 billion over the term of the amortized payment.
A second important bill passed out of the Senate this week and has been passed to the House for a vote is SB32. SB32 allows the Kansas Farm Bureau to establish a health care benefit that offers coverage specifically for Farm Bureau members in Kansas. SB32 aims to reduce the number of uninsured Kansans by creating competition and free-market options for health care. SB32 is the Farm Bureau’s solution to addressing the critical need for KFB members to find affordable health care coverage. A recent study pointed out that 65% of agriculture producers view health care as the number one threat to the future of their operation.
I would like to thank Fort Hays State University President Dr. Tisa Mason, Coach Dr. Duane Shepherd and his wife assistant coach Denise Shepherd, Executive Director DeBra Prideaux and 26 members of the Fort Hays State University shooting club for making the trip to Topeka last Thursday. It was my honor to recognize the Fort Hays State University Shooting Club in the Senate chambers for earning the SCTP Division II National Championship title. This is the fourth national championship title and the club has also earned four runner-up championship titles.
The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee held hearings for SB162, which would require foster care contractors to inform the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) within 24 hours if any child in the foster care system goes missing. The bill would give DCF 48 hours to then inform legislators, the Governor and media about missing children. In addition, SB 162 would compel DCF to fine their private contractors $500 daily for violations of the proposed disclosure law. This legislation comes after multiple reports over previous years about missing children in DCF. Currently there are around 7,500 children within the Kansas foster care system.
Town Hall meeting times and locations have been scheduled and I look forward to seeing many of my constituents from the 40th Senate District. Dates, times and locations are as follows:
Friday, March 1, 2019
8:00-9:00 a.m. Ellis Co. -Ellis Public Library-907 Washington St.
9:45-10:45 a.m. Rooks Co.-Stockton City Building-115 S. Walnut St.
11:15-12:15 Phillips Co.-Phillipsburg-Branding Iron II-1310 State St
1:30-2:30 p.m. Norton Co.-Norton Public Library-1 Washington St
3:15-4:15 p.m. Graham Co.-Hill City-Graham Co Courthouse Commissioner’s Office-410 N. Pomeroy Ave.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
8:00-9:00 a.m. (MT) Wallace Co- Sharon Springs Senior Center 223 N. Main
9:30-10:30 a.m. (MT)Sherman Co.-Goodland Farm Bureau 1610 Main St.
12:30-1:30 p.m. Cheyenne Co.-St. Francis Public Library-121 N. Scott St
2:00-3:00 p.m. Rawlins Co.-Atwood Jamboree Food Deli-106 N 4th St.
3:30-4:30 p.m. Decatur Co- Oberlin BEE Building-104 S. Penn
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
8:00-9:00 a.m. Thomas Co.-Colby CCC Student Union, Room 106
9:30-10:30 a.m. Logan Co.-Oakley Buffalo Bill Cultural Center
11:00-12:00 Sheridan Co.-Hoxie-Midwest Energy meeting room-916 Sheridan Ave.
1:00-2:00 p.m. Gove Co-Quinter City Hall-202 Gove St.
2:30-3:30 p.m. Trego Co.-WaKeeney Livestock Market
Thank you for those who stopped by my office this last week.
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 236-E.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the Kansas state senator for the 40th District, which includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace counties as well as portions of Phillips county
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty has announced the appointment of Jamie Salter as the new airport manager for the Hays Regional Airport. She assumed her new duties Feb. 24.
Salter has a bachelor of science from Fort Hays State University. She has been employed with the city for over 11 years, during which time she has provided administrative support for the airport.
“Mrs. Salter has 11 years of experience with the city of Hays. She is well-versed in airport operations and regulatory matters,” Dougherty said. “The Hays Regional Airport will continue to grow under her leadership.”
As part of the S.A.F.E. (Seatbelts Are For Everyone) Program, the Hays Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies across the state with increased enforcement near high schools to raise awareness on roadway safety.
This program takes place February 25th through March 8th.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In 2018, nearly half of all Kansas teens who died in traffic crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
Officers will be very proactive and will issue citations to any individual who refuses to obey the traffic laws, whether it is for speeding, texting, or failing to buckle up. Please slow down, put the phone away or turn it off, and always buckle up.
Working together, we can help make our community safer for our children.
A Fort Hays State University jazz quartet starring three Chinese graduate students and an FHSU instructor will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
Yan “Leo” Lei is on piano, Hu “Tiger” Zhao on guitar, Defeng “Dave” Zhang on bass, and Ken Windholz, FHSU instructor of psychology, on drums.
The quartet will perform an original composition from Zhang.
“These students are very talented and are going to be showcasing that during this recital. We want a lot of people to come out and see them perform,” said Brad Dawson, director of jazz studies.
“The students teach jazz music in Chengdu, China, and perform throughout the city. They teach over one hundred students at their school,” said Dawson.
The third election machine demonstration for Ellis County has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 27 at 10 a.m. in the Commission Chambers, 718 Main, Hays.
The demonstration will be presented by Election Source from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday he will extend a deadline to escalate tariffs on Chinese imports, citing “substantial progress” in weekend talks between the two countries.
I am pleased to report that the U.S. has made substantial progress in our trade talks with China on important structural issues including intellectual property protection, technology transfer, agriculture, services, currency, and many other issues. As a result of these very……
Trump tweeted that there had been “productive talks” on some of the difficult issues dividing the U.S. and China, adding that “I will be delaying the U.S. increase in tariffs now scheduled for March 1.”
Trump said that if negotiations progress, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Florida resort to finalize an agreement.
U.S. and Chinese negotiators met through the weekend as they seek to resolve a trade war that’s rattled financial markets.
Trump had warned he would escalate the tariffs he has imposed on $200 billion in Chinese imports, from 10 to 25 percent, if the two sides failed to reach a deal. The increase was scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on March 2.
Speaking to governors gathered at the White House for an annual black-tie ball Sunday, Trump said he was doing “very well” with China.
“If all works well we’re going to have some very big news over the next week or two,” he said, though he took care to add that “we still have a little ways to go.”
Asian stock markets rose following Trump’s announcement, but gains were modest. Share prices already had risen in recent weeks in expectation Trump would postpone the tariff hike.
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 2.4 percent while Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 0.7 percent.
The world’s two biggest economies have been locked in a conflict over U.S. allegations that China steals technology and forces foreign companies to hand over trade secrets in an aggressive push to challenge American technological dominance.
The two countries have slapped import taxes on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other’s goods. The conflict has unnerved investors and clouded the outlook for the global economy, putting pressure on Trump and Xi to reach a deal.
Chinese negotiators said the talks made progress on technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights and non-tariff barriers, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. It cautioned there are “still some differences that need more time to be ironed out.”
“Trump clearly wants a deal and so do the Chinese, which certainly raises the probability that the two sides will come to some sort of negotiated agreement, even if it is a partial one, in the coming weeks,” said Cornell University economist Eswar Prasad, former head of the International Monetary Fund’s China division.
On Twitter, Trump said the two sides had made headway on issues including protection of trade secrets, forced technology transfer and U.S. agricultural sales to China. But the administration did not immediately provide details.
Business groups and lawmakers in Congress want to see a comprehensive deal that forces the Chinese to change their behavior and that can be enforced. The U.S. has accused China of failing to meet past commitments to reform its economic policies.
“Encouraging news from @POTUS that progress is being made in a trade deal with China. Hopefully this leads to an agreement that stops China’s theft of US intellectual property and avoids a full blown trade war,” tweeted Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
But critics worry the president has given up leverage.
“They now have lost the advantage of a deadline,” said Philip Levy, a senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a White House economist under President George W. Bush. “I see the odds tilting” in China’s favor, Levy said.
TOPEKA – Braden Acheson, Mercedes Kahn, Kyler Martin, and Miriam Towns of Palco served as pages for Senator Elaine Bowers in the Kansas Senate on February 18, 2019.
Pictured here with Governor Kelly and Senator Bowers, they spent the day taking a Dome Tour, attending committee meetings and running errands for the Kansas Senate.
Martina Viola Farrington, 99, passed away on February 23, 2019 at the Cedar Village Care Center in Ness City, Kansas. She was born on May 27, 1919 in Munjor, Kansas the daughter of Alex and Margaret (Pfannenstiel) Leiker.
She was a day care provider while she was living in California. After Martina moved to Ness City she became a member of the Sacred Heart Church and Altar Society. She married Marvin W. Farrington in Detroit, Michigan. He died on July 4, 1982.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin W Farrington; sisters, Mary Vogel, Ida Vogel, Lydia Leiker, Gete Simpson, Bertha Pfiefer, Coletta Luetters, Irene Leiker; and brothers, Edmund, Blackie, Richard, Robert Dean, and Al Leiker.
Rosary will be on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 10:30 A.M. at the Sacred Heart Church, Ness City followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Ness City.
Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Monday, February 25, 2019 from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. with the family present, from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Sacred Heart Church or Sacred Heart Cemetery.
