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Year: 2019

TMP girls place 3rd at MCL tournament

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WaKeeney – Adell Riedel hit two of her game-high five three pointers in the second half, the Lady Monarchs had two score in double-figures and they collected 14 steals as a team as TMP downed Smith Center 45-39 to claim third place at the MCL tournament in WaKeeney Saturday.

The Monarchs opened the game on a 12-2 run highlighted by back-to-back Riedel three-pointers but it was a lead that they were unable to maintain as the game went down to the wire.

Down 10 Smith Center answered with a 16-3 run to end the first quarter and begin the second quarter to take an 18-15 lead early.

TMP retook the lead in the second quarter out scoring Smith Center 9-3, with seven points coming from the free throw line, to end the first-half to build a 24-21 lead at the break.

Smith Center out scored the Monarchs 10-2 to begin the third quarter and led 31-30 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 33, Emily Schippers scored just her second field goal of the game to put the Monarchs up 35-33. Riedel hit her fifth three of the game on the next possession to put the Monarchs up 38-33 and they would never trail again on their way to the 45-39 win.

Adell Riedel finished with a season-high 19 points and Jillian Lowe finished with 11 on 9-of-12 free three attempts.

Game highlights

The Monarchs improve to 8-4 with the win while Smith Center falls to 6-5.

TMP will return to action on Jan. 25 against Abilene.

Update: KHP identifies KDOT snow plow driver in fatal rollover

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JOHNSON COUNTY — A Kansas Department of Transportation employee died in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Saturday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Freightliner truck driven by Stephen N Windler, 25, Paola, was southbound on U.S. 69 Highway in the outside lane just south of 207th Street.

The vehicle traveled to the right traversing the shoulder, traveled into the grass, rotated counter-clockwise and became broadside as it started to tip.

Traffic diverted near the Saturday morning just north of the accident investigation- photo KC Scout

The truck overturned, emptied its salt load, ejected the driver and rolled on top of the driver.

Windler was pronounced dead at the scene and he was transported to Frontier Forensics, according to the KHP.

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JOHNSON COUNTY  —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal crash in Johnson County that took the life of a Kansas Department of Transportation snow plow driver just after 6a.m. Saturday on southbound U.S. 69 south of 207th Street in Johnson County.

On their twitter account, Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz said, “our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members and the co-workers of our driver. KDOT is one big family, and we know there are many people impacted by this.”

No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The KHP has not released the driver’s name.

Hays score a season high in points finishing fourth in Colby

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Hays High started the game on a 12-0 run and never trailed Heritage Christian Saturday afternoon finishing in fourth place at the Orange & Black Classic in Colby.  The Indians led by 12 on five different occasions in the first quarter including a 27-15 lead at the end of the first frame.

The Indians lead swelled to 36-20 on a Cade Swayne three point play early in the second quarter before the Crusaders pulled the game back to single digits on a 7-0 run.  Hays held the lead at 14 points for the next two minutes and settled for a 11 point lead at halftime 43-32.

Highlights

 

Christian Heritage, from Del City, Oklahoma, opened the second half scoring six straight points and pulled within five at 43-38.  The Indians missed a three on the following possession but Dalyn Schwarz stuck an offensive rebound back in which ignited a 9-0 run that included another Schwarz basket and then back to back TJ Nunnery scores for a 52-38 advantage.  Following four points from the Crusaders, The Indians scored ten straight points all from players off the bench to grab their first 20 point lead at 62-42.

The Indians would never be threatened rest of the way winning 83-53.  Hays shot a season high 52% form the field and season high 44% from three making a season high 12 three pointers.  The hot shooting continued at the free throw line as Hays made 19 of 21 attempts.

Coach Rick Keltner

 

Hays improves to 6-4 on the season.  TJ Nunnery scored a career high 16.  Tradgon McCrae matched the 16 points in the scoring column.  Carson Kiefer scored his first every double figure varsity game at 10 points.  Overall seven players scored eight or more points in the game.  Christian Heritage record falls to 10-8.

The Indians return home on Friday to play Salina Central.

Legette leads No. 3 Tiger women past Washburn

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TOPEKA, Kan. – Tatyana Legette scored a game-high 18 points in the final game in her hometown and the third-ranked Fort Hays State women bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 59-51 in over Washburn at Lee Arena.

Legette pulled down a game-best eight rebounds as the Tigers (16-1, 7-1 MIAA) end Washburn’s nine-game win streak and hand them their conference loss.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

After Washburn (1105, 6-1 MIAA) scored the game’s first points, the Tigers went on a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Kacey Kennett hit a deep three to end the first quarter and put FHSU up 19-12. A 10-0 second quarter run extended their lead to 16 late in the second quarter.

The Tigers scored the first basket in the fourth quarter but Washburn answered with a 15-4 run to close the gap to six with a little over two minutes to play.

Legette hit a key second chance basket on the Tigers next possession to push the lead to eight with under two to play.

Belle Barbiere scored 11 points and Lanie Page added 10 along with seven rebounds.

Taylor Blue hit two of Washburn’s three fourth quarter 3-pointers and lead the Ichabods with 14 points.

 

Trump offers immigration deal to end government shutdown

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the partial government shutdown (all times local):

President Trump makes comments from the White House Saturday-image courtesy the White House

President Donald Trump is offering to extend temporary protection for people brought to U.S. illegally as children in a bid to secure border wall funding.

Trump has struggled to find a way out of a four-week partial government shutdown over his demand to construct a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

Trump promoted his plan Saturday as a way to “break the logjam and provide Congress with a path forward to end the government shutdown.”

Trump is also offering to extend protections for immigrants who came to the U.S. as a result of war or natural disasters in their home countries.

Trump says Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will bring the proposal for a vote in the Senate this week. But Democrats, who control the House, are already saying they find the president’s offer unacceptable.

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Kansas officer injured at accident scene on slick roads

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SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas police officer was injured in an accident Saturday morning in Sedgwick County.

photo courtesy Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay

The officer suffered minor injuries when a vehicle struck the Wichita Police Department SUV at an accident scene in the southbound lanes on Interstate 135, according to a social media report from Chief Gordon Ramsay.

The officer is at home recovering for the next couple of days. The chief reminded drivers to “slow down when you see emergency vehicles and keep our first responders safe.”

Police released no additional details early Saturday.

Peter E. Marcus

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Peter E. Marcus, 77, passed away on January 17, 2019 at the Ness County Hospital in Ness City, Kansas. He was born on June 6, 1941 in Ames, Iowa the son of Orville and Viola (Kopper) Marcus.

He was an elementary school teacher in the Beeler and Ness City schools and a financial planner for Waddell and Reed. He was very active in the Lions Club and he served as the President of the Ness City Rotary Club as well as Rotary Past District Governor. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Ness City where he served on many boards including lay speaking. Pete was a US Army Veteran serving as a Chaplain’s Assistant.

He married Coline Duer on December 30th, 1962, in St. John, Kansas. She survives.

Other survivors include his daughter, Penny Nielsen and her husband, Patrick; son, John Marcus and his wife, Brenda; two sisters, Connie and Joan Marcus; five grandchildren, Katie Leigh Marcus, Lisa and Jessica Burgy, and Jacob and Andrew Nielsen, and three great-granddaughters.

Graveside services and inurnment will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be given to the United Methodist Church, Ness City Rotary Club, or the Ness City Library.

Willard ‘Scottt’ — the ‘Mountain Man’ — Behrle

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Willard “Scott” the “Mountain Man” Behrle, 58, passed away January 17, 2019, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born April 22, 1960, at Anthony, to Wilburt and Hazel (Bemis) Behrle.

Scott, a resident of Hoisington since 2012 coming from Kinsley, was a self-employed arborist, previously working at Scholfield Mill Right, Dodge City. He was a member of the First Street Church of God, Hoisington, and enjoyed building hot rods.

He was previously married to Corinne Bright, of Tonkawa, OK, and Anita Watkins of Kinsley. Other survivors include two daughters, Melissa Hipp and husband Joe, and Jennifer Behrle-Rhodes and husband Richard, all of Hoisington; one step daughter, Valerie Schroth and husband Josh, of Blue Springs, MO; two sisters, Diana Glaze, of Otis, and Liz Hull Cotton of Pueblo, CO; seven grandchildren and three step grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 25, 2019, at First Street Church of God in Hoisington with Rev. Dick Ogle. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, January 24, 2019 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main, Hoisington, KS 67544. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Scott Behrle Expense Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

Mary Lou Lambert Bell

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On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, Mary Lou Lambert Bell, loving wife and mother of four children, passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 82.

Mary Lou was born on August 10, 1936 on a farm near the Redline in Graham County Kansas, to James and LuLu (Boatman) Lambert. On June 10, 1954 she married Verlan Leslie Bell. They had three children, Leslie, Debbie, and Diana Kay before moving to Littleton Colorado in 1959. Jim, their younger son, joined the family in 1970.

Mary Lou attended grade school through high school in Hill City, Kansas, graduating in 1954. She always looked forward to attending her high school reunion over Memorial Day weekend and having lunch with her classmates. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens in Colorado along with making silk flower arrangements and fans for family and friends. She was an avid book reader and enjoyed puzzles and word searches. She reminisced fondly of the many trips taken with Verlan and various other family members in their motor home, to Kansas and Texas to visit family and friends. Many memories and laughs were made on their trips including one from Colorado to Florida with many stops throughout the trip.

She was a hard-working and dedicated employee to all the various jobs she had throughout her life, but cherished most her time spent raising her children and keeping the books for the family business.

Numerous people commented on Mary Lou’s smile and compassion, remembering that no matter what she was going through she greeted them with a smile, said she was doing great and always asked how they were doing.

Mary Lou, in addition to her parents, is preceded in death by siblings, Enid and Alex McKenna, Viola and Bill Jones, James Ivan Lambert, Wilma and David Brinkmeyer, and Geneva and Willard Bell; daughter in law, Kay Bell.

She is survived by husband, Verlan Bell; children, Leslie Bell, Debra and husband Kjell Snemyr, Diana Kay and Don Missel and James Bell; grandchildren, Bobby Anderson, LeAnne (Arlo) Padilla, Kristine (Janak) Garg, Erik Snemyr, and Stephanie Missel; great grandkids, Mirabai Garg, Kiran Garg, and Hayden Snemyr; also survived by many other nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Click HERE for service details.

Dixie Lee Horton

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Dixie Lee Horton, age 82, of Hays, Kansas passed away Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Society, Hays.

Memorial services will be 11 AM on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at The First Presbyterian Church in Hays. Memorial visitation will be from 10 AM until service time at the church.

Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

A complete obituary is pending.

Clarence Fisher

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Clarence Fisher, age 87, of Wichita, Kansas formerly of Hays passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Westview of Derby, Kansas.

Memorial services will be 10 AM on Monday, January 28, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Memorial visitation will be from 9 AM until service time at the church.

Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601.

A complete obituary is pending

Ellis city council reorganizes in new year

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ELLIS – In a Jan. 14 meeting filled with reorganization of appointments for the new year, the Ellis City Council unanimously elected Holly Aschenbrenner as Council President. City Clerk Amy Burton administered the oath of office to newly elected council members Steve Ferland, Martin LaBarge, and incumbent Jolene Niernberger.

Mayor David McDaniel announced the consultant updating the Ellis County Comprehensive Plan will hold a meeting in Ellis Thu.,  January 31 at 8:00 a.m. to gather input for the city.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

 

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

January 14, 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, Steve Ferland, Martin LaBarge, Jolene Niernberger, and Bob Redger.  Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, and Police Chief Taft Yates.  City Attorney Olavee Raub was absent.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE TO NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS

Personnel: Entry

City Clerk Amy Burton administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Council members Steve Ferland, Martin LaBarge, and Jolene Niernberger.

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

Mayor David McDaniel requested the addition of consideration of the purchase of vehicles for the Public Works Department.

PUBLIC PRESENT

Sam Pyle, Dan Pyle, Glen Keller, Joleen Fisher, Guy Riedel, Guy Windholz, Nickole Byers (arrived at 7:35 p.m.), Pauleen Edmonds (arrived at 7:35 p.m.), and Travis Kohlrus (arrived at 7:42 p.m.)

CONSENT AGENDA

None

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Guy Windholz, representing the Bukovina Society, thanked Council for their support and work on the Campground Expansion Project.  The Society receives many visitors that are staying at the campground.

PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)

None

SPECIAL ORDER

Museum: Special Project

Sam Pyle presented a slide show of the renovations made to the basement of the Railroad Museum for his Eagle Scout project.  Council member Jolene Niernberger congratulated Mr. Pyle on earning the impressive Eagle Scout designation.

NEW BUSINESS

Personnel: Position

Council member Bob Redger made a motion to elect Council member Holly Aschenbrenner as Council President.  Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

General Government: Policy

Annually, the Council designates the official newspapers and official banks for the City to use.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to designate the Hays Daily News and Ellis Review as official newspapers; Equity Bank and Golden Belt Bank as official banks within the City limits; and Emprise Bank and Commerce Bank as the official banks outside the City limits.  Council member Steve Ferland seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

Tourism: Contracts

Joleen Fisher, representing the Tourism Committee, presented the 2019 advertising packages for the City.  The proposal includes Eagle Community TV, Eagle Radio, Central Brochure Distribution, and the Ellis Review.  Council requested that the television advertising be refreshed more often, and for the Committee to possibly look into adding directional signage for the museums and campground.  Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the 2019 advertising proposals from Eagle Community TV ($4,200); Eagle Radio ($2,448); Central Brochure Distribution ($600); and the Ellis Review ($1,000) for a total of $8,248, with funds to come from the Tourism Fund.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

General Government: Financial

Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve Resolution No. 552 authorizing employees and City officials to use the City’s credit card.  Council member Steve Ferland seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

Special Machinery: Acquisition

Council member Bret Andries requested consideration of the purchase of two pickups for the Public Works Department tonight due to the time frame involved.  The second pickup is available for purchase at auction on Friday.  Guy Riedel, Auto Standard owner, is offering to sell a 2015 Ford F250 at a price of $19,900, or $18,500 if two trucks are purchased.  The second truck, a 2012 Ford F250, would be sold at a price of $15,500.  Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman stated he was not aware of the specifications of the second pickup until late afternoon, and does not believe it is a viable choice for the Department; however, he has looked at the 2015 Ford truck and believes it would be a good fit for the Department.  Since Mr. Scheuerman is not interested in the 2012 Ford up for auction on Friday, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner requested more time to review the purchase of the vehicle.  Also, the City’s purchasing policy states that competitive bids must be received for purchases exceeding $10,000.  Mr. Riedel feels confident he will be able to find a second pickup to fit the City’s needs and would be willing to sell the 2015 Ford for the reduced price.  Council member Jolene Niernberger made a motion to purchase the 2015 Ford F250 from Auto Standard, LLC in the amount of $18,500, with funds to come from the Special Machinery Fund.  Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion.  The motion carried 5-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner opposed.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Mr. Scheuerman asked if the new Council was interested in continuing the annual street seal maintenance program.  The program seals approximately 40-45 blocks a year, encompassing the entire City over the span of six years.  It was the consensus of Council to continue the program.  Mr. Scheuerman will present cost estimates at the next meeting.

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates reported that Officer Kolas began employment on January 7th and has already qualified on the Department’s firearms and taser.

City Clerk

City Clerk Amy Burton requested that the Governing Body complete the Authorization to Release Personal Contact Information that was included in their Council packet, and to check available dates to hold Council orientation.

Attorney

Mayor Update and Announcements

Mayor David McDaniel presented a Resolution declaring the City’s intent to remain in the Kansas PRIDE Program.  Council requested the Resolution be inserted into the Council packets for the next meeting.

The consultant updating the Ellis County Comprehensive Plan will hold a meeting in Ellis on January 31st at 8:00 a.m. to gather input for the City.

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner asked if the Council was interested again in sponsoring the meal for the Community Block Party.  It was the consensus of the Council to support the event.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Bret Andries moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried 6-0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

 

OPINION: The Color Purple

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Gov. Laura Kelly (R-KS)

We should be decades beyond commenting on what women politicians wear. We don’t, usually, notice what kind of suits the dudes in office are sporting. Men, especially, should steer clear of this topic.

Notice anyway that Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly wore purple pants and purple boots at a chilly inauguration on Monday. Maybe she just liked the outfit. Maybe the pants and boots were particularly toasty. But because the color’s handy, let’s draw some symbolism from it.

She’s a blue governor in a red state. Is Kansas becoming more purple? Maybe. It replaced one Republican congressman with a Democratic congresswoman. Kelly’s win over Kris Kobach, a Democrat over a Republican, might also suggest the state’s hue is trending magenta. And a few moderate Republican lawmakers recently declared themselves Democrats.

But is the state really becoming a blend of red and blue? Or is it becoming more distinctly red and blue?

Remember that Kobach barely beat then-Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican primary. They differed little on policy. Lower taxes. Smaller government. Less regulation. No abortion. Their differences were more in style. Had Colyer won the primary — again, he lost by this much — it’s entirely plausible that he’d be governor today. Kelly was propelled to office every bit as much by antipathy for confrontation-happy Kobach as she was by support for the mild messages she used in her campaign.

What’s more, Democratic governors aren’t that novel here. Of the last 10 governors, half have been Democrats.

Those party switchers? They were already occasionally voting with Democrats. Their switches came with some tactical benefits.

Yes, more Democrats got elected to the Kansas House this year. But so did more deeply conservative Republicans. It was the moderate, purple middle that faded a tad.

Or there’s another way to look at our color theme. In Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple, it was a reference to a bruise. Kelly certainly looks at state government as wounded by tax cuts that begat revenue drops that begat budget cuts.

As she looks to restore spending — for better foster care, smoother highways, safer prisons, more robust schools — she’ll struggle against a Republican leadership in the Legislature that’s even more conservative than it was a year ago. Some of those folks will run for the U.S. Senate and have every reason to appeal to the right-wing base of the GOP. And they’ve already signaled that they’ll fight back against Democratic tax-and-spend tendencies.

She ended her State of the State speech declaring it was time to get to work. She needs to brace for a fight.

Scott Canon is the managing editor of Kansas News Service.

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