Cristina Janney – Page 50 – Hays Post Archive

Charles Isaac Andress

Posted on January 17, 2019

Charles Isaac Andress, 87, passed away Jan. 17, 2019 at Medicalodges of Great Bend due to kidney failure.

He was born on Nov. 20, 1931 in Great Bend, Kansas. He was the son of Charles and Virginia (Pritchard) Andress. He married Mary R. Treux on July 26, 1959 in Great Bend. She died June 5, 2006.

He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1949 and Kansas State University in 1954. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, having served in Alaska. He was a retired loan officer of the Greensburg Production Credit Association, having lived in Greensburg for 42 years before returning to Great Bend in 2007. He belonged to the Order of Eastern Star in Greensburg and Masonic bodies in Great Bend and was active in civic organizations and circus related groups. He was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Bend.

Survivors include, a son, John Andress and wife Rita of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Virginia Andress, and his wife, Mary Andress.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Great Bend Cemetery. A Celebration of Life Service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Memorials are suggested to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Delbert Lloyd Callen

Posted on January 17, 2019

Delbert Lloyd Callen, age 76, passed away on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at his home in Tribune, Kansas.

Delbert was born Feb. 23, 1942 in Tribune, Kansas, the son of Lloyd R. and June V. (Fairchild) Callen. He was a 1962 graduate of Fort Hays State University, graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Engineering. A lifetime resident of Greeley County, Kansas, he was a farmer.

Delbert was a member of American Radio Relay League, Lamar Racing Association and ASPCA.

On April 3, 1971, he married Margaret Harbison at Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. They divorced in 2001.

Delbert’s surviving family includes his two Children — Jeff and Laura Callen of Leoti, Kansas, Rebecca and Kevin Haddocks of Pensacola, Florida; one sister – Diana Callen- Topeka, Kansas; three grandchildren – Hunter Lee Callen, Shooter James Callen and Mason Elijah Haddocks.

The family will be having private services at a later date.

Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

Price & Sons Funeral Home in Tribune, Kansas is in charge of arrangements.

Ronald Joe Ferguson

Posted on January 17, 2019

Ronald Joe Ferguson, 73, passed away on Jan. 15, 2019 at the Ness County Hospital in Ness City. He was born on Aug. 28, 1945 in Ness City the son of Rex and Pauline (Foos) Ferguson.

He graduated from Bazine High School in 1963 and is a United States Army Veteran. He was the owner and operator Ron’s Standard and Ferguson Heating and Air. Ron was a talented woodworker and enjoyed the challenge of his work and took great pride in everything he did. Ron was a volunteer fireman for over 25 years. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He married Erma Gabel on Saturday, Sept. 7, 1968, in Ness City, Kansas. She survives.

Other survivors include son, Jason Ferguson and his wife, Devonie of Frederick, Colorado; sister, Nancy Ferguson of Ness City and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Ferguson. He was preceded in death by his son, Heath Ferguson.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 at the Sacred Heart Church, Ness City. A private family inurnment will be at a later date.

A Rosary and visitation will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Sacred Heart School and the Ness City Fire Department.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Hays Community Theatre sets murder mystery for this weekend

Posted on January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

Submitted

Back L-R: Sheriff Judd Hughes (Bryan Snyder-Brown), Ed Goddard (Adam Conkey), Cy Goddard (David Koshiol), Byron Shetfield (Monte Smith), Wild Bill Hickok (Jerrett Leiker), Bottom L-R: Kate Coffey (Pamela Grizzell), Clementine Welsh (Wendy Richmeier), Kitty McGlasson (Brittany McCampbell), Hetty Palmer (Claire Nickerson), Lou Sherwood (Krysten Linenberger), Thomasina Clarke (Tammy Freeman), Emma Bowen (Chelsie Nelson)

“Threshold Of Death: A Murder at Cy Goddard’s Dance Hall” is another original murder mystery written just for us by local writing group The InkPlots.

Although the story line is not based off of historical events here in Hays, the play does feature some of the known and loved characters from the Hays Community Theatre’s Haunted Tours in addition to some new characters.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with a prompt start time of 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday Tickets are $20. A cash bar will be available.

Although it’s not required to dress for the Old West, HCT definitely encourage it. This is a great date night, or get a group of friends together for some fun and see if you can solve the mystery. Admittance is 21 and older.

Additional things coming up for HCT include:

• Auditions for “Steel Magnolias” on Wednesday, Jan. 23 and Thursday Jan. 24.

• “Murder Can be Habit Forming” show dates are Feb. 15 and 16. Look for tickets to go on sale soon.

Be sure to go to the HCT website www.hctks.com and sign up for their newsletter to stay up to date and follow them on Facebook.

HCT will soon be posting audition and show dates for their summer show, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

NCK TECH honors employee with 212 Award

Posted on January 17, 2019January 16, 2019

Submitted

Jayme Owen, student services coordinator for the Beloit Campus, receives the 212 Award from President Eric Burks at the recent college in-service.

Each semester NCK TECH awards an employee who has gone beyond expectations in their job responsibilities.

The premise of the 212 Award is that water is hot at 211 degrees, but that one degree more causes water to boil. Thus, the 212 Award recognizes those who go that extra degree to make a difference in their job with students and co-workers.

Employees are nominated by their peers and chosen by a panel of past 212 Award winners.

Jayme Owen, student services coordinator for the Beloit Campus, received the award from President Eric Burks at the recent college in-service.

“We have so many dedicated and talented employees at NCK Tech, and Jayme Owen is certainly one of them,” Burks said. “This award demonstrates that her peers recognize that as well. As the student services coordinator for the Beloit Campus, she is often one of the first people visitors encounter, as well as someone our current students rely on for guidance and assistance. In all of her duties, she goes beyond with a positive attitude to make sure people are served in a caring and respectful manner. We are blessed to have Jayme as part of the NCK Tech family.”

Owen also recently received her five-year service award from the college.

For information and to learn more about NCK TECH, visit www.ncktc.edu.

Mary (Bretz) Glad

Posted on January 16, 2019

Mary (Bretz) Glad, SEPTEMBER 16, 1924 ~ JANUARY 11, 2019 (AGE 94)

There will be a gathering of family and friends at 1 p.m. Jan. 26, 2019 at the Weskan Bible Church.

A full obituary will be posted when it becomes available.

Doris Marie (Cermak) Ptacek

Posted on January 16, 2019

Doris Marie (Cermak) Ptacek, 95, passed away at the Shawnee Heartland Assisted Living Facility in Shawnee, Kansas, on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019.

On May 11, 1923, she was born in Bee, Nebraska, to James and Amelia (Bouska) Cermak. Her father passed away in 1927, and the family moved to Wilson, Kansas and later back to Bee, Nebraska, where she attended school. While she was in school, Doris and her sister used to sing and dance to Czech songs at programs.

After graduation from High School, she attended Lincoln Business College. Upon graduating from Business College, Doris worked at the Nebraska State Capitol for four years. In 1947, she married John Ptacek in Wilson, Kansas. John was a farmer in Wilson where they lived and raised their son Darell.

Doris helped her husband on the farm and continued to work at other jobs. During the construction of the Wilson Dam and Reservoir she worked for four years in the site office. Later, she worked in the Ellsworth County Hospital administrative office for over 27 years until she retired. In 1983, her beloved husband, John, passed away. After his death, Doris continued living on and running the family farm.

In 2000, Doris moved to Shawnee Heartland, Shawnee, Kansas, where she was one of the original residents when the facility opened. The move allowed her to be closer to her son Darell, his wife Linda and three active grandsons. She was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren. Doris enjoyed watching all of them grow-up and attended their sporting events whenever she could. Over the years, Doris had many hobbies, including dancing, growing flowers and a garden, raising chickens and ducks, collecting antique glassware and her specialty collection of butterfly-themed pins and jewelry. Doris was always an active member of the Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, Altar Society and was a 4-H volunteer leader for 10 years.

Doris is survived by her son, Darell and wife Linda of Lenexa; grandchildren, Russ Ptacek and wife Erin of Louisburg, Travis Ptacek and wife Stephanie of Overland Park, Cody Ptacek and wife Kerri of Olathe; seven great-grandchildren, Ethan, Nova, Blair, Marie, Camden, Derek, and Quincy; brother-In-Law, Frank Sisel of Raytown, Missouri, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Ptacek; parents, James and Amelia Cermak; and two infant sons; and sister, Rosalyn Sisel.

Doris worked hard, loved her Lord Jesus and her family. Be encouraged by her legacy, live an inspired, spiritual and happy life as you did when she was living. Live each day with encouragement knowing that Doris is smiling down on you from Heaven.

A Mass of Christian Burial is planned at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 21, 2019, at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Wilson, Kansas, Father Matthew Chacko presiding.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 2019 with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. with Vigil and Rosary Service at 7 p.m., all at the Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson, Kansas.

The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society or American Macular Degeneration Research Foundation (AMDF).

Ethel M. Dowling

Posted on January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

Norton – Ethel M. Dowling, 83, passed away Monday, January 14, 2019 at Norton Community Hospital, Norton, Kansas.

Ethel was born Oct. 1, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Otto and Mary (Cornelius) Amos.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Lawrence Amos and a great-grandchild.

Ethel is survived by her four daughters, Renne (James) Galgocy of Independence, Iowa, Roxanne (Bob) Williams of Eldora, Iowa, Claire Dowling and Beth (Steve) Horney all of Norton; a sister, Elizabeth Anderson of Largo, Florida; two grandchildren, Sara Barnes of Independence, Iowa, Kenneth Barnes of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and ten great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 3:00 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2019 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Norton, Kansas. Immediately following mass there will be a dinner at the church parish hall. There will not be a public visitation as cremation was chosen. Memorials may be given to the Andbe Home, 201 W. Crane St., Norton, KS 67654 and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.

James E. McReynolds

Posted on January 16, 2019

James E. McReynolds, 88, of Concordia, Kansas (formerly of Osborne, Kansas) died on Sunday, January 13, at Cloud County Health Center, Concordia, Kansas. He was born in Osborne County, Kansas, on Feb. 12, 1930 to Alfred C. and Bessie (Porter) McReynolds. Jim was one of several children.

James graduated from high school. He was an elevator manager for Midway Co-op in Osborne for 30 years.

On Sept. 12, 1954, James married Merna D. Kaser at the Osborne Christian Church. They lived on a farm in the Covert area until they moved to Osborne in 1961. In August 2013, they moved to Concordia to live at Sunset Assisted Living.

James was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Merna in 2015; a daughter, Darla Keever in 2012; one great-grandson.

James is survived by a daughter, Dana (Bob) Hollerich of Tipton, Kansas; three sons: Daniel (Sheila) McReynolds of Concordia; Dwight (Deb) McReynolds of Alton, Kansas; Darwin (Tressie) McReynolds of Kensington, Kansas; sister: Rebecca Adcock of Osborne; brother: Robert McReynolds of Westminster, Colorado; 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Donations may be made to the new Osborne Swimming Pool, Osborne KS 67473.

Terry K. Gigot

Posted on January 16, 2019

GARDEN CITY — Terry K. Gigot, 74, died on Monday, January 14, 2019 at St Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born on June 17, 1944 at Garden City the son of Clarence Joseph and Velma Irene (McLinn) Gigot.

He married Connie Jo Ray on Oct. 27, 1961 at Dodge City. She died on May 11, 2017.

Terry attended Plymell School and graduated from Garden City High School. While in school he was involved with showing livestock with 4-H and Future Farmers of America. After his schooling he started farming with his brother Jerry.

In 1965 after the first sprinkler was put in the sandhills he and his brothers formed Gigot Irrigation and Circle Land Company. They then formed Circle Feeders while also being involved with WW Feeders which later became Gigot Feeders. When they reached over 500 circle of corn they formed Maxima Fertilizer and later sold it to Helena. Then they started Southwest Corn Elevators to market their corn crop.

Terry did public speaking about the irrigation business and the brothers hosted international groups to educate them on irrigation. Away from work Terry’s passion was racing, he raced motorcross, snowmobiles, micro midgets, sprint cars and drag racing all across the Midwest.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two brothers — Jerry Gigot and Dean Gigot.

He is survived by his daughter-Kim Stanford of Prairie Village, son- Kevin Gigot of Garden City, two brothers- Mike Gigot and Jeff Gigot both of Garden City, two sisters- Marjorie Van Camp of Topeka and Jennifer Priddy of Garden City and five grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Presbyterian Church in Garden City with Rev Denise Pass officiating. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Memorials are suggested to St. Catherine Hospice in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Garnand Funeral Home, 412 North Seventh, Garden City, KS 67839, 620-276-3219

Hays USD 489 school board hears report on Chromebook study

Posted on January 16, 2019January 15, 2019

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board is requesting further information on the cost of purchasing Chromebooks for the Hays Middle School.

Middle school and elementary school students currently use iPads, which are set to be replaced at the HMS in the fall.

The board requested the district study the use of Chromebooks. A report on that study was presented at the school board meeting Monday night.

Select classes at O’Loughlin, Hays Middle School and the Learning Center were involved in the study this fall.

Teachers found having keyboards was an advantage, especially when the students were answering essay questions.

However, they struggled with the the Chromebooks’ ability to annotate PDFs. Instead of printing paper copies of worksheets, teachers send PDF copies of the worksheets to students on their iPads. The students then complete the worksheets digitally on their devices.

The teachers, however, found the Chromebook software made working with the PDFs more difficult than the iPads.

Nathan Purdue, HMS science teacher, said he appreciated the USB ports on the Chromebooks because they allowed them to use Vernier lab tools.

Middle school students in the study were surveyed about the Chromebooks, and the majority said they preferred using the iPads. However, they liked having a keyboard for typing. They also said the Chromebook’s ability to access and submit files in Canvas was frustrating and time consuming.

Gina Johnson, O’Loughlin fifth-grade teacher, said her students also struggled with working with PDFs. She also thought the current software the district is using was easier to use for lesson planning. The Chromebooks that the students used in the study did not have rear-facing cameras as the iPads do. She said the students struggled taking photos for assignments because this feature was absent.

Scott Summers, technology director, said the Chromebooks worked better when fully integrated with Google products.

There would be additional costs if the district purchased Chromebooks, Summers noted in his report. This included a yearly cost of $7 per student, per year for device monitoring software. An additional activation fee of $1,500 would also be needed. This would be per building. PDF annotation/free-hand drawing tools would cost $3,000 per building per year. Device management would be required by Google at a one-time cost of $25 per Chromebook.

Board members Greg Schwartz and Lance Bickle asked Summers if he had contacted other schools that are using Chromebooks to determine if the problems the teachers and students encountered could be resolved. Summers said he had not.

Schwartz made a motion directing the administration to bring back a side-by-side cost comparison for Chromebooks versus other devices the district was proposing to purchase. The comparison should be to the board at least one week week before the board was to consider purchasing new devices for HMS.

Schwartz further asked Summers to contact area schools that are using Chromebooks to identify ways the district might solve some of the issues it encountered in the study.

The motion was approved with only board member, Paul Adams, abstaining.

Summers also reported on the roll out of new Dell computers at Hays High School in the fall.

He said repairs were down significantly compared to previous years.

Ninety percent of the staff surveyed stated the device overall is meeting the instructional needs of their classrooms. The most significant concern with the new computers was problems with connectivity.

Summers said the tech staff reviewed the network and removed and blocked all Samsung and iPhone users from the network. This significantly improved connectivity. The technology team also plans to map the high school to determine the areas that are having the most online traffic.

In other business: the board:

• Approved the 2017-18 audit report

• Approved 2019-20 Hays High School curriculum revisions

• Heard a report on a reduction in driver’s education fees

Lovewell High School Theatre workshops offered this summer

Posted on January 16, 2019January 15, 2019

Submitted

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation is pleased to again bring Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts to northwest Kansas students this summer.

After a successful debut with four workshops in 2018, this summer, the Hansen Foundation is expanding the program to offer six, week-long musical theater workshops for high school students (incoming freshman through graduating seniors).

In just five days, participating students conceive, write, choreograph, compose, design, rehearse, produce and perform an original piece of musical theater in collaboration with a staff of professionals and educators.

Workshop schedule:

Hoxie May 28 – June 1*
Phillipsburg June 3 – 7
Russell June 10 – 14
Goodland June 17 – 21
Concordia June 24 – 28
Salina July 30 – August 3*

*Tuesday through Saturday

Students from surrounding communities and counties are encouraged to participate in a workshop closest to them. Registration is limited to the first 30 students in each location. For more information or to register, visit lovewell.org, and click on Apply, and then Kansas.

Although a workshop cannot replace a full theatre arts program offered in schools, Lovewell offers students an opportunity to explore this genre in a unique way. The response from the students and faculty in 2018 was overwhelmingly positive.

ABOUT THE LOVEWELL WORKSHOPS

The week-long day camp/workshop brings students from all different creative backgrounds together to create an original work of musical theatre from scratch. While the performance is an enormous part of the workshop, the focus is on the creative process. To make it come together, the process needs writers, actors, poets, dancers, singers, dreamers, visual artists, musicians, composers, designers and creative students of ALL kinds.

The students will work with a team of professional artists to help utilize all the students’ gifts and explore the arts while forging new friendships and making memories to last a lifetime.

PARTICIPTION COSTS

Each workshop is limited to 30 students. The Hansen Foundation is underwriting the cost of the workshops so that the student participation fee is significantly discounted to $50. However, no student who is truly committed to participate will be denied the opportunity due to inability to pay. Scholarships are available.

ABOUT LOVEWELL

Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts is a not-for-profit organization that brings students together with professional artists to conduct these unique and transformational workshops. The Lovewell team are artist who make their living as musical directors, playwrites, choreographers, composers, lyricists, etc.

Lovewell is based in Florida, but its roots are in Kansas. After a pilot in New York in 1984, the process became the “Lovewell Experience” in 1987 in Salina, Kansas. The director of the program is a Kansas native.

Today, Lovewell offers workshops all over the United states and also internationally. Learn more about Lovewell at www.lovewell.org

For more information on NW Kansas Arts opportunities sponsored by the Hansen Foundation, visit our website www.danehansenfoundation.org; click on Special Initiatives and NWKansas Arts.

Hays USD 489 sells Washington to low-income housing developer

Posted on January 14, 2019

By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

At its meeting Monday, the Hays USD 489 school board approved the sale of the former Washington school to Overland Park Group for $500,000.

OPG hopes to renovate the building into low-income apartments.

The district has purchased the Oak Park Medical Complex on 13th Street and is remodeling it for use by Early Childhood Connections, which is currently in the Washington building at 305 Main.

OPG is the owner of the Stonepost Apartments in Hays. Matt Gillam, OPG vice president of development, said his company has been looking at Hays for further low-income housing development for some time. Stonepost currently has a waiting list of 80 people.

The contract with OPG stipulates only $5,000 down for the property and a 365-day window in which to close. The contract is also contingent on the company being able to secure low-income housing tax credits for the property.

OPG will also be applying for historical status for the former school, which was built in 1926. The company hopes to receive additional historic preservation funding.

The property sits in a Neighborhood Revitalization District as well. It would go back on the tax roles, but it would qualify for a rebate on taxes for the increase in the value of the property for 10 years.

The district will be able to continue to use the building until the contract is finalized.

Application for 2019 low-income tax credits is in February, so Gillam said he needed to know from the board Monday if the contract was going to be approved.

Board member Lance Bickle said he thought the sale might be a good idea, but he was concerned about the short time frame in which to make a decision.

Board member Mike Walker echoed these concerns.

“I have a concern about the time frame, and I wish down payment was more than $5,000, but I am in favor of the project. I think you did a good of presenting it, and you have a good track record,” Walker said.

Board member Paul Adams was also concerned about the small down payment and potential delay in closing the contract. However, he said he appreciated OPG was going to preserve the historic nature of the building and acknowledged additional affordable housing was needed in the community.

Sophia Rose Young pointed to a report earlier in the evening that indicated about a third of students at Wilson Elementary received free and reduced-cost lunches. She said low-income housing would serve the district’s student population.

Turn-Key Properties also made an offer to purchase the property with the hopes of turning the former school into apartments. However, their offer was $200,000. No one from Turn-Key was present at the meeting Monday night.

The board approve the contract on a split vote, 5-1-1 with Bickle voting against and Greg Schwartz abstaining.