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Author: Hays Post

‘Mamma Mia!’ begins 2018-2019 theatre season at FHSU

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FHSU University Relations

“Mamma Mia!,” a funny, lighthearted tale set in a Greek island paradise, will begin the 2018-2019 theatre season at Fort Hays State University.

The musical comedy romance revolves around a girl’s desire to find her birth father to walk her down the aisle in her approaching wedding. To do so, she secretly invites three of her mother’s former lovers to the wedding.

The first of four performances is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, in Felten-Start Theatre in Malloy Hall on the Fort Hays State campus. Other 7:30 performances are Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6. A 2:30 p.m. matinee performance will be on Sunday, Oct. 7.

Written in 1999 and featuring music from the 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA, “Mamma Mia!” was made into a hugely popular movie in 2008 starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Amanda Siefried.

Three other offerings are on the season schedule, two plays and an opera. All performances will be in Felten-Start. Complete listings for music and theatre performances are available on the Department of Music and Theatre website, fhsu.edu/music-and-theatre/arts-calendar.

Tickets are $15 for the public and $10 for students and senior citizens. Season tickets are $50 for the public, $25 for students and $30 for senior citizens.

Seats for individual plays can be reserved in three ways:

•        Online at webapps.fhsu.edu/theatreonlinereservations
•        Email to fhsu.musicandtheatre.[email protected]
•        By phone, 785-628-4533

In the season’s second production, Thursday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 18, the comedy turns darker with “Rancho Mirage” by Steven Dietz, a look at the secrets of three suburban couples, all longtime friends, when they gather at a dinner party in their affluent subdivision. Secrets and conflicts start coming out in a black comedy that is a satire on life in a gated American community.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

On a lighter note, the next production is Tony Award winning play from 1963, “Barefoot in the Park” by Neil Simon. The play features newlyweds Paul, a buttoned-down lawyer, and Corie, an impulsive, enthusiastic romantic. Honeymoon over, they begin life in their first apartment. The complications begin with the clash between Paul’s career and Corie’s feelings, and deepen when Corie sets up her widowed mother with a neighbor.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, through Saturday, March 2. A Sunday matinee is at 2:30 p.m. March 3.

Wolfgang Mozart’s comic opera “The Marriage of Figaro,” written in 1786, closes the season. The opera follows the adventures of servants Figaro and Susanna succeed in getting married despite the schemes of their aristocratic employer, Count Almaviva, who has designs on Susanna. Figaro, Susanna, the county and the counts wife, and the action of the opera is conducted among the competing schemes of the cunning servant and the philandering count.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, through Saturday, April 6, with the Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m.

Mostly cloudy, breezy Sunday

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Today
Patchy drizzle after 8am. Widespread fog, mainly before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 64. East northeast wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight
Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. North northeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South southeast wind around 8 mph becoming west in the morning.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. East northeast wind around 8 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Windy, with a south wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Breezy.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 91. Breezy.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Thursday
A 20 percent chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

FHSU art and design department eagerly awaits completion of its new home

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Karrie Simpson Voth, chair of the Department of Art and Design at Fort Hays State University, speaks to a crowd of people gathered Friday morning for a construction preview of the new art and design building. PHOTO by Kelsey Stremel

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Karrie Simpson Voth has been dreaming for 15 years of watching students create and learn in a new, state-of-the-art space.

The reality is unfolding right before her very eyes is sometimes hard to grasp.

“I’m hopefully optimistic, and I kept telling Dr. (Paul) Faber it’s going to happen,” said Simpson Voth, chair of the art and design department at Fort Hays State University. “Now I can see it, and I enjoy looking at it every day. It’s like Christmas in September.”

On a breezy, chilly morning Friday, Simpson Voth got her first chance to publicly show off the new art and design building going up on the site of the former Davis Hall.

With the noise from construction equipment behind them, Simpson Voth joined an art and design student and FHSU President Tisa Mason in speaking on the northeast patio of the Memorial Union at a preview of the new building – part of the activities of Homecoming 2018.

Construction on the two-story, 43,000-square-foot facility began last summer and is scheduled for completion in summer 2019, in time for the 2019-20 school year. The facility will be home to all Department of Art and Design programs, with the exception of the sculpture program, which is housed in the CAT.

The building features two separate sections thats are connected by a two-story commons area that will allow students to gather outside the classroom for “collaboration, study sessions and brainstorming,” Simpson Voth said. An 1,800-square-foot addition will provide space for storage and art collections.

The art and design department currently is housed in cramped quarters in Rarick Hall.

MaKinlie Hennes, a senior graphic design student from Downs, said she is excited for the opportunities the new facility will offer students. She will graduate in May and won’t get the opportunity to study, work and create in the new building. However, she said the new space will just be an extension to an already excellent department.

“If there is one thing that I hope to accomplish before I graduate, it would be to bring awareness to this amazing department,” she said, “and to educate others on how this university, these professors and the graphic design program changed my life.”

Hennes said she will be forever grateful for the support system she has received at Fort Hays State, and she knows that the environment created on first floor Rarick Hall – the current home of the Art and Design department – will be carried on to the new building.

“The new space will unite classes, create greater opportunities for collaboration among the arts and provide students with advantages that previous classes never received,” Hennes said.

“This new building will have state of the art facilities that will take creation to a whole new level.”
The facility will provide numerous lab spaces for the various art and design programs as well as department office space, a multi-purpose lab, computers, classrooms, woodshed, studios, commons area and a ceramics kiln yard.

A major theme throughout the building is glass.

“With this new design, we are breaking out of the traditional four walls and surrounding ourselves with glass, which will allow art and color to spill into the hallways and natural light into our classroom,” said Simpson Voth, in her 20th year at Fort Hays State. “This new building is going to take what we do as artists, designers, students, faculty and programs to a whole new level of excellence.”

Mason agreed that surroundings can make a difference in the quality of learning.

“It is well documented that place matters,” she said. “There is a strong connection between students’ quality of effort and the quality of facilities and opportunities that make that effort worthwhile. Indeed, this new building creates spaces for engagement and learning – spaces that honor our mission and propel us forward in preparing our students to succeed as educators, leaders and artists.”

The new building will connect to the 5,000-square-foot former power plant, which will be renovated to provide gallery space. It will be named the Moss-Thorns Gallery in honor of former department chairs Joel Moss and John Thorns.

“At the heart of everything is people,” Mason said. “We cannot adequately celebrate this day without expressing our deep gratitude to all those who have built both the program and the buildings – old and new.”

Simpson Voth said that “every day, the first floor of Rarick Hall is alive and buzzing with creativity, innovation and inspiration,” and those same positive characteristics will be carried to the new building.

“Our future home is a place where dreams will come alive, grow and develop,” Simpson Voth said, “and will eventually go out into the world, carrying the name of Fort Hays State University with them wherever they land.”

“That is what I call success,” she said. “This new building is going to be a game changer.”

There are numerous naming opportunities for the new art and design facility. Mason thanked Joseph and Jodi Boeckner, Nate and Sara Meder, and Dolores Borgstadter as the first donors to name spaces in the new building. Donations for those spaces are part of the Journey Campaign through the FHSU Foundation, which can be contacted at 785-628-5620 or [email protected].

Kan. woman accused of kidnapping, using pepper spray on victim

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged kidnapping.

Isabel Rodriguez -photo Shawnee Co.

On Tuesday, officers responded to the intersection of SE Branner and Overton in Topeka on a report of a domestic altercation, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Officers located a male victim and determined that the victim he had been kidnapped and then sprayed in the face with what was believed to be pepper spray.

Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect at various addresses and were unable to locate her that day.

Just after 3:08 a.m. Friday, officers located Isabel Rodriguez, 33 of Shawnee County and took her into custody for kidnapping, domestic battery and intimidation of a witness. She is now free on bond from the Shawnee County Department of Corrections

Hays High Volleyball shines in Great Bend

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By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

GREAT BEND, Kan.-Hays High Volleyball didn’t lose a single set, going 5-0 on Saturday in Great Bend. The Lady Indians opened with Hutchinson who gave them a strong match to start the day. Hays fell down early in the first set only to take the lead 6-5 and they didn’t trail again in the set winning 25-19. Set two was much of the same with the Lady Indians taking their first lead at 7-6 and battled back and forth winning 25-23 and the match in straight sets.

The energy continued for they Lady Indians as they dominated St. John in their second match winning in straight sets 25-18, 25-16. Next up was Salina Central who didn’t provide much of a challenge. Hays won the first set 25-10 and had a little more challenge in set two winning 25-17 and wrapping up the victory.

The Lady Panthers from Phillipsburg challenged Hays High next and the Lady Indians responded. Hays blew through the first set winning in convincing fashion, 25-12. The Lady Indians opened up the second set with a 14-5 lead when Phillipsburg countered with the next eight points to get within a point at 14-13. Hays would keep them at arms length the rest of the way winning the set, 25-21, and the match.

The last match of the day was with Western Athletic Conference rival Great Bend and it lived up to the billing of a rivalry. The Lady Panthers raced out to a 15-7 lead in the first set with a little luck and some favorable calls. Hays High would answer with a massive push that put the Lady Indians in front 23-18. Great Bend would counter with the next five points to tie the set at 23 points apiece. The two teams would trade blows with Hays coming out on top 29-27. The Lady Indians controlled much of the second set but it remained close with Hays winning 25-22 to sweep the sets and take the match.

Junior Tasiah Nunnery blasted 59 kills on the day to lead the Lady Indians, including 17 in the night cap against Great Bend. Senior Hannah McGuire finished with 73 assists on the day and saved her best for last with 22 against the rival Panthers. Senior Kallie Leiker led the squad in digs with help from sophomore Brooklyn Schaffer and junior Olivia Schremmer. Seniors Jaysa Wichers and Jaycee Dale once again dominated at the net as did junior Macee Altman. Although they did not show up big on the state line senior Savannah Schneider, junior Sierra Bryant and sophomore Brooke Denning were instrumental in the five victories for Hays.

The Lady Indians use their big day to improve to 15-9 on the season. They will travel to Colby for a quadrangular on Monday.

CHRISTIN NUNNERY INTERVIEW

 

Kan. man gets retrial for shooting death following robbery, beating

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County district judge says a Kansas man convicted of second-degree murder should get a new trial.

Spangler -photo KDOC

William Spangler, 27, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of 22-year-old Faustino Martinez II, of Wichita.

Spangler, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail, filed a petition in October 2015 that questioned the effectiveness of his attorneys.

Spangler was robbed and beaten a few weeks before Martinez was shot.

District Judge Mark Braun ruled Tuesday that Spangler’s defense attorney did not consider how Spangler’s beating might have affected his mental health.

Spangler said if he hadn’t been robbed or beaten, he wouldn’t have bought any weapons or reacted aggressively to being threatened in his apartment.

A new trial date hasn’t been set.

Patrons alerted after bedbugs shut down Kansas library

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SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — An infestation of bedbugs has closed a Kansas City suburb library until further notice.

Johnson County Library Director Sean Casserley says the Shawnee branch library on Johnson Drive will be closed at least until Wednesday so the building can be treated to get rid of the infestation.

Updates on the state of the branch will be posted on the library’s website and social media accounts.

Casserley says library staff spotted the pests in a book turned in Thursday. Dogs trained to detect the pests were brought in, and officials learned Friday that the pests had spread to furniture in the building.

Bed bugs have recently been discovered in other public places in the Kansas City area, including in a Kansas City International Airport terminal.

Anita M. McCollum

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Anita M. McCollum, age 65, passed away on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on December 31, 1954 in Garden City, Kansas, the daughter of Richard Alexander and Margaret Pearl Meis McCollum. A lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas, she worked for Wheatland Electric for 41 years before retiring in December of 2017.

She was a member of the First Christian Church, Scott County Historical Society both of Scott City, Kansas and a member of the Relay For Life.

Survivors Include her Two Brothers Tom McCollum of Scott City, Kansas, John McCollum of Scott City, Kansas, Two Sisters Patricia & Robert Hoeme of Scott City, Kansas, Judy & Don Browning of Scott City, Kansas and Numerous Nieces & Nephews.

She was preceded in death by her Parents.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas with Pastor Steve Payne presiding.

Burial will be in the Scott County Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Anita McCollum Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday and 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Lonny P. Claycamp

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Lonny P. Claycamp, 61, Hays, died Thursday, September 27, 2018 at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

He was born June 13, 1957 in WaKeeney the son of Alfred and Clara Nadine (Burbach) Claycamp.  In 1975, he graduated from WaKeeney High School and in 1980, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Fort Hays State University.  He was united in marriage to Becky Wasinger on November 26, 1982 at St. Joseph Church, and they celebrated nearly 36 years of marriage.  He was in the insurance business for 35 years and an insurance agent at Insurance Planning, Inc. of Hays since 1994 where he was Vice President and Personal Lines Manager.  Lonny was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Hays Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Kiwanis Club of Hays, Life Underwriters, the Society of CIC, a prior KAIA board member, Marysville Insurance Company board of directors, Ellis County Relay for Life, and Smoky Hill Country Club.  He was very active in the community, helping with numerous club projects and fundraisers, helping build bicycles for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and he was a proud FHSU supporter.  He enjoyed playing golf with his friends and his wife Becky, going to the casinos, volunteer work, and spending time with his family, friends, and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife Becky Claycamp of the home, a son Brad Claycamp of Overland Park, a daughter Nicole Raymer of Gorham, two grandchildren; Avery and Cooper Raymer of Gorham, four brothers and sisters; Pat Schremmer and husband Gerald of Topeka, Terry Claycamp and wife Linda of Hays, Randy Claycamp and significant other Hazel of Cameron, MO, and Jackie Jordan and husband Randy of Newton, two half-brothers; Gary Kroeger and wife Nicole of WaKeeney and Doug Kroeger and wife Jenny of Salina, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Alfred Claycamp and mother Nadine Kroeger.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, Hays, with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Tuesday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, and from 10:00 am until service time on Wednesday at the church.  A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. 

Memorials are suggested to Avery and Cooper’s college fund, Ellis County Relay for Life, or Kiwanis Club of Hays, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences and memories of Lonny may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Donna M. Kuhn

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Donna M. Kuhn, age 83 of Hays, KS formerly of Ellis, KS passed away, Thursday, September 27, 2018 at the Hays Medical Center. She was born on October 9, 1934 in Wauneta, NE to Jay and Olive (Mickelson) Hays. On June 14, 1960, Donna married Ervin F. Kuhn. Together, they shared 48 years of marriage until Ervin’s passing on April 24, 2009.

Donna graduated from Ellis High School in 1952. She spent the majority of her life working in retail. She retired from Kline’s Department Store after 15 years. She was very active in the Ellis Daughters of Isabella for St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Senior Companion Program at FHSU. Donna enjoyed time spent with family especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She rarely missed any of their activities.

She is survived by her three daughters, Melissa Ledesma and her husband David of Great Bend, Joleen Briggs and her husband Jeff of Hays, LaVonne Giess and her husband Dave of Hays; daughter-in-law, Debra Kuhn; three brothers, David Hays and his wife Sharon, Jay Hays, Alan Hays and his wife Donna; one sister, Cleo Hockman and her husband Rick; sister-in-law, Irma Hood and her husband Wayne; seven grandchildren, Adam Ledesma and his wife Jodi, Dava Kirmer and her husband Kevin, Dylan Briggs and his wife Sneha, Shea Briggs, Ashley Briand and her husband Scott, MaKenzie Giess, Kevin Kuhn; nine great-grandchildren, J.D. Ledesma, Emili Ledesma, Jacob Cole, Amelia & Mason Vansteenburgh, Dhani Briggs, Chloe, Addison & Evan Briand.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Rick Kuhn; grandson, Kyle Kuhn; two sisters, Evelyn & Ellen.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday, October 1, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 30, 2018 from 4-6:00 P.M., with a Ellis Daughters of Isabella rosary service at 5:45 PM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601. Visitation will be held on Monday from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the DSNWK Employment Program and/or the Senior Companion Program at FHSU

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

 

Ruby Elizabeth Bixenman

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Ruby Elizabeth Bixenman, 90, of Grainfield, died Saturday, September 29, 2018.

She was born January 1, 1928, on her grandparents’ farm north of Grainfield, in Sheridan County, KS, to Jay G. and Iva (Denning) Moore. Ruby graduated from Grainfield High School in 1946. After graduation she attended Wichita Business School and came back to Oakley and worked as a telephone operator at Southwestern Bell.

On May 25, 1949 she married Fred Bixenman and to this union five children were born. They enjoyed 69 years together with many blessings. Ruby was a homemaker and helped on the family farm. She helped with harvest and always had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy when the men arrived for supper. Ruby enjoyed baking and trying out new recipes. Her specialty was cinnamon rolls and always an orange chiffon cake at Easter. She enjoyed and treasured her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society and the Grinnell V.F.W. Auxiliary.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Merle (Laverna) Moore, Roy (Hazel) Moore, Nila Jean Weigel and infant sister Katherine Moore.

She is survived by her husband, Fred, of Grainfield; children, Linda (Jerry Gross, friend) Bixenman, of Hays, Kenny (Colleen) Bixenman, of Colby, Mary Jane (Greg) Goetz, of Grinnell, Ron (Nancy) Bixenman, of Grainfield and Daryl (Judy) Bixenman, of Grainfield; sisters, Ilene Zimmerman and Rosa Lea (Joe) Spresser; grandchildren, Erica (Denton Stein, friend) Schmidt, Jessica (Aaron) Dempewolf, Jared (Sally) Bixenman, Jaydon Bixenman, Julian Bixenman, Nathan (Kacie) Goetz, Darren (Tori) Goetz, Eric (Jacqui McCleneghen, fiancée) Goetz, Christina (Greg) Peterson, Christopher Bixenman, Luke Bixenman, Natalie Bixenman and Andrew (Tristan) Bixenman, Bailey Bixenman, Brooke Bixenman, Melissa Bixenman, Mason Bixenman and nine great grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5-7:00 pm on Monday, Oct 1, 2018 at St, Paul’s Catholic Church, Angelus, KS with Vigil service at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am on Tuesday, Oct 2, 2018 at St Paul’s Catholic Church. Memorials are suggested to Logan County Manor, St Ann’s Altar Society or Grinnell V.F.W. Auxiliary in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.

‘APRON STRINGS: Ties to the Past’ at Hansen Museum

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HANSEN MUSEUM

LOGAN – Although taken for granted by many social and art historians, the apron is the subject of a fascinating reevaluation in this exhibition. Apron Strings: Ties to the Past, opened on September 14, 2018 at The Dane G. Hansen Museum and features fifty-one vintage and contemporary examples that review the apron’s role as an emotionally charged vehicle for expression with a rich and varied craft history that is still viable today.

Using aprons dating from the late 1930s through the present, the exhibition chronicles changing attitudes toward women and domestic work. It also surveys the wide range of design and craft techniques apron-makers have used to express themselves, while still working within creative venues traditionally available to women. Today, artists continue using aprons to explore cultural myths and realities as well as their individual experiences with American domesticity.

Apron Strings: Ties to the Past reevaluates the apron’s varying roles over time in an artistic and cultural manner. The exhibition is toured by ExhibitsUSA, a national program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. ExhibitsUSA sends more than 25 exhibitions on tour to more than 100 small- and mid-sized communities every year.

Apron Strings: Ties to the Past will remain on display through October 21, 2018, at the Dane G. Hansen Museum located at 110 W. Main Street, Logan, Kansas. Museum hours are Monday through Friday 9-12 and 1-4; Saturday 9-12 and 1-5; Sunday & holidays 1-5. We are handicapped accessible and thanks to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, there is never an admission fee. For more information, please contact Shari at 785-689-4846.

FBI joins investigation after body found on Kan. train car

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BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in northeastern Kansas are investigating the discovery of a body on a railcar in Bonner Springs.

Body found on a train car in the northeast Kansas community of Bonner Springs-photo courtesy KCTV

The body was found early Friday morning. Officials say they don’t yet know the name, age or even the gender of the person.

Police say the railcar had been parked at the Bonner Springs location since Sept. 19. Before then, police say, the railcar had been in Illinois and southeastern Missouri.

A police spokeswoman says the body was discovered by workers unloading a car containing a dry cement mix.

The FBI is helping in the investigation, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation says its crime scene response team was dispatched to help police.

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BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body on a railroad car in Bonner Springs.

Police say employees at a quarry Friday as they unloaded a rail car, which is used to haul dry cement mix.

Bonner Springs police said the death is being investigated as a homicide.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s crime scene response team helped with the investigation.

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