Carol Sue Albers (Schwarz), 80, died Wed., Aug. 22 in Quinter, Kan. She was born Feb. 19, 1938.
Visitation will be held Fri., Aug. 24, 5-7 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Parish Center, 308 South Monroe, Grinnell, Kan., with the vigil service at 7 p.m.
The funeral service for Albers is Sat., Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. James Thomas officiating.
Interment is in Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, N. 1st St. and Ferris St., Grinnell.
Baalmann Mortuary, 304 E 8th St., Oakley, Kan., is in charge of arrangements.
An informational evening filled with horticulture topics and displays is planned for Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center in Hays. The outdoor event will feature production and water conservation techniques around the lawn and garden. The event is free and the public is welcome.
Presentations by the Ellis County Extension Master Gardeners will highlight production of 10 tomato, 23 pepper, and 6 zucchini/squash varieties. Attendees will be able to taste varietal variations at sampling tables.
The Master Gardeners will share their experiences with a backyard garden demonstration plot and a composting station adjacent to the garden will be available to view. The garden is in its second year of production.
Holly Dickman, water conservation specialist with the city of Hays, will discuss water conservation and warm season grass demonstration plots. The plots are part of a Turf Conversion Program promoted by the City of Hays, which encourages homeowners to convert full-sun-exposure lawns planted with a cool-season turf to a low-water-use turfgrass or landscaping. The advantages, according to Dickman, are water conservation and less maintenance.
Dickman will speak about a plot of xeric flower varieties being established this year which can thrive in dry conditions will little or minimal care in the Hays area. More varieties will be planted this fall and next spring.
Homeowners are encouraged to bring neighbors and friends, ask questions and share gardening experiences. The event will be in the Horticulture Gardens of the K-State Agricultural Research Center at 1214 240th Ave. The center is directly south of Hays across from the parks along the 183 By-Pass.
Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 6 p.m. It ends at twilight. More information is available by calling 785-625-3425.
HAYS – A Hays man charged with sexually assaulting an 18 year-old woman last November in Hays has pleaded not guilty to a pair of sex crimes.
In November 2017, the victim told Hays Police that Hunter Gonzales allegedly sexually assaulted her between 11:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and 12:04 a.m. Nov. 14.
Gonzales pleaded not guilty to rape and aggravated sodomy Wednesday in Ellis County District Court.
At today’s hearing, Judge Glenn Braun also heard testimony regarding a prior incident involving Gonzales while he was a student at Garden City Community College.
According to that victim’s testimony, Gonzales allegedly exposed his genitals to her in August of 2013.
Judge Braun ruled that the second testimony was admissible in court, as a prior bad act, and will be allowed at trial.
A four-day trial will be scheduled at a later date.
Behzod Abduraimov performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto with Shah Sadikov, conductor.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of the world’s preeminent classical stars perform one of the most popular piano concertos in the repertoire.
Pianist Behzod Abduraimov travels the globe performing. From Paris, London and Munich, to St. Petersburg, Beijing and New York, he has wowed audiences and music critics with his technical prowess and artistic sensibilities. He has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the LA Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony and will, to our great good fortune, perform with the Hays Symphony in our opening concert of the season.
Grieg Piano Concerto, with Behzod Abduraimov, pianist
Mendelssohn Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
Debussy Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune
HSO’s opening concert is sponsored by a generous donation from Auto World (Kay & Dick Werth) and NAVO (Shah Sadikov). The post concert reception is sponsored by Werth Wealth Management.
FREE CONCERT
Tickets are required for entry. Available in the lobby 30 minutes prior to concert, or in advance at the Hays Convention & Visitors Bureau, or online by registering at www.hayssymphony.org.
JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Kansas crash have filed charges against the driver.
Carmen and her daughter Marlee photo courtesy Popkess Mortuary
Marie Perez-Marquez, 48, Omaha, has been charged with 3 counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and aggravated battery for the November 25, 2017 crash, according to Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Equinox driven by Perez-Marquez, was southbound on U. S. 75 just north of 318 Road near Holton.
The driver attempted to pass another vehicle, swerved to the shoulder to avoid a collision and struck a northbound 2008 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Carmen K. Ukele, 42, Sabetha, head-on.
Ukele and passengers in the Chevy Marlee G. Ukele, 11 and Stephen M. Ukele, 62, all of Sabetha, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another passenger in the Chrysler Lee F. Ukele, 59, Sabetha, and Perez-Marquez were transported to KU Medical Center. A passenger in the Chevy Rosalao G. Perez, 29, St. Joseph, MO., was transported to a Topeka Hospital and later transferred to KU Medical Center.
Ukele and family were returning home from watching Tanner and Carson Ukele play in the Sabetha High School football 3A state championship game.
Just before 2:30p.m. Monday, deputies stopped a Nissan truck pulling a U-Haul trailer on Interstate 70 at Abilene, according to Sheriff Gareth Hoffman.
With assistance of a drug dog, deputies found 68-pounds of meth and arrested Juan Carlos Garcia, 35, South Gate, California. He is bing held for drug possession and distribution charges, according to the Dickinson County booking report.
Troubled Medicaid contractor Maximus could soon have a new contract with Kansas officials that pays it more to do less.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Jeff Andersen explains a KanCare contract extension to lawmakers. STEPHEN KORANDA / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
State officials say that appears to be the price of getting the job of processing applications for the privatized Medicaid program, KanCare, done right.
The deal would also penalize Maximus millions of dollars for past problems, most centered around long waiting periods created by the contractor’s backlogs.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Jeff Andersen on Tuesday told a committee of lawmakers overseeing KanCare that Maximus initially underbid to secure the contract.
“In many cases, Maximus was not adequately staffed,” Andersen said. “In some cases, you get what you pay for.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Maximus said the company’s bid was based on the original contract proposal, but the scope of the work has expanded over several years.
“As a result, Maximus has funded significant financial investments in additional resources,” the statement said.
Some 400,000 Kansans are enrolled in KanCare, which manages the delivery of care to low-income, elderly and disabled.
The current contract with Maximus runs out at the end of this year. Andersen said the state and Maximus had reached a new agreement that extends through the middle of 2019, with the option to add another six months. The new contract has yet to be finalized and signed.
Under the plan, Andersen said the state would take back some responsibilities, including training and processing some of the most difficult claims.
In the end, the state will take on an added cost of $2 million in the current fiscal year to cover both the cost of its new duties and the steeper payments to Maximus.
“Technically, we will pay Maximus more, because we need to do the job right,” Andersen said.
Republicans and a Democrat on the committee expressed frustration at the idea of sending more money to the company after the past problems.
Democratic Sen. Laura Kelly, her party’s nominee for governor, said the plan rewards Maximus for initially underbidding for the job.
“Now we’re saying, ‘OK, we’ll go ahead and pay you what you really should have been getting paid, and we’ll pay you the same or more for doing less,’” she said. “That just makes no sense.”
Republican Rep. Dan Hawkins echoed those concerns, calling the agreement “kind of weird.”
The short timeframe before the current contract expires necessitates the move, Andersen said. He took over the job in January, when the issues with Maximus were already entrenched.
“We have a good long-term plan,” he said. “There’s some short-term pain to get out of this hole.”
As part of the negotiations, the state will not sue Maximus. Andersen said the new agreement would include more accountability measures and Kansas would be entitled to up to $10 million in concessions for past problems.
Maximus said it’s ready to continue work with the state.
“We have made meaningful progress on our performance,” the company statement said. “We are committed to continuing to process applications timely and accurately.”
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda.
Please join me, Mike Koerner from Eagle Communications, on an historic visit to some greatest cities in the world — Rome, Perugia, Florence, Venice and Milan. The days in Rome will include a trip to Vatican City that will include a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Click for more details.
We’ll spend nine wonderful days together — April 24, 2019 to May 3, 2019. We have booked this trip with professional guides to give us some behind-the-scenes looks typical tourists don’t get to see. We’ll also be eating lots of wonderful Italian food, plus you’ll have a change to break away from the group at certain times to make the trip unique to you.
Koerner
It’s been said that one of the joys of traveling is not only where you go but who you go with and who you meet along the way. This tour group will be limited to 40 local people who would love to join my wife and I as we travel Italy.
GREAT BEND — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug an weapons charges.
Just after 2 a.m. Wednesday, officers from the Great Bend Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at a motel room at the Travelers Budget Inn, 4200 10th in Great Bend, according to a media release.
During the course of the search warrant, a substantial amount of methamphetamine reportedly was located in the room. Police also reported finding drug paraphernalia items along with handguns and a crossbow in the motel room.
Police arrested one man and he was taken into custody on scene and transported to the Barton County jail. Authorities did not release his name.
Herington – Lucas Charles Hicks, 28 of Rural Hope, Ks was called to Heaven on Saturday August 18th, 2018. Lucas was born on May 28th, 1990 to Charlie and Kim (Cox) Hicks.
Affectionately known as “Pookie” a nickname his older sister Kate started in childhood and quickly caught on. He was a 2008 graduate of Hope High School, where he was a standout football player for the Hope Lions, proudly wearing the #33, following family tradition.
In high school, he began dating Katelyn (Sly). Their first date was October 8th, 2006, and after eight years of dating Lucas Charles and Katelyn Renee exchanged vows and were joined in marriage on October 4th, 2014 with a pasture wedding ceremony on the Sly Farm. On February 9th, 2016 they excitedly welcomed a daughter, Gentry Kam Hicks, who today is two years old with curly auburn hair, brown eyes, dimples, her mama’s mini with her Daddy’s laugh. He taught her his love for football, especially the Green Bay Packers, and Gentry already knows to chant “Go Pack Go!” Lucas’ love for his Wife, Katelyn and their daughter Gentry was strong and true. He adored them both and was a proud husband and father. A friend to many, he enjoyed spending weekends at the lake with family, or hosting cookouts at his home that usually ended with music and laughs around a fire.
If Lucas was laughing, you could be sure everyone around him was laughing too… whether something that happened was actually funny or if it was Lucas’ laugh that made them laugh. His was certainly one of a kind accompanied by a genuine smile.
In Lucas’ career at Agri-Trails Coop, he had not only co-workers, but lifelong friends, many who watched him grow up, or grew up with him.
Lucas was a caring son, loving brother, true friend, devoted husband, and amazing Daddy.
He leaves behind many loved ones to include: A Wife, Katelyn Hicks and a Daughter, Gentry Kam Hicks both of Rural Hope, Ks; Parents, Charlie and Kim Hicks of Hope, Ks. Siblings, Brother, J.R. (JoAnne) Hicks of Colorado; Brother, Jesse (Louise) Hicks of Little River, Ks; Sister, Jamie (Shaun) Minor of Dodge City, Ks; Brother, Zachary (Sonia) Hicks of Little River, Ks; Sister, Kate (Jeff) Lewis of Fountain, Colorado; Paternal Grandmother, Agnes Hicks of Logan, Ks; Grandmother, Joyce Cox of Abilene, Ks; Loving in-laws; 9 nieces and 7 nephews; Numerous extended family members; and an uncountable amount of friends.
Memorial services:Open visitation Thursday August 23rd, 2018 from 5:30-8:30 pm at Zeiner Funeral Home in Herington, Ks. Celebration of Life Service Friday August 24th, 2018 10:00 am at Herington Community Building in Herington, Ks led by Pastor, Stan Norman. Following the service a balloon release will be held on the Hope High School Football field in Hope, Ks.
Memorial contributions may be written to “Katelyn Hicks”. These funds will be used for future education expenses for Gentry Hicks
ROOKS COUNTY —A small earthquake shook northwest Kansas just after 10a.m. Wednesday.
Location of Wednesday’s quake -USGS image
The quake at 10:02 a.m. measured a magnitude 3.7 and was centered approximately 25 miles east of Plainville and just into western Osborne County, according to the U.S. Geological survey.
There are no reports of damage or injury, according to the Rooks County Sheriff’s Department.
Carol Sue Albers (Schwarz), 80, died Wed., Aug. 22 in Quinter, Kan. She was born Feb. 19, 1938.
