Author: Hays Post
Tickets on sale for Empty Place at the Table
Walter Eugene Cook
Walter Eugene Cook, age 59, of rural Trego County, passed away Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney. He was born December 17, 1958, in Hays, Kansas, to Carroll Dean and Mildred Joan (Hamilton) Cook. 
Walter graduated from Trego Community High School before attending college at Mid America Nazarene College and Fort Hays State University. He was united in marriage to Karen Schneider on December 27, 1980, in WaKeeney. Walter owned and operated Cook Cattle Company, as a farmer and rancher, and previously owned and operated Cook’s Exteriors. He attended North Oak Community Church in Hays. Walter was a loyal supporter of Trego Community High School sports, and was an avid Kansas State University football fan. Motorcycles were a passion of Walter’s, but his family was the most important thing in his life. He cherished time spent with his children and his grandchildren, lovingly known as his “littles”. He was known as “Bubba” to his littles. His kind heart and loving spirit will live on in the hearts of many.
Survivors include his mother; his wife; his children, Donielle and husband Scott Geesling of Kingman, Kansas, Charisse and husband Mike Moratelli of Firestone, Colorado, and Wade Cook and wife Aubrey of Parkville, Missouri; grandchildren, Easton and Beckett Cook of Parkville, Mack and Rocco Walt Moratelli of Firestone, and Nash and Dean Geesling of Kingman; two brothers David Cook and wife Zerell of Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Evan Cook and wife Terry of Coldwater, Oklahoma; a sister Cynthia Diehl of Phoenix, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father on April 30, 2010.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Thursday, July 5, 2018 at United Methodist Church of WaKeeney. Inurnment will take place at a later date.
Visitation and viewing will be Wednesday evening, from 5 to 7 at the funeral home in WaKeeney.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AMA) or North Oak Community Church. Contributions made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Condolences may be sent online at www.schmittfuneral.com.
PHELPS: Legislative update
Dear Constituent,
As always, summer has been off to a very busy start and I have had the opportunity to attend a number of events in our community and throughout the state representing you and our community. I love meeting with constituents, colleagues, friends and family during the summer at all of these events and activities and look forward to the many more to come this season.
I highlight events that I have attended as well as events I plan on attending in the coming months below:
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WaKeeney to host “The Taste of Kansas”
Ellis Co. Commission uses capital funds to trim budget deficit to $13K
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission worked to trim a more than $285,000 deficit for the 2019 budget at Monday’s commission meeting.
When the commission began the 2019 budget process, it faced a more than $670,000 shortfall between anticipated revenues and expenditures. Following a pair of budget work sessions, the commission had trimmed the budget deficit to approximately $285,000.
At Monday’s meeting, the commission focused primarily on transfers to the capital equipment fund to eliminate the remaining deficit.
County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes described the capital equipment fund as a savings account.
“The operating budget is sort of our checking account, and the capital budgets are kind of our saving account and one of the expenses we have in operating budget is a transfer to our saving account,” Smith-Hanes said. “But if we don’t make that we don’t get to do the things to the house or go on vacation or whatever we would normally spend those saving for.”
At the end of each fiscal year, Smith-Hanses said, departments are allowed to transfer half of any remaining funds into the capital equipment fund that can be used to pay for equipment replacement or upgrades in the future. Those include vehicles, copiers and voting equipment.
Commissioner Barb Wasinger said the commission wanted to avoid taking money once again from the Road and Bridge Department and taking some of the capital budget funds was a way to do that.
The biggest transfer of $130,000 came from the Treasurer’s capital budget. According to information presented, the Treasurer’s department did not have any planned capital expenditures planned for the next five years.
The commission decided to transfer $60,000 from the Appraiser’s capital budget and $78,000 from Risk Management. According to Smith-Hanes the risk management fund is specifically tied to employee health costs and helps to cover the increase in insurance costs.
They also decided to transfer small amounts from the County Administrator, Commission, Environment and Register of Deeds capital budgets.
Those moves along with a few other reductions reduced the deficit to approximately $13,000. The remaining funds, to balance the budget, will come from the buildings capital improvements fund.
Smith-Hanes will present the commission with the proposed budget and they plan to have a public hearing in August.
“I want to thank to commission for your work, I know this sausage making tonight was not practically pleasant,” Smith-Hanes said. “But it is the situation we find ourselves in.”
In other business, the commission got a report and the Ellis County Drug Court from Judge Glenn Braun, appointed a voting delegate for the KAC Conference, got a report from the Cottonwood Extension District and met in executive session to discuss non-elected personnel matters. No action was taken.
And the winner of the Virtual Golden Egg Hunt is …
Nearly 1,000 entrants hunted down the first Virtual Golden Egg on Hays Post this weekend in hopes of winning a set of VIP tickets for all three nights of the 2018 Wild West Festival.
And the winner is …
Jamie Durheim of Hays has won two VIP tickets to Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows. Congrats!
Woman sentenced for using pepper spray on Kansas police
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Mississippi woman has been sentenced to eight years in prison for using pepper spray on suburban Kansas City police officers after they caught her shoplifting from a Victoria’s Secret store.
40-year-old Latrina Newsome pleaded no contest in May to aggravated battery and battery against a law enforcement officer in Johnson County District Court in Kansas. She was sentenced Friday.
Authorities say she was caught last September shoplifting from the store at a mall in Overland Park. Police say that when officers tried to arrest her, she sprayed them with pepper spray and that she and a person who was with her fought with officers before they were subdued. One officer suffered a broken foot in the fight, and another officer broke a finger.
Ft. Riley Mounted Color Guard to perform after WWF parade Saturday
Riding in the Hays Wild West Festival Parade Sat. July 7 at 10 a.m. and performing afterward in the lot east of James Motor Co. on 13th Street.
Established in 1992, the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard provides a link to Fort Riley’s historic past. Troopers and horses of this unit are outfitted in the uniforms, accoutrements and equipment of the Civil War period. Soldiers are detailed from the ranks of units assigned to Fort Riley and receive instruction from manuals used by Civil War cavalrymen.
From privates to officers, these men and women recreate the colorful spectacle of the American Horse Soldier. They demonstrate their horsemanship for professional rodeos, community events, parades, school groups and official ceremonies.
Bach’s Lunch on the Bricks July 5
Bach’s Lunch on the Bricks in the Hays Downtown Pavilion, 10th & Main
Join us for a free one-hour concert and delicious $10 box lunch. All ages are welcome!
RSVP by calling 785-621-4171.
Hays PD reviews regs, safety reminders for fireworks
HPD
The Hays Police Department would like to remind everyone that fireworks can only be purchased in Hays on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Fireworks can only be shot off on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. in the City limits of Hays. It can cost you $150 ($50 fine & a $100 court cost) for shooting off fireworks illegally.
Please respect your neighbors with only shooting off fireworks during the allowed days and times. Do not shoot off fireworks in the city streets, and clean up after you are done.
Don’t forget to watch the Wild West Festival Fireworks display on July 4th at 10 p.m.
When shooting off fireworks, please remember these safety tips:
• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
• Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
• A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
• Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
• Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
• Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
And let’s not forget the safety of our pets!
• Don’t bring your pets to a fireworks display, even a small one.
• If fireworks are being used near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the sound.
• Make sure your pet has an identification tag, in case it runs off during a fireworks display.
• Never shoot fireworks of any kind (consumer fireworks, sparklers, fountains, etc.) near pets.
Patricia I. Cochran
Patricia I. Cochran, 88, passed away peacefully in Sterling, CO on June 20th 2018.
She was born on December 23, 1929 in Elkhart Kansas. She was the daughter of Leslie Ulysses “Pete” and Cora (Orman) Harmon.
She graduated high school from Kit Carson, CO in 1947, and was the band majorette. She attended Colorado Women’s College in Denver where she received her Associates Degree in Interior Decoration. She then attended Colorado A&M and received her degree in Animal Husbandry.
After college in 1952, she married Richard Cochran and raised their three children while ranching. She began teaching at Platte Canyon near Bailey, Colorado and taught many subjects to Jr. High and High School students, including Spanish, English, and reading for 22 years. She especially enjoyed teaching students with special needs.
In 1978, Pat divorced and moved to a ranch located in Goodland, KS. No one who met Pat could forget her tenacious spirit and passion for her ranch. Pat raised Limousine, Salair, and Wagu cattle as well as Sharpei dogs and pigs. After 27 years of hard work, she sold ranch in 2005.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Pat is survived by her children Dr. Mark Lee Cochran of Sterling, CO; Sherry Haugen of Center, CO; Michael Cochran (Glenda) of Goodland, KS; sister Iris Harmon of Canon City, CO; and brother Forrest Harmon of Meeker CO; her grandchildren Cash (Jessie) Cochran; Weston (Alli); Shane (Sami); Jessica (Daniel); Hope, and many great-grandchildren.
Memorial Services for Patricia will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Church of Christ in Goodland with Pastor Brent Flanders officiating.
Memorials may be designated to the Sherman County 4-H and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, Goodland, KS.
July 4th holiday to change refuse/recycling schedule
CITY OF HAYS
Due to the observance of Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows:
- Tuesday, July 3rd, and Wednesday, July 4th, routes will be collected on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
There will be no changes to Monday, July 2nd, Thursday, July 5th, and Friday, July 6th routes.
Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed by the week’s end.
It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recyclables will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your polycarts and recyclables are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.
City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.