Author: Hays Post
Marvin John Speier
Marvin John Speier passed away on May 30, 2018 at the McCrite Plaza.
He was born in Hays, Kansas on September 11, 1928. He is the son of John and Monica (Dechant) Speier. He was married to Barbara Diehl Speier May 30, 1952. She preceded him in death January 18, 1993. He was married to Mary Darleen Urbaczka Shaver on April 16, 1994 who predeceased him on November 22, 2017. He is survived by five children, Gerald M. (Rose) Speier of Topeka, Kansas, Cynthia M. Speier (Rick) McIntyre of Newtown, Connecticut, James R. (Kathy) Speier of Berryton, Kansas, Steven A. (Sheryl) Speier of Topeka, Kansas, and Bruce T. Speier of Valley Falls, Kansas, and three grandchildren, Brandon McIntyre, Alyssa McIntyre, and Aaron Speier. He was also predeceased by his sister, Alvera A. Brown and his parents.
Mr. Speier attended school at St. Joseph Grade School in Hays, Kansas and then graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy (now known as Thomas More Prep) in 1946. He received an A.B. degree in History, graduating from Ft. Hays State University in 1958. This was followed by post graduate work at Kansas State University and Emporia State University.
Mr. Speier entered the field of education in 1948 at Pleasant Ridge School in Severin, Kansas. This was followed by a tour in the Army in 1950 to 1953. During his military career, he attended various Army schools concerning military science and tactics. He received a commission as an officer from Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia in May of 1952, having served in various military units and capacities in Fort Hood, Texas, Camp Roberts, California, and Fort Ord, California. In 1952, he served as Company Executive Officer 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Hokkaido, Japan and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in October of 1953, and resumed his teaching career at Glasco, Kansas and Horton, Kansas finishing his 32 years teaching career at Topeka, having taught at Crane Jr. High, Capper Junior High, and Topeka West High School.
Over the years, Mr. Speier was involved in many businesses, The House of Clocks which he owned and operated for 23 years and he also owned Timberline Unfinished Furniture. He was also involved in farming, real estate, and other enterprises.
Mr. Speier enjoyed extensive travels abroad. He and Darleen spent over twenty years wintering in Sun City, Arizona.
He is a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Topeka, Kansas and has a membership in the Knights of Columbus, being a Charter Member of Council No. 8411 at Christ the King Catholic Church, and the Fourth Degree Assembly of the K of C, lifetime member of the National Education Association, and the Lions and Moose Clubs. He was founder and Scout Master of Troop 111 in Hays, Kansas.
Marvin was a KU Jayhawk, KC Royals and KC Chiefs fan. He enjoyed golfing, remodeling, construction, and keeping up on military affairs.
Marvin will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Monday after 2:00 p.m. where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. followed by a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Chalice Ceremony. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church. Interment will follow with full military honors at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to Thomas More Prep High School in Hays, Kansas or Christ the King Catholic Church and sent in the care of Brennan Mathena Funeral Home. 800 SW 6th Ave. Topeka, Kansas 66603. To leave online condolences or fond memories, please visit www.brennanmathenafh.com
Kansas governor candidate decries ‘snowflake meltdown’
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says the outrage over his appearance in a parade atop a Jeep with a giant replica gun mounted on the back is “the left trying to attack guns” and the Second Amendment.
The outrage over the replica gun on the back of a patriotic jeep is the left trying to attack guns and your #2A rights. I will not back down in the face of a snowflake meltdown and outrage culture. https://t.co/FONJBWZWMM #ksleg pic.twitter.com/TEtyFtQ7rT
— Kris W. Kobach (@KrisKobach1787) June 4, 2018
The Republican gubernatorial candidate said in a tweetSunday that he will “not back down in the face of a snowflake meltdown and outrage culture.”
The Kansas City suburb of Shawnee apologized in a statement to those who felt unsafe after Kobach’s appearance at the Saturday morning parade.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management says someone subsequently hacked its Twitter account and sent a message that read: “Hey Kris, I think you are a bad guy with a gun. Also, maybe worse, you a dumb guy with a gun.”
Justices side with baker on same-sex wedding cake
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled narrowly Monday for a Colorado baker who wouldn’t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. But the court is not deciding the big issue in the case, whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gay and lesbian people.
The justices’ limited ruling turned on what the court described as anti-religious bias on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission when it ruled against baker Jack Phillips. The justices voted 7-2 that the commission violated Phillips’ rights under the First Amendment.
Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion that the issue “must await further elaboration.” Appeals in similar cases are pending, including one at the Supreme Court from a florist who didn’t want to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding.
The same-sex couple at the heart of the case, Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins, complained to the Colorado commission in 2012 after they visited Phillips’ shop in suburban Denver and the baker quickly told them he would not create a cake for a same-sex wedding.
Colorado law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and the commission concluded that Phillips’ refusal violated the law. Colorado state courts upheld the determination.
But when the justices heard arguments in December, Kennedy was plainly bothered by comments by a commission member. The commissioner seemed “neither tolerant nor respectful of Mr. Phillips’ religious beliefs,” Kennedy said in December.
That same sentiment suffused his opinion on Monday. “The commission’s hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendment’s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion,” he wrote.
Liberal justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan joined the conservative justices in the outcome. Kagan wrote separately to emphasize the limited ruling.
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.
Summer seal coating starts on some Hays streets
CITY OF HAYS
Beginning Monday, seal coating will begin on various streets throughout Hays. See the map below for street locations and anticipated dates.
Seal coat is a spray applied in two coats with a dry time of 2 to 3 hours per pass, so the streets being sealed will be temporarily closed during this time.
On the date scheduled for treatment, all cars need to be moved from the street by 8:00 am. Streets being sealed will be closed from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Access can be achieved in cases of emergency. Parking on adjacent streets is recommended during the daytime. Parking in driveways is OK if you DO NOT plan on moving the vehicle between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The seal coat treatment should not be driven on until it has set up (dried). It will stain surfaces such as concrete, carpet, or flooring if tracked from construction areas.
Please have all lawn watering devices turned off the evening before the scheduled date.
Please help keep the streets clean and dry for a smooth and lasting project.
Traffic control will be set in areas of work being completed and picked up by the end of the work day. This project is scheduled to be completed within two weeks (pending weather conditions).
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, Circle C Paving, at 316-570-4652.
Two Ellis Co. Public Works departments will implement four-day work week
Beginning Monday, the Ellis County Road and Bridge and Noxious Weed departments will begin implementing a four days per week, 10 hours per day work schedule.
Public Works Department Administrative Manager Rick Rupp said, “During the duration of this summer schedule our work days will be from Monday through Thursday each week and our work day will commence at 7 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m.”
The one exception will be the work week of July 2 to July 6. The department will go back to a five-day work week because the Fourth of July holiday will be observed on Wednesday, July 4.
The changes will continue through Aug. 30.
For more information, call the Ellis County Public Works Department at (785)-628-9455.
Exploring Outdoors Kansas: The midnight search for #7729
We turned off the blacktop and followed a hilly, winding gravel road for several miles through desolate northwestern Kansas farm country, eventually parking along the road across from a wheat field at about 11 PM. We accompanied 2 other vehicles driven by collage students who are out there working on the first year of a 3 year comprehensive deer research project underway in 8 northwestern Kansas counties.
Just like in the National Geographic documentaries, one guy carried a small antennae connected to a GPS unit. With headlamps and flashlights we followed the signal across the wheat field in pursuit of a newly born fawn. A transmitter inserted into a doe during the first part of the study back in February had been activated, signaling she had given birth just a couple hours ago, and we were out to find her new fawn.
Around 300 meters into the field the lead group spooked a doe, and we found an area of wheat a few feet across that was totally flattened where the doe had given birth. After a short search, being very careful not to accidently step on the new arrival, we found the tiny fawn rolled into a tight little ball amongst the wheat stalks with its head tucked in against its body and not moving a muscle just like God had programmed it to do. The night air was chilly, and the wheat was wet from a rain shower, so after some quick measurements, an ear tag designating the little female mule deer as number 7729, and a GPS collar of its own, we quietly backed out so the mom could come back and take care of her new fawn.
A couple months ago I wrote about this deer study, and Joyce and I got hooked-up to spend a couple days helping search for fawns. The research hopes to show why mule deer in Kansas are slowly receding westward and why whitetails are taking their place. In February, 120 deer, an even mix of bucks and does, mule deer and whitetails, were netted from helicopters and collared with GPS collars. The does were taken to another spot and each given a sonogram. The sonogram showed that the mother of #7729 was pregnant with triplets, but because of the wet, chilly night air, the kids thought it best to end the search after finding only the first fawn so the mother could get back to them and keep them safe and warm.
The 3 year study is funded by the KS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, but all the kids working there from Scott City are college students from Pennsylvania. Talescha Karish is working toward a PHD in Biology, Maureen Kinlan is pursuing a masters degree in biology, Luke Benzinger is working toward a bachelors degree in wildlife and fisheries science and Steven Abrahamson is pursuing an associate’s degree in biology. Each plans to work in the field of wildlife management somehow.
Capturing and collaring the adult deer and finding and collaring their fawns is just part of the project. Fawns will be sought until data shows all does have given birth, then each fawn will be tracked every day for 10 weeks, after which female fawns will be put on a schedule to locate them once per week and male fawns will not be tracked anymore as fawns. When not tracking fawns and their mothers, the students will be gathering data on vegetation and habitat where GPS tracking shows the deer to have been. Each week their computer randomly selects a GPS coordinate where a doe has physically stood. They will locate that exact spot and measure and assess the vegetation and habitat there.
While there, the computer selects another random point within 300 meters of the first spot and the habitat and vegetation are also assessed there. This is done weekly for each collared doe. I have to say we were amazed at the amount of data being collected by these kids, and by the amount of work it takes and the lengths they are taking to do so.
In March when I first wrote about the beginning of this project, I interviewed Levi Jaster, Big Game Coordinator with the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, who told me that the nearest studies about deer mortality rates, habitat use and reproduction rates have been done in either Texas or the Dakota’s, neither of which have topography or habitat representative of Kansas, and that a coordinated lengthy study of Kansas deer was long overdue. I don’t know what all motivates these college students to spend their summer 5 states away from their homes and families to help the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and all us Kansas deer hunters better understand our deer, but sign me up for a dose of whatever it is. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Perry D. Preusch
Perry D. Preusch, age 89, passed away on Friday, May 25, 2018 at the Monte Vista Grove Home in Pasadena, California. He was born on August 1, 1928 in Halstead, Kansas, the son of Robert O. & Esther Thone Preusch of Healy, Kansas, the youngest of five children. He attended the Healy schools until his junior year in high school when he transferred to Scott Community High School in the neighboring town of Scott City, graduating in 1946. After three years at the University of Kansas he transferred to the University of Southern California where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree and continued postgraduate work in Finance.
Perry served in the Korean War with the 186th Finance Disbursing Section and spent fifteen months in Kobe, Japan.
He spent his business career as an Investment Counselor and Portfolio Manager. He managed accounts for Trusts, Banks, States and publicly traded mutual funds and managed the Transamerica Casualty Company portfolio. Perry retired from Transamerica in 1993 and continued as a consultant for the Transamerica funds for an additional year.
On June 2, 1953, Perry married Nancy Lee VanAntwerp of Scott City, Kansas. They have made their home in the Pasadena, California area since that time. He was involved with various business organizations, a member of the Presbyterian Church serving as Elder, Trustee and Deacon, and was Treasurer of the San Marino Community Church and President of the church Foundation Board and the Board at Monte Vista Grove.
Perry is survived by his wife of 65 years, three daughters, Lisa Hitchcock, Lori Preusch and Lynn Roach, two son-in-laws Charlie Patterson and Joe Roach, five grandchildren, Michael, Stephen, Nadia, Kathryn, Cameron and one great grandson, Sage. He enjoyed tennis and gardening.
Funeral Services will be held at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 8, 2018 with Rev. John Lewis presiding.
In Lieu Of Flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City.
Leslie E. ‘Les’ Gross
Leslie E. “Les” Gross, age 71, of Munjor, Kansas, died Thursday, May 31, 2018, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.
He was born February 2, 1947, in Hays, Kansas to Joseph J. “Joe” and Rose (Pfannenstiel) Gross. He married Linda Faye (Weigel) on November 16, 1968, in Hays, Kansas.
He worked in the oil fields all of his life, starting with R.C. Williams for 20 years. He was co-owner of 4-Way Trucking for ten years, then worked for Murfin Drilling, out of the Colby, Kansas office for eight years and retired in 2012. He was a 1965 graduate of Hays High School and served six years in the U S Army Reserves. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council #11492 both of Munjor, Kansas. He enjoyed traveling, going on fishing trips ,the casinos, the Royals, the Chiefs, KU basketball, his children, his grandchildren and the grandkids activities.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Gross, of the home; one son, Len Gross and wife, Patricia, Dumas, TX; two daughters, LaNae Lang and husband, Greg, Hays, KS; LaShana Hunt and husband, Troy, Lawrence, KS; one son-in-law, Thomas Callahan, Frisco, TX; ten grandchildren: Hannah and Sean Callahan; Michael, Patelynn and Emily Gross; Halle, Ethan and Mia Lang; Dallas and Olivia Hunt; two brothers, Vernon Gross and wife, Jeannie, Hays, KS, Jerry Gross and wife, Sylvia, Munjor, KS; four sisters, JoAnn Dreiling and husband, Norman, Victoria, KS; Kay Von Lintel and husband, Dennis, Vincent, KS ;Geraldine Kindel and husband, Don, Victoria, KS; Mary Anderson and husband, Troy, Victoria, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Lynette Callahan; three brothers, Leon Gross and wife, Joyce; Harold Gross and wife, Viola; Kenny Gross and wife, Shirley; one sister, Patty Dreiling and husband, Verlin; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Albinus and Velma (Von Lintel) Weigel.
Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Monday, June 4, 2018, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Munjor, Kansas. Burial in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery, Munjor, Kansas with military honors by the Hays V.F.W. Post No. 9076.
Visitation is from 4:00 to 9:00 P.M. Sunday, and from 8:30 to 9:30 A.M. Monday, all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
A Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 P.M. Sunday, flowed by vigil service at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, both at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
The family suggests memorials to the Munjor Knights of Columbus, the Munjor Christian Mothers or St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent e-mail to [email protected]
Rooks County museum will present ‘Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas’
STOCKTON — The Rooks County Historical Society and Museum, in partnership with the Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance, is sponsoring a free admissions event June 10th, starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Historical Museum, 921 South Cedar, Stockton, KS.
Leo Oliva, a noted local historian, will be presenting “Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas”. It is his newest presentation and should be quite entertaining, as well as educational.
This event is also being funded by Humanities Kansas through their grant program and Speaker’s Bureau.
Donald P. Werth
Donald P. Werth, 85, Hays, died Friday, June 1, 2018 at Via Christi Village.
He was born February 2, 1933 on the family farm near Schoenchen, Kansas one of eleven children to Wendelin W. and Brigitta (Dinges) Werth. On October 11, 1955 he was united in marriage to Charlotte A. Herl in Munjor, Kansas, a union that would span over 62 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and a farmer, oil pumper, cattleman, and dairyman. Memberships include St. Joseph Catholic Church, the third degree Knights of Columbus Council #4166 in Schoenchen, and the Hays VFW Post #9076. He enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, fishing, walking and exercise, driving around and seeing friends and family, helping at harvest time, and was an avid Kansas City Royals fan. He loved spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife; Charlotte of the home, three sons; Ronald L. Werth and wife Mary Margaret of Hutchinson, Richard J. Werth and Janice Goff of Hays, and Randal C. Werth and wife Michelle of Hays, a daughter; Renee Michaud and husband Gerard of Hays, three brothers; Linus Werth of Victoria, LeRoy Werth, Sr. and wife Christa of Schoenchen, and Paul Werth and wife Donna of Great Bend, three sisters; Laura Klaus of Hays, Clarice Stoecklein of Ness City, and Dorothy Moeder and husband John of Hays, seven grandchildren; Anne Werth, Phillip Werth, Ryan Werth, Jennifer Werth, Randi Gerstner and husband Derek, Monica Michaud and Hannah Michaud, eleven great grandchildren; Trexton Murphy, Kaycee Murphy, Keegan Copelan, Bryson Werth, Corbin Werth, Weston Werth, Maxwell Gerstner, Dalton Werth, Zoe Gerstner, Bentley Gerstner, and Atlas Werth, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother; Ralph Werth, Sr., and three sisters; LaVera Schuckman, Joyce Klaus, and Mary Catherine Barnes.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th, Hays, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Tuesday and from 9:30 am until 10:45 on Wednesday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus Council #4166 rosary at 7:00, both on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, St. Joseph Catholic Church, or for masses, in care of the funeral home. Condolences for the family and memories of Donald may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com
Russell Community Theater presents ‘The Nerd’
Back Row: Justin Ashlaw, Mason Eaton, Marc Hertel, Clinton Schuckman
The cast of seven includes Justin Ashlaw and Marc Hertel, both returning to the RCT stage for a second time. This production will be the RCT debut for Matthew Campbell, Mason Eaton, Rebecca Jo Kisner, Jessica Schoech and Clinton Schuckman.
Willum has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick, a fellow GI whom he never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment but his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and even less tact. As Rick stays on and on, his continued presence leads to one uproarious incident after another.
Performances run Tuesday through Saturday, June 26-30 at the Russell Elks Lodge (South Highway 281). Doors open at 6:00 pm, dinner is served from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and show time is 8:00 pm. Reservations open June 12 and are required for all seats. For reservations, visit Encore Antiques & Collectables (590 S. Fossil, Russell) or call 785-483-4057. The Nerd is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., – New York.
Russell Community Theater is a non-profit theater company in Russell, Kansas. The sole purpose of RCT is to produce theater for the community and the surrounding area. Completely volunteer-driven, RCT is supported financially solely through ticket admissions and gifts from those supportive of community theater. Since its inception in 1986, RCT has presented 92 full-scale theatrical productions.
— Submitted
Wilmetta Irene Gideon
Wilmetta Irene Gideon, 76, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.
Wilmetta was born on April 22, 1942, in WaKeeney, Kansas, the daughter of John W. and Pauline (Rohn) Dietz. She grew up in the Trego County and WaKeeney area and graduated from Trego Community High School in the class of 1960. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Glenn Gideon on September 09, 1960, in Hays, Kansas, and they moved to Russell, Kansas, in 1962. From this union Wilmetta and Glenn were blessed with 3 daughters Donna, Doris and Cheryl. She worked at Baxter Labs, United Telephone and worked as a bank teller at the Russell State Bank and United National Bank (Southwind Bank) for 23 years and retired in 2005. Her favorite job was fulltime wife, mother and homemaker for her loving family. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and volunteered at the Russell Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, cake decorating and catering, flower gardening, bingo and working with crafts. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and watching them play in sporting events.
Surviving family include her husband of 58 years Glenn Gideon of the home, three daughters Donna Bauer of Burlington, Kansas, Doris Jackson & husband Keith of Topeka, Kansas and Cheryl Prester & husband Brad of Russell, Kansas; brother Delmar Dietz and wife Diane of WaKeeney, Kansas; 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ernest and Alvin Dietz, sister Frieda Mohr and son in-law Bill Bauer.
A celebration of Wilmetta’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis Officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A. M. to 8 P.M. on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the mortuary with the family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Tuesday evening. Memorials may be given to St John Lutheran Church or Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.