We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Author: Hays Post

Largest KAMS class ever at Fort Hays State honored in completion ceremony

Posted on
Katie Weisenborn, Hays, center, was among the largest class ever to complete requirements for the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science at Fort Hays State University. Pictured with her at Saturday’s completion ceremony is FHSU President Tisa Mason, left, and KAMS Director Roger Schiefferecke.

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

Thirty-two students were recognized in a high school commencement ceremony Saturday at Fort Hays State University.

They didn’t act like high school seniors who had just been handed a diploma and told to move the tassels on their caps. They didn’t toss their caps in the air and shout phrases like “We’re done!”

That’s because these high school seniors still have finals to take this week – as in college finals.

This marked the largest class to complete requirements for the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, a premier high school residential program at FHSU for juniors and seniors.

The eighth annual completion ceremony for KAMS was a going-away affair for the academy’s director, too.

DR. Roger Schiefferecke – who has worked for KAMS for eight years, including the last four as its director – is moving on to take a position at Kansas State University.

“It’s tough to leave,” Schiefferecke said. “I’ve known every student who has come through here. I’m going to miss the great staff and getting work with these brilliant high school kids. But it’s always good to get new blood in here, too.”

While Schiefferecke was honored at the ceremony as “the face of KAMS,” he insisted on focusing the attention on the students.

He told them to enjoy this next week, the last on campus for the majority of the students.
Schifferecke noted that this year’s class had garnered nearly $1.5 million in possible scholarships over four years.

“Be proud of what you’ve accomplished,” he told the students, “and be excited for what is to come.”

FHSU President Tisa Mason called it “a special privilege and honor” that the Kansas Board of Regents selected FHSU to host KAMS, one of only seven of its kind in the country.

“We understand the positive impact these young people have had in becoming actively involved in a myriad of activities around campus. We feel we have 32 students who are our best and our brightest,” Mason said. “We are pleased that six will remain at Fort Hays State to further their education.”

One of those “best and brightest” is Patrick Cook from Derby, who holds a perfect 4.0 grade point average at Fort Hays State. He is set to graduate in 2020 with dual degrees in mathematics and physics.

After completing his FHSU finals this week, Cook will graduate with his classmates from Derby High in two weeks, then move to San Antonio for the summer for an internship with Agility, a government contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense for safety standards.

Cook said he decided to attend KAMS after exhausting the list of physics and math classes at his high school.

He fit in well in both departments at FHSU, where he works as a tutor for both. He also manages another tutoring program that he started himself last semester.

He said he thinks it will be an easy transition into full-time college life after attending classes on campus the past two years.

Meanwhile, Jed Werner from Plainville will make another adjustment when he heads to Manhattan to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at Kansas State.

However, he said he wouldn’t be where he is today without KAMS.

“In high school I didn’t have great study habits because I’d get bored,” he said. “I liked the challenge here.”

He said he thinks the responsibility he learned while having a little more independence will serve him well as he takes off for college.

“You have to be able to handle the freedom that comes with living on a college campus,” he said. “You have to be pretty mature to be successful in KAMS, make the right choices to study and put the time in.”

Werner has been looking forward to attending KAMS since he was in fourth grade at Plainville Elementary School.

“I found out about KAMS then, and it became a goal of mine, something I was shooting for all through junior high and my first two years of high school,” Werner said.

Werner is the first Plainville student to attend KAMS. He might also be the first race car driver to complete the KAMS curriculum.

He started racing when he was 6 years old, following in the footsteps of his dad, who raced motorcycles when he was younger.

“Mom wouldn’t have let me on a motorcycle, so I got in Go-Kart instead,” Werner said, “and when I was 14, I started racing sprint cars.”

While Werner has experienced success in racing, he said he hasn’t made a lot of profit because of the expense of sprint car racing.

He can continue enjoying racing as a hobby, however, after earning one of the top awards from this year’s Dane G. Hansen Scholarship competition. Werner was one of 10 seniors in a 26-county area in northwest and north central Kansas who received the “Leaders of Tomorrow” scholarship for $10,000, renewable for three additional years.

Plainville High School’s 2018 graduation is set for Saturday, May 19, when Werner will be honored with 42 other PHS seniors.

Werner said he is looking forward to seeing his former classmates again and having a graduation party with family and friends.

But that will have to wait. Semester finals in his FHSU classes will occupy his attention this week.

Members of the KAMS Class of 2018 are listed alphabetically by hometown with their sending high schools and their parents.

HAYS (67601): Xinchen Cai, Hays High School, Jianxin Qi and Rui Cai, Beijing, China.
Yunseo “Leo” Choi, Hays High School, Eun Mee Goh and Jong Ho Choi, Daejeon, South Korea.
Oohyung Jang, Hays High School, Young Soon Lee and Myeong-Wuk Jang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Runsi Jia, Hays High School, Baeyuen Jia and Dongdong Ren, Beijing, China.
Dana Kang, Hays High School, Kyoung Hwa Kwon and Incheol Kang, Pyeongtaek, Korea.
Geon Kim, Hays High School, Mi-sun Yu and Hyung-Whon Kim, Seoul, South Korea.
Gyuree Kim, Hays High School, Youngjuo Shin and Kyungseok Kim, Daegu, Korea.
Minkyu “Matthew” Kim, Hays High School, Juo Youn Kang and Byung Jae Kim, Seoul, South Korea
Junghwan “Jacob” Lee, Hays High School, Hyungsoon Lee and Sunkyu Lee, Daejeon, South Korea.
Jinseo “Jason” Park, Hays High School, Youngwha Jo and Seunggon Park, Seongnam-si, South Korea.
Jinwoo “Harry” Park, Hays High School, Namju Park and Minjeong Kim, Gwangju, South Korea.
Hoyoon Woo, Hays High School, Shin Ju Hyeon and Sang Kyun Woo, Daejeon, South Korea.
Runfan Yang, Hays High School, Juan Lin and Yonghua Yang, Wuhan, China.
Katherine Weisenborn, Hays High School, Gregory Weisenborn and Charlene Nichols, Hays.
Yanzhe “Jenny” Zhang, Hays High School, Huan Xu and Xiaohui Zhang, Beijing, China.

CODELL (67663): Jerad “Jed” Werner, Plainville High School, Russell and Marianne Werner.

DERBY (67037): Patrick Cook, Derby High School, Dennis and Kelly Cook.

DODGE CITY (67801): Amelia Richter, Dodge City High School, Matthew and Sheri Richter.

HOISINGTON (67544): Seth Colson, Hoisington High School, Curt and Liana Colson.

HOLTON (66436): Nathan Smith, Holton High School, Porter and Terri Smith.

KINGMAN (67068): Danica Kostner, Kingman High School, Adrian and Shondra Kostner.

KINSLEY (67547): Bruce Davies, Kinsley High School, Robert and Melody Davies.

LAWRENCE (66049): Emily Thornton, Free State High School, Joseph Thornton and Brenda Thornton.

LIBERAL (67901): Christian Ermann, Liberal High School, William and Dayna Ermann.

NEWTON (67114): Brennan Wald, Newton High School, Aaron and Brie Wald.

OVERBOOK (66524): Emily Linder, Baldwin High School, Stephen and Laura Linder.

PRAIRIE VILLAGE (66208): Juliana Ames, Shawnee Mission East High School, Kenneth and Carmen Clark and Alan Ames.

TOPEKA (66606): Jada Gardner, Topeka High School, William and Gloria Horn.

TOPEKA (66614): Grant Nichol, Topeka High School, Eric and Shannon Nichol.

WaKEENEY (67672): Jacob Schneider, Trego Community High School, Rebecca Hillman and Rick Schneider.

WICHITA (67212): Alexandra Depew, Wichita Northwest High School, James and Rachelle Depew.

WICHITA (67209): Annie Hinds, Goddard High School, Donald and Misty Hinds and Ron and Jennifer Walker.

Partly sunny, hot Tuesday

Posted on

Today Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South southeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North wind 6 to 11 mph.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 88. North northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. East northeast wind around 7 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.

Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South southeast wind 7 to 17 mph.

Thursday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 66. Breezy.

Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Arson Awareness Week focuses on reducing arson at vacant and abandoned buildings

Posted on

OSFM

TOPEKA – The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) joins the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in dedicating the week of May 6-12, 2018, as Arson Awareness Week. The purpose for this week is the recognition, awareness and understanding of the crime of arson – one of our nation’s most dangerous and costly threats to people and property.

The theme for this year’s Arson Awareness Week is, “Reducing Arson at Vacant and Abandoned Buildings.” According to USFA, 34 percent of vacant residential building fires in the United States were cause by intentional actions. In Kansas, from 2000-2017, there were 1,031 arson fires in vacant or abandoned buildings within the state of Kansas resulting in major property loss.

“We would like to use this week of arson awareness to focus on the importance of partnering with fire and emergency services departments, law enforcement, public works, insurance companies and the justice system to prevent the crime of arson at vacant and abandoned buildings in Kansas,” Doug Jorgensen, Kansas Fire Marshal, said. “Fires in vacant buildings are more likely to be intentionally set, therefore, spreading to other buildings and structures, causing extremely dangerous, sometimes deadly, situations for firefighters and citizens.”

Arson is the willful, malicious, intentional and/or reckless burning of property. Unsecured and exposed to the elements, abandoned and vacant structures can be extremely treacherous to firefighters, as they lack structural integrity and may contain other hazards. Urban mining removes pipes and wiring, resulting in additional pathways for the spread of smoke and fire.

The best method to keep firefighters safe is to aggressively identify, evaluate and secure vacant and abandoned buildings. In addition, jurisdictions should adopt a policy which limits interior fire attack to incidents where there is a confirmed life hazard. Insurance fraud and arson for profit are criminal methods of obtaining money from a fire loss policy and are common in vacant and abandoned building fires.

Anyone with information on any arson should call 1-800-KS-CRIME or submit an information report online at https://firemarshal.ks.gov/arson.

TMP Baseball outlasts Abilene

Posted on


By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

Game 1: TMP 10, Abilene 0
Game 2: TMP 6, Abilene 5 (8 innings)

HAYS, Kan.-TMP swept a pair of games from Abilene on Monday in Hays. It was a tale of two games. In the first game the Monarchs controlled things from the beginning winning easily , 10-0 in five innings. TMP scored two runs in the first inning, one in the second, five in the third and then two runs in the fifth to complete the the shutout.

Tate Garcia led the charge in game one going three for three with three singles and a walk including a two RBI single to win the game. Chase Werth was equally impressive on the mound giving up only one hit in 4 1/3 innings and picking up the win.

Abilene jumped on TMP early with two runs in the top of the first inning in the second game and held that lead until the bottom of the 5th inning when Karl Rack delivered a single up the middle that scored two Monarchs. The Cowboys would regain the lead with a two-out double that scored two. TMP trailed 5-4 going into the bottom of the 7th inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. With the bases still loaded and two outs Garcia drew a walk that scored the game tying run.

The game would go to extra innings where TMP would win it in the bottom of the 8th on a running scoring sacrifice fly from Adam Gottschalk giving them the 6-5 win. The Monarchs improve to 17-1 and will close out their regular season on the road in Colby on Thursday. TMP also secured the top seed in next week’s 3A Regional in Lakin. With that the Monarchs will be the only team in the Regional that will have a first round bye.

DUSTY WASHBURN INTERVIEW

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

 

Kan. woman accused of child drowning, abduction hoax

Posted on

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for making a false report involving a child abduction.

Chapman-photo Barton Co.

Just after 5p.m. Friday, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Big Bend Recreational lake located in the 100 block of S. Washington Street., just south Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

The initial call came to 911 Dispatch as a possible drowning. Upon arrival Sheriff’s officers contacted Christina Chapman, 35, Great Bend who stated while she was in the water swimming with her daughter, an unknown white male struck her, grabbed her three-year-old child and left in an unknown vehicle.  Chapman repeatedly stated she had no idea who had taken her child, according to Bellendir.

Witnesses in the area stated they had not seen any other vehicles in the area nor had they seen a child with Chapman.

Chapman has a previous drug conviction in Barton County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was contacted as officers prepared to issue an Amber Alert. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks was also contacted in the event we needed equipment to search for a drowned child.  During the course the investigation Sheriff’s detectives contacted other family members to see if they had information as to who may have abducted the child. During the course that investigation it was discovered Chapman had voluntarily given her child to another family member several hours earlier. Evidently the entire incident was a hoax.

Christina Chapman was arrested for making a false report. She was transported to the Barton County Jail and booked on charges of interference with a law enforcement officer. Chapman was released on a $2500 bond.

Kansas man found guilty of child sex crimes

Posted on

ANTHONY – (May 7, 2018) – An Anthony man today pleaded guilty to child sex crimes, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Jeter-photo Harper Co.

Kevin Ray Jeter, 43, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count of aggravated intimidation of a witness or a victim. Chief Judge William R. Mott accepted the pleas in Harper County District Court. The crimes occurred between December 2014 and October 2016.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 2 at 10:30 a.m.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Acting Deputy Attorney General Melissa Johnson and Assistant Attorney General Jason Oxford of Schmidt’s office and Harper County Attorney David Graham are prosecuting the case.

Earthquake: More than 2K injection wells improperly permitted in Kansas

Posted on

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — An investigation of Kansas saltwater injection wells has found more than 2,000 wells that weren’t properly permitted.

Saltwater injection wells, like this in southeast Kansas, are gaining more attention from Kansans concerned about their potential effects.
COURTESY KANSAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Kansas Corporation Commission in November ordered an internal investigation of more than 4,000 saltwater injection oil well permits.

The commission changed the public comment period in 2008 to be cited from 15 to 30 days in published public notices for proposed injection wells.

The investigation found in February that permits for the more than 2,000 wells were approved with public notices stating the public comment period was only 15 days. It also found that the inaccurate notices were provided to the commission’s staff, but the errors were not detected as part of the review process.

The wells have been tied to an increase in the number of earthquakes in Kansas and surrounding states.

Kansas AG defends ‘massive’ increase in school funding law

Posted on

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt argues in a new court filing that the state’s new education funding law provides a “massive” increase in spending on public schools.

Schmidt filed a written defense of the law Monday with the Kansas Supreme Court and included almost 1,300 pages of supporting documents. The court has scheduled a May 22 hearing on whether the new law provides adequate funding.

Schmidt’s filing said the law phases in a $548 million increase over five years. The Supreme Court ruled in October that the current funding of more than $4 billion a year isn’t sufficient under the state constitution.

Schmidt filed his defense the same day Gov. Jeff Colyer signed a bill fixing a flaw in the law that otherwise would have shorted schools $80 million.

NCK Tech students take gold at Skills USA Competition

Posted on

HUTCHINSON – NCK Tech students from both the Hays and Beloit campuses came together to compete in the Skills USA National competition that concluded on Friday, April 27, 2018. The college walked away with two golds, one silver, and five bronze awards.

“We are proud of the successful history our school has had at the annual state and national SkillsUSA competition. Since 2014 we have taken Gold four times and Silver five times at the state level. At nationals we have placed in the top 10 twice with one of those time being fourth. This year students in the Telecommunication program took first and second in the Telecommunication Cabling competition as well as third in the Internetworking competition (This was the first year we competed in this event). I feel this speaks volumes to the quality of the education and experience NCK Tech offers their students,” said Tom Magnett, Telecommunications Instructor.

SkillsUSA is a national membership association for students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations, and for further education. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel.

Students from NCK Tech received the follow awards: Jerod Windholz, Hays Automotive Technology II program, Bronze; Trent Elsen, Charles McConnell, Jarrod Otott, Gold, Beloit Welding Fab team, Wayne Sprague, Beloit Welding, Bronze; Skylar Hanson, Beloit Diesel, Bronze; Cory Koetter, Beloit Information Technology, Bronze; Gavin Ginn, Beloit Telecommunications, Gold, Evan Ouellette, Beloit Telecommunications, Silver.

NCK Tech is a fully accredited 2-year technical college with campuses in Beloit and Hays, KS. They tout 25 different programs to choose from and most programs are either 9 or 18 months in duration. The college also offers credits that transfer to 4-year institutions for students who are looking to further their education. To discover more about NCK Tech visit their website at www.ncktc.edu.

Vincent ‘Vince’ Dreiling

Posted on

Vincent “Vince” Dreiling, 96, Hays, died Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Good Samaritan Society of Hays.

He was born July 27, 1921 in Victoria, Kansas the son of Balthazar and Elizabeth (Graf) Dreiling.  He was united in marriage to Ellen Linenberger in 1946 at St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria, and they celebrated nearly 70 years of marriage.  She preceded him in death on March 20, 2015.  He served in the Civil Conservation Corps and Works Project of America programs, and then served in the South Pacific during World War II as a member of the United States Army Air Corps.  During the war he received various awards.  After the war, he married and held several positions for the city of Hays.  He implemented the building codes and inspection program and held that position until his retirement.  He also served as interim fire chief.  With his wife, he built several commercial buildings and homes they lived in.  He loved working with leather and owned Dreiling Shoe Repair for several years.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the VFW, and the Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #1325.  He put others’ needs ahead of his own and took his parent and grandparent roles seriously.

Survivors include his eight children; Firma Carrithers and husband Jim, Diane Long and husband Mike, James Dreiling and wife Paula, Marlene Taxter and husband Mike, Anthony Dreiling and wife Cindy, Dean Dreiling, Joseph Dreiling, and Geralyn Dreiling, nine grandchildren; Lori, Keri, Krista, Shawn, Kelley, Scott, Dawson, Levi, and Olivia, six great grandchildren; Treyton, Kirstan, Ashley, Michael, Brody, and Brooklyn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ellen, five brothers; Fred, Bill, Sylvester, Robert, and Francis, five sisters; Freda, Sarie, Caroline, Theresa, and Betty, and one granddaughter; Jami.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 201 W. 13th, Hays, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating.  Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street.  A parish vigil will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Third Degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00 pm, all on Wednesday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the Basilica of St. Fidelis in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com 

News From the Oil Patch, May 7

Posted on

By JOHN P. TRETBAR

The Kansas Corporation Commission reports operators in Kansas filed 141 new intent-to-drill notices last month. That’s down from 163 the month before. The year-to-date total of 563 marks an improvement over totals through April of the last two years, but it’s still well short of the 873 intents filed through April of 2015. Initial reports show five new intents in Barton County, and three in Ellis County.

Drilling rig counts are up across the US and across the state of Kansas. Baker Hughes reports 1,032 active rigs, an increase of nine oil rigs. The count in Canada was up one to 86 rigs. Independent Oil & Gas Service’s weekly report notes 15 active rigs in eastern Kansas, up two, and 28 west of Wichita, which is up one. Drilling is underway on one lease in Ellis County. Operators are moving in completion tools at two sites in Barton County and five in Ellis County.

Operators filed 32 permits for drilling at new locations across Kansas last week, 16 east of Wichita and 16 in the western half of the state, for a year-to-date total of 535 new permits. There’s one new permit each in Barton, Ellis, Russell and Stafford counties.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 37 new well completions for the week, 530 so far this year. There were 23 east of Wichita and 14 in western Kansas, including one newly completed well in Ellis County and two in Stafford County.

Federal regulators have removed pressure restrictions on the Keystone oil pipeline that were put in place in November after a large spill in South Dakota. Reduced flows on the pipeline helped draw down inventories at Cushing, and created a bottleneck in Alberta, where increased output has run up against a shortage of pipeline and rail capacity. Since that time, US prices have gone up, as Canadian prices dropped.

The Army Corps of Engineers will meet June 1 with the four Native American tribes suing to shut down the Dakota Access oil pipeline. The environmental study ordered by a federal judge last summer is likely to continue into this summer, as each side complained about input from the other. U.S. Judge James Boasberg has given the Corps until June 8 to set a date for completion of the work that initially was expected to wrap up in early April.

A new pipeline project in North Dakota should help that state reduce flaring of natural gas in the oil patch. The Bismarck Tribune reports ONEOK Rockies Midstream plans to convert existing gathering pipelines into a single transmission line, to transfer up to 50,000 barrels of natural gas liquids to the existing Bakken Pipeline. Utility regulators signed off on the Cherry Creek Pipeline project last week.

Texas oil production jumped to it’s highest level in nearly four decades in February, 4.01 million barrels a day. That’s nearly 21 percent higher than a year earlier, and roughly 40% of the nation’s output, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Total U.S. crude production in February set a new record, up 2.6 percent to 10.3 million barrels per day. The weekly numbers are even better. The government reported production of 10.62 million barrels per day for the week ending April 27. Only Russia produces more crude.

In West Texas, rising oil prices are fueling a sharp economic upswing. Reuters reports the boom is reducing unemployment and raising payroll dollar amounts to record highs. The downside of that is that it’s making it harder for anyone to find qualified workers. It’s also driving up spending at hotels, restaurants, and car dealerships, and raising the cost of housing and other essentials.

ConocoPhillips has frozen some of the Venezuela’s Caribbean assets to enforce a $2 billion arbitration award over the nationalization of assets ten years ago. Reuters reports the U.S. firm is targeting facilities on the islands of Curacao, Bonaire and St. Eustatius that account for about a quarter of Venezuela’s oil exports. Unnamed sources said the company could move to sell those facilities.

Peggy Kay (Hattrup) Lee

Posted on

Peggy Kay (Hattrup) Lee, 73, Hays, died Sunday, May 6, 2018 at her home in Hays.

She was born December 28, 1944 in Dodge City, Kansas the daughter of Bernard “Ben” and Mary (Schmidt) Hattrup. She attended grade school and middle school at St. Joseph Private School in Offerle and graduated from Windthorst High School in 1962. After high school she attended the Dominican School of Nursing in Great Bend, Kansas and became a registered nurse. Her career included working at Hadley Hospital in Hays, Edwards County Hospital, the Medical Lodge in Kinsley, Dodge City Medical Center, and as a school nurse for USD 347. On May 27, 1995 she married John Edward Lee in Offerle, Kansas.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Offerle, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays, and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Kinsley. She enjoyed reading, singing, dancing, and spending time with her grandchildren and family.

Survivors include her husband John, of the home in Hays, two daughters; Jamie Wallace and husband John of Raymore, Missouri, and Cindy Smith and husband Mike of Hays, a son; John Balman and wife Seana of Manhattan, three step-daughters; Donave Yarmer and husband Mel of Albert, Julie Yarmer and husband Maurice of Russell, and Valisa Wagner and husband Scott of Denver, a step-son; Rick Lee and wife Crystal of Beeler, Kansas, two sisters; Marcella Heeke of Conroe, TX and Linda Strecker and husband Joe of Dodge City, ten grandchildren; Shane McBee, Sarah McBee, August Balman, Wyatt Balman, Jonas Balman, Juliet Ballman, Ethan Balman, Catherine Balman, Shannon Smith, and Cassidy Smith, eleven step-grandchildren; Danny Yarmer, Valerie Wondra, Tim Yarmer, Matthew Yarmer, Diana Harmony, Justin Yarmer, Neil Yarmer, Sara Simoneau, Danielle Lee, Caleb Lee, and Michalla Pratt, a great granddaughter; Cora Cooper and twenty step-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; John Aumiller, an infant brother, a sister; Benita Bullock, and a brother-in-law; Pete Heeke.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Friday, May 11, 2018 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, with Fr. Leo Blasi officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 pm on Friday at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Offerle, Kansas. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Thursday and from 10:00 am until 10:45 on Friday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in Peggy’s memory to EWTN Global Catholic Television Network, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Berdena (Dena) Legere

Posted on

Berdena (Dena) Legere, 92, Hays, formerly of Graham Co., KS, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2018.

Dena was born on September 28, 1925 to August and Annie (Keith) Hildebrand; and was a retired school teacher and accomplished quilter.

She married Don Legere on October 19, 1946 in Hill City, KS; he preceded her in death, along with her parents; son-in-law, Rodney Yost; 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

Survivors include five daughters, their spouses, and families; Becky and Doug Stites of Ellis, Rhonda Yost of Salina, Nancy and Roger Harman of Hays, Donna and Greg Seibel of Emporia, and Mary and Ken Neely of Derby; nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

A family graveside service was held at the Hill City Cemetery where she was laid to rest beside her husband of 61 years.

Memorial contributions are suggested to a cancer research organization of your choice.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit Dena’s memorial webpage at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File