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Author: Hays Post

Ronald Keith Mead

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Ronald Keith Mead, 73, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, January 05, 2018, at his home in Paradise, Kansas, surrounded by his loving family.

Ron was born on July 21, 1944, in Russell, Kansas, the son of Ray and Sarah V. (Beck) Mead. He grew up around the Waldo and Paradise, Kansas, area and graduated from Waldo High School in the class of 1962. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Urban on June 08, 1963, in Russell, Kansas, at the St. Mary Catholic Church. From this union Ron and Betty were blessed with 4 children Keith, Kendyl, Kim and Karmen. He work for the Paradise Township in charge of road maintenance. He was a member of the Lions Club, Waldo Senior Center and was a former Boy Scout leader. He enjoyed bowling, working as a handy man and spending time with his family. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids.

Surviving family include his wife Betty of the home, sons Keith Mead (Bobbi) of Bastrop, Texas, Kendyl Mead (Becky) of Russell, Kansas, Kim Mead (Deb) of Paradise, Kansas and daughter Karmen Stecklein (Kelly) of Russell, Kansas; brother Gerold Mead (Ruth) of Tampa, Florida; sisters Barbara Robertson of Waldo, Kansas, Maralyn Wilson of Russell, Kansas and Joan Pitts of Waldo, Kansas and 7 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A graveside service for Ron will be held at 3:30 PM on Tuesday, January 09, 2018, at the Grand Center Cemetery North of Waldo, Kansas. Family is having a private family viewing earlier in the day and the family will greet guests at the cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to the Waldo Senior Center and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Louise Alice Wallace

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Louise Alice Wallace, 84, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, January 04, 2018, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas after a brief illness.

Louise was born on June 25, 1933, in Dispatch, Kansas, the daughter of Martin and Marcia (Lessenden) Verhage. She grew up on a farm in Jewell County, Kansas with her 10 siblings. She attended country schools before graduating from High School in Downs, Kansas. Louise married John A. Wallace of Luray on August 19, 1951, in Osborne, Kansas. Louise and John had three children, Patricia, Vicki and Roger. Louise was a homemaker and farmer, working side by side with John, on the Wallace farm north of Luray. She was an active member of the Cheyenne United Methodist Church. In 2009, Louise and John retired and moved to Russell where Louise spent most of her time caring for John who received dialysis three days a week. Louise enjoyed quilting, gardening, reading, sewing, needlework and researching family genealogy. Louise loved animals and could be seen walking her dogs through the neighborhood almost every day. In her last few years she had joined an exercise class and continued to volunteer for local organizations. But most of all, Louise was delighted to keep in touch with her large extended family by letters, phone calls and visits. Louise maintained an active life until the week preceding her death.

Surviving family include Patricia Colglazier of Rozel, Kansas, Vicki Hemmerling (Dwight) of Hutchinson, Kansas and Roger Wallace (Mara) of Elkhorn, Nebraska. She is survived by 5 brothers, 2 sisters, 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and dozens of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John on April 27, 2016, son in-law Daniel Colglazier, and 3 brothers.

A celebration of Louise’s life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 16, at the Luray United Methodist Church in Luray, Kansas, with Pastor Les Rye officiating. A lunch will be provided at the church after the service. A private family inurnment will take place later at Vincent Cemetery. Visitation with family greeting guests will be from 6 pm to 8 pm on January 15, 2018, at the Pohlman-Varner- Peeler mortuary in Russell. Memorials may be given to the Luray Library and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Bettie Jean Shank

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Bettie Jean Shank, age 94, died on January 6, 2018 at the Ness County Hospital, Ness City. She was born on November 9, 1923 in Bazine, Kansas the daughter of Frank and Mary (Grimmett) Lent.

Bettie was a 1941 graduate of Bazine High School and she was a member of the First Baptist Church, Bazine. For several years she worked at the Bazine State Bank.

She married Harry Shank on June 8, 1947 in Bazine. He preceded her in death on August 20, 2017. She is survived by her son, Harold Shank and his wife, Jan of Hanston; her daughter, Jean Petersilie and her husband, Doug of Ness City; five grandchildren, Katie and Travis Ruff, Jared and Erin Petersilie, Travis and Laurie Petersilie, Brad and Tara Shank, and Kalyn and Kyle Newman; and 13 great grandchildren, Garrett, Jessie, and Kody Ruff, Ethan and Jadyn Petersilie, Emma, Isabel, and Aubrey Petersilie, Devin, Talon, and Ryker Shank, and Koby and Kade Newman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her brother, Robert Lent.

Funeral service will be on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City with burial following in the Crandall Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 pm.

Memorial contributions may be given to the First Baptist Church, Bazine or Ness County EMS, Ness City.

Robert L. Schmidtberger

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Victoria, Kansas – Robert L. Schmidtberger, age 90, died Sunday, January 7, 2018, at his home.

He was born October 8, 1927, on a farm north of Gorham, Kansas, to John F. and Albina (Frank) Schmidtberger. He married Marie A. (Bollig) on October 17, 1949, at Victoria, Kansas. She preceded him in death on September 20, 2017.

He was an oil field pumper for Dreiling Oil Company for 35 years and was a farmer.

Bob grew up in the Gorham area and was a graduate of Gorham High School. He was drafted into the Army but never was called to service. Robert and his brother Lewis started Schmidtberger Construction Company. He lived in Gorham, Buckeye and Hays, before moving to Victoria in 1950. After his retirement he was a contract pumper for a number of years.

He a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas and was a church usher for over 50 years. He was a member of The Gorham State Bank Board, and served 12 years on the U.S.D. #432 School Board. He was inducted into the Fair Board Hall of Fame at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas. Bob and his wife Marie, started The Victoria Vikings 4-H Club and were Club Leaders for 18 years. He served on the Ellis County Fair Board for 20 years and was very active with the Ellis County 4-H. He also helped in the construction and design of the current Ellis County Fairgrounds.

Survivors include six sons, Jerry Schmidtberger, Leroy Schmidtberger and wife, LeeAnn, Wayne Schmidtberger, Ron Schmidtberger and wife, Kim, all of Victoria, KS; Gary Schmidtberger and wife, Wanda, Hays, KS; Pat Schmidtberger, Wichita, KS; one daughter, Judy Rupp and husband, Rick, Victoria, KS; one brother, Paul Schmidtberger and wife, Vera, Great Bend, KS; one sister, Lila Jean Bollig, Hays, KS; 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two brothers, Lewis Schmidtberger and wife, Armella, Elmer Schmidtberger and wives, Jean, Norma and Velma; one brother-in-law Edwin Bollig; one sister-in-law, Theresa Bollig, two nephews, Raymond Schmidtberger and Steven Schmidtberger; one daughter-in-law, Louise Schmidtberger; one great grandson, Jonah Schmidtberger; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Anthony and Euphrosina (Hoffman) Bollig.

Services are at 10:00 A.M. Friday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis and burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas

A vigil service/rosary will be at 6:30 P.M. Thursday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Thursday, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Friday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis.

Memorials are suggested to NBP’s Cozy Caregivers.

Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Jerron Baxter

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CEDAR, KS – Jerron Baxter, age 32 passed away on Sunday January 7, 2018 at his home in Cedar, KS.

Click HERE for service details.

MADORIN: Lucky hunters

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Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.

After every rifle season, lucky hunters celebrate their success stories, recounting details of the hunt to their friends and anyone else who will listen. Over the years, I’ve heard many a tale about one little turn of good fortune that transformed the ordinary hunt into the extraordinary hunt. One story I never heard ought to be told because that hunter is luckier than he or she knows.

Over the years, I’ve heard about three such fortunate individuals, yet, I suspect, they aren’t aware how fate protected them from permanently injuring others or worse. The first tale involved neighbors who lived west of us. The wife came home around dusk the first Wednesday of rifle deer season to discover a high-powered rifle bullet had shattered the family room bay window.

This happened to be the room where her grandchild played and napped when visiting Grandma. The bullet-shattered glass shards exploded through the room so thoroughly the insurance company replaced furniture, carpeting, and window dressings since splinters couldn’t be totally removed. Thinking about what could have happened had any human, let alone a small child, been in that room sickens me.

The second story involved a friend who stored his bass boat in his mother’s barn. Come warm weather, he prepared his boat for the upcoming fishing season when he discovered a problem with the engine. It wouldn’t run because a high-powered rifle slug was lodged in it. After doing a little detective work, he, too, discovered an errant bullet had whistled through the barn wall, through the boat hull, and into the engine. Once again, a lucky hunter avoided injuring a human, though he or she wreaked havoc on my friend’s fishing season.

Historically, bad luck comes in threes. Perhaps good luck does also. The third story involved several pieces of good fortune stitched together. Just a few weeks ago, another neighbor traveled much of December and early January. Upon his return, he invited my husband to his barn to show him a bullet hole that hadn’t been there when our neighbor left in December.

On a mission to discover how a bullet hole exited a locked barn, the two began searching. What they found made them realize another rifle hunter narrowly avoided tragedy. This individual fired a rifle, apparently coming over a nearby hill. We assume he or she aimed at a deer in an alfalfa field and missed. The lead pierced the barn wall, passed through a wooden plank propped against it, struck the corner of a wheat drill that split the still moving projectile, sending both fragments through the front door toward gas tanks in front of the barn. Our friend frequently parks his pickup in that location, so it was fortunate he was traveling when the incident occurred.

This is not an essay against hunting. Hunting is a wonderful way to enjoy nature, learn more about our place in it, and fill the freezer. This is an essay that celebrates some hunters’ good fortune in that they did not kill or injure another human when they failed to follow the most basic tenet of hunter’s safety.

KNOW WHERE YOUR BULLET IS GOING BEFORE YOU PULL THE TRIGGER.
High-powered rifles make it possible to shoot a bullet an average of 3500 feet per second. Those using them have a responsibility know where that bullet will end up if it misses the target.

Somewhere, someone is bemoaning a lost deer. Instead, that hunter needs to celebrate not ending up a statistic in the back of the hunter education manual.

Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.

Branson performers to take the stage in Colby

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Submitted

COLBTY — Live from Branson, Mo., join the stars of Forever Young as they bring you on a journey through the best eras of modern music. Featuring a talented troupe of singers and performers, this show is sure to dazzle and impress. Bringing back a nostalgic feel reminiscent of garage band days and record players, Forever Young showcases the energy and vitality of music. This show focuses on these classics in order to give these songs a timeless showcase.

Colby’s Cultural Arts Center is the venue for the first of our 2018 shows, scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 21.

Forever Young tells the journey of five small-town friends, held together with school adventures, baseball glory days and music. High school days turn into nights snuggled on the couch with a girlfriend, or rocking out on guitars.  After high school, story lines diverge. Whether it be a high-rolling life in Vegas; a contract with the New York Mets; a full-time desk job; a life filled with travel and the open seas; playing piano in a Texas bar; or starring on Broadway, the music will pull the friends together.

Forever Young is an original Branson show written by brothers Josh and Justin Sassenella and stars local favorites Chadd Rudden, Brad Baker, Avilla Martin and Evan Bosworth. The show weaves original stories about growing up together with the songs from Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, the Beatles and Bon Jovi to Johnny Cash, Michael Bublé, Huey Lewis and more.

Baker graduated from Auburn University and has since made a career performing on various cruise ships including the Enterprise Alabama, Holland American Cruise Lines, and the Show Boat Branson Belle. As well as that, he has appeared on TV shows such as America’s Got Talent and the Sing Off.

Martin has performed with artists like Enrique Iglesias and Celine Dion. He has also toured with the Chicago Children’s Choir.

Having performed with the Twelve Irish Tenors and for both Carnival and Oceana cruises, Justin Sassanella is no stranger to the stage. He and his brother Josh co-wrote the show.

Bosworth earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as a second degree in music production. Since then, he has traveled around the world and sang in over 100 different countries. He has also performed with artists such as Andy Williams, LeAnne Rhimes, and The Osmond Brothers.

Rounding out the group, Ruden brings over ten years of performing experience with him to the stage. He has performed in pieces such as It’s a Wonderful Life, GAC Live, and the 70s Music Celebration starring Barry Williams.

Admission is by WPAA Season Ticket or at the door, $20 adults and $10 students. Numerous sponsors from northwest Kansas make this production possible including a generous gift from the Dane Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kansas.

Kansas lawmakers return to work, face school funding puzzle

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PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

By John Hannah

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are preparing to open their annual session facing a court mandate to boost spending on public schools with little appetite to do what could be necessary to pay for it.

The Republican-controlled Legislature was scheduled to convene Monday afternoon for short, mostly ceremonial meetings to start the traditional 90-day clock. GOP Gov. Sam Brownback, waiting to depart for an ambassador’s post, will give the annual State of the State address Tuesday evening and lay out budget proposals Wednesday.

The big question ahead of Brownback’s speech was what he will propose as a response to the state Supreme Court’s ruling in October that Kansas’ total aid to its 286 school districts of about $4.3 billion a year is insufficient under the state constitution. Brownback promised to have a plan but divulged no details beforehand.

Many legislators, particularly Republicans, are frustrated because they approved a school funding law last year that phased in a $293 million aid increase over two years. They also raised income taxes by roughly $600 million a year to help pay for it and balance the state budget, overriding Brownback’s veto of a bill that rolled back past tax cuts he had championed.

“It’s a tough process,” Brownback said during an interview. “It will be a difficult topic.”

The Supreme Court also said parts of the school funding law, in how funds are distributed, are unfair to poor school districts, but lawmakers expect to wrestle most with how much to increase spending. The court did not set a specific figure but hinted in its decision that it expects aid to rise by as much as $650 million a year.

“My legislators are repulsed at the thought of another tax increase,” Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, speaking of fellow GOP senators. “It’s not going to happen.”

Yet legislators in both parties also are put off by the idea of big cuts in spending on universities, social services and public safety so that the dollars can be shifted to public schools.

“There’s not an easy fix, either the revenue side or on the budget side,” said House Majority Leader Don Hineman, a Dighton Republican. “I don’t think anyone has the answer right now.”

Brownback’s future creates an additional complication. He and legislators don’t know when he’ll resign, elevating Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer to governor.

President Donald Trump nominated Brownback as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom in July. But the U.S. Senate did not vote on his confirmation by the end of the year, requiring him to be nominated again. The delay has led to an awkward transition period.

Couple from Hays hospitalized after 3-vehicle Interstate crash

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HARVEY COUNTY — Four people were injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Sunday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Hyundai Tucson driven by Hannah P. Becker, 16, Hesston, was attempting to merge onto Interstate 135 from US 50 just south of Newton.

As the Hundai merged onto the Interstate left lane, a northbound 2017 Audi SUV driven by Stephen J. Schmidt, 59, Hays, attempted to slow to allow the vehicle to enter.

A northbound 2012 Chevy Camaro driven by Ethan L. Moodie, 19, McPherson rear-ended the Audi and struck the Hyundai.

Schmidt, a passenger in the Audi Jean M. Schmidt, 56, Hays, Moodie and a passenger in the Camaro Jentry F. Strothman, 22, Moscow, were transported to Newton Medical Center.

Becker was transported to a hospital in Wichita.

The occupants of the Camaro were not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

USGS: Sunday quakes shake Kansas, Oklahoma

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HARPER COUNTY — A small earthquake shook portions of Kansas late Sunday. The quake reported just after 10 p.m. measured a magnitude 2.5 and was centered approximately 20 miles northeast of Anthony, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In addition, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake shook north-central Oklahoma Sunday.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was recorded at 1:37 p.m. about 10 miles east of Hennessey in Kingfisher County. That is approximately 90-minutes south of Anthony.

Sunday’s quake is the first in Kansas since a 2.6 magnitude quake shook south-central Kansas on New Year’s Day. That quake was centered approximately 22 miles south of Anthony, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

No damage or injuries were reported from the quakes. Geologists say that damage is not likely in earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or less.

Officials continue to monitor SW Kansas cotton bale fire

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Sunday fire in southwest Kansas-photo courtesy Hugoton Police

STEVENS COUNTY — Fire crews continue to monitor a large cotton gin fire in southwest Kansas. Just after noon on Sunday, numerous cotton bails at Northwest Cotton Gin caught fire, according to a media release from police.

Authorities advised drivers to avoid highway 56 toward Moscow due to zero visibility.

Traffic was diverted in the area. The fire was contained but continued to burn throughout Sunday night and early Monday. There were no injuries reported.

Sheriff: 3 Kansas men jailed after weekend drug bust

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Kirk-photo Jackson Co.

JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspect on drug charges.

Just after 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant on 205 E. Jones Street, according to a media release. The warrant was issued as a result of a drug investigation conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Tuckwin-photo Jackson Co.

Deputies arrested Robert Neal Kirk, 54, of   Topeka, for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. They arrested Darren Dale McManus, 51, Hoyt, for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They also arrested Paul George Tuckwin, 53, Mayetta, for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug

McManus-photo Jackson Co.

paraphernalia. All three remain jailed Jackson County Jail. Bond is pending on all three.

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