Joyce L. Wiseman, 79, of Russell, Kansas, died on December 30, 2017, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.
Cremation has been selected and a memorial gathering will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, January 01, 2018, at the Calvery Chapel at 540 Ober, Russell, Kansas. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
New Year’s DayMostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 12. Wind chill values as low as -11. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.
TonightMostly cloudy, with a low around 0. Wind chill values as low as -12. Southeast wind around 8 mph.
TuesdayPartly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as -13. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west southwest in the morning.
Tuesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 14. Wind chill values as low as 3. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 33. North northwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
New Year’s Day Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16. Wind chill values as low as -12. North wind 8 to 18 mph.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -4. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values as low as -5. West southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 15. West southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
ThursdaySunny, with a high near 38.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 22.
FridaySunny, with a high near 48.
STAFFORD COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating an injury accident that occurred just after 1a.m. Monday in Stafford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge pickup was southbound on NE 90th Avenue two miles north of Stafford.
The driver lost control of the vehicle. It entered a field on the east side of the roadway. The pickup re-entered the roadway, traveled into the field on the west side of the road and rolled.
Clinton J. Sanders, 20, and Taylor S. Keller, 20, both of Stafford were transported to the Stafford County Hospital. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
The KHP is still working to determine who drover the pickup.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump capped 2017 on Sunday with a video self-tribute touching on what he sees as the high points of his achievements and rhetoric from his first year in office. He gave a plug to American exceptionalism, too.
In the video running 3½ minutes, scenes of Trump with military personnel, Border Patrol agents and other world leaders are set to a stirring soundtrack as he declares of his country: “We gave birth to the modern world and we will shape tomorrow’s world with the strength and skill of American hands.”
Trump cited his success in placing a new justice on the Supreme Court, his efforts to cut regulations and his big win on overhauling taxes, which he falsely described as the “largest tax cut in the history of our country.”
Trump offered the video with a New Year’s Eve message, saying “What a year it’s been, and we’re just getting started. Together, we are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Happy New Year!!”
The president is spending the holidays in Palm Beach, where his Mar-a-Lago club hosts an annual New Year’s Eve bash. At the event last year, hundreds of guests gathered in the club’s grand ballroom, including action star Sylvester Stallone and romance novel model Fabio.
The White House said Trump been briefed on New Year’s Eve security precautions around the country and will continue to monitor those efforts.
Trump offered his condolences Sunday to the victims of a shooting in suburban Denver that killed one sheriff’s deputy and wounded six other people, including four deputies. He tweeted: “We love our police and law enforcement – God Bless them all!”
Trump had lunch with Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday. The White House said they discussed hurricane recovery efforts, the need to improve infrastructure “and many other matters important to the people of Florida.”
The governor came with some specific concerns: the need for repairs to the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee and the recovery of Florida’s citrus industry from Hurricane Irma, said his spokesman, John Tupps.
Trump has encouraged Scott to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, in 2018. Scott said in December that he had not made up his mind, though there have been multiple signs he is considering a run.
KDWPT
PRATT – As Kansas endures another dry winter, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) cautions anyone spending time outdoors to be aware of fire danger. One only has to look at the past two springs to be reminded of the threat posed by wild fires.
In March of 2016, an enormous wildfire burned more than 400,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas. Dubbed the Anderson Creek Fire, it burned nearly 300,000 acres of Barber County alone, killing more than 600 cattle and destroying 16 homes and structures. Rough terrain and thick grass, combined with dry conditions and high winds, created a frightening fire that was almost impossible to control. It was billed as the largest wildfire in Kansas’ history.
However, just a year later, it would lose top billing. The Starbuck Fire burned through northern Oklahoma and into Clark County on March 5, 2017 – a monster, even compared to the Anderson Creek Fire. Pushed by 50-60 mph winds and fed by 6 percent humidity and heavy fuel, the fire was a living nightmare for Kansans living in the ranching and farming communities of Clark and Comanche counties. The Starbuck Fire burned 500,000 acres in Clark County and 200,000 acres of Comanche County. The speed and ferocity of the fire made it deadly. One person was killed and more than 6,000 cattle burned to death. Dozens of homes and buildings were reduced to ashes. It also killed wildlife, including pronghorns, deer and coyotes.
While the Starbuck Fire roared, dozens of others burned around the state, including those in Reno, Ellis, Rice and Rooks counties, stretching rural firefighting resources thin. It will take years to recover and rebuild.
While many followed the news last spring and are familiar with these stories, they are worth repeating to keep fire danger fresh in Kansans minds. KDWPT staff remind anyone spending time outdoors this winter to be especially careful. Never throw burning cigarettes from moving cars. Never drive through tall grass; hot mufflers or catalytic converters can ignite dry grasses. And avoid campfires and burning trash until measurable precipitation falls.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury accident as possibility alcohol related.
Just after 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Police Officers responded to a report of an injury accident at SW Croix Street and SW Topeka Blvd. in Topeka, according to
Upon arrival Officers located a severely damaged van occupied by one adult male (the sole occupant) and a pickup truck occupied by an adult male driver and three children passengers. Officers quickly checked on all occupants and found the driver of the van was suffering from potential life-threatening injuries. The driver and children in the pickup truck were not seriously hurt, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel. They were treated at the scene.
Topeka Fire Department had to extricate the driver from the mangled van, which was exacerbated by the extreme cold weather and wind. The driver was then transported to an area hospital. The driver of the van is now listed in stable condition.
The southbound lanes of Topeka Blvd and SW Croix were closed for a few hours while Officers complete their investigation and diagramed the scene. Alcohol is suspected of being a contributing factor in this collision.
Thank you for your questions, ideas, and sharing your concerns over the last year. During this holiday season, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you and to be part of returning Kansas back to sanity and solvency. We have always been a pragmatic, common-sense state, and with a few years trying other strategies, we are getting back to the basics that made our state great.
I wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous New Year!
Here is the 2018 House Legislative Calendar to give you an idea of our schedule for the spring.
Please join me at the following legislative forum after the 2018 legislative session begins on January 8th:
Since I last wrote, I have been busy representing you at various conferences and learning opportunities throughout the district and across the state:
Under the Dome
A secret Kansas government
You pay the bills, you should know what they’re for, that’s the point of transparency. While Kansas has been known for our forthrightness, that environment has changed significantly under Gov. Sam Brownback as he hid the damage his policies caused. You already know about our drastically underfunded schools. The Brownback Administration also borrowed from KPERS to pay for Brownback’s failed tax plan and left our roads and bridges in dire need of repairs. Then, we heard news about six-figure contracts awarded to unqualified consultants at the Department of Commerce. If that wasn’t bad enough, we have missing, unaccounted for, and dying kids in our foster care system.
Change started last session by ending the failed tax plan instead of tax cuts.
While I was gone for a few years, I remember how the legislature and state departments used to work, so upon my return to the legislature this year, I wasn’t surprised when the Kansas City Star revealed how hard it has become for Kansans to really know what’s going on.
There’s no doubt our state is in poor condition right now. I want my service in Topeka to help restore faith in Kansas government. Change started last session by ending the failed tax cuts, even though President Trump and Republicans in Congress are set to repeat the disastrous Brownback “experiment” at the national level. The Hays Post recently ran an article to that effect. In Kansas, I’m hopeful the news of increases in actual and projected state revenue for the remainder of this fiscal year and FY 2019 are good signs.
Removing the cloak of secrecy in Topeka will go a long way to moving our state forward. Some of you may know the audio for House and Senate floor action is streamed live. That’s a good start, but I also want to see live video streaming, which will now be the case in most committee rooms for hearings. Live video coverage of floor proceedings is a change that needs to be made through the House and Senate rules drafted at the start of each new legislative session. I support this rule change.
Meanwhile, I promise to let you know how I vote and why. In addition, I pledge moving forward to have my vote recorded on all committee votes, which is currently not required by the rules. You can always reach me through social media and my email, as well as meet with me at my public forums. Speaking of votes, you can review mine from the 2017 session by going here.
Schools remain top budget priority
The Legislature relies heavily on the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group to base its budgets, which is now on a two-year (or biennial) cycle. Because the Legislature ended the Brownback tax cuts, revenue estimates went up by $230 million more than we expected. The good news is that we have more money to pay our bills and start the lengthy process of reversing all the damage done to critical state programs during the Brownback years.
School Finance
School funding will again dominate the legislative session in 2018. While we made some progress last year with modest increases in school funding, we have a long way to go before we can even say that our schools are adequately funded.
The recent decision by the Kansas Supreme Court on school funding prompted the Legislature to form a special joint committee, the Special Committee on a Comprehensive Response to the School Finance Decision. The committee met to hear testimony on how the state should respond to the many policy issues and budget questions caused by the decision.
I am very disappointed in recent comments by Republican leaders in the House and Senate who said they will not consider raising additional tax revenue to support adequate school funding. After several years of severely underfunded budgets, I’m not sure how we can meet the Court’s decision without additional funding. Many state programs are already at a breaking point.
In addition, I oppose the strategy to change the Kansas Constitution with an amendment that would prevent the courts from closing schools next year or change the definition of an “suitable” education in Kansas. Many believe it will take at least $600 million more in funding to satisfy the Court’s ruling. Five of the justices on the Court faced the voters in 2016, and all were retained. I firmly believe the Court is not the problem. We simply must provide more funding for Kansas schools. To not do so would harm Kansas children for generations to come.
Just this week, Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked the legislature to complete its work in March so his office can prepare arguments for the court in April. We have much work to do and little time to accomplish them.
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 43-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-4683 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.
PFEIFER — The Ellis County Rural Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at Saeretza and Schoenchen Road in Pfeifer at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
Upon arrival, a sheriff’s deputy found a barn fully engulfed. Fire crews used three attack lines to extinguish the fire.
Twenty-three firefighters were on scene from Victoria, Hays and Ellis until approximately 10 am. The cause of the fire is undetermined after investigation, but most likely started from the improper use of electrical cords, according to Darin Myers, Ellis County Fire Chief and Emergency Manager.
CITY OF HAYS
Due to the observance of the New Year’s holiday, Monday, January 1, 2018, refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows:
Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed during the week. It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recyclables will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 AM, 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.
HFD
At 2:43 a.m. Sunday, City of Hays emergency dispatchers were alerted to a fire in 1300 block of Douglas Drive. The City of Hays Fire Department, assisted by Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, the Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS, was immediately dispatched.
Citizens passing by discovered the fire and called 911. First arriving police officers found a house on fire at 1333 Douglas Drive and evacuated the occupants. Firefighters used two hose lines to control the fire. There were no injuries.
The fire originated on the front porch and spread into the attic and living room portion of the house. The most probable cause of the fire was an electrical short in outside Christmas lights.
Six fire trucks and 24 firefighters responded. The last fire crew left the scene at 4:54 a.m.
“Fires can spread quickly,” the HFD said in a news release. “The prompt action by citizens calling 911 helped to limit the damage to this home. Your City of Hays firefighters would like to remind everyone to call 911 promptly in the event of fire emergencies.”
DENVER (AP) — A sheriff’s deputy was killed and four others were wounded Sunday in a shooting in suburban Denver that capped a year of deadly attacks in the United States. Two civilians were also injured.
The shooting happened after deputies were called to the scene of a domestic disturbance in Highlands Ranch, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter. The suspected gunman was also shot and is believed to be dead and “no longer a threat.”
Shots were fired in the course of the investigation at the Copper Canyon Apartments, a landscaped complex 16 miles south of Denver, the sheriff’s office said. Residents in the vicinity were advised to stay inside and avoid exterior walls and windows.
**Copper Canyon OIS Update**- Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance resulting in shots fired. 5 deputies shot by suspect. 1 deputy confirmed deceased. 2 civilians also shot by suspect. Suspect shot & believed to be dead & no longer a threat. #CopperCanyonOIS
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017
A hospital where three people were taken for treatment says those people suffered noncritical injuries. Another nearby hospital said it received four patients but wouldn’t release their conditions.
The shooting occurred on the final day of a year that saw the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in Las Vegas.
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DENVER (AP) — Authorities say multiple sheriff’s deputies are “down” after being called to scene of a reported domestic disturbance south of Denver.
UPDATE 0513 this morning deputies responded to he Copper Canyon Apartments for a Domestic Disturbance. During the Investigation, shots were fired and multiple deputies were injured. No status on the deputies and no status on civilian injuries. Please avoid this area.
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017
UPDATE, we have multiple deputies down, no update on their status. The scene remains active and please avoid the area.
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017
