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Author: Hays Post

Free waffle breakfast for first responders Aug. 21 at Hays Comfort Inn & Suites

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Hays Comfort Inn & Suites, 1001 E. 41st St.

Serving up extra helpings of its signature hospitality in honor of the National Waffle Day holiday, the Hays Comfort Inn & Suites is hosting its 3rd annual free waffle breakfast for first responders 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wed., Aug. 21.

The Comfort Inn & Suites, located at 1001 E. 41st St., has joined a brand-wide #ComfortSaysThanks movement, with similar National Waffle Day celebrations taking place coast to coast.

During this annual event, Comfort brand hotels invite local “hometown heroes” and community groups—such as first responders, teachers and volunteers—to enjoy a complimentary breakfast, featuring the brand’s signature fresh-baked waffles, to thank them for their service to the community.

For more information, call 785-625-9322.

– SUBMITTED –

Curbside collection of downed tree limbs starts today

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City of Hays

Beginning Monday, Hays city crews will be doing a one-time collection of downed tree limbs as a result of the recent wind storm.

All limbs are to be placed curbside. Limbs will not be collected from alleys. Please do not pile limbs on sidewalks or streets.

Collection will start Monday and continue until a sweep of the city is complete.

Crews will not come onto private property to collect limbs. If a resident has a large tree or limb on their property, they can utilize the services of a professional tree trimmer to either have the tree removed or moved to the curb.

As a reminder, city residents can haul their limbs to the Ellis County Sanitary Landfill for disposal free of charge. Limbs can’t be taken to the city compost site.

Landfill hours are Monday-Friday 8-5 and Saturday 9-4. Limbs CANNOT be taken to the city compost site.

Any questions should be directed to the City of Hays Public Works office at (785) 628-7350.

Phillip James Harry

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Phillip James Harry, 67, of Colby, died Friday, August 16, 2019, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS. He was born May 19, 1952, in Atwood, KS, to Everett and Adella (Vrbas) Harry. On September 15, 1979, he married Dorothy Havel, in Atwood. Phillip worked at the Colby Super Market, ran the projectors at the Colby Theater, and then went on to work maintenance at Sacred Heart Church and Grade School, Colby, Oakley High School and Colby Community College, before retiring. Phillip enjoyed watching football, especially college football, the Chiefs and the Colby Eagles, where he often worked the “Chain Gang” during games. He enjoyed fishing and bowling and he especially loved spending time with his family and his dog, Buddy James. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Colby.

Phillip was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Calvin Harry; sister, Glinda Guard; in-laws, Ralph and Ruth Havel; brothers-in-law, Richard Pabst, Leonard Havel, Raymond Havel and Edward Havel.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; daughters, Paula (Terry) Wilt, Hays, KS, Kayla (Luke) Sawyer, Inman, KS and Brandi (Brian) Emmot, Levant, KS; grandchildren, Tyler Harry, Rylie Sawyer, Avery Sawyer and Melissa Emmot; sisters Gloria Pabst, Oakley, KS, Cheryl (Michael) Maggard, Wichita, KS and Regina Depperschmidt, Loveland, CO; brother-in-law, Gary Guard, Hays, KS; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby, with a vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Colby, with burial in the church cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.

For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.

Police: Men with guns in Kansas City Walmart broke no laws

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KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two men with handguns in their waistbands alarmed shoppers when they entered a Kansas City-area Walmart on Sunday, but police say they were just buying ammunition for target practice.

Entrance of the KC-area Walmart where police briefly detained two men with handguns photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri, Police Sgt. Jake Becchina says the men were cooperative and were released because they hadn’t violated Missouri law.

Shopper Clennon Jones said he saw officers speed into the parking lot and one jumped out with shotgun in hand. Jones says shoppers streamed out of the store and warned others not to enter.

Missouri does not require a permit to openly carry a firearm for those 19 years or older. The Walmart store the men entered does not prohibit guns in the store.

Walmart officials didn’t immediately respond to a message.

Earlier this month, 22 people were killed during a mass shooting at another Walmart in El Paso, Texas.

Since then, there have been a number of incidents at Walmart stores around the country. Last week, prosecutors charged a 20-year-old man with making a terrorist threat after he walked into a Springfield, Missouri, Walmart wearing body armor, carrying a loaded rifle and handgun, and filming himself with a phone.

Hays Symphony invites kids to help conduct concert of movie music

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FHSU University Relations

Before the formal opening of its 2019-20 season, the Hays Symphony at Fort Hays State University is inviting youths to help conduct the orchestra during its Movie Music Pops Concert on Friday, Aug. 23, at the Downtown Pavilion during the annual Fall Gallery Walk.

Dr. Jeff Jordan, director of FHSU bands, will give a short conducting lesson for kids at 6:30 p.m., before the concert begins at 7 p.m. Participants will then be invited to conduct the concert’s final piece.

“We wanted to take advantage of being outdoors, out of the auditorium,” said Hays Symphony publicity chair Cathy Drabkin.

“And we wanted to capitalize on the family focus of the Gallery Walk, so we decided to invite area children to help conduct,” she said.

The concert will feature music from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” “E.T.,” “The Wizard of Oz” and other popular movies.

“I think kids will recognize the music they’ll get to conduct,” said Drabkin. “It will be a blast for the kids, and definitely a video-worthy moment for mom and dad.”

In keeping with the movie theme, the Downtown Hays Development Corporation, which is hosting the Symphony’s performance, will provide popcorn and drinks for concertgoers. Guests are welcome to stay for a single piece or the entire show.

Dr. Brian Buckstead

The concert will also be an introduction to the orchestra’s new conductor, Dr. Brian Buckstead, who comes to FHSU from Duluth, Minn. Buckstead is also the new violin and viola professor on the FHSU Department of Music faculty. He will be joined by Jordan and Dr. Peter Lillpop, assistant director of FHSU bands, as conductors for the pops concert.

The concert will last about an hour.

The Hays Symphony has been entertaining and educating audiences for over 100 years. Its musicians are FHSU students, faculty and staff, local music teachers, community members from the area, and guest musicians from around the state.

Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings when the university is in session. The orchestra performs four to six concerts a year.

All Hays Symphony’s concerts are free of charge, thanks to its donors and supporters. Information about the upcoming season’s concerts and ticket reservations can be found at hayssymphony.org.

Three new physicians to join Norton County Hospital

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NCH

NORTON – Three physicians have signed contracts with Norton County Hospital and will begin employment in summer 2020. The contracts were formally approved at a special meeting of the hospital’s Board of Trustees on Friday, Aug. 16.

All three physicians are family practice and obstetrics providers. This means the hospital will bring back its labor and delivery program with the onboarding of these new physicians. The three physicians are also native rural Kansans.

Joshua Gaede, MD, is originally from Hoxie, Kansas. He is currently a resident in the Cox Family Medicine Residency program in Springfield, Missouri.

Miranda McKellar, MD, was raised in Sycamore, Kansas. She is currently a resident in the Smoky Hill Family Residency Program in Salina, Kansas.

Theresia Neill, MD, grew up in Severy, Kansas. She is currently a resident in the Smoky Hill Family Residency Program in Salina, Kansas.

Read more on our website: https://bit.ly/2KCEeAW.

Doris LaFern (Keil) Maier

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Doris LaFern (Keil) Maier, 92, of Natoma, Kansas and formerly of Gove County and Russell County Kansas, passed away on Saturday Aug 17th, 2019 at the Ness City Hospital.

Doris was born on April 12, 1927 in rural Russell County as the first child to John and Anna (Krug) Keil. She grew up in the Bender Hill area in a Volga German community, and attended a one room school house at Holly through 8th grade. She grew up during the depression and Dustbowl days. Being the oldest child, much of her younger years were spent helping her mother with the household and raising her younger brothers.

Doris was united in marriage to Ruben Jacob Maier on November 10th, 1946 at the Bender Hill Lutheran Church. They first made their home in Russell County in a stone house that was the childhood home of Ruben’s mother, Katie Dumler. It was here that their first son Tom was.

They moved to Gove County where they raised a family of 6 children and operated a farm and ranch from 1951-1972. She was an active member of the Oakley Lutheran Church frequently teaching in Sunday school and vacation bible school. She was an active member of the Extension Home Makers Unit.

In 1972, the family moved to Natoma, Kansas where the family continued with farming and ranching of Angus cattle. She was active in the Natoma Lutheran Church where she was in the women’s guild and sang in the choir. She was the director for the Natoma Housing Authority and the Natoma Thrifty Market. She was active in the Natoma Heritage Seekers and the Volga Germans Historical Society.

Her great joy in life was always family life. Her face always lit up to see a family member. She was a passionate gardener with a very green thumb and operated a home greenhouse. She enjoyed playing the organ, singing, and traveling. A highlight of the year was often a family summer vacation to the western mountains of the United states, picnicking, fishing and exploring. It was a great joy in her life when she and Ruben traveled to Europe and visited Germany where she was able to converse with the locals in her childhood language.

Doris’s surviving family include: her brother Dean (Ruth) Keil of Russell, her sister-in-law Elsa (Marvin) Keil of Colby Kansas, Carolyn (Larry) Keil, Lincoln Nebraska, sons Martin (Iva) Maier of Natoma, Steve (Cindy) Maier, Brownell, daughter Janna (Peter) Belau, Pagosa Springs, CO and Savannah, GA, daughter-in-law Donna (Tom) Maier Russell and many grand, great grand and great great grandchildren.

Doris was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Ruben, 3 sons Tom, John and Mikey, brothers Marvin, Larry and infant brother Melvin.

A celebration of Doris’ life will be held at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at the Peace Lutheran Church in Natoma, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Natoma Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 A.M. to 11 A.M. on Wednesday the day of the service. Memorials may be given to Peace Lutheran Church or Cedar Village Long Term Care and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Natoma, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Man guilty of felony for unlawful use of a Kan. driver’s license

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OLATHE – A  man has been found guilty of an unlawful act relating to the use of a Kansas driver’s license, according Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Emmanuel Salas-Pena photo Johnson Co.

Emmanuel Salas-Pena, 35, pleaded no contest in Johnson County District Court to one felony count of an unlawful act relating to the use of a driver’s license. The case stemmed from an investigation by the Office of Special Investigations of the Kansas Department of Revenue, which revealed that in October 2016 Salas-Pena concealed material information in his driver’s license application at the Johnson County Driver’s License Office in Mission.

This is the 14th conviction resulting from an agreement announced in March 2018 between the attorney general’s office and the Department of Revenue.

Under the agreement, the attorney general’s office, in cooperation with local prosecutors, assumed responsibility for the prosecution of cases of tax fraud and related crimes investigated by the Department of Revenue in efforts to strengthen the state’s enforcement efforts for these types of crimes.

District Judge Thomas Sutherland took the plea. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled in the case.

Lightning believed responsible for Kansas house fire

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JOHNSON COUNTY — Lightning is believed responsible for a house fire in Johnson County.

Photo courtesy Overland Park Fire Dept.

Just after 2a.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to a fire in a home in the 8000 Block of West 146th Terrace in Overland Park, according to amedia release.
Crews immediately went to work on the fire in the attic and it took 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Neighbors reported hearing loud thunder and seeing lightning just before the fire was discovered.
Two adults, two children and three dogs were displaced by the fire damage.
There were no injuries. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Kan. officer hospitalized after crash with wrong-way driver

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a wrong-way crash that injured a police officer.

Johnson photo Sedgwick Co.

Just after 2 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a wrong-way driver identified as 58-year-old James D. Johnson in a Ford F150 traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes at Kellogg and Maize, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

A responding officer located the vehicle and was struck by vehicle as the officer attempted to avoid a head-on collision. Johnson continued driving and struck the center median before coming to a stop near Kellogg and Meridian.

The involved officer was transported to a hospital with minor injuries, and was later treated and released. Johnson was not injured. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Police arrested Johnson on charges of aggravated battery, driving while under the influence, DUI after a second conviction, hit and run, driving the wrong way on a one-way road, and driving on an expired driver’s license, according to Wheeler.

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