FORD COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Tuesday in Ford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a John Deere Tractor driven by Bernard V. Stegman, 59, Spearville, was northbound on Garnett Road three miles southwest of Spearville. The driver failed to stop at the railroad crossing.
A BNSF train struck the tractor. EMS transported Stegman to the hospital in Dodge City where he died. There were no injuries to three occupants of the train, according to the KHP.
Photos captured by Hays Post readers of the storm that swept through the area Tuesday evening. Please stay safe and stay off roads and streets. Flooding, debris and downed power lines are making conditions dangerous, according to public and utility officials.
Photos can be submitted to [email protected].
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According to a message sent to parents just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, classes will be canceled for Hays USD 489 Wednesday, which was scheduled to be the first day of the 2019-20 school year.
USD 489 reported that damage to Hays Middle School forced the decision.
The first day of school will be rescheduled to Thursday, with elementary schools having a half day and HMS and Hays High School having a full day.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.
Just before 11:30a.m. Monday, police responded to shooting call at a home in the 700 Block of south Laura in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Upon arrival, officers found a 9-year-old girl with an injured finger. Investigators learned the girl was playing in her backyard when she heard two loud bangs and a projectile hit her finger, according to Davidson.
A boy next door was seen retreating back into a home with an object in his hand. As officers approached the residence, the boy exited armed with a silver handgun. Police issued verbal instructions to the boy who again retreated back into the home.
After officers made phone contact with those in the home, four juveniles and an adult exited the residence without incident.
Police confiscated a handgun and arrested a 16-year-old boy on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a juvenile, obstruction and an outstanding warrant, according to Davidson. Police do not believe the 9-year-old was an intended victim. The boy appears to have been shooting at some type of target, according to Davidson and it is illegal to fire a gun in the city. The Sedgwick County will review the case.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Local officials are helping Kansas and Missouri preserve a truce in an economic “border war” that had seen the states use incentives to lure jobs across their border in the Kansas City area.
The cooperation came ahead of a summit Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas, between Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.
The Port Authority of Kansas City’s board agreed Monday to limit incentives to companies relocating to Missouri to 10-years, the existing limit in Kansas. Mayor Quinton Lucas has promised to push for a similar limit in Kansas City, Missouri.
Parson signed a law in June and Kelly issued an executive order earlier this month declaring that their states won’t use their incentives to lure existing jobs across the border.
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Mary Katherine (Riesselman) Youll, loving wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, in Bentonville, Arkansas, surrounded by family, at the age of 64.
Mary was born on May 4, 1955 in Carroll, Iowa to Vincent and Edith (Hoffman) Riesselman. She was a 1973 graduate of Sac City High School. With her gift for caregiving and her compassion for others, Mary followed a natural path into the medical field. She graduated from Saint Luke’s School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa in 1976, and she worked as a registered nurse at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas for many years.
Mary wed her high school sweetheart, John Youll, on June 25, 1976 in Auburn, Iowa. Together they raised two sons, John and Jim, and one daughter, Josie, and enjoyed 43 years of marriage.
Mary’s fondest memories were of raising her three children in Salina, Kansas (later Hays, KS) with her loving husband, and spending time with her cherished grandchildren. Mary was a devoted mother and grandmother who embraced every opportunity to spend quality time with family. Her grandchildren will remember Grandma Mary’s awe-inspiring homemade costumes, harvesting pumpkins, and her cheering from the sidelines at their sporting events. Mary’s creative talents were evident in her gardening, baking, and home decor. Friends and family benefited from Mary’s gifts in hospitality; her home was always a warm, welcoming, and loving space. Mary’s friends knew her as a loyal and loving friend, who enjoyed traveling and entertaining.
Faith was a fundamental cornerstone of Mary’s life, and she prayed faithfully for those whom she loved. She instilled a love of God in her children and was an active member of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church.
Mary was preceded in death by her father Vincent Riesselman and her mother Edith (Hoffman) Riesselman. She is survived by her husband John Youll, three children, John Youll, Jim Youll (Katie), and Josie Herold (Robbie); sister Jean Smith (Scott), brothers Don Riesselman, Jim Riesselman, and Tom Riesselman, three grandchildren Vincent Herold, Cooper Herold, and Madeline Youll, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Click HERE for service details.
This is the story of our mother, Patricia Ann (Cook) Rundle. Mom passed away at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. We felt so blessed to have had those last cherished moments with Mom to remind her of how much we loved her and to say our last earthly good-byes.
Mom was born October 12, 1938 in Olney, Illinois and was the oldest daughter of Hugh L. and Ella Mae (Irvin) Cook. She lived many places during her life including Claflin, Logan, San Diego, Hays, Manhattan, Smith Center and Franklin. Mom received her education from Logan High School (Logan, Kansas) and graduated in 1956. On September 10, 1957, she was united in marriage with the love of her life, Kenneth Rundle at the Christian Church in Logan, Kansas.
She and Dad were blessed with their four children, Kimberly Rundle of Topeka, Ks, Kirk (Becky) Rundle of Wichita, Ks, Karla (Brad) Burgess of Red Cloud, Ne and Kate Flesner of Topeka, Ks.
In June, 2018, after Dad’s death, Mom moved to Topeka and shared a home with Kim and Kate. She enjoyed being a daily part of their lives, being pampered and well taken care of. She was happy and had settled into her new home. She also enjoyed not having to cook and asked quite often, “What’s for dinner?”. She giggled at the irony of asking something that SHE had been asked many times over numerous years! Also, while living in Topeka, Mom cherished being able to cheer on her great-grandkids in their musical and sporting events.
When we were reminiscing about Mom’s life, we all recalled these things that made Mom so special. When we were young kids, Mom was very involved in the Christian Church in Smith Center, KS. She taught Sunday School and Bible School, helping to build a solid foundation for many children in their love of Christ. She had always been a faithful servant of our Lord, and had a strong faith throughout her life. Also, she always made sure there were cookies in the cookie tin for the kids to have during Sunday School.
Besides her love of God, Mom loved her family- her husband, her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Growing up, she supported our dreams and encouraged us to believe that we could be anything we wanted.
Mom was the kind, caring, and compassionate cornerstone of our family. And though she will be missed by those of us who loved her the most, we can’t help but think of her joyous reunion with our dad.
She was preceded in death by our father, her sister Carolyn Beasley, sister-in-law Tonya Cook, son-in-law Gary Flefner, her parents Hugh and Ella Mae Cook, and in-laws Chet and Alfreeda Rundle. We are sure they are all playing cards, eating pie, and drinking Pepsi.
Left to cherish her memory are her children and their spouses; her brother, Jerry Cook from Climax, Mo., her sister, Judy (Bob) Channell of Hays, Ks, and sister-in-law, Starlet (Roger) Henry of Logan, Ks., as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She is also survived by the special light in her life, her grandchildren: Joshua (Tammy) Hughes, Jara (Jason) Matney, Jesse (Ashley) Hughes and Joseph Hughes all of Topeka, Ks; Derek (Leah) Rundle and Kelsey (Scott) Pringle both Wichita, Ks; Dillon Burgess of Lincoln, Ne and Keaton Burgess of Red Cloud, Ne; Clayton (Bree) Preble of Herman, Ne and Cale Preble of Nashville, Tn. as well as her 15 great-grandchildren.
Mom’s absence from our daily life will hurt for many years, but our love for her will never fade. Until we meet again, Mom…
She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Cor. 13:4-7
Private inurnment will be held at a later date.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex charges.
According to a media release from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the agency began an investigation after allegations surfaced that 34-year-old Justin White had inappropriate relationships with young females while a teacher at Smithville Public Schools in McCurtain County and as a Youth Pastor at Spiro Baptist Church in LeFlore County, Oklahoma.
He is currently employed as the Youth Pastor at Clayton Avenue Baptist Church in Hugo, Oklahoma and the baseball coach at Smithville Public School.
During the 2013-2014 school year he allegedly had sexual intercourse with a female student several times at his residence located on school property, according to the OSBI.
During the investigation, agents spoke with another girl who was a member of the Spiro Baptist Church youth group when White was Youth Pastor. The girl who was underage at the time, said White would take her upstairs at the church to be alone. When alone, White would inappropriately touch and kiss the teenager.
White was arrested at the Clayton Avenue Baptist Church in Hugo and is currently in the Choctaw County jail awaiting transport to McCurtain County and then to LeFlore County.
GEARY COUNTY — Authorities made a water rescue on a Kansas river Monday.
Just before 10p.m, the Geary County Sheriff Department and Junction City Police Department responded to the Grant Avenue Boat ramp in reference to a thirty-five year old Kansas man who was having mechanical issues with a 14-foot john boat and became stranded on an island of trees in the river
The man was not wearing his personal flotation device until told to do so by first responders. The Geary County Sheriff Department deployed their flat bottom boat and was able to get the subject and his boat safely to shore.
Glen Nelson “Moon” Mullens, 90, Hays, Kansas, previously of Duncan, Oklahoma, died Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at Hays Good Samaritan Society.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
NORTON — During a traffic stop in Norton, the Norton Police Department discovered suspected methamphetamine and made an arrest early Tuesday morning.
According to a press release from the department, at around 7:30 a.m., the department conducted the stop in the 100 block of West Main to execute a felony warrant on the driver.
The driver, Robert Brooks, was wanted by the district court on two counts of alleged possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hallucinogenic drug.
“The Norton Police Department wants to remind residents that the pursuit of illegal narcotics and the distribution thereof will not be tolerated,” the department said. “This effort will continue aggressively to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.”
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple theft charges after a hit and run crash.
Just after 8p.m. Monday, police responded to and investigated a hit and run accident at 17th and Piatt in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A white Dodge Charger driven by a suspect later identified as 27-year-old Tanner Slusser, 27, Wichita, had left the scene.
During the investigation, officers located the suspect vehicle at a home in the 1800 Block of North Piatt. While at the residence, officers also located a stolen Hyundai Elantra, two stolen trailers and an embezzeled vehicle, according to Davidson.
Officers contacted Slusser inside the home where they arrested Slusser. Inside the home, officers also located illegal narcotics and marijuana.
Slusser was jailed on requested charges of auto theft, possession of marijuana and narcotics with the intent to distribute.
