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

Author: Hays Post

2019 election unofficial results: City, school incumbents out

Posted on

Three of four incumbents voted out of office, according to unofficial results

Here are the results of Tuesday’s most significant local races in Ellis County.

Results are unofficial until votes are canvassed by the Ellis County Commission. Unofficial winners are in bold.

Hays City Commission (three open seats)
Nine of nine polling locations reporting
Advance voting totals included
• Mason Ruder: 1,834
• Michael Berges: 1,802
• Ron Mellick, incumbent: 1,746
Ryan Rymer: 1,492
Henry Schwaller IV, incumbent: 1,413
Write-ins: 16

The top two vote-getters will each serve a four-year term while the third highest vote-getter will serve two years.

Hays USD 489 Board of Education (four open seats)
Nine of nine polling locations reporting
Advance voting totals included
• Tammy Wellbrock: 2,535
• Allen Park: 1,913
• Craig Pallister: 1,689
• Lori Ann Hertel: 1,317
Cole Engel: 1,228
Paul Adams, incumbent: 1,223
Luke Oborny, incumbent: 1,211
Alex Herman: 836
Jessica Ann Berg Moffitt: 522
Write-ins: 11

Check Hays Post on Wednesday for more on election results and reactions from candidates.

Missouri Sen. Blunt accuses Democrats of unfair impeachment process

Posted on

By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., criticizes the process Democrats in the United States House have used in their impeachment probe of President Donald Trump.

House Democrats used their majority numbers to push through impeachment rules without any support from House Republicans.

Blunt, a Republican, calls it an unfair process.

“They didn’t even pretend that there was a fair structure put in place on the House side,” Blunt tells KFEQ News in an in-studio interview. “And, you know, there’ll be some national news people that will says, well, these senators only want to talk about process, because they don’t want to talk about the actual problem. That’s really not true.”

Blunt says the vote casts a shadow over the impeachment proceedings.

“I think you saw a very partisan vote there; all the Republicans and two Democrats voting not to go forward and all the other Democrats and one independent voting to go forward,” Blunt says. “It was a party-line decision, which makes it look even more political than it otherwise might.”

Blunt declines to address directly whether President Trump committed an impeachable offense during his phone call to the Ukraine president. He says the Senate will have to deal with whatever charge the House makes if it follows through with impeaching Trump.

Trump has denied doing anything wrong during his July 25th call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy when he first asked for “a favor.” Trump asked that the Ukrainian government investigate whether Democrat Joe Biden, then Vice President, and his son Hunter pushed Ukraine into alleged interference in the 2015 U.S. election. Trump seems to have tied release of U.S. military aid to Ukraine to following through on his request.

Biden could well be the Democratic nominee to challenge Trump’s re-election in 2020.

Hunter Biden has resigned from the board of Burisma, one of Ukraine’s largest natural gas companies since the controversy surfaced. Hunter Biden told ABC News he made a mistake in not calculating the political ramifications of joining the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company while his father had official business in the country as vice president, but denied doing anything improper.

Blunt suggests Congress would be better off dropping impeachment proceedings and let the 2020 presidential election play out.

“Whatever information is out there, whatever facts are out there, the American public can look at and they can decide if this is someone they want to see continue and to see his policies, which on the economy have been extraordinary and on regulation have been extraordinary, whether they want to see the president continue to do that,” Blunt says. “Election day seems like to me the best place to make that decision.”

If the House impeaches Trump, the Senate would hold the trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Eldon J. Tauscher

Posted on

Eldon J. Tauscher, 89, passed away November 4, 2019 at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.

He was born, April 26, 1930 in Schoenchen to John A. and Rosella Wasinger Tauscher.

A longtime area resident he was the owner of Tauscher Body Shop in Larned for 65 years.

He served in the United States Army. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, VFW, and the American Legion, all of Larned.

On November 22, 1949 he married Betty Meyeres at Beaver, they later divorced.

He is survived by: Betty Tauscher, Larned; two daughters, Cindy L. Tauscher, Garfield, Barbara E. Sebo, Smithville, Missouri; three sons, Michael G. Mike (Dyann Twitchell) Tauscher, Rocky J. (Andrea) Tauscher, both of Larned, David W. (Rick) Tauscher, Overland Park; three brothers, Ernie Tauscher, Kenny Tauscher, both of Arkansas City, Harry Tauscher, Chicago, Illinois; four grandchildren, Erica, Alec, Zack, Trevor; and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; a daughter, Christine A. Tauscher; son, Dennis Tauscher; two sisters, Bernice Reidel and Henrietta Farmer; three brothers, Arthur Lee Tauscher, Gerald Tauscher, Ronnie Tauscher.

Funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Mortuary with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Burial in Larned Cemetery with military graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Ramona Hutchinson

Posted on

Ramona Hutchinson, 78, of Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, November 04, 2019, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Services and a full obituary are pending.

Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Claude James ‘C.J.’ Werth, MD

Posted on

Claude James “C.J.” Werth, MD, died peacefully in Ocala, Florida, on October 28, 2019. He was born June 4, 1937 in Hays, Kansas, to Clemet and Agatha Rupp Werth.

As a graduate of high school and a 3-sport varsity letterman, he spent the summer playing minor league baseball. After four months of traveling by bus to small towns, he decided to take another path. C.J. graduated Magna Cum Laude from Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas, having majored in Pre-Med. He received his MD degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas.

Following a one year internship at St. Lukes Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, C.J. was assigned to and spent three years as Captain of the Medical Office with the National Security Agency, US Embassy, London. Following his service at the US Embassy in London, he completed residency training in Neuropsychiatry at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. He was in private practice within the greater Kansas City Metro Area and served as the Medical Director of the Stress Unit in Sedalia, Missouri, where he and his wife Linda were in private practice together for eleven years. He retired in 2002 to a life of leisure in Ocala, Florida. His main hobby was an unsuccessful attempt to become perfect at an imperfect game of golf, but had 5 “Hole in Ones” to his name!

C.J. was a Kansas City Royals and Chiefs Fan and a forever loyal Jayhawk! He loved traveling, reading and bird watching. C.J. claims he lost his battle with squirrels. As a guest columnist, he contributed to both the Kansas City Star and Ocala Star Banner.

Dr. Werth is survived by the love of his life his beloved Wife Linda; 4 Children, 6 Grandchildren; Brother Clem; Sister, Cynthia and his faithful Brother-In-Law Peter Littlefield.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, November 10, 2019 at the Werth’s home from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM. C.J.’s ashes will be inurned in Denver, Colorado at a later date. Donations can be made in his memory to the Salvation Army online, give.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-800-725-2769.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Roberts Funeral Homes, East Chapel, Ocala, Florida. Condolences and memories can be shared at robertsfuneralhomes.com.

Betty Joan Flax

Posted on

Betty Joan Flax, 84, died Sunday, November 3, 2019, at Brookdale Senior Living, Dodge City.

She was born December 27, 1934, at Hays, Kansas the daughter of Michael and Clara (Nemechek) Hoffman.

On August 5, 1960 she married Lawrence Flax at Victoria, Kansas. He preceded her in death on September 20, 2015.

She was a member of Cathedral of our Lady of Guadalupe. She loved to cook, put together puzzles and loved to spend time with her grandkids.

Survivors include: her son, Godfrey Flax and wife Lashaina, Dodge City; 3 brothers, Mike Hoffman, Garden City, Kansas, Frank Hoffman, Victoria, Kansas, Dan Hoffman, Hays, Kansas; 3 sisters, Aggie Geir, Garden City, Magie Driling, Denver, Colorado, Rita Friess, Spearville, Kansas; 6 grandchildren, Kendra Flax, Brittany Flax, Daytona Flax, Justice Flax, KaBrena Alexander and Ecco Keener; 8 great grand children.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, son, Lawrence Flax Jr., brothers, Fred Dinkle, Joe, Bob, Tony and Steve Hoffman, sisters, Clementine Dinkel and Helen Kreitzor, great grand son, Brantley Alexander.

Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Ziegler Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Friday November 8, 2019 at the Cathedral of our Lady of Guadalupe with Fr. Wesley Schawe presiding. Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of the Prairie in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.

Herman Joseph Bricker

Posted on

Herman Joseph Bricker, 79, passed away Sunday Nov 03, 2019, at 1 p.m. from natural causes at the Drumright Nursing Home in Drumright, Oklahoma. 

He was born March 31, 1940, to Paul Bricker and Christine (Berens) Bricker in Gorham. He was the oldest of four boys. 

In Herman’s early years, he worked at the Gorham Co-Op. And later in life, he was a hard worker in the Oilfield of Russell, where he worked at a few different companies as a Roustabout hand. 

On October 14, 1972, he was united in marriage to Patricia Ann (Karst) Bricker. With this union, they were blessed with two children — Sandra and Christopher. 

Herman’s free time was mostly spent with his three grandchildren. But he spent countless hours sitting on the Saline River fishing for catfish with his family. He also loved hunting and working in his garage doing woodworking. His grandson Craig loved playing pranks on him. His grandson Jakob enjoyed organizing and cleaning up his garage while his only granddaughter Kiera enjoyed it when “Pops” would let her paint his toe nails and put bows in his hair. 

Herman is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Christine Bricker and his three brothers, Gary, Cecil & Phil. 

He is survived by his wife Patty, of the home. Daughter Sandy Boos of Russell Ks and significant other Tom Batt, son Chris Bricker and wife Shani of Cushing Okla., along with his three Grandchildren. Craig Boos and wife Victoria of Wichita, Grandson Jakob Boos of Hays and Granddaughter Kiera Bricker of Cushing, Okla. 

Herman was a hard worker, very loyal family man and he had countless friends and family members that will truly miss him. 

Celebration of Herman’s Life will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, November 8, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. A Memorial has been established with Russell Rough Riders. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

James Lawrence Newton

Posted on

James Lawrence Newton, 79, of Ellis, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at his home.

He was born Oct. 12, 1940, in Stafford, Kan., to Ralph Newton and Belva (Bealby) Newton.

On June 11, 1966, he married Elizabeth A. Schuster in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ellis.

James graduated from Codell High School and worked in the oilfield a majority of his life. He was an avid KU Jayhawks fan, NASCAR fanatic, and loved anything on television.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of Ellis; one daughter, Pamela of Ellis; three sons, Randy Newton and Eric Newton both of Hays; Ryan Newton of Wichita; pet dog, Jack.

James is preceded in death by his parents, a stepfather, Robert Vonfeldt; a half sister, Carla (Vonfeldt) Detherage; and a niece, Lori Francis.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a parish rosary service at 7 p.m. at Keithley Funeral Chapel in Ellis.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice – Hays Medical Center, Cancer Council of Ellis County, or St. Mary’s Church.

Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, Kan., 67637.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].

Former Hays High star Delton leaves TCU program

Posted on

Delton – KSU Athletics
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Graduate transfer quarterback Alex Delton has left TCU’s team after not playing in the past two games.

Coach Gary Patterson acknowledged the departure of Delton during his weekly news conference Tuesday. The transfer from Kansas State was named a team captain at the beginning of the season and started the first two games for the Horned Frogs.

Patterson said Delton obviously wanted to play more. Freshman Max Duggan has started the past six games.
Duggan is dealing with an injured middle finger on his throwing hand sustained in Saturday’s 34-27 loss at Oklahoma State. Michael Collins came in for Duggan and took a hard shot to the midsection on TCU’s last offensive play.

Patterson said he thinks Duggan will play Saturday against No. 11 Baylor, but that Collins probably won’t for the Frogs (4-4).

In his career at Hays High, Delton was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Indians, completing more than 55 percent of his passes for 1,978 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 1,369 yards and 21 touchdowns.

— Hays Post contributed to this report

Astronaut casts Pennsylvania absentee ballot from space

Posted on

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) — An election official in Pennsylvania didn’t think anything of the absentee ballot application until he saw the out-of-this-world voting location.

The New Castle News reports that the application to Lawrence County’s voter services department listed the location as “International Space Station, low Earth orbit.”

Director Ed Allison says his reaction was “What?” But then he found out that astronaut Andrew “Drew” Morgan, currently on the space station, has an address in Neshannock Township and is a registered voter in the county.

County IT director Rick DiBello set up a secure email and password and a fillable PDF file that Morgan received, filled it out and sent back.

DiBello says he thought “that is pretty cool.” And Allison calls it “very, very cool” — and he adds: “This is the future.”

Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Cabello to perform at AMAs

Posted on

By MESFIN FEKADU
AP Music Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The two biggest breakthrough acts in music this year, Billie Eilish and Lizzo, will perform at the 2019 American Music Awards later this month.

Dick clark productions announced Wednesday that other performers at the November 24 event include Camila Cabello, nominated for collaboration of the year for “Senorita” with Shawn Mendes, and Dua Lipa, whose debut album is the most streamed album by a female artist in Spotify history. The show will live on ABC from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Eilish is competing for six AMAs, including favorite female pop/rock artist and favorite pop/rock album. Her debut — “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” — is one of the top-selling albums of the year. It launched multiple Top 40 hits including “Bad Guy,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Lizzo, nominated for three AMAs, released her debut in 2013 but she achieved major success this year. Her two-year-old song “Truth Hurts” topped the Hot 100 chart for seven weeks and her three-year-old song “Good As Hell” just reached the Top 10 on the pop charts and is No. 1 on the R&B charts. Lizzo released her major-label debut album, “Cuz I Love You,” earlier this year.

Previously announced performer Taylor Swift will receive the artist of the decade award at the AMAs, where she is nominated for five honors. Throughout her career, she has won 23 AMAs and she could break Michael Jackson’s record for most wins (the King of Pop won 24 trophies).

Swift will compete for the top prize — artist of the year — along with Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Drake and Halsey.

Kansas voters just shifted some political clout to college towns

Posted on

Voters fill out ballots Tuesday at a polling place in Topeka. Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service

By STEPHEN KORANDA
Kansas News Service

TOPEKA — Kansas will now have a streamlined census that counts people only where they’re living after voters decided Tuesday to end the practice of adjusting the numbers before state legislative districts are drawn up.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment, about 60% to 40%, according to the state’s unofficial count. The change does away with the state contacting college students and members of the military to ask them if they want to be counted where they are living or somewhere else.

Kansas first used the adjusted census count in the 1990s, with the idea that it could bolster representation for rural areas.

Republican Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab pushed for ending the adjustment, arguing it didn’t have a significant impact on rural populations and ultimately ended up benefitting urban counties the most.

“It really became costly, cumbersome and it didn’t have any result people wanted,” Schwab said in an interview last month.

The adjusted population numbers were used only for state legislative offices and the State Board of Education. Congressional districts are drawn using the federal census numbers.

The 2011 adjustment ended up reducing the total state population by 0.48%, as the process deemed some people residents of other states.

The biggest beneficiaries of the change will likely be communities with higher concentrations of students, like the Lawrence and Manhattan areas. Douglas County, home of the University of Kansas, lost nearly 11% of its population under the last adjustment of the census.

Riley County, home to Kansas State University, lost more than 15% of its population under the last adjustment.

The proposal faced little opposition in the Legislature, passing the Senate unanimously. Only seven of the 125 members of the House voted against the bill. Of those opposed, there were concerns that eliminating the adjustment would hurt rural areas.

Schwab said skipping the count will give Kansas lawmakers a leg up in the potentially contentious 2022 redistricting, because they’ll have population data earlier. Last time, in 2012, lawmakers deadlocked and federal judges eventually drew the districts.

“I got a feeling with a Democrat governor, a Republican Legislature, redistricting’s going to get a little bit bloody,” Schwab said. “The sooner we can get those numbers to the Legislature … that’s better for the state.”

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda or email [email protected].

Larry Dean Schultz

Posted on

Larry Dean Schultz, 53, of Garden City, KS, passed away on Monday, October 21, 2019, after a long courageous battle with cancer. Larry was born in the Osborne County Memorial Hospital in Osborne, KS on Saturday, October 23, 1965, to Richard and Nola (Brown) Schultz. Larry was the youngest of 3 children. He was raised on their farm in rural Osborne County. Larry graduated from the Lucas-Luray High School in 1984.

Larry married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia “Cindy” Eck in 1988. To this union, 2 daughters were born. Larry worked in Gypsum, KS at Martin & Ade, Inc., Lightner Welding Supply of Salina, KS & Garden City, KS and Heat Waves Hot Oil Service of Finney County, before he became a trucker. He became an over the road trucker for CAST Transportation until he became ill with cancer in March of 2018.

Larry’s interests included NASCAR, shooting targets, hunting and spending time with his family and friends.

Larry is survived by his parents, Richard & Nola Schultz of Lucas, KS; daughters: Victoria Schultz (Brian Bradfield) of Garden City, KS; Joanie (Brayden) Galliart of Garden City, KS; brother: Lyle (Diane) Schultz of Lucas; sister: Annette (Jerry) Lantz of Salina, KS; nephews, family & friends.

Click HERE for service details.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File