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Author: Hays Post
William Dean Cole
William Dean Cole, age 90, passed away on July 7, 2019, at Sunrise of Lenexa.
He was born September 2, 1928 in Bazine, KS to Don and Dorcas Cole. Bill attended Joint 1 Rural School in Ness County and graduated from Bazine High School in 1946. He began teaching in the Fall of 1946 in a one-room schoolhouse, Francis Rural School. He married Dorothy Mae Foos on July 30, 1950, in LaCrosse. He joined the Air Force in 1952 during the Korean Conflict and was stationed at Parks Air Force base in Livermore, California. Dorothy joined him there and their first two children, Colette and Susan, were born at the base hospital.
After his service, he returned to Bazine to continue his teaching career and acquired his degree in elementary education from Fort Hays State College. Three more children were added to the family, Patricia, James, and Mary. Bill taught and coached in the Bazine School System for over 38 years. Bill loved teaching and spending time with his students and was dedicated to his profession. He was proud to have taught all five of his children in grade school. In the summers, you could find Bill at the ballpark, coaching baseball and softball. He also kept busy helping family and friends with farm work and harvest and taking care of his own livestock. Bill was a loving father, husband, and son. He was blessed over the years to find wonderful companions to share his life.
He lost his wife, Dorothy, on March 13, 1989. He then retired from teaching in May of 1990 but continued to be involved with the school for many years and was a fixture at all the sporting events. Bill took great pride in his grandchildren, attending their ballgames and school activities as much as possible.
Bill found a loving companion in Alvina McCormick Foster and they married on July 30, 1991. They resided in McCracken and enjoyed ten years of marriage, spending time together and traveling to visit extended family and old friends. Bill was active at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, becoming a Eucharistic Minister. Alvina passed away on December 8, 2001.
While visiting friends in Arizona, Bill reconnected with a high school classmate, Celesta Schaben Bondurant, and they were united in marriage on October 3, 2003 in Youngtown, Arizona. Bill and Celesta enjoyed their time together relaxing in sunny Arizona. He always looked forward to his children visiting him in the spring and attending many spring training baseball games with them. Celesta passed away on August 23, 2016.
Bill returned to Kansas, residing in Ness City until moving to Lee’s Summit, MO in October 2017 to be closer to his family. When his health started to decline, he moved to Sunrise of Lenexa, KS in February 2019, and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
Bill was proud to live in Ness County and was always an active community leader and happy to help organize community events. He was a member of many organizations and helped organize the Bazine High School reunions during Old Settlers. Bill took part in the many community events and was honored to be the Grand Marshall of the Bazine Picnic parade in 2014. He was a long-time member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ness City. Bill was a charter member of the Bazine Lions Club and then a member of the Ness City Lions Club. He was a member of the Bazine American Legion Post #392, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Kansas National Education Association.
Surviving him are his children, Colette (Perry) Traxler, Overland Park, KS; Susan (Dwight) Lilly, Mentor, KS; Patricia (Rod) Bruntz, Valley Center, KS; James (Monica) Cole, Long Island, KS, and Mary (Jeff) Carter, Lenexa, KS; 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, his sister, Donna Stahl, Plainville, KS, his sister-in-law, Fay Foos, Wichita, KS and many other relatives and friends.
Rosary and Parish Vigil will be on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home at 7:00 P.M. Funeral service will be on Friday, July 12, 2019 at Sacred Heart Church in Ness City at 10:00 A.M., with burial in the Bazine Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be given to the Sacred Heart Church or Ascend Hospice.
David A. ‘Dave’ Dreiling
David A. “Dave” Dreiling, 57, Schoenchen, died Tuesday, July 9, 2019 surrounded by family at his home.
He was born September 21, 1961 in Hays, the son of Hubert A. and Clementine M. (Zerr) Dreiling. In 1979, he graduated from Thomas More Prep-Marian High school. On April 20, 1985, he was united in marriage to Margie A. Roth at St. Fidelis Church in Victoria, and they celebrated 34 years of marriage. He was a Facilities Specialist / Welder at Fort Hays State University. His memberships included The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Schoenchen Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #4166, and Helping Hands of God. Dave enjoyed welding, golfing, mowing, washing vehicles, being outdoors, and cooking. He liked cattle, old tractors, beer, playing pinochle, and loved to spend time with his granddaughters.
Survivors include his wife; Margie of the home in Schoenchen, a son; Nicholas D. Dreiling and fiancé Jennifer Rome of Hays, a daughter; Sara A. Zimmerman and husband Kyle of Schoenchen, three granddaughters; Abigail and Ellie Zimmerman and Mindy Dreiling, a brother; Chris Dreiling of Victoria, a sister; Sandy Gottschalk of Hays, his mother-in-law; Jean Roth of Victoria, his brothers and sisters-in-law; Tom Roth of Victoria, Chris Roth and wife Kara of Fort Collins, CO, Joe Roth and wife Christine of Russell, and John Roth and wife Annie of Casper, WY, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law; Bernard Roth, and his brother-in-law; Keith Gottschalk.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 3:00 pm on Friday, July 12, 2019 at The Basilica of St. Fidelis with Fr. John Schmeidler officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Thursday and from 2:00 pm until service time on Friday, all at the church. A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:00 pm, a vigil service will be at 6:30 pm, followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00 pm, all on Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the TMP-Marian Future Farmers of America Chapter, Tammy Walker Cancer Center, or The Basilica of St. Fidelis, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, Kansas. Condolences and memories of Dave may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com
Teen looking at crash in KCK causes another
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — One crash led to another in Kansas City on Wednesday morning, sending one teen to the hospital.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Cheyenne Reynolds, 19, Bonner Springs, was northbound on 18th Street south of Interstate 70 when she looked at a crash in the southbound lane. The KHP said Reynolds did not see the vehicle stopped in front of her and rear-ended a van.
Reynolds was taken to KU Med for treatment of a suspected minor injury. She was wearing a seat belt, the KHP reported.
None of the three people in the van were injured.
Free swimming and free food at Hays PD Community Night Out
The Hays Police Department’s 4th Annual Community Night Out will be held on Thursday, August 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park.
We will provide free admission to swim, and will have free hot dogs and hamburgers for the first 1,000 people in attendance
Thank you to our sponsors for helping make this event possible: City of Hays, Walmart, Hays Recreation Commission, Pepsi, Heartland Building Center, Fraternal Order of Police Hays Lodge 48, Phaze 2 and Nex-Tech.
Former U.S. Rep. Huelskamp resigns as leader of think tank
The Heartland Institute announced Huelskamp’s departure last month from his job as the conservative think tank’s president and chief executive officer. The board chose communications director Jim Lakely as interim president. The institute’s co-founder, Joseph Bast, said in a statement that the board also elected other new officers and approved several new hires.
The statement provided no reason for Huelskamp’s departure, and neither Lakely nor Bast returned email messages from The Associated Press.
Efforts to reach Huelskamp were unsuccessful. He served three terms in the U.S. House before losing the August 2016 Republican primary to now-U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Great Bend.
Virginia Lee (Brethauer) Scott
Virginia Lee (Brethauer) Scott, 83, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Monday morning, July 8, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Virginia was born October 6, 1935 in Bunker Hill, Kansas. She was one of three children born to Raymond and Marie (Heinitz) Brethauer. She grew up in Bunker Hill and Russell and graduated from Russell High School in the Class of 1953.
Virginia was working at the Dream Theater in Russell, when she met Reese Scott. They were united in marriage on June 26, 1953 in Russell. This union was blessed with two children; Brad and Reesa. They made their home in Russell. Reese preceded her in death on August 23, 1982.
Virginia was a Legal Secretary for the Holland & Holland Law Firm for almost 50 years. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church. She also was a Life Member of the Russell V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and a member of the Russell Elks Lodge. She enjoyed visiting and eating with her friends and family. But her real passion was spending time with her granddaughter and great grandchildren.
Virginia’s surviving family include her son, Brad Scott of Arlington, Texas; daughter, Reesa Waymaster (Rick) of Council Bluffs, Iowa; sisters, Pat Young (Wayne) and Sylvia “Jody” Hopkins (and the late Ronald), all of Salina, Kansas; granddaughter, Anna Crill (Clint); three great grandchildren, Calvin Crill, Adlee Crill and Alexandra Crill, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father, Lloyd Houdyshell, husband Reese, and great granddaughter, Ada Ruby Crill.
Celebration of Virginia’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Visitation will be held the day of the service starting at 9:30 AM at the Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Great Grandchildren’s Educational Fund. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Virginia W. Boxberger
Virginia W. Boxberger, 95, passed away on July 6th, 2019 at Almost Home in Great Bend, Kansas.
Virginia was born on July 26th, 1923, at the family farm near Milberger, Kansas, the daughter of George and Mary K. (Kraft) Steinert. She grew up in the Milberger community.
She was united in marriage to Clarence Boxberger on February 25th, 1945 at St. John’s Lutheran Church Parsonage in Russell. From this union, Virginia and Clarence were blessed with two daughters, Beverly and Mary, and son, Tim. She was a homemaker and also worked for USD #407 as a school cook and later ashead cook and supervisor at Simpson Elementary School in Russell. She lived the majority of her life south of Russell in a home she and Clarence built by hand.
Clarence preceded her in death on June 4th, 1977. She found companionship and love again two years later and married Russell K. Ehrlich in November of 1979. He passed away in July of 1985.
She and Clarence were longtime members of St. John Lutheran Church. She was a previous member of Prairie Mates EHU, Russell V.F.W Auxiliary, Russell American Legion Auxiliary, a board member of the Russell Senior Center, and a 4-H Community Leader for Sunflower 4-H Club.
She enjoyed crafting, drawing, sewing, quilting, fishing, playing bingo and cards, and was an accomplished baker and cook. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family.
Surviving family members include daughters, Beverly Miller of Leawood, Kansas, Mary Holliday of Russell, Kansas, and son Tim (Laura) of Great Bend, Kansas; four grandchildren, Shelly Dorrel (Alan), Rebecca Griffen (Jim), Brandon Winter (Crystal), and Matt Langhofer; nine great-grandchildren, Jessica Clevenger, (Joey), Taylor Dorrel, MaKenzie Miller, Dylan Winter, Samuel Winter, Matthew Langhofer, Logan Langhofer, Laura Langhofer and Lacey Langhofer; and sisters Edna Tittel and May Karst.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 32 years Clarence Boxberger, second husband Russell K. Ehrlich, brother Reuben Steinert, sister Rosa Boxberger, grandson Douglas Langhofer, and son-in-law, Steven Miller.
A celebration of Virginia’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 12th, 2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Russell with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will take place following the service at Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will take place at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 11th, with the family present to greet friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A Memorial has been established with Almost Home, Inc. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Elmore introduced as Colby CC’s new men’s basketball coach
Coach Rusty Elmore comes to Colby after being an assistant to Pat Smith at Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Mo., for the past year. Prior to that, Elmore was at Vincennes University
Elmore arrived at Vincennes after being on the staff at Kentucky Wesleyan, where he helped the Panthers qualify for the 2015-16 NCAA Div. II National Tournament. Kentucky Wesleyan also claimed the Great Midwest Athletic Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles. The Panthers were ranked ninth nationally in last season’s final NCAA Div. II poll. At Kentcuky Wesleyan he worked for legendary coach Happy Osborne.
Prior to being named to the Kentucky Wesleyan staff, Elmore served in an assistant coaching capacity at Union College. During his one-year stint at Union, the Bulldogs racked up 30 wins to post the best season in the program’s history. That historic campaign included a NAIA National Tournament appearance, as well the Appalachian Athletic Conference’s regular-season and tournament crowns. Union completed the 2014-15 in the 11th slot in the NAIA national rankings.
Elmore began his college coaching career at Lindsey Wilson College from 2010-14. He contributed to the Blue Raiders reaching the 2012 and 2013 NAIA Div. I National Tournaments, plus a Final Four appearance and No. 3 national ranking in the final poll of 2012-13 (the program’s most successful season ever). Those seasons also held back-to-back Mid-South Conference regular season champions.
As a player at Shoals Community College, Elmore played for his father, Glen Elmore. During his prep playing career, he earned First-Team All-State honors at Florence Christian Academy. Coach Elmore then earned a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State and his master’s degree in athletic administration from Western Kentucky.
Elmore worked eight years as an executive with Chicago White Sox Radio Network, WGN-TV, NBC Atlanta and ABC Asheville before he started his coaching career.
Elmore is married to the former Katie Sheahan of Milwaukee. They have two daughters, Elise and Nora.
Ad Astra music festival opens Friday in Russell
For more information go to adastramusicfestival.org.
Founder Alex Underwood explains vision for Ad Astra music festival; opens Friday in Russell
THEATRE KANSAS
TO THE STARS: The Ad Astra Music Festival founder Alex Underwood had a vision.
In the month of July, his hometown of Russell, Kansas would be the setting of a music festival over three weekends that would attract both renowned musicians and young prodigies who would present old and new, rather highbrow works that locals could also be part of. The Kansas motto—Ad Astra Per Aspera—seemed a fitting mission statement.
While the vision has been realized, it has been difficult and accomplished through a lot of networking and pavement pounding. But the result is that each July the stars align in this prairie town as the Ad Astra Music Festival comes to life.
Theatre Kansas turns to Underwood, the artistic director, to tell the festival’s origin story and talk about the upcoming season.
TK: When did you start the Ad Astra Music Festival and why Russell, KS?
AU: I was born and raised in Russell and taught music at Russell High School for four years. I knew I would be spending the summer of 2014 at home and wanted to fill the summer with a few musical projects. That summer’s concert series was successful at which point we decided to name it the Ad Astra Music Festival and make it an annual affair.
TK: Russell plays a big part in the mounting of this festival. Can you explain?
AU: This festival is a massive undertaking for the people of Russell each summer. Volunteers pitch in by hosting our 40 guest artists, shuttling them to and from the Kansas City or Wichita airports, providing meals, donating gym passes, singing in the community choir, buying a celebratory round of drinks after a concert, ushering, organizing, lending us their performance spaces…..The list really could go on, but the point is, the community of Russell is the reason this festival is a success.
TK: You appear to try to appeal to a diverse audience and use a wide range of musicians. Is that accurate?
AU: Yes! We have singers, pianists, string players, jazz musicians, orchestra members—ranging from high school students, local volunteer musicians, local professional musicians, undergraduates selected from a national search, and professional musicians who work at some of the country’s most renowned performing arts institution. Then, our artistic team creates performances where the musicians can collaborate in different combinations to create impactful experiences for our audiences.
TK: Talk about this season’s offerings.
AU: 1) Our opening concert features our high school honor choir, our community choir, and our professional chamber choir. They’ll sing Brahms’ “Liebeslieder Walzer”(Love Song Waltzes) and Libby Larsen’s “Love Songs.” It’s a charming, light, and wonderful way to kick off our season. It’s also a celebration of choral music—which is central to the festival.
2) Jazz at the Barn. We’ve been doing this for four or five years now and it’s been such a success. Brad Dawson, a Russell native, is a fantastic jazz trumpeter who teaches at FHSU and gigs around the country. He invites four of his friends from the Kansas City jazz scene to collaborate with him on this program. It’s 10 miles out in the country from Russell at Granny Mae’s Barn. We serve popcorn and cocktails and have such a lovely time. It’s always one of our most popular events.
3) Anna Pidgorna is the composer we’re commissioning an opera from to be premiered in the summer of 2021. She was in Russell last summer doing some research and interviews as she and her fantastic sister (librettist) create this work about the life of influential Russell High School art teacher, Trudy Furney. This year, the festival is presenting an afternoon of her work—some of the music I fell in love with which compelled me to approach her about this project. I’m looking forward to sharing that with our community.
4) Each year, the festival selects four undergraduate singers from an international search to live in Russell for the month of July and perform. This year, their feature program explores perspectives from the US Civil War: Whitman and Lincoln texts set to music by living composers Richard Danielpour and Jennifer Higdon as well as songs from the time.
5) This year is the third year we’ve produced a fully staged new opera. We’ve selected Missy Mazzoli’s “Proving Up” about a Nebraska family struggling to prove to the U.S. government that they are capable of homesteading their land and thus obtaining the deed. Many Russell County family farms were acquired through this process. The opera is 65 minutes long and was co-commissioned by Columbia University, the Kennedy Center, and Opera Omaha.
6) Each year, the festival features Katelyn Mattson-Levy, one of my favorite mezzos on the planet who happened to live right here in rural [Sterling] Kansas. We also feature pianist Matthew Piatt who is an assistant conductor at Chicago Lyric and San Francisco Operas and happens to be from rural western Kansas. They collaborated last summer on a short song cycle, and I knew then that we had to pair them for a full concert this year. The program is an exploration of four archetypes of women: maiden, mother, enchantress, crone. Hearing brilliant music performed by unbelievably talented musicians is one of the most exquisite listening experiences and this will be just that.
7) What might be the surprise hit of the season is a performance by Unaccompanied – they’re an a cappella/vocal jazz group who met while students at Northern Arizona University. Some of them have been featured on Pentatonix albums, some are music educators, and some are aspiring opera singers. They arrange all of their own music and sound stunning.
We try to end each season with a big collaborative project. This year, we’re returning to our Handel oratorio series and are producing “Theodora.” It’s slightly obscure, but is a heart-wrenching story of faith and love. Handel’s dramatic genius is on full display setting some of the most sublime arias and thrilling choruses in his whole repertory. And we have world-class Baroque performers in to help this come to life.
9) Our final project of the season is a performance of an early-Baroque funeral work by Heinrich Schütz. We’ll perform this at St. Fidelis Basilica in Victoria—one of the “Seven Wonders of Kansas.”
Each ticket for a main stage event will cost $20, and each ticket for a chamber music event will cost $10. Season passes start at $100.
Visit https://www.adastramusicfestival.org/ for more information on this year’s events and prices.
Milford woman hospitalized, 1-year-old uninjured after single-vehicle crash
DICKINSON COUNTY — A Milford woman was hospitalized after a single vehicle accident just before 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Brittany Moche Jones, 23, was driving northbound on Highway 77 when she fell asleep, crossed the centerline and left the roadway. The vehicle struck a culvert before coming to rest.
Jones was transported to Herington Municipal Hospital for treatment of a suspected serious injury.
A 1-year-old passenger in the car was not injured. The KHP said both were properly restrained.
Norton man killed while walking on Kan. highway in hit-and-run accident
NORTON – A Norton man was killed late Tuesday evening as he walked on a Kansas highway.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Tyler J. Kuhn, 22, was walking on U.S. 36 when he was struck by an unknown vehicle in the eastbound lane. The accident occurred just after 10 p.m., the KHP reported.
Kuhn was taken to Enfield Funeral Home in Norton.