SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following a hit and run crash and fire and have made an arrest.
Jacob Bosh -photo Shawnee County
Just before 7p.m. Monday, police were called to Sam’s Club located 1401 SW Wanamaker in Topeka for a report of a motor vehicle accident and fire, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.
Officers discovered a vehicle fully engulfed in flames on the back side of the building. The vehicle apparently struck the electrical service to the building. A fire resulted from the impact, causing a power outage affecting the entire building. The vehicle did not penetrate the building. Authorities evacuated shoppers from the business as a precaution.
Witnesses guided officers to a man running east from the accident scene. Officers located the driver of the vehicle identified as 19-year-old Jacob Orlando Eugene Bosch at the Days Inn in the 1500 block of SW Wanamaker, according to Jones.
After an investigation, police arrested Bosh and he is being held without bond on requested charges that include DUI, reckless driving, speeding, operating a vehicle without registration or tags expired, driving while license suspended and possession of drugs, according to a statement from Topeka Police.
View of the Monday night fire at Sams Club in Topeka photo courtesy WIBW TV
According to Jones, “The public deserves credit for the apprehension of the suspect in this case. Sam’s Club remained closed Tuesday, without power.
————
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following a hit and run crash and fire.
Just before 7p.m. Monday, police were called to Sam’s Club located 1401 SW Wanamaker in Topeka for a report of a motor vehicle accident and fire, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.
Officers discovered a vehicle fully engulfed in flames on the back side of the building. The vehicle apparently struck the electrical service to the building. A fire resulted from the impact, causing a power outage affecting the entire building. The vehicle did not penetrate the building. Authorities evacuated shoppers from the business as a precaution.
Witnesses guided officers to a man running east from the accident scene. Officers located the driver of the vehicle at the Days Inn in the 1500 block of SW Wanamaker, according to Jones.
First responders at the crash scene Monday night at Sams Club photo courtesy WIBW TV
Police have not released his name as they work to determine what caused the crash.
According to Jones, “The public deserves credit for the apprehension of the suspect in this case. The Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center was inundated with calls from the public that helped locate this driver. Sam’s Club was temporarily closed, without power.
A 34-year-old Ellis man has been charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a Hays man last month.
According to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees, Ryan Paul Thompson was charged Tuesday in Ellis County District Court with allegedly shooting 26-year-old Diego Gallaway on Feb. 27 in the 2700 block of Indian Trail.
Thompson is alleged to have shot Gallaway in the back of the head while having him in a chokehold, according to Drees.
If convicted, Thompson faces a minimum of 50 years in prison for intentional and premeditated first degree murder.
Thompson was also charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. He allegedly possessed 23.9 grams of the drug. If convicted, he would face between 92 and 144 months in prison.
At preliminary hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Thompson is being held in the Ellis County jail in lieu of $750,000 bond.
The filing of criminal charges are merely allegations of criminal wrongdoing, Drees said. The defendant maintains a presumption of innocence unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
From left: Kyle Kitt, AGCO Key Account Manager, presenting the 2018 Circle of Excellence Award to Brian Lang- LDI’s President & CEO, and Brent Lang, LDI’s General Manager.
Global manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, AGCO has announced its best performing dealers for 2018, naming Hays-based Lang Diesel Inc. in the top ten in overall sales out of all North American dealerships.
The Lang family founded LDI in 1988 and since has led the company to top ten rankings for the last 19 years.
“Winning this award is a direct result of the continuous hard work carried out by our team in the past year to improve our relationships with our customers,” said LDI President Brian Lang. “We have a very talented team who continues to bring passion and innovation to LDI. It is an honor to see their hard work recognized by our industry peers.”
LDI was also recognized by AGCO Corporation for achieving a Five Star rating in its 2018 Dealer Excellence Program, AGCO’s annual dealer evaluation review. Only 33 dealers in all of North America achieved this prestigious status in 2018. Dealers are evaluated on many performance areas with all linking back to providing AGCO customers the best possible service and experience.
“Achieving a Five Star rating is difficult, and a very small number reach this high level of recognition each year,” says Bill Hurley, Vice President of Aftersales, Customer Support and Distribution Development, AGCO North America. “We are proud of the commitment LDI has made to their customers and to AGCO and we congratulate them on this meaningful accomplishment.”
LDI’s continued growth and serving an increasing number of customers across the state has been even more rewarding.
“We opened as a small Hays repair shop in 1988 and started offering AGCO’s Gleaner combines in 1993,” Brian said. “We now offer a full line of AGCO equipment and have expanded to 10 locations across Kansas to better serve our surrounding communities.”
While the family-owned business has grown to a large-scale level, LDI’s focus on quality and commitment is key to its foundation and vision for the future. “Brian had a strong service minded background from the start,” said Brent Lang, LDI General Manager. “Those principles that initially shaped the heart of his business are still a strong consideration in every part of our company.”
The Lang family plans to keep LDI’s growth moving into the future by expanding its reach and discovering ways to help even more people. LDI would like to thank customers for their continued support because without it, LDI’s success would not be possible. “As we work to continue being a top AGCO dealer, our goal will always be to give customers the best experience possible,” Brian stated.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court ruled Tuesday against a group of immigrants in a case about the government’s power to detain them after they’ve committed crimes but finished their sentences.
photo courtesy Department of Homeland Security
The issue in the case before the justices had to do with the detention of noncitizens who have committed a broad range of crimes that make them deportable. Immigration law tells the government it must arrest those people when they are released from custody and then hold them while an immigration court decides whether they should be deported.
But those affected by the law aren’t always picked up immediately and are sometimes not detained until years later. In the case before the Supreme Court, a group of mostly green card holders argued that unless they’re picked up essentially within a day of being released, they should be entitled to a hearing where they can argue that they aren’t a danger to the community and are not likely to flee. If a judge were to agree, they would not have to remain in custody while their deportation case goes forward. That’s the same hearing rule that applies to other noncitizens the government is trying to deport.
But the Supreme Court disagreed with the immigrants’ interpretation of federal law in a 5-4 ruling that divided the court along ideological lines. Looking at a statutory provision enacted by Congress in 1996, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that “neither the statute’s text nor its structure” supported the immigrants’ argument. The court’s conservative justices sided with the Trump administration. The administration argued, as the Obama administration did, that those affected by the law aren’t entitled to a hearing where they can argue for their release, regardless of whether they are arrested immediately after being released from custody or not.
Department of Justice spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said the administration was “pleased with the decision.”
Justice Stephen Breyer, in a dissent he read aloud in court, said that the larger importance of the case has to do with the power his colleagues’ ruling gives the government.
“It is a power to detain persons who have committed a minor crime many years before. And it is a power to hold those persons, perhaps for many months, without any opportunity to obtain bail,” Breyer said.
He wrote that in his view the law requires immigrants who have committed crimes to be detained “within a reasonable time after their release” from custody, “presumptively no more than six months.” If the person is not detained within that time, they should get a hearing where they can argue for their release, Breyer wrote.
The American Civil Liberties Union represented the immigrants in the case before the Supreme Court. ACLU attorney Cecillia Wang, who argued the case, said after the decision that the ACLU will call on Congress to clarify the law and will continue to pursue options in court.
Tuesday’s ruling was based on the text of the statute, and Wang said the ACLU will argue that the statute, as interpreted by the justices, is unconstitutional. Wang also called the decision an “extreme waste of taxpayer money,” saying it locks up individuals who are not a danger to the community.
The case before the justices involved a class-action lawsuit brought by noncitizens in California and a similar class-action lawsuit brought in the state of Washington. In those cases, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the immigrants, but other appeals courts had sided with the government in similar cases.
One of the lead plaintiffs involved in the California case, Mony Preap, has been a lawful permanent resident of the United States since 1981 and has two convictions for possession of marijuana. He was released from prison in 2006 but was not taken into immigration custody until 2013. Preap has since won his deportation case, allowing him to remain in the country.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Records show a former Kansas City priest no longer has valid licenses to practice medicine in Kansas and Missouri after being defrocked last year following an investigation into multiple allegations of child sexual abuse.
John Wisner’s medical licenses to practice as a psychiatrist remained activefor months after the Archdiocese of Kansas City removed himfrom the clergy over credible allegations that he abused three minors decades ago.
Kansas registration records now list Wisner’s license as inactive, while Missouri’s professional registration agency says Wisner’s license has lapsed because it wasn’t renewed.
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts official Kathleen Selzler Lippert declined to say whether Wisner’s license had been revoked. The board’s website doesn’t show disciplinary records involving Wisner.
The Missouri agency’s spokeswoman, Lori Croy, says Wisner’s license wasn’t revoked.
Geraldine M. “Shirley” Bieker, 92, Schoenchen, died Monday, March 18, 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.
She was born June 28, 1926 on a farm near Liebenthal, the daughter of Aloys W. and Blanche C. (Herrman) Herrman. On February 23, 1974 she was united in marriage to Willard J. “Will” Bieker in Schoenchen. They celebrated 43 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on May 24, 2017. She was a homemaker and an excellent cook preparing meals for family and friends. Most remember Shirley’s Café in Schoenchen where she and her husband Willard cooked German food that was enjoyed by many from around the state.
She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, St. Anthony Altar Society, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and a volunteer at the St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop. She was a devout Catholic, often praying the rosary, enjoyed gardening and canning, fishing, kept an immaculate house, loved to sew making numerous quilts, was a farm girl at heart, and had great love for her family.
Survivors include two sons; Bob Harvey and wife Dolly and Robert Rasmussen and wife Joanie, three daughters, Diane Hoar, Donna Campbell, and Janell Underwood, a brother; Art Herrman and wife Edna, two sisters; Tootsie Zimmerman and Ruby Bailey, twelve grandchildren; Ciarra Owens, Alyssa Underwood, Robert L. Rasmussen III, Bobbi Jo Harvey-Malcholz and husband Fred, Dwayne Campbell and wife Jenny, Gerarld Harvey, Jr., Lynna Campbell, Tammy Williams and husband Shawn, Dale Harvey and wife Teri, Dustin Harvey, Michelle Curington and husband Dan, and Heidi Harvey, 16 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; Willard, a son; Gerald “Jerry” Harvey, two sisters; Lillian Roth and Dody Trotter, and a grandson, Michael Harvey.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Schoenchen. Inurnment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Wednesday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 9:00 am until service time on Thursday at the church. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Hays Good Samaritan Society.
Condolences and memories of Shirley may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fast-food store manager in connection with a reported weekend robbery.
Harris -photo Saline Co.
Long John Silver’s general manager Darius D. Harris, 26, Salina, reported to police he arrived at the restaurant, 1019 E. Crawford, Sunday to do some work before the restaurant opened, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.
Harris told police that about 9:30 a.m. while leaving to make a bank deposit, he was confronted by a suspect who displayed a knife and forced him back inside.
Harris said the suspect, who he described as a 5-foot-7, 200-pound white male, then took the deposit with an undisclosed amount of cash along with money in the register and left the restaurant on foot.
On Tuesday, Salina Police Detective Captain Gary Hanus said after an extensive investigation and thorough interview, police arrested Harris on requested charges of theft of services, felony theft, and felony interference with a law enforcement officer.
Hanus said that throughout the investigation, detectives saw inconsistencies in Harris’ story. They brought him in for another interview Monday which concluded with Harris admitting that he had taken the money, according to Hanus.
Search warrants for Harris’ residence and vehicle were then executed and more than $2,400 was located in the vehicle.
TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly has withdrawn Jeffry Jack’s nomination to the Kansas Court of Appeals.
In light of the information that has surfaced regarding Judge Jeffry Jack’s social media presence, Governor Laura Kelly is withdrawing his name from consideration for the Kansas Court of Appeals vacancy. Jack, at the request of Governor Kelly, submitted a letter last night removing his name from consideration, according to a media release from the governor’s office.
Kelly had nominated Jack March 15
“I’m surprised and disappointed that a sitting judge would engage in this type of rhetoric,” Kelly said. “It’s unacceptable for a sitting judge, who must be seen as unbiased and impartial, to post personal political views on social media.”
The Governor’s Nominating Committee forwarded three names for consideration on February 1. The finalists were interviewed and their legal background and work history vetted by the committee. Additionally, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducted background investigations on the finalists.
“It’s clear that despite a thorough review and investigation, this was missed,” Kelly said. “In fairness to all the applicants, I ask that the nominating committee thoroughly review all applicants again – including social media activity – and send me additional names for consideration. Once this is done and background checks are complete, I will then submit a new nominee to the Kansas Senate for review and confirmation, prior to the end of the legislative session.”
Due to recent problems with state employees and judicial nominees posting inflammatory comments on Twitter, the governor believes further review is necessary. The two remaining finalists, Sarah Warner and Marcia Wood, will be considered with the additional names following a thorough, follow-up review.
“In an era when we increasingly see Twitter and other social media platforms being used to attack and divide, we can and must do better,” Kelly said. “The last 24-hours is just the latest example of the deterioration of political discourse – on both sides of the aisle. I hope all of those working in the public sphere will join me as I work to change the tone and rhetoric used both online and here in Topeka. Regardless of our political affiliation, we can and must do better.”
—————
By JOHN HANNA
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s nomination of a trial judge to Kansas’ second-highest court appeared doomed Monday after two key Republican legislators decried past social media posts criticizing President Donald Trump and expressing support for gun control and abortion rights.
I’m pleased to nominate Judge Jeffry Jack to the Kansas Court of Appeals. Our judges must ensure that every Kansan who encounters our courts is treated fairly under the law. That requires integrity and impartiality. Judge Jack will bring those qualities to the Court of Appeals. pic.twitter.com/Iuf15TvWUx
Senate President Susan Wagle predicted that Judge Jeffry Jack’s appointment to the Kansas Court of Appeals will not be confirmed by her GOP-dominated chamber. She and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Rick Wilborn said the nomination should be withdrawn.
Even Kelly’s chief spokeswoman, Ashley All, called the tweets and retweets on a Jack’s feed “troubling” and said the governor’s office did not know about them, despite its vetting of potential appeals court nominees. Jack has been a district judge in Labette County in southeast Kansas since 2005 and served before that as a Republican in the Kansas House.
The judge’s Twitter page, showing his picture, includes political retweets with vulgar language, a September 2017 tweet referring to Trump as “Fruit Loops” and another saying, “I am so embarrassed that he is our President.” His postings show support for National Football League players who have kneeled in protest during the national anthem. The last tweet on Jack’s feed appeared to be from October 2017.
“He’s obviously politically biased, and he just isn’t the type of personality that you want on the bench, determining judicial questions,” said Wagle, a Wichita Republican.
All said the governor’s office was looking into Jack’s tweets and retweets. Jack was in court Monday and did not immediately return a telephone message to his office seeking comment.
Kelly picked Jack to replace longtime appeals court Judge Patrick McAnany, who retired the day the Democratic governor took office in January. She said Jack’s legislative experience was an important factor in choosing him over two other finalists and said he would bring qualities including “impartiality” to the bench.
The quickly-emerging problems with Jack’s nomination were particularly embarrassing for Kelly because she took the extra step — not required by law — of appointing a panel of lawyers and non-lawyers to screen applications, interview candidates in public and name three finalists.
Questions about Jack’s social media posts also came a day after the Kansas Department of Transportation said an employee who had used an official Twitter account to criticize Trump no longer worked at the agency.
All said she could not say why the governor’s office did not know about Jack’s feed on Twitter, which still could be viewed online Monday evening.
Some of Jack’s tweets criticized Republican legislators, including Wagle. One July 2017 tweet speculated that Wagle, who is now considering a U.S. Senate bid, might seek higher office and suggested she might be “failing upward.” He described another GOP senator with a vulgar acronym in a June 2017 tweet.
“It just flies in the face of everything you want a sitting judge to be,” said Wilborn, a McPherson Republican. “I would have thought that she (Kelly) would have vetted this candidate a little more closely and the prudent thing for her to do to continue to be credible is to withdraw that nomination.”
Sen. Vic Miller, of Topeka, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said he found Jack’s social media posts “deeply troubling.”
Asked whether Jack should withdraw as the nominee, Miller said: “If these are genuine, and he asked me for advice, I would advise him to do that.”
——————
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s nominee to the state Court of Appeals (all times local):
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle and another key Republican say Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s nomination of a trial court judge for the state Court of Appeals should be withdrawn.
Wagle and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Rick Wilborn said Monday that they oppose Kelly’s nomination of Labette County District Judge Jeffry Jack. They cited tweets and retweets criticizing President Donald Trump and expressing support for gun control and abortion rights.
Kelly spokeswoman Ashley All called the Twitter posts “troubling” and said the governor’s office is looking into them.
Wagle predicted the GOP-controlled Senate would not confirm Jack.
Jack has been a Labette County district judge since 2005. Kelly nominated him Friday for an open seat on the state’s second-highest court.
Jack did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
___
2:15 p.m.
The Kansas Senate’s top leader says that she will oppose Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s nominee to the state Court of Appeals.
Senate President and conservative Wichita Republican Susan Wagle said Monday that nominee Jeffry Jack has a history of “pro-abortion” rhetoric, statements favoring gun control and criticism of President Donald Trump.
Wagle’s staff pointed to Jack’s social media tweets and retweets about gun violence, abortion and Trump. A picture of Jack appears on his Twitter page.
Jack has been a Labette County district judge since 2005. Kelly nominated him Friday for an open seat on the state’s second-highest court, and the appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.
Kelly spokeswoman Ashley All said her office is looking into the matter. Jack did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
Connie Sue Anderson, 74, of Osborne, KS passed away on March 14, 2019 at her home in Osborne after a long battle with cancer. She was born on August 19, 1944 in Paradise, KS to Carl & Anna C. (Webster) Anderson. Connie was one of several children.
Connie graduated from the Paradise Schools and then from the Willcox Beauty Academy in Dodge City, KS. She worked in beauty shops in Russell and Lincoln, KS. While she was working in Lincoln, she met her future husband, John Anderson. They were married and had 3 children.
While John was in the service, they lived in Pensacola, FL, Norfolk, VA and Bethesda, MD. After John was discharged from the service, they moved to Osborne, KS and made it their home. She later worked as a retail clerk in several businesses in Osborne.
Connie was a member of the Portis United Methodist Church. She was also an active member in the Osborne VFW Aux. #7743.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents.
Connie is survived by her husband John of Osborne; daughter: Shawn (Mark) Lofing of Kinsley, KS; sons: Christian (Mellisa) Anderson of Wamego, KS; Charles (Schanee) Anderson of Wichita, KS; 7 grandchildren; sister: Anita Swartz of Kansas City, KS; brothers: Jerry Webster of Landenburg, PA; Alvin Webster of Russell, KS.
Phillipsburg resident Robert “Bob” Ward passed away March 15, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS at the age of 64. He was born Dec. 14, 1954 in Phillipsburg, the son of Carl & Hazel (Meyer) Ward.
Survivors include his wife Roxie of the home; his son, Westley of Columbus, OH; 2 daughters, Holly Ward of Tipton, KS and Ember Ward of Phillipsburg; 2 brothers, Doug of Glade & John of Phillipsburg; his sister, Shirley Robinson of Hoxie and one grandson.
Cremation is planned. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, March 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Blake Stanwood officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to his grandson’s education.
William (Bill) Joseph Moriarity, 90, of Loveland, CO, died March 16, 2019 with his wife and family at his side.
He was born in Missouri Valley, Iowa on July 12, 1928 to Charles Edward Moriarity and Chloe Hazel (Hatcher) Moriarity. He was raised and attended school in Missouri Valley, Iowa. The day after high school graduation, he enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy from 1946-48. He graduated from Creighton University with a BS in Marketing in 1952. He was employed in merchandising 1952-1954 in Nebraska, Colorado and then in Colby, Kansas from 1954-59. In 1959, Bill helped organize the Colby Medical Clinic where he was administrator for 23 years. This experience led him to HMO Health Care Plus as an Account Executive from 1983-1985 in Salina, KS and Oklahoma City, OK. In 1985, he returned to Hays, Kansas as Public Relations Outreach Liaison of Northwest Kansas for St. Anthony Hospital in Hays, Kansas until his retirement in 1992.
In 1956, he met Ruth May Grace in Colby, Kansas. They were married Nov 3, 1956.
Bill is survived by his wife Ruth; daughter Mary Eileen Moriarity Madrid and husband Anthony (Tony) Madrid, of Loveland, Colorado; grand-daughter Amalia (Molly) Madrid, of Wichita, Kansas, and many loved nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved sons, Patrick Joseph and William Joseph; his parents; two brothers, Maurice and Ed (Charles) and two sisters, Catherine Sigler and Margaret Hassett.
Bill valued his memberships in the Knights of Columbus (past Grand Knight), Lions International Club, (local, district, and state offices), and the American Legion. While living in Colby he served as Scoutmaster in the Coronado Boy Scouts of America for years. He then organized an Explorer Scout Troop at his daughter’s request.
Bill was always an active member of the Catholic Church. At Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays, KS he served for many years as sacristan, server, and Eucharistic minister.
Also in Hays his volunteer service included eight years in the Area Agency of Aging SCHICK Program, AARP Tax Aide 18 years, Hays Senior Citizens Center board member 3 years, Ellis County Council on Aging for 13 years (Chairman 5 years), and on the Kansas State Advisory Board on Aging for 8 years. He enjoyed being a Docent and Attendant at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
Bill spent retirement with family and friends. He enjoyed Church, travel, golf, and other volunteer and leisure activities. In 2015, he and his wife Ruth relocated from Hays, Kansas to Loveland, Colorado to be closer to their daughter Mary and Tony Madrid. Bill’s greatest joy in life has always been his family and his Catholic faith.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 23rd, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colby, KS. There will be a rosary at 9:30 followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00. Burial with military honors will occur following the Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.
Bill will always be remembered for his faith, devotion to family, loyalty, and service to his community. He was a gentle, humble, kind, caring man who always did “his very best”. He will be remembered.
Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte says this winter has been the roughest he has seen in his 37 years in this area.
“It’s been constantly wet since October, even before that. Fertilizer didn’t get applied last fall, trying to get it on this spring. We’ve got wheat, we’ve got brome grass that needs to be fertilized, should have been fertilized a month ago. Everything is too wet to get in there.”
Otte noted farm producers will have to do the best they can. Field work would normally have begun by now along with fertilization for the corn crop. Everyone is in a holding pattern.
When it comes to livestock the situation has been difficult. “The livestock producers have got it very, very rough right now, especially the folks with cow-calf herds. The storms, the extreme cold, we had below zero for a couple of days in early March. There’s way above average death of calves.”
The mud has also been challenging, leaving a lack of dry places for livestock. “And it was a short hay year in addition to that. So my heart goes out to them because it has been a very rough winter.” Frost just went out of the ground last week so there is some drainage and drying that is beginning to occur. But it has been one tough winter!
