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Kansas girl dies, days after ending 457-day hospital stay

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kanas girl has died just days after going home following a 457-day hospital stay.

Zei -(center) on the day she left the hospital photo courtesy Children’s Mercy

Zei Uwadia’s mother says her daughter died Tuesday, less than two weeks after returning to Wichita . She left Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City on Jan. 31 — a day before her 17th birthday.

Uwadia was hospitalized after her lungs failed without explanation. During the hospital stay, she became the first patient to walk on an invasive form of life support at the hospital. Hundreds of thousands of people watched her walking on videos posted online. Hospital staff lined her path, applauding and wiping away tears.

The hospital said in a statement that everyone there was heartbroken by Uwadia’s death but inspired by her “fighting spirit.”

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Suspect in alleged Hays sexual assault held on $50K bond in Colorado

Carasco photo Arapahoe Co. Sheriff


HAYS POST

The search for a suspect wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a reported Feb. 2 sexual assault in the 400 block of West Seventh, has been canceled by the Hays Police Department.

In a news release Tuesday night, Assistant Chief Brian Dawson said 23- year-old Tre Miekale Carrasco has been apprehended in Aurora, Colorado.

“Tre M. Carrasco was arrested last night in Aurora, Colorado, by the Aurora Police Department, and is being held on our arrest warrant. We will continue to work with the Aurora Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on our ongoing rape investigation involving Carrasco,” the HPD said in a Wednesday news release. “The Hays Police Department would like to thank the following agencies in helping apprehend Tre M. Carrasco: The Kansas Bureau of Investigations, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Corrections, the United States Marshalls Office, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, the Colby Police Department, Platte County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office, the Denver Police Department, and the Aurora Colorado Police Department.

“Carrasco is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

On Feb. 5, police reported Carrasco had been seen in the Denver area.

He has three previous convictions that include aggravated sexual battery and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Inmate Name: Carrasco, Tre Miekale
Total Bond: $50,000.00
Booking Number: 2019-00002063
Charge Class of Offense Bond/
Bond Type
Docket/
Disposition
Scheduled
Release
Upcoming Court
Date/Location
2ND DEGREE KIDNAPPING FELONY 3 $50,000.00
CASH OR
SURETY
PC/APD 02/13/2019
09:30 AM
DIVISION 302
FUGITIVE OF JUSTICE – WANTED BY OTHER AGENCY – FELONY FELONY FOJ/KS 02/15/2019
09:30 AM
DIVISION 302
FUGITIVE OF JUSTICE – WANTED BY OTHER AGENCY – FELONY FELONY FOJ/KS 02/15/2019
09:30 AM
DIVISION 302

Reminder: HCF ‘Twice as Nice’ gift match campaign ends Feb. 28

HCF

Ellis County could earn an additional $50,000 for charitable grants in the community through a county-wide “Twice as Nice” gift matching campaign.

In February, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation will match all public gifts to the Ellis County Legacy Fund at the Heartland Community Foundation, up to $50,000. Donations will be matched dollar for dollar, at a maximum of $5,000 per donor. If the $50,000 goal is met this year, the fund will gain a total of $100,000.

Over the past two years, the “Twice as Nice” campaign has raised over $200,000 for the Legacy Fund, which to date has granted $8,825 to charitable projects in Ellis County.

“As the Legacy Fund grows, the grants back to the county will grow as well,” said Sandy Jacobs, executive director of the Heartland Community Foundation.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Ellis County Fund, call Jacobs at 785-621-4090 or email [email protected]. Donations must be received by February 28. Learn more at www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.

Beverly Glenn ‘Manny’ Boatwright

Beverly Glenn “Manny” Boatwright, 66, of Chase, passed away February 8, 2019 at his home in Chase. He was born on December 11, 1952 in Fort Pierce, Florida, the son of Jessie and Voncelle Brown Boatwright.

Manny has resided in Chase for the past four years, formerly of Deland, Florida.

He was an operator for Kizzar Well Servicing Inc. and Kelso Well Service both of Chase, for 14 years; and was a roofer for fifteen years.

Manny liked listening to rock and roll music; tinkering around at his home; riding his motorcycle; and especially loved his dog Shadow.

He is survived by his significant other, Andrea Dry of Chase; sons, Glenn Boatwright Jr. and wife Brenda of Geneseo, KS, Ryan Boatwright of Killeen, TX, and Manny Boatwright Jr. of Fort Pierce, FL; daughter, Stephanie Nieto of Okeechobee, FL; brothers, Bo Boatwright and wife Jackie Palm Bay, FL, and Crockett Boatwright of FL.; sisters, Delores Browning and husband Gerald of AL, Gerri Turner and husband Tim of AL, Brenda Hixon of AL, and Judy Yeats and husband Clark of Milburn, FL; two grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and ex-wife, Lisa Boatwright of WaKeeney, KS.

He is preceded in death by his parents; infant son, John Paul Boatwright; infant daughter, Tabitha Boatwright; brother, Boy Bones; and nephew, Ricky Bass.

A Celebration of Life service will be 2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Chase City Park, Chase, Kansas. Memorials may be given to Beverly Boatwright Memorial Fund in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

Barbara Ellen (Loflin) Rathbun

Barbara Ellen (Loflin) Rathbun, age 85, of Leon, Kansas, passed away on February 10, 2019.

Born on April 14, 1933 in Hays, Kansas, she was the daughter of Clifford John and Catherine Barbara (Breit) Loflin. She was raised on a farm near Ogallah, Kansas and graduated from Ellis High School, Ellis, Kansas in 1951.

Barb was united in marriage to Alfred “Al” A. Rathbun on June 17, 1951 in Ellis, Kansas. The couple lived in Kirwin, Kansas, Superior, Nebraska, Stockton, Kansas, Eureka, Kansas, Winfield, Kansas and Leon, Kansas.

Barb worked as a secretary for a CPA in Eureka. She worked as a secretary at the Winfield High School and later as a bookkeeper doing the payroll at the Administration Building for Winfield School District. She worked as a bookkeeper for the El Dorado School District and Clerk of the Board, as well.

Barb and Al were members of the Jeeps Motorcycle Club when their sons raced motorcycles there. Barb and Al also enjoyed traveling on their motorcycles in the US and also made several trips to old Mexico with a group of people on motorcycles.

When Barb and Al retired, they enjoyed traveling to Arizona and New Mexico in their 5th wheel trailer. They also enjoyed going to Canada during the summer to go fishing. Barb also started doing cross-stitching when she retired. She loved to read and she worked part time at the Leon Library.

Barb is survived by her husband, Al of Leon, Kansas; their sons, Doug and wife, Diana, Dave and wife, Mary all of Winfield, Kansas; grandchildren, Amy and husband, David, Josh and wife, Lynsey, Jill, Abbi and husband, Aaron; brother, John Loflin; sister, Marge Miller and eight great grandchildren.

Barb is preceded in death by her parents and an infant great grandson.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 14, 2019 from 12:00-2:00 P.M. at Carlson Colonial Funeral Home in El Dorado, Kansas where services will follow at 2:00 P.M.

A memorial has been established in Barb’s name with the Leon Library. Contributions can be made through Carlson Colonial Funeral Home.

Please sign her online guestbook and leave a memory of Barb at www.carlsoncolonial.com.

Geneva Ann (Schmidt) Schumacher

Geneva Ann (Schmidt) Schumacher, 75, of Great Bend, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, passed away Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the Medical Lodge of Great Bend.

Geneva was born May 24, 1943 in Grinnell, Kansas. She was one of four children born to Raymond Joseph and Anna Martha (Wolf) Schmidt. She grew up in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1961 as the Valedictorian of her Class.

Geneva was united in marriage to James Joseph Schumacher on October 7, 1961 at the Catholic Parish in Grinnell. This union was blessed with four children; Rachell, Michael, Bruce and Brian. They lived in Grinnell area a few years before moving to Russell. James preceded her in death in March, 2012. Then in 2015 she moved to Great Bend.

Geneva was a devoted wife and homemaker. She also worked in housekeeping at Alafern Nursing Home in Russell and housekeeping at the Russell Regional Hospital. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Women’s Guild Catholic Charity Association. She enjoyed fishing, collecting antiques and spending time with her family.

Surviving family include her daughter, Rachell Depiesse (Ed) of Lakin, Kansas; three sons, Michael “Tod” Schumacher (Linda) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Bruce Schumacher (Jolana) of Denver, Colorado and Brian Schumacher (Jodi) of Pratt, Kansas; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents, husband James, three brothers, Eugene Schmidt, Wilmer “Woody” Schmidt and Clarence “Jess” Schmidt.

Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M., Thursday, February 14, 2019 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be held from Noon to 5:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Vigil and Rosary will be held at 7:30 P.M., Wednesday at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Memorials may be given to St. Mary’s Russell Catholic Council of Women and may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

LaVerna Lorraine Stambaugh

LaVerna Lorraine Stambaugh, 98, born December 3, 1920, in Gem, Kansas to Arthur Jasper and Mary LaVerna Smith, passed away February 8, 2019.

Lorraine had one older sister, Ulala Royalynn Smith. Both of her parents, sister and husband preceded her in death. Lorraine worked various jobs in Colby, Kansas, including working at the Welfare Office, Thomas County National Bank, County Clerk’s Office and Office of Price Administration.

She married Cecil Leslie Stambaugh on September 3, 1950. They moved to Ainsworth, Nebraska, where Cecil worked at a J.M. McDonalds store. She and her husband then moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where Lorraine worked at Southern Colorado State College and then the University of Southern Colorado, where she was a secretary for the Music and Liberal Arts Department until she retired in 1987. Cecil preceded her in death on May 23, 1994.

They had one daughter, Patricia Ann (James) Sneed; one son, James Alan (Bonnie) Stambaugh; and one grandson, Jamin (Erin) Sneed. Lorraine will be laid to rest at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2019, in the Gem Cemetery, Gem, Kansas, next to her husband, sister and both parents. Special thanks to Frontier Hospice for their care and compassion.

Click HERE for service details.

Hays will host district-wide meeting on water issues

The Kansas Water Office’s (KWO) Smoky Hill-Saline Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) will have a meeting to discuss current water issues affecting the region as well as the state.

The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine. The agenda includes several updates on regional issues such as the Kansas River Basin Study and Kanopolis Access District.

The agenda and meeting materials can be found when available at www.kwo.ks.gov or you may request copies by calling (785) 296-3185 or toll-free at (888) KAN-WATER (526-9283).

If accommodations are needed for a person with disabilities, please notify the Kansas Water Office at 900 SW Jackson Street, Suite 404, Topeka, KS 66611-1249 or call (785) 296-3185 at least five working days prior to the meeting.

Holy Family teacher honored with Distinguished Teacher Award

Teresa Schrant
TMP-M

Holy Family Elementary announce Wednesday that Teresa Schrant, a 37-year adept educator in the classroom was recently awarded the Distinguished Teacher Award at the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools Conference. Schrant maintains high expectations of her students and inspires them to go beyond their previously conceived notions.

Schrant, who began her career in 1981 when HFE was St. Joseph’s School, has dedicated her faith-filled work and initiatives over the years, bringing liturgical and cultural events that have become part of HFE’s tradition and heritage, such as the annual Pet Blessing in October, Mary’s Baby Shower in December and Pancake Races in February. Moreover, Schrant always keeps the HFE school spirituality in the forefront of her mind, she creates beautiful scenes in the school trophy case that correspond to liturgical and seasonal times of the school year. Additionally, Schrant organizes the school spelling bee annually during Catholic Schools Week.

Through her meticulous planning and exemplary high expectations of student performance Schrant not only demands excellence, but inspires students to perform at levels higher than they believed capable. Her matter-of-fact demeanor allows students to recognize where they come up short and where they need to work harder to achieve the next level of success and then each level of success is celebrated. Thoughtfully she photographs the students and special events throughout the school year and assembles a beautiful photo book of her fourth graders’ school year experience.

“Schrant is a teacher leader in our school building that supports the needs of students and staff while helping create a culture of excellence with fun and celebration sprinkled in appropriately,” stated Rachel Wentling, Principal, HFE. The KAIRS organization represents 35,000 students in Kansas and hundreds of teachers. Schrant’s award was nominated and represented the educators of the Salina Diocese of Kansas.

Schrant earned a BS in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University in 1981. Throughout her tenure in teaching she has taught second and fourth grade. A job well done with decades of experience faith and love to guide her.

— Submitted

Recall: 1.5M Ford pickups can downshift without warning

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 1.5 million pickup trucks in North America because the transmissions can suddenly downshift into first gear.

The recall covers F-150 trucks from the 2011 through 2013 model years with six-speed automatic transmissions.

The company says a glitch in sending a signal from the transmission speed sensor is the cause. Ford has five reports of accidents including one that caused a whiplash injury from a sudden downshift.

Owners will be notified by letter starting March 4. Dealers will update the powertrain control software to fix the problem.

Ford’s F-Series pickup is the top-selling vehicle in the United States.

SafeSport ends investigation into deceased Kansas City figure skater

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The organization that investigates accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse in sports in the U.S. has halted its probe into figure skater John Coughlin, the two-time national pairs champion who died by suicide last month.

John Coughlin – courtesy photo

The U.S. Center for SafeSport said Tuesday there was no reason to continue its probe into allegations sexual misconduct against Coughlin because its purpose is to “protect the sport community and other covered persons from the risks associated with sexual misconduct and abuse.”

Coughlin had received an interim suspension from SafeSport and U.S. Figure Skating for unspecified conduct last month, and was barred from any activities sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Coughlin died at his father’s home in Kansas City.

Cindy S. Schmitt

Cindy S. Schmitt, 59, died on February 5, 2019, at St. Luke’s Northland Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Her selfless nature lives on through her generous gift of organ donation. She was recognized by the staff at St. Luke’s by being the recipient of their first ever honor walk. Cindy was born on May 18, 1959, in Scott City, the daughter of Pete and Vicky Steffens.

She was a resident of Scott City for 46 years before moving to Kansas City. She was a graduate of Scott Community High School in 1977. She married her husband of 42 years, Jeff Schmitt, in Scott City on July 10, 1976.

She ran an in-home daycare while raising her 3 boys. In 1994, she went to work for Kennedy & Coe, where she was an accounting specialist for 24 years. While a resident of Scott City, she was involved with the Catholic Church, teaching Catechism and confirmation classes.

Cindy’s life was centered around her husband, 3 boys and their wives, and 8 grandchildren. She enjoyed watching all of her boys’ sporting events and activities. In recent years, she has spent countless hours following her grandchildren in all of their activities. She enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, teaching them to cook, hosting tea parties, and playing any game they came up with. In her free time, Cindy was an avid flower gardener, always having the prettiest flower beds around. She was also very festive, always decorating her home for the season.

She is survived by her husband, Jeff, her three boys, Brandon (Vanida) Schmitt, Pierre, SD, Tyson (Amber) Schmitt, Kansas City, MO, and Colton (Lindsay) Schmitt, Scott City, KS; 8 grandchildren: Rylee, Aimee, Hunter, Camren, Kellen, Sage, Leighton, and Bo; her mother, Vicky Steffens of Scott City, brother Phil Steffens, sister Tammy Brand, 14 nieces and nephews, and mother-in-law, Joyce Schmitt.

She was preceded in death by her father, Pete Steffens, and two brothers, Charles and Galen Steffens.

A rosary will be held on Thursday, February 14, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 15, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City. Services will be officiated by Father Steve Rogers. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Jude’s charities at st.jude.org or collected at the church.

Anthony Daniel White

Anthony Daniel White, 39, died on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Lane County Hospital in Dighton. He was born on April 19, 1979 at New Orleans, Louisiana the son of Anna Maria Reynolds.

Anthony completed his schooling at Crystal City High School in Crystal City, Texas. He lived in Uvalde, Texas, San Antonio, Texas & Crystal City, Texas before moving to Dighton. He had worked as a mechanic, painter & construction worker. He enjoyed being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, collecting caps and colognes, listening to music, BBQing, being outdoors and talking to his family and friends whom he was very faithful to.

He is survived by 2 Daughters- Lashawn Unique White McNeil & Yasmine Shanique White, Son- Keion Jaden White all of Crystal City, Texas, Mother & Step-father- Anna & Randy Dickerson of Uvalde, Texas, Grandmother- Margarita Reynolds of Carrizo Springs, Texas, 2 Brothers- Sammy & Char Vargas of Dighton and David Tanton, 2 Sisters- Bianca Jones & David Cox of West Monroe, Louisiana and Lianna Vargas and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles & aunts.

There will be no local services held. Memorials are suggested to the Anthony White Memorial Fund in care of Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

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