Hays Post – Page 729 – Hays Post Archive

Lucille Davis

Posted on February 1, 2019

Lucille Davis, 89, passed away January 31, 2019 at Medicalodges of Great Bend. She was born April 24, 1929 at Hays, to Anton Fredrick & Mary (Pfeifer) Meis. She married Richard Lewis Davis on December 31, 1947 at Garden City. He died October 6, 2007.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Lucille was a homemaker. She loved gardening, cooking, sewing and reading. She was an excellent wife, mother, grandmother and gave the best hugs.

Survivors include, one son, Richard Davis, Jr. and wife Mary of Great Bend; three daughters, Patricia Skelton of Great Bend, Deborah Durler and partner Jim VanDyke of Branson, Missouri and Cynthia Carter of Great Bend; nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Mary Meis; her husband, Richard Davis; three brothers, Fred Meis, Gilbert Meis, Albert Meis; and three sisters, Agnes Meis, Mary Staab, Ida Kuhn.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sun. Feb. 3, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family present from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Mon., Feb. 4, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Larry Schumacher presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Kindred Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Kansas teen with unexplained lung condition returns home

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A teen who became the first patient at a Kansas City hospital to walk while on life support has recently returned home.

Zei was the first Children’s Mercy patient to walk while on ECMO life support. This week she walked out of the front doors of the hospital after more than 450 days, just in time to be home for her birthday. Read more about her powerful journey back home.

Zei Uwadia left Children’s Mercy Hospital on Thursday after being hospitalized for more than a year for unexplained lung failure. Zei will continue to recover at home in Wichita, Kansas.

The now 17-year-old inspired hundreds of thousands of people who watched videos of her walking down the hospital’s halls while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an invasive form of life support.

Doctors still don’t know what caused Zei’s lungs to fail, but she’s no longer on ECMO and instead uses a tracheostomy, a tube in her neck that helps her breathe.

Zei says she’s looking forward to having more freedom.

Mary Catherine ‘Kay’ Wellbrock

Posted on February 1, 2019

Mary Catherine “Kay” Wellbrock, age 81, former Hays, Kansas resident died Friday, January 25, 2019, at Select Specialty Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Funeral Services at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 23, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays, Kansas. Inurnment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. A complete obit will follow.

Healing Kids Hearts retreat March 30

Posted on February 1, 2019

Applications are now open for the Healing Kids Hearts retreat sponsored by the Hays Center For Life Experience, Inc. The applications are due March 8.

The retreat, Sat., March 30, at the Sternberg Museum, is for children ages 7-12 who have experienced the loss of a loved one, friend, or special companion.

An adult trained and matched “buddy” will guide and support the children throughout the day through a variety of activities that may include but are not limited to creating special keepsakes, music, drawing, writing, and a balloon launch. A optional museum tour will be offered after the balloon launch.

For more information call or text 785-259-6859, email [email protected], or visit our website https://www.cflehope.org/healing-kids-hearts-retreat.html.

Justice prevails: FHSU part of study on rural Kansas youth

Posted on February 1, 2019January 31, 2019

By RANDY GONZALES
FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University is part of a project titled “Our Town, Our Kids,” aimed at helping prevent youth from entering the criminal justice system.

Rural counties in western Kansas are part of a study devoted to developing support systems for youth and families with the goal of providing services that maximize their chances of leading productive lives. The project was awarded funding by the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Advisory Group.

Dr. April Terry, associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at FHSU, said rural western Kansas is often overlooked. It is important to have a study in which 22 of the 23 counties are in rural areas of the state, Terry said. Ellis County is included.

“There is a big hole in rural criminology (research),” Terry said. “There is very little research in rural areas and juvenile(s). We hope that his project will result in a national initiative to look at other rural areas.”

Also part of the study is Michael Walker, director of the Docking Institute of Public Affairs, which will collect and analyze data. Walker said it speaks well of the Docking Institute and FHSU for its involvement in the project.

“It’s good for us to be recognized as someone who should be part of the team,” Walker said. “We do have a good reputation. A lot of folks in western Kansas know who we are and affiliated with Fort Hays State.”

Over the next two years, project members will work with stakeholders in the 22 rural counties plus urban Wyandotte County, which was selected for comparative purposes. They will collect data and provide analysis in fostering community collaboration in support of youth and families.

Terry said it was important to have a presence from FHSU in the study.

“You are coming into Tigerland when you come to this part of the state,” Terry said. “It’s important to include Fort Hays State people. Fort Hays State people also are interested in their kids.”

FHSU’s involvement in the project shows the university’s commitment to its service area. “It shows an investment to the community,” Terry said. “It’s a focus on juveniles, but it impacts everybody. I think having local people invested in local issues is helpful.”

Walker said the Docking Institute chooses to work primarily with non-profit organizations and governmental entities. “The project is very important,” Walker said. “We are able to take on projects that are beneficial to overall society.”

As part of the effort to engage positive community support, the group plans to develop a tool kit to assist communities in serving the needs of their youth. The group’s website, https://ourtownourkids.org./, will have the tool kit made available. The group will issue a report at the end of the study.

Healing After Loss Feb. meetings

Posted on February 1, 2019

February 2019 meetings for Healing After Loss

Healing After Loss (HAL) will meet Tue., Feb. 5 at 10-11:45 a.m. at the Center for Life Experience (CFLE), Inc., 205 E. 7th, Room 257 in the Hays Hadley Center.

Lunch will follow at 12 noon at JD’s Chicken, 740 E. 8th, Hays.

Healing After Loss (HAL) will meet Tue., Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Thirsty’s Bar & Grill, 2704 Vine, followed by a gathering at 7 p.m. in CFLE.

Supervised childcare is available by calling 785-259-6859.

For more information call or text 785-259-6859, or email [email protected] or [email protected]

Kansas man dies after pickup rollover crash

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

FINNEY COUNTY— One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Finney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Tundra driven by Mark Todd Goodwin, 55, Garden City, was southbound on Old U.S. 83 four miles south of Business 83.

The driver realized he was in the wrong lane. The vehicle traveled to the right, tipped onto the driver’s and rolled.

Goodwin was pronounced dead at the scene. The KHP did not have details on his seatbelt usage.

Kan. woman admits mistake leaving toddlers in car on cold night

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old Kansas woman accused of leaving her two toddlers in a car while she was in a bar pleaded with a judge to not take her children away from her while acknowledging that she made a mistake.

Tiara Dillon of Lawrence was charged Thursday with two felony counts of aggravated child endangerment and a misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle under the influence.

Judge James George ordered Dillon to have no contact with her children, who are 2 and 3.

Before judge George issued the no-contact order Dillon repeatedly asked him not to take her children and said she never meant to hurt her children.

Dillon was arrested early Wednesday after allegedly leaving her two children unattended in a vehicle at the Playerz Sports Bar in Lawrence bar on a dangerously cold night.

Rosalie Valnet (Snow) Seemann

Posted on February 1, 2019February 4, 2019

Rosalie Valnet (Snow) Seemann, Colby, passed away on February 1, 2019 at Citizens Medical Center, Colby, Kansas.

Rosalie was the 8th child and 4th daughter of Harry Monroe and Ora Rachel Power Snow. She was born on September 5, 1934 in rural Bow Creek Township of Phillips County, Kansas. When she was 1 year old the family moved to a farm 11 miles north and 1 east of Agra, where she attended Country Schools Norton and Gooder. Rosalie worked for several neighbors and eventually moved to Kensington to work where she met her future husband Ernst (Ernie) Seemann. They were married in St. John’s Lutheran Church at Kensington, Kansas on September 10th, 1950.

Rosalie was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith on March 25, 1951 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Kensington, Kansas. She then transferred her membership to Our Savior’s of Brewster in April 1959.

Rosalie and Ernie were the parents of three children born in Smith Center, Kansas. Their 4th child was born in Colby, Kansas. Her children are Craig Allen, Gary Linn, Lisa Marie and Kelly Blayne.

In February 1959 the family moved to Levant, Kansas where Ernie was a grain elevator manager. Rosalie worked for Ernie for 18 summers.

For several years Rosalie worked at different places in Colby and in 1974 accepted a challenge to run for Thomas County Clerk, a position she held for 25 years. During her tenure as County Clerk she served on many different organizations:

Thomas County Council on Aging
All offices of the Northwest Kansas Clerk/Appraisers Association
All offices of the Kansas County Clerk’s Association, serving as President in 1995
Rosalie served on the KCAMP Board for 10 years, an organization insurance pools for counties, she served all offices of this organization
½ of the Levant Walking Team
Board member and President of Genesis, the local food bank

One of the things Rosalie enjoyed was helping the elderly with various tax associations, going to their homes to assist them.

After Rosalie retired October 1, 1999, she became a Sliver Haired Legislator for Thomas County serving nearly 10 years. She also served on the Board of Trustees of Citizens Medical Center for 9 years

She has also served on the Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors since October 1999.
In her later years, thanks to granddaughter Adrea, Rosalie became an avid KU basketball supporter attending games in Lawerence Ks, Ames Iowa, Lubbock Texas and Boulder, Colorado.

Rosalie has been a member of the Lutheran Church since 1951, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Her favorite scriptures were from Ecalastics stating a time for everything,

Rosalie enjoyed many things in life, her family, singing with the kids while driving somewhere, (they might not remember), her God, her flowers and flower gardens, many of her flowers are in various gardens around Northwest Kansas, meeting new friends and sewing. All of her children and grandchildren have quilts she made for them.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2007, brothers Chester, Leonard, Orland Dale, Darrell, Guy, Kenneth, Terry and Denny. Sisters Cleora and Oneita, nephew Rodney Snow, neices Michelle Snow Killian and Judy Jay. A great nephew and three great neices and one great-great niece.

She is survived by her children Craig of Colby, Gary (Joy) of Great Bend, Lisa (Albert) Ree of Schoenchen and Kelly (Lori) of Amarillo, Texas. Grandchildren Jenni (Mark) Penka of Dighton, Eric (Whitney) Seemann of New Braunfels, Texas, Amanda (Nate) Franklin of Atwood, KS, Brian (Wendy) Seemann of Manhattan, KS, JC Zahradnik (Beth) of Anthony, KS, JT (Becca) Zahradnik of Muscatine, Iowa, Adrea (Shawn) Katzenmeier of Wichita, Kansas, Taylor Ree of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Halsey, Faith and Alli Seemann of Amarillo, Texas and Dakota Hiebert of Wichita Falls, Texas. Great grandchildren Kierstyn, Kierra and Brody Penka, Noah Seemann, Camden and Corbin Franklin, Jackson and Brooklyn Katzenmeier, Clarksly, Carter, and Monroe Zahradnik, Genevieve, Isaiah and Juliet Zahradnik and Bradley Hiebert. She is also survived by one sister Darlene Fuller, sisters-in-law NoElla Snow of Doniphan, Nebraska, Wanda Snow of Agra, Kansas and Velma Snow of Phillipsburg, Kansas, Pauline (Wendell) Gardner, Tuscon, Arizona, plus many family members and friends.

Memorial: Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Brewster and Citizens Medical Center Foundation.

Click HERE for service details.

Catholic Charities celebrates 60 years of service

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

Bishop Gerald Vincke speaks to those attending the Catholic Charities 60th celebration. Photos courtesy Catholic Charities

SALINA — For 60 years, Catholic Charities has been serving the people of Salina and the surrounding area.

To recognize the milestone, an open house/reception was held Tuesday evening in the Salina facility of what is now Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas. The facility is located at 1500 S. Ninth.

“People love Catholic Charities. They love what Catholic Charities does for the community, for people,” Bishop Gerald Vincke of the Salina Roman Catholic Diocese said as he recognized all those in attendance who serve or who have served Catholic Charities in some capacity, either as an employee or volunteer.

“We feel so blessed to have you all here,” Michelle Martin, Catholic Charities executive director, told the crowd.

Martin talked about the history of Catholic Charities and noted that without the past, Catholic Charities wouldn’t be where it is today. Martin shared with the group a quote from Melody Beattie that she said encapsulates that concept:

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Martin attributed the success of Catholic Charities to all of the employees and volunteers who have helped the organization help others.

Martin also shared the organization’s vision for the future. Joking that she can talk a lot, Martin said she would limit her comments about the future to three items.

First, she said the organization’s offices in Manhattan were moving to a new location by April 1.

“I think great things are going to happen there,” she said.

She also talked about a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation that will allow employees to use tablets to gather more data more efficiently and do what she called social services triage. Martin said that the organization is hoping to get an app of its own to help in the process.

Finally, Martin talked about the organization’s mobile outreach program.

Martin explained that 24/7 Travel Stores has agreed to help with the mobile outreach by sponsoring the gasoline for the program. She also said that Long McArthur is giving the program new minivans.

“We’re super excited about this,” she said.

She said it was important to make sure people in rural areas have access to services.

“I think it is really important not only that we don’t neglect those people in those rural areas and so I am so happy that 24/7 and Long McArthur share that vision of reaching out to those rural communities,” Martin said.

Martin also revealed that a donor had agreed to do a fundraising match for the organization.

“We had a very generous donor come forward and agree to do a match for us. $60,000. $60,000 dollars in 60 days,” she said.

Part of the crowd at the Catholic Charities celebration.

Martin said the organization was already about halfway to its goal for the match funding.

When the Catholic Charities opened in 1959, they offered assistance to pregnant women in crisis, counseling, adoption services and operated a receiving home for neglected children out of the former Mowery Clinic at 425 W. Iron Street in Salina.

Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas now has offices in Salina, Hays and Manhattan and serves 31 Kansas counties. In addition to counseling and pregnancy and adoption services, Catholic Charities offers emergency rent and utility assistance, relief from predatory lending, homeless prevention programs, legal immigration services and partners with Salina Adult Education Center to offer a 6-week employment boot camp, Partners 4 Success, and ESL Classes.

In 2015, Catholic Charities started a Mobile Outreach Program to assist the under-served rural communities by providing food, clothing, blankets and hygiene items. Each month, Catholic Charities Mobile Outreach vans travel to Ellsworth, Lincoln, Wilson, Sylvan Grove, Minneapolis, Concordia, Osborne, Beloit, Russell, WaKeeney, Norton, Colby, Junction City, Ogden, Clay Center, Herington and Abilene.

Catholic Charities doors are open to all people living in poverty and crisis, regardless of religion.

“We do not just serve Catholics, we are here to serve anyone who asks. We don’t serve Catholics. We serve because we are Catholics,” Martin said.

Fire chief: Still working to determine cause of Kan. fire that killed 4

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

RILEY COUNTY — Authorities are still working to determine the cause of a fatal Thursday morning fire in the Riley County community of Ogden.

Scene of Thursday’s fatal fire in Ogden -photo courtesy WIBW TV

Four people died in the blaze. Their bodies were transported to Topeka for an autopsy and to confirm their identities, according to Riley County Rural Fire District 1 Chief Pat Collins.

Investigators with the Kansas Fire Marshal’s office, ATF and local officials believe the fire started along the east wall near the end of a couch, according to Collins. “We may never know exactly what started the fire,” he said.

Several firefighters also suffered minor injuries while working in the extreme cold.

Game warden: Mountain lion found dead in Rooks County

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

ROOKS COUNTY — A female mountain lion was found dead in Rooks County on Thursday by a group of upland bird hunters, according to a social media report from Kansas Game Wardens.

Photo courtesy Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Game Wardens

The hunters immediately contacted the local game warden who responded to the scene.

The incident is under investigation.

Kansas woman dies after head-on crash with a semi

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

SHERIDAN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Thursday in Sheridan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Kenworth semi pulling an oversized load and driven by Johan Harder, Manitoba, Canada, was southbound on Kansas 23 four miles south of Hoxie.

The driver moved the semi over so it could clear the bridge. It struck a northbound 2012 Chevy Camaro driven by Betty L. Eisenhour, 84, Scott City, head-on.

Eisenhour was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Leopold Funeral Home.

Harder was transported to the Logan County Hospital. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.