Author: Hays Post
SPONSORED: Hays chamber seeks Communications Coordinator
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking qualified applicants for the full-time position of Communications Coordinator. This position reports to the Executive Director of the HACC and works closely with the rest of the HACC staff, Board of Directors, Chamber members and other stakeholders. This position is responsible for writing, design and production of any internal and external communications for the HACC.
Must have proficiency in general computer skills in Word, Excel and Adobe Creative Suite; strong written and oral communication abilities; photography experience; be highly energetic, organized and self-motivated with superior attention to details; be able to understand, assist and promote the Chamber mission. Must have portfolio of work to share during interview stage. Send cover letter and resume to:
Tammy Wellbrock
Hays Area Chamber of Commerce
2700 Vine Street
Hays, KS 67601
Resumes will be accepted until position filled.
Kansas man sentenced for suffocating infant son after drinking
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 34-year-old Kansas man who authorities say suffocated his 2-month-old twin son by rolling over on him while they slept has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison.
Kyle Kempton was sentenced Tuesday to 32 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter and four misdemeanor counts of endangering a child.
Police say Kempton and his wife, Christy Rollings, had been drinking for a week before their son, Patrick Kempton, died in August in a Wichita motel.
The other twin was not injured.
Rollings was charged with the same crimes and sentenced to probation for manslaughter and two years for the endangerment charges.
Officers took the twins from the parents two days before the boy died at the Scotsman Inn, but a family member returned the children to them.
Sentencing moved to March in deadly Kansas hoax 911 call
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has delayed sentencing for a California man who admitted making a hoax call that led police to fatally shoot a Kansas man following a dispute between two online gamers over a $1.50 bet in a Call of Duty WWII video game.
U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren on Tuesday delayed until March 1 sentencing for Tyler R. Barriss .
The government and defense had jointly requested more time to review objections to a presentence investigation report. The hearing had been scheduled for Jan. 30.
Barriss has pleaded guilty to 51 federal charges, including making a false report resulting in a death, cyberstalking and conspiracy related to the deadly swatting case in Kansas. The plea deal is expected to send him to prison for at least 20 years.
Jury: Kan. woman guilty of severely injuring baby at day care
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been found guilty of injuring an infant boy so badly at her home day care that he was left blind and brain damaged.
Paige Hatfield, 27, Olathe, was found guilty Friday of aggravated battery in Johnson County District Court.
The jury also granted a motion to allow the judge to impose a sentence above what is called for in state sentencing guidelines.
Hatfield is scheduled to be sentenced March 28.
The boy, Kingston Gilbert, was four months old when he was injured at the unlicensed day care in January 2017.
Hatfield testified that she did not hurt the child.
KHP: 3 fatal Kansas accidents had one thing in common
On Monday, three fatal Kansas accidents and another where the driver was critically injured had one thing in common. Those who died and the man critically injured were not wearing seat belts.
Just before 1:30 a.m., a GMC Sierra driven by Joli S. Hutto, 21, Mound Valley, was westbound on U.S. 400 two miles east of Parsons. The GMC crossed the center line and struck a 2003 Dodge Ram driven by Charles J. Wass, 62, Parsons, head-on. Both drivers were not wearing seat belts and died, according to the KHP.
Just after 12:40p.m., an eastbound Lexus SUV driven by 72-year-old June Rockey of Topeka crossed U.S. 75 at 190th Road from the entrance of a convenience store in Jackson County, according to the sheriff’s department. A northbound Ford F 250 struck the Lexus. Rockey was transported to a Topeka hospital where she died. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the sheriff’s department.
At 2p.m. Monday, a 2008 Honda Civic driven by Tuyen T. Nguyen, 50, Wichita, was northbound on U.S. 83 two miles south of Garden City. The vehicle crossed the centerline, struck a semi and a bridge rail. She was transported to St. Catherine’s Hospital and died. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Just after 3:30p.m. John K. Mwithiga, 24, Lawrence, was westbound on Intestate 70 just west of Spring Creek Road when he lost control of a 1999 Acura after partially entering the snow covered median. The vehicle slid across the westbound lanes of I-70, entered the ditch, went up an embankment, crashed through a KDOT fence, rolled and the driver was ejected. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Ashlen Leigh Lemon
Ashlen Leigh Lemon, 19, Hays, died Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at the Geary Community Hospital in Junction City.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Salina USD 305 selects Exline as interim superintendent
SALINA –At a special school board meeting January 22, 2019, board members unanimously selected Linn Exline, executive director of school improvement to serve as interim superintendent beginning July 1, 2019.“While we were pleased with the pool of candidates, there was not a fit,” explained Nedra Elbl, board president. “We determined that the best fit was available within our district, Linn Exline.”
John Thissen, who announced his upcoming resignation from Hays USD 489 in October, also was a finalist for the position.
Over a span of 26 years in USD 305, Exline has broad educational experience as executive director of school improvement (teaching and learning), high school principal, director of staff development and accreditation, elementary principal, math and science K-12 curriculum specialist and elementary teacher.
Exline will be the second woman to serve in the interim superintendent role in Salina.
“As a Salina Public Schools graduate, and lifelong Salina resident, I am deeply invested in USD 305 and our community,” said Exline. “I’ve been fortunate to see firsthand the commitment of our teachers and staff at all levels and our strong community support for education. The challenge of ensuring each student is positioned for success when leaving 305 motivates me.”
Exline received the Kansas Thespians Conference Administrators Award in 2013, was recognized for her educational leadership by the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals Area III in 2012 and was selected as USD 305 Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1995.
Exline is a relationship builder and brings insider knowledge that comes from building a family and career within our community. “Her comprehensive experience in USD 305 uniquely positions her to continue the important initiatives underway,” added Elbl. “We are confident in her ability and excited about the continuity she represents.”
Exline earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Kansas State University, completed her Master of Science in education administration and leadership at Kansas State University and earned her district leadership license from Emporia State University.
Linn Exline begins leadership of USD 305 on July 1, 2019. She will succeed Dr. James Hardy who led the district for two years as interim superintendent. Colleagues in the school improvement office as well as other district administrators will assist as Exline’s current duties are reassigned during her interim period. The board will determine next steps in the process of identifying a permanent superintendent later this summer.
Abortion foes vow to pursue change in Kansas Constitution
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Anti-abortion leaders are promising to pursue a change in the Kansas Constitution if the state’s highest court rules that the document protects abortion rights.
Several hundred abortion opponents rallied Tuesday inside the Statehouse. They marked the 46th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 that legalized abortion across the nation.
But anti-abortion leaders also had another pending court case on their minds.
The Kansas Supreme Court heard arguments nearly two years ago from attorneys on whether the state constitution protects abortion rights.
The justices have not ruled. If they declare that the state constitution protects abortion rights, state courts might invalidate restrictions in Kansas that would be upheld by the federal courts.
Anti-abortion leaders said they would respond by pursuing a state constitutional amendment.
19-year-old from Hays dies after I-70 crash
GEARY COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after noon Tuesday in Geary County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Malibu driven by Ashlen Leigh Lemon 19, Hays,was westbound on Interstate 70 two miles west of Junction City.
The driver lost control due to icy road conditions. The vehicle entered the median and struck the guardrail.
Lemon was transported to the hospital in Junction City where she died. Lemon was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Arrangements are pending at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Rita Catherine (Hake) Erickson
Rita Catherine (Hake) Erickson passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 90. She was born on April 1, 1928 in Bloom Township near Tipton, Kansas to the late John and Martha (Adam) Hake. In 1949 she was united in marriage to Raymond Mayhew. They were blessed with two daughters, Linda and Donna. In August of 1964 they divorced.
Rita spent her early years around Tipton on the family farm and attended a small one-room country school. When the Depression and dust storms in the 30’s hit, her family relocated to Plainville where she attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and later Plainville High School where she completed her freshman and sophomore years. She later obtained her GED in 1973. Rita had many jobs throughout her life. She was a switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., owned and operated a dry cleaning establishment, was a nurse’s aide, Quality Control Inspector for Triangle Electronics, worked for a small animal clinic, and finished her job ventures as a K-Mart Corporation Manager which she retired from in 1990. Rita lived in many places from the plains of Kansas to the mountains of Colorado. While in Boulder, Colorado she met Melvin Erickson. They were united in marriage on June 12, 1972 in Huntsville, Alabama. Melvin’s job relocated the family to California. After his retirement they moved back to Colorado where Melvin passed away in September of 1983. In March of 1994 Rita moved back to Plainville where she lived out the remainder of her life.
Rita will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but her memory will live on in our hearts and minds. Through her life she taught us how to live our dreams, through her example she taught us how to enjoy the fruits of our labor, but above all, through her love, she taught us how to serve God and one another with undying devotion.
Rita is survived by her daughters Linda Thomas and husband Larry of Omaha, NE, and Donna Brown of Plainville, KS; 5 grandchildren Kit Nelson and husband Larry, Joyce Thomas, Jen Sanderson and husband Kevin, Jacob Brown, and Jessi Brown; and 8 great-grandchildren, Brendan, Kayli, Emmy, Blake, Carver, Miles, Callie, and Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Martha Hake; husband Melvin Erickson; brothers Edward, Arnold, Joseph, Raymond, Marvin, Lawrence, Julius, Norbert, and Richard Hake; sisters Sister Helen Hake, Geraldine Karns, Mary Lee Berland, and Edna Hake.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Burial will follow in the Plainville Cemetery. Visitation will be 2:00-8:00 P.M. on Wednesday with the family receiving friends 6:00-8:00 P.M. and a Vigil and Rosary Service at 6:00 P.M. all at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic School and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd Street, Plainville, KS 67663.
KHP trooper makes emotional plea: Slow down, be safe
Trooper Ben Gardner makes a plea as road conditions worsen in Kansas.
Please ……#KSwx pic.twitter.com/w4oF6wdJzL
— Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) January 22, 2019
Barbara Jean Lotton
Barbara Jean Lotton, 81, died on Sunday, January 20, 2019, at Logan Manor in Logan. She was born on July 26, 1937, at Dodge City the daughter of Harry Herman & Mildred (Arbogast) Hessman. She married Richard Lotton on August 25, 1957, in Dodge City. He died on September 27, 2013.
Barbara graduated from Dodge City High School and worked at Dillons in Hays while her husband was in college. They moved to Dodge City where she did seamstress work out of her home while raising her family. In 1971 they moved to Garden City and she started working at Dillons East and then when Dillons West opened she became the General Merchandise Manager. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, bowling, playing cards, the Hessman family reunions and after retiring traveling with her husband. She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, Son-In-Law- Darrell Rehmert and 2 Brothers- Charles Hessman and Dean Hessman.
She is survived by 2 Daughters- Pam Rehmert of Eufaula, Oklahoma and Becky (Jim) Lanier of Phillipsburg, Son- Kelly (Laurie) Lotton of Houston, Texas, Sister- Karen Dunham of Copeland, 4 Grandchildren & 4 Great-Grandchildren.
Funeral Service will be at 2:00 PM Friday at Garnand Funeral Home with Rev Joel Plisek officiating. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Friends may call from Noon to 8:00 PM Thursday and 9:00 AM to Noon Friday at Garnand Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Logan Manor in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.