TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have found a missing 70-year-old man dead with his dog at his side after his pickup truck became stuck in the mud in rural Kansas.
Dannie Smith, of Topeka, hadn’t been seen for five days when his body was found Wednesday afternoon on a low-maintenance road in Jackson County, near the Shawnee County line.
Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says Smith was known to drive to the reservation in Jackson County to purchase cigarettes. Morse said Smith was reported missing Sunday because he hadn’t been seen since Friday. An autopsy is planned.
His chocolate Labrador retriever, named Bear, was determined to be in good health.
NORTON — The Norton County Hospital and police are warning of a potential telephone scam in the area affecting patients.
“The callers are identifying themselves as representatives of Norton County Hospital and asking for information such as name, date of birth and social security number prior to issuing a survey about the patient’s experience,.” the Norton Police Department reported in a social media post. “Please know that Norton County Hospital will not call and ask for personal details such as these over the phone. If you are suspicious of a call, please do not provide personal information and notify Norton County Hospital and local law enforcement.”
The NPD also reported that movie prop money also has been found the area.
“The money comes in all levels of denomination. These bills look extremely realistic and need to be closely inspected. All have printing which identify the money as prop or play money, but if produced for payment in a low light setting or to a cashier with a long wait line, the printing could be easily overlooked,” the department said. “Please keep an eye out for this and as always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.”
After a whirlwind transition, Gov.-elect Laura Kelly will be sworn in as the 48th governor of Kansas on Monday, and Kansans will have their first glimpse of how she grasps the key levers of governance.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.
Having assisted former Gov. Mike Hayden in his transition of 1986-87, I experienced first-hand how high political expectations and rigid time constraints confront a new administration.
Governors rise and fall on the quality of appointments they make to top positions, and Kelly has set a high bar for herself. She has stated her administration will be “diverse, dynamic, and highly skilled. People who know what they’re doing. Highly-skilled people will be our No. 1 choice. We need really top-notch managers.”
Remember that former Gov. Sam Brownback started off his administration with a cast of partisans and ideologues, many with limited competence. A budget director associated with Americans for Prosperity could not keep his numbers straight. A securities commissioner purged nonpartisan staffers and used his office as a political campaign. A social welfare agency head vowed to transform social services with religious fervor and lasted less than a year.
The short transition will challenge Kelly to assemble an administrative team that is not only skilled but also rises to her ideal of a bipartisan path forward.
Kelly brings a wealth of experience to the budget process, having served on the Senate Ways and Means Committee for 14 legislative sessions, most of those as the ranking minority member. She has reviewed the budgets proposed by four governors, two Democrats and two Republicans, but has never had to put together her own budget from scratch.
The new governor will want to address her top priorities, education and Medicaid expansion, but also begin to repair other state services that have been allowed to deteriorate over the last eight years. In doing so, will she be able to keep spending in line with tax revenues, not only for year one, but also for years two, three, and four?
Be assured that Republicans will be gaming Kelly on taxes. Their siren call will likely begin with “return the windfall.” Of course, estimating any “windfall” resulting from national tax reform of 2017 is guesswork at best, and to whom any windfall should be returned is completely unknown. Kelly should not hesitate to remind these gamers of her newly acquired veto pen and of her top priority for tax reform—phasing out the sales tax on food.
Kelly may be less well acquainted with borrowing, the third leg of state finance, and will be besieged by debt wizards and highway lobbyists who see more debt as the answer to any budget squeeze. Self-described “conservative” Republicans compiled an appalling record on borrowing over the last eight years, repeatedly pushing current obligations onto future generations and issuing historic levels of tax-supported debt dramatically out of line with surrounding states. They swept the proceeds of long-term highway debt to pay for a disastrous tax experiment instead of highway improvements. The governor should proceed with caution here.
Every new governor is easily diverted by the many dozens of meritorious and conflicting claims for state action of one kind or another. Kelly’s disciplined campaign demonstrated her ability to keep a focus on key issues, while attracting a broad political coalition. Maintaining that discipline will constantly test her governorship.
Kansans see their governor as the face of state government and should expect Kelly to chart new direction for the state. She is also challenged to depart from discredited practices in governance of the last eight years.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University and served with former Kansas Governors Bennett and Hayden.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Records show there have been dozens of wrecks on a northern Kansas City road where a 4-year-old was killed.
Fatal crash killed a 4-year-old girl photo courtesy KCTV
Data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows there had been at least 43 crashes since 2009 within the roughly one-fifth of a mile stretch of Northeast Parvin Road in Kansas City where the girl was killed Monday.
The girl died when the sport utility in which she was riding went off the road, struck several trees and overturned. Records show a longer stretch of the road has seen at least 173 accidents in the last decade.
Public records show that Kansas City’s Public Infrastructure Advisory Committee has been petitioned at least four times since 2014 for funds to improve the road. Each was rejected.
Rosina Lee Taube-Yarbrough, age 51, of Goodland passed away, Monday, January 7, 2019, at her home in Goodland.
Rosina was born November 26, 1967, to Lambert B. and Phillis J. (Pilkington) Taube in Colby, Kansas. She grew up and went to school in Colby. On September 15, 1983 she married Lee Yarbrough in Goodland.
Rosina worked in customer service at Walmart. She loved to tell how she sang in the choir in high school. She enjoyed movies, cooking, puzzles, shopping, darts and most of all spending time with her family.
Preceding her in death are her parents; son, Chanse Yarbrough; sister, Angie Schiek; and her granddaughter, Brooke Hansen.
She is survived by her daughter, Tiffany Hansen of Kanorado, KS; son, Lee Jr. (Lindsay) Yarbrough of Iola, KS; daughter, Bryanna (Chris) McCullough of Edna, KS; brother, Lambert (Debbie) Taube of Kansas City, MO. Grandchildren: Jade Hansen, Ryan Harris, Mikenna, Lexie, Liam and Echo Hanevik; Dawson, Landon, Blayne and Reece McCullough; Kyleigh and Michael Crites; and great-grandson Landon Bass.
Celebration of life will be Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 2 p.m. MT at The Rockhouse, 320 East 6th Street in Goodland.
Memorials will be designated later and may be left at the service or mailed to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences and information www.batemanfuneral.com
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an altercation with police.
Ferrell photo Sedgwick County
Just after 6p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call and a report of shots fired in the 1700 Block of South Yale in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.
An investigation revealed a 30-year-old female victim was getting out of a vehicle and was approached by 26-year-old Alexander Ferrell. He began to yell at the woman and fired a handgun.
Officers were nearby and responded quickly to arrest Ferrell after a brief struggle that resulted in minor injuries to an officer, according to Cruz.
Ferrell is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault and battery on a law enforcement officer and obstruction, according to the Sedgwick County jail records.
Mary Ellen Stueder, 86, passed away Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Almost Home, Great Bend. She was born May 15, 1932 in Herington, Kansas. She was the daughter of John T. Johnson and Ruth (Milleson) Johnson. She was an area resident, having lived in Bushton, Claflin and Great Bend. She graduated from Bushton High School in 1950.
She married Elmer Stueder October 15, 1950 at Bushton Methodist Church. He died January 24, 2018, after 67 blessed years of marriage. She was a farm wife, mother and homemaker. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, holding various offices and jobs over the years including, financial secretary, Sunday school teacher, Ladies Aid and serving funeral dinners. She enjoyed playing bridge, traveling in the U.S. and foreign countries, attending her grandchildren’s athletic sporting events and programs and family get togethers.
Survivors include, three sons, Bill Stueder and wife Patty, Alan Stueder and wife Rita, all of Claflin, and Terry Stueder and wife Mel Eesa of Great Bend; eleven grandchildren, Danny Stueder, Kimberly Prosser and husband Mark, Michael Stueder and wife Samantha, Evann Newton and husband Rusty, Brenna Marshall and husband Logan, Tarynn Stueder and fiancé Benn Kirmer, Trent Stueder, Sarah Stueder, Cindy Stueder, Tim Stueder and wife Kaitlee, and Abby Stueder; and five great-grandchildren, Wesley Prosser, Emma Stueder, Noah Stueder, Mercadez Newton and Shatarah Newton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Stueder; her parents, John and Ruth Johnson; a son, David Stueder; a granddaughter, Rachael Stueder; a brother, John Johnson; and a sister, Susan Foster.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 11, 2019 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Zion Lutheran Church, Claflin, with Rev. Daniel Harders presiding. Burial will be in the Claflin Cemetery, Claflin. Memorials are suggested to the Zion Lutheran Church or Donor’s Choice, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.
Lawrence Harlan Litson, age 71, of Gove, passed away Monday, January 7, 2019 in Quinter.
Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Gove Community Bible Church. Burial will be in the Gove Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, from 9 to service time at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Hoxie Baptist Temple (for Missions Account). Contributions made to the Temple may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.
A complete obituary is pending with Schmitt Funeral Home.
Dennis J. Haselhorst, 83, of Hays, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 6, 2019, at his home in Fredericksburg.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Rosalina, his four children, Johanna, Stephen, Paulette, and Kevin, their spouses, Edgardo, Michelle, Carlos, and Meggen, his brothers, Orville and Rolland, and eleven grandchildren.
He will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and love, which he offered others without ever expecting anything in exchange. His legacy will live on through his family and the many lives he touched.
A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at 2:30 pm at St Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, Va. Inurnment will follow at a later date.
Martha M. Armbrister, age 95, of Ellis, Kansas passed away Thursday, January 10, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society, Ellis.
Funeral services will be 10 AM Monday, January 14, 2019, at St. John Lutheran Church 394 St. John-St. Andrew Rd. Ellis, KS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday 5 PM – 7 PM at Keithley Funeral Chapel, 400 E 17th in Ellis. Monday visitation will be at the church 9:30 until service time.
A prayer service will be 7 PM Sunday at the funeral chapel.
The first two women to serve as members of the Ellis County Commission took part in their final commission meeting Monday with a new commission set to be sworn in next week.
After serving six years on the commission, Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, was elected to the 111th District Kansas House seat in November and will be sworn in next week.
Commissioner Marcy McClelland, R-Hays, was defeated by Republican challenger Butch Schlyer in the August primary.
McClelland, who served one term on the commission, thanked her fellow commissioners and county employees at Monday’s meeting.
McClelland
“This has been an eye-opening adventure for me, as an Ellis County taxpayer,” McClelland said. “I am proud of the fact that the sales tax was enough to complete the projects that were started and trust that they will soon be finished.”
Wasinger also thanked staff and employees and said she looks forward to continue serving Ellis County.
“There’s no better place to live, I think, then in Kansas and here in Ellis County,” Wasinger said. “We’ve got a pretty good thing going and hard workers and wonderful people.”
Wasinger will be sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives at a ceremony Monday in Topeka.
“I’m proud to be serving Ellis County in the state Legislature,” she said.
Roths
Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said Monday, “Thank you both for the past years, it’s been a lot of fun. … We’ve made it through the challenge so we’re going forward.”
Wasinger said to Haselhorst, “You ushered me into this job six years ago and now you’re ushering me out.”
At Monday’s meeting, Wasinger submitted her letter of resignation as a commissioner.
At a meeting of Republican party precinct chair members in December, Dustin Roth, R-Hays, was appointed to fill the term on the commission vacated by Wasinger.
Schlyer
Roths and Al Ackerman, who ran against Wasinger in the Republican Primary Election in 2016, answered questions during the December meeting before the precinct chairs selected Roths. Wasinger, John and Becky Pile all three voted for Roths while Lucas Roths and Chase Berg abstained.
Commissioner Haselhorst said of the two incoming commissioners Monday, “We’ve got two new commissioners who are coming in so that is going to be interesting to start over again. But looking forward to that challenge.”
A private rocket launch of a satellite is just one thing that the partial federal government shutdown might delay. Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran also worries about how it complicates efforts to avoid a trade war with China. SPACEX
As President Donald Trump prepared to address the nation about the partial shutdown of the federal government, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran huddled with staffers this week talking about rocket launches.
They fretted over whether the furlough of workers at NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration could force the delay of satellite and experimental rocket launches.
That shutdown also delays a planned Senate vote on the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement, or USMCA, the North American Free Trade Agreement replacement negotiated by the Trump administration.
“Getting those answers isn’t easy because the people who normally answer me and my staff’s questions aren’t at work,” Moran said told the Kansas News Service.
Moran, a Kansas Republican, chairs the appropriations subcommittee that handles the budgets of NASA, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and scores of other agencies.
He said trade negotiations with the Chinese appear headed toward a conclusion, but staffers supporting the U.S. officials conducting the talks fall among the ranks of furloughed federal workers. The same is true, he said, of workers at the FAA and NASA who license and schedule launches of experimental rockets and those carrying new satellites into orbit.
One of the missions likely delayed by the shutdown is a planned Jan. 17 launch of an unmanned capsule to the International Space Station by SpaceX, a company founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The shutdown has also halted work at the U.S. Department of Commerce on two reports that Congress needs before the Senate can vote to ratify USMCA.
“This will delay our ability to consider a trade agreement that is of significant importance to Kansas,” he said. Mexico and Canada are the top two purchasers of Kansas farm and manufacturing exports.
Beyond those specific issues, Moran said he’s concerned that the shutdown will make it harder for the federal government to recruit the kind of workers it needs, particularly those with technical skills such as cybersecurity.
“They’re in great demand,” he said. “Many of them are very important to our national security.”
But he said when the government can’t guarantee those people will be paid, “they start looking for work elsewhere.”
Ending the stalemate will require compromise on all sides, Moran said. That could mean a deal that gives the president the additional money he’s demanding for border security — including a wall — in exchange for broader immigration reforms. Those could include renewing protection for immigrants covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, who face potential deportation after being brought into the country illegally as children.
“That is something we could go to that I think would bring Republican and Democrat support,” he said. “The question is: Would it be something the president would sign?”
Negotiations prove even harder, Moran said, when two sides can’t agree on key facts.
Trump’s speech from the Oval Office drew criticism for its characterization of a border “security crisis.” Leading up to the speech, administration officials made disproven claims that thousands of terrorists are sneaking into the country from Mexico.
“We need to get to the point in this country where facts are agreed to and they don’t change from one day to the next,” Moran said. “We can have the negotiations, but those negotiations can only be successful if we’re all talking about the same set of facts.”
Other members of the state’s congressional delegation continue to defend the president’s claims.
Tweeting after Tuesday night’s speech, Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Estes said the president made a clear case for “why we need to address the crisis on our southern border.”
“Democrats must come to the table to negotiate a solution to protect our border and reopen government,” Estes said.
Moran agrees border security is a priority, but he said the threats extend well beyond the U.S. Mexico border.
“It’s all of our borders,” he said. “It’s our ports of entry. It’s our coastline.”
Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
Dannie Smith, of Topeka, hadn’t been seen for five days when his body was found Wednesday afternoon on a low-maintenance road in Jackson County, near the Shawnee County line.
