Peggy Sue Giess Mai, age 86, of Utica, Kansas passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born February 11, 1933 in Carthage, Missouri to Ralph and Emma Lou (Kollenburn) Hunt Jr. She married Robert “Bob” Giess on September 12, 1953. He preceded her in death on October 2, 1988. She married Raymond Mai July 8, 1989.
Peggy had worked as a secretary Ransom school district and bookkeeper for the Deines Corporation in Ransom. She enjoyed crafts, making floral arrangements, and doll collecting. She was a member of the Arnold Methodist Church where she was very active in the choir and other church activities.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond Mai of Utica, Kansas; three sons, Mike Giess and wife Julie of Hays, Rob Giess of Eudora, KS and Dave Giess and wife LaVonne of Hays; three step daughters, Delma McCalister and husband Larry of Wichita, Dana Fagan and husband Roger of Bennington, KS and Debbie Friess and husband Mort of Ransom; six grandchildren, Tyler Giess, Tracer Giess, Cody Giess, Wacy Giess, Ashley Briand and MaKenzie Giess as well as numerous step grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Robert Giess; two sons, Randy and Roger Giess and a granddaughter, Tara Giess.
Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the Arnold United Methodist Church 105 Main Arnold, KS. Burial will follow in the Arnold Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday 5 Pm – 7 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Saturday visitation will be at the church from 9 AM until service time.
Memorial contributions are suggested to DSNWK/Employment Connections or the Arnold United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Michael T. “Mickey” McGee, son of Robert and Waneta (Schawe) McGee, was born October 23, 1954, in Parsons, Kansas, and passed away at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska, on October 16, 2019, at the age of 64.
Mickey moved with his family to Dodge City, Kansas, where he attended the local schools. He received his Associate Degree through Dodge City Community College. In 2007, he went to work for Valley Hope as a substance abuse counselor and moved to Norton. On October 23, 2009, Mickey married his longtime sweetheart, Penny McAfee, in Norton, where they made their home.
Mickey enjoyed many different things including drawing, walking, woodworking and metal detecting. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include: his wife, Penny, of their home in Norton; one son, Evan McGee, Hutchinson, Kansas; one brother, Dan McGee, Washington state; one sister, Peggy Powers, Dodge City; one grandchild; his longtime best friend, Jack Stuart, Dodge City; other relatives and many friends.
Mickey was preceded in death by his parents.
Cremation has taken place with private family inurnment.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
There will be an ATV/UTV Pumpkin Run to benefit local Graham county resident Christine Nickelson on Oct. 19, brought to you byRiders Inc a local Graham County ATV and UTV group
Details: Registration starts from 11am- 1pm.
Fee: $20 per UTV/ATV and $10 for pumpkin game card, and can riders can buy as many of those as they want too.
There is an optional and additional charge of $7 to enter into Jack Creek pumpkin patch before or after the ride.
Ride starts at 1pm- 4:30 at Jack Creek Pumpkin Patch.
Game Card Winner of the Pumpkin Run receives a Traeger Grill donated by Crawford Supply.
After the Pumpkin Run is complete, Jack Creek Patch will have food available to purchase at additional cost along with entertainment of music at their Barn Patio, so you can enjoy the Fall Season and evening stars by the fire at Jack Creek Patch!
Burdett Loomis, Professor, Political Science, College of Liberal Arts and Science, University of Kansas
As the dust settled after the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary election, Secretary of State Kris Kobach defeated incumbent governor Jeff Colyer by 350 votes, of 128,838 total votes (40.6%). Lagging far behind were moderate Jim Barnett (8.8%), Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer (7.8), and three other candidates, who garnered 2.2% of the vote.
In assessing the results, Republican political pros were despondent and Democrats gleeful. Republicans had nominated the candidate who was, by far, the most likely to lose the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly. Indeed, that is exactly what happened, as Kobach extreme’s conservatism turned off many Republicans and independents in the November contest.
It is a truism that the rules often help determine who wins a contest. Political scientists have long understood that rules are never neutral. But there are ways to produce better outcomes than Kobach’s 2018 candidacy. Most notably, Republicans could have used ranked choice voting (RCV) to determine the primary winner, with voters ranking the candidates in order of their preference. If no candidate receives a clear majority (50 percent), the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated, and his or her votes are distributed to the second-place choices. This continues until a winner is receives a majority in an “instant runoff.”
In 2018, Governor Colyer would almost certainly have emerged as the winner, since the trailing candidate with the largest cache of votes, Jim Barnett, would have had his tallies go overwhelmingly to Colyer, as would have a fair number of Selzer’s.
The benefits of RCV are numerous, but let’s consider just two. First, Republicans would have put forward their strongest candidate. Second, those voters who supported either Barnett or Selzer could have made a sincere first vote choice, backed up with a strategic second choice.
Nor is the Kobach example singular in Kansas GOP politics. In 2018, newcomer Steve Watkins won the 2nd District Republican nomination with 26.5 percent (20,052) of all votes. RCV procedures would have likely given the nomination to one of his establishment GOP challengers, as most Republican voters viewed Watkins as unqualified. Still, with just a quarter of the primary vote, he won the right to run (and narrowly win) as a Republican in the general election.
A similar scenario propelled Tim Huelskamp into office in the 1st District in 2010, when the ultra-conservative state senator won the nomination with less than 35 percent of the vote. His election in this traditionally Republican seat led to three terms of controversy, before Roger Marshall unseated him in the 2016 primary.
Next spring, Kansas Democrats will use RCV in their May presidential primary; by then, several candidates will have dropped out. The system might be best employed when a large number of candidates remain in the race. Still, it’s a step in the right direction.
Across the nation, many cities have adopted RCV, and Maine has used it in a general election. Indeed, the Maine results demonstrate the impact of RCV, as the Democratic challenger in the 2nd congressional district trailed the Republican incumbent by 2,171 votes, only to emerge victorious by 3,519 votes when two independent candidates’ second-choice votes were redistributed.
A majority candidate thus won election, and more than 16,000 independents did not “waste” their votes.
As we worry about legitimacy, representation, and participation, ranked choice voting is fast becoming a highly attractive option to encourage voting by all factions while producing majority victors. A win-win situation for parties and voters.
Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Women are now legally allowed to go topless in Manhattan, with some restrictions.
The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday unanimously decided to amend the city code to allow females to go topless. Watch the board meeting here.
However, property owners and businesses may still require all patrons to wear shirts.
City Attorney Katie Jackson recommended the change to avoid potential lawsuits. She said the code could be changed again later.
Jackson cited a federal ruling in February 2017 that blocked Fort Collins, Colorado, from enforcing a law against women going topless. Fort Collins is in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, as is Kansas.
She said the government could still prosecute a topless woman who is acting in a lewd manner, which is against state law.
The Hays Good Samaritan Society is having a Halloween Trunk or Treat event at the Senior Living Facility parking lot, 2710 Canal Blvd., Hays, starting at 2 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m. on Oct. 31.
ATCHISON COUNTY — Two people died in an accident Wednesday in Atchison County.
Deputies responded just before midnight to the intersection of River Road and 244th in rural Atchison County, according to a media release from the sheriff’s department.
A train traveling approximately 45 miles per hour struck a 2015 Hyundai Elanta that was stopped on the tracks.
First responders found Jeremy W. McAfee, 34, Savanah, Mo., outside the vehicle and Allison L. Richardson, 34, Platte City, Mo. inside, according to the release.
Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported McAfee to the hospital in Atchison where he died.
TOPEKA – Four Kansas educators are being recognized for their outstanding teaching skills through the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program.
The White House Office of Science Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, that Heidi Albin, Complete High School Maize (CHSM), Maize Unified School District 266; Monica Dreiling, Lincoln Elementary School, Hays USD 489; Sarah Rand, Central Heights Elementary School, Central Heights USD 288; and Stephen Smith, Christa McAuliffe K-8 Academy, Wichita USD 259, are among 215 individuals being presented with the honor.
Albin and Smith were named national finalists for 2017, and Rand and Dreiling were named national finalists for 2018. The 2017 and 2018 national finalists weren’t named by OSTP and NSF until Oct. 15, 2019.
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which was established in 1983 by Congress, is presented annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country.
Nominees complete a rigorous application process that requires them to demonstrate their excellence in content knowledge and ability to adapt to a broad range of learners and teaching environments. Winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level.
Each year, the award alternates between educators teaching kindergarten through sixth grade and those teaching seventh through 12th grades.
Dreiling has been an educator for more than 20 years, teaching fifth-grade science and language arts for the past five years at Lincoln Elementary School. She also has taught special education for 15 years at Lincoln Elementary, LaCrosse Elementary and Ruppenthal Middle School, Russell County USD 407. Dreiling has been an adjunct instructor at Fort Hays State University for 12 years.
She has been awarded numerous grants, which have created unique science learning opportunities, including an engineering unit to create a prosthetic leg for an injured dog and an intergenerational STEM partnership with assisted-living residents.
Dreiling received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in cross-categorical special education from Fort Hays State University. She is certified in kindergarten through ninth-grade elementary education and K-12 special education. She has endorsements for ESOL, gifted and building leadership. Dreiling is a National Board Certified Teacher.
“The Presidential Award is an immense honor. This prestigious award could not have been achieved without inspiration, guidance and encouragement from students, their families, colleagues and my own family,” Dreiling said. “These individuals, combined with a supportive work environment, are truly a blessing! Receiving this award further ignites my passion for teaching and validates that all students can successfully engage in rigorous lessons that increase confidence and cultivate an interest in science.”
Albin has spent the past 10 years as the science teacher and character education coordinator at CHSM. She co-authored “186 Days of Character,” a year-long character education curriculum that is freely distributed across Kansas. Albin also successfully implemented a facility therapy dog program at her school, helped CHSM receive recognition as a Kansas Association of Conservation and Environmental Education Green School of the Year and established a handicap accessible community garden.
Albin serves on the board of directors for WILD KS and has written and implemented curriculum for fishing, wilderness survival and camping. She also is a 2017 Milken Educator.
She has a bachelor’s degree in cellular molecular biology and a master’s in secondary education from Fort Hays State University with certifications in biology, chemistry, agriculture and earth and space science.
“Receiving the Presidential Award means that I have the responsibility to represent teachers well and help other teachers reach their goals,” Albin said. “The award places me in a position to serve the profession and step up in any way I can to help others. I also see this award as a reflection not of myself, but of my school and fellow staff members. The staff at Complete High School Maize have all dedicated their lives to helping struggling students and I am in awe of their passion and commitment.”
Smith has been an educator for 22 years. He worked at Christa McAuliffe K-8 Academy in Wichita for seven years before recently joining the staff at Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School, also in Wichita USD 259, as a technology teacher. He also spent 15 years teaching second through fifth grade at McLean Science and Technology Magnet School, Wichita USD 259. He has written computer applications and developed project-based learning activities to engage his students in math.
Smith has coached LEGO and VEX Robotics and works with Wichita State University to lead robotics summer camps. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a computer science minor; a bachelor’s in elementary education; and a master of education in curriculum and instruction – all from Wichita State University. He is certified in middle school math, elementary education, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), technology education and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
“Receiving the Presidential Award is not so much a recognition of my accomplishments, but a celebration of those who have invested, guided, and inspired me to be a life-long learner,” Smith said. “Each day, I stand in the company of dedicated, hard-working and talented teachers who challenge and encourage me to be my very best. I strive to provide that same motivation to the students I teach. Being recognized for this is truly an honor!”
Rand has taught at Central Heights Elementary School for the past five years. She spent her first three years in education teaching second grade at Success Academy Charter Schools in New York City, where she was trained in Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI).
Rand started her career at Central Heights as the Title I math teacher. In this position, she has visited kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms daily to teach CGI. For the past four years, she has served as a third-grade teacher. Rand has served on the math curriculum selection committee and co-wrote her district’s Science Curriculum Map. She also is a member of the District Improvement Team.
Rand received a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Ottawa University and a master of arts in teaching from the University of Southern California. She is a certified elementary school teacher with an endorsement in ESOL.
“This award is validation for my belief in children; they will succeed in mathematics if given the right problems to solve in their own way in an environment where it is safe to take risks,” Rand said. “It is a tribute to all my students who have done just that and taught me so much. It is a testament to the phenomenal teachers I’ve observed and the mentors I’ve been lucky to have. The Presidential Award is an incredible, humbling honor and recognition for teaching in a way about which I feel so passionate.”
Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from NSF to be used at their discretion. Finalists also are invited to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and the Administration.
Since 1983, more than 5,000 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.
KANSAS CITY(AP) — A 37-year-old man who had been missing for a week is hospitalized after being found in a wrecked car at the bottom of a ravine.
Lee’s Summit police say a dirt bike rider found Ryan Linneman, of Lee’s Summit, Wednesday evening in the wreckage along Interstate 470 in Kansas City.
Linneman was taken to a hospital with critical injuries. Lee’s Summit police spokesman Sgt. Chris Depue says he did not have an updated condition report Thursday.
Police asked the public for help finding Linneman after he was last seen driving his car on Oct. 9.
The crash investigators determined Linneman’s car ran off of Interstate 470 and went down a 50-foot incline. The vehicle landed in a gully that was obscured from the view of passing motorists.
Peggy Sue Giess Mai, age 86, of Utica, Kansas passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born February 11, 1933 in Carthage, Missouri to Ralph and Emma Lou (Kollenburn) Hunt Jr. She married Robert “Bob” Giess on September 12, 1953. He preceded her in death on October 2, 1988. She married Raymond Mai July 8, 1989.
