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Author: Hays Post

Supreme Court won’t hear Kan. appeal over Planned Parenthood

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is avoiding a high-profile case by rejecting appeals from Kansas and Louisiana in their effort to strip Medicaid money from Planned Parenthood over the dissenting votes of three justices.

Lower courts in both states had blocked the states from withholding money that is used for health services other than abortion for low-income women. Abortion opponents have said Planned Parenthood should not receive any government money because of heavily edited videos that claimed to show the nation’s largest abortion provider profiting from sales of fetal tissue for medical research.

Investigations sparked by the videos in several states didn’t result in criminal charges.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch say they would have heard the case.

Larry E. Driscoll

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Larry E. Driscoll, 93, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 4, 2018, peacefully at his home.

The son of James J. and Elizabeth (Miller) Driscoll, Larry was born on July 25, 1925, in Wilson, Kansas. He grew up in the Wilson and Dubuque area. After attending Russell High School he moved to Denver, Colorado. He enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. After his service, he returned to Denver, Colorado.

Larry was united in marriage to Donna Jean Briels on September 1, 1951 in Castle Rock, Colorado. This union was blessed with eight children: Terry, Colleen, Connie, Jim, Shelly, Jenny, Maureen and Shawn.

They moved to Russell, Kansas in 1954. At that time he started farming which he loved for most of his life. He was also a contract pumper which then led him into oil production and operations. Larry worked very hard most of his life to provide for his family. There was nothing that he enjoyed more than having all his kids and grandkids gather at his home.

Larry was a member of St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree, an Auxiliary Member of the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240, American Legion Post #99, and the Russell Elks Lodge #1715. Larry enjoyed watching all sports and was particularly fond of Kansas Jayhawk basketball.

Surviving family include three sons, Terry Driscoll (Jana) of Goddard, Kansas, Jim Driscoll (Kelly) of Russell, Kansas and Shawn Driscoll (Suzy) of Dallas, Texas; five daughters Colleen Mudd of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Connie Griffin (Dennis) of Wichita Falls, Texas, Shelly Boxberger of Russell, Kansas, Jenny Flach (Joe) of St. Louis, Missouri and Maureen Johnston (Patrick) of Dallas, Texas; 17 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his granddaughter, Corie Lynn Mudd, his wife, Donna, of 55 years; a sister, Bernadine Truan; brothers, Jim, Dan, Francis, Dick, Max and Jerry.

Visitation will be held Monday, December 10, 2018 from 9 AM to 5 PM at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Vigil and Rosary will be held Monday, December 10, 2018 at 7 PM, St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be conducted Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 10:30 AM, St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Russell where the Russell V.F.W. Honor Guard will be conducting Military Rites.

Memorials in his name may be made to The Russell Wrestling Club, or St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

James Edward ‘Jim’ LeBlanc

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James Edward “Jim” LeBlanc, 82 of Waldo, Kansas, passed away Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Minneapolis Health Care & Rehab in Minneapolis, Kansas.

Jim was born on August 1, 1936 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He was one of four children born to Ralph and Helen Marie (Vachon) LeBlanc. He grew up in Shrewsbury and graduated from Shrewsbury High School in the Class of 55. While in High School, Jim was in the Navy Reserves.

Jim was united in marriage to Marian Clow on December 3, 1962 in Denver, Colorado. This union was blessed with three children; James, Kathryn and Samuel. They made their home at Air Force Bases until Jim’s retirement.

Jim served his Country in the United States Air Force, working as an Air Traffic Controller. During his career he was stationed in Biloxi, MS; Korea; Japan; Tucson, AZ; Germany; Thailand; Denver, CO; and Enid, Ok. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1977 and moved to Waldo. He ran the Waldo Street & Water Department from 1979 to retiring in 1995. He also delivered the Salina Journal in the Waldo area for many years. He was a long time member of the Waldo Fire Department. Life member of the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240, and member of the Luray American Legion Post #121. In his spare time he enjoyed reading, especially military adventure novels.

Surviving family include his wife of 56 years, Marian of the home; sons, James “Jay” LeBlanc (KiKi) of Littleton, Colorado and Samuel “Sam” LeBlanc (Jenn) of Walnut, California; daughter, Kathryn LeBlanc of Salina, Kansas; brother, Ralph “Bud” LeBlanc (Elaine) of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; sister, Mary Ellen of Baltimore, Maryland; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.

Jim’s family will be conducting a private family service and burial of ashes at a later date. No visitation being held. The family has established a Memorial with the Waldo Fire Department. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Robert Lyle Murdie

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Larned – Robert Lyle Murdie, 70, passed away December 8, 2018 at his home in Larned.

He was born March 21, 1948 in Great Bend, KS, the son of Leon and Nellie Mae Halfman Murdie. A lifetime area resident, he served in the National Guard and was a Chemical Sprayer for Phinney’s Limited. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, reading and feeding the birds.

On July 14, 1981, he married Charlene Konrade in Larned, KS. She survives.

Other survivors include: daughter, Michelle Limon; sister, Leonna Johnson, Florida; numerous nieces and nephews and his beloved dog, Jinx.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned, KS, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, KS.

Memorials may be given to the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation or the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Mary Anna Urban

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Larned – Mary Anna Urban, 94, passed away December 7, 2018 at her home in Larned,

She was born April 20, 1924, in Penalosa, KS, the daughter of Bernard and Anna (Geris) Ebenkamp. A longtime area resident she was a homemaker, a clerk at J.C. Penney in Larned and also worked in the banks in Wichita and Cunningham.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Altar Society, Larned. She volunteered at the food bank and shared her time, visiting with elders of the community.

On August 5, 1946, she married Gilbert G. Urban at Sacred Heart Church in Cunningham, KS. He died February 28, 2016.

Survivors include: son, David (Ruth Ann) Urban, Soldotna, Alaska; three daughters, Linda Urban, Arvada, Colorado, Janice (Mike) Pardoe, San Antonio, Texas and Barbara Carveth, Arvada, Colorado; a sister, Martha Strong, Pratt; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Edward and Lawrence Ebenkamp; five sisters, Pauline Rohling, Sister Cassian Ebenkamp, Lucy Rohling, Eleanor Rohling; two sons, Dennis and Wayne Urban; a grandson, Stefan Martin-Urban; son-in-law Mark Carveth

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with father Bernard Felix presiding. Vigil service will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Graveside service will follow the funeral Mass and Reception at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Cunningham, KS

Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Altar Society in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Ernest Garza

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Ernest Garza, age 53, of Goodland passed away Friday, December 7, 2018. He was born May 16, 1965 to Ray C. and Maria S. (Salas) Garza in Tulia, Texas.

Ernest attended school in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska and in Goodland and graduated in 1985. He enjoyed playing bingo, reading books, cheering on the Dallas Cowboys and spending time with his family.

Preceding him in death are his mother, Maria and his grandparents.

He is survived by his brothers: Mario Garza of Kansas City, MO; Roy Garza of Lincoln, NE; Jessie Garza of Salt Lake City, UT. Sisters: Lisa Garza of Burlington, CO; Virginia Salinas of Lohn, TX; Samantha Garza of Amarillo, TX; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 3 p.m. MT at the Church of Christ, 1630 Sandy Drive, Goodland. Interment will follow the service at the Goodland Cemetery, North Main Street.

Visitation will be prior to the funeral service at the Church of Christ on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 beginning at 1 p.m. MT.

Memorials will be designated by the family later and may be left at the services or mailed to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences and information www.batemanfuneral.com

Murder suspect who dumped body in Kansas faces life sentence for Montana carjacking

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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for a North Carolina man who pleaded guilty to killing an 81-year-old former sheriff.

Gray Jr. photo courtesy Asheville Police

58-year-old Donald Mack Gray Jr. has pleaded guilty in the June 10 stabbing death of William Joy of Billings. Joy was once sheriff of Big Horn County.

No sentencing date has been set.

Authorities say Gray wanted to return to North Carolina when he spotted Joy and forced him to drive at knifepoint. Prosecutors say he stabbed Joy after Joy tried to attract attention.

Gray also faces a murder charge in North Carolina where he’s accused of killing 59-year-old Tamra Ann Gibson of Asheville, North Carolina. Her body was found in Junction City in May, and her car was found in Laramie, Wyoming, in June. No charges have been filed in Junction City. The case was turned over to authorities in North Carolina.

Gibson was last seen in Asheville on May 22 and was reported missing on May 24. Her body was found May 28th between two buildings in Junction City but it was not until June that her identity could be determined.

Alvin E. Lichter

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Alvin E. Lichter, 90, died December 6, 2018, at Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse, Kansas. He was born December 3, 1928, in Olmitz, Kansas, the son of John A. and Lillian (Mauler) Lichter. He was a Korean War veteran serving on the front lines with the United States Army as a sergeant, receiving the Bronze Star and Korean War Service Medal.

A lifetime Olmitz area resident, he worked for Thies Company of Great Bend, the Helium Plant, Barton County Highway and MAC Truck.

Alvin was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, Olmitz. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post #7428 of Hoisington, and the DAV of Great Bend. Alvin also coached the Olmitz Little League for 10 years.

On August 31, 1955, he married Marietta A. Ohnmacht at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz. She preceded him in death on June 29, 2016.

Survivors include: three children, Terry L. Lichter of Great Bend, Brenda A. Dreiling and husband Jerry of Pfeifer, and Lynn A. Lichter of Topeka; sisters, Rosemary Linn of Albert, and Mary Evelyn Linenberger of Great Bend; sister-in-law, Loretta Southard and husband Joe of Great Bend; and six grandchildren, Andrew Lichter and fiancé Erin of Corpus Christi, TX, Erin Lichter of Lake Charles, LA, Brett Lichter of Topeka, Isaac, Noah, and Wyatt Dreiling of Pfeifer; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter-in-law, Kyle A. Lichter; brothers, Joseph Marvin Lichter and wife Irene, Henry L. Lichter, and John Raymond Lichter and wife Christine; brothers-in-law, Marion Ohnmacht and wife Lillian, Harvey Linn and Sylvester Linenberger.

Friends may call 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Vigil with rosary by the Knights of Columbus will be 7p.m. Sunday at St. Ann Catholic Church, Olmitz. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 10, 2018, celebrated by Father Don Bedore, also at St Ann Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Ann Catholic Cemetery, Olmitz, with military honors conducted by the Ft Riley Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to St Ann Catholic Church or Olmitz Fire Department in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Janet Carpenter

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Janet Carpenter, 77, of Brewster, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at Citizens Medical Center, Colby. She was born Sept. 14, 1941, in Colby, KS, to Fred and Mary (Sikes) Carpenter. Janet was a member of the Levant Community Church. She cherished all the time she had with her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter; Kendra Dunlap and three brothers, Tom, Jim and John Carpenter.

Janet is survived by her son, Kevin (Alice) Dunlap, of Mountainair, NM; five grandchildren, Tonia, Tanner, Daniel, Brian and Tiffany; and three great-grandchildren; Tyson, Kayla, and Sofia.

Cremation was chosen. There will be a private family service held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences, please visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

Two hospitalized after van hits KDOT fence on I-70

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TREGO COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Sunday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Geralyn Bridget Proulx, 52, Vinita, OK., was westbound at the WaKeeney, Hill City exit.

The vehicle entered the north ditch, struck the KDOT fence and continued north until it came to rest in a ravine.

Proulx and a passenger Ashley Coner, 29, Vinita, OK., were transported to Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital. Proulx was in a wheel chair

Betty M. (Weigand) Huber

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Betty M. (Weigand) Huber, 88, Brownell, Kansas, died Friday, December 7, 2018, at Rush County Memorial Hospital Intermediate Swing Bed, La Crosse, Kansas.

Mrs. Huber was born August 8, 1930, in La Crosse, Kansas, the daughter of Edward and Katie (Stieben) Weigand. She was a lifelong resident of Rush County, Kansas, and Trego County, Kansas. A 1948 graduate of La Crosse High School, La Crosse, Kansas, she was a homemaker and farm wife.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Ransom, Kansas.

On October 9, 1949, she married Willard Huber at the United Methodist Church, Ransom, Kansas. He preceded her in death December 27, 1987.

In December 1951, Betty and Willard moved to a farm in Trego County, Kansas, where she made her home for 60+ years.

Survivors include: two sons, Bruce Huber (Debbie), Healy, Kansas, and Charles “Spike” Huber, Brownell, Kansas; two grandchildren, Autumn Huber, Russell, Kansas, and Justin Huber (Alayna), Seiling, Oklahoma; one great grandson, Jace McCartney; one sister in law, JoAnn Huber; four nephews, Douglas Pechanec, Roger Pechanec, Brad Weigand, and Randy Huber; and two nieces, Faye Evan, and Deanna Mead.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sisters, Edra Flinn, and Marjorie Millner; two brothers in law, Jim Millner, and Bob Huber; one nephew, Jeff Millner; and two nieces, Diana Huber, and Patty Moran.

Memorial service will be Monday, December 10, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas, with Carol Ryan officiating.

Honorary urn bearers are Bruce Huber, “Spike” Huber, Justin Huber, Randy Huber, Brad Weigand, Russell Nuttle, and Ron Burns.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to the KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc.

Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.charterfunerals.com/locations/janousek-lacrosse.php.

Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Geese in the mud

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From left, Jason Austin, the author, Cael Austin with a nice afternoon’s harvest of geese

My love/hate relationship with mud is simple; I hate it when it’s muddy and love it when it’s not!

Usually here in Kansas the ground is dry enough or frozen enough this time of year that a vehicle can be driven most anywhere to set or to check traps, to retrieve a deer or to haul a trailer full of goose decoys to a blind. But it’s so wet right now I actually spent 20 minutes the other day with the farmer that farms all the land around our deer blind, asking where a 4 wheeler can be driven on his cropland to retrieve my wife’s deer if she was able to harvest one.

Steve Gilliland

My young trapping friend, along with his dad and little brother have been taking me goose hunting a couple times each season, but now he has gone to serve our country as a United States Marine.

Fortunately for me, his dad and brother still agree to put up with me in his absence, so Wednesday morning I got a call from his dad inviting me on an afternoon goose hunt.

McPherson Kansas is home to more large industry than most towns its size. Most of those big corporations have lakes at their facilities, so because of that and the amount of cropland all around McPherson and because Kansas is positioned in the central flyway, migrating geese pour into the McPherson area each season by the gazillions.

Our hunting spot was 80 acres or so tucked neatly between several of those big corporations and flanked across one end by interstate 135. The field was split about 50/50 into wheat and milo stalks. When we arrived at 3 PM as suggested, two of the hunters were already setup and the far end of the wheat field was literally covered with geese. These guys had hunted this location a couple days before and 3 PM seemed to be the witching hour, but today the geese had obviously failed to give us the memo concerning the change in their schedule.

The hunters already in place motioned for us to walk to them so we could get settled. We grabbed our gear, donned boots and began the trek across 250 yards of slimy, mucky, slippery mud mixed with milo stalks. The two hunters already there had their limit of 6 geese apiece, so we settled into layout blinds positioned at the edge of the stalks overlooking the wheat as one of the guys walked toward the huge blanket of geese, attempting to get them into the air for us to begin our harvest too. But again, the geese neglected to file their new flight plan with us and headed off in different directions.

For the next hour-and-a-half groups of several birds occasionally took a shine to the decoys and set their wings to glide in and say hello, only to be met by three hunters trying to put them into our freezers. By 5 PM all five of us had our limits and began to pack up. It took us each three trips back-and-forth through the mire to gather everything; the first trip carrying our gun & gear in one hand and as many geese as we could with the other hand, the second trip with as many geese as we could possibly haul with both hands and the last trip dragging and carrying blinds through the muck.

Back at my friend’s house, we cleaned geese on the tailgate of his truck using the headlights of my truck, and I headed home with zip lock bags of fresh goose breasts for the freezer. I rinsed them good with cold water and soaked them for twenty four hours in a cold water bath with vinegar and canning salt to help draw out any blood, then rinsed them again and layered them in freezer bags.

I’ll fix them by marinating them either sliced or whole in Italian dressing or buttermilk, topping them with bacon strips and grilling them. Wild goose breasts; yet another Kansas crop to harvest as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

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