2019 – Page 36 – Hays Post (2024)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays residents voted for change during yesterday’s local city and school board election.

No USD 489 incumbents were re-elected and only one of two Hays City Commission incumbents made the cut.

The top vote-getters in both races are political newcomers.

Just 32 votes separated the top two vote-getters for Hays City Commission. Both Mason Ruder, 28, and Michael Berges, 39, will serve four-year terms. The third place candidate, incumbent Ron Mellick, 67, will serve a two-year term.

The bottom two candidates for the three open seats were newcomer Ryan Rymer and incumbent Henry Schwaller IV.

Ruder and some of his family members waited for the results at the Ellis County Administrative Center from Donna Maskus, election officer and county clerk.

After reading the printout, Ruder got a big hug and kiss from his mother who had been by his side all evening.

“My wife is at home with our baby. I just called her,”Ruder said with a huge grin on his face. “I’m still in shock. This is so fantastic.”

Ruder and his wife, Tori, who operates an in-home daycare, have a nine-month old daughter, Ryleigh. Ruder is theEllis County environmental supervisor.

“I appreciate everybody that got out and voted and took the time to look at the candidates,” he said.

Ruder believes voters were “looking for someone who wants to listen.”

“That’s the biggest thing you can ask for from your politicians is someone who’ll actually listen to you and who actually wants to get some stuff done.

“It’s time and people are ready,” Ruder said, “and I’m ready to do that for them.”

Berges is a financial adviser with Ameriprise Financial Services. Heand his wife, Erica, the United Way of Ellis County executive director, have three young sons.

As he campaigned, Berges also heard from Hays residents who want officials who “listen to them more and voice out when they’re making a decision on why they’ve made a decision.”

“I think there’ve been some times when decisions have been made (by city commissioners) and people don’t know about it until maybe they read it in the paper or they hear it second-hand,” Berges said Wednesday morning.

“They just want more openness when decisions are made.”

Mellick said Wednesday morning he’s looking forward to working with the two new commissioners. All three will be seated in January, joining current city commissioners Shaun Musil and Sandy Jacobs.

“The people who voted for me are concerned, as am I, about the R9 Ranch (long-term water supply for Hays), making sure we maintain the 25 mill levy and keeping our pay-as-you-go policy so we have ‘rainy day funds’ and we’re not caught in a budget bind,” Mellick said.

Rymer offered his congratulations to Berges and Ruder Wednesday, saying they’ll be a “wonderful addition to the city commission.” Rymer also thanked the Hays residents who encouraged him to run.

“I won’t discount a possible run in 2021,” he added. Rymer has been active with the 37th Street neighborhood group which opposes the proposed westward extension of the street from Vine Street.

Henry Schwaller, IV, the current Hays mayor, was not re-elected.

“I’ve had 18 good years serving (in local offices) and wish the new commission my best,” Schwaller said Tuesday night at the administrative center. “I’m looking forward to some free time.”

The election results are unofficial until canvassed by the Ellis County Commission on Nov. 14.

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RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged child sex crimes in Manhattan.

Just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and electronic solicitation of a child, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. Officers listed multiple female juveniles as victims and a known 14-year-old boy as the suspect.

Police have not made an arrest and reported no additional details Wednesday morning.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gas leak that left a woman dead and have made an arrest.

Just after 8p.m, Friday the Topeka Fire Department was dispatched to possible gas leak at a residence in the 900 block of SW Warren in Topeka, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.

Topeka Police were requested to assist with forcing entry into the home. Once inside, first responders found a woman later identified as 36-year-old Brandi Prchal. She was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.

A second person identified as 36-year-old Jeremy E. Lardner of Topeka, was taken to the hospital in serious condition. On Tuesday, police arrested Lardner and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges for Murder in the 1st degree and Criminal Threat.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gas leak that left one dead and have identified the victim.

Just after 8p.m, Friday the Topeka Fire Department was dispatched to possible gas leak at a residence in the 900 block of SW Warren in Topeka, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.

Topeka Police were requested to assist with forcing entry into the home. Once inside, first responders found a woman later identified as 36-year-old Brandi Prchal. She was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.

A second person was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

Due to suspicious circ*mstances witnessed by the responding officers, the residence was secured and Crime Scene Officers and Detectives were investigating the scene, according to Hilton.

Authorities have not released the cause of Prchal’s death or additional details.

MARYSVILLE – The former Marshall County Clerk has been convicted of felony misuse of public funds, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Sonya L. Stohs, 44, of Marysville, today pleaded guilty in Marshall County District Court to one count of felony misuse of public funds. District Judge John L. Weingart accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for January 7 at 11 a.m.

The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service that showed between May 2013 and April 2019, Stohs used funds belonging to Marshall County to pay for various personal items, in excess of $100,000.

Three of four incumbents voted out of office, according to unofficial results

Here are the results of Tuesday’s most significant local races in Ellis County.

Results are unofficial until votes are canvassed by the Ellis County Commission. Unofficial winners are in bold.

Hays City Commission (three open seats)
Nine of nine polling locations reporting
Advance voting totals included
• Mason Ruder: 1,834
• Michael Berges: 1,802
• Ron Mellick, incumbent: 1,746
Ryan Rymer: 1,492
Henry Schwaller IV, incumbent: 1,413
Write-ins: 16

The top two vote-getters will each serve a four-year term while the third highest vote-getter will serve two years.

Hays USD 489 Board of Education (four open seats)
Nine of nine polling locations reporting
Advance voting totals included
• Tammy Wellbrock: 2,535
• Allen Park: 1,913
• Craig Pallister: 1,689
• Lori Ann Hertel: 1,317
Cole Engel: 1,228
Paul Adams, incumbent: 1,223
Luke Oborny, incumbent: 1,211
Alex Herman: 836
Jessica Ann Berg Moffitt: 522
Write-ins: 11

Check Hays Post on Wednesday for more on election results and reactions from candidates.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Two incumbents on the Hays USD 489 school board are out, and four new faces were elected to seats during Tuesday night’s election.

The new board members will be facing a rewrite of the capital outlay budget, which is due back to the board and January, and strained relations with teachers. The board has yet to come to a contract agreement with the union.

Tammy Wellbrock, Allen Park, Craig Pallister and Lori Hertel all won seats on the Hays school board as the top four of nine candidates. Incumbents Luke Oborny and Paul Adams did not retain their seats. Incumbents Mandy Fox and Greg Schwartz chose not to run for re-election.

Wellbrock, a business owner, said she has a unique view of the economic impact schools have on the community and attributed that in part to her win.

“I think that is a distinctively different advantage that I’ve had over some of the other candidates,” she said, “in just being able to see where the school district kind of plays a factor in all of that— in the bigger scope of what our community needs and what is looking at in terms of progress.”

Wellbrock said her first goal as a newly elected official will be to learn more about her new post. She plans to attend the Kansas Association of School Boards training in January.

“It is not just me coming on. There are four of us,” she said. “I have to figure out what that group of people, this new group of seven, starting in January, what we need to accomplish.”

She acknowledged the school board is going to be facing some difficult issues come January, including infrastructure and teacher relations, but she said even in two months those are going to be evolving issues.

Wellbrock said she thinks there is a need for another attempt at a bond.

“There is a need to focus on the bond and what should or could that bond be,” she said, “but what makes a passible bond is different from a bond that is going to address needs. Those are two different conversations, and I think we are going to need to look at what makes a passible bond.

“What is needed, but is not necessarily going to be addressed at the bond level, is going to have to be discussed separately. The board is going to have to move forward as if there is not a bond.”

Allen Park, former Washington Elementary School principal, said he is appreciative of the vote of confidence from the community.

“I think if we all work together, we can make a difference,” he said. “We are going to need to pull the community together to accomplish what we need to — the whole entire community. We need to involve them, inform them and be very open and request their assistance to move our district forward.

“I think people in Hays care, and I think they want what is best for our kids, but I also think they want to be involved more.”

Park expressed concern over the report given to the school board on Monday night, which indicated the district is going to need to rewrite its capital improvement plan. The director of building and grounds told the board the district can no longer wait to make repairs on some of its older buildings. District officials had hoped to address some of these issues with a bond, but two bonds have failed since 2016.

“We are going to need to prioritize what needs to be done,” he said. “The board is going to have to work together and cooperate and try to do what is best for kids.”

Park said building trust is going to be important with the district’s teachers, who have entered fact-finding in negotiations after being unable to settle on a contract for the second year in a row.

“I think it is going to take time to build that back,”he said. “Two years in a row — that really damages that relationship. That needs to be improved because that sets the culture, and if the teachers aren’t on board, it is hard to accomplish our board goals when we have that stress on our teachers.”

Craig Pallister, former Hays Middle School principal, also said building trust is going to be important for the board going forward.

“Several of the things that I mentioned during my campaign was building trust between the board and the teachers and all the staff because that is key because of where negotiations are right now,” he said.

“Also letting the people know in the community how good our school district is. We have an outstanding district with outstanding teachers and staff, and we need to get that information out. That is why I suggested maybe hiring a public relations person for the district, not only to talk about the good things that our district is doing, but also what our district needs are like our facilities.”

Pallister said the board needs to look at another bond issue, but issues such as leaking roofs and HVAC systems need to be addressed more immediately through capital outlay funds.

He said he thought the four candidates who were elected are all pro-public schools and should keep the district on track.

Hertel, a mental health professional, said she thought people believed she can make a difference and that was why she was elected.

“I think I have done that in this community on multiple occasions,” she said, “and I think people have known that about me. I think that I can do that over and over and over again and help children. I have a special feeling about children.”

She said she would like to turn the board to focusing on the children and the staff. She also said she was concerned about the inability of the teachers and the board to come to an agreement on a contract.

“I think that is not very good for the working relationship between the board and the employees,” she said. “I think the employees think the board is not looking at their needs. That may not be true, but I am sure that is how they feel.”

Hertel said the board is also going to need to study infrastructure needs and make sure the community is well informed about those needs. She said she thought the board needs to consider another bond attempt.

The new school board members will take their seats in January.

DISCLOSURE: Tammy Wellbrock is married to Gerard Wellbrock, Eagle Radio sports director. He is employed by Eagle Radio, which owns and operates Hays Post.

By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., criticizes the process Democrats in the United States House have used in their impeachment probe of President Donald Trump.

House Democrats used their majority numbers to push through impeachment rules without any support from House Republicans.

Blunt, a Republican, calls it an unfair process.

“They didn’t even pretend that there was a fair structure put in place on the House side,” Blunt tells KFEQ News in an in-studio interview. “And, you know, there’ll be some national news people that will says, well, these senators only want to talk about process, because they don’t want to talk about the actual problem. That’s really not true.”

Blunt says the vote casts a shadow over the impeachment proceedings.

“I think you saw a very partisan vote there; all the Republicans and two Democrats voting not to go forward and all the other Democrats and one independent voting to go forward,” Blunt says. “It was a party-line decision, which makes it look even more political than it otherwise might.”

Blunt declines to address directly whether President Trump committed an impeachable offense during his phone call to the Ukraine president. He says the Senate will have to deal with whatever charge the House makes if it follows through with impeaching Trump.

Trump has denied doing anything wrong during his July 25th call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy when he first asked for “a favor.” Trump asked that the Ukrainian government investigate whether Democrat Joe Biden, then Vice President, and his son Hunter pushed Ukraine into alleged interference in the 2015 U.S. election. Trump seems to have tied release of U.S. military aid to Ukraine to following through on his request.

Biden could well be the Democratic nominee to challenge Trump’s re-election in 2020.

Hunter Biden has resigned from the board of Burisma, one of Ukraine’s largest natural gas companies since the controversy surfaced. Hunter Biden told ABC News he made a mistake in not calculating the political ramifications of joining the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company while his father had official business in the country as vice president, but denied doing anything improper.

Blunt suggests Congress would be better off dropping impeachment proceedings and let the 2020 presidential election play out.

“Whatever information is out there, whatever facts are out there, the American public can look at and they can decide if this is someone they want to see continue and to see his policies, which on the economy have been extraordinary and on regulation have been extraordinary, whether they want to see the president continue to do that,” Blunt says. “Election day seems like to me the best place to make that decision.”

If the House impeaches Trump, the Senate would hold the trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Eldon J. Tauscher, 89, passed away November 4, 2019 at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.

He was born, April 26, 1930 in Schoenchen to John A. and Rosella Wasinger Tauscher.

A longtime area resident he was the owner of Tauscher Body Shop in Larned for 65 years.

He served in the United States Army. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, VFW, and the American Legion, all of Larned.

On November 22, 1949 he married Betty Meyeres at Beaver, they later divorced.

He is survived by: Betty Tauscher, Larned; two daughters, Cindy L. Tauscher, Garfield, Barbara E. Sebo, Smithville, Missouri; three sons, Michael G. Mike (Dyann Twitchell) Tauscher, Rocky J. (Andrea) Tauscher, both of Larned, David W. (Rick) Tauscher, Overland Park; three brothers, Ernie Tauscher, Kenny Tauscher, both of Arkansas City, Harry Tauscher, Chicago, Illinois; four grandchildren, Erica, Alec, Zack, Trevor; and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; a daughter, Christine A. Tauscher; son, Dennis Tauscher; two sisters, Bernice Reidel and Henrietta Farmer; three brothers, Arthur Lee Tauscher, Gerald Tauscher, Ronnie Tauscher.

Funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Mortuary with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Burial in Larned Cemetery with military graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Ramona Hutchinson, 78, of Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, November 04, 2019, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Services and a full obituary are pending.

Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Claude James “C.J.” Werth, MD, died peacefully in Ocala, Florida, on October 28, 2019. He was born June 4, 1937 in Hays, Kansas, to Clemet and Agatha Rupp Werth.

As a graduate of high school and a 3-sport varsity letterman, he spent the summer playing minor league baseball. After four months of traveling by bus to small towns, he decided to take another path. C.J. graduated Magna Cum Laude from Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas, having majored in Pre-Med. He received his MD degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas.

Following a one year internship at St. Lukes Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, C.J. was assigned to and spent three years as Captain of the Medical Office with the National Security Agency, US Embassy, London. Following his service at the US Embassy in London, he completed residency training in Neuropsychiatry at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. He was in private practice within the greater Kansas City Metro Area and served as the Medical Director of the Stress Unit in Sedalia, Missouri, where he and his wife Linda were in private practice together for eleven years. He retired in 2002 to a life of leisure in Ocala, Florida. His main hobby was an unsuccessful attempt to become perfect at an imperfect game of golf, but had 5 “Hole in Ones” to his name!

C.J. was a Kansas City Royals and Chiefs Fan and a forever loyal Jayhawk! He loved traveling, reading and bird watching. C.J. claims he lost his battle with squirrels. As a guest columnist, he contributed to both the Kansas City Star and Ocala Star Banner.

Dr. Werth is survived by the love of his life his beloved Wife Linda; 4 Children, 6 Grandchildren; Brother Clem; Sister, Cynthia and his faithful Brother-In-Law Peter Littlefield.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, November 10, 2019 at the Werth’s home from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM. C.J.’s ashes will be inurned in Denver, Colorado at a later date. Donations can be made in his memory to the Salvation Army online, give.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-800-725-2769.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Roberts Funeral Homes, East Chapel, Ocala, Florida. Condolences and memories can be shared at robertsfuneralhomes.com.

Betty Joan Flax, 84, died Sunday, November 3, 2019, at Brookdale Senior Living, Dodge City.

She was born December 27, 1934, at Hays, Kansas the daughter of Michael and Clara (Nemechek) Hoffman.

On August 5, 1960 she married Lawrence Flax at Victoria, Kansas. He preceded her in death on September 20, 2015.

She was a member of Cathedral of our Lady of Guadalupe. She loved to cook, put together puzzles and loved to spend time with her grandkids.

Survivors include: her son, Godfrey Flax and wife Lashaina, Dodge City; 3 brothers, Mike Hoffman, Garden City, Kansas, Frank Hoffman, Victoria, Kansas, Dan Hoffman, Hays, Kansas; 3 sisters, Aggie Geir, Garden City, Magie Driling, Denver, Colorado, Rita Friess, Spearville, Kansas; 6 grandchildren, Kendra Flax, Brittany Flax, Daytona Flax, Justice Flax, KaBrena Alexander and Ecco Keener; 8 great grand children.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, son, Lawrence Flax Jr., brothers, Fred Dinkle, Joe, Bob, Tony and Steve Hoffman, sisters, Clementine Dinkel and Helen Kreitzor, great grand son, Brantley Alexander.

Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Thursday, November 7, 2019, at Ziegler Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Friday November 8, 2019 at the Cathedral of our Lady of Guadalupe with Fr. Wesley Schawe presiding. Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of the Prairie in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.

Herman Joseph Bricker, 79, passed away Sunday Nov 03, 2019, at 1 p.m. from natural causes at the Drumright Nursing Home in Drumright, Oklahoma.

He was born March 31, 1940, to Paul Bricker and Christine (Berens) Bricker in Gorham. He was the oldest of four boys.

In Herman’s early years, he worked at the Gorham Co-Op. And later in life, he was a hard worker in the Oilfield of Russell, where he worked at a few different companies as a Roustabout hand.

On October 14, 1972, he was united in marriage to Patricia Ann (Karst) Bricker. With this union, they were blessed with two children — Sandra and Christopher.

Herman’s free time was mostly spent with his three grandchildren. But he spent countless hours sitting on the Saline River fishing for catfish with his family. He also loved hunting and working in his garage doing woodworking. His grandson Craig loved playing pranks on him. His grandson Jakob enjoyed organizing and cleaning up his garage while his only granddaughter Kiera enjoyed it when “Pops” would let her paint his toe nails and put bows in his hair.

Herman is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Christine Bricker and his three brothers, Gary, Cecil & Phil.

He is survived by his wife Patty, of the home. Daughter Sandy Boos of Russell Ks and significant other Tom Batt, son Chris Bricker and wife Shani of Cushing Okla., along with his three Grandchildren. Craig Boos and wife Victoria of Wichita, Grandson Jakob Boos of Hays and Granddaughter Kiera Bricker of Cushing, Okla.

Herman was a hard worker, very loyal family man and he had countless friends and family members that will truly miss him.

Celebration of Herman’s Life will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, November 8, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. A Memorial has been established with Russell Rough Riders. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.