Le Roy woman, 23, sentenced

BURLINGTON – A Coffey County woman will spend more than 13 years in prison after being sentenced Thursday in the death of her newborn son. 

Karen Marie Bailey, 23, Le Roy, was sentenced to 161 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. She previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated endangerment of a child on June 1. Judge Phillip M. Fromme handed down the sentence in Coffey County District Court.

Bailey gave birth to her son on April 2, 2011, in her car between Iola and Le Roy. She then left the infant unattended in the car for several hours, resulting in his death.

Assistant Attorney General Lee Davidson and Coffey County Attorney Doug Witteman prosecuted the case. The case was investigated by the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office, Iola Police Department and Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.


Barbara Cole

Barbara May Cole, 78, Gas, died Monday, July 2, 2012, at Allen County Hospital in Iola.

Cremation has taken place. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.

John Ornelas

John Ornelas, 85, Chanute, died Monday, July 2, 2012, at his home.

John was born June 16, 1927, at Bassett, the son of Joe and Juanita (Medina) Ornelas. He grew up in the Bassett and Iola area, attended Iola schools and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He operated a Mobil station at Lincoln and State streets and started a Harley Davidson Motorcycles shop, which he sold to his brother, creating Frank’s Harley Davidson in Iola.

On Sept. 30, 1970, John married Ana Nuno. He worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Torrance, Calif., before he retired at age 57. They moved to Humboldt in 1984 and then to Chanute in 1991. He enjoyed gardening, watching NASCAR and tinkering in the garage.

Survivors include his wife Ana; two children, Joe Ornelas, Lane, and Elizabeth Donnelly, Iola; four children from a previous marriage, Juanita Seto, California, Joanne Jackson, Arkansas, Janice Deken, Arizona, and Jody Guilford, Kansas; three siblings, Reuben Ornelas, Texas, David Ornelas, Wichita, and Mary Ornelas, Kansas City, Kan.; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, John Ornelas, Jr., a grandson Reuben Deken, four brothers, Joe Jr., Frank, Nacho and Nello Ornelas, and two sisters, Carmen Ornelas and Ofelia Dolores (Dee) Cannon.

Cremation has taken place.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Highland Cemetery. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.


Letter to the editor — July 5, 2012

Dear editor,

There are a few things in the July 2 editorial that were either expressed poorly or poorly researched. It clearly states, “… abortions are not included in this coverage.” The HHS mandate does force people to go against their conscience and pay for abortion in some cases. The “morning after” pills that are mandated can have that effect and in fact are sold in part for that effect. The two major pills are the old Plan B and the new Ella.

Plan B has been used for some time without prescription. Its active ingredient is Levonorgestrel that can cause changes in cervical mucus and the uterine lining.  Changes in the mucus acts as a contraceptive. The change in the uterine lining, however, affects the ability of a human being in the embryonic state to attach to the life-sustaining uterine wall.  That is an abortion. 

Ella is a new morning after pill.  Its active ingredient is Ulipristal.  While there have not been extensive tests, this much is known.  Animal trials have shown it to be embryotoxic,  which means it is poisonous to life in the embryonic stage. Since the embryos of all mammals are extremely similar in these early stages, what is the probability it is toxic to human embryos? In addition, phase II clinical trials suggest it might delay the maturation of the uterine lining preventing implantation therefore, like Plan B, result is an abortion.  So, some people of faith would be forced to pay for abortions through the mandate.

Another point needs to be cleared up. The editorial seems to lump together the old Rhythm Method and both scientifically tested Natural Family Planning Methods. Without going into clinical detail, NFP is 99 percent effective. It is successfully used by millions of couples worldwide.  And NFP does not carry any of the risks and side effects associated with chemical intervention in the woman’s body as the pill and other devices do.

The editorial seems to equate denial of insurance for free services with total denial of services.    As an economist I can assure you that someone will have to pay for the mandated free services and it won’t be the companies. The money must come from somewhere to cover the cost of the “freebies” and that “somewhere” is premiums. And premiums are paid by the employer and/or the person insured whether Catholic, non-Catholic or atheist. Many Catholic institutions self-insure so what are they supposed to do?  There are other methods for insuring these services that, by media reports, is inexpensive, without forcing a conflict with the conscience of employers or plan members.    

And finally, were Catholics targeted? Next to public hospitals, who has the next largest number of hospitals? Who is the largest supplier of social services after government? What group of education institutions is the largest after state systems? The answer is the Catholic Church.  And why was the so-called accommodation written so narrowly that even Mother Theresa of Calcutta’s charity could not qualify since she helps non-Catholics? The answer — to not limit so narrowly would cause a large exemption that this administration cannot afford financially or politically.  Why would Catholics not feel targeted given the way the administration first assured Cardinal Dolan of New York his concerns would be considered and then rammed the mandate through with no consultation. When he inquired about this, the media reports the administration responded that he should deal with it.

Sincerely,

Dave Roos, 

Iola, Kan.

Steady as she goes: U.S. economy tepid, but on right path

Like Nik Wallenda inching his way high above Niagara Falls, the U.S. economy is walking a fine line. What will keep us from falling off this tightrope is prudent investing by the government in creating jobs while at the same time chipping away at its massive debt. 

So says Christine Lagarde, minister of the International Monetary Fund. 

The good news is that since the United States officially emerged from recession in summer of 2009, it has maintained slow but steady growth.

The bad news is that this 2 percent growth is still too weak to generate needed investments by manufacturers to create jobs. For 2013, growth is expected at a still anemic 2.3 percent.

Lagarde fears two things could tip the basket toward another recession.

One is too drastic of spending cuts in the United States that could contract the little growth we are seeing. 

The second harbinger of doom is if Congress refuses to lift the debt ceiling.

Lagarde is talking indirectly to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and his threat that come August he will again wage battle against raising the debt ceiling, unless it is offset with larger spending cuts.

Last year, if you remember, Boehner almost single-handedly brought the U.S. economy to a halt with his obtuse leadership. 

Lagarde recommends a reduction of government spending by 1 percent of the gross domestic product, “no more than that.” The GDP is a measure of marketable output, in other words, how healthy U.S. industries are.

This slow but steady whittling away at the deficit should occur over the next 10 years, Lagarde said. Any more drastic and her fear is it would stall the economy.

Lagarde represents a worldwide consortium of 188 members whose goal is to recommend economic measures to keep the world economies afloat.

The IMF is separate from any government and is recognized as the one institution that for more than 60 years has the world’s economic wellbeing as its mission.

THE REALITY is that we’re in for a long, hard slog to recovery. 

Perhaps this time we’ll learn the lessons of what a real economy is built on.

— Susan Lynn


Herbert Moerer

Herbert Moerer, Emporia, died at his home Friday, June 29, 2012 at the age of 56.

He was born in Iola on Sept. 23, 1955, the son of Robert E. (Sr.) and Patricia Ann (Marion) Moerer. Herb was raised on the family farm near Yates Center by his grandparents, Ronald and Helen Moerer. He married, but was divorced.

Surviving family members include his two daughters, Megan Moerer, Stotts City, Mo., and Abby Moerer, Pittsburg. Sister, Bobbi Sauder and her husband, Steve, Emporia; five brothers, Gene and his wife, Sue, Yates Center, Richard and his wife, Jackie, Enid, Okla., Ed, Yates Center, Ron, Kansas City, Mo. and Allen, and his wife, Ildi, in Tennessee. Grandchildren, Hunter Moerer, Pittsburg, and Natalie Moerer, Stotts City, Mo. Also, best friends Richard and Diana Deeds, Emporia.

Herb was a graduate of Yates Center High School and the automotive mechanics program of Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia. Herb worked as a mechanic and service manager for a number of Chevrolet dealerships and independent garages. He had also been an independent dealer of Snap-On Tools in Pittsburg.

The family will receive friends at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Yates Center Cemetery Friday.

Memorials have been established with S.O.S. Inc., and the Wound Care Clinic at Newman Regional Health, both in Emporia. Contributions may be sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, KS 66801.

Online condolences may be sent through www.robertsblue.com

Kansas at its best

 

Three brothers from the small town of Assaria are doing more for Kansas’ image than any advertising could buy.

The Peterson brothers, Greg, Nathan, and Kendal, made a video to the music of the rather raunchy song “I’m Sexy and I Know It,” changing the title to “I’m Farming and I Grow It.”

As videographer, the Petersons’ sister, Laura, 11, showed her older brothers doing their farm chores while delivering their lines in the punchy rap style.

“I got passion for my plants and I ain’t afraid to show it,” they say. Better plants than pants, as the original version goes.

The brothers posted the parody on YouTube where more than 1 million — and growing — viewers have seen it. 

In a TV interview the brothers said they made the video to promote God and farming.

“People don’t give credit where it’s due,” said one of the boys, naming God for the fact that we’re here, and to farmers who grow the food that feeds us.

They did a lot of the footage for the filming on Sundays, because that’s the one day the family takes a break from their typical 15-hour days of tending crops and cattle.

IT’S NO SECRET to the success of the boys’ video. They are Kansas at its best.

Wholesome, hard-working and good-humored.

Adults, take note.

— Susan Lynn


 

Onramp closure planned

 

The northbound ramp onto U.S. 169 will be closed at the highway’s intersection with Minnesota Road, just south of Iola on July 10.

The closure is expected to run from 6 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Crews from the Kansas Department of Transportation will replace the concrete pavement on the ramp.

The closure applies only to northbound U.S. 169 traffic. The southbound ramps will remain open, as will the northbound offramp.

Northbound motorists should seek alternate routes.

Message boards will be posted along the highway to alert traffic to the planned closure. For more information, call toll-free (877) 550-5368.

 

Utley’s takes Pigtail title

The road to the pigtail championship ran through Utley’s Auto Body Monday night as the young ladies in pink managed to put together two strong games.
The semifinal game was a display of strong pitching from Mia Aronson, who had 8 strikeouts.
The offense followed in support, highlighted by a home run by Kaitlyn LaCross in the final inning of the game. Utley’s took the victory 6-2.
The championship game that followed was an offensive showcase as both teams went yard enroute to a combined 16 runs and 15 hits. Piper Moore led the way for Utley’s with a double and one of the home runs hit during the game. Despite some rollercoaster pitching — six batters combined were hit in the game — Utley’s was able to take the championship 10-6.
Herff Jones, meanwhile, claimed the PeeWee League tournament championship by edging A & W Family Restaurant 7-6.
Herff Jones led 7-0 after 1 1/2 innings, then withstood a six-run A & W rally.
C.J. Shields and Logan Preston combined on a no-hitter for Herff Jones, striking out six, but walking eight and hitting four batters.

Gertrude Mechnig

Gertrude Mechnig, 101, Garnett, passed away July 1, 2012, at Anderson County Hospital, Garnett.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Moran. Burial will follow in Moran Cemetery.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuenral.com