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Author Archives: Wayne White

Ronald Roy Fike, 66, Carbondale: June 27, 1957 – Sept. 26, 2023

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Ronald Roy Fike, 66, Carbondale, Kan., passed away Sept. 26, 2023, at his residence in Carbondale. Ron was born June 27, 1957, the son of Ralph T. Fike and Katherine L. Shepard in Topeka, Kan.

Ron grew up in numerous parts of the world as a military child until moving with his family to Carbondale as a sophomore in high school. He graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School in the class of 1975.

Ron was a retired construction worker. He held numerous positions over his life, working most of his professional career as a drywall finisher.

Ron was a dedicated man to his family and his community. He was a super fan of the Santa Fe Trail High School Chargers and his passion was the children of the Carbondale community. He volunteered over 40 years of his life as a member of the Carbondale Recreation Commission. He dedicated so much time that the baseball fields are named Fike Field, after Ron and family. He spent hours preparing every year for the annual Easter egg hunt, and was well known throughout Osage County for his various appearances as Santa Claus in parades and events throughout the county.

KDOT to repair I-35 bridge over U.S. 75

BETO JUNCTION, Kan. – Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, the Kansas Department of Transportation expects to start a repair project on the northbound Interstate 35 bridge over U.S. Highway 75.

I-35 northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane on the bridge with a speed limit of 60 miles per hour. Weather permitting, the project should be finished late this fall. Drivers are reminded to slow down and use extra caution in the work zone.

KDOT awarded the construction contract of $83,609 to PCI Roads LLC, Saint Michael, Minn.

For more information, contact construction manager Ian Stringham at 785-433-6116 or public affairs manager Priscilla Petersen at 620-902-6433.

Darlene Lea Buelke, 82, Michigan Valley: April 3, 1941 – Sept. 26, 2023

MICHIGAN VALLEY, Kan. – Darlene Lea Buelke, 82, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at her home near Michigan Valley, Kan. She was born April 3, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of James and Hazel (Syverson) Phipps.

Darlene had lived in Claremore, Okla., for many years before moving to Kansas in 2010.

Darlene was a high school math teacher and then became a school counselor. She had been a member of the Red Hat Society and the Overbrook Friends of the Library.

Donald Harry Martin, 82, Burlingame: June 5, 1941 – Sept. 25, 2023

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Donald Harry Martin, 82, of Burlingame, Kan., passed away Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan. Don was born June 5, 1941, in Rock Creek, Kan., the son of Harry A. and Zora C. (Garner) Martin.

He graduated from Meriden High School in Meriden, Kan.

Don was retired from the United States Postal Service. He was a member of the Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969; and a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kan., since 1977.

Barbara A. Sandridge, 82, Overbrook: June 8, 1941 – Sept. 23, 2023

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Barbara Ann Sandridge, 82, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was born June 8, 1941, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Francis Gray Sr. and Marie (Space) Gray.

Barbara attended schools in Kansas City, Kan.

She enjoyed crafts, watching the KC Chiefs, and her Pepsi.

Osage County Jail Log, Sept. 18 – Sept. 25, 2023

The following individuals were booked into the Osage County Jail in connection with charges or warrants as listed by the arresting agency.

Filings in the Osage County Courthouse, Sept. 15 – Sept. 21, 2023

The following information was compiled Sept. 15 to Sept. 21, 2023, from records at the Osage County Courthouse, Lyndon, Kan.

Tonya (Irey) Clark, 49, Melvern: Aug. 23, 1974 – Aug. 23, 2023

MELVERN, Kan. – Tonya (Irey) Clark, 49, lost her life in southern California as she was celebrating her birthday on Aug. 23, 2023. She was born Aug. 23, 1974, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Ron and Diana (Weiler) Irey.

Tonya grew up in Melvern, Kan., and graduated from Marias des Cygnes High School in 1992. She had lived in Arizona, and had just moved to California to start her dream job as a real estate agent.

Tonya was preceded in death by an infant brother, Jon Irey; and her paternal grandparents, John and Cora Irey, and maternal grandfather, Jon Weiler.

Ronald Bruce Gardner, 68, Highlands Ranch, Colo.: Aug. 23, 1955 – Sept. 17, 2023

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – Ronald Bruce Gardner, 68, passed away Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Grand Junction, Colo. He was born Aug. 23, 1955, in Topeka, Kan., the son of Joseph and Eunice (Redenbaugh) Gardner.

Bruce grew up in Osage City, Kan., had lived in the Kansas City area and the San Francisco Bay area, and then settled in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Bruce graduated from Osage City High School and then received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Kansas. While at KU, he was active in the U.S. Navy ROTC Program.

Bruce worked as a graphic artist for most of his career, having worked for several newspaper, magazine and online publications, and as a freelance artist and photographer. He had been the art director for the San Francisco Giants Baseball team. Bruce was a member of both the Golden Gate and Rocky Mountain Austin Healey Clubs of America, and had been the president of the Kansas City Austin Healey Club of America. He was also a member of the American Institute of Graphic Artists.

Timothy David “Tim” Savage, 56, Vassar: March 12, 1967 – Sept. 18, 2023

VASSAR, Kan. – Timothy David “Tim” Savage, 56, of Vassar, Kan., passed away Sept. 18, 2023, from complications due to a serious vehicle accident. Tim was born March 12, 1967, in Rapid City, S.D. He was adopted by Glenn and Clara (Cunningham) Savage from Hub City, S.D.

Tim graduated from Spirit Lake, Iowa, High School. He graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College with an associate degree in business. Tim also served with the Army National Guard based in Spencer, Iowa. Most currently, Tim has been a route driver for Exodus, of Burlingame, Kan.

Tim’s pride and joy is his granddaughter Aurora Lynn Klingman. His home was filled with bald eagles and bison.

Filings in the Osage County Courthouse, Sept. 8 – Sept. 14, 2023

The following information was compiled Sept. 8 to Sept. 14, 2023, from records at the Osage County Courthouse, Lyndon, Kan.

Michael W. Parker, 69, Burlingame: July 12, 1954 – Sept. 17, 2023

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Michael Wayne Parker, 69, of Burlingame, Kan., passed away peacefully Sept. 17, 2023, at University of Kansas Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born July 12, 1954, the son of Earl Parker and Joan (Reed) Talbot, at home in Wilmington, Kan.

He grew up primarily in the Kansas City, Mo., area, also living in Wichita, Kan., for a short while. He graduated from Park Hill High School, Kansas City, Mo., with the class of 1972.

Michael wore many hats during his working life. He was an entrepreneur, mechanic, ASE certified HVAC repairman, and aircraft mechanic. He recently had run a Lazy M Trailer Park, Kansas City, Mo., until he moved to Burlingame in 2015. Once there he opened the Burlingame Café and operated it for more than a year.

Kathleen ‘Kathy’ Ann Young, 71, Melvern: March 2, 1952 – Sept. 19, 2023

MELVERN, Kan. – Kathleen “Kathy” Ann Young, 71, of Melvern, Kan., passed away after a five-year battle with pancreatic cancer on September 19, 2023. Kathy was born in Topeka, Kansas on March 2, 1952, to Vince Andre Young and Helen Mae Patterson Young.

Kathy owned and operated Kathy’s Kitchen, formerly Whistle Stop Cafe, in Melvern, for approximately 25 years.

Kathy graduated from Melvern High School in 1970, and the University of Hair Design Cosmetology School in 1971.

Osage County Jail Log, Sept. 10 – Sept. 16, 2023

The following individuals were booked into the Osage County Jail in connection with charges or warrants as listed by the arresting agency.

Osage City host citywide garage sales this weekend, Sept. 15-16

Osage City citywide garage sales will be Sept. 15-16, 2023. The garage sales are hosted by the Osage City Chamber of Commerce, which distributes a map of the sales. Garage and yard sales offer a great opportunity to get rid of some of that stuff you never use and free up some space.

The area map provides a chart for the type of items at the garage sales and is available here. A paper copy of the map will be available at BP, Casey’s, City Hall, Osage City Public Library and White’s Foodliner starting Thursday, September 14. For more information, see Tricia Gundy at Peterson’s Assisted Living, 629 Holliday St., Osage City, or call 785-219-9727.

Osage County gets new bridge as part of federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

An Osage County bridge will be among 35 bridges statewide to be rebuilt with revenue from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided Kansas a total of $42.3 million as part of two statewide bridge improvement programs.

The Osage County bridge is located two miles east and .2 miles north of Lyndon. The county’s local match amount will be $256,306 for the $1,175,000 project. The state will provide $1,112,500 maximum amount, and it is expected to cost $62,500 to remove the old bridge.

By reshaping the local bridge programs to take advantage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Kansas Department of Transportation more than doubled its annual funding as part of the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).

The project announcements took place in Dodge City to highlight the largest local bridge grant being awarded, which is expected to cost $9 million for the construction of a new northbound bridge on 14th Avenue over the Arkansas River. Dodge City is matching $2 million toward the cost of the new bridge.

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Off-System Bridge program is awarding $20.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025 funds to 20 projects across the state. The Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program is awarding $21.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024 KDOT funds to 15 projects, with 16 deficient bridges to be replaced and an additional 12 to be permanently removed from local systems.

The OSB and KLBIP are targeted for city and county bridges not on the state highway system and in need of replacement or repair. Funds for both programs are awarded through an application process and, in most cases, require a local contribution. KDOT uses selection criteria that include bridge condition, detour length, inability to carry legal loads, and past project history.

For this cycle of the local bridge programs, KDOT received a combined total of 176 applications requesting $162.4 million. A map showing bridges to be replaced is available here.

Information thanks to the Kansas Office of the Governor.

Steven Eugene Schoepflin, 53, Michigan Valley: March 29, 1970 – Sept. 4, 2023

MICHIGAN VALLEY, Kan. – Steven Eugene Schoepflin, 53, passed away Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at his home in Michigan Valley, Kan. He was born March 29, 1970, in Ottawa, Kan., the son of DeWayne and Deloris (Jenkins) Schoepflin.

Steve graduated from Pomona High School, Pomona, Kan., in 1988, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel and Textile Marketing from Kansas State University. Steve grew up in Michigan Valley and resided across many cities in his lifetime including Lawrence, Kan., Kansas City, Mo., Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Penn., Columbus, Ohio, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Moving allowed Steve to show off his home improvement skills and hone his aesthetic sensibilities, building beautiful spaces for his family to live and grow in – architecture and interior design being one of his many passions. Steve was an entrepreneur with a knack for detailed design and business; he was a true “fixer”. His lifelong pursuit of learning started at a young age through his 4-H program. He loved watching K-State football with his family. Steve was a thoughtful and supportive husband, father, son, brother and friend.

Filings in the Osage County Courthouse, Sept. 1 – Sept. 7, 2023

The following information was compiled Sept. 1 to Sept. 7, 2023, from records at the Osage County Courthouse, Lyndon, Kan.

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