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Spring car show brings relief from year of pandemic

The Osage City Police Department and Osage County Sheriff Office selected Taurance Roberson, left front, of Platte City, Mo., to receive the “Thin Blue Line Award”. The thin blue More »

Osage City opens up garages and yards for spring citywide sales

Osage City is opening its garage doors, driveways and yards to shoppers Friday and Saturday. The town’s citywide garage sales are this weekend, April 16 and 17, 2021, hosted More »

Piggin’ Whiskey O.G. claims grand championship at Smoke in the Spring 2021

Grand champion winner of Smoke in the Spring 2021 was Piggin’ Whiskey O.G.; accepting the award for the team are, from left, Ashton Smith, Jaxson Soerries, and head cook More »

KDHE issues air quality health advisory due to prescribed burns

TOPEKA, Kan. – Prescribed burning within the Flint Hills region yesterday has contributed to elevated air pollutant levels for parts of Kansas this morning, April 14, 2021. Additional burning More »

Ruth L. Shogren-Fienhage, 94, Scranton: July 23, 1926 – April 11, 2021

April 14, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

SCRANTON, Kan. – Ruth L. Shogren-Fienhage, 94, of Scranton, Kan., passed away Sunday, April 11, 2021, at the Brookside Retirement Community in Overbrook, Kan. She was born July 23, 1926, in Volney, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Velva (Shobondy) Hargesheimer.

She was united in marriage Tom Shogren, until his passing on March 19, 1993. She later married Frank A. Fienhage Jr., July 24, 2000, in Lyndon, Kan.; they shared three years of marriage until his passing on March 25, 2003.

Ruth worked at the Topeka, Kan., VA Hospital doing work with the linen service.

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KDHE issues air quality health advisory due to prescribed burns

April 14, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

TOPEKA, Kan. – Prescribed burning within the Flint Hills region yesterday has contributed to elevated air pollutant levels for parts of Kansas this morning, April 14, 2021. Additional burning today will continue to impact air quality for the southern Flint Hills westward, including Wichita, the Red Hills region, and perhaps as far west as Liberal.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) will likely range from moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups, and even unhealthy at times for localized areas today through Thursday. The most significant impacts will occur during the evening, overnight and mornings hours. View the current air quality and AQI for specific areas on www.airnow.gov.

Burning within the Flint Hills occurs annually to help preserve the tallgrass prairie, control invasive species such as eastern red cedar and sumac, and provide better forage for cattle. Prescribed burning minimizes risk of wildfires and is used in managing rangeland resources. Smoke from the burns can influence the air quality of downwind areas and can be carried long distances.

Prescribed burns release large amounts of particulate matter and substances that can form ozone. Particulate matter and ozone can cause health problems, even in healthy individuals. Common health problems include burning eyes, runny nose, coughing, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Individuals with respiratory issues, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, children, and elderly may experience worse symptoms.

Steps to protect your health on days when smoke is present:

  • Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor exercise.
  • People with respiratory or heart related illnesses should remain indoors.
  • Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air filters.
  • Keep hydrated by drinking lots of water.
  • Contact a doctor if showing symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue.

KDHE and partners continue to implement the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan to help mitigate air quality impacts that result from burning. The plan includes recommendations to minimize and disperse the smoke produced by burning. For more information about the burning in the Flint Hills and the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, see www.ksfire.org.

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William Albert ‘Bill’ Murray, 73, Oskaloosa: April 30, 1947 – April 9, 2021

April 14, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

OSKALOOSA, Kan. – William Albert “Bill” Murray passed into the arms of his Savior on April 9, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. He was born April 30, 1947, the son of Albert P. and Verna (Gentry) Murray.

Bill attended Whitson Grade School and Wanamaker Grade School. He belonged to Boy Scout Troop 10, and achieved the rank of Eagle. His first job was at his parents’ grocery store, Murray’s Market at 17th and Clay streets, in Topeka. Bill graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1965. He received an undergraduate BA degree in business from Washburn University in 1969.

Bill was drafted into the Army in August 1969, and received training at Ft. Leona

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Kansas pauses Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration

April 13, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced that Kansas will pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine following an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration this morning. There are reports of six recipients in the United States who developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination. No known cases have been reported in Kansas to date.

“Just as important as getting vaccines into arms is making sure those vaccines are safe,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “While this appears to have affected six people in the nearly seven million doses administered, out of an abundance of caution, Kansas will suspend Johnson & Johnson until the CDC and FDA clear it for use again. In the meantime, we anticipate our shipments of Pfizer and Moderna to continue and we will build on the one-third of Kansans who have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The federal government will further study links between the vaccine and the rare blood clotting disorder. An emergency meeting of the CDC’s advisory committee has been scheduled for Wednesday.

KDHE asks providers with Johnson & Johnson vaccine to pause administration of the vaccine immediately and to place the supply into storage while material is reviewed. After KDHE has reviewed the findings from the federal government, further guidance will be given to providers on next steps.

Those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should contact their health care provider if they have any symptoms and report any illness to the VAERS Reporting System, vaers.hhs.gov.

The week of April 19, 2021, Kansas is anticipated to receive the following doses: 39,780 Pfizer Prime, 38,610 Pfizer Boost, 29,000 Moderna Prime, 27,800 Moderna Boost.

Joint statement from CDC and FDA

As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given.

CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases. Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution. This is important, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot.

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Sheriff’s Report: K-9 locates drug evidence after traffic stop

April 13, 2021   Wayne White

OSAGE COUNTY, Kan. – At 12:39 p.m. April 6, 2021, an Osage County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a car stop on state Highway 68 north of Quenemo, Kan., for a traffic violation. During the stop, a K-9 was deployed and narcotics were located in the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Angela D. Bogue, 43, Quenemo, was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. The passenger of the vehicle, Michael E. Hutchison, 60, Quenemo, was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and transporting an open container of alcohol or liquor. Bogue and Hutchison were transported to the Osage County Jail.

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At 4:09 a.m. April 7, 2021, Osage County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 11700 block of south Wanamaker Road on a report of a suspicious person in the caller’s yard. As deputies were responding, the subject forced entry into the caller’s home and was armed with a weapon. Deputies arrived shortly after and took the suspect, Chuck W. Hake, 61, of Carbondale, Kan., into custody. Hake was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary to a dwelling and transported to the Osage County Jail.

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At 7:54 a.m. April 7, 2021, Osage County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a possible one-vehicle injury accident near 245th Street and U.S. Highway 75, just north of Lyndon. The only occupant of the vehicle, Charles J. Criqui II, 34, of Topeka, Kan., received minor injuries but declined medical attention.

During the accident investigation, illegal narcotics were located in the vehicle. Criqui was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and transported to the Osage County Jail.

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Two arrested for burglary, theft, near Melvern

April 13, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

MELVERN, Kan. – The Osage County Sheriff’s Office has reported that two people are in custody on charges of theft and burglary after a citizen reported a suspicious vehicle and subjects trespassing near Melvern Lake.

The call came in at 3:18 p.m. April 10, 2021, to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, with the caller reporting the subjects were possibly trespassing and removing items from private property near South Jordan Road and state Highway 31, near Melvern Lake. As deputies were responding to the location, the caller advised dispatch the vehicle was leaving. The caller provided direction of travel and a description of the suspect vehicle to dispatch.

While deputies were checking the area, a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle was located at a residence in the 1100 block of East 301st Street. Deputies made contact at the residence and located property suspected to be stolen from the original call location. Investigators responded and executed a search warrant at the residence locating stolen property and narcotics.

Kim L. Salzman, 64, of Melvern was arrested on suspicion of burglary, theft, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Christopher L. Winters, 53, of Melvern was arrested on suspicion of burglary and theft.

“We would like to thank the concerned citizen who reported this activity and remind citizens of the county ‘if you see something, say something,’” Sheriff Wells said.

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Burlingame man arrested on electronic solicitation charge

April 13, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

BURLINGAME, Kan. – The Osage County Sheriff’s Office has reported the arrest of a Burlingame man for electronic solicitation of a child, as the result of an ongoing investigation.

Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells reported in a press release that Ronald R. Shaffer, 78, of Burlingame, Kan., was taken into custody without incident the afternoon of April 7, 2021, and arrested for suspicion of electronic solicitation of a child and indecent solicitation of a child.

The sheriff said the sheriff’s office’s criminal investigation unit arrested Shaffer after he had made plans to meet with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old child.

Shaffer was booked into the Osage County Jail.

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Two arrested on drug charges after search warrants in Osage City

April 13, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells reported that two men were arrested on drug charges Thursday after search warrants were served at an Osage City residence.

In a press release, the sheriff said that around 4:30 p.m. April 8, 2021, Osage County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies served dual search warrants in the 10 block of Lakin Street in Osage City, Kan. Nicholas A. Hoffman, 37, of Osage City, was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, and Jeffrey A. Meade, 36, of Burlingame, Kan., was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The sheriff said the search warrants were issued after a lengthy narcotics investigation. Meade and Hoffman were booked into the Osage County Jail.

The sheriff’s office was assisted in the arrests by the Osage City Police Department.

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Fay M. Frey, 78, Vassar: Jan. 25, 1943 – April 11, 2021

April 13, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

VASSAR, Kan. – Fay M. Frey, 78, passed away Sunday, April 11, 2021, at her home surrounded by family. Fay Mary Tefft was born Jan. 25, 1943, in Denver, Colo., the daughter of Elton and Florence (Ridgely) Tefft. She grew up in Denver.

She was joined in marriage to Ralph Eugene Frey on Aug. 21, 1964, in Colorado. To this union six children were born, Amber, Donna, Derina, Cindy, Ronald and Matthew. They spent majority of their life in Colorado before moving to Vassar, Kan.

Fay was a loving housewife and homemaker to her husband, children and grandchildren. She was a very loving, kind, tolerant, nonjudgmental woman to everyone.

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Dale E. “Sharky” Arb, 90, Melvern: Feb. 9, 1931 – April 10, 2021

April 13, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

MELVERN, Kan. – Dale E. “Sharky” Arb, 90, passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at his home in Melvern, Kan. He was born Feb. 9, 1931, in Melvern, the son of Earl E. and Mary (Elliot) Arb.

Dale served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1955, during the Korean War. He was stationed in Alaska, where he was a motor pool mechanic, and was honorably discharged earning the rank of sergeant.

Dale worked as a crane operator for Santa Fe Railroad, in Topeka, Kan., for more than 42 years and retired in 1997. Dale’s true passion was being a farmer and stockman. He was also known for his legendary garden which he shared with many friends and family.

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Osage County Jail Log, April 4 – April 10, 2021

April 13, 2021   Wayne White

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

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Lavern Clark, 82, Overbrook: Aug. 15, 1937 – May 21, 2020

April 12, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Lavern Clark, 82, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at the Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. She was born Aug. 15, 1937, in Trafford, Ala., the daughter of Oscar and Lena Mae Holloway Crawford.

Lavern grew up in Alabama and had lived in Lakeland, Fla., Williamsburg, Mo., and Lyndon, Kan.

Lavern was a homemaker, seamstress, and had worked as a cook for the Osage County Jail for nearly 10 years. She was a member of TOPS, and she enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens.

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A Cowboy’s Faith: Memorable days on ballfields

April 11, 2021   Frank J. Buchman   No comments

A Cowboy's Faith: Click to read more from Frank J. Buchman.“Baseball is America’s favorite pastime.”

While a certain cowboy doesn’t agree, it’s true for many others in this country. Conversations heard in recent days have often centered on the baseball season at hand.

Decades ago, renowned rodeo contractor Emmett Roberts called about getting a horse trained, but stopped conversation to hear baseball scores. Now there remain reflections of youthful days playing baseball.

Town kids walked home from school for dinner while country kids who rode the bus to school ate from lunchboxes. They’d finish before classes were to resume and played workup softball for fun. Other students upon return for afternoon school classes were allowed to join the game.

Rules were lax but typically there were no outfielders just those playing the bases, pitcher and catcher. When there was an out, players got to move from base positions to become batters. Latecomers to the field might even workup to bat at least once.

Sometimes there were a dozen on the field and anybody who caught a fly ball automatically went to bat. Throughout grade school a wannabe cowboy got to bat a few times, had a couple hits, and scored maybe once.

One controversial rule involved the signboard at the north edge of the ballfield. Sometimes hitting the ball over the signboard was a homerun. Other times it’d be an out because the softball often went into Harry Blim’s coon dog pen causing howling disgust.

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Where there’s smoke there’s BBQ at Osage City

April 08, 2021   Wayne White   1 Comment

Where there’s smoke there’s barbecue –  that is how it’s been in April at Osage City for about 18 years, except for last year. Postponed until Halloween last year due to COVID-19 conditions, the Smoke in the Spring State BBQ Championship is back on track for springtime barbecue competition in 2021.

The competition gets underway for the outdoor chefs Friday night as many start warming up their cookers, but the fun also fires up at the community barbecue party, Taste of Osage City, starting at 5 p.m.

Last year the community portion of BBQ contest was canceled due to the pandemic, but Friday night Osage City’s Jones Park will again be the site of a giant outdoor smorgasbord. During the “Taste”, about 11 barbecue cookers will be offering samples of delicacies they have created in exchange for BBQ Bucks. BBQ Bucks can be purchased in advance at Osage City Hall until noon Friday; then they will be sold at the Osage City Community Building at Jones Park 1 to 7 p.m. The menu ranges from pulled pork sliders and ribs, to “moink balls”, or something more exotic like a “Hot Mess” or smoked mac ‘n’ cheese.

Friday evening also includes live band Chance Encounters, known for their party rock and guitar chaos. The band will spark up around 7 p.m. near the south end of the Osage City recreation building, with the beer garden nearby.

Sometime around 9 p.m. or dark, local fireworks distributor Garret Fireworks will really light the place up with a display of many of their products. Parking is available for the event at the open grass area west of state Highway 170, west of the football bleachers. Launch zone will be the south part of Jones Park.

While Osage City and its guests celebrate smoke in the spring, the competition BBQ chefs begin setting their attention toward the challenges facing them the next day – mainly they have chicken, pork, ribs, and brisket on their minds.

Smoke in the Spring organizer Corey Linton reported this week he had 110 barbecue teams signed up to cook Saturday. Due to the reputation of Osage City’s Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned contest, the field includes some of the top cookers from across the United States.

“The team quality this year is really high,” Linton said, noting among the competitors are last year’s KCBS Team of the Year Getting’ Basted, and runner up Slaps BBQ, along with many other grand champs and top winners in the KCBS barbecue circuit.

Linton said Travis Clark and Clark Crew would be returning to Smoke in the Spring after a one year hiatus. Clark has built his reputation as a champion cooker in part with three grand championships at Smoke in the Spring, along with 2019 grand champion of the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue, and a past KCBS team of the year.

“We have teams from around 12 different states – from Minnesota down through New Mexico,” Linton said. “There are going to be a lot of really good teams here this weekend.”

Osage City’s event will also host some VIPs in the barbecue world this weekend, with Carolyn Wells, a co-founder of KCBS, serving as one of the KCBS contest reps. Wells and her late husband, Gary, and friend, Rick Welch, founded KCBS in 1986.

Smoke in the Spring usually has six KCBS reps oversee the contest, and Linton said Wells had requested to help out at Osage City this year.

“It’s a big honor having her wanting to be involved in our contest,” Linton said, “especially since KCBS is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.”

He said the KCBS anniversary is also bringing the organization’s CEO Emily Detwiler to Smoke in the Spring this year. The KCBS anniversary is also pretty special to Linton this year, as he was elected to serve as one of the 2021 KCBS board of directors.

Also visiting will be Beth Breeding, of the National Turkey Federation, which is sponsoring a Turkey Smoke category for the contest this year.

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Bernice Arline (Brown) Lindburg, 77, Parkville, Mo.: May 8, 1943 – April 2, 2021

April 08, 2021   Wayne White   No comments

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Bernice Arline (Brown) Lindburg, 77, of Parkville, Mo., passed away Friday, April 2, 2021, at Northcare Hospice House. Bernice was born May 8, 1943, in Hays, Kan., to Loid and Beulah (Burnett) Brown.

She graduated in 1961 from Melvern High School, Melvern, Kan.

Shortly after graduation, on June 18, 1961, Bernice was united in marriage with Larry Alan Lindburg, in Melvern. This year would have marked 60 years together.

After finishing his basic training, Larry was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Air Force. During this time, Bernice remained in Melvern with other family members and their young daughter, Arline.

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    4 days ago

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    Piggin’ Whiskey O.G. claims grand championship at Smoke in the Spring 2021Smoke might still be lingering in Osage City from last weekend’s 18th annual Smoke in the Spring State BBQ Championship, but the grand champions headed back to Oak Grove, Mo. to celebrate.Piggin’ Whiskey O.G., with head cook Josh Farley, of Oak Grove, earned prize winnings totaling $5,980 from the Osage City contest, after taking the grand championship with fourth place in chicken, 51st place in pork, second place in ribs, and 10th in brisket. The team also broke the 700 point barrier, winning the top spot in the contest with 703.44 ...Read more on Osage County News: It's Osage County Online!www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/39707 ... See MoreSee Less

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    1 week ago

    Osage County News
    Where there’s smoke there’s barbecue – that is how it’s been in April at Osage City for about 18 years, except for last year. Postponed until Halloween last year due to COVID-19 conditions, the Smoke in the Spring State BBQ Championship is back on track for springtime barbecue competition in 2021.The competition gets underway for the outdoor chefs Friday night as many start warming up their cookers, but the fun also fires up at the community barbecue party, Taste of Osage City, starting at 5 p.m.Last year the community portion of BBQ contest was canceled due to the pandemic, but Friday night Osage City’s Jones Park will again be the site of a giant outdoor smorgasbord. During the “Taste”, about 11 barbecue cookers will be offering samples of delicacies they have created in exchange for BBQ Bucks. BBQ Bucks can be purchased in advance at Osage City Hall until noon Friday; then they will be sold at the Osage City Community Building at Jones Park 1 to 7 p.m. The menu ranges from pulled pork sliders and ribs, to “moink balls”, or something more exotic like a “Hot Mess” or smoked mac ‘n’ cheese.----Read more on Osage County News: It's Osage County Online!www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/39637 ... See MoreSee Less

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    2 weeks ago

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    ORBIS seeks Operators, Materials Manager, Automation TechORBIS Corp. is seeking to fill several positions at its Osage City plant. Currently seeking Operators for Day or Night shifts, Materials Manager, and Automation Technician. For full job descriptions, see www.orbiscorporation.com and click on the Careers tab. Positions come with a great benefits package and 401(k) match.To apply, see www.orbiscorporation.com, click on Careers tab.ORBIS Corporation is the industry leader in returnable packaging with a plant located at 515 S. Fourth St., Osage City, Kan.-----Help Wanted on Osage County News: It's Osage County Online!www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/39609 ... See MoreSee Less

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