The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 4

A4 THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 6. 2003 GREAT PLAINS THE SALINA JOURNAL DEATHS FUNERALS SCHOOLS Lucii Edna Baer HERINGTON Lucil Edna Baer, 96, Herington, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003. Mrs.

Baer was born Lucil Edna Burback on Sept. 20,1906, at Herington. She had worlted for the city of Herington for several years and assisted her husband at his liquor store. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Ray, in 1964; and a stepson, Forrest Baer. Survivors include cousins.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Herington. Memorials may be made to the church or to a charity of the donor's choice. Edra Banister EMPORIA Edra Banister, 94, Emporia, died Tuesday, Feb.

4, 2003. Mrs. Banister was born Edra Lockhart on Sept. 24, 1908, at McDonald. She was a teacher and bank cashier in McDonald.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis, in 1974; and a son, Boyd. Survivors include a daughter, Carol Mlynar of Emporia; a grandson; and two great-grandchildren Inurnment will be at a later date in Grace Cemetery, McDonald. Memorials may be made to Westminster United Presbyterian Church, in care of the funeral home. Visitation will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, 605 State Emporia 66801.

Kristen Marie Bottger LINCOLN, Kristen Marie Bottger, 22, Lincoln, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003. Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Lincoln, is handling arrangements. Neva N. Carison COURTLAND Neva N.

Carlson, 91, Courtland, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003. Mrs. Carlson was born Dec. 17,1911, at Mankato.

She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Addison, in 2000. Survivors include a son, Dar- of Courtland; and two grandsons. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, Scandia.

Burial will be in Courtland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, 1104 20th Belleville 66935.

Ruth Irene Elliott BIRD CITY Ruth Irene Elliott, 84, Bird City, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Mrs. Elliott was born Ruth Irene Wilkens on Oct. 26, 1918, in Cheyenne County She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William in 1990; a granddaughter; and a great-grandson. Survivors include three daughters, Kathy Olson and Karolyn McFee, both of Holcomb, and Lori Rietcheck of Goodland; a sister, Marie Hardwick of Tempe, and six grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bird City DROWNING TDdart Obituaries SAUNA Gerald C.Mehy English MarjorleL "Marge" Caldwell- KANSAS BIRD CfTY: Ruth trend eiotl CCHJmiAND: mti A.

CiaHsbn' Police HAYS: Lee' Lucil Edna Baer, MANKATO: Lorraine A. Humann, Loretta Catherine KlrhWilhau 0AKL6Y! Cynthia Herdt William Fuller SMITH CENTER: WiinamC. Post WASHINGTON: Gwen Roberts OUT OF STATE Kristin Marie Bottger, Uncoln, Neb. Mary Helen Gagna, Portage, Ind. Tlio Journal publishes basic obltuaiy infonriBtion for tree.

Other Information and photos can be included for a fee. Inlonnation for obituaries is accepted only from funeral homes. For infomiation, see your funeral home or call the Journal at (785) 823-6363. Burial will be in Bird City Cemetery A wake will be at 7 p.m. today at St.

Joseph Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to Cheyenne County Hospital or the church. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Knodel Funeral Home, 202 S.

Benton, St. Francis 67756-0606. Gerald C. "Jerry" English Gerald C. "Jerry" English, 66, Salina, died Tuesday, Feb.

4, 2003. Mr. English was born Feb. 2, 1937, at Sallisaw, Okla. He worked for Beechcraft, later known as Raytheon, for more than 33 years.

Survivors include his wife, Pat; three daughters, Geneva Smith of Salina, Tina MR. ENGLISH Hoxit of Hodgen, and Lajuanna English of Poteau, two stepsons, Richard Heiser of Salina and Steve Heiser of Tulsa, a brother, Arthur L. of Salina; and nine grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N.

Eighth, Salina 67401. Burial will be in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the mortuary John William Fuller RUSSELL John William Fuller, 93, rural Russell, died Monday, Feb.

3, 2003. Mr. Fuller was born Feb. 22, 1909, north of Russell. He was a farmer-stockman.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Edna, who died Jan. 15, 2003; and a grandson. Survivors include a son, Stephen of Bryan, Texas; a daughter, Mildred Fihnesy of Russell; a sister, Edna Rouse of Phoenix; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Pohlman's Memorial Chapel, 610 N.

Maple, Russell 67665. Burial will be in Russell City Cemetery Memorials may be made to Russell Regional Hospital, in care of the mortuary Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. today and flrom 9 a.m. until the service Friday at the mortuary Mary Helen Gagna PORTAGE, Ind. Mary Helen Gagna, 82, Portage, died Dec.

13, 2002. Mrs. Gagna was born Mary Helen Breault on April 3, 1920, near Aurora, Kan. She had worked as a school cook. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alden Dale, in 1982.

Survivors include four sons, Roger, Richard and Wayne, all of Portage, and Kevin of Tilmer, Texas; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Portage. Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, Portage, handled arrangements. Cynthia R. "Cindy" Herdt OAKLEY Cynthia R.

"Cindy" Herdt, 51, Oakley for-' merly of Bird City, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003. Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley, is handling arrangements. Lorraine A. Humann MANKATO Lorraine A.

Humann, 94, Mankato, formerly of Tecumseh, and Beloit, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003. Mrs. Humann was born Lorraine A. Linch on June 15,1908, at Piedmont, S.D.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John in 1983; and two sons, Lloyd and Lyman. Survivors include a sister, Mildred Thelander of Mankato. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery Lincoln, Neb. Memorials may be made in care of Melby Mortuary 402 N.

High Mankato 66956-1710. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Wherry Brothers Mortuary, 202 N. Third, Tecumseh, Neb.

Loretta Catherine Kimminau MANKATO Loretta Catherine Kimminau, 90, Mankato; died Wednesday Feb. 5, 2003. Melby Funeral Home, Mankato, is handling arrangements. Virginia Johnson Lee HAYS Virginia Johnson Lee, 85, Hays, died Sunday Feb. 2, 2003.

Mrs. Lee was born Virginia Johnson on May 3,1917, in Graham County She was a teacher and homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard in 1966; and two sons, John M. in 1983 and Dennis R. in 1988.

Survivors include a son, Patrick T. of Fayetteville, two daughters, Paulette Y. Krannawitter of Russell and Dana K. Thorpe of Chandler, two brothers, John Johnson of Hill City and Gene Johnson of Abilene; nine dren; and six great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2 p.m.

today at Spencer-Steinmetz Chapel, 522 N. Pomeroy Hill City 67642. Burial will be in Hill City Cemetery Memorials may be made to the Hays Humane Society P.O. Box 311, Hays 67601. Marjorie L.

"Marge" Caldwell-Page Marjorie L. "Marge" Caldwell-Page, 78, Salina, died Wednesday Feb. 5, 2003. Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements. William C.

Post SMITH CENTER William C. Post, Smith Center, died Wednesday Feb. 5, 2003. Simmons Mortuary, Smith Center, is handling arrangements. Alancy Price GLADE Alancy Price, 53, Glade, died Wednesday, Feb.

5, 2003. Mr. Price was born Dec. 29, 1949, in Phillips County He worked in the maintenance de. partment at Tamko.

Survivors include his wife, Nicki; two daughters, Christina Marie Gantenbein of Abilene and Christina Lee Kiene of Shawnee; a brother, Danzey of Phillipsburg; and a sister, Jan Streit of Phillipsburg. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 Second, Phillipsburg 67661. Memorials may be made to the Alancy Price Memorial Fund. Cremation is planned.

The register may be signed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and until the service on Saturday at the memorial chapel.

Gwen Roberts WASHINGTON Gwen Roberts, 75, Washington, died Wednesday Feb. 5, 2003. Ward Funeral Home, Washington, is handling arrangements. M. Lucille Strunk HERINGTON M.

Lucille Strunk, 86, Herington, died Tuesday Feb. 4, 2003. Mrs. Strunk was born M. Lucille Cole on Dec.

8, 1916, at Valley Falls. She was a homemaker, owned and operated her own business for many years, and worked for Dilly Brothers Bakery and Masten's Bakery She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in 1983; and a daughter, Patty Riffel in 1997, Survivors include a daughter, Donna McClellan of Raymore, five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Donahue Funeral Home Chapel, 404 Broadway Herington 67449-3038. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery Herington.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Herington, in care of the funeral home. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 today and from 9 until the service Friday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today 3 principals lose jobs in Clay Center Two resign, one hopes to stay on after board action By AMY SULLIVAN The Salina Journal For Barbara Hawkins, the fight to save her job continues, but for two other Clay Center school district principals it's over Jerry Hodson and Janita Witty resigned their positions at Monday's Clay Center School Board meeting after being asked to by Superintendent Charles Stockton. Hodson, principal of grades six-12 at Wakefield School, and Witty principal of kindergarten-fifth grade there and at Longford Elementary will work through the end of the school year. Hawkins, Clay Center Middle School princi- ADCA is holding nilCn out hope the votes will change at the next meeting in March, when the board will consider whether to finalize the action to not renew her contract.

"I'm hoping that somehow they will change their minds and allow me to keep doing my job," said Hawkins, in her second year as principal. The board's action was a surprise to Hawkins and Hodson. Hodson said he was called into Stockton's office this past week for his evaluation, but instead of an evaluation he was asked to resign. No reasons given "It was a two-minute conversation with him (Stockton)," Hodson said. He said he was told he wasn't the right person to lead the school into the future.

Stockton couldn't be reached Wednesday evening for comment. "He gave no specifics and didn't give me a chance to refute anything," Hodson said. The same was true for Hawkins, she said. Her evaluation that should have happened in the fall never happened, and when she was called in Sunday evening, she, too, was asked to resign. She said that's not the way she would have treated one of her staff "If I had a teacher in the building who was not doing well or not doing what I would like to see, I would bring her in and set up some goals," Hawkins said.

"We would meet periodically to see if the teacher reached those goals, and I would help her along the way to be a better teacher." No job there anymore Witty, the one principal whose resignation wasn't forced, foresaw the change. The Wakefield School will have only one principal next year for kindergarten-12th grade. Witty is certified for elementary administration. "There isn't a job there, and it doesn't make sense to fight for a job that isn't there," she said. "Some of them have every reason in the world to hate my guts, but they were defending me, which was great." Jerry Hodson Clay Center Middle School principal about some of ttie people who came to board meeting to support him Witty, an administrator in the district for eight years, hopes to go back to full-time teaching in the district.

"This is my home and where I've lived 22 years," Witty said. Residents in both towns are upset with the board's actions, said Maurice Sharp, a former school board member who went to Monday's meeting to support Hodson. About 200 residents attended, with 100 from Clay Center and 100 from Wakefield. Support was humbling Both Hawkins and Hodson were grateful for the community support. Some of the supporters were a surprise to Hodson, he said.

He has disciplined some of them. "Some of them have every I reason in the world to hate my guts, but they were defending me, which was great," Hodson said. It was "very humbling" for Hawkins to see so many people supporting her, she said. Linda Henry board president and board member for 12 years, was glad to see so many people interested in the schools, she said. Sharp pleaded with the board to reconsider.

"It went on deaf ears," Sharp said. What concerns Sharp is that neither the board nor Stockton gave reasons for their actions. "Everything's in turmoil here," Sharp said. Henry declined to say why she voted not to renew Hawkins' contract, citing employer and employee confidentiality. She did make one comment.

"These decisions are hard to make, and they're not taken lightly" Henry said. Henry is not running for re-election this spring. The Wakefield board member, Jeff Cannizzo, couldn't be reached Wednesday Reporter Amy Sullivan can be reached at 823-6464, Ext. 125, or by e-mail at saljournal.com. TODAY'S SCRIPTURE This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.

I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. -Hebrews (NIV) Bison man could avoid jail in drowning of 3-year-old ON THE RECORD DDI charges dropped because test wasn't administered By JOY LEIKER Hays Daily News WaKEENEY A Bison man could avoid jail and his third citation for driving under the influence of alcohol in a June accident that killed a 3-year-old boy at Cedar Bluff Reservoir, District Judge Tom Toepfer Tuesday accepted a plea agreement that likely will keep Robert Bruce from serving any time behind bars for the death of Seth Contreras. Contreras was one of seven children, all under age 8, inside a vehicle driven by Bruce last summer, Bruce and Teresa Owen, 28, also of Bison, were driving around the reservoir at about 1:45 June 11 looking for friends who were camping when he steered the vehicle off a boat ramp and into the water. Nearby campers helped res- cue the children by pulling them from their seats and ing them on top of the sinking vehicle.

Campers answered Bruce and Owen's screams for help and hauled a boat into the water. They moved six of the seven children, along with Bruce and Owen, to safety Contreras drowned, and rescuers were unable to immediately find his body Eventually it was discov- ADCJI ered about 50 tlilbfl feet away from where the vehicle entered the water. The other children received medical attention but were not seriously injured as a result of the accident, Bruce initially faced 10 criminal charges, including three felonies for involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol, obstruction of official duty and driving under the influence. The seven misdemeanors included six charges of child endangerment, one for each of the surviving children, plus a charge for driving with a suspended license, A magistrate judge missed the obstruction charge in July As part of his plea agreement, Bruce pleaded no contest to that charge Tuesday in Trego County District Court as well as another amended felony charge of involuntary manslaughter that does not include the element of driving under the influence. All other charges were dropped.

On the morning of the accident, as the Trego County sheriff's office initiated its investigation, Owen told officers she was behind the wheel when the vehicle drove off a marked boat ramp. Even though Trego County Sheriff Curt Bender and two other officers testified earlier that Bruce "reeked of alcohol," he wasn't immediately held for a blood-alcohol test. Officers suspect Owen was trying to protect Bruce because his driver's license was revoked. He later confessed that he was driving, but officers did not administer a blood-alcohol test until seven hours after they were called to the scene. District court CIVIL FILINGS The Bank of Tescoft V.

Brent Tripp. The Bank of Tescott seeks a sum In excess of $1,700 owed on a loan. Patrica L. Goddard David E. Smith, M.D.

Goddard seeks a sum in excess of $75,000 for injuries and damages allegedly sustained from negligent medical care. Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota National Association v. Rachelle E. formerly known as Rachelle Curbow, Wells Fargo Bank seeks a mortgage foreclosure in excess of $50,700. HJ Disaster Services v.

Western Sizzlin-Salina Inc, HJ Disaster Services seeks a sum in excess of $6,600 owed for services, Security Savings Bank Barry C. Collins, Linda Collins and others. Security Savings Bank seeks a mortgage foreclosure in excess of $86,000. Associates Housing Finance v. Orval 0.

Edison Jr. Associates. Housing Finance seeks a court order for damages and possession of a mobile home. CIVIL JUDGMENTS Security Savings Bank Karen M. Frazler, Beneficial Mortgage Co.

and others. Court grants Security Savings Bank a mortgage foreclosure In excess of $45,000. The Beverly State Bank v. Michael Shafer, Ella F. Shafer and others.

Court grants the Beverly State Bank a mortgage foreclosure In excess of $32,900. CIVIL DISMISSALS LaSalle Bank National Association v. Larry Moreno, Maria Moreno and others. Case dismissed by motion of LaSalle Bank National Association. Municipal court DUI CONVICTIONS Augustine P.

Koerperich, 42, 305.5 S. Third, second conviction, one year in jail, probation granted for one year after serving five days, $1,000 fine, $32 court costs, $150 alcohol evaluation fee. Casey E. Weigel, 21, 1004 N. Fifth, 90 days in jail, probation granted for one year after attending Salina Weekend Intervention Program, $500 fine, $32 court costs, $150 alcohol evaluation fee.

Gregory L. Jarmer, 44, Chapman, six months in jail, probation granted for one year after serving five days, $1,250 fine, $32 court costs, $150 alcohol evaluation fee. Polico mottor INJURY CRASH A. Blfd, 22, Culver, was treated at Salina Regional Health Center for Injuries he suffered when the car he was driving north on Hedville Road at Satanta Road about 6:25 p.m. Tuesday went Into the southbound lane, then the northwest ditch and hit an electric fence and a wooden pole.

ARREST Heather M. Urbanek, 18, 238 S. College, was arrested in connection with the Jan. 16 burglary of the home of Timothy Poyatt, 317 Baker, and theft of $1,000 in cash, a cordless phone, a flashlight and a pocket watch. Animal shelter These animals were picked up Feb.

4 at the locations listed and taken to the Salina animal shelter, 329 N. Second. Phone 826-6535. DOGS male shepherd mix, 1000 block of State Street; tri-colofed male beagle, 1400 block of West Republic Avenue; chocolate female terrier mix, 100 block of East Ellsworth Avenue. WEDNESDAY'S DRAWHGS DAILY PICK 3 3-2-2 2 BY 2 Red: 19-25 White: 16-20 SUPER CASH 5-7-9-27-29 Super Cashball 4 Estimated $325,000 POWERBALL Powerball 32 Estimated $10 million.