The Hays Daily News from Hays, Kansas • Page 6

A6 THE HAYS DAILY NEWS FIN THE RECOIID THURSDAY, MAY 12,2005 Lillian Missimer Lillian C. Missimer, 93, Russell, died Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at Delmar Gardens Care Center, Overland Park. She was born Nov. 28,1911, in Oklahoma City to William and Berdie Caldwell. She married Carl Missimer on Nov.

1,1933, in Oklahoma City. He died Sept. 1,1983. Survivors include a son, Frank Missimer, Leawood; and two grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m.

Saturday at Russell City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Good Shepard Hospice and may be sent in care of the Pohlman-Heise Mortuary, 610 N. Maple, Russell, KS 67665. LydiaO.BrulI Lydia O. Brull, 86, Hays, died Wednesday, May 11,2005, at Hays Medical Center.

She was born Feb. 8,1919, in Catherine to Jacob and Elizabeth (Staab) Schmidt. She married Alfred J. Brull on May 7,1940, in Catherine. He died Sept.

16,2002. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Kenneth Brull, Hays; a daughter, Gloria Kennedy, Tulsa, two brothers, James Schmidt, Harlingen, Texas, and Harold Schmidt, Topeka; three sisters, Helen Broedaker, Topeka, Anita Stang, Great Bend, and Dora Lee Robertson, Las Vegas; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church; burial in St.

Joseph Cemetery, Hays. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine. A parish vigil service will be at 6 p.m.

Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hays Good Samaritan Center. HI James "Jim" Bricker, 64, Oberlin, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005. He was born Feb. 12,1941, in Russell to Robert and Bertha Bricker.

He was a farmer and stockman. Survivors include his wife, Jan, of the home; a son, Mark Bricker, Oberlin; a daughter, Carey Kennedy, Topeka; two brothers, Bob Bricker, Ellsworth, and Dave Bricker, Lucas; a sister, Lillian Lawrence, Dorrance; and two grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Faith Lutheran Church, Oberlin; burial in Oberlin Cemetery. Visitation will be until 8 p.m.

today at Pauls Funeral Home and from 9 a.m. to service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to Decatur County Hospital or Lucas High School Alumni Scholarship Fund. Rhomine Smith Rhomine Smith, 97, Oberlin, died Thursday, May 12, 2005, in Oberlin. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

Ivan Lahman Ivan Lahman, 85, Quinter, died Wednesday, May 11,2005, at the Gove County Medical Center in Quinter. Services are are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter. Kenneth Leiker Kenneth G. Leiker, 52, Salina, died Tuesday, May 10,2005 at Salina Regional Health Center. He was born Dec.

20,1952, in Russell to Ralph and Darlene Kuhn. He worked at O.C.C.K., Salina. Survivors include his parents, Russell; a brother, R.C. Kuhn, Russell; and a sister, Wanda Lynch, Russell. Services will be at 10 a.m.

Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Russell; burial in the Munjor Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Russell Funeral Home.

There will be a rosary at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to O.C.C.K., in care of the funeral home, 610 N. Elm, Russell, KS 67665. Elva 'LoRee' Cooley Elva "LoRee" Cooley, 85, Bison, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at Rush County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care, La Crosse.

She was born July 28,1919, in Alexander to Clyde C. and Elva Mae (Smith) Hall. She married Thayne G. Cooley on Oct. 6,1941, in Little Rock, Ark.

He died Sept. 18,2001. She was a cosmetologist. Survivors include a sister, JoAnne Elder, Bison. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Bonnie Jo "B.J." Cooley Schultz.

Graveside services will be at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Lone Star Cemetery, Bison. Memorials are suggested to United Methodist Church, Bison, or Rush County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care, La Crosse. Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements. Elizabeth Mehler Elizabeth "Betty" H.

Mehler, 90, Hays, died Wednesday, May 11,2005, at Hays Good Samaritan Center. She was born Dec. 2,1914, in WaKeeney to John and Clara (Schuster) Reitmayer. She attended Ellis schools. She married Jacob Mehler on June 21,1936, in Colby.

He died Aug. 18,1979. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a daughter, Patti Wentling, Hays; three brothers, Clem Reitmayer, Quinter, and Carl Reitmayer and William Reitmayer, both of WaKeeney; three sisters, Mary Aschenbrenner, WaKeeney, Anna Rohn, Colby, and Minnie Kersiek, Strassburg, one grandchild; and one great-grandchild. Services will be at 2 p.m.

Friday at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney; burial in Christ the King Catholic Cemetery, WaKeeney. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to service time Friday at the funeral home. A rosary will be at 7 p.m.

today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hays Good Samaritan Center or Hays Hospice in care of Schmitt Bertha Virginia Dumler, 84, Salt Lake Cfty, formerly of Russell, died Thursday, April 28,2005, at Evergreen Canyon Nursing Home, Salt Lake City. Services will be at 16 a.m. Saturday at Pohlman-Helse Memorial Chapel, Russell; burial in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Russell.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary, Russell. Vera Louise Renlck, 84, died Sunday, May 8, 2005, at Hays Medical Center. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine, with visitation prior to the service at 10 a.m.

Additional services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday on the Navajo Reservation at the United Methodist Church in Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672. Arone Holzmeister Arone Holzmeister, 86, Quinter, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care, Quinter. He was born Nov.

9,1918, in Bison to John and Susanna (Herman) Holmeister. He graduated from Otis High School and was an Army veteran. He married Joyce Sargent in June 1961 in Wichita. She died in September 2000. He was a farmer and worked for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita.

Survivors include a stepdaughter, Patsy Wise, Wichita; five brothers, Sylvester Holzmeister, Lawrence Holzmeister and Hubert Holzmeister, all of Quinter, Edwin Holzmeister, Hays, and Abraham Holzmeister, Salina; two sisters, Frieda Waldman and Josephine Kuntz, both of Quinter; three stepgrandchil- dren; and several stepgreat- grandchildren. Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Park; burial in Old Mission Wichita Park Cemetery, Wichita. "Friends may call from 5 p.m. today at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter, where a wake service will take place at 7:30 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to CCD Class of Sacred Heart Church in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S. Main, Quinter, KS 67752. Leonard RDelzeit Leonard E. "Corky" Delzeit, 65, Colby, died Thursday, May 12, 2005, at his home. Services are pending with Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel, Colby.

Jeanette Bigge Jeanette Bigge, 92, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005, in Mission Viejo, Calif. She was born Feb. 3,1913, near Stockton to George and Luella (Slusser) Bigge. She was a graduate of Fort Hays State College and Colorado State College, Greeley, Colo. She was a teacher in the Stockton area and in Russell.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, Graveside services will be at Shlprock, N.M.; burial in Qreenlawn Cemetery in Farmington. Charles E. "Charley" Bartlett, 91, Oakley, died Monday, May 9,2005, at Logan County Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley; burial in Gove Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley. OBITMRYPOUCY The Hays Dally News will publish a basic, standard obituary free of charge for people with direct ties to the newspaper's circulation area. If survivors desire to add Information to an obituary, they may do so for an additional charge. Completely custom obituaries are handled as paid advertising.

For more Information, call (785) 628-1081. CROPS: Critical times ahead for winter wheat 10 a.m. Monday in the Stockton Cemetery. A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. May 23 at Mission Viejo Christian Church.

Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Smith-Moore- Overlease Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Emporia State University Foundation, and can be sent in care of Smith- Moore-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First, Stockton, KS 67669. David Clark Dr.

David H. Clark, 69, Lindsborg, died Tuesday, May 10,2005. He was born Feb. 14,1936, in Bertrand, to L.B. and Wilma E.

(High) Clark. He married Mary L. Hedeen on Aug. 21,1959, in Salina. He was a physican at the Lindsborg Rural Health Clinic and had practiced medicine at the WaKeeney Clinic and Trego County- Lemke Memorial Hospital from 1965 to 1979.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; three sons, L. Bradford Clark, Topeka, and Erik Clark and Matt Clark, both of Salina; a daughter, Sarah Colaw, McPherson; a brother, Steven G. Clark, Harbor Springs, and nine grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg; private burial in Smoky Hill Cemetery, Lindsborg.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Lindsborg Community Hospital, Bethany College or Bethany Lutheran Church, in care of Christian Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, KS 67456. Cecil Dean Lowe Cecil Dea Lowe, 66, died Saturday, May 7,2005, at Hays Medical Center.

He was born July 24,1938, in McDonald to Henry and Opal (Halligan) Lowe. He had been a client with Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas since 1979. Private services and burial will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to DSNWK, P.O. Box 1016, Hays, KS 67601.

Cline's Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, is in charge of arrangements. PERFECT: Geist plans to attend Kansas State University CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 "He would have been counted absent from school since this is not a school-sponsored event and was during school hours," Gerri Geist said. Along with his perfect attendance he has maintained a 4.0 GPA while completing the Regent's Curriculum. Geist has been actively involved in basketball and football all four years, track for three years and golf this year.

He has also been active in All- Academic Basketball Team, Future Business Leaders of America, Fort Hays State University Math Relay Team, Junior Bank Board, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Students Working Against Tobacco, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Teens Against Smoking in Kansas. Geist has, of course, been an honor roll student, and was selected to the Northwest Kansas Educational Services Center gifted program. He has been on the National Honor Society, serving as president, and was also vice president of the student council. He is a recipient of a Kansas State University scholarship, a 2004-2005 Kansas Governor's Scholar award and University of Kansas Honors program award. Geist also participated in the Northwest Kansas Leadership Conference as president.

As if that weren't enough, Geist has also been a teacher's aide, and has earned 12 college credits already by taking Composition I and II, psychology and speech. Zach Broeckelman, Geist's math teacher, was very impressed with Geist's accomplishments. "He's a really good kid and a hard worker. He's probably one of the top students I've ever had," Broeckelman said. Fred Teeter, Geist's high school principal all four years, feels that Geist's completed goals were motivated by intrinsic values in himself, accompanied by determination.

"There aren't very many that can say they've done what he's done. He made some tough choices. He's a good kid, and he has a good family," Teeter said. His sister, Tricia Geist, is a senior at KSU. "My brother has a drive within himself that makes him strive to do his best and give everything that he does his all," she said.

"I think many of his accomplishments stem from his character within. We have also had positive motivation from our parents to do well which I believe has helped drive him." Tricia Geist said there has been a sense of competition between she and her brother. "When I graduated from high school, I joked with him that he had big shoes to fill when I left because I graduated with a 4.0 and many other accomplishments. I believe he has not only filled those shoes but surpassed the level I set when I left," she said of her brother. Marcus Geist said his sister was a role model in a big way, introducing him to high school and the activities, showing him what to strive for and what to look forward to.

"I felt like I had to do at least what she did," he said. Geist plans to follow in his sister's footsteps and attend Kansas State. His major will be civil engineering. His sister also taught him how to study. He creates study guides and has family members quiz him.

For Geist, repetition is key. But most of all, it takes hard work to accomplish what Geist has. "It takes a lot of hard work and determination, but it can be done. You have to start young. Even if you miss one day, continue to try," Geist said.

Geist's sister marvels at her brother's personality and character, and the way he is always thinking of others and striving to do his best. "I am so very proud of all that he has accomplished because I know the hard work he has put into it. While many might think that having a perfect attendance for all those years is nothing special, I think it suggests something more than just that," she said. "It suggests to me that he is determined and dedicated. With things, like academics, that matter to him, he will put forth his best effort.

Characteristics like those that he exhibits leave no doubt in my mind he will go far in life." Reporter Stacie R. Sandall can be reached at (785) 628-W81, ext. 1M or by e-mail at CONTINUED FROM PAGE At "They didn't get the extra rain we did," Wells said. Now, he's seeing it in a field less than a mile south of the headquarters of the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center, which is showing that Hays is well ahead of normal in terms of total rainfall. "I know it doesn't make sense having all that extra rain," he said.

"It just came when the wheat did not need it." Wednesday, he said, the field just south of Hays was smelling like a field of effect the dying fields will have on the overall production, but he said it affects fields in the western half of the state. Today's report would have suggested an ideal situation for a region that has been hard-hit by drought. In the northwest corner of the state, the estimate was suggesting that production would increase 514 percent, climbing from last year's 9 million bushels to 46.5 million this year. The west-central crop reporting district also had indications of a complete turnaround, going from 18.9 freshly cut hay something that usually represents dead or dying crops. "I went to Dodge City two days ago and you could see the spots all the way down," he said of the effects of the drought.

1 know it doesn't make sense having all that extra rain. It just came when the wheat did not need it. Eddie Wells, assistant state statistician for KASS bushels per acre million bushels to 51.4 million. Overall, the forecast as of May 1 was for an average yield of 44 bushels per acre. In the northwest district last year, the average yield was 18 compared to Some, of the brown spots are overtaking entire fields in areas of Rooks County.

And it's debatable, he said, that a rain even now could save them. "They are starting to get irrelevant," he said of the browned plants. "A rain might keep the stem alive," he said. "Whether or not it would fill is uncertain." Filling is the process of producing kernels of wheat that ultimately would be harvested. The USDA estimate was filed based on conditions as of the first of the month.

"And they were looking really good then," Martin said of the state's wheat fields. Martin isn't sure how much this year's estimate of 41 bushels per acre. Wells said it would be interesting to see what the forecast is in the June crop report, which will be issued June 10. How much production loss there is will ultimately depend on when the plants die. "We've got stuff still flowering," he said.

"So we haven't filled anything." And the wheat that survives is being hard hit by leaf stripe and leaf rust. "That sort of stuff just shaves it off the top," he said. Managing editor Mike Corn can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 129, or by e-mail at mcorn0dallynews.net. Japan's food safety commission to discuss lifting ban on beef TOKYO (AP) Lawmakers from Japan's ruling party endorsed a plan today for the food regulators to consider lifting the country's costly ban on American beef imports, an official said.

A committee of the Liberal Democratic Party met with officials from the Agriculture and Health ministries to discuss the plan, a step toward renewing shipments of U.S. beef products, according to Hideshi Michino, a Health Ministry official. The Food Safety Commission last week recommended that the government waive mad cow disease tests for domestic cattle younger than 21 months, a move that would open the door to imports of beef from younger American cattle. Japan barred American beef imports in December 2003 after the discovery of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease.

The human variant of the fatal illness is believed linked to eating infected meat. Michino said the government could ask the Food Safety Commission as soon as the end of this month to start deliberations on whether American beef is as safe as Japanese beef. The government, however, wants to collect public comment on its plan before going ahead. The import ban closed U.S. beef's most lucrative overseas market, and Washington has been pressuring Tokyo to allow shipments'-tb'resume.

Japan tests all its cattle for the disease, before slaughter, and had demanded that the United States implement a similar system. But Japan later agreed to allow the import of meat from untested younger cows, which are considered virtually free of the disease. Japan, however, has refused to set a date for resumption of shipments, saying more time is needed for the approval process to work through the bureaucracy American officials have accused Tokyo of foot-dragging, and some have proposed imposing sanctions unless the ban is lifted. The Japanese government will start seeking comments from consumers and industries about U.S. beef imports starting Friday, continuing until May 20.

Japanese consumer groups have demanded the government keep U.S. beef banned to ensure food safety. Also today, the government confirmed Japan's 18th case of mad cow disease since it began testing all cattle bound for the slaughterhouse. Experts have confirmed that a five-year-eight-month-old female Holstein from the northern Hokkaido prefecture (state) was infected with the fatal brain- wasting disease, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. Stocks edge higher despite warning NEW YORK (AP) Stocks made modest gains today as a strong retail sales report and a sharp drop in oil prices helped investors overcome early jitters from a second-quarter profit warning from Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Investors' fears of an economic slowdown were heightened after Wal-Mart missed Wall Street's profit expectations for the quarter and, more importantly, said high gasoline prices have hurt customer spending and could affect the company's second-quarter results. That threatened to put a damper on a very positive Commerce Department report, which showed a 1.4 percent increase in retail sales, the best gain in six months. Analysts had been expecting a 0.8 percent rise. Combined with oil falling below $49 per barrel, the balance of news could be swinging in the market's favor. "Wal-Mart is overshadowing it, but the fact remains the economic news is good.

It indicates that the mild slowdown In economic activity we've seen is probably going to be short lived," said Peter Cardillo, chief strategist and senior vice president at S.W. Bach Co. "We'll probably have a belated positive reaction over the next day or two once the effects of Wal-Mart begin to dissipate." At midday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 15.30, or 0.2 percent, to 10,315.55. Broader stock indicators were narrowly higher. The Standard Poor's 500 index was up 0.53, or 0 percent, at 1,171,64, and the Nas- daq composite index gained 7.90, or 0.4 percent, to 1,979.45.

Oil prices fell in early trading, but their still high levels going into the summer driving season exacerbated worries of an economic slowdown as consumers spend more on gasoline and less on everything else. A barrel of light crude was quoted at $49.43, down $1.02, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The bond market edged lower as stocks row, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note ristag to 4.22 percent from 4.go percent late Wednesday.