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Month: March 2019

Bearcats hold off Southern Nazarene, advance to Regional title against Southern

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball moved on to the NCAA Division II Central Region final with a 70-59 triumph over the Southern Nazarene University Crimson Storm in front of a sold out Bearcat Arena.

Senior Joey Witthus led all scorers with 29 points as he made 10-of-16 shots from the field, including a trio of three-pointers.

Redshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins buried a lengthy shot-clock beating three with 1:04 remaining to put away the Crimson Storm. Hudgins tallied 16 points and seven rebounds in the victory.

The Bearcats gained momentum quickly against the Crimson Storm as they got out to a 14-5 advantage in the first six minutes of the game. From then it was a back and forth battle as SNU tried to make gains on the lead, but Northwest handled the push back.

Northwest held a 23-13 lead with 7:38 left in the first half when Southern Nazarene made a run. SNU pulled to within a single point at 24-23 with 4:03 remaining until halftime. Northwest responded with a 7-0 spurt to open it back up to an eight-point margin.

As the contest neared halftime, Witthus buried a triple that gave Northwest a 36-25 lead. But SNU’s Jhonathan Dunn sank a three-pointer to beat the buzzer to make it a 36-28 advantage at the break. It wasn’t soon after that Joey Witthus hit a three-pointer to put the Bearcats back up four and helped carry the momentum to halftime allowing Northwest to go up 36-28.

SNU hung around in the second half and cut the Bearcat lead to 58-53 with 3:51 to play. Hudgins then kept the Crimson Storm at bay by burying two free throws and pair of three-pointers to clinch the win – including the shot-clock beating bomb with just over a minute to play.

Northwest (34-0 overall) will take on MIAA foe Missouri Southern on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight in Evansville on March 27-30.

NOTES: Earlier this season, Northwest and Missouri Southern met in Bearcat Arena with the Bearcats scoring an 82-62 win on Feb. 2. … Hudgins set his career-high in rebounds with seven (he had six in the first half) … Northwest is 15-0 at home this season … over the past three seasons, Northwest is 96-5 overall … Northwest is 25-20 all-time in NCAA play.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons even series against Ichabods with 8-3 win Sunday

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ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western (10-8, 8-3 MIAA) scored the first three runs of the game and never looked back, as the Griffons baseball team took game two of their series with Washburn (9-11, 4-7 MIAA) by a score of 8-3 on Sunday afternoon.

On the mound and leading Missouri Western to the win was Anthony Castaneda. Castaneda improves to 5-0 on the season, allowing only one run in his seven innings pitched on Sunday.

NOTABLES

  • Jordan Jackson put the Griffons on the board in the top of the first, scoring Fahd Shakeel on a sacrifice fly to center field
  • With Missouri Western up 3-0 in the fifth inning, Andrew Curry’s double quickly turned into a run scored when Curry rounded all of the bases after a Washburn throwing error.
  • The Griffons capitalized off of another Washburn mistake when Fahd Shakeel rounded third after a throwing error to third base from the pitcher, giving Missouri Western the 5-1 advantage in the seventh inning.
  • The Griffons would tack on two more runs in the seventh, with all three of those runs coming without a hit reaching the outfield.
  • Missouri Western scored three of its first four runs with two outs.
  • Josh Robinson’s pinch-hit single in the eighth inning drove in Brooks Day to give the Griffons their largest lead of the game at 8-1.
  • The Ichabods used a solo home run and a double to score the final two runs of the game in the eighth inning.

LEADERS

  • Castaneda struck out six batters and only allowed one run. He has now allowed no more than one run in five of his six starts this season.
  • Shakeel finished 3-for-4 with three singles, two runs, and an RBI.
  • Curry was the other Griffon with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
  • Jacob Cooper pitched 1.1 innings and allowed no hits.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western and Washburn will play the series-deciding game on Monday at 1:00 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball salvages final game of series at Pitt State

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PITTSBURG, Kansas – The Northwest Missouri State baseball team completed the three-game series at Pittsburg State Sunday, knocking off the Gorillas by scoring eight unanswered runs and winning the game 9-1.

Stellar pitching by junior Joe Funkhouser, freshman Gibson Brown and freshman Max Ross contributed heavily to the victory for the Bearcats (10-12, 6-6 MIAA).
Funkhouser pitched five innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out four. Brown pitched two and 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. Ross finished off the game on the mound for the Bearcats by not allowing a run in his one and 1/3 inning outing while striking out four Pittsburg State batters.

After a quiet first inning, both teams got on the board in the second inning scoring one run apiece.

Northwest notched five runs in the top of the fourth, initiated by sophomore Matt Gastner drawing a leadoff walk. Successful small ball play advanced Bearcat baserunners around the diamond, scoring five runs and only leaving one stranded.

The Bearcats added three more in the top of the sixth to increase their lead to 9-1 over the Gorillas. Northwest had four base hits in the inning.

Northwest improves to 10-12 on the season, while Pittsburg State falls to 12-10 on the year.

Northwest will be back in action Tuesday, March 22nd against Missouri Southern in Maryville (weather/field conditions permitting). Earlier in the season, the Lions defeated the Bearcats, 12-5.

— Northwest Athletics —

No. 4 seed Kansas to meet No. 13 seed Northeastern in Salt Lake City

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Picked as a No. 4 seed for the fifth time in program history, the Kansas men’s basketball team will make its 30th-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The nation’s longest-active streak and the best all-time will start against the No. 13-seed Northeastern Huskies in the Midwest Region at approximately 3 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, March 21, in Salt Lake City’s Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Kansas has posted a 25-9 record up to this point in the season and went 12-6 in Big 12 play, good for a third-place finish. The Jayhawks are coming off a run to the Big 12 Championship title game, which they lost, 78-66, to Iowa State. The unveiled bracket paired Kansas against Colonial Athletic Tournament champion Northeastern (23-10, 14-4) in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

This marks the 19th-straight season that the Jayhawks have earned a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament and the first time KU has been a No. 4 seed since 2006. In head coach Bill Self’s 16 seasons, KU has never been seeded lower than fourth. Kansas has been a No. 4 seed four times prior to this year (1994, 2001, 2004 and 2006). The Jayhawks are 7-4 all-time as a No. 4.

The Jayhawks and Huskies have never met in men’s basketball.

ABOUT KANSAS (25-8, 12-6 Big 12)
Overall, the Jayhawks are making their 48th NCAA Tournament appearance. KU is 107-46 all-time in NCAA Tournament games, including 31 Sweet 16 appearances and 15 trips to the Final Four.

The Jayhawks finished the 2018-19 regular season with a 25-9 record against the nation’s toughest schedule, which included eight victories against top-25 opponents. In conference tournament action, Kansas defeated Texas and West Virginia to advance to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship final against Iowa State. The Jayhawks fell to the Cyclones 78-68 in the championship game on March 16. Against the No. 1 RPI conference and the nation’s toughest schedule, Kansas collected 11 Quadrant 1 victories.

Kansas is one of six Big 12 Conference teams to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. The six teams are the fourth-most to be representing a conference in the tournament. In all, KU faced 14 NCAA Tournament teams in 2018-19.

Self guided his Jayhawks through a nonconference schedule that included Michigan State, Vermont, Marquette, Tennessee, Wofford, Villanova, New Mexico State, Arizona State and Kentucky, all tournament teams. Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Sporting News Second Team All-American Dedric Lawson is the team’s top scorer and rebounder, averaging a double-double at 19.1 ppg and 10.3 rpg.

ABOUT NORTHEASTERN (23-10, 14-4 CAA)
The Huskies head to the NCAA Tournament after claiming the Colonial Athletic Tournament title and finishing second in the CAA regular-season race with a 14-4 record.

Four Huskies score in double figures and are led by redshirt-senior guard Vasa Pusica, who scores 17.8 ppg. The All-CAA First Team selection shoots 49.7 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3-point range. Pusica is one of three Huskies to shoot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc. NU takes over 25 3-pointers per game and makes 9.8 per contest. Junior guard Brace Bolden is the team’s top rebounder at 6.0 per game and adds 10.0 ppg.

Northeastern is led by head coach Bill Coen. Coen is 224-96 in his 13th year in Boston.

Aside from a 14-4 conference slate, NU will enter postseason play in the midst of a seven-game winning streak, which includes wins in 12 of its last 13 outings. The Huskies’ last loss came on Feb. 16 in overtime at College of Charleston, 88-79.

— KU Athletics —

K-State to meet UC Irvine in NCAA South Regional Friday

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MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State was rewarded for a successful season on Sunday, as the Wildcats earned their 31st overall bid to the NCAA Tournament, including the fifth in seven seasons under head coach Bruce Weber.

The Big 12 co-champion, K-State (25-8, 14-4 Big 12) was selected as a No. 4 seed in the South Regional and will travel to San Jose, Calif., to play No. 13 seed and Big West Conference regular-season and tournament champion UC Irvine (30-5, 15-1 Big West) in the first round on Friday, March 22 at SAP Center. The winner will advance to play the winner of the No. 5 seed Wisconsin (23-10, 14-6 Big Ten) and No. 12 seed Oregon (23-12, 10-8 Pac-12) on Sunday, March 24.

K-State was the No. 15 overall seed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, including third among the four No. 4 seeds (trailing Kansas and Florida State).

The Wildcats will be joined at the venue by No. 4 seed Virginia Tech (24-8), No. 5 Mississippi State (23-10), No. 12 Liberty (28-6) and No. 13 Saint Louis (22-12) of the East Regional. The top seeds in the South Regional are No. 1 seed Virginia (29-3), No. 2 seed Tennessee (29-4), No. 3 seed Purdue (23-9), No. 4 seed K-State (25-8), No. 5 seed Wisconsin (23-10), No. 6 seed Villanova (25-9) and No. 7 seed Cincinnati (28-6).

K-State and UC Irvine will tip off at 1 p.m., CT (11 a.m., PT) with the matchup between No. 5 seed Wisconsin and No. 12 seed Oregon to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. The game will be broadcast nationally on TBS with Spero Dedes, Len Elmore, Steve Smith and Ros Gold-Onwude.

Public requests for NCAA Tournament tickets are available until 5 p.m., CT on Monday. Please click here to request tickets exclusively within the K-State allotment. Tickets are priced at $66 (upper level) and $100 (lower level).

K-State is making its 38th postseason appearance, which includes 31 in the NCAA Tournament and seven in the Postseason NIT. The Wildcats advance to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in the last 13 seasons, including in three consecutive seasons for the first time since making five straight appearances from 2010 to 2014. The program has now advanced to the postseason 11 times in the last 13 seasons (nine trips to NCAA Tournament and two to the NIT). The 31 overall bids rank 20th nationally, including fourth among Big 12 schools (Kansas [49], Texas [34] and Oklahoma [32]).

In its last NCAA appearance, No. 9 seed K-State advanced to its 12th Elite Eight by knocking off No. 8 seed Creighton (69-59), No. 16 seed UMBC (50-43) and No. 5 seed Kentucky (61-58) before losing to No. 11 seed Loyola Chicago (78-62) in the South Regional Final in Atlanta. Ten current players saw action in one or more of those NCAA Tournament games, including starts in all 3 games by seniors Barry Brown, Jr. and Kamau Stokes and juniors Makol Mawien and Xavier Sneed. K-State has a 10-8 NCAA Tournament mark in its last eight appearances.

The program has posted a 37-34 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play, including 11-5 in the first round. The school will be making its third consecutive appearance (2017-19) in the South Regional and the fourth overall with the other trip coming in 1993 and is 4-3 all-time in the region. K-State will be making its third appearance as a No. 4 seed and the first since the 2013 NCAA Tournament, in which, the Wildcats lost to No. 13 seed La Salle, 63-61, in the West Regional in Kansas City. The other appearance as a No. 4 seed came in the 1988 NCAA Tournament when the school advanced to the Elite Eight by defeating No. 13 La Salle (66-53), No. 5 DePaul (66-58) and No. 1 Purdue (73-70) before falling to No. 6 Kansas (71-58) in Pontiac, Mich. Overall, the school is 3-2 as a No. 4 seed.

In K-State’s 30 previous NCAA Tournament appearances, the Wildcats have advanced to the Sweet 16 a total of 17 times. The program has also reached the Elite Eight 12 times, made four Final Four appearances and played in one National Championship game (1951).

Head coach Bruce Weber becomes fourth different coach to lead K-State to at least five NCAA Tournament appearances, joining Jack Hartman (1970-86), Tex Winter (1954-68) and Frank Martin (2007-12). Overall, Weber advances to his 13th NCAA Tournament, which includes six at Illinois and two at Southern Illinois. He is 41st head coach in NCAA history to take three schools to the tournament, including the 21st active coach. He has a 15-12 record in the NCAA Tournament with four trips to the Sweet 16, two in the Elite Eight and the 2005 Final Four.

K-State earned its fifth 20-win season under Weber and finished as co-champion of the Big 12 with Texas Tech with identical 14-4 marks. The Wildcats have posted 25 wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, while the 14 in Big 12 play tie the 1958-59 and 2012-13 squads for the most in school history. The team is led by All-Big 12 First Team selections Barry Brown, Jr. (14.9 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) and Dean Wade (12.9 ppg., 6.2 rpg.) as well as All-Big 12 Honorable Mention picks Kamau Stokes (10.8 ppg., 3.3 apg.) and Xavier Sneed (10.6 ppg., 5.5 rpg.).

The Big West Conference regular-season and tournament champion, UC Irvine enters Friday’s game with a 30-5 overall record, which has won 16 consecutive games dating back to January 19. The Anteaters boast one of the best defenses in the country, allowing just 63.3 points per game on 38 percent shooting, including 33.2 percent from 3-point range, while grabbing 40.3 rebounds per contest. They are a balanced squad with nine or more players averaging 5 or more points led by Big West Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big West First Team selection Jonathan Galloway (7.0 ppg., 8.0 rpg.), All-Big West Second Team selection Max Hazzard (12.5 ppg., 1.9 rpg.) and All-Big West honorable mention pick Evan Leonard (11.1 ppg., 2.5 rpg.).

UC Irvine is led by head coach Russell Turner, who has a 187-127 (.595) record in 10 seasons at the helm of the Anteaters, which includes six postseason appearances in the last seven seasons.

This will be second meeting between K-State and UC Irvine on the hardwood and in consecutive seasons after the Wildcats earned a 71-49 victory at home on Nov. 17, 2017. Kamau Stokes was one of three Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 14 points, as neither team shot 40 percent from the field.

The winner of Friday’s first-round matchup will face either No. 5 seed Wisconsin (23-10, 14-6 Big Ten) or No. 12 seed Oregon (23-12, 10-8 Pac-12) on Sunday. The Badgers, who placed fourth in the Big Ten, are led three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection Ethan Happ, who leads the squad in scoring (17.5 ppg.), rebounding (10.1 rpg.) and assists (4.6 apg.). All-Big Ten honorable mention pick D’Mitrik Trice averages 11.7 points per game.

Led by former K-State head coach Dana Altman, the Pac-12 Tournament champion Ducks are one of the hottest teams in the country with eight consecutive wins since Feb. 23. Three players are averaging in double figures led by Pac-12 honorable mention selection Louis King (13.1 ppg.), Pac-12 Tournament MVP Payton Prichard (12.7 ppg.) and Paul White (10.6 ppg.). Pac-12 All-Defensive Team member Kenny Wooten has a team-high 62 blocks.

K-State is 2-4 all-time against Wisconsin, including 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament (2008, 2011), and 2-2 all-time against Oregon, including losing a home-and-home series in 2007 and 2008.

The four teams are among the best defensive teams in the country, allowing 59.2 points (K-State), Wisconsin (61.4 ppg.), Oregon (62.9 ppg.) and UC Irvine (63.3 ppg.) to all rank in the Top 20 nationally in scoring defense.

K-State was one of eight Big 12 teams to earn berths to the NCAA Tournament and NIT, including six in the Big Dance, joining No. 3 seed Texas Tech (West), No. 4 seed Kansas (Midwest), No. 6 seed Iowa State (Midwest) and No. 9 seeds Baylor (West) and Oklahoma (South). In addition, TCU is a No. 1 seed and Texas a No. 2 seed in the NIT.
The Big 12 has eight or more combined teams in the two tournaments for the second straight season.

In addition, all three Division I programs in the state of Kansas (Kansas, Kansas State and Wichita State) all advanced to the NCAA Tournament or NIT for sixth time in eight seasons.

— K-State Athletics —

Nebraska selected for the NIT; will host Butler Wednesday

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Lincoln – The Nebraska men’s basketball program will make its second straight postseason appearance, as the Huskers were selected for the 2019 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Sunday evening.

Nebraska, which enters the postseason with an 18-16 record, is the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 seed Butler (16-16), on Wednesday, March 20 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (central) and the game will be televised on ESPN2 and carried on the Husker Sports Network.

“We are excited to have our season continue, especially for our seniors who wanted to return to postseason play,” Nebraska Coach Tim Miles said. “We had our share of struggles at times, but I think the way we have played over the final two weeks of the season is a testament to our players and the character they have. I believe that our performance at the Big Ten Tournament is a good momentum boost heading into the postseason, and showed a team that wanted to keep playing.

“We have been tested against a schedule that is in the top five nationally in Kenpom, including 25 games against the top two quadrants in the NET, and we are looking forward to the postseason challenge.”

Butler tied for eighth in the Big East with a 7-11 mark and features guard Kamar Baldwin, who was a second-team All-Big East selection this season. Baldwin averaged 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 rebounds per game.

The 2019 NIT is the 26th postseason appearance in school history and 19th time NU has been selected for the NIT. The Huskers are 23-17 all-time in the NIT, including a championship in the 1996 NIT and semifinal appearances in 1983 and 1987.

— KU Athletics —

Northwest regents approve 2019-2020 tuition with no increase to fees

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MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents, during its regular meeting Thursday, approved an increase of the University’s tuition for the 2019-2020 academic year with no increase in required fees and room rates.

Tuition will increase by an estimated average net price of $368 for undergraduate in-state residents and $553 for undergraduate out-of-state residents based on enrollment in 28 credit hours during the course of the academic year.

The proposal approved by the Board called for no increases in room rates and fees related to technology, textbooks and student‐approved designated fees. However, meal plans will increase by an average of 2.5 percent, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the University’s contract with its third-party vendor, depending on the meal plans students select.

For graduate programs, the Board approved a revised rate structure after benchmarking of other graduate tuition rates indicated Northwest’s out-of-state rates put its graduate programs at a competitive disadvantage. For 2019-2020, Northwest has established its graduate tuition based on market demand and program offerings at rates of $335 per credit hour for business programs, $330 per credit hour for computer science and information systems programs, and $285 per credit hour for all other graduate programs.

Presenting the University’s proposal to Regents, Northwest Vice President of Finance Stacy Carrick reiterated Northwest continues to be a great value proposition and is one of the most efficient in the region in delivering a quality education and programs to its students and stakeholders.

“As we consider our budget decisions, we are focused on achieving our results,” Carrick said. “We have a history of high performance and we’re very proud of that, and in order to meet those goals we have to build for the future. There are two key philosophies we focus on and that’s protecting affordability for our students and preserving quality of learning, which we do through our people. Both quality and affordability are what we believe provides value to our students.”

In other business, the Board gave authorization to Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski and Carrick to execute a contract with E.L. Crawford Construction Inc. for $803,200 to refresh Roberta Hall. The project, which the Board approved in October, not to exceed $1 million, will include plumbing, electrical, lighting and other enhancements to improve the living experience in the residence hall. The project is a part of Northwest’s Residential Life Master Plan and will be funded with money from the University’s auxiliary capital and campus master plan funds.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.

– Northwest Missouri State University news release –

Man fatally stabbed at Kansas City hotel

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Missouri, are investigating a stabbing death at a hotel.

The Kansas City Star reports that police were called to a Days Inn on East Linwood Boulevard around 4 a.m. Sunday. A man in his mid-40s had been stabbed.

The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released.

Police have not released any information about a suspect. It wasn’t immediately clear what led to the stabbing. Yellow crime scene tape blocked off a room on the hotel’s second floor.

Obituaries March 17th

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William Gerald Steinlage
1937 – 2019

William Gerald Steinlage, 81, of Holton, died Thursday, March 14, 2019 at Plaza West Regional Health Center in Topeka.

He was born October 13, 1937 at Corning, the son of William Anton and Josepha Emma Haverkamp Steinlage. He attended Kelly schools and graduated in 1955 from Kelly High School.

After high school, he helped on the family farm. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956 and was discharged in 1958. While in the Marine Corps, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and at Camp Pendleton in Bakersfield, California.

He married Joan Marie Dosch on September 16, 1967 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Topeka, KS. She died June 11, 1998.

William was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton for over 40 years and a member of the Grand Lodge of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, Lodge No. 378.

He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Craig Gerald Steinlage on July 16, 1968, his parents, and brothers Elmer, John and Gerald.

William worked at Santa Fe in Topeka as a machinist until he retired in 1999 after 38 years of service. Shortly after William and Joan were married they moved to Holton and purchased a farm. William raised cattle on the farm and gardened. Some years, he had as many as three gardens. William was a man’s man. He liked to hunt and fish and would take his dogs raccoon hunting, in the dark, on a Friday night. William would help strangers who got stuck in the ditch by his house, even sometimes after being awakened in the middle of the night following a snow storm. After his retirement, he worked and helped his neighbor and friend Walt deliver tires to other Midwestern and Northern parts of the country for Walt’s tire business. In November 2017, he moved into Oak Creek Assisted Living in Topeka.

He is survived by his son, Dr. Eric Steinlage, Bentonville AR, grandson, Cole Steinlage, his daughter, Renee Ward, Holton, granddaughter Isabela Ward, brother, Marvin Steinlage, Seneca sisters, Mary Ann Olberding, Seneca, Arlene Lowe Lisa, Fountain Valley, CA, Verna Strathman, Topeka and Joella (Larry) King, Hoyt, many friends and neighbors and his Oak Creek family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 23rd at St Dominic Catholic Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Holton. William will lie in state after 9:00 a.m. Thursday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton in Holton where a Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, followed by visitation until 8:00. Memorials are suggested to the National Ataxia Foundation and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1034, Holton, KS 66436.

 

Gilbert R. Pickett
1915 2019

Gilbert R. Pickett, 103, St. Joseph, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2019, at Mosaic Life Center.

Gilbert was born in Stewartsville, Missouri, on July 21, 1915 to Ritchey and Mamie Pickett. On December 21, 1942, he married Maxine Elizabeth Eden. They adored each other for 70 years, and their marriage was an inspiration to all who knew them.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by his siblings, Buford Pickett and Evelyn Hamann, his wife, Maxine, and by his son, John Pickett.

Survivors: son, Steve Pickett, St. Joseph; daughters: Nancy (Mort) Nelson, St. Joseph; Ruth Anne (Carl) Cox, Ashburn, Virginia; grandchildren: Dan (Kate) Nelson, Kansas City; Katie (Jonathan Lu) Nelson, Toronto, Canada; Carla (Britton) Formisano, Reston, Virginia; and Andrew Cox, Arlington, Virginia; three great-grandchildren; longtime friend: Al Zach; special caregivers: Amber Allsbury (honorary granddaughter), Denise McNeiley, Anastasia Ward, Arleen O’Banion, and many others.

Gilbert graduated as valedictorian of Stewartsville High School in 1934 and met Maxine while both were working at the Paris Department Store. He was inducted into the Army in 1942 and stationed in Oahu. Following the war, he learned construction estimating and after years of hard work became the president of Lawhon Construction Company.

Briefly summarizing the fullness of Gilbert’s life is impossible. He remembered when electricity and running water came to Stewartsville. He drove a Model T in his teens and learned to use a computer in his 80s. He knew tough times, watching his father lose his farm during the Depression and his son lose his mobility in a car accident. However, no matter the gravity of the challenge, Gilbert’s force of will and optimism carried him through. He lived through two world wars, serving in one, where he made lifelong friends, went AWOL for one day to marry the love of his life, and saved enough money playing checkers instead of carousing to later buy into the construction company.

Under his leadership, Lawhon completed many local projects, including construction of key buildings at Missouri Western State College and the downtown hotel, as well as renovation of the Missouri Theatre. He championed restoration before it was trendy, helping save the Patee House, the Buchanan County Courthouse, and the Landmark Building from destruction.

His middle age was dedicated to work, but in later years, family was everything. He credited his longevity to daily exercise and weekly lunches at Fredrick Inn with his best friend, Al. He loved the news, ice cream, libraries and cheese, not necessarily in that order. Everyone who knew Gilbert—for days or for decades—valued his generosity, integrity, and boundless enthusiasm. On his last day, Gilbert enjoyed one final happy hour with his grandkids, and a few hours later exited this world, eager to see his beloved Maxine and John.

The funeral will be held on Monday, March 18 at 9 am at Heaton Bowman Smith Chapel in St. Joseph. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

 

Jack Newton Lowrey
1939 – 2019

Jack Newton Lowrey went to be with his Lord on March 15, 2019, at his home in Hoyt, Kansas. He was born on January 1, 1939, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Willard and Elsie (Cooper) Lowrey.

Jack graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1957 and worked in Hutchinson and later Topeka as a cabinet maker. He retired from the Kansas Museum of History in 2003 as a carpenter. After retirement he worked as a cabinet maker, building custom cabinets for other builders. He also will be remembered for the Memorial Box that he built for the Hoyt City Park.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Current, Etta Hubbard, Elva Jean Walker, brother Jerry Lowrey, and brothers-in-law Claude Campbell and Mike Campbell.

Jack married Nancy Phillips in 1968. They divorced. He later married C. Sue (Campbell) Joy on March 3, 1990 in Las Vegas.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Lowrey; sister Linda Anderson and sister-in-law Nona Lowrey, both of Hutchinson; children Pam Rios, Topeka; Steven (Julie) Lowrey, Shawnee; Tamra (Todd) Nincehelser, and Terry (Chris) Joy of Topeka; Tracy (Holly) Joy, Ardmore, OK; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Donnie Campbell, Meriden; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 19th at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt. Burial will follow in the Hoyt Cemetery. Jack will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home where a visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Interim Home Care and Hospice, Topeka, KS, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 280, Hoyt, KS 66440.

 

Shawn Beattie
1966 – 2019

Shawn Richards Beattie 52, of Savannah, Mo. passed away at Mosaic Hospital, St. Joseph, March 16, 2019.

Shawn was born to David Allen (D.A.) and Donna Richards Beattie, August 26, 1966.

He was a 1984 graduate of North Andrew High School. Shawn worked in the family business, Beattie Grocery in Rosendale until his injury in an accident in 1990. Rosendale was his hometown until he moved to Savannah in the fall of 2016. For several years the highlight of his week has been playing cards and visiting with friends at Carters and Harry O’s. He was blessed by his life long friendship with Kent Atkins, and also the help of many caregivers.

He is survived by brother David and Karen Beattie, Rosendale, Sisters, Dawn and Donnie Blair and Debbie and Caryl Walker of Savannah; Sharon and Larry Wall, Columbia; Candy and Mark Sheehan, St. Joseph and Cindy Neely, Country Club; and 14 nieces and nephews.

At his request Mr. Beattie has been cremated under the direction of Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. A private family inurnment will be held.

Police identify man who died in NE Kansas shooting

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have released details on a suspect vehicle.

Police on the scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy WIBW TV

Just before 9p.m. Saturday, police responded to the report of a shooting in the 1100 block of SW Hillsdale Street in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble.

Officers found a victim identified as 25-year-old Robert McKinsey James, unresponsive in the yard suffering what appeared to be several gunshot wounds.

Officers were able to secure the scene and first responders performed first aid on McKinsey. He was transported to an area hospital where he died, according to Trimble.

The suspect vehicle is described as an older, boxy, dark colored SUV that was seen fleeing from the area shortly after the shooting. The SUV had several occupants, according to Trimble.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Topeka Police.

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