2x2 AD Ready...Set...Go In our exclusive Ready...Set...Go program, experienced therapists work one-on-one with residents to return their ability to successfully care for themselves again. Let us help you get back on the dance floor. 1615 Parker Avenue | Osawatomie, Kansas 66064 | 913.755.4165 | 913.755.6780 Fax 38481 – ONE U.S. DOLLAR – Probitas, December 29, 2015 virtus, integritas in summa. SINCE 1865 • 150th Year, No. 21 Bush City, Colony, Garnett, Greeley, Harris, Kincaid, Lone Elm, Mont Ida, Scipio, Selma, Welda, Westphalia – KANSAS www.garnett-ks.com | (785) 448-3121 | [email protected] Contents ©Copyright 2011 Garnett Publishing, Inc. The Anderson County Review REMEMBERING Winter storm Celebrating our 2015. covers area in 150th birthday Stories from the snow, ice. th year on page 3B. throughout 2015! See page 1B. 1865 – 2015 Photos on page 6B. 150 E-statements & Internet Banking Member FDIC Since 1899 (785) 448-3111 Hospital’s next Headline CEO named Out with the old... since 2013. In that role he devel- Rich McKain named to oped and implemented system- ized policies and procedures and in with the new succeed longtime CEO for nine dif- ferent depart- Hachenberg in January ments within BY VICKIE MOSS THE ANDERSON COUNTY REVIEW radiology, according to a Dec. 22 press GARNETT - The next leader of release from Anderson County Hospital has Saint Luke’s. been announced. Before that, Rich McKain, who has 13 McKain years of experience with Saint held numer- McKain Luke’s Health System, will take ous leader- the reins of the local hospital ship roles within the health Jan. 11, 2016. He replaces long- system including Director of time CEO Denny Hachenberg, Operations, Physician Practice who announced his retirement Management with Saint Luke’s in October and will leave the Medical Group, and Director post Jan. 8. of Outpatient Services at Saint McKain joined Saint Luke’s Luke’s South Hospital. In his Above, Tom Adams works in 2003 and most recently various roles at Saint Luke’s to demolish what had been served as Director of Radiology McKain has experienced great the Long Term Care Unit of Services, a position he has held Anderson County Hospital SEE HOSPITAL ON PAGE 5A March 20. Demolition of the old hospital building made room for a new parking lot for Peine offers parting the new hospital just west of the former facility. Vehicles round the Flat Iron shot on sidewalk issue Corner at Lake Garnett during a parade lap at the Lake offer. Garnett Grand Prix Revival Park Road should be Garnett officials have been Saturday, Oct. 10. The event working since 2009 on a plan priority despite its many was a throwback to the lake’s to improve sidewalk access historic racing days. within the city to meet require- challenges, Peine says ments of the Americans with BY VICKIE MOSS THE ANDERSON COUNTY REVIEW Disabilities Act (ADA), after a citizen’s complaint brought Growing pains highlighted 2015 stories GARNETT - As his last act as mandates from state regulators. Garnett city commissioner, That complaint sparked a muti- Residents, business and up their vehicles with cheap- a 15-year-old. But Spellmeier Preston Peine asked for an year plan that would provide Child sex crime was governments struggled at er gasoline while businesses not only violated the trust and update on an issue that has improved sidewalk and hand- times to balance the need for that rely on the oil and gas innocence of a young girl, he plagued city leaders for years: icapped access to key areas of top story in 2015, while a better standard of living industry laid off workers or also violated the public’s trust. City sidewalks. the city - namely, at city-owned against modern challenges. announced plans to close. He worked as an Emergency As what was supposed to buildings, to the downtown others address balance They debated the need for Many welcomed a new Medical Technician on the be a four-year plan to improve shopping areas and along U.S. BY VICKIE MOSS THE ANDERSON COUNTY REVIEW renewable energy against the health care facility even county ambulance crew for sidewalks in Garnett stretches 59 Highway. cost of damage to the scenic though it meant demolishing Anderson County Hospital into its seventh year, Peine said The plan was supposed to GARNETT - For the most part, landscape and property val- its historic former home. from 1995 to late 2014, as some- at the Dec. 29 city commission be completed by 2013, but for 2015 in Anderson County was ues. And governments at all lev- one who is supposed to help meeting he wanted to leave his the past three years it has been a year of growing pains. Motorists happily filled els worked to improve infra- the sick and injured in times post knowing the project would extended. structure, despite the costs. of crisis. He was a local fire- finally be completed. Peine, “We’re 98 percent done,” These were the big stories fighter until his arrest in May who was elected to his second Garnett City Manager Joyce that made headlines in 2015 — again, someone who is sup- term in April, resigned recently Martin said. in Anderson County, with one posed to help others during to move out of state to take a job SEE SIDEWALKS ON PAGE 5A exception. an emergency. And he was a The most compelling story law enforcement dispatcher, of the year both in public someone who is supposed to response and as voted by The make sure the right help is Racing club’s lake road Review staff had an entirely sent to the right people in the different tone. It was a viola- right place at the right time. tion of the worst kind – the In a year when the entire violation of a child’s inno- nation watched protest after request hits roadblock cence and the public’s trust. protest over police relations Top Story: with racial groups and the years, asked city commission- Former EMT, firefighter public, Spellmeier’s actions City commission says ers to close public access to the convicted of child rape only served to reinforce dis- lake during the 2016 event. The The conviction of Mike trust of those tasked with pro- no to request to close next event is scheduled for Oct. Spellmeier for raping a then- tecting the public. lake road during event 8-9, 2016. 10-year-old girl from late 2014 The case also served as a The vintage sports car event to early 2015, and the subse- reminder that the court sys- BY VICKIE MOSS THE ANDERSON COUNTY REVIEW brings classic race cars to Lake quent plea deal that sent him tem sometimes chooses to Garnett for various driving and to prison for about half the compromise to protect the GARNETT - City commission- car show events in honor of the time typically sentenced in public. In order to avoid hav- ers hit the brakes this week on a Grand Prix sports car races – such cases, outraged many ing Spellmeier’s victim trav- request to close a popular local national race events held at the readers. el from Texas to testify in lake during what has become a lake from the 1950s to 1970s. The Spellmeier’s actions, unfor- open court, Anderson County popular throw-back sports car lake road is closed during the tunately, were not unique. In Attorney Brandon Jones peti- event. driving events, but opened in January, a 71-year-old Colony tioned District Judge Eric C.B. Harris, a representa- the evening to allow access to man, George Voorhees, was Godderz to depart from the tive of the group that brings those who want to use the lake sentenced to about five years standard sentencing guide- the Lake Garnett Grand Prix for other recreational purposes. A vehicle navigates around cones in the roadway on 1600 Road (West Seventh Street) in July. The road work frustrated motorists, in prison for sex crimes against Revival to Lake Garnett each SEE STORIES ON PAGE 3A who said shoddy workmanship made for a difficult journey. two children, a 14-year-old and October for the past three SEE EVENT ON PAGE 3A Custom printed MAGNETIC SIGNS - Call the Review today (785) 448-3121 2A RECORD THE ANDERSON COUNTY REVIEW Tuesday, December 29, 2015 ANDERSON COUNTY BOARD OF Abatements Hannah N. Brooks, disposed Released December 22. Yates Benjamin Rosendahl, 28, COMMISSIONERS DEC. 14, Abatements B16‑128 through due to failure to appear. No fine Caleb Kent Chrisman, 23, Grain Osawatomie, was booked into jail B16‑131 were presented and listed. Valley MO, was booked into jail by Linn County Sheriff on suspi‑ Chairman Jerry Howarter called approved. Cameron Ray Copeland, $153 December 17 by Douglas County NEWS IN the meeting of the Anderson cion of theft. Bond set at $2,500. Meeting adjourned at 12:10 PM fine. Sheriff on suspicion of aggravated County Commission to order at Moses Alcozer, 38, Wahpeton due to no further business. Angela Nicole Eaton, $153 fine. burglary, aggravated kidnapping, 9:00 AM on December 14, 2015 ND, was booked into jail December Yocelyn F. Galvan, disposed aggravated robbery. Bond set at at the County Commission Room. LAND TRANSFERS 22 by Anderson County Sheriff BRIEF due to failure to appear. No fine $500,000. Attendance: Jerry Howarter, December 15, Billie R Ragner, on suspicion of burglary, criminal WRITE YOUR OWN STORY listed. Present: Eugene Highberger, James E Johnson To Daniel J Jessie Lee Forgy, 32, Topeka, damage to property, theft. Bond Do you want to leave a treasure Michael Scott Haberman, dis‑ Present: Leslie McGhee, Present.