Willard Bridge $6Mil Under Budget

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) The Shawnee County Commission put the final cost of replacing the Willard Bridge under $6 million dollars.

Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approved a last change order to the county's contract with the company who replaced the Willard Bridge, bringing the budget down another $15,000. The vote puts the total cost of the bridge project at just over $17,900,000, $6 million less than the $24,700,000 budgeted.

The project was also finished three months ahead of schedule.

Commissioners complimented the County's Public Works Department for their hard work.

Foreign Exchange Students In Rossville

Julie Spring has hosted four foreign exchange students who have attended Rossville Jr/Sr High. 

The school is currently hosting nine visiting students through the Academic Year 

in America program that has an estimated 50 students in Kansas this school year.

    Rossville High is very involved in hosting foreign exchange students from around the world, typically as many at ten at one time.    You can read about the program at:
http://cjonline.com/education-local-state/2016-01-10/rossville-residents-gain-cultural-perspective-through-interactions

3A Wrestling Rankings

     The new KWCA wrestling rankings are out after a three week hiatus.  Iasiah Luellen is still in his customary position as number one in the 160# class for 3-2-1A.    Holden Hurla has moved up to third place in the 152# class. 
     Wabaunsee, Silver Lake, Riley Co.,   are in the 7-9 positions.    Wabaunsee has seniors Tubbs and Drogemeier holding down the top position the 132# and 138# classes,  which has been quite normal for the two competitors. 
     The complete rankings can be read at:
http://www.kansaswrestling.org/rankings

Morelli and Stipp Make All-State

    Results from the All-State auditions in Salina on Saturday, January 6th are in. Rossville had two clarinets make the 1A-4A All-State band again this year.  Taylor Morelli and Ava Stipp will travel to Wichita on February 22-24 to rehearse and perform with this premier group! 
     Although not selected this year, a big congratulations is in order for Bryson Hase and Meagan Huston as well.  Simply making it to the All-State audition is a huge task, and a testament to how hard these students have worked.  Ava has made Rossville history by become the first EVER to be a two-time All-State member.  Since students can only audition for All-State as a 10th-12th grader (current KSHSAA rules), being a two-time or three-time member is extremely rare, and a very prestigious honor.

Student of the Week

     Dawson Schaefer used his talents as a trumpet player to play the Star Spangled Banner for the Wrestling tournament. The school received several compliments on his behalf and it set the tone for a great wrestling meet.

Ernest Rezac Passes Away

Ernest E. "Ernie" Rezac, 85, passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at the Medical Lodge of Jackson County in Holton.

He was born October 28, 1932 at Emmett, the son of Ernest W. and Ruby Steele Rezac. He grew up in the Rossville community and attended Twin Rose Country School. Ernie graduated from Rossville High School. He served in the US Army during the Korean War from February 10, 1953 until January 18, 1955.

Ernie was a farmer and stockman all of his life. He raised cattle into his 80's.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter Nancy Dickerson in 1986.

On December 13, 1952, he was united in marriage to Martha Wood in Rossville. They just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include his son, David (Vicki) Rezac, Delia; his daughter, Janice (Dennis) Prior, Rossville; a brother, Darrel Rezac, Rossville; 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Rossville Cemetery. Mr. Rezac will lie in state and the family will receive friends on Friday, January 12, 2018, from 6:00 until 7:30 P.M. at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. Interment is in the Rossville Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be given to Croix Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St, St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To leave online condolences please go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

3A Girls Basketball Rankings

3A GIRLS Basketball Rankings by Capital-Journal

    Team                      … record

1. TMP-Marian (2)        … 7-1
2. Garden Plain (3)      … 7-0
3. Nemaha Central (1) … 7-1
4. Haven (5)                 … 7-0
5. Halstead (NR)          … 8-0

Others — Beloit 6-1, Council Grove 6-1, Eureka 6-2, Hesston 6-2, Kingman 6-1,
MIssion Valley 6-2, Norton 5-2, Riley County 5-2, Rossville 6-2, Russell 6-2, Scott
City 5-1, Sterling 6-2, St. Marys 4-2, Wellsville 4-2, Wichita Independent 5-2.

Andrew Sopoci Killed In Accident

Andrew Tyler "Drew" Sopoci of Maple Hill was killed in an auto accident near Alma on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 12, 2018 at the St. Mary's United Methodist Church.  Interment will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery.  Drew will lie in state and the family will receive friends Thursday, January 11, 2018 from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. at Piper Funeral Home in St. Mary's.  To read his complete obituary or leave an online condolence please go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Rossville Invitational Wrestling Tournament (Updated)

1 Sabetha, KS Sabetha,                            11   164.0
2 Riverside, KS Wathena-Riverside,         10   148.5
3 Santa Fe Trail, KS Santa Fe Trail           10   143.5
4 Perry LeCompton, KS Perry-Lecompton 11   135.5
5 Riley County, KS Riley County                11   131.0
6 Rossville, KS Rossville,                            9    127.5
7 Clay Center, KS Clay Center                   11    119.0
8 Shawnee Mission East, KS                     10    109.0
9 Wellington, KS Wellington                       11    107.5
10 Royal Valley, KS royal valley                 10      88.0
11 St Marys, KS St. Marys,                          6      69.0
12 Doniphan West, KS                                 4      45.0
13 Pleasant Ridge, KS Easton-Pleasant Ridge, 4 43.0
14 Atchison-Maur Hill-Mount Academy, KS 10    34.0
15 Hayden, KS Topeka-Hayden                    7     31.0
16 Belleville-Republic County                       9     28.0
17 Atchison County, KS Atchison                  8     27.0

The complete results can be read at:    www.kansaswrestling.org.  Click on Results, Varsity Tournaments, 1/6/17, Rossville, 17-18.

The following seems to only work sometimes.

http://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&loadBalanced=true&sport=wrestling&TIM=1515366232707&pageName=&ie=false&frameSize=949

Individual Rossville Results were:

Zach Archer (7-12) 106# placed 3rd, 13.5 pts
Lost to BradenWoodson (Perry-Lecompton), beat J R Thelwell (Riley Co), beat Eathen Seager (Mauer Hill), beat Braden Woodson for third.

Layne Hurla (13-4) 113# placed 2nd , scored 20.5 pts
Beat Leif Malm (Mauer Hill), beat Dalton Kahle (Perry-Lecompton) and lost to Kaden Dillon (Sabetha) (12-0) in championship match.

Alex Archer (8-12) 120# scored 3 pts.
First round bye, lost to Parker Tholstrup (Clay Center), beat Nico Munson (Doniphan W.), lost to Wyatt Pringle (Perry-Lecompton)

Colin Culbertson (2-9) 126#
Lost to Beau Horn(Riverside) (16-1), lost to Caleb McEntire (Royal Valley).
 
Marvin Cummings (1-7) 132# placed 6th, 6 pts.
First round bye, lost to Braden Mitchell (Sabetha), rcvd bye, beat Mitchell Root (Perry-Lecompton), lost to Jace Jones (Shawnee Mission E., lost to Quinton Redford (Wellington).

Garrett Carver (16-5) 145# Placed 3rd, 16 pts.
Beat Zach Jeanneret (Santa Fe Trail), Lost to Brandon Brownlee (Sabetha), beat Andrew Schmidt (Shawnee Mission E.).

Holden Hurla (11-2) 152# p;laced 1st, scored 26 pts
Beat John Gorman (Shawnee Mission E.), beat Karsen Smith (Royal Valley), beat Caleb Jeanneret (Santa Fe Trail).

Isaiah Luellen (5-0 placed 1st 26 pts.
Beat Dakota Garrison(Santa Fe Trail) beat Brayden Seimears (Riverside), beat Zeb Speer (Doniphan W.).

Kody Davoren (12-7) 220 @ placed 3rd 18 pts.
Beat Clayton Stephenson (Hayden) beat Collin Rossillion (Perry Lecompton), lost to Justin Schuman (Shawnee Mission E.) (9-2) beat Nathan Raignell (Riley Co), beat Reice Randles (Santa Fe Trail).

MEL Basketball Standings

Mid-East League basketball standings as of Jan 6, 2017
Boys            League  Overall

Rock Creek  … 4-0 … 7-0
Silver Lake   … 3-1 … 6-1
St. Marys      … 1-2 … 4-2
Riley County … 1-2 … 4-3
Wabaunsee  … 0-2 … 3-3
Rossville       … 0-2 … 1-7

Girls           League  Overall

Rossville       … 2-0 … 6-2
Wabaunsee   … 2-0 … 5-1
St. Marys       … 2-1 … 4-2
Riley County  … 2-2 … 5-2
Silver Lake     … 1-3 … 1-6
Rock Creek    … 0-4 … 0-7
Note:  This is based on a Jan 4 list published in the Capital which has an error.
One of the girl's teams has an extra loss.  Results from Jan 5 were added to that list.

New School Classification

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL FOR 2018-2019

Range: 178-116 Students

Atchison County 118; Belle Plaine 145; Central Heights 128; Chaparral 158; Cherryvale 157; Cimarron 153; Conway Springs 136; Council Grove 156; Douglass 160; Ellinwood 116; Ellsworth 148; Erie 130; Eureka 126; Fredonia 171; Garden Plain 125; Hoisington 163; Horton 122; Humboldt 131; Hutchinson Trinity 144; Jayhawk-Linn 127; Lakin 129; Lyons 144; McLouth 125; Minneapolis 128; Maur Hill 165; Mission Valley 132; Nemaha Central 153; Neodesha 156; Northeast-Arma 117; Norton 167; Osage City 165; Oskaloosa 120; Phillipsburg 147; Pleasant Ridge 160; Remington 122; Riley County 178; Riverside 138; Riverton 176; Rossville 122; Silver Lake 151; St. Marys 136; Sterling 119; Southeast-Cherokee 121; Southeast-Saline 146; Southwestern Heights 143; TMP-Marian 149; West Franklin 140; Wichita Indpendent 125.

Wabaunsee is in 1A and Rock Creek is in 3A.

Boys BB At Riley Co. (Updated)

    The Dawgs were down only 4 points (47-43) with one minute remaining in the game.  However, their desperation fouling to increase possessions resulted in a final score of 55-43 in favor of Riley Co.

    You can see video of the Silver Lake-Rock Creek and Wabaunsee-St. Marys games at:
http://ksnt.com/2018/01/05/full-court-press-01-05-18/

    No box scores of the games in the Capital-Journal  as of 8:30 AM on Sat.  Finally posted on the RHS web site on Jan. 10.

Riley County    9 12 14  20  =  55

Rossville        10   8   8  17  =  43

Rossville scoring:
Brummer           1 (1)     0-0    3
Quiett                4 (2)      0-0  10
Morris                1 (1)      1-3    4
Badura               0           0-2    0
Reeves              1            0-0    2
Hulbert               6            5-6  17
Sumner              2            0-1    4
Sowers               1           1-2     3 
Totals                14 (3)    7-14   43

    

Girls BB Game At Riley Co. (Updated)

The Riley Co.-RHS girls basketball game was tied 50-50 at the end of regulation time forcing and Overtime period. 

After falling 7 points behind in the 2nd quarter,  Rossville closed the gap and led by 1 at the end of the 3rd.  The  Dawgs then led until the closing minutes of the fourth quarter,  when Riley Co. closed the gap at the end to tie the game.

In the overtime,  Rossville scored 4 points and Riley  2 points resulting in a Dawg victory.

Rossville        6 10 17  17  4 -- 54

Riley County  6 17   9  18  2 -- 52

Rossville scoring:

Buhler             5 (5)     1-2     16 

Hill                   7          2-3     16 

Porter              4          2-3     10
Badura            3          2-2       8 

Kirk                 1          0-1       2 

Anderson        1          0-2       2  

Totals             21 (5)   7-15    54

Eugene Spetter Passes Away

Eugene N. Spetter, 92, Delia, passed away Friday, December 29, 2017, at the St. Mary’s Health Center.

Eugene was born March 3, 1925, at home on a dairy farm on the outskirts of Topeka, Ks., the son of Otis and Sophe Polenek Spetter. Eugene married Nellie Dain at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church on May 1, 1950. She preceded him in death on October 13, 2007. Eugene retired from Ed Marlings as a TV technician in 1988. He dearly loved the game of golf and played his last game at the age of 89. He was very proud of the fact he made a total of 5 holes in one!

Eugene is survived by his children Judy (Verlon) Cress, Sarah (Mike Richmond) Bahner, Cecil (Anna) Spetter, Ramona "Cookie" (Dan) Kochaniec, Patti (Richard) Jordan & Leo Sam Spetter, 26 Grandkids, 46 Great-Grandkids, & 8 Great-Great-Grandkids. He was predeceased by his parents, 4 brothers, 4 sisters and 2 grandsons, Sean Donnelly & John Kochaniec.

Eugene was cremated. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 5, 2018, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka, Ks. The funeral service will begin at Noon.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society , 1315 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604.

Family graveside services will be held on the dairy farm where he was born which is now West Lawn Memorial Gardens, I-70 & Auburn Road.