William Morford Passes Away

William E. "Bill" Morford, 58, passed away Friday, April 19, 2019 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

 He was born January 18, 1961 at Onaga, the son of Rey E. and Patricia A. Cassity Morford. Bill grew up in the Delia/Emmett communities and graduated from St. Marys High School in 1979.

 Bill worked for the local COOP from 1979 until his retirement this year, working for Farmers Union COOP, Nemaha Valley COOP and then Ag Partners COOP. He played guitar and sang in the Wilson Flicker Band. Bill was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 657 in St. Marys. He coached baseball and softball. He truly enjoyed fishing, woodworking and cars, and loved all of his family.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, David; and his daughter, Kristin Dee Morford on July 4, 2010.

 On May 28, 1983 he was united in marriage to Nancy L. Flerlage at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Marys. She survives of the home.

 Other survivors include his son, Daniel Morford, Wichita; a brother, Arthur Morford, Topeka; three sisters, Diana (Bob) Dolezilek, Holton, Deborah (Richard) Beasterfeld, Belvue and Jean Holt, Holton; several nieces and nephews.

 Memorial contributions may be made to the Johnson Cancer Research Center at KSU and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To leave online condolences go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

 Mass and Visitation/Rosary times will be announced as soon as they become available.

Taylor Kirk & Washburn Softball

    Washburn U. played two softball games against Northeastern State University on April 19.
    W. U. lost the first game 3-1 in which Taylor Kirk was hitless in 4 at-bats.
    The Ichabods were more successful in game two winning that 10-3.  Taylor had 2 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 walk,  and scored 2 runs in 3 at-bats.     One of her hits was a home run.

    Washburn U. played two games against on April 20.
    W.U. won the first game 5-1 with Taylor getting 1 hit, 1 run and 3 RBIs in 3 at-bats.  Her hit was a home run.
    Washburn lost the second game 3-4.  Taylor got 3 hits and 1 run in 3 at-bats.  One of her hits was a double. 

    So far this season,  Taylor is batting .366 with a .745 slugging average.  She has hit 13 of the team's 24 home runs.  Of her 56 hits,  13 have been doubles, 3 have been triples and 13 home runs.  Over half of her hits have been for extra bases.

Don't Text When Driving

TOPEKA, Kan, (WIBW) -- AAA Kansas hopes a new campaign convinces high school students that distracted driving is socially unacceptable.  Two women share their stories of how easy an accident can happen and a phone call or text can wait.

Jacque Tierce and Shiane Wondra shared their experiences with distracted driving during an assembly for Rossville and Silver Lake Students Wednesday morning.

Tierce lost her daughter, Danielle, last year in an accident.

“She had been texting on Snapchat while she was driving and she rear-ended the back end of a semi going 65 to 70 miles an hour. She didn’t brake. She didn’t see it coming,” she told students.

Wondra, a high school student, was involved in a similar crash.

“Back in August of 2018 I was headed up to Horse Thief Reservoir to go tubing with my family, and I was Snapchatting my friend and rear-ended a semi going 70 miles an hour,” she said.

Tierce and Wondra shared their stories in hopes students think twice about texting and driving.

“Their life is more important than just a text message or a Snapchat,” Wondra added.

Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas said 59% of all teen crashes involve distracted driving.

“So it’s really becoming as much or bigger of an issue than drunk driving,” he said.

Tierce and Wondra said their experiences affected many people.

“My other friend that I was testing she still feels bad that I wrecked texting her, and it was about something that completely could have waited,” Wondra said.

They hope another family does not experience what they have.

“Losing my daughter even though I wasn’t there when the crash happened I relive that crash when I’m driving behind a semi,” Tierce added.

Tierce created an “I love you more box” to get people to put down their phones. Drivers are supposed to decorate the box with things that they love and put their phones inside when driving. She hopes it will get people thinking of all the things they love and could leave behind if they use their phone while driving. 

Dawgs Split Against Sabetha Baseball

    Rossville and Sabetha (9-1) split their baseball double header on April 18.
    The Dawgs lost game one 5-2 but came back to win the second game 10-9 to keep their season record even at 6-6.

Game 1
Sabetha       0  2  1  2  0  0  0    5
Rossville     0  0  2  0  0  0  0    2

Leathers got the only hit and the only RBI in the game.  Aiden Garcia was the losing pitcvher allowing 13 hits and 5 runs.  He allowed 2 walks and had 3 strike-outs in his 7 innings of work.

Game 2
No info available at this time but Rossville won 10-9.

Rossville Inv. Track

    Thirteen schools sent teams to the Rossville Invitational Track and Field meet on April 18.  Ourstanding performances were turned in by:
Jordan Bittner   4th in 100 M Hurdles
Briar Gillum     1st in Shot Put
Trevor Johnson 1st in 200 M Dash
     "          "        2nd in 100 M Dash

Royal Valley Inv. Track

    Royal Valley hosted their Invitaional Track and Field meet April 12.  Outstanding performances were turned in by:
Julia Streit         3rd 1600 M
Jordan Bittner   4th  300 M Hurdles
Briar Gillum     1st  Shot Put
Mary Shults      4th Shot Put
Trevor Johnson 1st 200 M Dash

The RHS girls finished 7th of 10 teams and the boys finished 7th of 9 teams.

Area Pitching, Batting Leaders

Baseball Area Stat Leaders per the Capital-Journal

Batting

Average — Gruber, Sabetha, .682; Reed, Oskaloosa, .667; Kulp, Riley County, .625; Moore, Mission Valley, .615; A. Holle, Riley County, .594; G. Harmison, Riley County, .578; Baumgardner, Emporia, .565; Lin, Maur Hill, .565; Roever, Marysville, .560; Co. Phillips, Mission Valley, .545; Hamm, Oskaloosa, .542; Argabright, Sabetha, .526; D. Williams, Perry-Lecompton, .522; D. Schmelzle, Sabetha, .520; B. Smith, Santa Fe Trail, .517; L. Brown, Wabaunsee, .515; McDaniel, Junction City, .514; Black, Maur Hill, .500; Hough, Mission Valley, .500; B. Jackson, Rossville, .500; J. Stewart, Emporia, .500; Hegwald, Burlington, .486; Wagner, Emporia, .481.

Pitching

Wins — McDaniel, Junction City, 5; Siebenmorgen, Maur Hill, 5; Argabright, Sabetha, 3; Moreno, Hiawatha, 3; Slupianek, Marysville, 3; Worthley, Sabetha, 3; Caudle, Maur Hill, 2; Crome, Marysville, 2; Hay, Silver Lake, 2; Lindstrom, Silver Lake, 2; Marcotte, Mission Valley, 2; Moore, Mission Valley, 2; Ca. Phillips, Mission Valley, 2; Platt, Mission Valley, 2; Reeves, Rossville, 2; Roever, Marysville, 2; Shufflebarger, Oskaloosa, 2; Wagner, Emporia, 2.

ERA — Argabright, Sabetha, 0.00; Byrne, Silver Lake, 0.00; Roever, Marysville, 0.00; Shalkoski, Wellsville, 0.00; Slupianek, Marysville, 0.00; Worthley, Sabetha, 0.56; Rosenow, Clay Center, 0.65; Donovan, Wellsville, 0.78; Ecord, West Franklin, 0.78; Haggard, Marysville, 0.87; Showalter, Wellsville, 1.00; Garcia, Rossville, 1.19; Lindstrom, Silver Lake, 1.25; Reeves, Rossville, 1.26; Siebenmorgen, Maur Hill, 1.29; Caudle, Maur Hill, 1.34

Strikeouts — Rosenow, Clay Center, 45; McDaniel, Junction City, 44; C. Williams, Osage City, 38; Ca. Phillips, Mission Valley, 37; Moreno, Hiawatha, 33; Berckefeldt, Santa Fe Trail, 27; Caudle, Maur Hill, 27; Reeves, Rossville, 27; Siebenmorgen, Maur Hill, 27; Lindstrom, Silver Lake, 26; Pruyser, Silver Lake, 26; Spiker, Doniphan West, 26; Garcia, Santa Fe Trail, 25; Moore, Mission Valley, 25; 

SOFTBALL Area stat leaders per Capital-Journal

Batting

Average — Kippes, Rossville, .692; Ogden, Royal Valley, .655; Easter, Lyndon, .636; Higgs, Chase County, .632; Servaes, Atchison, .632; Kirkpatrick, Osage City, .588; Scott, Rock Creek, .588; Butler, Council Grove, .586; Walter, West Franklin, .583; Lundin, Rossville, .571; Mead, Santa Fe Trail, .568; Lutz, Holton, .565; H. Serna, Osage City, .556; Bledsoe, Chapman, .525; Hafenstine, Wabaunsee, .524; Ross, Atchison, .524; Doles, Lyndon, .520; Masters, Burlingame, .519; Bolyard, Osage City, .517; Tubach, Chase County, .515; Heath, Wellsville, .500; Martin, Mission Valley, .500; Mosby, Rock Creek, .500; Utz, Holton, .500

Home runs — Reg. Curry, Oskaloosa, 4; Higgs, Chase County, 4; Kippes, Rossville, 4; Kirkpatrick, Osage City, 4; Boeckman, Holton, 3; Flewelling, Holton, 3; Lundin, Rossville, 3; Lutz, Holton; Martin, Mission Valley, 3; Calvaruzo, Mission Valley, 2; Hafenstine, Wabaunsee, 2; Halupa, Mission Valley, 2; Hoelscher, Wabaunsee, 2; Oliver, Wabaunsee, 2; Roberts, Mission Valley, 2; Sage, Osage City, 2; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 2; A. Serna, Osage City, 2; H. Serna, Osage City, 2.

RBI — H. Serna, Osage City, 25; Kirkpatrick, Osage City, 21; Higgs, Chase County, 20; Kippes, Rossville, 20; Calvaruzo, Mission Valley, 19; Lundin, Rossville, 18; Harrison, St. Marys, 16; Bolyard, Osage City, 14; Daugherty, Royal Valley, 14; Martin, Mission Valley, 14; Sage, Osage City, 14; A. Serna, Osage City, 14; Boeckman, Holton, 13; Bruce, Atchison, 13; Elmer, Royal Valley, 13; Halupa, Mission Valley, 13; Lockmiller, Chase County, 13; Ogden, Royal Valley, 13; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 13; Flewelling, Holton, 12; Hinterweger, Santa Fe Trail, 12; Mead, Santa Fe Trail, 12; Norfleet, Atchison, 12; Rabe, Rossville, 12; 

Stolen bases — Mead, Santa Fe Trail, 17; Servaes, Atchison, 16; Hysten, Atchison, 14; Murray, Mission Valley, 13; Bledsoe, Chapman, 12; Winters, Burlingame, 12; Bruce, Atchison, 11; Deters, Mission Valley, 9; Kirkpatrick, Osage City, 9; Rockhold, Oskaloosa, 9; Spradley, Atchison, 9; Hultgren, Osage City, 8; Lewis, Burlingame, 8; Easter, Lyndon, 7; M. Miller, Oskaloosa, 7; Ross, Atchison, 7; Servaes, Atchison, 7; Zemek, Rossville, 7

Pitching

Wins — H. Serna, Osage City, 11; Tubach, Chase County, 6; Akerstrom, Mission Valley, 5; Gallagher, Holton, 4; Garrett, Jefferson West, 4; Jor. Harrison, St. Marys, 4; Jos. Harrison, St. Marys, 4; Magette, Wabaunsee, 4; Masters, Burlingame, 4; Stember, Oskaloosa, 4; Allen, Council Grove, 3; Lutz, Holton, 3; Martin, Mission Valley, 3; J. Miller, Council Grove, 3; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 3; Fischer, Lyndon, 2; Gering, Atchison, 2; Harding, Royal Valley, 2; Joslin, Royal Valley, 2; Kesinger, Oskaloosa, 2; Kippes, Rossville, 2; Long, Santa Fe Trail, 2; Rabe, Rossville, 2; Rogers, Lyndon, 2; C. Smith, Atchison, 2; Walter, West Franklin, 2.

ERA — Jos. Harrison, St. Marys, 0.26; Tubach, Chase County, 0.77; S. Allen, Council Grove, 1.62; Jor. Harrison, St. Marys, 2.21; H. Serna, Osage City, 2.23; Stember, Oskaloosa, 2.36; Lundin, Rossville, 2.52; Kippes, Rossville, 2.86; Duer, Chapman, 3.00;

Strikeouts — H. Serna, Osage City, 78; Tubach, Chase County, 52; Masters, Burlingame, 50; Jos. Harrison, St. Marys, 45; Duer, Chapman, 41; Walter, West Franklin, 38; Akerstrom, Mission Valley, 35; Stember, Oskaloosa, 35; S. Allen, Council Grove, 30; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 28; R. Allen, Riley County, 27; Long, Santa Fe Trail, 27; Kippes, Rossville, 26; Robertson, Central Heights, 24; Wilson, Northern Heights, 24; Haverkamp, Rock Creek, 22; Magette, Wabaunsee, 21; Gallagher, Holton, 20; J. Miller, Council Grove, 20; Harding, Royal Valley, 17; Hull, Wellsville, 17; Rabe, Rossville, 17; Rogers, Lyndon, 17; Decavele, MdCV, 16; Lundin, Rossville, 16; Bones, Central Heights, 15.

Baseball At Anderson Co.

    The baseball team played Anderson Co. at home on April 15, winning the first game 9-1, but losing the second 6-1.

Katie Glotzbach Is Student Of The Week

The student  of the week is  Katie Glotzbach who has been recognized by her peers as someone who is caring and compassionate to her teachers and her peers. She keeps a positive attitude and shares that positivity with others.

All-School Reunion For 2019

Mark your calendar.  

Rossville High School Reunion. 

Dinner and Scholarship presentation will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at the Dekat Parish Center in Rossville.  Social Hour begins at 4:00 with a catered dinner served at 6:00.  Scholarship winners will be introduced and a short program will follow.  All Rossville High graduates are welcome to attend.  Invitations to previous attendees will be mailed the middle of April.  For questions or to be included on the mailing list, call June at 785-584-6080 or email June Burgett at meburg@embarqmail.com.

RHS Alumni Found. Scholarships

Rossville High Alumni Foundation will be awarding three $1,500 scholarships this Spring.   These scholarships are funded by the Alumni Foundation and a grant from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.  Any graduating senior planning to continue their education in college, vocational-tech or trade school is eligible to apply for these scholarships.   The scholarship application is available at the High School.

Mitchell/Hammer Fundraiser

Mallory Mitchell/Kyle Hammer Fundraiser - Scott Helmer Style

 Hosted by Rossville American Legion, Post 31
Friday April 19

Dawgs & Santa Fe Trail Split

    The baseball team split with Santa Fe Trail on Friday, April 24.The Dawgs dominated the first game winning 12-0.  But the second was a close 4-3 loss.  The Dawgs still have an even record at 4-4.

Taylor Kirk At WU Softball This Weekend

WU  played U. of Nebraska-Kearney twice on Fri, April 12, losing the first 9-5 and winning the second 8-2.
Taylor Kirk had no hits or walks in game one,  going 0 for 4 at-bats,
In game two,  Taylor had 1 hit, 2 RBIs and one walk in 2 at-bats.

On Sat., April 13, Washburn played Ft. Hays twice, winning the first  11-2  and losing the second 6-4.
In game one, Taylor and 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 RBI and 1 walk in  2 at-bats,
In game two,  she had 2 hits, 1 run, and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats.

Through Saturday's games,  Taylor has a team leading  .727 slugging average and a .360 batting average.  She has hit 11 of the team's 22 home runs.  She leads the team in walks with 15.