Ellinwood Leader

08/12/2024

Ellinwood Pool

08/08/2024

08/07/2024

FOUND SAFE AND BACK HOME!

Please, help share this Missing Person Alert for Richard Stanley, a central Kansas man missing since this weekend.

Richard, 60, was last seen leaving Great Bend on Sunday, August 4. He was in a 2010 Chevy Impala with Kansas Tag # 162SGT. He did not show for his appointment that he was going to, his sister shares with me. “He has recently been very ill so we are concerned for his health,” his sister Jan says. “He is very friendly and will help anyone, which worries me.”

*These pics are from 8 years ago but he looks about the same. The car pic is a stock photo, but it's extremely similar, his sister notes.

RICHARD STANLEY
Missing from: Great Bend, Kan.
Missing since: Aug. 4, 2024
Age when reported missing: 60
Height: 5’8’’
Weight: 240 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Green

If you have information that could help the case, contact Great Bend Police Department - Ks at (620) 793-4120; or you can reach the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 296-4017 or anonymously online with the KBI at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/MissingPersons.

08/05/2024

Ellinwood Library

07/31/2024

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 583 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 550 PM CDT Wed Jul 31 2024 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Central and Northeast Kansas * Effective this Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning from 550 PM until 100 AM CDT. * Primary threats include... Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 80 mph likely Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter possible SUMMARY...A cluster of organizing severe thunderstorms across northern Kansas will gradually move into the Watch area this evening. Upscale growth into one or two linear clusters is forecast. Severe gusts (60-80 mph) and large to very large hail (1 to 2 inches in diameter) will be the primary hazards with the stronger storms. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 40 statute miles north and south of a line from 85 miles west southwest of Russell KS to 25 miles north northeast of Topeka KS. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.

07/22/2024

Born July 29, 1934, in Leoit, Wichita County, Kansas, Marlene was the fifth child of Ernest and Martha Lungwitz. She graduated from Wichita East High School in 1952 and attended Hutchinson Community College where she met the love of her life, William Henry Ernsting, in the fall of 1952. It was love at firstsight and they were married June 27, 1953, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wichita. The couple lived in Ogden, Kansas, while William served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Riley, and then moved to Hays, Kansas. The couple lived in Honduras in 1957-58 before locating to Ellinwood, Kansas, where she resided for the next 66 years. Marlene and William operated the Ernsting family farm south of Ellinwood for 15 years before establishing Ernsting Radiator Service (Ernsting’s Inc.) in 1972. They were a team in the business that provided dozens of local youth their first jobs, and the company remains a steady employer to the current day. She was dedicated to service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in a variety of leadership roles and remained active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for more than 50 years. Marlene was an inital and long-time board member for the International Lutheran mission agency Lead a Child. She was elected to two consecutive terms (1989-1997) on the Barton Community College Board of Trustees.She served on the board and volunteered at the Barton County Historical Society for more than 20 years. She loved to travel, was a voracious reader, an avid bridge player, believed red wine far superior to white, and followed every pitch, pass, and shot of the Royals, Chiefs, Shockers, Wildcats, Jayhawks, and Cougars. In the spring she gardened, which meant she pulled weeds, planted flowers, and then pulled more weeds. She famously entertained family and friends at her pool and patio in the summers to the sounds of splashing, laughing, and the slam of the back door as she entered the house for more beverages, snacks, or one more towel. In more recent days, she waged a long war with her cell phone. Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, William Ernsting (2010), and son Mathew Ernsting(2019); and siblings LeRoy Lungwitz and Kenneth Lungwitz. She is survived by her sons Guy Ernsting of Ellinwood, Kansas, and Andrew Ernsting and his wife, Kristi, of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren Levi Ernsting, Rebeka Watson, Jena Lynn, Drew Ernsting, and Jake Ernsting, four great grandchildren; and siblings Lillian Frey, Lorna Hohman, and Leon Lungwitz. Funeral service will take place 10:30 AM, Wed., July 24 at St. John Lutheran Church. Interment will follow at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood, KS. Visitaton will be Tuesday, July 23 at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood from 2-8 PM with family receiving friends from 5-8 PM. Memorials are suggested to Lead a child or Barton Co. Historical Society in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS.

07/17/2024

The City of Ellinwood will be cleaning the streets on Thursday 7/18 & Friday 7/19 - please do not park on Main St between 5am & 8am, park in the banks parking lot if you're going to the Wellness Center.

07/17/2024

This has been updated

Eloise Lorraine Winkelman, 98, died July 15, 2024, in Ellinwood, Kansas. She was born to Nic and Emma Panning Suhler, May 17, 1926, on the family farm east of Ellinwood. She attended the country elementary school and then Ellinwood schools, graduating in 1943. She married Maurice Winkelman on Jan. 18, 1948. He died in January 2012. She was a homemaker, secretary, and quiltmaker. She was a lifetime and active member of St. John Lutheran Church. Survivors include her children, Lois Sierra, Lawrence, Tim and his wife Karen, Great Bend, Monte (Marlana), Sioux City, Iowa; daughter-in-law Jeanette Winkelman, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Grandchildren: Kirk Winkelman, wife Becca, and daughter Simone, Apex, North Carolina; Joel Winkelman, wife Heather Sullivan, and daughter Octavia, Syracuse, New York; Justin Winkelman, Sioux City, Iowa; Alison Moore and daughter Addyson, Great Bend; Philip Sierra, Herndon, Virginia; and Emma Sierra, Lawrence; sister-in-law Joan Winkelman, Lenexa; son-in-law Mike Sierra, Lawrence; and many nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her oldest son Bruce in 2015, her brother Robert Suhler, and sister Waneta Mausolf. Services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 19, at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood. Visitation at Minnis Chapel will be from 2-6 PM Thursday, with family present from 6 to 8. Rather than flowers, the family requests that memorials go to the St. John Lutheran Church child care center or library in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS. Leave condolences at www.minnischapel.org

07/15/2024

Samuel Stephen Freeman, 68, passed away on July 10, 2024 near Pawnee Rock, KS. Born in Brushy K**b, MO on October 23, 1955 he was the son of Chester & Helen (Lacey) Freeman. Sam was a resident of Ellinwood since 1989 formerly of Hays and Missouri. He married Joan Dechant on July 23, 1984. He worked as a machinist from 1989-2007 at GBI and later was a custom harvester before retiring around 2020. He could fix anything and enjoyed working with his hands from vehicles, construction and raising his gardens. He had a passion collecting antiques of any kind and riding his motorcycles. He would help anyone and knew no strangers. Sam loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He was always happy to watch his grandchildren and teach them all he knew. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include the love of his life, Joan Freeman; Sons Chester “Steve” (Heidi) Freeman, Ellinwood, KS, Samuel “Doug” Freeman, Ellinwood, KS, Aaron Freeman, Great Bend, KS and Mark (Bambi) Freeman, Ellinwood, KS, Daughter Crystal Freeman (Tina), Ellinwood, KS. beloved grandchildren Justin, Nathaniel, Taylor, Tia, Harleey, Haevyn, Nayomi, Cody, and Henley; Great grandsons Levi and Oliver; Brothers Nick (Dorothy) Freeman, Wonderlake, IL, Wes (Karen) Freeman, McKinney, TX, Paul (Glenna) Freeman, Oldfield, MO, Doug (Judy) Freeman, Porum, OK, Kent Freeman, Mansfield, MO and Mark (Rosalyn) Freeman, Oldfield MO, Sisters Carla Freeman, Savannah, TN, Valerie Long, Mansfield, MO, Charlene Foster, Olive Hill, TN, Tomma Seitzinger, Broomfield, CO, Merry Lou DeBonis (Dan), Lucerne, CA, Robyn Jarrett (Aaron) and Stephanie Connell (Brian) all of Norwood, MO.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents; sister Paula Allen; daughter Krisy Welker and daughter in law Kiah Mead.

Memorial service will take place 10:30 AM, Sat., July 20th at Cavalry Baptist Church in Ellinwood, KS with Pastor Ray Willis officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date. Memorials are suggested towards funeral expenses in care of Minnis Chapel, Po Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

07/15/2024

Jeffrey M. Loesch, 68, passed away on July 10th, 2024 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS. Born on August 24, 1955 in Lyons, KS to parents Lewis & Eloise (Smith) Loesch he graduated from Chase High School (1973) and later attended Dodge City CC and FHSU. He worked for many years custom cutting and for Farmland later CHS Refinery as a truck driver. Jeffrey was a longtime resident of Dodge City, KS. He would often be seen enjoying the local rodeos and races.
Survivors include brothers, James “Jim” (Judy) Loesch, Hoisington, KS and Jerald “Jerry” (Brenda) Loesch, Great Bend, KS; sister, Janean (David) Hicks, Inman, KS. Other survivors include several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Eloise Loesch; grandparents P.G. and Mamie (Blank) Loesch and Francis and Hilda (Rose) Smith.
Memorial service will take place Friday, July 19th 10:00 AM at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood, KS. Inurnment will follow at Hilltop Cemetery, Raymond, KS followed by a reception at Raymond Community Center. Memorials are suggested to Kans For Kids, Golden Belt Model RR, or Raymond Community Center in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, Ks 67526.

07/13/2024

Conditions are favorable that we may see some brief landspouts this afternoon. Areas in the red box will be the area most favorable for their development.

07/11/2024

UPDATED: Please be patient with us as we continue the move process. This post will continually be updated along with the attached doc with any new dates/changes.

As of 7/11/24, 11:45am:
Lab and Radiology are working diligently on getting back up and running. As services become available in these departments, we will let you know.
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As of 7/10/24:
- Acute Care and Radiology remain on schedule.
- Lab is still working diligently around the clock to get all of their equipment calibrated, tested, and approved for use. We have them slated for July 15th to be fully operational, but this very well could be subject to change as the date gets closer.
- ER will be ready starting at NOON on July 11th
- The Foundation Office will be fully moved over to the new hospital by Aug. 8th.

07/08/2024

Today is the day!! Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic officially begins our move to 300 N. Park Ave today, here are some dates to keep in mind while we transition over there.

07/08/2024

Ellinwood Hospital

Lab is closed starting today through Wednesday, July 10th! We will be operational again Thursday, July 11th at the new facility at 300 N Park Ave!

07/03/2024

Ryder Lee Schmidt, 11, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City,
Missouri. He was born on February 19, 2013, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Chancy and April (Lofland) Schmidt.
A lifetime resident of Great Bend, Ryder was a fifth grader at Eisenhower Elementary School. Ryder was very
competitive, participating in all sports, being particularly passionate about football and basketball. He was a
Great Bend Panthers Fan, admiring the high school athletes, and an avid Denver Broncos fan. Ryder had
great interest in all music, singing and dancing. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working cattle. Ryder loved
life, and was an outgoing, soft hearted, and kind person, selflessly donating his kidneys to two recipients.
Survivors include his mother, April Gatton of Great Bend; father, Chancy Schmidt of Great Bend; brother
Deluxe Schmidt; sisters, Lynnex Gatton, Ava Schmidt and Johnay Schmidt; step sister, Koryn Ramsey of
Great Bend; step father, Brandon Gatton of Ellinwood; step mother, Lesley Percival of Great Bend;
grandparents, Jerry and Paige Lofland of Great Bend, Pat and Sharon Gatton of Ellinwood, Stephanie and
Ronald Ahrens of Ellinwood, and Loren and Candy Percival of Grinnell; great grandparents, Gerald and Kay
Wondra of Great Bend, Joan Young of St. John, and Karen Kramp of Ellinwood; nephew, Killian Bailey of
Great Bend, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and loved ones.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Ron and Dorothy Schmidt.
Visitation will take place 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, July 8, 2024, with family receiving guests from 5:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 9,
2024, at Encounter Church, 601 S. Patton Rd., Great Bend, with Pastor Joseph Smeragliuolo presiding.
Memorials have been designated to Ryder Lee Schmidt Memorial Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home,
1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530.