Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore, left, listens as Gov. Sam Brownback speaks about the need for more foster parents during an event Wednesday at the Statehouse. SUSIE FAGAN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
A bill to increase oversight of the Kansas foster care system hit a snag after state officials said its wording could jeopardize millions in federal funding.
The bill would create an interim oversight committee that would study problems in the state’s foster care system and submit a corrective action plan to the Kansas Legislature. The House Committee on Children and Seniors approved the bill in March, but it still must pass the full House and Senate.
But the Kansas Department for Children and Families, which oversees the foster care system, said following that plan could cost the state $48 million in federal funding — nearly a third of DCF’s annual budget.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reviews state foster care programs about every three years and requires them to make changes outlined in a performance improvement plan.
DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said the state could lose federal funding if anything in the oversight committee’s corrective action plan contradicts the federal performance improvement plan.
“Corrective action plans are by design not suggestive, but directive,” she said in a statement emailed Wednesday.
Rep. Jarrod Ousley, a Merriam Democrat and one of the bill’s more vocal supporters, said DCF’s concern is misplaced. The interim oversight committee couldn’t make law, so lawmakers and the governor would have to approve any plan before DCF would implement it, he said.
“It would have to have open hearings, it would have to have conferees,” he said.
On Thursday the House Committee on Children and Seniors will consider changing the bill’s wording to address DCF’s concerns about lost federal funding.
But Ousley and other supporters said they think the foster care system needs a plan to improve outcomes for children.
“It’s important work, and it’s past time for improvements to be made,” he said.
Since 2014, a record number of Kansas children have entered the foster care system. At the end of February, nearly 7,000 children were in the state’s custody.
Meg Wingerter is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of kcur.org., Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @MegWingerter.
Hays, Kansas – Nancy Jane Bates, age 78, died Saturday, May 6, 2017, at her home in Hays, Kansas.
She was born November 18, 1938, in Beloit, Kansas to Chester and Lorena (Irey) Fink. She married Donald M. Morehead in 1958 and they had a daughter, Theresa, and then married Harry L. Bates on August 20, 1964, in Beloit, Kansas. Harry died October 28, 2005.
She was the Administrative Secretary for 26 years at the First United Methodist Church in Hays and retired in 2013. She was raised in Downs, she graduated from Downs High School in 1956 and attended Fort Hays State College. Nancy moved to Hays in 1971 from Downs and was very active in the church and community. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Church Choir, P.E.O., Delta Zeta, Bridge Club, Hays Senior Center and The Sweet Adeline Chorus.
Nancy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She loved the Lord and tried to live her life as a disciple of Christ. Music was a very important part of her life and she loved to sing until her health no longer permitted.
Survivors include one son, Stephen Bates, Overland Park, KS; two daughters, Theresa Averack, Cheshire, CT; Tracey Bates, Hays, KS; one brother, Roger Fink and wife, Jean, Smolan, KS; three grandchildren, Amanda Jane Langer and husband, Dr. Peter; Danielle May Bates and Aidan Neal Bates.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one granddaughter, Emily Lorena Averack; and one brother, Rev. Stephen C. Fink.
Services will be at 1:30 P.M. Saturday, May 13, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church, 7th and Ash Hays, Kansas. Inurnment will be at 4:00 P.M. Saturday, in the Downs Cemetery Downs, Kansas.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 P.M. Saturday, at The First United Methodist Church.
Memorials are to: The First United Methodist Church Hays, KS, Hays Senior Center, United Methodist Church Downs, KS, or Hospice of Hays Medical Center.
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd, Hays, Kansas 67601 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]
WaKeeney Police Chief Terry Eberle appears in court with his attorney Paul OllerBy JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post
A district judge revoked and reinstated bond for the WaKeeney Police Chief at a hearing Monday in Ellis County District Court.
Terry Eberle was arrested Wednesday, May 3, of suspicion of blackmail, harassment by telecommunications device, attempted interference with law enforcement, intimidation of a witness or victim, tampering with a public record, and two counts of theft.
He was released on his own recognizance and under the terms of his bond Eberle was instructed to have not contact with witnesses in the case except his son, Josh Eberle. He was also allowed to have limited contact with law enforcement personnel in order to conduct police business.
On Thursday, May 4, Eberle was arrested for an alleged violation of bond, according to the Trego County Attorney. Eberle was held in the Ellis County jail until his bond hearing Monday morning.
At Monday’s hearing, Trego County Attorney Christopher Lyon called on Assistant WaKeeney Police Ashley Garza to testify to an interaction she had with Eberle at the police station at approximately 6:30 p.m. May 3.
Garza, who has worked with the WaKeeney Police Department since 2009, testified Eberle called her on his wife’s phone asking to talk with her at the law enforcement center. While there, according to Garza, Eberle said he was there to work on the schedule, but Garza had already started working on it after she was appointed acting Police Chief by Mayor Kenny Roy.
According to Garza, Eberle was visibly upset that she was working on the schedule and that the Kanas Bureau of Investigation still had his office taped off. Eberle then told a KBI agent that if they need to contact him regarding his office they can do so through Garza.
Garza said she then asked Eberle how she was supposed to contact him and he told her that he did not want her talking to him because her name was his arrest affidavit.
Eberle then told Garza he felt he was “stabbed in the back” and they were supposed to be “running this department together.” He then told her he would talk more once his lawyer was present.
According to court documents, Eberle is charged with theft for a 2015 incident involving Garza where he allegedly obtained Garza’s hours in an attempt to alter them.
Lyon recommended the court revoke Eberle’s bond and reinstate it with the condition that he have no contact with any witnesses or victims in the complaint filed by that state, except his son. Lyon also requested Eberle be placed with court services for supervision.
Judge Blake Bittel told Eberle after reading through the transcripts of the previous bond hearing it was made “very clear” as to the conditions of the bond.
Bittel added, “I am concerned, Mr. Eberle, that you directly went and violated those conditions.”
He revoked and reinstated bond with further conditions that Eberle cannot have any contact with any law enforcement or witnesses listed by the state.
Eberle is also not allowed to go to the WaKeeney police station and Bittel said, “You’re not going to be conducting any police business until this case is resolved.”
Paul Oller, Eberle’s attorney, told the court that the “City of WaKeeney Police Department is going to have to figure out how to conduct its business without him.”
The WaKeeney City Council has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday to discuss Eberle’s arrest.
Lyon and Oller will work with Bittel’s office to schedule his first appearance in district court.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three MIAA softball teams punched their tickets to the post-season as the NCAA Division II Regional Field was announced Monday.
Central Oklahoma will be the top seeded team from the MIAA as they will be the #3 seed in the Minnesota State-Mankato sub-regional and face off with sixth seeded Pittsburg State who will also represent the MIAA.
Missouri Western will head to the Harding sub-regional and face off with the top seeded host as the eighth seed.
Harding and MWSU will face off at 2:30 p.m. in Searcy, Ark. on May 11 while UCO takes on PSU at 1:30 p.m. on May 11 from Mankato, Minn.
Phillipsburg resident Teresa Kay Gitchel passed away May 7, 2017 at the Via Christi Village in Hays, KS at the age of 56. She was born July 4, 1960 in Terre Haute, IN.
Survivors include her sons; Brandon, Ricky & Mickey of Phillipsburg and Dustin of Hays; her life partner, Daryl Hulen of Phillipsburg and 10 grandchildren.
Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with Pastor Monte Brunner officiating.
Friends may sign the book from 9:00 to 9:00 Wed. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Hays.
Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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MCPHERSON COUNTY – A Kansas boy died in an accident just before 9p.m. Friday in McPherson County.
John Avery, 33, was driving a Ford tractor pulling a mower in a pasture near Third Avenue approximately one half mile from the Reno County line southwest of Inman, according to Captain Doug Anderson with the McPherson County Sheriff’s Department.
Cayden Avery, 9, was riding with his father. The boy fell off and was hit by the mower. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Anderson.
In November, an 8-year old boy died in a farming accident near Galva in McPherson County.
This program provides support for immediate family members who are healing from the death of a child in their lives.
It is offered in a safe, confidential but friendly and informal environment where parents, grandparents and siblings can connect with others who understand the journey toward healing after the loss of a child.
The group focuses on identifying each individual’s personal strengths in helping them chart their healing journey according to their own situation and needs.
When: Thursday, May 11, 2017
Gathering: 7:00 p.m.
Center for Life Experiences
2900 Hall St., Hays, KS 67601
For more info:
Ann Leiker – Coordinator – Call/Text 785-259-6859
Doris Schmidt – (785) 735-2578
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An attorney representing school districts that successfully sued Kansas over education funding says a school finance plan being considered by lawmakers is inadequate.
John Robb made his comments Monday as a special House committee prepared to debate the proposal. Robb represents the Dodge City, Hutchinson, Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, districts.
The plan before the House committee would phase in a $750 million increase in the state’s $4 billion-plus in aid over five years.
Robb sees a State Board of Education proposal to phase in an $893 million increase over two years as adequate.
The districts Robb represents sued Kansas in 2010. The state Supreme Court ruled in March that the state’s education funding is inadequate.
The justices gave legislators until June 30 to pass a new school finance law.
Gary Lee Schlosser (Slim) was born February 16, 1948 to Ray & Chrissy (Hartsook) Schlosser in Goodland, Kansas. He was raised in Burlington, Colorado, and confirmed into the First Christian Church. He played football, basketball, & baseball for the Cougars. After high school graduation he enrolled at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. He wanted to enlist in the army, but couldn’t pass the physical, so he headed west to California in his Jeep panel truck (The Stabbin’ Cabin). He spent a year working at a ski resort in Aspen, Colorado, and several months traveling around Europe, after which he went back to Burlington to join Schlosser Concrete with his father and three brothers. He picked up Dawn Ann Caldwell while dragging Main Street and married her on September 15, 1975, at Church of the West, Las Vegas, Nevada. His “dolly” Dani Lane was born in 1978 and his son Levi Caldwell in 1980, at which time the family moved to Goodland, Kansas, to expand the Redi-Mix business.
He was a great snow skier, water skier, golfer, trap shooter, pool shooter, and card player, but he was an exceptional husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle, and friend. The number of people Gary touched in his life was truly amazing.
Gary died peacefully in his home on May 5, 2017, with his family at his side and he will be greatly missed by Dawn Ann; Dani ,Todd, Bo, and Avery Weibel; Levi, Valerie, Barrett, and Brody Schlosser all of Goodland Kansas; his two brothers and their wives, Tom and Dee of Burlington, Colorado, and Ric and Jenny of Goodland; and parents-in-law Don and Jeanne Caldwell of Burlington, Colorado, along with all his wonderful nieces and nephews. Waiting for him in heaven are his parents Ray & Chrissy, brother Bill, and his Uncle Roy Schlosser (who was a big part of Gary’s life growing up).
There will be a private inurnment at Fairview Cemetery in Burlington, Colorado. The family invites friends to Sugar Hills Country Club in Goodland, Kansas, on Friday, May 12th, from 5:00 – 8:00 to share memories of Gary.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Gary Schlosser Memorial and left or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home (211 North Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735). The funds will be given to youth activities in Sherman County. Gary loved kids and they loved him.
Online condolences may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Service arrangements were entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities at Kansas State University continue to investigate after a noose was found hanging from a tree on campus.
The University’s Office of Institutional Equity received notification of the noose hanging from a tree on the Manhattan campus Friday morning and it was removed. according to a media release.
The reason for the noose is unknown
On Monday, Kansas State president Richard Myers released a statement Monday morning addressing the incident.
“Last Friday, a beautiful spring day was marred by an ugly symbol found on our Manhattan campus. Near Mid-Campus drive, a noose was found hanging from one of our specimen trees. The juxtaposition between ugliness and beauty could not be more profound.
Once reported, the noose was quickly removed, but not before it was seen by many on campus, including families visiting for Junior Day. It is a poor reflection on our campus community when a well-known symbol for hatred shows up in such a public way.
There may be some who do not understand the emotional impact of a knotted cord in the shape of a hangman’s noose. According to the Anti-Defamation League: “The hangman’s noose has come to be one of the most powerful visual symbols directed against African-Americans, comparable in the emotions that it evokes to that of the swastika for Jews.”
If we have those in our K-State family unaware of the power of these negative symbols, it falls on all of us to teach each other. If you don’t understand, please reach out to one of our African-American students, faculty or staff to ask why this act is intolerable.
Once again, we cannot let the acts of a few define all of us. The K-State family needs to unite in our voice against all forms of discrimination.”
Amos Avila, age 79, of Oakley, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017 in Denver, Colorado.
He was born on July 13, 1937 in Oakley to Joe and Maria (Franco) Perez. He was a farmhand and rodeo bull rider.
Preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Maria, brothers: Pete Perez and Guadalupe “Lupe” Avila; and sisters: Rose Hernandez and Vera Hernandez.
Survivors include his sisters: Lucille Perez of Oakley and Anita Oliveros of Sutherland, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oakley, with Fr. Donald Pfannenstiel officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation: Monday, May 8, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home with a rosary/wake service at 7:00 p.m.
Memorials to St. Joseph’s School and Amos Avila Memorial Fund may be sent to Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, PO Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748.
