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Month: December 2017

New DCF Leader Prioritizes Accountability In Kan. Child Welfare System

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By MADELINE FOX

The new secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families has come in promising a thorough review of the agency, staffing changes and more accountability following allegations and outrage about problems in the state’s foster care system.

Gina Meier-Hummel, who started the job Dec. 1, has been reluctant to criticize her predecessor but has said she wants to change the tone of the agency. She has promised more transparency and accountability in confronting issues like children sleeping in social worker’s offices, running away from their foster homes and dying while in the state’s care.

Meier-Hummel has an extensive background in child welfare and has been active on a task force the Legislature established earlier this year to look into issues with the Kansas child welfare system.

In October task force members showed concern when they learned that then-DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore appeared to be unaware that three girls had been missing from their foster placement in Tonganoxie for more than a month. Meier-Hummel addressed this issue when her nomination was announced, saying she wanted a list every morning of which kids were missing and information about their cases.

Here are excerpts from an interview with Meier-Hummel after her first week at DCF.

On learning in October that there were more than 70 kids missing from their foster care placements:

It was really concerning to me, and it has certainly been a top priority since I’ve gotten the office. I have gotten the daily report we talked about. We are looking — actively looking — working with law enforcement for some of these kids, and working with our contractors to find all of them and make sure their needs are being met.

I think I was surprised (by the number). Having worked in the field, I know that kids leave placements. You certainly hope that kids don’t leave placements, you certainly want them to feel comfortable. I mean, you recognize that these are kids that have had very traumatic histories, some of them, but we need to then be trying to be responsive to those needs. So what is it that they need that’s causing them to want to do those things? And how can we better meet their needs?

On kids sleeping in social workers’ offices when foster care contractors can’t find placements that meet their needs:

We’ve already started having those conversations, as well, with the contractors, and we’re getting daily reports now. If there are kids, they need to tell us right away how many? Why? What are they doing to try to address this? We’ve asked them for corrective action plans around, “What are you doing to make sure this isn’t happening again?” We have a responsibility to come alongside our contractors and help create options for kids if that’s what’s needed.

If it’s that we don’t have beds or we don’t have capacity to meet the needs of the kids we currently serve, then we have to help them create that capacity.

On what these two issues indicate about the agency as a whole:

We have a lot of kids in custody. We have a record number of children in out-of-home care. And I think one of the things that we have to do differently is we have to work to strengthen families so kids can remain safely with their own families, and I think that’s a great opportunity for us to do more prevention work. We need to look at our assessment in making sure that we’re removing the right kids and then again look at our timeliness to serving kids and families. So are we acting with a sense of urgency? Are there barriers? So there’s a wide range of things we can do to make the system more responsive to the needs of Kansas families.

On whether she agrees with DCF’s “self-reliance” philosophy for food stamps and cash assistance:

I think certainly most folks don’t want to be dependent on state government, and most folks want to be independent and living on their own accord, so I absolutely think that’s the right approach.

 

Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service,  You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox.

Tuesday’s high school basketball results

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BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Andale 50, Wellington 36
Argonia 59, Cunningham 38
Arkansas City 57, Goddard 23
Augusta 69, Winfield 56
Axtell 68, Troy 57
Belle Plaine 78, Chaparral 55
Bennington 60, Lakeside 54
Berean Academy 49, Caldwell 36
Blue Valley 54, SM North 46
Blue Valley 72, Hanover 61
Bonner Springs 66, Basehor-Linwood 59
Buhler 66, Circle 54
Burlingame 65, Hartford 37
Burrton 62, Peabody-Burns 34
BV Southwest 50, Olathe West 46
Carl Junction, Mo. 47, Frontenac 36
Central Plains 53, St. John 34
Clifton-Clyde 58, Washington County 32
Coffeyville 54, Columbus 34
Council Grove 58, Chase County 48
Derby 73, Salina Central 65
Ell-Saline 48, Ellinwood 30
Ellis 47, Wheatland-Grinnell 39
Eudora 59, Louisburg 49
Flinthills 46, Altoona-Midway 29
Fort Scott 64, Chanute 41
Galena 64, Jasper, Mo. 33
Garden Plain 59, Conway Springs 56
Goodland 46, Norton 38
Halstead 60, Sedgwick 50
Hill City 56, Oberlin-Decatur 27
Hoxie 84, Wallace County 56
Jackson Heights 50, Pleasant Ridge 43
Jefferson West 61, Atchison County 27
Junction City 75, Hays 71
KC Christian 60, Horton 46
KC Piper 74, Topeka Hayden 61
KC Turner 68, Lansing 66
Kingman 40, Pratt 38
La Crosse 52, Dighton 45
Labette County 75, Parsons 72
Lakin 67, Sublette 27
Larned 56, Lyons 46
Little River 50, Hutchinson Central Christian 32
Maize 52, Wichita Campus 47
Maize South 68, Andover Central 57
Marysville 62, Concordia 43
Maur Hill – Mount Academy 62, Valley Falls 33
McPherson 73, Abilene 31
Nemaha Central 46, Sabetha 40
Ness City 63, Hodgeman County 51
Osage City 68, Central Heights 47
Osawatomie 54, Wellsville 51
Perry-Lecompton 64, Hiawatha 33
Pittsburg 56, Independence 42
Plainville 72, Natoma 22
Pleasanton 63, Crest 38
Pratt Skyline 52, Kinsley 33
Republic County 57, Valley Heights 41
Riverside 60, Holton 46
Riverton 65, Oswego 15
Rock Creek 71, St. Mary’s 42
Rose Hill 69, Mulvane 54
Salina South 59, Hutchinson 53
SM South 64, SM Northwest 41
Smith Center 59, Pike Valley 56
Southeast Saline 57, Beloit 43
Spring Hill 51, Metro Academy 38
St. Paul 65, Uniontown 59
Sterling 61, Nickerson 57
Syracuse 57, Wichita County 51
Tonganoxie 54, KC Bishop Ward 51
Topeka West 48, Ottawa 46
Tyro Community Christian 60, Chetopa 46
Ulysses 47, Colby 33
Valley Center 56, Newton 55, OT
Wichita Collegiate 68, Clearwater 54
Wichita East 57, Wichita Bishop Carroll 46
Wichita Heights 71, Wichita Northwest 51
Wichita Home School 66, Pretty Prairie 37
Wichita Independent 45, Douglass 40
Wichita North 75, Kapaun Mount Carmel 68
Wichita Southeast 69, Wichita West 49
Yates Center 65, Southeast 47

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Andale 49, Wellington 46
Andover Central 50, Maize South 37
Atchison 68, KC Washington 32
Augusta 66, Winfield 42
Axtell 66, Troy 15
Baldwin 64, Paola 46
Basehor-Linwood 49, Bonner Springs 33
Belle Plaine 37, Chaparral 33
Beloit 56, Southeast Saline 44
Bennington 36, Lakeside 30
Berean Academy 61, Caldwell 42
Blue Valley 66, SM North 61
Burrton 50, Peabody-Burns 24
Carl Junction, Mo. 72, Frontenac 27
Central Plains 56, St. John 26
Chase 62, Tescott 52
Cheney 81, Medicine Lodge 15
Chetopa 61, Tyro Community Christian 7
Circle 45, Buhler 17
Clay Center 51, Riley County 49
Clifton-Clyde 54, Washington County 42
Columbus 56, Coffeyville 45
Council Grove 48, Chase County 30
Cunningham 50, Argonia 42
Derby 62, Salina Central 37
Dodge City 44, Hugoton 43
Dundy County-Stratton, Neb. 53, Rawlins County 50
Ell-Saline 45, Ellinwood 33
Eudora 47, Louisburg 37
Eureka 52, Neodesha 33
Fairfield 71, Stafford 61
Flinthills 58, Altoona-Midway 12
Fort Scott 65, Chanute 51
Frankfort 71, Linn 32
Galena 41, Jasper, Mo. 37
Garden Plain 48, Conway Springs 32
Goddard 44, Arkansas City 28
Halstead 64, Sedgwick 37
Hays 70, Junction City 38
Hays-TMP-Marian 61, Victoria 24
Hesston 54, Smoky Valley 25
Hill City 59, Oberlin-Decatur 31
Hodgeman County 51, Ness City 17
Holton 50, Riverside 17
Hutchinson 37, Salina South 20
Hutchinson Central Christian 46, Little River 42
Independence 56, Pittsburg 45
Jackson Heights 65, Pleasant Ridge 56
Jefferson West 50, Atchison County 24
KC Piper 56, Topeka Hayden 26
Kingman 46, Pratt 34
Kinsley 53, Pratt Skyline 43
La Crosse 31, Dighton 27
Labette County 68, Parsons 47
Lansing 58, KC Turner 30
Lawrence 64, KC Wyandotte 23
Lebo 36, Madison/Hamilton 32
Lyons 42, Larned 29
Maize 47, Wichita Campus 35
Marysville 48, Concordia 44
McPherson 53, Abilene 36
Nemaha Central 47, Sabetha 35
Newton 52, Valley Center 41
Northern Heights 57, Herington 23
Norton 46, Goodland 28
Notre Dame de Sion, Mo. 68, St. Thomas Aquinas 31
Olpe 78, Waverly 32
Oskaloosa 48, McLouth 25
Perry-Lecompton 27, Hiawatha 21
Pittsburg Colgan 42, Carthage, Mo. 36
Plainville 53, Natoma 18
Pleasanton 47, Crest 26
Pretty Prairie 52, Wichita Defenders 39
Rolla 37, Yarbrough, Okla. 32
Rose Hill 57, Mulvane 23
Royal Valley 53, Silver Lake 34
Russell 63, Salina Sacred Heart 53
SM Northwest 55, SM South 46
Smith Center 41, Pike Valley 17
South Barber 51, South Haven 28
South Central 52, Kiowa County 30
Southeast 46, Yates Center 42
Spearville 61, Fowler 13
Spring Hill 51, Metro Academy 20
St. Paul 51, Uniontown 7
Sublette 52, Lakin 41
Topeka Seaman 50, Shawnee Heights 38
Ulysses 43, Colby 34
Valley Falls 35, Maur Hill – Mount Academy 28
Valley Heights 66, Republic County 44
Wamego 55, Chapman 48
Wellsville 80, Osawatomie 29
West Franklin 38, Lyndon 35
Wichita Bishop Carroll 30, Wichita East 24
Wichita Collegiate 43, Clearwater 27
Wichita County 39, Syracuse 24
Wichita Heights 66, Wichita Northwest 63, OT
Wichita Independent 40, Douglass 31
Wichita Southeast 70, Wichita West 30
Wichita Sunrise 45, Wichita Classical 37
Wilcox-Hildreth, Neb. 48, Northern Valley 37
Wilson 54, Palco 25

FHSU business majors benefit from generosity of former Ness Co. couple

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Gerald and Mary Ann Yeager

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Gerald and Mary Ann Yeager thought a lot of the education they received at Fort Hays State University.

Having no children of their own, the Yeagers felt that FHSU was part of their family, and they were donors to the FHSU Foundation for more than 20 years. Last year, they left a generous donation from their estate to several members of their family, including Fort Hays State.

Fort Hays State received a $1.2 million endowed gift from the Yeagers, who both graduated with business degrees from FHSU. Their gift is to be used for scholarships for business majors.

The Gerald E. and Mary Ann Yeager Business Scholarship fund is endowed, meaning it will go on in perpetuity, supporting Fort Hays State students for generations to come.

“They did very well in life, and they wanted to share it with various places. Fort Hays State was one of them,” said Judy Boor, Mary Ann Yeager’s younger sister.

Both graduates of Bazine High School in Ness County in the 1950s, the Yeagers continued their education at then Fort Hays Kansas State College.

After graduation from FHSU, Gerald enjoyed a long, successful career with Equitable Real Estate in Denver and San Francisco, retiring as vice president after 29 years with the company. Mary Ann taught business classes at Fort Hays State while her husband completed his bachelor’s degree, then worked as a budgetary analyst for Standard Oil of California (now known as Chevron) for many years.

“I think it’s absolutely wonderful that they gave this to the business college,” said Leona Gallion from Hays, a good friend of the Yeager couple during their college days.

Gallion kept in touch with the Yeagers through the years before their death. Mary Ann Yeager died in 2015, and her husband died in 2016. Gallion said she wasn’t surprised when she learned of their generous gift to FHSU.

“They were lovely, very giving people,” Gallion said. “There isn’t any doubt they hoped to help business majors like themselves.”

Dr. Mark Bannister, dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, agreed.

“They were Ness County folks who were very dedicated to rural Kansas,” Bannister said. “They grew up in western Kansas and wanted to support students from there. Gerald shared stories of how hard he and Mary Ann worked in order to afford to attend college. He recounted that as a teenager, he unloaded 100-pound sacks of potatoes at the local grocery story when he hardly weighed that much himself. Their work ethic and Fort Hays State education would contribute to their success as professionals.”

The Yeagers were long-time donors to the FHSU Foundation before establishing an endowed gift. Scholarships from the newly endowed fund totaling nearly $20,000 were committed to students for the first time this academic year.

“This Yeager gift is a fantastic contribution,” Bannister said. “The scholarships from this fund will benefit students for many years to come. Scholarships like this help students work fewer hours and focus on school. I think the Yeagers wanted to support students who are a lot like they were and hoped that this scholarship help will enable today’s students to succeed in professional business careers much as the Yeagers did.”

The scholarships have already helped students, such as Zach Rundle, a junior from Hays.

“Giving that big of scholarship puts a lot of trust in the student to be serious about school,” said Rundle, who received one of seven $2,500 awards. There were two smaller scholarships given as well.

“I’m almost a senior,” Rundle continued, “and I can see debt accumulating. It’s nice to get a break from that toward the end of my college career.”

A year ago, Rundle – an informatics major with a minor in management – was working nearly full time while going to school.

“It was taking its toll,” he admitted. “So it’s nice to have some breathing room to be able to focus more on my school work. I really want to prove to my donors that I want to improve and be a good investment.”

Emily Prine, a sophomore business education major from Hays, agreed.

“I’m really involved on campus and have a job,” she said. “It’s nice to know I don’t have to find all the money for tuition and books.”

Landon Erway, a finance major from Larned, was checking out opportunities to play baseball after high school while working on a business degree in finance. He was trying to decide which college to attend, then last spring received an email from FHSU that he had received a Yeager Business Scholarship. That clinched the deal for Erway.

“At first, I thought it was a scam,” Erway said. “Once I found out it was real, I was very excited.”

The scholarship is renewable, provided a student maintains a 2.5 GPA.

“I want to get my MBA, too,” Erway said, “so this will definitely help a lot.”

Dwight Filbert, a nephew of the Yeager couple and one of the executors of their estate, was pleased to hear the recipients of the inaugural Yeager scholarships were appreciative of the assistance they will get in gaining an education.

“(The Yeagers) were very grateful for the education they received at Fort Hays State,” Filbert said. “They were wise investors and frugal with their money. They had a big estate. They knew where they wanted it to go, and Fort Hays State was definitely one of their interests.”

Gifts to Fort Hays State University are 100 percent tax deductible. To learn more about the Fort Hays State University Foundation and how you can support FHSU, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu or contact their offices at 785-628-5620 or [email protected].

Sunny, windy Wednesday

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Today Sunny, with a high near 58. Windy, with a north northwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.

Tonight Increasing clouds, with a low around 29. North northwest wind 7 to 11 mph.

Thursday A 20 percent chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph.

Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. North northwest wind 7 to 11 mph.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 53. West southwest wind 7 to 14 mph.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

UPDATE: 3 found dead in burning Kansas home

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Investigators on the scene of Tuesday’s fatal house fire-photo courtesy KCTV

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials say a third body has been found after a house fire at a Kansas City, Kansas, home.

The blaze was reported early Tuesday. Firefighters searching the single-story home found two bodies at that time. A third body was found later in the day as firefighters sifted through the house.

Kansas City, Kansas, police spokesman Tom Tomasic said evidence found at the home was leading investigators to believe the deaths were suspicious but they had not been ruled homicides.

KCTV5 reports Tomasic says the fire department will look for accelerants and an autopsy will be performed to determine how the people died.

No other details were immediately released.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Firefighters have found two bodies while battling a blaze in a Kansas City, Kansas, home.

The Kansas City Star reports that the blaze was reported early Tuesday. The names of the victims weren’t immediately released. Fire Chief John Paul Jones said in a tweet that an “extensive fire investigation” is taking place. Fire investigators were sifting through the debris, and dogs were brought in to sift for evidence.

No other details were immediately released.

Hays girls roll, boys lose heart breaker in Junction City

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Both state ranked Hays High basketball teams headed to Junction City on Tuesday night for their final road game before Christmas break.  The Lady Indians entered the game at #9 in 4A-DI for the 3rd consecutive week.  The boys became ranked for the first time this season at #10.

Girls

Hays 70 – Junction City 38

Hays High and Junction City traded baskets for the first two minutes leading to a five all tie.  The Lady Indians then held the Blue Jays scoreless for six minutes during with Hays went on a 16-0 run.  The 21-5 lead marked their biggest lead of the first quarter.  Hays led 21-7 after one quarter and extended that lead to 41-17 by half time.

Hays 29-15 at the midway point of the second quarter.  The Lady Indians then went on a 12-2 run to close out the first half, outscoring Junction City 20-10 in the second quarter.  Hays hit five of seven first half three point attempts.

Highlights

Tasiah Nunnery scored in double figures for the first time in her Lady Indian career with 10 points in the first half.  She continued her career night with eight more points in the third quarter.  She ended the game with 18 points which included four three pointers.  Hays took a 31 point lead on their first shot of the fourth quarter to start the continuous clock, sending Hays on to a 70-38 victory.

Coach Kirk Maska

Brooke Denning added 13 points and Jaycee Dale scored 10 to compliment Nunnery’s 18.  The Indians shot 61% from the field and made seven on nine three point attempts.

The Lady Indians are now 4-1 on the year.  Junction City drops to 1-3.

Boys

Junction City 75 – Hays 71

Hays led much of the first half in Junction City leading 12-5 after the first four minutes of the game.  The Blue Jays closed the gap down to two points before the Indians scored back to back field goals to end the first quarter with a 17-10 lead.

The Indians built their lead to a first half high of ten at 26-16 just over two minutes into the second quarter.  Junction City responded with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to get within two at 26-24.  Hays increased their lead to six three more times in the second quarter but didn’t score over the 1:50.  Junction City ended the half on a 8-0 run, hitting a three pointer at the buzzer for a 36-34 lead.  It was the first lead for Junction City in the half.

Highlights

Hays took the lead back on a three pointer at 37-36.  It would be the last time the Indians would lead.  Junction City took the largest lead of the game at 52-41 following a 16-4 run.  Hays chipped away at the lead getting within four by the end of the third quarter 57-53.

Hays trailed by as many as eight in the fourth quarter but found a way to tie with 1:15 left following a Cole Murphy three pointer.  With the score tied at 70 the Indians gave up a three pointer and two free throws.  Hays made just one of four three throws and missed their only two point field goal try, leaving Junction City with 75-71 victory.

Coach Rick Keltner

Ethan Nunnery scored a game and career high 30.  Cole Murphy scored 18 and Kyler Koenke added 10.  Junction City put four in double figures, led by the 28 of A.J. Dickerson.  Both teams shot over 50% from the field.  Hays was 9 of 19 on free throws and Junction City finished 7 of 13, knocking down the game sealing two with ten seconds left.

Hays falls to 3-2 and will play Colby at home on Friday for their final game before Christmas break.  Junction City is now 3-1 with all three wins coming against Western Athletic Conference opponents.

 

TMP cruises past Victoria

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By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

Girls: TMP 61, Victoria 24

HAYS, Kan.-TMP jumped on Victoria early and often and put Tuesday night’s match-up with the Lady Knights out of reach early as they built a 15 point first quarter lead and led 20-6 heading into the second quarter. The Lady Monarchs scored the first 10 points of the second quarter cruised into halftime with a 34-9 lead. Both teams struggled with turnovers in the first half as Victoria turned the ball over 20 times and TMP nine in the first half.

The second half turned into a very similar story as TMP rolled to a 61-24 win. Savannah Yost and Jillian Lowe led TMP with 10 points apiece. Victoria drops to 1-4 on the season and TMP moves to 4-1 with their third straight victory. The Lady Monarchs will close out the 2017 portion of their schedule at Oakley on Friday while Victoria will play their final game before Christmas next Tuesday against Plainville.

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW

Boys: TMP 60, Victoria 28

HAYS, Kan.-It was a slow start for TMP and Victoria as the two teams battled at Al Billinger Fieldhouse in Hays on Tuesday night. TMP built a 10 point lead, 16-6, after the first quarter and blew the game open in the second quarter as the scored the first eight points and led 33-10 at the half.

The Monarchs continued to force Victoria turnovers in the second half and scored the first 19 points of the third quarter and led by 41 points, 56-15, after three. TMP went on to pick up the 60-28 win and improve to 3-2 as they head to Oakley Friday night. Victoria is still without a win at 0-5 and will play next Tuesday at home against Plainville.

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

JOE HERTEL INTERVIEW

 

Ex-Kansas official accused of harassment fired from new job

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Brandt Haehn-photo courtesy Kansas News Service

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A company helping to manage the Kansas Medicaid program has fired an employee facing allegations of sexual misconduct from a previous job as a state social services administrator.

Amerigroup Kansas spokeswoman Olga Gallardo said Tuesday in an email that Brandt Haehn no longer works for the company. Amerigroup is among three companies managing Medicaid health coverage for the needy.

Gallardo didn’t provide further details. Haehn couldn’t be reached for comment.

Haehn formerly was the administrator overseeing in-home and community services in the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

He left in June after being disciplined over his alleged conduct toward a woman who formerly worked for a provider of services to the disabled.

The woman, Jennifer Gill, told The Topeka Capital-Journal that Haehn solicited sex from her.

Kan. man jailed for alleged shoplifting, attempted car theft

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Reeves -photo Saline Co.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged shoplifting.

Just after 11:30a.m. Monday, employees at Orscheln Farm and Home, 360 North Ohio in Salina reported they say a man identified as Mason Reeves, 37, Salina, shoplift several items, according to police captain Mike Sweeney.

Reeves left the store with two coats and hooded sweatshirt. Employees followed Reeves as he got into a maroon Nissan passenger vehicle and driven by an unidentified suspect. The employees continued to follow for several blocks but lost sight of the vehicle.

An officer caught up to Reeves near the intersection of Santa Fe and Antrim; he was on foot and the suspect vehicle was gone. Officers pursued Reeves on foot through several neighborhoods.

A 28-year-old Salina woman told police that she found Reeves attempting to steal her 1997 Honda Accord. Capt. Sweeney said she confronted him as he attempted to start the car with a screwdriver. Reeves then asked the woman to help him hide from police.

She declined and Reeves was arrested shortly after in the 1200 block of North Fourth Street. He was booked into the Saline County Jail for theft, attempted theft, obstruction and criminal trespassing. Reeves also had a district court warrant, according to Sweeney.

Police: Suspect in custody following 4-hour Kansas standoff

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Police on the scene of Tuesday’s standoff-photo courtesy WIBW TV

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an arrest following a 4-hour standoff.

Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a home in the 600 Block of Stowe Court in Lawrence after reports were received about a man in the street firing rounds into the air from a handgun, according to a media release.

Responding officers were able to determine the suspect had returned to a residence. After several hours of intermittent contact with the suspect, he exited his residence and was apprehended by officers on scene.

Officers completed a search of the residence and located the firearm believed to have been used during the incident. No injuries were reported.

The suspect was transported to an area hospital for an evaluation. Police did not release the name of the suspect or possible charges in the case.

No charges in deadly Kansas officer-involved shooting

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MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — No charges will be filed in an officer-involved fatal shooting in McPherson County in August.

McPherson County Attorney Gregory Benefiel announced Tuesday that a county deputy who fired the shot that killed 24-year-old William Holmes reasonably believed that another officer was in serious danger.

The shooting occurred after a chase started in Newton when police responded to a burglary call. The vehicle eventually was disabled near Moundridge. Benefiel says Homes and a passenger yelled obscenities at officers and Holmes yelled “shoot me.”

KAKE-TV reports Benefiel says officers unsuccessfully used non-lethal means such as bean-bags and a Taser to try and subdue Holmes. Benefiel says Holmes eventually was shot while trying to gain possession of a Newton officer’s gun during a struggle.

The Newton officer suffered minor injuries.

Wilmer Rome

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Victoria, Kansas – Wilmer Rome, age 91, died Monday, December 11, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays.

A memorial service and inurnment will be held after the holidays. Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

FHSU’s Fort Hays Singers to present ‘Holiday Dessert Show’

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Dr. Terry Crull
FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University’s Fort Hays Singers will present a “Holiday Dessert Show” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, and Friday, Dec. 15, and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at the First United Methodist Church in Hays.

The show will feature the Fort Hays Singers singing Christmas carols from various countries. Desserts will be served to guests between sets of music.

“The singers will be in festive costumes and serve as waiters, delivering Austrian chocolates, German kuchen, English scones and others to match the carols,” said Dr. Terry Crull, associate professor of music and theatre and conductor.

Afterward, the Fort Hays Singers will perform a short, 30-minute concert in the church’s sanctuary starting at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 15, and 3 p.m. on Dec. 17.

“If you wish, you may skip the desserts and simply join us for the concert to enjoy the songs,” said Crull.

Lower level dining hall admission is $20. Other donations will also be accepted.

Donations will serve as the major fundraiser for the Fort Hays Singer’s June 2018 trip to Salzburg, Austria, where they will perform Mozart’s “Coronation Mass” in the Salzburg Cathedral, where Mozart was baptized.

All donations will go directly to the 20 members of the Fort Hays Singers to help pay for the trip.

For more information or to make reservations, call 785-628-5361 or 785-628-4258.

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