Matthew T. Gamblin pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated criminal sodomy and one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The crimes occurred between October 2014 and May 2015.
Judge Francis E. Meisenheimer accepted the pleas in Pratt County District Court. Sentencing is scheduled for February 26 at 10:30 a.m.
The case was investigated by the Pratt Police Department.
Patricia Diane (Kilian) Walker, 84, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at Main Street Manor in Russell with her family by her side.
Patricia was born December 6, 1933 in Russell, the daughter of Sam and Alma (Mai) Kilian. She grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School.
Patricia was united in marriage to Robert J. Walker in March, 1953 in Hays, Kansas. This union was blessed with four children; Denise, David, Liz and Roy. They made their home in Russell until 1976 when they moved to West Wego, Louisiana while Robert worked for an offshore drilling company. They returned to Russell in 1979. Robert has preceded Patricia in death.
Patricia worked for the United Telephone Company in Russell as an operator before and after they lived in Louisiana. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church. She also was active in the Russell V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and Santa’s Helpers. She enjoyed working with Santa’s Helpers and taking care of animals, but her main love was taking care and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Surviving family include her daughter, Denise Guth (Thomas) of Russell, Kansas; two sons, David Walker (Terri) and Roy Walker (Jacky) all of Russell, Kansas; three brothers, Don Kilian, Bill Kilian and Dennis Kilian all of Russell, Kansas; thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, daughter Liz Barrett and sister Betty Dumler.
Celebration of Patricia’s Life will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the St. John Lutheran Church with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 AM to 8 PM, Friday, January 19, 2018 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with the family present to greet friends from 6 PM to 7 PM. A Memorial has been established with Santa’s Helpers. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
By JIM MCLEAN
Roughly 80 politicians gathered Wednesday for an early morning meeting at the Kansas Statehouse.
The session wasn’t technically mandatory, more encouraged by legislative leaders determined to be seen as doing something in response to the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations.
Several of the women in attendance nodded at what they heard — that four in five women and one in five men have suffered some form of sexual harassment.
Most of the men wore studied looks of concentration. A few appeared less receptive, arms folded across their chests, as the instructors talked about the power imbalance — typically a male boss and female subordinate — responsible for the pervasiveness of harassment.
Legislative leaders organized the session in response to both the national #metoo movement and allegations made by Abbie Hodgson. The former Kansas legislative staffer has said harassment was “rampant” during her time — 2014 to 2016 — at the Statehouse.
Rep. Cindy Holscher, a first-term Democrat from Olathe, said she hasn’t seen evidence of widespread harassment. That may be, she said, becasue she commutes to Topeka and doesn’t attend many after-hours events.
“But I would also think that staff members and interns may be the more likely targets because of the power hierarchy,” Holscher said.
More than 100 of the 125 members of the Kansas House attended one of two Wednesday training sessions. Senators will get their opportunity on Thursday.
Many called the training a good first step toward addressing whatever harassment problem exists. But Rep. Susan Humphries was disappointed, calling it “shallow.”
“I feel like in a way it was (just) checking a box,” Humphries said.
In particular, Humphries said the instructors’ overly broad definition of harassment prevented a more meaningful discussion.
“I would love to have gone deeper,” she said, arguing that any discussion of harassment should explore the differences between boorish and predatory behavior.
“Let’s make a distinction between an inappropriate comment that makes me uncomfortable versus a woman who has truly been abused,” she said.
Given more time, instructor Michelle McCormick, program director at the Topeka YWCA’s Center for Safety and Empowerment, said she would have prompted a discussion about how to more effectively deal with those guilty of harassment. She said holding them accountable doesn’t mean banishing them from the workplace.
“We can’t just ship people off to the moon,” McCormick said.
Several lawmakers who attended the training credited legislative leaders for starting a long overdue conversation.
“We still have a ways to go, but I think this will be helpful to a lot of people,” said Rep. Stephanie Clatyon, an Overland Park Republican.
Rep. Tom Cox, a Shawnee Republican, welcomed the discussion about harassment but said he believes “sexism” is a bigger problem at the Capitol.
“It’s been really eye opening that we’re now in 2018 and that’s still happening,” Cox said. “But I’ve seen it. Whether it’s a (female) lobbyist, a legislator or a staff member, they have to work a little harder to be taken seriously and get seat at the table.”
Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded the boil water advisory for the public water supply located in Plainville. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Plainville indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of 22-year-old Matthew Snyder at a residence in the 3300 Block of Claflin Avenue in Manhattan.
Just after 1p.m. Wednesday, authorities responded to a medical call at that location, according to Hali Rowland with the Riley County Police Department. “We are currently investigating a suicide at that address,” according to Rowland.
Matthew Snyder is the son of K-State assistant coach Sean Snyder and the grandson of head coach Bill Snyder.
I am heartbroken for my Coach and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sean’s son. Please provide your thoughts and prayers for the Snyder family.
— Matthew D. McCrane (@mmccrane16) January 18, 2018
I am deeply deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sean Snyder’s son Matthew. My heart breaks for Sean and his family. Please keep them in your thoughts. #EMAW #family
— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) January 18, 2018
Just after 9a.m. Thursday Police confirmed Matthew Snyder’s death. Current and former Wildcat players expressed sympathy surrounding the death Thursday on social media.
The University has not issued a statement on the death.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
VICTORIA — Surrounded by German chocolate cake, homemade truffles and puff pastries, 21-year-old Haley Robben said she has found her passion — baking.
Robben started a baking business — Bakeology — in her hometown of Victoria in 2017. Her shop is on 10th Street across the street from the grade school where she also works part-time as a paraprofessional.
She tried a semester at the University of Kansas studying political science, but she was just not into her classes. She talked to her adviser, who encouraged her to seek her passion.
Robben remembered spending hours with her grandmothers making all kinds of baked goods, especially her favorite pumpkin pies.
“Both grandmothers would have counters covered in sugar cookies and all different kinds of holiday cookies for everybody to eat when people came over to our houses,” she said.
Her adviser suggested the culinary arts program at Johnson County Community College.
Robben’s skills spread via word of mouth. She started a Facebook page for Bakeology and is now taking regular orders via social media.
With a brisk business and her family nearby, she said it was an easy decision to move back to Victoria. Today she is busy with orders from sugar cookies to elaborate wedding cakes.
Robben’s most popular item is her decorated sugar cookies. She can put just about anything on a sugar cookie and has had some interesting requests from clients wanting cookies for bachelorette and bachelor parties. She also regularly makes cookies for birthday parties at the school, which she hand delivers across the street when she heads over to work for the day.
Robben said she is always up for a challenge.
“I get so into the motion of sugar cookies and decorated birthday cakes, which is so fun and I like the versatility of that,” she said, “but I really love when someone gives me a weird flavor or something they are interested in. I just recently did a pink champagne cake, and I thought that was something different. I had never made one before.”
Robben said she enjoys the precision in baking. She has had to take both baking and cooking courses in culinary school. Cooking often requires the chef to season to taste. A lot of science goes into baking. Individual ingredients like baking soda help pull the baked goods together.
“I love that it has to be super precise and you have to get that exact amount in or it probably is not going to turn out the way you want it to,” she said. “I think I am kind of a perfectionist, and think that is where that really plays in really well for me. I just want to get it exactly right.”
Robben is not immune from baking disasters. She said she has had wedding cakes she started, threw out and started over the day of the wedding.
“Just today, I was making cinnamon rolls, and I didn’t set the timer,” she said. “I came back 20 minutes later, and they were totally charred. I guess no cinnamon rolls today. It happens all the time, and I think it is important to know that just because I have some schooling, doesn’t mean that everything I make is going to turn out perfect.
“It shouldn’t discourage people from trying to bake because they have one thing that goes wrong. It doesn’t make you a bad baker. If it did, no one would be a good baker.”
For the home baker, Robben strongly encouraged reading and following the recipe. There are reasons the recipe is telling you to take those steps, she said. Take your time, and don’t skip steps.
Robben has one more semester left in culinary school, which she is completing online. She said she is unsure about her long-term plans, but Bakeology is thriving. She said she hopes someday baking will be her only job.
“This is going pretty well for me — the made-to-order — because it seems to give me the chance to make a lot of different things and not really limit myself. I think when you have a set menu and you don’t really want to veer from that, you get so caught up in the same things and you never really adapt and change to all the new trends. I love that I can do that pretty easily this way.”
To order, customers can send a direct message on the Bakeology Facebook page or text Robben at 785-735-4474. Sugar cookies start at $15 a dozen and costs vary from there depending on complexity and the ingredients.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the debate over immigration (all times local):
President Donald Trump insisted Thursday his views on a border wall with Mexico have not evolved, pushing back against his own chief of staff’s comments to lawmakers.
Trump said on Twitter: “The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it.”
The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it. Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018
We need the Wall for the safety and security of our country. We need the Wall to help stop the massive inflow of drugs from Mexico, now rated the number one most dangerous country in the world. If there is no Wall, there is no Deal!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018
Some Democrats who met with White House chief of staff John Kelly on Wednesday say Kelly told them parts of the border don’t need a wall — and that Trump didn’t know that when making campaign promises.
Trump tweeted Thursday that some of the wall will be “see through,” and he wrote that the wall was never supposed to be built where there are natural barriers. He added that it “will be paid for, directly or indirectly, or through longer term reimbursement, by Mexico, which has a ridiculous $71 billion dollar trade surplus with the U.S.”
Kelly’s assertion that Trump’s views on immigration had evolved came as lawmakers try to reach accord on protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation, a push the White House and Republicans say they would back, if it’s coupled with tough border security measures and other restrictions.
Trump tweeted Thursday, “If there is no Wall, there is no Deal!” He said the U.S. needs a wall “to help stop the massive inflow of drugs from Mexico, now rated the number one most dangerous country in the world.”
Kelly made the remarks about Trump and the wall Wednesday at a closed-door meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, participants said, and he made similar comments later on Fox News Channel.
Kelly said on Fox he told the caucus that “they all say things during the course of campaigns that may or may not be fully informed.” He said Trump has “very definitely changed his attitude” toward protecting the young immigrants, “and even the wall, once we briefed him.”
“So he has evolved in the way he’s looked at things,” Kelly said. “Campaign to governing are two different things and this president has been very, very flexible in terms of what is within the realms of the possible.”
Kelly’s comments were noteworthy because they openly acknowledged the difference between campaign promises and governing, and even suggested that Trump needed to be educated on the subject.
They also come as lawmakers struggle to reach a bipartisan deal protecting “dreamers” — around 800,000 people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children and could be deported without legal protections. Part of negotiators’ problem has been uncertainty over what Trump would accept.
“He’s not yet indicated what measure he’s willing to sign,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Wednesday. “As soon as we figure out what he is for, then I will be convinced that we would not just be spinning our wheels going to this issue on the floor.”
Trump’s tweets on Thursday were hardly the first time his words have been in conflict with comments by a senior aide. Among other clashes, he has repeatedly undercut Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
Some lawmakers who met with Kelly Wednesday recounted his remarks.
“He specifically said that there’s some areas of the border that didn’t need the wall, and that the president didn’t know that when he was making his campaign promises,” Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a brief interview.
Another lawmaker, Rep. Luis, Gutierrez, D-Ill., said Kelly told them that “there were statements made about the wall that were not informed statements. In other words, I’ve informed the president of what it takes to build a wall, so here’s how we’re going to do it. That’s what I understood, and all of that was helpful.”
Many Democrats have said that without an immigration deal in sight, they’ll vote against a Republican bill preventing a weekend government shutdown. Congressional passage must come by Friday to prevent an election-year shutdown of federal agencies that could be damaging to both parties.
During his presidential campaign, Trump made it a mantra to promise to build a “beautiful” wall that would be paid for by Mexico. Supporters at his rallies often chanted, “Build that wall.”
White House officials have repeatedly said it doesn’t have to be a concrete wall from coast to coast but could include large stretches of fencing, technology or other systems. Trump also now wants Congress to provide taxpayer money to finance it.
Trump ended the legal shields on “Dreamers” last year and gave Congress until March to renew them.
Last week, he rejected a compromise by three Democratic and three Republican senators to restore those protections, a deal that included money to begin building the wall and other security steps. Trump’s rejection angered the bargainers, and partisan feelings worsened after participants in a White House meeting last week said Trump had referred to African nations as “shitholes.”
Another group of high-level lawmakers has also started talks aimed at brokering an immigration deal, adding an additional level of uncertainty.
Kelly said on Fox that “there’s no doubt in my mind there’s going to be a deal” protecting the Dreamers.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said there’s “very, very strong” sentiment among Democrats in the chamber to oppose GOP-drafted legislation to keep the government’s doors open.
His comments underscored the problems GOP leaders face in winning congressional passage of that legislation. The bill would keep agencies open until mid-February and finance a popular children’s health insurance program for a year.
Democrats’ votes are needed to advance the stopgap measure through the Senate. It’s even unclear whether GOP leaders have nailed down enough votes to prevail in the House, where conservatives and strong boosters of the Pentagon have been unhappy.
Conservative leader Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said he wants GOP leaders to add additional defense money. But he said he was pessimistic leaders would grant other conservative-backed ideas, such as the promise of a vote on a more conservative immigration bill authored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va.
Victoria, Kansas – Eleanor M. Schippers, age 92, died Monday, January 15, 2018, at Via Christi Village Care Center, Hays, Kansas.
She was born December 15,1925, on the farm south of Victoria, Kansas to Frank H. and Anna B. (Reichert) Schippers.
She worked at Kansas Producers Gas for over 30 years and worked at the Victoria Coop Elevator for 20 years with her father. She was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers Altar Society, Life Member of V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary all of Victoria. She served on the St. Fidelis Parish Council, The Die Herzoger Genealogy Committee, and was an Eucharistic Minister.
Eleanor was Past Regent, Past State Regent and served on many committees for the Daughters of Isabella and the Dioceses of Salina. She was a member of the E S A Sorority, Ellis County Historical Society, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Local Sunflower Chapter of Germans from Russia, Oktoberfest of Germans, National Orphan Train Complex and served on the committee for the Ellis County Oktoberfest for over 25 years. She was a 1944 graduate of Victoria High School and attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas.
Survivors include one sister-in-law, Rosalyn Schippers, Hays, KS; two nephews, Gerald Schippers and wife, Darlene, Hays, KS; Anthony “Tony” Schippers and wife, Vickie, Hays, KS; one niece, Theresa Brown, Hutchinson, KS; one niece-in-law, Karla Davignon and husband, Lynn, Ellis, KS; 11 great nephews and nieces, Susan Meyers (Brad), Sarah Hagen, Simon Schippers and Teri Fowler, Becky Hickert (Tim), Jeni Parks (Dustin), Nathan Schippers, (Amber), Logan Brown (Lyndsey), Chelsea Brown, Hannah Werth (Kyle), Colby Schippers (Lacey) Ryan Schippers; 20 great great nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Francis Schippers and Gilbert Schippers; one nephew, Mike Schippers and one niece, Mary Schippers.
Services are at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 20, 2018, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas. Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.
A vigil service is at 6:30 P.M. Friday, followed by a Daughters of Isabell / Christian Mothers and V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary Memorial Service at 7:00 P.M. Friday, all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.
Visitation is from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Friday and from 10:00 to 10:45 A.M. Saturday, all at Cline’s Mortuary, Victoria, Kansas. Memorials to The Basilica of St. Fidelis.
Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].
Wichita, Kansas – Donald James Wasinger, age 59, died Monday, January 15, 2018, in Wichita, Kansas.
He was born March 10, 1958, in Hays, Kansas to Franklin D. and Lorraine E. (Walters) Wasinger. He married Teresa (Anderson) on March 29, 1994, in Hays, Kansas.
He was working for Terminix for the last 15 years in Wichita. Donald grew up in Hays and attended Thomas More Prep High School and Hays High School. He was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church at Schulte, Kansas, the Knights of Columbus Clonmel-Schulte Council #3114 and has lived in Wichita for 24 years.
Survivors include his wife, of the home; five sons, Jeremy Wasinger and wife, Mari, Pueblo, CO; Jeffrey Wasinger and wife, Sheila, Canon City, CO; James Roy, Morland, KS; Rick Roy, Salina, KS; Cody Roy and wife, Jennifer, Hoxie, KS; two brothers, Gerald “Jerry” Wasinger and wife, Agnes, Hays, KS; David F. Wasinger and wife, Theresa, Hays, KS; one sister, Christine Palmer and husband, Ray, Hays, Kansas; six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents, Martin and Mary Wasinger, Alois and Dorothy “Dora” Walter.
Memorial services are at 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 22, 2018, at St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Church, 11000 S W Blvd. Schulte, Kansas with a rosary to be said at 9:00 A.M. Monday at the Church.
Memorials are to St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Church, Schulte, Kansas.
BATES COUNTY, MO — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on felony charges for shooting and killing two horses.
On Wednesday, Detectives followed up on a lead in reference to two horses that were shot and killed on Christmas Eve near Amoret, Missouri about an hour south of Kansas City, according to a media release.
The lead took the Detectives to Garden City, Missouri. The suspect in the shooting identified as 55-year-old David Hugh Johnson of Garden City was at the police department for an unrelated case. Detectives interviewed Johnson in reference to the shooting and made an arrest.
Johnson is the adult son of the property owner where the horses where shot, according to the sheriff’s department. The horses’ owner, Terry Wisdom, said 30-year-old Rusty and 9-year-old Brownie were being boarded on the property in Amoret. Wisdom said they were shot inside a fenced area and found dead Christmas Eve. Wisdom said the horses were “like my kids” and described what happened as “senseless.
Johnson was charged Wednesday evening with two counts of Felony Property damage for the intentional death of the two horses. Detectives will continue to work with the Bates County Prosecutor’s Office to file additional charges related to weapons offenses and abuse of an animal.
A reward of $5,500 was offered for information.
-The Associated Press contributed to this report
Why did the foot smile?
He was toe happy.
Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry
OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Wednesday introduced Mr. C.J. Mahoney of Russell, Kan., former intern in his office, as the Senate Finance Committee considered his nomination as Deputy United States Trade Representative.
“C.J. has an impressive professional background, including degrees from Harvard and Yale and a United States Supreme Court clerkship,” said Sen. Moran. “C.J.’s success demonstrates a tremendously promising future at the USTR and beyond due to his significant intelligence and talents, and his strength in personal character. C.J. was my first intern as a member of the United States House of Representatives, and I am certain that he exhibits Kansas character and an appreciation for others. C.J. is highly qualified for this position and is the type of person, regardless of your political affiliation, that you would want in this capacity.”
Below is the biography provided by the White House at the time of Mr. Mahoney’s nomination.
Mr. Mahoney is a partner at Williams & Connolly LLP where his practice focuses on international disputes and arbitration. Prior to joining Williams & Connolly, Mr. Mahoney clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for Judge Alex Kozinski and at the Supreme Court of the United States for Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. A native of Russell, Kansas, Mr. Mahoney holds an A.B. in Government from Harvard College and a J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal. Mr. Mahoney also serves as a Visiting Clinical Lecturer at Yale Law School, teaching a course on international arbitration.
Today, enjoy at least one song an hour from Fleetwood Mac on 96.9
“Like” KFIX on Facebook.
