Police on the scene of the Friday morning shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV
TOPEKA- Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.
Just before 2a.m.Friday, police responded to the report of a shooting at a home in the 3500 block of SE Girard in Topeka, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Officers located an adult male victim identified as 42-year-old Tyrone Bagget, Topeka in critical condition suffering from life threatening gunshot wounds. He was rushed to an area hospital and died.
Detectives, Crime Scene investigators and K9 teams responded to process the scene and gather evidence. There have been no arrests made at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Topeka Police Department.
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TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.
Just before 2a.m.Friday, police responded to the report of a shooting at a home in the 3500 block of SE Girard in Topeka, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Officers located an adult male victim in critical condition suffering from life threatening gunshot wounds. The victim was rushed to an area hospital.
Detectives, Crime Scene investigators and K9 teams responded to process the scene and gather evidence. There have been no arrests made at this time. Police did not release the victim’s name.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Topeka Police Department.
FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a potential threat at USD 443 Dodge City High School.
Just after 6a.m. Friday, police received an anonymous tip of a possible threat to the Dodge City High School by a 17-year old student, according to media release.
“The investigation involved general threatening comments allegedly made from one student to others on a day prior, not specific threats toward the school or any person or a specific date,” according to Dodge City Police.
Officers immediately reacted to the tip and worked with school officials to locate the alleged suspect at home prior to the school day starting.
After a thorough investigation the subject has been arrested for the alleged crime of criminal threat. The case is being filed with the Ford County Attorney’s office.
Police indicated they have no reason to believe there is any further threat to any of the schools in USD 443.
Caroline May Koehn, age 24, passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at her home in Marienthal, Kansas. She was born on February 23, 1993 in Scott City, Kansas, the daughter of Dale & Kandee Unruh Koehn. A lifetime resident of Marienthal, Kansas, she was a teacher.
She was a member of the Scott Mennonite Church in Pence, Kansas.
Survivors include her Parents – Dale & Kandee Koehn of Marienthal, Kansas, Two Brothers – Wilson Koehn of Marienthal, Kansas, Reuben Koehn of Marienthal, Kansas, Two Sisters – Victoria & Kerick Smith of Ulysses, Kansas, Esther Koehn of Marienthal, Kansas and One Grandmother – Dorothy Unruh of Montezuma, Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her Paternal Grandparents and Maternal Grandfather.
Funeral Services will be held at the Scott Mennonite Church in Pence, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 19, 2018 with Franklin Koehn, Daniel Koehn & Richard Koehn presiding.
Memorials can be made to the Caroline Koehn Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 553; Scott City, Kansas 67871.
Interment will be in the Scott Mennonite Church Cemetery in Pence, Kansas
Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. And Sunday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City.
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Having started mowing yards for income at 9 years old, Emily Updegrove learned at a young age the rewards of hard work.
But Updegrove knew she still had lots to learn when she went off to college.
One major lesson learned by the Fort Hays State University senior is that no matter how many hours you have put in working while growing up, internships can pave a path to full-time employment.
Updegrove, an animal science major from Yates Center, stressed the value of internships while scanning the booths at FHSU’s spring internship career fair in Gross Memorial Coliseum in mid-February.
Representatives from more than 60 organizations and businesses set up shop in GMC to offer interested students the opportunity to check them out. There was a little bit of something for everyone, ranging from agriculture to banking and insurance, from military to medical, and everything in-between.
“I have told students that this is the only time in their lives that employers are coming to them,” said Karen McCullough, director of Career Services at FHSU. “This is a unique opportunity to not have to leave campus. The students who do take advantage of these fairs can see their careers take off and get ahead faster.”
Updegrove can attest firsthand to the importance of an internship.
An entrepreneur who started raising her own cattle at age 15, Updegrove applied for an internship last year at the advice of her FHSU advisor, Dr. Craig Smith, associate professor of agriculture.
Updegrove said she didn’t think she would even get an interview with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, let alone be offered the internship.
Although Updegrove’s agriculture experience centered more on cattle than agronomy or soils, Brad Shank of the NRCS office in Jetmore said he thought her basic knowledge of agriculture helped her land the job.
“That ag background definitely has helped her all the way through,” Shank said. “She was able to talk knowledgably with our producers.”
Once chosen to participate in the internship, Updegrove was assigned to work under Shank, a supervisory district conservationist.
The purpose of NRCS internships are to expose the students to as many areas as possible involving the agency.
“We like to get them into the field as much as we can,” Shank said. “She did a lot of survey work, staked out terraces, grass waterways and pipelines and checked out livestock watering facilities and was on site during construction for different projects.”
Shank said he noticed immediately that Updegrove was a hard worker.
“She was very focused on wanting to learn,” he said. “She always asked good questions, wanted to stay engaged, always wanted to understand what we were trying to expose her to. She definitely is the kind of person who you would want working for you. If it was up to me, ——-”
Shank got his wish, and so did Updegrove.
Updegrove learned Tuesday afternoon that after she graduates in May, she will start full time for the NRCS. She will be assigned to a Kansas station for two years, then will have the option to transfer to another state if she wishes.
Shank, a 2010 FHSU graduate, is well aware of the value of internships. He worked several internships while attending Fort Hays State before landing a position with the NRCS.
“Internships are a great experience,” he said. “They give you the opportunity to see if that’s the kind of work you want to do. Even if you decide that type of work is not for you, at least you’ve given it a try. They are great resume builders, and you have gained a knowledge set you will be able to use somewhere down the road.”
Updegrove agreed.
“I had to shut off one part of my brain and open up another part I had never used before,” she said. “It was a steep learning curve, but I learned a lot.”
Even though Updegrove was hoping for the NRCS position to develop into full time, she attended FHSU’s spring career fair to explore other options.
“I was just browsing,” she said. “It’s always good to have a backup plan.”
McCullough said that Updegrove’s situation is just one of numerous opportunities where students can not only gain experience, but employment as well, from internships.
FHSU holds on-campus career internship fairs every fall and spring, and two more fairs – both virtual – are scheduled for next month.
More than 50 school districts from across the state and several other states, too, have already signed up to participate in the March 5 Tiger Teacher Nation Employment and Education Virtual Fair for education majors. Another career and internship virtual fair for all other majors is set for March 12. Links to sign up for one of the upcoming virtual fairs can be found under “upcoming events” at fhsu.edu/career.
“A lot of employers now are expecting students to go out and get internships and bring some experience to the job, and large employers hire through their internships,” McCullough said. “So participating in a career fair can really be helpful, and we would love to have students sign up for one of the virtual fairs.”
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A man in central Kansas has pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a man.
Leonardo Velasquez
Leonardo Velasquez, 38, waived his right to a preliminary hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday in Saline County District Court and entered the plea that reduced his original first-degree murder charge.
Police found 52-year-old Raul Lopez-Vargas dead in the back seat of his car Sept. 10 while the vehicle was parked in a driveway. A probable cause affidavit says the Solomon man was struck and stabbed more than 100 times, and that DNA evidence and shoe prints connects the crime to Velasquez.
Velasquez’s sentencing is April 2. He faces up to more than 41 years in prison.
Kansas congressional candidate Tyler Tannahill is sticking with his planned giveaway of rifle similar to the one used in the mass shooting at a Florida high school.
The Leavenworth Marine veteran running for the Republican nomination in the 2nd District announced the contest for an AR-15 rifle on social media the day before the Florida gunman killed at least 17 people.
“As an avid sportsman, I’m excited to announce our first AR-15 giveaway!” Tannahill said in a post on his campaign’s Facebook page the day before the carnage in Parkland, Fla. “You can earn multiple entries and no purchase is necessary to win!”
He was just as enthusiastic in a news release.
“There’s no better way to demonstrate support of our Second Amendment rights than to offer one lucky winner a sporting rifle from the campaign,” said Tannahill. “As a congressman, I’ll stand up in defense of the Second Amendment against the gun-grabbing Paul Davis Democrats.”
That set off a backlash after the shooting, with several people criticizing Tannahill for being “tone deaf,” “out of touch” and worse.
Winner of the tone deaf awards: Tyler Tannahill for Congress. Maybe don’t give away an AR-15 on your page THE DAY ONE IS USED TO KILL CHILDREN. #Shamepic.twitter.com/cbYdXb06j2
Tannahill responded to the shooting with a Facebook post of his own, saying that he and his wife were “heartbroken to learn of the tragedy.”
Declaring, “We can do better,” Tannahill said providing violence response training to teachers and staff could help make schools safer.
Tannahill told the Kansas City Star he wouldn’t bow to pressure and cancel the gun giveaway, the announcement of which was planned to coincide with this weekend’s Kansas Republican Convention in Wichita.
“We need to have a discussion of what can be done and throwing out comments of displeasure isn’t going to solve it,” Tannahill told the Star.
The contests rules posted on the campaign website say contestants must be at least 18 to win the AR-15 and meet all legal requirements for purchasing a firearm, including passing a federal background check.
Tannahill is one of seven announced candidates for the GOP nomination for the 2nd District seat now held by Republican Lynn Jenkins. After five terms, she isn’t running for re-election. Earlier this month he attended a so-called “Defend Our Flag” protest that included some participants driving pick-up trucks decorated with both American and confederate flags through downtown Lawrence, according to The Pitch.
Steve Watkins, of Topeka, another GOP hopeful in the 2nd District, also attended the demonstration.
The winner of the Republican primary will likely face Democrat Paul Davis in the general election. Davis, a former Kansas House minority leader, narrowly lost a 2014 bid to unseat former Gov. Sam Brownback.
SEDONA, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas man was walking along an Arizona highway naked and bleeding before he was fatally shot by a federal officer last month.
Tyler Miller -courtesy photo
Reports released this week by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office contain details about the condition of 51-year-old Tyler Miller before the Jan. 5 shooting.
The FBI’s Phoenix office says a U.S. Forest Service officer initially stopped to help Miller on Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon, about 100 miles north of Phoenix.
According to family, the Hutchinson man was heading to a retreat in Sedona when he crashed his truck.
A deputy wrote Officer Krista Kuhns sounded “shaky and was speaking loudly” over a radio and then shots were fired.
The Miller family’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.
HaysMed, part of the University of Kansas Health System, is offering their second Date Night of the year.
The Center for Health Improvement will offer Dinner and A Workout on Monday, March 5. The HIIT partner workout begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at The Center for Health Improvement. The dinner menu included Mediterranean garlic chicken with fresh herbs and vegetable, rice or couscous, honey-pistachio roasted pears and beverages.
Bring your spouse, friend or anyone and enjoy a great partner workout with our group fitness instructors. The workout is designed to be fun, regardless of your fitness level.
Fee is $20 per couple that includes the special meal. Reservations are due by March 1. You can register at www.haysmed.com/date-night or call 785-623-5900.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Secretary of State Kris Kobach is renewing a 14-year campaign to repeal a Kansas law granting in-state tuition rates to qualifying college students who aren’t U.S. citizens.
Kobach testified Thursday on behalf of a bill that would end the benefit offered to those who graduated from an accredited Kansas high school or earned a general equivalency degree and started the process of acquiring citizenship. Kansas’ in-state tuition is about a third of the out-of-state assessment.
Kobach tells the House Higher Education Budget Committee that state law perversely incentivizes immigrants living in Kansas illegally to attend college.
Bishops leading the Kansas Catholic Conference are asking the committee to have compassion for youth who would have tuition benefits taken from them.
FAYETTE, Iowa – The Fort Hays State wrestling team jumped to No. 15 in the fifth edition of the DII National Rankings on Thursday (Feb. 15). The Tigers are tied with conference rival Lindenwood as both teams received 25 votes in the Top 25 Poll. Sophomore Brandon Ball moved up to No. 3 in the 141-pound weight class and Efe Osaghae entered the rankings for the first time in his career to No. 4 in the 149-pound weight class.
FHSU is one of four MIAA teams in the Top 25 as Central Oklahoma dipped one spot to No. 11 and Nebraska-Kearney dropped a spot to No. 13. Lindenwood soared up five spots to No. 15, even with the Tigers.
In the individual rankings, Brandon Ball rose to No. 3 once again at 141 pounds. Ball leads the team with a 31-3 overall record and is 21-2 against Division II opponents. The sophomore is on a 12-match winning streak heading into regionals next weekend (Feb. 23-24). Ball earned the MIAA Championship last weekend (Feb. 11).
Efe Osaghae enters the rankings for the first time as a Tiger at 149 pounds. Osaghae sits at No. 4 after an impressive redshirt-freshman campaign by defeating the defending national champion, Keith Surber of UNK, twice. The most recent time was in overtime of the title bout at the MIAA Championships. Osaghae carries a 26-10 overall record and a 14-5 record in Division II into regionals.
GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges.
Barrow-photo Geary Co.
On Thursday, police stopped an eastbound vehicle on Interstate 70 just east of Humboldt Creek Road, according to Junction City Police.
Officers arrested Andrew Barrows, 37, and Michael Martin, 44, both from Colorado on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana With Intent, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and No Drug Tax Stamp.
There was also one allegation of Registration Violation against Barrows.
An informational hearing was held in the Kansas legislature this week regarding the new federal tax bill and its effect on the state.
Many Kansans pre-filed their 2017 taxes because there is no tax advantage for individuals to wait until 2018, and that gave the state a huge increase over last year, according to Rep. Eber Phelps of Hays (D-111th Dist.). Corporate filings however, were down because many Kansas corporations will file in 2018 for federal tax breaks available this year for businesses.
“The report indicated Kansas would likely see an increase of about $138 million when the fiscal year starts July 1st, and an additional $180 million the following year,” Phelps said.
Phelps later talked to staff in the Legislative Research Department who said they are still trying to “sort it out.” The department provides nonpartisan, objective research and fiscal analysis for the Kansas Legislature.
“We’re not sure where our money is going to be and it’s making it very difficult in the Appropriations Committee to determine what kind of budget we’re going to put together. The Tax Committee is also looking at this very closely,” added Phelps.
“I expect a clearer picture towards the end of the session.”
The Alumni Association of Thomas More Prep-Marian is proud to sponsor the 44th Annual Auction for Christian Education (ACE) on Saturday, April 28, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Al Billinger Fieldhouse.
From the first auction in 1975 to 2017, ACE has raised $7,963,052.04 for Thomas More Prep-Marian.
The Hays business community, TMP-Marian parents, alumni and friends have worked many years together with the Capuchin friars and Agnesian sisters and now the Diocese of Salina to keep the dream of a Catholic educational option alive for Hays, Ellis County and western Kansas.
Thanks to you, our alumni, and many others in the business and professional community, ACE is a continuing testimony to your support of, and belief in, our mission. ACE 2018 Co-Chairs are Stan and Pam Mayers and Gerald and Marcia Pfeifer, and they will be rockin’ to an Elvis Presley theme “An Evening at Graceland!”
We invite all previous donors to favor us again with a quality “new” item(s) for the auction, and ask new donors to be as generous as your situation permits. It takes a large variety of items to make this event a success. We are counting on your support to help the school.
ACE 2018 will feature a buffet meal with all seats reserved. Tickets for the buffet and auction are $100 per person for regular seating or $200 per person for VIP seating. Seating at the prestigious auctioneer’s table are also available at the cost of $300 per person. Tickets can be ordered and gifts can be donated by contacting the Alumni Office at 785-625-9434 or email [email protected]. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Table seating is available for groups of eight or 16, but small groups or individual reservations are welcome too. Please submit reservations and payment for confirmed guests only. If you purchase tickets to attend and cannot use them, please do not give them to someone else. Auction tickets are transferable only through the alumni office. Each guest is assigned an individual bid number and is responsible for any charges made.
Thank you for your support of Thomas More Prep-Marian in its endeavor to educate the Catholic leaders of tomorrow, and we ask your continuing prayers for religious vocations.
