WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A child care worker has been charged with sexually assaulting a second child at a YMCA in Wichita.
Gaston-photo Sedgwick Co.
Caleb Gaston was charged Monday with aggravated indecent liberties with a 3-year-old girl. He had been free on bond on charges that he raped a 4-year-old girl on Jan. 29 when the younger child was identified as a possible victim of a Jan. 24 assault. Gaston was arrested again last week and is jailed on $1 million bond.
Gaston’s attorney, Steve Ariagno, said in an email that Gaston “denies any and all allegations of wrongdoing.”
As part of the investigation, authorities are reviewing YMCA camera footage. Plymouth Congregational Church said in a statement that Gaston was terminated in October from its preschool after an inappropriate touching complaint.
Flu shots are still available at the Ellis Co. Health Department.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
It’s not too late to get a flu shot.
The Ellis County Health Department still has plenty of influenza vaccines available for people ages six months and older.
“With the flu in the United States at almost historical proportions, it’s important to be vaccinated and protect yourself as much as possible,” says Kerry McCue, health administrator. “While some area clinics and medical providers have run out of the flu vaccine, we still have plenty available.”
There are two types of vaccines available at the health clinic, the regular dose for most people, and the high dose for people over the age of 65.
Costs are $35 and $55 respectively. “We will bill your insurance,” Kerry added, “so it may end up costing you nothing.”
No appointment is necessary to get a flu shot. The Ellis County Health Dept., 601 Main in Hays, is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and again 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Fridays, the department is open mornings only from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge is weighing a man’s claim that that a deadly Lawrence shooting was self-defense.
Drake- photo Douglas County
The preliminary hearing for Steven Drake III ended with a judge taking the case under advisement. Drake is charged with first-degree murder charge in the killing of Bryce Holladay.
The shooting happened in September after Holladay began rummaging through items in a home where Drake was living with roommates. Holladay is accused of throwing punches as several people tried to push him out.
Drake told police he gave Holladay “fair warning.” At the time, Holladay was awaiting trial in an unrelated auto burglary and theft case.
Prosecutors argue that deadly force wasn’t reasonable because no one was at risk of great bodily harm or death. Drake knew Holladay.
The Hays USD 489 school district continued to debate its one-to-one technology program during a meeting Monday night.
The district’s technology committee brought information to the board that included all scheduled technology purchases for the next eight years.
The committee was asked to create a schedule that would spread out purchases of devices for the district’s one-to-one technology program over four years to distribute the cost of the program more evenly over time.
The cost of the one-to-one program would be $219,000 to $258,000 per year over a four-year cycle. Complete technology costs including network expenses and replacement of staff computers would bring the total for technology to $239,000 to $371,000 per year over the eight-year schedule.
The one-to-one program was originally implemented in the 2015-16 school year at a cost of $1.315 million.
Although the original discussion was to be about the schedule and purchase of high school devices in the first year of the schedule in 2018-19, in the last two meetings, the discussion morphed into a larger debate of the appropriateness of the district’s one-to-one technology program.
Board president Lance Bickle said he appreciated the work the committee did on the schedule, but he questioned the appropriateness of spending such large amounts of money on the program when the district had so many other pressing capital needs.
Board member Greg Schwartz also continued to question the technology program, reasserting his desire to have some sort of measure of the effectiveness of the program, possibly a technology proficiency test.
Board member Paul Adams said he thought the technology program was important to district’s career-readiness goals.
The two community members on the technology committee were present at the meeting and both said they thought exposing students to technology was important to future work experiences.
Alan Wamser of HaysMed said technology is critical to all business at the hospital and younger employees are adapting more quickly to ever-changing technology advances.
Wasmer, who is also a parent, said he thought access to technology was also important to his children’s communication with teachers. He said the technology allows teachers to bring content to the students in different ways. When his son struggles with an algebra problem, he accesses a video example of the problem online.
Derek Johnson of Fort Hays State University said technology is ingrained in how the students interact with their world.
“I feel it would be a disservice not to take advantage of technology and embrace that. With these kids, this is how they see education. I think if we embrace their social and technical desires, we will have a lot better interaction,” he said.
Sophia Rose Young said she supported the four-year schedule. She said she also supported the concept of using online textbooks that would be available on one device versus paper textbooks.
Schwartz said he would like to see what other capital expenses the district will request for the next budget year before making a decision on technology. Tracy Kaiser, finance director, said those requests will start coming in during March.
No action was taken on the technology schedule Monday night.
Long-range facilities plan
The district also discussed its long-range facilities plan. The board plans to set a separate board meeting to discuss facilities and plans for a future bond. That date has not yet been set.
In other business, the board:
• Designated the superintendent and board attorney as the negotiating agents for the 2018-19 school year.
• Appointed Mike Walker to Hays Area Children’s Center Board
• Set the summer school and driver’s education fees for summer 2018. The fees will be the same as last year.
Robert L.Walters, 63, of Russell, Kansas died on Friday, February 9, 2018 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.
Robert was born on June 02, 1954, in Russell, Kansas, the son of William R. and Clarice L. (Metz) Walters. He grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1972.
After high school, he attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to LuAnn L. Schulze on June 04, 1977, in Norton, Kansas. From this union Robert and LuAnn were blessed with three sons, Luke, Steven and Tristan. Robert began his career working beside his father and grandfather at Russell Automotive Supply. At the time of his passing, he was a parts buyer for S&W Supply in Russell, Kansas, having recently completed 20 years with the company. He was a longtime member of First Congregational Church and Trinity United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Russell Masonic Lodge, Russell Shrine Club and Isis Shrine Temple.
Robert was the 1968 National Spelling Bee Champion. He loved music and enjoyed singing bass with the 4-Told Quartet, traveling the country and attending quartet sing fests. Robert enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends. In recent years, he volunteered at Trinity Community Thrift Store. He was especially gifted at telling jokes and had a special talent in remembering all of them. Most of all Robert enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren.
Surviving family include his wife LuAnn from the home; sons Luke Walters (Bern) of Kansas City, MO, Steven Walters (Jenny) of Hays, KS and Tristan (Ammi) of Wichita, KS; brothers William Clay Walters (Jean) of Topeka, KS and John Matthew Walters (Janell) of Manhattan, KS; sister Phoebe Walters of Salina, KS; six grandchildren Willem and Theron Walters, Magnolia and Giovanni Hayes, Anniston and London Rudisell. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of Robert’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell, Kansas. Masonic services will follow and be performed at the church. Services will conclude at the church. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at the mortuary. Family will greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Wednesday evening. Memorials may be given to the Community Thrift Store and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Emma Louise Wiesendanger Yanda, age 94, of Sun City West, Arizona, passed away after a brief illness on February 3, 2018. She was born in Randolph, Kansas on September 28, 1923, to J.J. and Marie Elizabeth Peterson Wiesendanger.
She graduated from Salina High School in 1941 and Kansas City Art Institute in 1946. On September 4, 1948, Emma married Albert Yanda in Salina, Kansas. Emma owned her own Graphic Design Studio for 30 years, retiring in Del Mar, California for six years prior to moving to Sun City West. While in Sun City West, she began weaving, and taught and gave presentations on the art of weaving throughout Arizona, and had her work published in Handwoven Magazine.
Emma and her late husband of 55 years, Albert, traveled extensively throughout the world. Emma moved to Grandview Terrace in 2004, and was elected Vice President of the Grandview Terrace Community Service Foundation and Funds Developer until prior to her death.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Albert, an Architect; and her parents. Survivors include her sister, Mary Elzea of Lawrence, Kansas; brother, James Wiesendanger of Salina, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be at 11 AM on February 24, 2018 at Christ the King Catholic Cemetery, WaKeeney, Kansas. There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.
A memorial gathering will also be held at Grandview Terrace in Sun City West, Arizona on March 28, 2018 from 2:30 – 4:30 PM.
Memorials are suggested to The Grandview Terrace Scholarship Fund, Sun City West, Arizona. Contributions may be left at the service or sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
David Charles Cozad, son of Rex and Merle (Knutson) Cozad was born January 7, 1945 in McCook, Nebraska and passed away at his home in Holly Lake Ranch, Tx on February 12, 2018 at the age of 73.
David grew up in Decatur County, Ks and attended the Spring Branch School for the first 8 years of his education. He then attended high school in Norcatur graduating in 1963. On January 30, 1965 he married his high school sweetheart Karen Jackson, they were married in the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren northwest of Norton, KS. January 30, 2018 they celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.
David was a man of many talents and did many things in his 73 years; he farmed until moving to Norton in 1976 where he was in construction building homes. For a few years he owned and operated a commercial laundry in Norton until he pursued a life long dream of learning to fly. Once he got his private pilot license he continued on to achieve his instrument rating and then a commercial license. He taught ground school and several of his students went on to get their private licenses under his direction. While flying brought about many numerous experiences, his favorite part of it was crop dusting. That aspect of flying combined things he loved best – farming and flying and being outdoors.
When he physically could no longer crop dust, he left aviation and worked for the Kansas Dept of Correction for 5 years. He had an opportunity then to buy an automotive sales route business which he continued for several years. When he retired he went back to construction and remodeled his parents old home place into a cabin for family and friends to gather for reunions and hunting and just enjoying life in the country.
In the fall of 2014, Karen and David moved to Texas to be closer to their grandchildren. His health started deteriorating soon after but he loved his time in Texas. He attended numerous activities involving the grandchildren and enjoyed the times they visited in Holly Lake. He was able to watch numerous birds, deer and other wildlife from his patio. His family remembers him as a very special father and grandfather, and have lots of memories of how much he loved them.
Survivors include: his wife Karen of the home; one daughter, Tracy and Dan Engelhardt of Norton; two sons, Jon and Maria Cozad and their children Jack and Jennica of North Richland Hills, Tx; Jeremy and Claire Cozad and their children Lucy and Rose of Tyler, Tx; his mother, Merle Cozad of Lee Summit, Mo; one sister, Mary Lynn and Bill Vanderburg of Clinton, MO; two nephews and six nieces and their families; many other relatives and friends.
David was preceded in death by his father, Rex; one sister, Beverly Morton; one brother, John Cozad; his paternal grandparents, Bert and Naomi Cozad; maternal grandparents, Elmer and Helen Knutson.
FUNERAL SERVICE – Friday, February 16, 2018 –10:30 A.M.
PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – Norton, Kansas
VISITATION – Thursday, February 15, 2018 from 5:00 P.M until 7:00 P.M.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas father and husband who is fighting efforts to deport him to Bangladesh was taken off a plane that was flying him back to his native country and is being held at a detention center in Hawaii, his attorneys said Tuesday.
Federal immigration officials put Syed Ahmed Jamal, who has lived in Kansas for 30 years, on the plane Monday before a federal immigration panel granted a temporary stay in the case. He was taken off the flight when it stopped to refuel in Honolulu, the firm representing him, Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law, posted on its Facebook page. Attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford didn’t immediately reply to messages left Tuesday seeking further details, and it’s unclear what the next step will be for Jamal, who is hoping to remain in the U.S. with his wife and three children, who are all U.S. citizens.
It was the latest dramatic turn for Jamal, who has been battling deportation since Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested him Jan. 24 at his family’s home in Lawrence.
A federal immigration judge early Monday removed a temporary stay he issued last week for Jamal, who was being held in a detention center in El Paso, Texas. His attorneys immediately sought a new stay from the Board of Immigration Appeals in Virginia, which granted one later Monday, but not before Jamal was put on a flight to Bangladesh, Sharma-Crawford said Monday.
Jamal’s possible deportation had prompted 94,000 people to sign a petition in his support. Rep. Emauel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri whose office was flooded with calls about the case, took up Jamal’s cause, even visiting him in El Paso over the weekend. On Monday, before the second order was issued, he issued a statement saying he would continue with plans to draft a bill prompted by Jamal’s case that shows how “this broken and unfair” immigration system affects families who have deep ties to their communities.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins, whose Kansas district includes Lawrence, also said before the second stay was issued that she supported Jamal’s efforts to have his immigration case reopened.
“My heart aches for his wife and children,” Jenkins said. “I cannot imagine what they are going through during this very difficult time.”
Jamal has worked as an adjunct professor and researcher at Kansas City-area colleges. He entered the U.S. legally in 1987 to attend the University of Kansas but overstayed his visa while pursuing a doctorate. He was ordered deported in 2011 but had been allowed to stay in the U.S. and check in regularly with immigration authorities.
Sharma-Crawford said Jamal has a work permit that is valid until October 2018 and that he was trying to work within what she said was a complicated immigration system.
ICE officials have consistently declined to explain why they chose to enforce the order in late January.
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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man who has lived in Kansas for 30 years was already on a plane being deported back to his native Bangladesh when a federal immigration board issued a new stay Monday that his supporters hope will allow him to be returned to Lawrence, his attorneys said.
It was a dramatic day for the family and supporters of Syed Ahmed Jamal, 55, who have been battling deportation since he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Jan. 24 in Lawrence at a home he shares with his wife and three children, who are U.S. citizens.
A federal immigration judge early Monday removed a temporary stay he issued last week for Jamal, who was being held in a detention center in El Paso, Texas. His attorneys immediately filed a new motion for a stay with the Board of Immigration Appeals in Virginia, which granted the motion later Monday.
Before the second order was issued, Jamal was placed on a plane back to Bangladesh, said his attorney, Rekha Sharma-Crawford. The plane is scheduled to refuel in Hawaii and Sharma-Crawford said she was hopeful he would be taken off the plane and be sent back to the U.S., KMBC reported.
Jamal’s possible deportation had prompted 94,000 people to sign a petition in his support. Rep. Emauel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri whose office was flooded with calls about the case, took up Jamal’s cause, even visiting him in El Paso during the weekend. On Monday, before the second order was issued, he issued a statement saying he would continue with plans to draft a bill prompted by Jamal’s case that shows how “this broken and unfair” immigration system affects families who have deep ties to their communities.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins, whose Kansas district includes Lawrence, also said before the second stay was issued that she supported Jamal’s efforts to have his immigration case reopened.
“My heart aches for his wife and children,” Jenkins said. “I cannot imagine what they are going through during this very difficult time.”
Jamal is a native of Bangladesh. While in the U.S., he has worked as an adjunct professor and researcher at Kansas City-area colleges
Jamal entered the U.S. legally in 1987 to attend the University of Kansas but overstayed his visa while pursuing a doctorate. He was ordered deported in 2011 but had been allowed to stay in the U.S. and check in regularly with immigration authorities. Sharma-Crawford said Jamal has a work permit that is valid until October 2018 and that he was trying to work within what she said was a complicated immigration system.
ICE officials have consistently declined to explain why they chose to enforce the order in late January.
5:15 p.m.
A federal immigration board has granted a new stay of removal for a Kansas chemist who is battling efforts to deport him to Bangladesh.
That came Monday afternoon, hours after a federal immigration judge dissolved a temporary stay he had issued last week for 55-year-old Syed Ahmed Jamal, who was arrested in late January in Lawrence.
Jamal’s attorneys quickly filed a new motion for a stay with the Board of Immigration Appeals in Virginia, which granted it late.
The chemist and adjunct professor has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years. He and his wife have three U.S. native children live in Lawrence.
His arrest and possible deportation sparked protests and criticism, including from Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
Immigration officials have not explained why they decided to arrest him Jan. 24.
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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has denied a stay that would keep a Kansas chemist in the U.S. while he battles immigration officials’ efforts to deport him to Bangladesh.
Attorneys for 55-year-old Syed Ahmed Jamal said a federal immigration judge on Monday dissolved a temporary stay issued last week, meaning Jamal could be deported at any time. Jamal’s attorneys immediately filed a new motion for stay with the Board of Immigration Appeals in Virginia.
Jamal, who has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years, was arrested Jan. 24 in Lawrence.
His attorneys at the Sharma-Crawford firm in Kansas City said Monday it was unclear whether Jamal was still at a detention center in El Paso, Texas.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas issued statements Monday saying they were disappointed in the judge’s decision.
Agra resident Merle L. Barnes passed away, February 10, 2018 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg at the age of 86.
He was born October 20, 1931 in Gretna, KS the son of Harold D. & Alma J. (Underwood) Barnes.
On February 1, 1957, he was united in marriage to Lela May Patterson in Phillipsburg, KS. She survives of Agra.
Other survivors include his son, Micky Barnes & wife, Janet; daughter, Linda Dougherty & husband, Daryl all of Agra; 8 grandchildren; and 8 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 17, 2018 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Robert Keesee officiating. Burial with military honors conducted by the Agra American Legion Post No. 357 will follow in the Agra Cemetery, Agra.
Mr. Barnes will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday & Friday, with family receiving friends Friday evening from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., all at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the “Know Your Bible” program or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
KANSAS CITY (AP) – Applebee’s has temporarily closed a restaurant and fired three employees accused of falsely accusing two black women of “dining and dashing.”
The Kansas City Star reports that Applebee’s said in a statement that it doesn’t “tolerate racism, bigotry or harassment.” The statement said it was closing the restaurant in the Independence Center shopping mall so employees can “regroup, learn and grow.”
There’ve been more than 2 million views of the video Alexis Brison posted Saturday to Facebook of her and a friend denying allegations that they previously left the Applebee’s without paying. Brison, of St. Louis, began recording after being confronted by a police officer, mall security guard and an Applebee’s manager.
She can be heard saying in the video, “This is what black people have to deal with.”
The contract for the Hays-West Central Kansas Co-op special education director was not renewed last night at the Hays USD 489 school board meeting.
The Hays school district is the lead district for the co-op. The co-op advisory council recommended special education director Raj Sharma’s contract not be renewed.
The unanimous vote by the Hays board came with little discussion.
Board member Greg Schwartz confirmed with Hays Superintendent John Thissen it was his recommendation and the recommendation of the other superintendents in the co-op to not renew Sharma’s contract.
The co-op covers the Hays, Ellis, La Crosse and Victoria school districts.
Sharma’s contract will expire June 30.
Sharma was named as the director of the co-op on July 1, 2016. He was the special education director in Wellington before taking the job in Hays.
The contract for Assistant Superintendent Shanna Dinkel was renewed for another year Monday night.
Thissen is on a two-year contract, and his contract will not be up until next year. He asked the board after his current contract expires that he be placed on a yearly contract. He said this will be parallel to the other administrative contracts.
