Steven D. Camp, 79, passed away February 4, 2018, surrounded by family at his home.
Steve was born July 9, 1938, in Leavenworth, Kansas, to Anson W. and Eunice M. (Moore) Camp. He married Judith A. Seeler on February 15, 1958, in Leavenworth. Steve had a lifelong love of automobiles and worked selling cars, both retail and wholesale, for many years. He enjoyed spending time with his family, watching NASCAR races and tinkering in his garage. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Leavenworth.
He is survived by his wife of the home; three daughters: Tracy (Gary) Kaufman of Leawood, Kari (Charlie) Schultz of Hays, and Kandy (David) Price of Leavenworth; six grandchildren: Rachel (Cameron) Bliss, Madison Schultz, Aaron Kaufman, Mark Kaufman, Natalie Price, and Mallory Price; a sister, Eleanor (Don) Denney; a stepmother, Caroline; and many extended family members and friends.
Visitation will be Wednesday, February 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Davis Funeral Chapel, Leavenworth. Service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 8, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Leavenworth. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association, the National Kidney Foundation, and St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Arrangements entrusted to Davis Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be left on Steve’s online guestbook at www.davisfuneralchapelinc.com.
DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following a Monday morning shooting.
Just after 2a.m., police were dispatched for a report of shots fired into a vehicle occupied with three people in the area of the 1700 block of Iowa Street in Lawrence, according to Sergeant Amy Rhoads.
No injuries were reported. Police took 46-year-old Alfred D. Sanders of Lawrence into custody. He has been booked in to the Douglas County Correctional Facility on three counts of attempted 2nd degree murder.
Anyone with more information on this incident is asked to contact the Lawrence Police Department
Senator Rick Billinger Newsletter
February 5, 2018
On Wednesday January 31st, Dr. Jeff Colyer was sworn in as the 47th governor of Kansas replacing Sam Brownback. The inauguration of Colyer comes after Governor Brownback resigned from office to become the U.S. Ambassador to International Freedom in the Trump administration.
“I demand transparency and we embrace accountability,” Colyer said in his speech. “I pledge to do the right thing even when nobody is looking, and we will set a tone and insist on an environment of openness, honesty and respect and without harassment, especially in this building.”
The Senate passed SB 262 which will authorize the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the northwest quadrant of the Kansas Capitol grounds. No public funds would be used to construct the statue and pedestal. The bill authorizes the Department of Administration to receive moneys from grants, gifts, contributions, or bequests to finance the construction of the statue and pedestal. The monument will be an exact replica of the statue created by Lawrence native, Jim Brothers, which currently resides in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
SB 263 was passed out of the Agricultural and Natural Resource Committee this week. This bill will allow the Department of Agriculture to create a program to research the use of industrial hemp. Several amendments were added. One amendment recommended Russell County to be used as a pilot in the industrial hemp program.
This week we had a hearing on a bill that will set up the frame work to form a committee to study and make recommendations for a new comprehensive ten-year transportation plan. At the present time we have 29 different individuals and/or organizations that have been recommended for this committee.
On Tuesday February 6th, SB 307, The Home-owned Amusement Ride & Agritourism Activity Bill will have a hearing. I will let everyone know how this bill progresses.
Heard in a committee this week was Real ID. Real ID is a federal law, passed by Congress in 2005 to ensure state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards meet minimum security standards. To get a Real ID before law goes into effect on October 1, 2020, you’ll need to bring certain documentation into the local driver’s license office. Anyone boarding an airplane or entering a federal facility, such as a military base, using a state issued ID or driver’s license on October 1, 2020 will be required to have a credential that is Real ID compliant. To apply for this ID, you will need a valid passport or birth certificate, Proof of social security such as a social security card, current W-2 or 1099, or current pay stub with full SSN, Proof of residency, which can be a utility bill, your vehicle registration, or your current driver’s license. All documents should be un-laminated originals. If your name is not the same on all of your documents because of adoption, marriage, divorce, or any court ordered name change, you must provide proof of the name change such as your marriage license, adoption certificate, divorce decree. The fees remain the same for Real ID: $26 if you’re renewing and $8 to replace. If your credential expires after the 2020 deadline and you want a Real ID, you can bring your documents in to the office, receive the Real ID, and only pay the $8 replacement charge. You will have the option to choose between a Real ID or a non-Real ID card. For more details and a checklist that will help make sure you bring everything you need when you visit the driver’s license station, visit ksrevenue.org/realid and you can find your local driver’s license office at https://www.ksrevenue.org/dovstations.html.
The weekend temperatures in Hays went up — way up, and then down — way down.
Official statistics from the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town recorded a high of 67 degrees Sat., Feb. 3. Although unusually warm, it was not a record high. That was 76 degrees set in 1946.
The temperature plunged overnight to a low of 13 degrees. Sunday started with a little bit of snow, 0.02 inches, yielding 0.01 inches of moisture. Sunday’s daytime high was just 15 degrees, 52 degrees colder than the day before.
More roller coaster temperature changes are on the way. Monday’s forecast is calling for a high of 45 degrees. Snow should start falling late Monday night, with up to four inches of accumulation Tuesday as the daytime temp creeps up to 22 degrees.
Hays has had 6.5 inches of snowfall so far this season.
The Kroger Co. and EG Group, a privately held petrol forecourt convenience store retailer based in Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom, today announced a definitive agreement for the sale of Kroger’s convenience store business unit to EG Group for $2.15 billion. The companies expect to close the transaction during the first quarter of Kroger’s fiscal year.
As part of the agreement, EG Group will establish their North American headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio and continue to operate stores under their established banner names.
Kroger announced in October 2017 its intention to explore strategic alternatives for its convenience store business, including a potential sale, in conjunction with Restock Kroger.
“Our convenience store business has been a part of our company for many years. We want to thank our management team and associates for their enduring commitment to our customers, and for the contributions they have made to build our supermarket fuel business,” said Mike Schlotman, Kroger’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. “As part of our regular review of assets, it has become clear that our strong convenience store business unit will better meet its full potential outside of our business.”
“One of the most important considerations in our decision-making process was continued operations to ensure minimal disruption to our associates. We are very pleased the EG Group plans to establish their North American headquarters in Cincinnati. EG Group is also a recognized international petrol forecourt convenience operator and they have a commercial model which clearly looks to enhance the consumer offer by working with leading retail brands customers know and trust,” said Mr. Schlotman. “This is good for our associates across the country and for our headquarter city of Cincinnati. Throughout the process we were impressed with the EG Group’s professionalism, investment commitment and more importantly their understanding of the US convenience retail market. We now look forward to working with them closely to ensure a smooth transition for associates.”
Mohsin Issa, EG Group Founder and co-CEO expressed “This is an exciting time for EG Group, the entry into the US market presents a fantastic opportunity to deliver a successful retail offer to consumers across the various states. We have had much success across Europe and we firmly believe the Kroger assets present a fantastic foundation to overlay our retail experience and know-how in the US. We are committed to investing in the Kroger network, partnering with leading retail brands and working with the exceptional management team and associates transferring across to deliver a comprehensive retail offer.”
“Our business model is simple but effective – EG Group is creating a stronger relationship between consumers and leading retail brands they want to access. In the US we aim to create a retail environment which delivers convenience, provides value and serves as a retail destination offering excellent welfare to motorists who live and work near our petrol forecourt convenience retail stores,” added Zuber Issa, EG Group Founder and co-CEO.
Kroger plans to use net proceeds from the sale to repurchase shares and to lower its net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio.
Kroger’s convenience store business operates in 18 states. It includes 66 franchise operations. The stores employ 11,000 associates and operate under the following banner names: Turkey Hill, Loaf ‘N Jug, Kwik Shop, Tom Thumb and Quik Stop. Kroger’s convenience store business generated revenue of $4 billion, including selling 1.2 billion gallons of fuel, in 2016.
Kroger’s supermarket fuel centers and its Turkey Hill Dairy are not included in the sale.
Join us on Sunday, February 11 from 1-5 p.m. to celebrate Darwin Day 2018! This FREE day will cover the topic of “Everyday Evolution.” This includes the topics of:
Animal Husbandry
Genetically Modified Organisms
Deforestation
Come join the fun and learn about evolution all around you at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive, Hays, 785-628-4286.
The Kansas Senate finished a busy fourth week of session with committee meetings and bills coming forward. The Senate held floor debate on Tuesday and passed out five pieces of legislation.
JEFF COLYER INAUGURATED AS 47TH GOVERNOR OF KANSAS
On Wednesday January 31st, Jeff Colyer was sworn in as the 47th governor of Kansas replacing Sam Brownback. The inauguration of Colyer comes after Governor Brownback resigned from office to become the U.S. Ambassador to International Freedom in the Trump administration. Governor Colyer was accompanied by his wife and two of his daughters when he took the oath of office in a ceremony at the Kansas Statehouse. Governor Colyer is scheduled to address the legislature Wednesday.
Senate Floor Action
UPDATING EFFECTIVE RISK-BASED CAPITAL INSTRUCTIONS DATE – SB 267 changes the effective date specified in the Insurance Code for the risk-based capital (RBC) instructions
MID-TERM APPOINTMENTS OF CREDIT UNION COUNCIL MEMBERS – SB 275 adjusts the provisions relating to the terms of service for members of the Credit Union Council (Council).
AUDITS OF THE KANSAS 911 ACT – SB 255 would modify the Kansas 911 Act by changing the duration between audits of the 911 system from three years to five years.
TRANSFERRING DUTIES FROM JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR TO DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY VALUATION – SB 261 revises the law requiring an appraisal prior to the State purchasing or disposing of any real property. The bill transfers the duty to appoint a disinterested appraiser from the Judicial Administrator to the Director of Property Valuation, the head of the Department of Revenue’s Division of Property Valuation.
AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STATUE HONORING DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER – SB 262 would authorize the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the northwest quadrant of Kansas Capitol grounds. The bill also authorizes the Department of Administration to receive moneys from grants, gifts, contributions, or bequests to finance the construction of the statue and its pedestal. All funds received would be remitted to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Statue Fund, which would be created by the bill and would be used solely for creating and constructing the statue and its pedestal or other purposes specifically indicated in the bequest. No public funds would be used to construct the statue and pedestal. The monument will be an exact replica of the statue created by Lawrence native, Jim Brothers, which currently resides in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
Committee Action
ONLINE SALES TAX HEARING
Last week the Joint Tax Committee heard from the South Dakota Attorney General’s office on their pending lawsuit before the United States Supreme Court regarding online sales tax. South Dakota passed legislation that would require sales tax to be remitted to the state from remote sellers who do not have a physical presence within the state but have what is considered an ‘economic presence.’ This comes after a growing concern from many states that are seeing sluggish sales tax receipts due to more Americans shopping online rather than in-store. The Attorney General of South Dakota recommended that Kansas write an amicus brief in support of South Dakota’s efforts. This would have to come from the Kansas Attorney General. South Dakota expects a ruling to come from the Supreme Court this summer.
CYBERSECURITY ACT
On Thursday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on SB 342 which enacts the Kansas Cybersecurity Act. The Cybersecurity Act focuses on making data in the state more secure. Throughout the past eight years, the bill has taken various forms while the need for cybersecurity has steadily increased. The bill aims to protect Kansas from cyber-attacks, loss of sensitive information, and financial liability due to breaches of information.
BILL CALLS FOR EQUAL CUSTODY FOR DIVORCING PARENTS
On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on SB 257 which would provide divorcing parents equal amount of time with their child by default. If the parents do not have a parenting plan one would be created for them allowing each parent equal custody. If evidence shows that equal time with both parents is not in the best interest of the child the court can create a different custody arrangement.
The bill does not address child support.
MEDICAID SUSPENSION BILL HEADS TO SENATE
On Tuesday, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee sent SB 195 out of committee to the Senate. SB 195 would suspend instead of eliminate eligibility for Medicaid benefits for those in prison, jail, or mental health facilities. The bill does not require the person to reapply for their KanCare coverage therefore allowing them to immediately receive benefits when they are released from a state facility. SB 195 would not allow reimbursement while incarcerated but works to decrease the amount of time an individual must wait to receive coverage after being released. Supporters of the bill believe it will lower recidivism rates since it will provide access to continuous mental health coverage. A mental health task force had recommended the policy to legislators earlier this month.
DENTAL CARE EXPANSION
A new bill to expand dental care in Kansas will be heard in the next few weeks in both Health Committees. This legislation would allow the creation of dental therapists working under the direct supervision of licensed dentists. The dental therapists are licensed dental hygienists required to complete additional training in an accredited course of study. Once dental therapists complete the required 500 hours of training they would then be allowed to perform an additional 35 dental procedures.
Kansas Department of Labor and Revenue facts
Federal tax reform again influenced state tax receipts in January, artificially bumping collections for the month over $165 million above expectations. Receipts for the month of January totaled $746.65 million. The fiscal year total is $3.94 billion, which is $248.63 million above expectations. Sales tax collections since July 1 have averaged approximately 3 percent above the previous year during that time, which translates to about $40.43 million more in revenue. Unemployment in Kansas went down another tick to 3.4%. One year ago, the rate was 4.3% and Kansas gained 5,000 jobs in the last two months.
Visitors from Senate District #36
As always, it is so nice to see visitors from home who either come to testify on bills or to attend functions with their organizations. Wednesday, the Rooks County Leadership delegation made their annual visit to Topeka. This is their 30th year in a row to visit legislators and to meet other officials during their stay. The State Independent Telephone Association held their annual meeting and reception with Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Cunningham Telephone, Nex-Tech, Twin-Valley Telephone and Wilson Telephone visiting the Utilities committee during the day and with legislators in the evening. Rural leaders from economic development offices and members of Credit Unions across Kansas also visited with us this week for their annual events.
As always, I’ll keep you updated on the activities of the Senate while we continue through the last few weeks before turn-around. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website. The House meets at 11:00 a.m. and the Senate at 2:30 p.m.. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.
Thank you for the honor of serving you!
Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E
300 SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
Saturday’s legislative coffee featured Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra), Sen. Rick Billinger (R-Goodland), Tammy Wellbrock, Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Exec. Dir., Rep. Eber Phelps (D-Hays) and Rep. Leonard Mastroni (R-Lacrosse).
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The 2018 Kansas legislative session has just completed its fourth week and the state has a new governor.
Four area legislators updated constituents Saturday morning during a legislative coffee presented by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce in the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center.
Sen. Rich Billinger (R-Goodland, 40th Dist.) and Reps. Eber Phelps (D-Hays, 111th Dist.), Leonard Mastroni (R-Lacrosse, 117th Dist.), and Ken Rahjes (R-Agra, 110th Dist.) agreed the legislature must focus on K-12 education funding. The state faces a Supreme Court ruling determining the funding formula to be unconstitutional and inadequate.
“The Gannon decision that is in front of the Kansas Supreme Court right now is really the big emphasis and we have to have something done by April,” said Mastroni. He thinks the revenues coming into the state which have been increasing since late last year will help fund schools, “not that those revenues couldn’t decrease.”
“We’ll probably be looking at a multi-year plan,” Phelps predicted. “The first year of $150 to $200 million, we’re on track with the revenues coming in where they are now, in addition to what’s already been budgeted, that’s $200 million additional going in this year. If the trajectory of revenues keeps coming in above estimates, I think we could legitimately put together a three to four year plan. It would still have to be approved by the Supreme Court.”
Rahjes is not as optimistic and feels there are “so many unknowns. The goal right now is to keep schools open and that means working with the judicial branch as well,” he said. “My guess is, regardless of what we do in the legislature and submit to the court, the court probably won’t agree and so we’ll be back in the summer to get something done under the gun that everybody will agree to keep schools open. I hope I’m wrong but finding the number of votes we need to move things forward is going to be a challenge.”
“It’s a balancing act,” said Billinger. “Education is important but we have to balance how much money we have and where it can go.”
“Raising taxes won’t happen,” Rahjes promised.
Instead, if revenues happen to decrease, budget cuts will be implemented. There’s been talk of an 18 percent across-the-board cuts for every state department.
“If we did that, three prisons would have to be closed,” Billinger said, “and nobody wants criminals back on the streets. The Department of Corrections would have to be pulled from that plan, leaving everybody else looking at a 30 percent budget cut. There are no easy choices.”
“I noticed Judge Glen Braun (23rd Judicial District Chief Judge) in the audience cringing when the senator mentioned the 18 percent cut,” Mastroni said later. “That’s because 97 percent of the budget for the judiciary is for employee paychecks. That would shut down our courts for around 90 days, creating a backlog and all kinds of chaos.” Mastroni is a former District Magistrate Judge.
Rahjes, a member of the House Taxation Committee, is encouraging Kansans to “shop local. We need to participate in our own economy.”
One written question from the audience was about the possibility of implementing sales tax on Internet purchases and whether Kansas would urge Congress to take such action.
The issue came up last week in the Taxation Committee, according to Rahjes. “It’s a simple matter of fairness to the Mom and Pop bricks and mortar stores,” he said. Rahjes proposed such a bill last year which did not move out of committee.
Kansas has the highest food sales tax in the nation. A Senate committee last week proposed the state sales tax on food would drop to 4 percent in 2019 and 2 percent in 2020. Local sales tax decisions would still remain the business of city and county politicians.
Rahjes said he plans to introduce a similar proposal this week, with the food sales tax gradually declining to zero.
Another audience question was about hemp production in Kansas. A bill has been passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee (SB 263) that would allow the Department of Agriculture to conduct research with the state’s universities for industrial hemp production, and also permit some pilot programs.
Billinger is a member of the ag committee. He said the bill recommended Russell County as one of the pilot project participants.
“We had a lot of folks come in and testify to just let folks loose and start planting it. Then we had others concerned there was no way we could just turn them loose. It’ll take a little bit of time, but at least we’re getting started down that road. There’s many, many things that can be made from industrial hemp.” Phelps has talked to the staff at the K-State Agricultural Research Center in Hays and said the “dryland station would be an ideal place to test hemp production.”
Sponsors for the event were Midwest Energy, AT&T and the FHSU Foundation. The next legislative coffee will be in April.
Funeral Mass: Tuesday, February 6th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic Church in Herndon with Rev. Gnanasekar Kulandai officiating
Rosary: A rosary will be recited Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. before the funeral Mass.
Burial: St. Mary’s Cemetery, Herndon
Visitation: Monday, February 5th from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Oberlin
Memorials: To the church or Good Samaritan Society-Decatur County, in care of the funeral home (121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749)
In Loving Memory
Marcella Rose Leitner was born on March 22, 1925 in Herndon, Kansas to William J. and Anna (Hutfles) Riepl. She attended grade school for seven years at St. Mary’s Parochial School in Herndon, except for one year of country school southwest of Herndon. Marcella graduated from Herndon High School with the class of 1945. Upon graduating, she attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas where she received her certificate in accounting and business administration. With her certificate in hand, Marcella began employment at War Assets Administration and Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado.
On May 24th 1949, she married her handsome “sailor boy” Harold Gene Leitner, son of Paul and Theresia (Wendelin) Leitner at St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic Church in Herndon. This union was blessed with three daughters, Patricia Tongish (Dave) of Newton, Kansas, Barbara Leitner (Wayne Darnell) of Farmington, New Mexico, and Donna Wilson (Steve) of Wichita, Kansas.
Marcella adored her five grandchildren, Ashley Houser (Britt) of Wichita, Kansas, Lesley Williams (Bryce) of Overland Park, Kansas, John Tongish of Newton, Kansas, Jarrett Tongish of Tokyo, Japan and Desiree Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri. Two great grandchildren, Knox Houser and Graham Williams, filled her life with joy and smiles.
Marcella was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandma who lived for her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Writing letters and sewing for them was a special hobby she enjoyed so much.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she was baptized, confirmed, and married; the Christian Mothers Altar Society, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post #368 in Herndon, a former member of the Traer Belles in Traer, Kansas, and a parishioner of the Sacred Heart Church in Oberlin, Kansas.
Marcella is survived by her youngest brother Larry Riepl of Bremerton, Washington and numerous nieces, nephews, & friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Gene, parents William and Anna Riepl, brother Don Riepl, and sister Lucille Barenberg.
Marcella will be interred next to her beloved husband Gene of 68 years at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Herndon, Kansas.
Among teenage candidates are Democrat Jack Bergeson, center, and his lieutenant governor running mate, Alexander Cline, left, both students at The Independent School in Wichita. At right is Libertarian Ethan Randleas, a student at Wichita Heights High School. photo by Jim McLean / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Candidates would be required to be at least 18 to run for statewide offices in Kansas under a bill introduced in response to six teenagers entering the race for governor.
The House Elections Committee discussed last week setting an age requirement for running for governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer and state commissioner of insurance. The committee could vote Monday. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor would also have to live in Kansas for four years before seeking office, but the bill wouldn’t take effect until after this fall’s election.
Tyler Ruzich is a 17-year-old Shawnee Mission North student from Prairie Village running for Kansas governor as a Republican. photo by Jim McClean KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Besides the six teens seeking the state’s top office, another is running for secretary of state. Proponents of the bill argued that most states require candidates to be older.
Loretta Marie (Schwarz) Bremer, 52, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, February 1, 2018 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Loretta was born May 9, 1965 in Colby, Kansas, the daughter of Irvin and Carol (Kleinsorge) Schwarz. She grew up in Colby and graduated from Colby High School in the Class of ’84.
Loretta was united in marriage to Frank B. Bremer in 2008. She was a homemaker. They made their home in the Russell area.
Surviving family include her husband Frank; daughter, Amber Troyer of Kansas City, Kansas; two sons, Ryan Schwarz (Evvie) of Augusta, Kansas and Jason Schwarz of Colby, Kansas; mother, Carol Schwarz of Colby, Kansas; brother, Jerome Schwarz of Oakley, Kansas; and three grandchildren, Landon Ritter, Nakyah Schwarz and Kohen Schwarz. She was preceded in death by her father Irvin.
A Private Service will be held by the family at a later date. The family has chosen cremation. Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, who is in charge of these arrangements.
On Friday, January 26th, Officers Brandon Bell, Nait Elkins and Austin Savage graduated from the 248th Basic Training Class at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. (Photo courtesy HPD)
KLETC
YODER — Fifty-eight new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Jan. 26. Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Director Ed Pavey was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.
The new officers were members of the 248th basic training class at the center. Located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, the center is a division of University of Kansas Professional & Continuing Education.
The graduates, who began their training Oct. 2, 2017, represented 46 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.
Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.
Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, the center trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.
About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. The center offers continuing education and specialized training to more than 10,000 Kansas officers each year.
Graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by agency.
Steven D. Camp, 79, passed away February 4, 2018, surrounded by family at his home. 
