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The Latest: Suspect in Missouri officer’s killing identified

CLINTON, Mo. (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of three Missouri police officers (all times local):

1:00 p.m.

Authorities say a 37-year-old man is the suspect in a shooting that killed one Missouri police officer and wounded two other officers.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the suspect in a tweet Wednesday as James Waters, of Clinton. He was found dead early Wednesday in a Clinton home where the officers were shot hours earlier while trying to apprehend him.


The slain Clinton officer was identified as 30-year-old Christopher Ryan Morton. One of the wounded officers is hospitalized with moderate injuries, and the other has minor injuries.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Collin Stosberg says the officers went to the home in Clinton on Tuesday night in response to a 911 call in which a disturbance could be heard. Clinton is about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Kansas City.

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8:30 a.m.

Authorities say a Missouri police officer killed in a shooting that wounded two other officers served with “distinction.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol tweet ed Wednesday that Christopher Ryan Morton was a full-time Clinton police officer from February 2015 through January 2017, when he temporarily became a reserve officer. He returned to full-time duty last September, one month after another Clinton officer was shot and killed.

Morton was fatally shot Tuesday night while trying to apprehend a suspect at a home. One of the wounded officers is hospitalized with moderate injuries and the other has minor injuries. The patrol says a SWAT team entered the home early Wednesday but found the suspect dead.

Clinton, with about 8,800 residents, is about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Kansas City.

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8 a.m.

Authorities say a man shot and killed a police officer and wounded two others at a home in Missouri.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Collin Stosberg says the officers went to the home in Clinton on Tuesday night in response to a 911 call in which a disturbance could be heard.

The patrol says shots were fired at the officers soon after they arrived at the home at around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Clinton Officer Christopher Ryan Morton was fatally shot while trying to apprehend the suspect. One of the wounded officers is hospitalized with moderate injuries and the other has minor injuries.

The patrol says a SWAT team entered the home at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday but found the suspect dead.

Stosberg says the cause of the suspect’s death is under investigation. A woman also was taken into custody at the home.

Clinton is about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Kansas City.

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CLINTON, Mo. (AP) — Officials say a police officer was killed and two other officers injured after responding to a Missouri residence.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said during a news conference that the Clinton County 911 center received a call Tuesday evening at 9:20 where two women could be heard screaming in the background. Clinton Police officers responded.

Shortly after their arrival Lowe says the officers were shot at by the suspect from inside the residence. Lowe says officers went inside in an attempt to apprehend the suspect who then fatally shot one officer and wounded the others. They were transported to a hospital for treatment. Their conditions weren’t immediately known.

Lowe says a SWAT team entered the residence but found the suspect dead at 12:10 a.m.

No further details were released.

Velma Louise Underwood

Velma Louise Underwood, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, Marych 07, 2018, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Services are pending at this time and cremation has been selceted by the family. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangments.

Remains of missing Kansas teen found

RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have identified the remains found in rural Reno County.

On Saturday, March 3, Deputies from the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and an Investigator from the Reno County Coroner’s Office responded to rural farm property North of Haven, Kansas on a report from the landowner that the remains of a human had been found while working his land, according to a media release.

The remains and other items at the scene appeared to be that of a female. The remains were transported to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center for identification.

On Monday, Dr. Kipper, a Pathologist with the Forensic Science Center, advised Reno County Authorities say the remains had been positively identified by dental records as Laura Lee Dorey, 17 years of age of Haven.

Laura had been reported as a missing person by her family on June 13.

The cause of death is still under investigation and any information should be forwarded to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.

🎥 ‘No fire damage,’ says grateful rural resident

Jessica Braun drops off freshly made scones with Megan Carver, Ellis. Co. Emergency Mngt. & Rural Fire administrative assistant, to thank firefighters for saving her home and pets from Tuesday’s wildfire east of Hays.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Rural Hays resident Jess Braun wasn’t really worried about her house during Tuesday’s wildfire just east of Hays along Interstate 70.

Fanned by northwest winds with gusts up to 54 mph, the fire that started on the north side of I-70 jumped the road and continued burning under a bridge and south towards Braun’s house just outside the city limits.

Braun was most concerned about the safety of her six pets inside the house.

“They’re family,” she said Wednesday morning.

She had stopped in at the Ellis County Emergency Services building in Hays to thank the Ellis County Rural Fire Department, but discovered the firefighters were still monitoring the scene of Tuesday’s second big wildfire near Catharine.

Braun also brought freshly made scones from her bakery at the Otter Juice Company.

“We just baked these this morning for the firefighters,” she said.

Carver was helping coordinate an Ellis Co. disaster declaration Wednesday morning.

“I want to thank them for keeping the fire from our house, and our pets were all fine,” she told Megan Carver, administrative assistant for Emergency Management and Rural Fire.

Carver was working the phone, helping organize a Local Disaster Emergency Declaration for Ellis County that will be given to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.

Braun was out of town when she got a phone call about the approaching fire east of 27th and Commerce. Her husband, Curt, who had been at work, tried to drive to the house to collect the animals, but traffic was diverted from the area because of the dangerous blaze and blowing smoke.

A Hays city fire truck helps battle the blaze near Braun’s house.

Once Jessica Braun was back in Hays, she immediately drove toward her home. Local traffic still was blocked at the intersection, but a Hays police officer recognized Braun and allowed her to go through to her home and remove her three dogs and three cats.

“I was like, let the house burn, just let me get my dog. … (The pets) weren’t stressed at all,” laughed Braun, “just kind of wondering what I was doing at home at that time of day.”

She told Carver the firefighters remained near her house Tuesday evening watching for hotspots and flareups. The field grass around the structure had been plowed earlier to help keep the fire from approaching.

“We didn’t have any damage,” Braun said with a sigh of relief.

Geraldine ‘Jerry’ Shaw

Geraldine “Jerry” Shaw, age 86, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Sheridan County Health Complex, Long Term Care, Hoxie, Kansas.  She was born September 27, 1931 in Quinter to M.A. and Osie (Stubbs)  Gillespie. 

Jerry was a 1949 graduate of Grainfield High School.  She was united in marriage to Curtis Shaw on June 19, 1949 in Wichita.  They were married for 51 years until his death on March 3, 2001.  For 54 years, Jerry worked as a bookkeeper for Shaw Motor Company.  She was a member of the Grainfield United Methodist Church and American Legion Auxiliary. She will be remembered for her kind spirit, quick wit, and sarcasm.

Survivors include a daughter, Jann (Herman) Zerr of Grainfield; a son, Gene Shaw of Grainfield; eight grandchildren, Brian (Silvia) Zerr of New York City, Brett Zerr of Chicago, Ryan Shaw of Oakley, Lee (Evan) Miller of Kansas City, Missouri, Miles (Tara) Shaw of Oakley, Dillon (Jamie) Shaw of Salina, Kyle Shaw of Grainfield, Dayna (Jonathan) Alexander of Garden City; and six great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Loretta Shaw and Beulah Gillespie.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, Jack, Bill, and Don Gillespie; and three sisters, Joy Coberly, Betty Priefert, and Shirley Verhoeff.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the United Methodist Church, Grainfield.  Burial will be in the Grainfield Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday evening, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Grainfield United Methodist Church, Grainfield American Legion, or Grainfield Opera House.  Contributions made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS  67752.

Condolences may be left online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Larned State Hospital granted full accreditation

Larned State Hospital
photo-Kansas News Service

TOPEKA – Larned State Hospital (LSH), one of the two state-operated psychiatric hospitals in Kansas administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), has been granted full accreditation by The Joint Commission. The accreditation was effective beginning December 9, 2017, and is valid for 36 months, according to a media release.

The Joint Commission is a nonprofit organization that accredits more than 21,000 US health care organizations and programs. A majority of state governments recognize Joint Commission accreditation as a condition of licensure for the receipt of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

“Joint Commission accreditation is known as an indicator of quality treatment and care nationwide,” KDADS Secretary Tim Keck said. “I want to acknowledge all the hard work LSH staff and management put in to be granted this status. I am incredibly proud of the work that has been done there.”

“After a period of concern at the hospital during the summer, LSH had two excellent surveys in December,” Secretary Keck said.

Bill Rein, LSH Superintendent, was informed of The Joint Commission’s decision on accreditation in a letter dated February 27 from Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, Chief Operating Officer for the Joint Commission. The letter said, “Based upon the submission of your evidence of standards compliance on February 9, 2018, and the successful on-site unannounced Medicare deficiency follow-up event conducted on January 19, 2018, the areas of deficiency have been removed.”
“The Joint Commission is also recommending your organization for continued Medicare certification effective December 9, 2017,” the letter said.

Superintendent Bill Rein said, “It took a lot of intense work on the part of staff to get us to where we are, and they deserve a great deal of credit for their commitment and tenacity. I am extremely pleased with results they achieved.”

All conditions of participation for Medicare certification and all standards for The Joint Commission accreditation are now listed as compliant. As a result, LSH has no requirements for improvement.

The central offices for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and CMS Region 7 have been notified of these findings.

Businesses offer thank yous to firefighters for their work on wildfires

An Ellis County rural fire truck fights the blaze just east of Hays Tuesday. (Photo courtesy KHP)

UPDATE: KFC also donated 70 pieces of chicken for firefighters Tuesday night.

Avalon Advanced Health Care is offering free exams or eye washes for firefighters 24 hours between now and Saturday. They can be reached at 785-301-2639.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Several businesses in town are offering thank yous to local firefighters and first responders for their work on the Ellis County wildfires Tuesday.

Danny Hermann of the Golden Q and Golden Griddle is serving free meals to fire firefighters today to thank them for their service.

Hermann said a number of firefighters, who he suspected had been up all night working on the fires, had already been in to the Golden Griddle this morning for breakfast. He will be offering breakfast at the Griddle until 2 p.m. and a cheeseburger meal at the Golden Q all day.

A former oilfield worker, Hermann said he knew how tough it is to work outside in the wind and the weather.

“I have been where they were and done what they have done, and it sucked,” he said. … “What they had to do yesterday, I can’t imagine. I figured the least that I could do was offer a free meal.”

Shaun Musil, owner of the Paisley Pear and a city commissioner, saw Herman’s post, shared it and also offered free meals to firefighters and law enforcement who aided in the firefighting efforts.

“These guys saved our community from a horrible incident. I saw my friend Danny Hermann’s post and shared it. I challenge other businesses to not only do the same for firefighters, but other law enforcement who responded to fires yesterday. I think it is just a good deed to do for the community.”

Lunch will be served until 2 p.m. at the Paisley Pear.

Ceena Owens, co-owner of H2O, also offered area firefighters and volunteer firefighters a free float session to thank them for their service. Call 785-301-2391, walk in or message H2O on Facebook to book your session. There is no expiration on the offer. Owens said she knows the fire crews may be busy for several days working on hot spots. 

She wanted to extend the offer to not only Hays fire crews, but those in the surrounding area as well.

“Thank you so much for protecting us,” Owens said in a Facebook video.

If you are a business that also would like to offer a thank you to our local firefighters or first responders, you can share that information in the comments here, or call Cristina Janney at 301-2077 to be added to this list.

Kansas legislators advance bill to restore teacher tenure

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bipartisan group of Kansas lawmakers is pushing to restore job protections for public school teachers that conservative legislators previously stripped from them.

The House gave first-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would guarantee tenure for thousands of teacher statewide. The 72-48 vote advances the measure to another, final vote Thursday.

The bill would require school districts that do not want to renew a three-year teacher’s contract to allow the teacher to have the matter decided by an independent hearing officer.

Teachers statewide had such a right before conservative Republicans enacted a 2014 law leaving the issue to local school boards and most decided against such reviews.

GOP conservatives argued that the change made firing bad teachers easier. But the bill’s supporters said Kansas needs to respect teachers.

After 5 weeks, Cloud County College president resigns

CONCORDIA —The Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of college president Dr. Mark Smith at a special meeting Wednesday morning. Smith had been president since Feb. 1, according to a media release.

Smith-courtesy photo

“I am deeply saddened that I have had to make the painful decision to respectfully resign as president of Cloud County Community College and return to Temple, Texas, due to some unforeseen personal family and medical concerns that have arisen,” Smith said in an email to employees.

His last day at Cloud will be Friday, April 13.

The board of trustees is exploring all options to find the next president of Cloud County Community College.

Founded in 1965, the College serves the educational needs of 12 counties in North Central Kansas. The first campus was located in Concordia, however, services are provided at 28 other sites, including the Geary County Campus in Junction City.

“It’s with deep regret that we accept Dr. Smith’s resignation,” said CCCC board chair Greg Askren. “The college will move on. Family comes first, and we absolutely understand that he needs to be back in Temple with his family.”

Smith said he has greatly enjoyed his time at Cloud County and in Concordia.

“The city of Concordia and surrounding communities are truly blessed to have Cloud County Community College within their community,” he said. “It is very clear each of you are very passionate about serving the learners and all work tirelessly to help each of them fulfill their educational aspirations. Cloud has an amazing leadership team that will continue to lead the college to bigger and better things.”

Hays woman seeking owner of wedding dress that blew into her yard

Strong winds led to a surprise for at least one Hays resident Tuesday.

At about 1 p.m. Tuesday, Alvera Reichert noticed something out of the ordinary had blown into her yard in the 2600 block of Augusta Lane.

A full wedding dress and veil in a preservation bag had been whipped onto her property — and Reichert is hoping to reunite the dress with its owner.

“I didn’t catch the wedding bouquet,” she laughed. “I got something better.”

So … if you happen to be missing a wedding dress, Reichert can be contacted at (785) 301-2732.

Kansas school district reports more school threat arrests

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating more students for alleged school threat.

On Tuesday, Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci confirmed that a Junction City High School student was arrested on suspicion of Criminal Threat at the JCHS career campus late on Friday afternoon.  This is the eighth USD 475 student arrested over the past two weeks including six Junction City Middle School students and one at the Freshman Success Academy.

The police chief said Tuesday night that he hoped that this was the end of it, in terms of number of arrests.

Despite that, Wednesday’s police log reported another Junction City Middle School was arrested just after 9:30 Tuesday morning on suspicions of criminal threat.

On Monday, police department spokesperson Captain Trish Giordano issued a statement on the arrests

Wind gusts up to 54 mph in Hays Tuesday fueled wildfires

A Kansas National Guard Black Hawk helicopter from Salina dumps water on the wildfire near Catherine late Tuesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Ellis Co. Sheriff’s office)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The two major wildfires Tuesday near Hays and Catherine were fueled by constant strong northwesterly wind.

According to official statistics from the K-State Agricultural Research Center, the wind averaged 21 mph yesterday, with a peak gust of 49 mph recorded at the station south of Hays.

Weather instruments at the Hays Regional Airport recorded a peak gust of 54 mph shortly before 10 a.m. Afternoon gusts were between 41 and 49 mph.

By 7 p.m., wind gusts dropped dramatically to just 16 mph and kept dropping throughout the evening to less than 10 mph.

According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, a 70 mph peak gust was recorded in Garden City and also northeast of Hoxie.

Today’s forecast is calling for considerably less wind and slightly warmer temperatures.

Women’s Leadership Project and Defense Tactics Club to offer free self-defense class

FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University’s Women’s Leadership project and the Defense Tactics Club have partnered up to host a free self-defense workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 10, in Cunningham Hall, room 110, on the FHSU campus.

Community members, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend. Attendees should wear athletic pants or shorts and socks. No jewelry is allowed.

To register, visit the Women’s Leadership Project’s Facebook page at https://bit.ly/2H2tS8T or go to https://goo.gl/forms/5Tm4xsodmu5cVj773.

The Women’s Leadership Project is designed to educate, inspire and empower women to be the leaders of tomorrow. This initiative offers year-round comprehensive educational activities that promote leadership development for women of all ages.

The Defense Tactics Club focuses on public service and safety awareness. The group promotes personal safety through a variety of self-defense techniques, including situational awareness, verbal de-escalation and grappling.

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