OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged in a shooting near a Kansas elementary school that killed one man and left another critically injured.
Grable-Photo Johnson Co.
32-year-old Anthony Grable was charged Thursday with premeditated first-degree murder and seven other counts. His bond was set at $1 million.
The shooting occurred Tuesday morning outside Sunrise Point Elementary School in Overland Park, Kansas. Grable and the two victims were contractors installing new turf on the school’s playground.
Police say 48-year-old Todd Davis, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, died after the shooting. Fifty-four-year-old Efren Gomez remains in critical condition Thursday.
SHAWNEE COUNTY. – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking the public for help to locate suspects.
Just before 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, officers were dispatched to a burglary in the 2000 block of SE Hudson Boulevard in Topeka, according to a media release.
A witness saw three younger white males exit the rear of the residence after arriving in a dark colored Dodge Charger with tinted windows.
The suspects stole approximately 80 firearms (rifles, shotguns and handguns) and thousands of rounds of ammunition in the burglary.
We are asking the public to be aware of anyone attempting to sell a large amount of guns and ammunition.
Jerry Lynn Margheim, 67, of Oakley, died Thursday, July 5, 2018, at the Logan County Hospital, in Oakley. He was born May 26, 1951, in Oakley, to Waldo and Mary (Settle) Margheim. Jerry had worked at Western Auto, doing bicycle repair, then at D &B Body Shop and Cross Country Trucking. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and enjoyed building models and wood kits, woodworking and cooking. He was proud of his 14 years of no smoking or drinking.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters and two brothers.
He is survived by his children, Jerry Margheim, Jr., Goodland, KS and Amy (Kevin) Foster, Baldwin City, KS; brothers, Donnie (Judy) Margheim, Little Rock, AR, Waldo (Rose) Margheim, Jr., Oakley, KS and Robert Margheim, Aurora, CO; sisters, Mary Jean West, Goodland, KS, Pat Goodwin, Winona, KS, Rebecca Dickman, Oakley, KS and Laura Margheim, Aurora, CO; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will start at 1:00 p.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018, at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley. Inurnment will take place later at Beulah Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Logan County Hospital or Visiting Nurses Association, of Lawrence, KS and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
MOUNDRIDGE, Kan. (AP) — A woman charged in connection with the deaths of three people in McPherson County has pleaded guilty.
Rangel photo Butler Co.
Myrta Rangel entered her plea Monday to federal charges for her role in the October 2016 killings of Travis Street, Angela Graevs and Richard Prouty. The charges involved Rangel giving a gun to her boyfriend Jereme Nelson, who’s facing capital murder and first-degree murder charges in the slayings.
Police found the victims dead outside a home where Street and Graevs lived in rural Moundridge. The couple’s toddler was found alive and unharmed in the house.
Nelson, Rangel and her estranged husband in Mexico had arranged to sell methamphetamine to Street, according to Rangel’s plea agreement. The meth shipments would initially go through Nelson before reaching Street, but the drugs eventually bypassed Nelson and went directly to Street.
Rangel gave Nelson a handgun because she knew he was going to Street’s house to collect a drug debt, the agreement said. Nelson drove to Street’s home, where he shot all three victims in the head. Prouty was at the house to buy meth, according to the plea.
The couple was captured in Mexico and turned over to U.S. law enforcement.
Rangel pleaded guilty to transferring a firearm she knew would be used to commit a drug trafficking crime and to giving a firearm to a convicted felon. She’s scheduled for sentencing Sept. 19, the same day Nelson is due in court for a preliminary hearing.
Ever want to get a Amateur radio License?The Ellis County Ham Operators Club (ECHO) will be hosting a class July 7 and 14th, at FHSU. Classes will begin at 10 am.This class will prepare you to take the exam for a Technicians License. No Morse code is required.The study manual is included in the enrollment fee.If you are interested. Contact Ron Bennett at [email protected]
If you signed up at the last 785 meeting: I have your contact info.
Class will be held on FHSU, in Tomanek hall, room 201. Fee is $35 to cover costs of the book. Testing will be here in Hays, hopefully on 7/21.
All ages welcome! If you have a scout that needs to learn about Amature radio for the communication Merit Badge, this will be an excellent opportunity!
NEOSHO COUNTY— One person died in an accident just after 6a.m. Thursday in Neosho County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Toyota Prius driven by Carla Myers, 56, Parsons, was northbound in the 8700 Block of Queens Road. The vehicle traveled left of center and hit a 1995 Ford pickup driven by Michael Tyler Kichler,17, Walnut, head-on.
Myers was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to First Call.
Kichler was transported to Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. One passenger in the Ford Jacob Riley Grady, 16, was transported to Labette County Medical Center. Another passenger in the Ford Chandler Jacob Stinson, 18, Parson, refused treatment.
Kichler and Grady were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
Janis Meredith (Gross) Schwab, 75, Hays, died Monday, June 18, 2018 at her home.
She was born December 29, 1942 in Hays, Kansas the daughter of Joseph Cleveland and Mary Lois (Archer) Gross. Jan grew up on a farm northeast of Russell, attended public schools in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in 1961.
In 1996 she received a B.A. degree in Human Resources Management from Friends University. She lived for most of her adult life in Hays where she attended North Oak Community Church, was a member of Sisters of Survivorship, and volunteered for many organizations, including Relay for Life, Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Fashion Shows, and the Fort Hays State University Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs. She was a talented artist and deeply religious.
Survivors include two sons; Lionel Reilly II and wife Jayne of Waldo, KS and Bradley Reilly and wife Stephanie of Houston, TX, two daughters; Deidra Quedensley and husband Brad of Omaha, NE and Heather Branton and husband Vance of Omaha, NE, one brother; Joseph McPherson Gross and wife Karen of Winchester, IL, one sister; Linda Brauner and husband David of Forest Knolls, CA, nine grandchildren; Jessie Reilly, Garrett Reilly, Jack Reilly, Sarah Reilly, Liam Quedensley, Drew Quedensley, Caleigh Cooprider, Taylor Branton, and Olivia Branton, one nephew; Michael Gross of New York City, NY, and three nieces; Angela Gross of San Francisco, CA, Lindsay Brauner, and Hallie Brauner both of Forest Knolls, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays with Pastor Ken Ediger officiating. Family will receive friends from 9:30 am until service time.
Memorials may be left in Janis’s memory to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, in care of the funeral home. Condolences and memories of Janis may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com
SHAWNEE COUNTY— Fire investigators say a fire that destroyed a house near Topeka began when fireworks thrown in the trash reignited.
Fire southwest of Topeka on Thursday morning-photo courtesy WIBW TV
The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office says both residents inside the home just south of Topeka city limits escaped the early Thursday fire after being awakened by smoke detectors. Firefighters rescued a dog and cat inside the home.
Firefighters responded to the fire near Lake Sherwood early Thursday.
The fire has been ruled accidental.
Fire investigator Tony Celeste says the fireworks were put in a trash bin near the house after they were shot off Wednesday evening.
He says the blaze damaged two vehicles.
In addition, just after 10:30 p.m., Wednesday fire crews responded to a structure fire located at 3136 SW Arrowhead Road, according to Division Chief, Fire Marshal Michael Martin.
The fire on Arrowhead Drive caused $250K in damage-photo courtesy WIBW TV
Upon arrival, fire crews found a two story wooden frame residential structure with heavy flames coming from the back side.
Two occupants of the structures were able to self-evacuate prior firefighter’s arrival.
A preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be accidental, more likely than not associated with fireworks. The estimated dollar loss – $247,920.00; $147,920.00 structural loss and $100,000.00 contents loss, according to Martin. Working smoke detectors were located within the residence.
LAWRENCE – University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod today named Jeff Long as the university’s new director of athletics.
Jeff Long -courtesy photo
Long brings more than two decades of experience in athletic administration at the Division I level, most recently at the University of Arkansas, where he led a program comprising 19 sports and 460 student-athletes from 2008 through 2017. During that time, he transformed Arkansas’ athletics department into one of the most successful in the country and established himself as a national leader within intercollegiate athletics.
Long will be officially introduced at a news conference Wednesday, July 11, in Lawrence at a time and location to be determined. He will start his role Aug. 1.
“Jeff Long has tremendous leadership and administrative experience in major college athletics, and he is a terrific fit for Kansas Athletics as we work to ensure our student-athletes succeed on the field and in the classroom,” Girod said. “Those who know him describe him as a man of character who cares deeply about higher education and the student-athletes he serves. For all these reasons, we are thrilled to welcome him to the University of Kansas.”
During Long’s tenure, Arkansas captured 34 conference championships and advanced to 139 postseason competitions, including the school’s first Bowl Championship Series appearance in football and national titles at the 2013 NCAA Men’s Indoor and 2015 NCAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships and the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In 2016-17, Arkansas finished No. 20 in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which measures universities’ success across all sports, marking the university’s eighth top-25 finish in the previous 10 years. Long also launched a $160 million renovation to Razorback Stadium. In the classroom, the Razorbacks posted a school record student-athlete GPA and exceeded the national APR multiyear rate in all 19 sports, including posting its highest program average ever.
Additionally, Long served as the chairman of the inaugural College Football Playoff selection committee for 2014 and 2015 and remained a member of the committee through 2017.
Prior to leading Arkansas, Long served as athletics director at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, he has held administrative roles at the University of Oklahoma, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech University, Eastern Kentucky University and Rice University. He held coaching staff positions at Duke University, the University of Michigan and North Carolina State University. In total, he has been an athletic director and administrator in five of the six Bowl Championship Series conferences — the Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, Atlantic Coast and SEC.
“My family and I are thrilled to join Chancellor Girod’s leadership team at the University of Kansas,” Long said. “It was clear from the moment I met with the chancellor and his search committee members, they have a deep love for the university and understand and appreciate the positive role intercollegiate athletics plays in the university community. Through our conversations, it became evident we share a common belief that the student-athlete experience prepares young people for the challenges they will face throughout life. I am excited to work with the student-athletes, coaches, staff, the community of Lawrence and the incredible fan base to build on past success and create a shared vision for the future of Kansas Athletics.”
Long comes to KU after a seven-week search process headed by Girod and KU alumnus Drue Jennings, who served as KU’s interim director of athletics in 2003.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Jeff’s caliber joining the University of Kansas,” Jennings said. “Jeff has a record of integrity, experience in hiring coaches, ties with other Bowl Championship Series schools, effective fundraising and a willingness to lead on national issues affecting college athletics. We can be proud that he’s joining us at KU, and we can be confident that Kansas Athletics is in good hands under his leadership.”
Long’s contract with Kansas Athletics will pay him $1.5 million per year for five years. Of that amount, $1.3 million is paid by private funds from Kansas Athletics Inc., with the remaining $200,000 paid by the university.
An Ohio native, Long and his wife, Fanny, have two daughters, Stephanie and Christina.
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.
Jorge Aguilera -photo Barton Co.
Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 800 Block of Pine Street in Great Bend in reference to a shooting incident, according to a media release.
When officers responded to the call, officers were advised a private vehicle was transporting the victim to Great Bend Regional Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.
During the course of the investigation officers learned the victim had been shot by a known suspect during an argument.
The suspect fled the scene in a silver Chevrolet pickup. The suspect and the pickup were located a short time later at an address in Great Bend.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Barton County Detention Center on the charge of Attempted First Degree Murder, according to the release.
According to the Barton County Sheriff’s Office Booking Activity log for July 4, Jorge Aguilera of Great Bend was booked into jail for attempted first degree murder with a bond set at $1,000,000..
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.
Josephine Hale, age 86, formerly of Topeka, KS, passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society-Hays. Josephine was born on June 11, 1932 in Covington, TN at her grandparents’ home to Elbert Lee Roper, Jr. and Mary Frances (Hunt) Roper.
She moved to Oklahoma City at age 8. She attended Lincoln Grade School for a couple of months and later, Edgemere Grade School. Josephine then, attended junior high at Harding and graduated high school at Classen. After high school, she enrolled in junior college at Mt. Vernon in Washington D.C. In 1955, she graduated from Oklahoma University with a BA in Fine Arts Painting. While at OU, she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. On December 5, 1955 she married Donald Ray Hale in Oklahoma City and honeymooned in New Orleans, LA. Together, they shared 53 years of marriage until Donald’s passing on January 16, 2009. Josephine was an antiques dealer for much of her life. She enjoyed early American antiques, watching old movies and spending time with her family.
Survivors include her daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” Lynn Clark and her husband Edwin “Ed” of Hays; brother, John Parrish III; two sisters, Mary Lee Hurst and Laura Midgely; eight grandchildren, Jeremy Clark of Hays, Brandon Clark of Greer, SC, Amber Hale of Topeka, KS, Ashley Feurborn of Carbondale, KS, Tyler Hale of Chesapeake, Virginia, Bobbi Hase of Olathe, KS, Miles Dean of Olathe, KS and Randee Wisdom of Hiawatha, KS as well as five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald Ray Hale; son, Scott Hale; daughter, Alison Hale; and grandson, Joshua Wells.
There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place.
A memorial visitation will be held at the Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory on Saturday, July 7, 2018 from 5-7:00 PM.
Inurnment will take place in Topeka, KS at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made in Josephine’s memory to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037 and/or the Salvation Army, 2905 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66611. Contributions can be left or mailed to the funeral home.
To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be left via email at [email protected].
Arrangements are by Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.
Patricia Marie (Brin) Knipp Ficken of rural Damar, Kansas, died Sunday, July 1, 2018, at the Graham County Hospital, Hill City, Kansas. She was 84.
“Pat,’’ was born on December 21, 1933, to Mary (Morin) and Oliver Brin in Damar, Kansas. She was the eighth of their eleven children.
She graduated from Damar Consolidated High School, class of 1951. Pat met Charles E. Knipp at a dance in Damar. She recalled their first date to a spring wedding at which they danced quite a bit. They married November 5, 1951. They had six children. “Charlie,’’ died an untimely death February 8, 1978, at the age of 53. Pat raised their children and then married Warren Ficken of LaCrosse in October, 1995. Pat and Warren lived together on their farm near Damar until his death in January of this year. Pat remained on the farm.
Pat was a member of the Catholic Diocese of Salina, St. Joseph Parish, Damar, and a former member of St. Anne’s Sodality, Damar, and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 356, Bogue. She was an Avon dealer for thirty years and a lifelong homemaker. Pat enjoyed outdoor chores such as milking cows as well as skating, dancing, gardening, babysitting, sewing and reading. She developed ataxia in her later years yet remained active and independent. She was a feisty card player, loved her family, continually gave gifts and made people laugh until the end of her life.
Pat was preceded in death by an infant brother, her parents, three sisters and three additional brothers; two grandsons, a daughter-in-law and her husbands.
She is survived by her younger sisters Iona Knipp, Hill City; Annette Benoit, Damar; and Sr. Diane Brin, Rome, Georgia; a daughter, Jeanice and husband Sidney Gosselin, Norton; sons: Daniel and wife Cindi, Francis, Doug and wife Lori, Rodney and girlfriend Patty Akins and Mark and wife Ann, all of Damar; 22 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
