OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man who died in a shooting near a Kansas elementary school was a 48-year-old man from Missouri.
Police tape marks the scene of the shooting investigation –photo courtesy KCTV
Overland Park police on Wednesday identified the victim of Tuesday’s shooting in Overland Park as Todd Davis, of Lee’s Summit.
A second man, 54-year-old Efren Gomez, whose hometown was not available, was critically injured in the shooting.
A suspect is in custody pending charges.
Police say the suspect and the two victims were working for a contractor putting in new turf at an elementary school when the shooting occurred. The motive remains unclear.
No children were at the school and no one else was injured.
Despite the bangs and pops over the last several days, the Hays Fire Department reported only a couple of minor incidents related to fireworks.
The HFD responded to two small grass fires that were quickly extinguished. Just after midnight Thursday morning, spent fireworks left on a porch reignited and melted siding on a home at 312 E. 13th.
Interim Fire Chief Ryan Hagans said the damage was confined to the exterior of the home and no one was injured.
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said the city received 16 fireworks complaints from June 27 through Thursday morning. Most of those complaints were made on Tuesday and Wednesday and were regarding fireworks being shot between 11 and 11:59 p.m., after the hours allowed by city ordinance.
Although the city will continue to track complaints through today, fireworks in the city of Hays are prohibited as of 11 p.m. last night. No tickets were issued, Scheibler said.
He urged people who may have shot fireworks over the holiday to make sure any trash is picked up and any debris cleared from the roadway.
Scheibler also said traffic control for those watching fireworks went smoothly Wednesday night.
Both chiefs said Hays had a quiet and safe Fourth of July holiday.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the city of Natoma, located in Osborne County. The advisory was issued because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Natoma indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
Norma Kathleen Wiedeman, 67, passed away on June 30th, 2018 in Colorado Springs, CO.
Norma was born October 24th, 1950 in Dallas, TX to Sam and Juanita Bradley. She was the youngest of four children, and the only daughter (Sammy, Kenny, Willy).
She spent most of her life in Texas, but would later live in Colorado, and eventually Kansas. Norma was an amazing and free spirit that blessed everyone’s life she touched.
She was preceded in death by her husband and love of her life, Steve Wiedeman, and their four damn dogs: Gretchen, Levi, Dallas, and Wags (who passed away last month).
Norma is survived by her brother Sammy, sister-in-law Carol, nephew Sammy, Sammy’s wife Mary, son Robin, daughter-in-law Bekka, and grandchildren Nick and Roxy, as well as her many beloved friends.
Goodbye, our little Texas Rose, you will be always missed and never forgotten.
Graveside services will be held on Monday, July 9, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Sharon Springs Cemetery in Sharon Springs, KS with Pastor Seth McGregor officiating.Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 8, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.
Memorials may be designated to the Northwest Kansas Animal Shelter and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Phillipsburg resident William “Billy” Kline, age 71, passed away Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Omaha, NE.
He was born June 8, 1947, in Belleville, KS the son of William A. & Lola M. (Brant) Kline.He served in the US Navy.
On September 18, 2003, he married Loretta K. Stieb in Phillipsburg, KS.She survives.
Other survivors include his children, Bobby Kline of Colorado and Becky J. Reed of Phillipsburg; stepdaughter, Misty St. John of Minden, NE; 4 grandchildren; many step-grandchildren; and 2 sisters, Jean Bruning of Phillipsburg and Roxie Walbridge of Grove, OK.
Cremation was planned.A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 9, 2018, in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Joel Hiesterman officiating.
Friends may sign the book on Sunday, July 8, from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.Online condolencesto www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of arrangements.
Kansans should expect candidates seeking state office this year to address state laws and practices that discriminate against LGBT persons. Governor Jeff Colyer recently signed a bill that allows faith-based adoption agencies that receive state funds to refuse service to gay and lesbian couples based on religious beliefs. This law creates a license to discriminate, and LGBT Kansans should rightly wonder what laws the state will pass next that target their rights.
Patrick R. Miller is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.
Defenders of the bill have contended that the new adoption law does not change existing practices. True, to an extent, but that argument misses the point.
Private adoption organizations previously have been able to exclude LGBT couples over religious beliefs, and the state made an administrative choice to work with them without any law directly addressing the situation. The new law formally recognizes that exclusion as “religious freedom” and codifies that state dollars can support groups that discriminate against LGBT Kansans.
If you are a LGBT Kansan, the state has essentially singled you out and placed you in a formal “separate but equal” system. If you want to adopt, there are some services that you can access, and others that you cannot even though the state is using your tax dollars to pay for them. And because states are increasingly moving toward adoption systems that rely on private organizations, in the long run this new law risks creating a system where LGBT Kansans in theory have a right to adopt but in practice do not.
What other groups does our state treat in this way?
The deeper issue here is that sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected under state non-discrimination laws in the same way that race or religion are, for example. That is precisely why overt discrimination against LGBT people, whether based on religious belief or not, is legal in Kansas.
Let’s take a different issue. Technically under Kansas law right now since sexual orientation is not protected under non-discrimination laws, an employer can refuse to hire gays or lesbians, and legally fire employees solely for coming out as gay or lesbian. That is legal from the state’s perspective given the absence of any formal protection for LGBT Kansans under state law. But, because religion is protected under non-discrimination laws, an employer cannot fire someone solely because they discover, for example, that their employee is Evangelical Christian or Catholic.
“Religious freedom” bills in others states have had provisions protecting the right of employers to not hire or to fire people strictly because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Imagine that Kansas passed a religious freedom law that formally recognized that practice, actually writing into law a license to discriminate against LGBT Kansans in employment. Should LGBT people feel okay that no practices actually changed even though Kansas now formally singled them out for legal discrimination? Likely not.
Yes, some people see not associating with LGBT individuals as their religious right and want that perceived right protected by the state, but others understandably see that as discrimination. So, does the state choose equality for all, or does it choose a system where one citizen has the license to limit another citizen’s rights? Further, where does the state draw the line? If we protect discrimination in adoption, is employment or housing next? Our political candidates should have the backbone to let voters clearly know where they stand on these questions.
Patrick. R. Miller is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.
Join Hays Christian Church for Summer Fun Vacation Bible School.
Each day students will learn an amazing Bible truth, create an interesting craft, enjoy a tasty snack and play an active game.
Plus there will be great music and tons of fun.
Kids ages 3-high school are invited to the fun at 6:30-8:45 p.m. July 9-13 for ages 3-grade five. Grades six-12 will meet from 9 to 10 p.m.
There will be a closing program, barbecue and bounce house at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, July 15.
All are welcome and there is no cost to attend. Please pre-register at hayschristianchurch.org. For more information, visit the website or call Lori at 785-639-3063.
MANHATTAN — From the Land of Kansas brings to you its first-ever agriculture experience dinner: “The Taste of Kansas.” The dinner will allow guests to experience the diverse tastes of food grown, raised, or produced in Kansas; meet Kansas agriculture producers and business owners; and enjoy a relaxing evening as they celebrate and appreciate Kansas.
The event will take place on Saturday, August 4, at Shiloh Vineyard and Winery, located outside of WaKeeney. Shiloh Vineyard is a family-owned winery founded in 2008 by Kirk and Treva Johnston in a quest to bring wine-making to the plains of western Kansas.
The evening will begin with a cocktail hour and entertainment, followed by a multi-course dinner crafted by chef Ean Mong. Ean, raised in WaKeeney, began his career at the Culinary Institute of Las Vegas. He worked and honed his skills in restaurants from Las Vegas to Kansas City to South Carolina, and finally returned home to family in WaKeeney. After moving back to Kansas, Ean started a catering company, “Leap of Faith Catering,” which has been operating for over ten years. A drink pairing will accompany every course.
Lucas Maddy
Entertainment will be provided by country singer Lucas Maddy from Norton County.
All food and beverages provided at this event will be those grown, raised, or produced in Kansas. As guests take time to eat and enjoy the flavors of Kansas, they will hear the stories behind the production and cultivation of the food on their plates from fellow Kansans, who will share the history and passion behind their products.
Tickets for this event can be purchased at shop.fromthelandofkansas.com/tasteofkansas for $70 each. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. There are no additional costs at the event and all food, drink and entertainment fees are included.
The From the Land of Kansas state trademark program at the Kansas Department of Agriculture will host this event with trademark program members. From the Land of Kansas is designed to promote and celebrate agricultural experiences and products grown, raised or produced in Kansas. The program offers an array of incentives to Kansas companies — big and small — who grow, raise or produce products in the state.
For more information about this event or about the trademark program, go to fromthelandofkansas.com or contact From the Land of Kansas coordinator Lexi Wright at 785-564-6755.
Melvin “Mel” James Pfannenstiel, age 76, of Hays, Kansas passed away on Wednesday, July 4th, 2018 at HaysMed. He was born February 27, 1942 in Munjor, Kansas to Theodore “Ted” J. and Pauline (Wittman) Pfannenstiel. He was a graduate of Hays High School and Fort Hays State University.
Mel was a car salesman for Happy’s Auto in Hays. He was an avid sports fan particularly the KU Jayhawks.
He is survived by a son, Theodore J. Pfannenstiel of Syracuse, NY; three brothers, Kenneth J. Pfannenstiel and wife Ann of Hays, Thomas J. Pfannenstiel of Kansas City, KS and Gordon F. Pfannenstiel and wife Lynn of Russell, KS and a sister, Annette Pfannenstiel-Brhel of Syracuse, NY.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services was 10:30 AM Monday, July 9, 2018 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor. Inurnment followed in the church cemetery with Fr. Jarett Konrade officiated.
A Memorial visitation was Monday at the church 9:30 AM.
Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Francis Church.
Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].
“Bobby” Clinton Robert Minium, age 37, of Hays, Kansas passed away Saturday, July 4, 2018 in Hays.
Funeral services will be 10 AM Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 25098 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Burial will be at 3 PM Saturday at the Lebanon Cemetery rural Kingman, Kansas.
Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2018 6 PM – 8 PM at the funeral chapel.
