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Kansas City Planned Parenthood abortion licensure advances

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Planned Parenthood clinic in Kansas City’s effort to provide medication-based abortions is moving forward.

Planned Parenthood -file photo Kan. News Service

Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams in a Wednesday statement said the agency “anticipates that the facility’s license will be forthcoming” now there’s a doctor in place at the clinic.

The clinic stopped offering abortions in March after its previous provider left.

Planned Parenthood General Counsel Emily Wales on Wednesday said the department accepted the clinic’s plan to correct deficiencies cited in a recent inspection. Wales says the health department also approved the clinic’s complication plan, which includes a backup provider in case of complications from medication abortions.

She says the department now wants to do another inspection and wants to meet with the new abortion provider.

3 Kan. men jailed for series of grab, run armed robberies

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of robberies from individuals in Wichita that started late Tuesday night and continued to just after 3a.m. Wednesday, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Bell -photo Sedgwick County

Victims reported one, two or in some instances three unknown suspects approached individuals, held them at gunpoint and demanded property.  The suspects then would flee in a dark colored SUV, according to Davidson.

The suspects took personal property including cash, jewelry, credit cards and electronics. The robberies occurred in the 800 block of East Douglas, 2600 block of South St. Francis, 2800 block of South Emporia, 100 block of North Mosley, 3000 block of East Douglas and near Hydraulic and Kellogg, according ot Davidson.

Standifer-photo Sedgwick Co.
Price -photo Sedgwick County

After a sixth robbery just after 3 a.m., the man and woman victims flagged down a Wichita Police officer, reported the crime and identified the SUV involved. 

Officers observed the SUV and attempted to stop it near the intersection of Douglas and Hydraulic, according to Davidson.  The suspect drove away from police until the SUV stopped in the 2500 Block of East Waterman when the driver fled on foot.

Police took the driver identified according to the Sedgwick County Booking report as 24-year-old Earl Bell into custody after a short foot pursuit. 

Officers also arrested two passengers in the SUV a 25-year-old Caleb Price and a 27-year Tiyson Lamont Standifer.

Police also recovered a C02 powered handgun and property belonging to multiple victims.

According to the Sedgwick County Jail, Price is being held for 6 counts of Aggravated Robbery and a State parole Violation. Standifer is jailed for 6 counts of Aggravated Robbery. Bell is jailed for 6 counts of Aggravated Robbery and Flee and Elude, Reckless Driving.  All three are held without bond.

Sandra Jean (Brown) Thompson

Sandra Jean (Brown) Thompson, 80, died August 26, 2018 at the Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas. She was born April 25, 1938 to Oscar and Alberta (Elliott) Brown in Bogue, Kansas.

She was born at the couple’s home, a home that Sandy would continue to grow up in and later live with her own family.
Sandy went on her first date with her future husband when he was in third grade and she was a first grader. His parents took them to Stockton to the movies and then for ice cream. Then on June 17, 1956, a month after Sandy’s graduation, she was united in marriage to James “Jamie” Thompson in the Bogue Community United Methodist Church. They made their home in Everett, Washington while Jamie was stationed at Paine Air Force Base. While Jamie served a tour of duty at Ladd AFB, Fairbanks, Alaska, she lived with her parents in Hill City. Following Jamie’s discharge, they moved to Denver, Colorado to attend school at Parks Business College. Sandy worked as a legal secretary while Jamie completed his course in Higher Accounting and Business Administration. In the fall of 1960, they move home to Bogue where Jamie began employment with the Farmers State Bank.

Sandra then began her fulltime career as homemaker and mother to first Tim and later Tammy and Toby. The children all agree, she was the best mom anyone could ever hope for. To say the least, she was organized and consistent and had a schedule for everything. Even though they probably didn’t always appreciate or even realize it until much later; but because of this, she provided them with a completely worry-free childhood. The house was meticulously clean, laundry always caught up and a hot meal on the table three times a day. They do not ever remember her being sick or even the least bit grouchy. In fact, she did all with joy, always humming, always smiling. Even in the end, when things got rough, she never complained. She just kept going as long as she could. The last night she was home, even as she struggled to get to the table for dinner, she was still humming!

After the children were grown she was employed by Farmers State Bank, which later became the Stockton National Bank. She continued this employment until she retired in 2000. She was active in her church, TPM Club, United Methodist Women, and Builders Class, Ladies Coffee Group, which was a highlight of every day, Second Chances, and wrote the Bogue News for the Hill City Times.

Sandy was a marvelous cook and shared this talent with friends and family. Sunday dinners were a favorite time for family. No matter who could be there, she would have dinner on the table and there was always enough no matter if extras dropped in. She also enjoyed having extended family gatherings. She organized many Thompson reunions, both on Memorial and Labor Day weekends as well as hosting Thanksgiving dinners each year. She especially enjoyed the Gustafson Oyster supper at Christmas.

As busy as she was, Sandy still had time for things she loved. Her grandchildren’s events, whether it was a ballgame, music concert, art show, or horse show, she was always eager to attend. Sandy was always up for a game of dominoes. She especially enjoyed getting together with her cousins for an afternoon of eating, sharing and playing. She tried many times to get her family to play with her, but she always won, so most were hesitant. Her flower gardens were very important to her. She knew the names of hundreds of flowers and enjoyed planting and tending them. Sandy was a shopper, spending an entire day looking at everything. She rarely bought unless she had a coupon or there was sale; or even better, finding a great bargain at a garage sale. On almost every outing, she found someone she knew and would stop and visit, always with a smile; never in a hurry to move on. The last few years, she enjoyed having visitors, but you needed to make sure you didn’t arrive during Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune or you could only visit during commercials!

She was preceded in death by her parents: Oscar and “Bertie”; sister-in-law, Janice Booi; nephew Brock Booi; and in-laws Rex and Marie Thompson.

Leaving to mourn her passing are her husband of 62 years; her sister, Carolyn Erickson of Denver, Colorado; her children: Tim Thompson and wife Karen of Bogue, Tammy and husband Greg Tang of Kansas City, Missouri; Toby Thompson of Hill City; nine grandchildren, three-step grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.

Sandra has left this world, but all of us here today are much better people because we knew her. Let her legacy of joy and love live on in us.

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Report: Kan. child welfare agency failed to meet 16 standards

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new report says the Kansas agency in charge of child welfare failed to meet more than half of 30 performance standards last year.

photo by MADELINE FOX / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

The Department for Children and Families this week said a report tracking the performance measures found the agency didn’t meet 16 federal and state standards.

The report covered from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and used the agency’s data. Among other things, the report found children had 8.9 homes for every 1,000 days they were in foster care – more than double the standard of 4.12 homes.

Department spokeswoman Taylor Forrest said the agency has implemented several efforts to improve performance and meet federal outcome measures.

Child welfare advocates say the report shows the depth of problems at the department.

Trump cancels pay raise due federal workers

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has told Congress he is canceling a pay raise that most civilian federal employees were due to receive in January, citing budgetary constraints.

Trump informed House and Senate leaders in a letter sent Thursday.

Trump says in the letter that locality pay increases would cost $25 billion, on top of a 2.1 percent across-the-board increase for most civilian government employees.

He cites the costs and says: “We must maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course, and Federal agency budgets cannot sustain such increases.” Trump says he’s determined that for 2019 “both across-the-board pay increases and locality pay increases will be set at zero.”

John McCain memorialized as hero, fighter, imperfect friend

Shutterstock.com

By MELISSA DANIELS and NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Associated Press

PHOENIX — Sen. John McCain was eulogized Thursday as a “true American hero” — and a terrible driver with a wicked sense of humor and love of a good fight — as 3,500 mourners crowded into an Arizona church to pay their final respects to the maverick politician.

Former Vice President Joe Biden recalled “the sheer joy that crossed his face when he knew he was about to take the stage of the senate floor and start a fight.”

Biden, a Democrat who was among the fast friends the Republican senator made across the aisle, said he thought of McCain as a brother, “with a lot of family fights.”

The service unfolded at North Baptist Church after a motorcade bearing McCain’s body made its way from the state Capitol past Arizonans waving American flags and campaign-style signs for the lawmaker.

Family members then watched in silence as uniformed military members removed the flag-draped casket from a black hearse and carried it into the church.

McCain died last Saturday of brain cancer at 81.

At the church, a choir from the Jesuit-run Brophy College Preparatory school that two of McCain’s sons attended sang “Amazing Grace.”

McCain’s longtime chief of staff Grant Woods, a former Arizona attorney general, drew laughs with a eulogy in which he talked about McCain’s “terribly bad driving” and his sense of humor, which included calling the Leisure World retirement community “Seizure World.”

Woods also recalled the way McCain would introduce him to new staff members by saying, “You’ll have to fire half of them.”

Another friend, Tommy Espinoza, president and CEO of the Raza Development Fund, called McCain “one of the greatest American heroes in our lifetime.” The church’s senior pastor Noe Garcia pronounced McCain “a true American hero.”

Dabbing his eyes as he recalled his friend, Biden said McCain “could not stand the abuse of power wherever he saw it, in whatever form, in whatever country.” He said McCain embodied basic values including fairness, honesty and respect, and fought for civility between politicians even if they disagreed on the issues.

Biden also referred to his own son’s death from cancer, saying, “It’s brutal, it’s relentless, it’s unforgiving.” And he spoke directly to McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain, seated in the front row: “You were his ballast.”

Twenty-four sitting U.S. senators, four former senators and other leaders from Arizona were expected at the service for the statesman, former prisoner of war and two-time presidential candidate.

As the 11-vehicle motorcade with a 17-motorcycle police escort made its way along the 8-mile (13-kilometer) route, people held signs that read simply “McCain,” and cars on the other side of the highway stopped or slowed to a crawl in apparent tribute.

A few firefighters saluted from atop a fire engine parked on an overpass as the motorcade passed underneath on Interstate 17.

One man shouted, “We love you!”

The music chosen for the recession was Frank Sinatra’s signature song, “My Way,” paying tribute to a man who became known for following his own path based on his personal principles.

On Wednesday, a private service was held at the Arizona Capitol for family and friends. McCain’s widow pressed her face against her husband’s coffin, and daughter Meghan McCain erupted in sobs.

McCain sons Doug, Jack and Jimmy, daughter Sidney and daughter-in-law Renee shook hands with some of the estimated 15,000 people who filed past the senator’s casket to pay their final respects.

On Thursday, Michael Fellars was among those awaiting the motorcade outside the church. The Marines veteran said he was also the fourth person in line Wednesday to attend the viewing at the Capitol for the Navy pilot held prisoner by the North Vietnamese for 5½ years after being shot down over Hanoi.

“He was about the only politician that I have ever known who cared for the people in his country, and he tried his level best to make it a better place in which to live,” Fellars said.

Honor guard member Valentine Costalez praised McCain for championing the military during his Senate career.

“He’s done so much for us,” said Costalez, who stood watch earlier this week while McCain’s body was at a funeral home.

After Thursday’s church service, a military aircraft was scheduled to take McCain’s body back east for a lying-in-state at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, a service at the Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, and burial at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Former Lark, future HoF’er Pujols likely done for the season

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols is likely to miss the rest of his 18th major league season after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

Pujols ranks sixth with 633 career homers after passing Ken Griffey Jr. last month. And he is seventh with 1,982 RBIs, just behind Lou Gehrig and Barry Bonds.

The three-time NL MVP will be 39 years old when next season begins. He still has three seasons remaining on his 10-year, $240 million contract.

Pujols spent the summer of 1999 in Hays, playing third base for the Hays Larks.

Former Bronco Dumervil retires after 12 years in NFL

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil is retiring from the NFL after 12 years.

Dumervil announced his decision on Thursday. He says he wants to spend more time with his family and real estate business.

Dumervil entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick in Denver in 2006. He spent seven years with the Broncos, four more with Baltimore and finished his career last year with San Francisco. He finished his career with 105 1/2 sacks. That ranks fourth in the NFL since he entered the league, trailing only DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen and Julius Peppers.

Dumervil made five Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2009 and 2014.

Loren Keith Lumpkins

Loren Keith Lumpkins, 77, of Chase, passed away August 29, 2018, at Sterling Presbyterian Manor, Sterling, Kansas, following a courageous 2 ½ year battle with brain cancer.

He was born December 24, 1940 at Codell, Kansas, the son of Irwin Roy and Della Benedick Lumpkins. He graduated from Plainville High School in Plainville, Kansas and attended Fort Hays State University. He was a longtime resident of Chase, formerly of Plainville and Great Bend, Kansas.

Keith loved his work as a self-employed oil producer. He was an avid arrowhead hunter and loved spending time with his family and his beloved dog Maggie. He was a member of the Chase Baptist Church. He married Cheryl Jones on June 1, 1962 at Ellinwood, Kansas, and later divorced; then on August 11, 2002 he was united in marriage with Grace Gillespie in Chase.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Delwin Lumpkins and sister-in-law Ramona Lumpkins; sister, Royalynn Nelson; brother-in-laws, Darrel King and Johnnie Lumpkins; and a step-granddaughter, Mara Gillespie.

Keith is survived by his wife, Grace of the home; two sons, Craig and wife Cathy, and Dale and wife, Lisa, all of Wichita; step-sons Cameron Gillespie and Jimmy Gillespie, both of Chase; daughters Robin and husband Bruce Butler of Manhattan; Renee and husband Doug Stejskal of Almena, Kansas; step-daughters Melissa Bethea and Genny Gillespie both of Chase; brothers Earl and wife Juanita Lumpkins of Great Bend, and sisters Kay Lumpkins of Great Bend and Ginny King of Parker, Colorado; six grandchildren and 19 step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and 20 step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 1, at the Chase Baptist Church with Pastor Charles Kirk officiating. Burial will be at the Lyons Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, August 31, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Birzer Funeral Home with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials can be made to Chase Baptist Church in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

FHSU professor speaks at global business conference in Hong Kong

Dr. Steven Tam
FHSU University Relations

Dr. Steven Tam, associate professor of management at Fort Hays State University, recently delivered a keynote speech at the 20th Asia-Pacific Conference on Global Business, Economics, Finance and Social Sciences in Hong Kong.

Tam discussed “Emerging Paradigms in Organizational Learning: Some Useful Insights from a Strategic Standpoint.” In his speech, key findings from his years of research were presented, stressing the importance of human capital and the strategies behind organizational learning as a firm continues to grow. A misalignment between human capital development and firm growth means an ineffective management of the firm, which leads to losing strengths and performance in business.

Tam, having experience with international industry, began teaching strategic management 15 years ago at both undergraduate and MBA levels. During this time, Tam said he saw many young entrepreneurs who “started and flew” and some who “stuck and failed.”

Betty E. (Samson) Trail

Betty E. (Samson) Trail, 91, of Atwood, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at North Platte Regional Health Center, North Platte, NE.

She was born Jun. 24, 1927, in the Ludell Township, KS, the oldest of three children, to Alfred and Pearl (Dostal) Samson. Betty married Floyd E. Trail on June 12, 1961. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother to Floyd and their son Doug. Betty worked as a bookkeeper until the birth of Doug after which she became a stay at home mother. She became a closet Trekkie while watching the original Star Trek series with Doug. She received her first catcher’s mitt as a Mother’s Day gift from Doug. She enjoyed being Doug’s catcher as he practiced pitching (until he could throw hard enough to knock her over). When Doug entered Junior High, Betty went back to work as a bookkeeper until she retired. After Floyd’s retirement, the couple spent time traveling together in their camper. Frequent trips to Iowa to spend time with their son Doug, his wife Kathy, and their grandchildren Stephanie, Samantha, and Sarah were her favorite journeys. Another memorable trip was to Alaska with her brother Joe and his wife Jill.

Betty was a member of the First Christian Church of Atwood and served several years as the bookkeeper for the church and was a Sunday school teacher.

Betty loved spending time with her family, especially her granddaughters and her great-grandson. Some of her favorite memories were of playing school with her granddaughters at their home in Iowa. She passed on her love of animals, especially chickens and kittens, to her granddaughters and her fear of snakes to her son.

Betty was preceded in death by her sister Dorothy; parents, Allie and Pearl; sister-in-law Jill Samson (Joe); brother-in-law Earl Niermeier (Dorothy) and husband Floyd.

She is survived by her son, Doug (Kathy) Trail, Johnston, IA; brother, Joe (Mary Hurtt), Ludell; three grandchildren, Stephanie (Troy) Cheek, New Virginia, IA, Samantha (Grant) Eckard, San Diego, CA and Sarah Trail, Johnston, IA; a great-grandson, Troy James Cheek, and a great-granddaughter due this Oct. and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m., Saturday, September 1, 2018, at the First Christian Church, Atwood. Following the service both Betty and Floyd will be inurned at Rosehill Cemetery near Ludell. Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Center, Atwood or First Christian Church of Atwood, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information and condolences, please visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.

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