PHILLIPSBURG — In the run-up to his being elected Phillips County sheriff in 2016, Charlie Radabaugh campaigned on promises of accountability, transparency, and equal enforcement of the law no matter who is involved.
With a controversy unfolding in Phillipsburg in recent weeks, Sheriff Radabaugh is now having the opportunity to put his commitment to those principles on display.
Throughout August reports have circulated in Phillips County that at least two Phillips County sheriff’s deputies have been the subject of a criminal inquiry initially led by Sheriff Radabaugh, who has now brought in agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
The Phillips County Review has learned from sources with knowledge of the investigation that Phillips County deputies are alleged to have entered a northwest Phillipsburg house without a warrant and without permission on multiple occasions when the resident was not home.
According to these sources, the resident noticed a door had been breached and, as a result, set up a surveillance camera, expecting to perhaps see a past romantic interest or other aquaintance in the act of entering the residence. Instead, according to these sources, the camera allegedly afterwards filmed unauthorized entries by deputies.
In addition, video of the alleged entry or entries is reported to have circulated at a recent social gathering in Phillipsburg.
In a Facebook post last Wednesday, Sheriff Radabaugh addressed an onslaught of coffee shop talk by acknowledging that he had become aware of rumors in recent weeks and assigned a deputy to investigate them.
According to Sheriff Radabaugh, that investigating deputy was then “implicated” in the allegations within an hour of being assigned to look into them.
In his Facebook post Radabaugh says that as a result, he then contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and asked them to become involved.
Following the Sheriff’s Facebook post the story has gathered statewide and even national notice, with reports appearing in the Wichita Eagle, the Associated Press, U.S. News & World Report magazine, the Hutchinson Post, the Salina Post, the Hays Post, KWCH12-TV Wichita, KFDI-FM Radio Wichita, the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier, the St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press, and Kansas Public Radio.
Below is the complete Aug. 22 Facebook statement posted by the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office:
“We hear we’re the talk of the coffee circles again. Rumor has it, the Phillips County Sheriffs Office is being investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
“Unfortunately we must report that this rumor is partly true. A couple weeks ago, Sheriff Radabaugh and Undersheriff Stephen became aware of allegations against a former employee. They assigned a Deputy to investigate the allegation and within an hour, that Deputy was also implicated in the allegation.
“Sheriff Radabaugh then contacted KBI and requested their assistance and that they take over the investigation.
“KBI agents have been in Phillips County and have interviewed witnesses. We expect them to return soon and complete their investigation.
“As you may recall, Sheriff Radabaugh has said many times that the laws apply to everyone and will be enforced as such. Should the allegations prove to be true, appropriate personnel action will be taken and the case will be forwarded to the County Attorney for charges against the individuals.
“We will update everyone on KBI’s findings, either good or bad, when they complete their investigation. Until that time, any further statements will be issued by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.”
As the number of felony drug cases in Ellis County and the state of Kansas continues to rise, officials in Ellis County have created a drug court in an effort to change a system that isn’t working.
The court, which begins this week, is designed to target offenders who are considered high-risk of having a drug problem that has gotten them in legal trouble and help them overcome their addiction while serving as an alternative to jail.
According to the Kansas Sentencing Committee, the number of felony drug cases in Ellis County increased from 91 in 2013 to 159 in 2017 — an increase of 42.7 percent. Kansas has also seen a similar increase in drug offenses during that time, and drug offenses are ranked the top most frequent offenses, according to the sentencing committee.
Chief Judge for the 23rd Judicial District and Drug Court Judge Glenn Braun said local officials with the Hays Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, Court Services and Ellis County Attorney’s Office began exploring the idea of implementing a drug court when construction was completed and all departments were moved back in to the Law Enforcement Center.
Braun, along with Court Services Officer and Drug Court Coordinator Teresa Greenwood and the other core members of the drug court team, attended training over the last year and has observed similar drug courts in Saline and Lyon counties and has designed Ellis County court similar to those.
Greenwood said non-violent offenders sentenced for drug possession will be ordered to drug court, and the program will target offenders who are considered “high-risk” of having drug issues. Even if an offender is not sentenced for a drug crime, if authorities determine they have an underlying drug issue, they can also be assigned to the program.
The program will be a minimum of 18 months and consist of five phases, according to Greenwood.
Participants will have supervision from their probation officers, random urinalysis (UAs) and substance use treatment. They will also be provided mental health and medical services if they need them.
Currently, when a defendant is sentenced and placed on probation the high-risk, high-need offenders go to community corrections where they have intensive supervision, according to Braun.
“After I sentence them, I don’t see them again until or unless they have accumulated a whole string of offenses. So by the time I see them, my options really are prison, whether it’s a 120, 180 (days) or a full revocation to serve the balance of their term,” he said. “I really don’t have a lot of other options.”
But with drug court, they will go before Braun every other week and will talk with the judge about the issues they are having and will be held accountable.
“They know they are going to have to face the judge and they are going to have to do it every two week,” said Braun. “If they’re messing up, the judge is going to know about it because Community Corrections and Teresa (Greenwood) are going to tell me before I ever see them — every screw-up they’ve had.”
There will also be small incentives available to participants who successfully complete various steps along the way. Greenwood said Community Corrections used grant money to purchase small gift cards that will be used. They will also get incentives for completing phases and when they complete drug court there will be a graduation.
“Recognition that a lot of the participants haven’t had before just for simply following the program and a little bit of an incentive to going and keep doing well,” said Greenwood.
But Judge Braun said the perception that this amounts to “coddling” these individuals is not true.
“The drug court program is probably more difficult for most of those people than just straight probation,” Braun said. “It’s something they probably haven’t experience before, in their lives and (its) just a little something to say, ‘there is a benefit to this’ beside sobriety.”
The drug court officials will also help with the participants getting out in the job market, the area of housing and, if they are involved in child in need of care cases with their children, they can begin to help remediate those issues.
The courts also have a benefit for the community. According to the Nation Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), the courts save up to $13,000 for every person served.
The national completion average for treatment courts is almost 60 percent, and 75 percent of graduates do not reoffend, according to the NADCP.
Green said they expected 11 individuals to take part in the first court on Thursday, but they will continue to add more people every month.
The K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District office in Hays will be closed on Friday and Tuesday, due to no electricity in the building because of ongoing renovations and construction.
The office, located at 601 Main, Ste. A, will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5.
RILEY COUNTY— Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire early Wednesday in Manhattan.
Photos courtesy Manhattan Fire Department
Just after 2:15 a. m, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 2711 Amherst Avenue, the Living Word Church, for a report of an alarm sounding, according to a media release.
Upon arrival at the building which is directly adjacent to Firehouse 3, crews found a large one-story building with smoke showing. The fire was contained within 20 minutes, with ventilation taking several hours due to the size of the building.
The building is a one-story commercial building that contains the Living Word Church and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The building was formerly a manufactured home factory. The church is currently undergoing an alteration. Loss is unknown at this time. The owner is listed as Living Word Fellowship Church Inc.
Dozens of descendants and re-enactors are assembling to make the Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts an historic event in itself. As sites in Kansas and Colorado partner in marking the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Beecher Island (The Fight Where Roman Nose Fell to the Cheyennes), people representing the scouts themselves and those who are the great and great-great grandchildren will walk in the footsteps of the U. S. Army officers and scouts and the Plains Tribes defending their homeland.
More than a year in planning, the events kicked off last weekend with a Friday evening reception for descendants at the Lincoln County Historical Museum, Lincoln, Kansas. Many of the original scouts came from this area and native son Mike Day presented the results of his searches of family histories including biographies of selected scouts.
On Saturday, August 25, the flag was raised over Fort Harker, Kanopolis, signaling the re-enactment of the men to sign on as scouts as their descendants are recognized. Historical presentations followed. Sunday morning featured a church service before the scouts ceremonially left for Fort Hays.
On September 1, the scouts will be adding to their ranks at Fort Hays State Historic Site. Reenactment, historians, entertainment, and educational programs will be held throughout the day. On Saturday evening, a Military and Citizens Hop (Dance) will be held to the music of Blackwolf. Period attire is welcome but not required. Sunday morning the scouts will “ride out” to Fort Wallace.
The third weekend of events will be held at the Fort Wallace Museum, Wallace, Kansas. Friday night’s activities will be a Guardians Only event open to the friends of the museum members. (To join, contact the museum.) Saturday morning events begin at 9 a.m. MDT with opening ceremonies including the unveiling of a lifelike sculpture of the Cheyenne warrior Roman Nose. Presentations will be offered throughout the day and the evening will feature Dave Zerfas in concert. Sunday morning a church service will be conducted by Chaplain Stan Copeland before the procession to the Fort Wallace Cemetery and services honoring the men who fell during the Battle of Beecher Island. For more information, call the museum at 785-891-3564.
The Beecher Island Battlefield, south of Wray, Colorado, will host events on September 15 and 16. Featuring re-enactments, entertainment, and vendors, the local community has kept the history of this site alive for decades. The story of the famed battle is also told in the Wray Museum, in downtown Wray. For more information, contact the City of Wray at 970-332-4431 or the Wray Museum at 970-332-5063.
In 1868, Gen. Phil Sheridan authorized the recruitment of civilian scouts to aid in the army’s campaign against hostile Plains Tribes. Men enlisted from northwestern Kansas and the commander was Maj. George “Sandy” Forsyth, with Lt. Fred Beecher, and Dr. John Mooers as surgeon. Forsyth was wounded and both Beecher and Mooers were killed in action as the command found itself pinned down on an island in the Arikaree River for nine days. Also killed was the Cheyenne warrior, Roman Nose. The relief column from Fort Wallace, comprised of the 10th US Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) found the men in a “dying state” subsisting on putrid horse and mule meat.
George Custer referred to this fight as the “greatest battle on the plains.”
Representatives from each site have been working for the past year to organize this collaborative event. Major sponsors include the TV Show Around Kansas, the Smoky Hill Trail Association, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism. Committee members are: Jim Gray, Greg Heller, Marla Matkin, Tatum Sprague-Kimzey, Mike Day, Ardith Hendrix, Jake Bauer, Jayne Pearce, J. D. Perry, Colby Terry, Tammy Younger, and Deb Goodrich.
For more information, find The Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts on Facebook.
Photo: Re-enactors kicked off the Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts at Fort Harker last weekend.
David NorlinWe Kansans are an independent sort. Some of us cussedly so. In fact, nearly one in three of us register to vote that way.
But, when it comes to voting, it takes a whole lotta thought to determine who’s really independent.
Ordinarily, the Kansas independent tradition of lettin’-em-alone and mindin’-your-own-business is an admirable trait. But this year’s gubernatorial race leaves no room for laissez-faire.
Like the guy dropped over the cliff, our original fall hurt not at all. Then came that Brownbackian sudden-stop, rude awakening at the bottom. The illusion of income-tax-free ,wild-west independence was revealed.
Now we’re wide awake, with a choice: Claw back up the cliff with Kelly, or drop into another Deep Ravine with the Raving, Ravenous Republican. A clear choice, right?
In a word, No. All this thanks to the “Independent” Oar-man, rowing us down the River, the so-called Independent, that is, the Independently Wealthy Businessman.
He’s Independent. You aren’t.
In Maine, people also have a reputation for independence. But Mainers have something we don’t. Ranked-choice voting. Under this system, they can vote for, say, a Green a Libertarian or an “Independent,” but without wasting their vote: if they don’t win, their ballot passes to whomever they marked second—in Kansas, say Laura Kelly. This opens up the system to a much wider range of views, while simultaneously encouraging people to be civil. Good deal.
But, while their system gives them a reasonable choice, ours doesn’t. So, are you listening, Independents?
The least independent (and responsible) thing you can do this November is vote for the “Independent” candidate.
Let him rag and rage on about how we’re all so dissatisfied, and both parties have sold us down the river, and he’s the savvy salesman with all the answers. This guy, who has spent not one day of his life in public office. This guy, whose miserable Don Quixote vote total will deny Kansans the right to choose the governor they want.
Independents, don’t vote for the Independent. Our Independence. Depends. On you.
David Norlin is Chairman of the Salina Planning Commission, former President of Salina Access TV, and a former College Director of Broadcasting and English Department Chair. He has twice run for Kansas State Office.
Although it’s headquarters are based in Amarillo, Texas, Bruckner’s, a Volvo and Mack truck dealership, also has 30 employees in Hays that are members of its company’s ESOP.
At least three other Hays businesses are in a group of about 4,000 companies nationwide that are 100 percent employee owned under a system known as Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPs.
ESOPs are retirement plans that are allowed under federal law, according to ESOP Association. Employees of an ESOP can become vested in the stock in their company in a variety of ways, including numbers of years of service.
Employees who are vested can take the cash value of their shares when they retire, leave the company or upon death or disability.
Bruckner’s has a similar story to the other ESOPs in Hays. The company was founded in 1932 by B.M. “Bennie” Bruckner Sr. in Amarillo as a single garage.
In the early days of the company, Bruckner created a 401(k) for his employees and was putting larger than average sums into the fund. Today, most companies match 401(k) contributions. Bruckner’s automatically puts a portion of the profits into its 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution. This is in addition to the ESOP.
The company steadily grew until the third-generation Buckner brothers decided to sell the company to its employees in the 1980s.
Today, Bruckner’s has more than 800 employees in Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado.
The company has had a location in Hays for six years and been at its current location at 2101 Commerce Parkway just off of Interstate 70 for three years. The Hays location is a Volvo and Mack dealer with full-service shop and parts counter.
Shawn Wasinger, Hays general manager and Hays native, was recruited to the company two years ago. He said the ESOP, as well as a generous 401K program, is a strong recruiting tool for the company.
“It makes it very attractive when you try to go out and get good employees and recruit strong talent to have that in you arsenal of tools,” Wasinger said. “(It) makes you more attractive to that group of individuals that you are trying to get a hold of.”
Bruckner’s contributes about 15 percent to 20 percent of its profits back to the ESOP, which is on the high side of average ESOP contributions, Wasinger said. Employees are fully vested with company after five years. Bruckner’s is also able to provide a little higher wage because of the ESOP, Wasinger said.
“(The ESOP) is very beneficial to the employees because it aligns us with the executive team,” Wasinger said. “We all become one to make our company better.”
Wasinger said a positive workplace results in better customer service.
“One of our core values is the customer service,” he said. “I am also a firm believer in treating your employees well and customer service just comes.”
ESOPs offer tax advantages to owners who are wishing to sell their companies, but they also offer a way for a family to give back to their employees.
“The ESOP is an attractive part of the company,” Wasinger said. “It shows that employees are important to them and employees come first, so that is why I think a lot of owners choose to sell the company back to the employees because it is their employees who made it for them and got it to where they are today.”
Tradehome Shoes
Tradehome has been privately owned since it was founded by Alex Mains in 1921 with the purchase of two shoe stores in the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The owners of the company sold the company to the employees in 2014, and it became an ESOP.
Tradehome has 111 stores in 21 states across the Midwest. They carry over 150 brands of shoes.
You must be a full-time employee and 21 years old to participate in the Tradehome ESOP. Vesting is based in part on hours worked for the company. Tradehome in Hays has five employees.
Dan Smurawa, Hays manager, has been a manager for a little less than two years and is 20 percent vested in the company.
“Knowing that I can be an owner of a company just boosts my productivity, and I think it goes the same for a lot of Tradehome employees across the nation,” he said.
Smurawa said he saw many benefits to the ESOP.
Highly motivated employees provide better customer service, he said.
“I think I can hold my employees to a higher standard, representing us properly, going out and finding people who genuinely want to help our guests and fit them for what they need,” Smurawa said.
The ESOP is a recruiting tool for Tradehome. The starting manager salary also went up since the company became an ESOP.
“I think a lot of people look toward the future, and if there are benefits and retirement plans for them to plan for and look forward to, I think that can keep quality people too,” he said.
Smurawa is only 22, but he is already thinking about his future.
“I have been educated on compounded interest and the rule of 72,” he said. “Just looking at my parents, I think they could have benefited from early retirements and plans set in stone earlier. I think it is an important thing for our youth to be aware of and take advantage of.
“This isn’t my first retirement plan of sorts. I actually have another one. It is nothing I am in the dark about. There is always something I want to know about our ESOP and any way I can benefit myself and my family. Even at such a young time, the harder that I work now, can leave us better off sooner rather than at 65 when we are not as able to have fun and do the things we wish to do.”
Smurawa said he sees himself staying with Tradehome and building his ownership in the company. He said he is excited to hear news that the company is continuing to grow, which grows the value of the ESOP.
“Ultimately, I like to do what I do, and that is the most important thing,” he said.
Eagle Communications
Bob Schmidt and other in the early days at KAYS.
The Eagle Communications ESOP started with Bob Schmidt, who founded Eagle Communications in 1948.
Originally known as KAYS, Inc. and based in Hays, Eagle Communications began in the commercial television, radio broadcasting and cable television business. In 1989, the company sold its commercial television stations, and now concentrates on radio broadcasting, television, internet and telephone services.
Today, Eagle owns and operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska; and 60 cable systems in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado.
In 1998, Schmidt had several options when it came to the ownership of the company, but he chose to sell the company to the employees through the ESOP.
Schmidt
The goal was to continue the benefit of local ownership and provide a pathway for the employees of Eagle to share in the rewards of the company’s success.
An Employee Stock Ownership Trust was created to hold the shares Schmidt sold to Eagle. The trust then took out a loan from the bank in order to pay Schmidt for the shares he sold to the company. Each year, Eagle made contributions to the trust, which in turn helped repay the bank.
In December 2012, the Eagle ESOP purchased all outstanding shares from Schmidt. With this purchase, the ESOP attained a 100 percent ownership position of Eagle.
As the company continues to grow, employee-owners have the opportunity for growth and are rewarded with shares that are distributed from the trust.
Rhonda Meyerhoff, senior marketing specialist, has worked for Eagle for 13 years.
Joining Eagle is like joining a family, she said.
She recalled a time she needed to unexpectedly take time off to care for her 3-month-old grandson. Not only did the company work with her to schedule time to be with her family, but President Gary Shorman personally checked with her to make sure her grandson’s childcare was taken care of when she returned.
“To me, that said at Eagle, family came first,” she said. “That meant something to me.”
Meyerhoff has operated her own business, but at Eagle she has all the benefits of ownership without the hassles of owning a business.
“When I owned my own business, I had to hire and fire and do payroll taxes,” she said. “Now I have all the benefits and I get to concentrate on what I like to do.”
Meyerhoff compared the ESOP to owning a home instead of renting. The employees take greater care of what they own.
“We are rewarded extra when we do extra,” she said. “If the company does well because of all the extra work, we will all benefit. We work together.”
Western Supply, which is headquartered in Hutchinson and has a showroom in Hays, also has an ESOP, but did not wish to participate in this article.
RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested for charges associated with sexual abuse of children was formally charged Tuesday.
Rosenberg
Shawn Rosenberg, 45, is now facing three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, one of which falls under Jessica’s Law, meaning he could receive a life sentence on that count alone if convicted.
A 15-year-old girl was seeing a counselor at Horizons Mental Health in Hutchinson for depression. During a session she told about being sexually abused for some time by Rosenberg.
Also, a woman who is now 20 years old alleges she was sexually abused by Rosenberg. She says the abuse went back to when she was 13, according to the complaint.
Rosenberg is jailed on a $161,000 bond. He will be back in court Sept. 19.
WAKEENEY, Kan. – The TMP-Marian volleyball is off to a 2-0 start after winning both of their matches in WaKeeney Tuesday. The Monarchs swept Stockton 25-8 and 25-18 then took a couple of close matches from Trego 27-25 and 26-24.
“Against Stockton got into our groove very early and played aggressive volleyball right off the bat” said head coach Natasha Dreher.
“We got slightly complacent in the second set but still walked away with the win. The first set against Trego, we got down 14 to 22 and rallied back to win 27-25.”
The Monarchs travel to Abilene for a quadrangular Thursday
HAYS, Kan. – Garden City scored their lone goal with a little over 10 minutes to play and beat the Hays High boys soccer team 1-0 in their season opener yesterday at the Hays High Field.
The Indians return to action tomorrow at home against Wichita Classical.
The band blared, local leaders lead chants and hundreds of students eager for free food and prizes marched down Eighth Street for the annual March to Main event on Tuesday night.
March to Main is organized by the Downtown Hays Development Corp. along with a committee of members from the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fort Hays State University and North Central Kansas Technical College. The event was open to FHSU, NCK Tech and Hays Academy of Hair Design students, faculty and staff.
The leaders of the participating institutions and Hays Mayor James Meier lead the students in a spirited rally before they were treated to free food and chances to win a part of $3,000 in prizes donated by local businesses.
“We have spent the last couple of weeks saying welcome to our university, but tonight we say welcome to our community,” Tisa Mason, FHSU president, said. “Our community is not only the university, it is Hays. Hays is where we get jobs. We hire you and work with your families, and we really appreciate the total support of the community. Shop locally when you can. Have safe, responsible fun.”
Danielle Markley, owner and director of education at Hays Academy of Hair Design, said “Welcome students! We are so excited for tonight. We are excited for the school year. I just wanted to let you know how blessed we are to be in this community with three higher education choices for all of you— Hays Academy, Fort Hays and NCK Tech.”
Students said the allure of freebies plus a desire to get acquainted or reacquainted with downtown drew them to the event.
“I think we hadn’t been in a couple of years, and we both didn’t work tonight, so we thought why not see what they were going to do this year, maybe get some free food, check out some of the shops we have not been to in a while and just see what was going to happen,” said Miranda Merrill, FHSU senior from Brookville.
John Holmes, FHSU freshman from York, Nebraska, was downtown on an assignment from his freshman seminar class.
Sitting on a curb eating free sandwiches, a group of FHSU freshmen were having a girls night out.
Riley Bretton of Phillipsburg said the event was a good opportunity to spend time with friends.
Kate Steimel of Spearville said she came to March to Main, “to learn more about the town and learn what Main Street has.”
Leonard the dog greeted students as they made a stop at The Niche.
Emily Weigel, owner of The Niche, said of the event, “It’s great, because it gets kids in the door and they can see what we are all about and maybe they will feel more comfortable coming back to us later. They get to see what downtown has to offer. We have lots to do here in Hays.”
