OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — The mother of a suburban Kansas City teenager who was shot to death by police as he backed a minivan out of his family’s garage has reached a $2.3 settlement.
Law enforcement authorities on the scene of the fatal shooting-photo by Grady Reid courtesy KCTV
The settlement agreement obtained Monday through an open records request makes no admission that Overland Park, Kansas, broke the law in the January 2017 death of 17-year-old John Albers. He was killed after officers responded to a report that he was making suicidal comments on social media.
Police say Albers backed toward an officer, who told the teen to stop before firing 13 times. Albers mother, Sheila Albers, says “there is nothing that can ever excuse such an unreasonable use of force.”
The officer resigned after the shooting, but prosecutors declined to file charges.
Nola Frances (Ginther) Winters, the second daughter and fourth child of Edward Earl Ginther and Mary Ruby (Mikesell) Ginther, was born on August 27, 1925 on her Grandmother Sarah (Fleming) Mikesell’s homestead near Achilles, Kansas. She passed away at the Good Samaritan in Atwood on January 14, 2019.
Nola spent her infancy on a farm near Achilles and at the age of six moved with her family to Atwood, Kansas. She graduated from Atwood elementary school in 1939 and Atwood Community High School, where she was active in the concert and marching band, as valedictorian in 1943. She attended the University of Kansas at Lawrence from 1943 through 1945 and was named on the Dean’s Honor Roll.
On October 13, 1945, Nola was united in marriage to Jack Victor Winters in the First Methodist Church in Ventura, California, which they joined in 1945. To this union was born one son, David Scott Winters, who died on the day of his birth, June 15, 1948. The marriage ended in divorce in 1954.
She was a secretary for Ventura Tool Company, Tubescope, Inc. and Master Thread Inspections from 1945 to 1953 in Ventura. She moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1953 and was employed in various positions by Holly Sugar Corporation until 1991, retiring as Assistant Corporate Secretary and Director of Corporate and Public Relations after more than 37 years of service. She was a properties manager for Civic Players from 1954 to 1962 and also served on the Board of Directors. She then attended night school at the University of Colorado Extension Service (later University of Colorado in Colorado Springs) from 1962 to 1972 when she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.
Nola was a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants through William and Susanna White and their son, Resolved. She was a charter member of Desk and Derrick International (women in the oil industry) in Ventura; of the Pikes Peak Genealogical Society, Colorado Springs; and the Genealogical Societies of Rawlins County, Kansas, and Sangamon County, Illinois. She was also a member of the Kinnikinnik Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution in Colorado Springs and of the American Legion Sam Hubbard Post #46 Auxiliary in Atwood, Kansas. She was listed in Marquis Who’ Who in America and Who’s Who of American Women.
After building a home in Highland Lakes near Divide, Colorado, in 1981, she served two terms on the Board of Directors as Treasurer of the Highland Lakes Property Owners’ Association and volunteered countless hours of service to the Association.
In September of 2002, Nola and her brother Gordon moved back to Atwood to finally retire. Nola enjoyed her family and friends, genealogical research, classical music, history, walking, gardening and flowers.
She was preceded in death by her infant son; parents; brothers, Gordon, Merle and wife Goldie, Leroy and wife Joyce; sisters Virginia and husband Willard Clapper and Pauline Worthy and husband Lyle. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 17, 2019, also at the mortuary. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of NWKS or the Atwood Good Samaritan for room upkeep, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Dustin Roths and Butch Schlyer are sworn in by County Clerk Donna Maskus Monday evening as the newest Ellis County commissioners. (Courtesy photo)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Two new Ellis county commissioners were sworn in to office Monday evening, prior to their first meeting which was primarily a reorganization of commission appointments for the new year.
Butch Schlyer, R-Hays, was elected to the First District seat formerly held by Marcy McClelland. Dustin Roths, R-Hays, was appointed in December by Republican Party precinct chair members to fill the Second District seat vacated by Barb Wasinger, who was elected 111th District state representative.
Schlyer is the retired longtime Ellis County Health Administrator.
“I am glad to be here. I had to defeat some very worthy opponents in the primary as well as the general election,” Schlyer noted. “And I just want to assure the public I will make very fair decisions, what’s in the best interest of the public as well as what’s in the interest of this Ellis County organization and its employees.”
Roths is owner of Diamond R Jewelry in downtown Hays. He said he got some “pretty good advice” from Wasinger about his decision-making as a commissioner.
“That advice was to think of my kids when I decide things because ‘you’re tough, intelligent and diligent.’ So I’m going to take that and run with it and try to do the best job I can do.”
Roths also commended the Ellis County staff and employees he’s been meeting.
“There’s a lot of people doing a lot of things in the county,” Roths said, “and it looks like we have a very dedicated work force and that’s exciting to me.”
The trio voted to retain Third District Commissioner Dean Haselhorst, R-Hays, as chair of the board for 2019, while Schlyer was appointed vice chair.
“As chair, I want to welcome both of you,” Haselhorst said. “We get to attend a lot of things together. I’m looking forward to that and your sharing of the knowledge you each have to make Ellis County a better place.”
Roths was appointed Ellis County representative to the boards of Northwest Kansas Community Corrections and Northwest Kansas Juvenile Service, Schlyer to the boards of High Plains Mental Health and Northwest Kansas Planning & Development, and Haselhorst to WorkforceONE CEOB.
The Public Building Commission meeting was held immediately following the county commission meeting. Haselhorst was again appointed president, with Schlyer named vice-president.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Utility officials say it may take until Thursday to finish restoring power in the Kansas City area after last week’s winter blast and forecasts for more bad weather won’t help.
Image courtesy KCP&L
About 175,000 Kansas City Power & Light customers were without electricity at some point after a storm that started Friday dumped up to 10 inches of heavy, wet snow in the area. By Tuesday morning, about 20,000 remained in the dark.
KCP&L spokeswoman Katie McDonald says it’s the “worst storm” the utility has seen in decades. McDonald says more than 1,500 line workers, engineers, tree-trimmers and other staff members are working to restore electrical power.
But she warned that forecasts calling for freezing rain, black ice and sleet this week could slow the effort.
Coffee is more than just your favorite morning beverage; it’s a connector, a culture, and a community-builder. McDonald’s® of NorthHays plans to use coffee to help connect the community and law enforcement.
On Thursday, January 17, 9-10:30 a.m. during a come-and-go event, McDonald’s of NorthHays, 3406 Vine, will host a “Coffee with a Cop” event in conjunction with the city of Hays Police Department.
This “Coffee with a Cop” event brings police officers and the community members they serve together over coffee to discuss community issues, learn more about each other and build relationships in an informal, neutral environment. All Coffee with a Cop attendees will receive a free small cup of McCafẻ® roast coffee courtesy of your local McDonald’s.
Area McDonald’s restaurants will continue to work with law enforcement departments throughout the year to host additional Coffee with a Cop events with the goal of improving relationships between law enforcement and community members – one cup of coffee at a time.
“As a McDonald’s Owner/Operator, being involved in the community is the cornerstone of my business. Supporting our local law enforcement is a huge priority for our organization,” said Gail Kuehl, Owner/Operator, McDonald’s of Hays, Russell and WaKeeney.
“I hope that community members will attend our Coffee with a Cop event and feel comfortable to ask questions, bring forward concerns or simply get to know our officers.”
MEADE COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Monday in Meade County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Toyota Siena driven by Dana W. House, 73, Goodyear, AZ., was westbound in the outside lane on U.S. 54 just east of the Kansas 23 Junction in Meade.
The vehicle crossed into the inside lane and then into the inside eastbound lane and collided with a 2016 Peterbilt semi driven by Ben E. Kelley, 44, Grainfield.
House was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger Cynthia J. House, 72, Goodyear, AZ., was transported to the hospital in Meade where she died.
Kelley was not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson dropped a dollar Friday, and will start the week at $41.75 per barrel. That’s $3.50 more than a week ago, but is a dollar lower than the price a month ago and nearly $13 less than a year ago.
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline went up last week for the first time since October. The automotive club AAA reported Monday’s average of $2.24 is up a penny on the week, but is 15 cents lower than a month ago and is down 28 cents year-on-year. The average across Kansas was up three tenths to $1.965. It’s down to $1.94 at several locations in Hays, and as cheap as $1.92 in Great Bend.
Energy activity declined in our area during the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the Energy Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The KC Fed interviewed executives across the district which includes Kansas and Oklahoma about their current activity and economic outlook. This marks the first time in nearly three years they’ve noted a quarterly decline in their “drilling and business activity index.” More than half of the executives said lower oil prices caused them to slightly or significantly reduce their capital spending plans in the year ahead. About 35% said they would not reduce capital spending or that it was too soon to tell.
Baker Hughes reported a drop of four oil-drilling rigs last week, and an increase of four rigs actively seeking natural gas. Oklahoma was down four rigs, while Texas and Louisiana were each down two. Canada reported a season increase of 104 rigs to 184 for the week.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports nine active drilling rigs east of Wichita last week, down one, and 28 in Western Kansas, up one. They’re preparing to spud a new well in Ellis County. Drilling is underway at one lease in Barton County and one in Stafford County.
Independent reports 28 new well completions for the week, 12 in eastern Kansas and 16 west of Wichita. There was one dry hole completed in Barton County and one completed well in Ellis County producing pay dirt.
Operators filed 16 new drilling permits last week, 22 so far this year. There are seven new permits in eastern Kansas and nine west of Wichita, including one in Ellis County and one in Stafford County.
The State of Colorado is holding out for drilling-pad limits in an upcoming oil and gas lease sale in northwestern Colorado that includes migration corridors and winter-range habitats for big game. Most of an earlier sale by the Bureau of Land Management was deferred, after the governor raised wildlife and other concerns. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has written that the acreage up for sale this March be limited to just one drilling pad per square mile.
Canada’s CBC reports a spike in bankruptcy and similar insolvency filings in Alberta, a trend blamed on low Canadian oil prices. In the past year, nearly 11,000 more Albertans filed, up 8.4 per cent over a spike the year before.
Based on weekly tallies from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, domestic producers pumped more crude oil last week than ever before, 11.705 million barrels per day, beating the previous high by 20-thousand barrels per day. Based on the weekly reports, the U.S. produced a cumulative daily average of 10.85 million barrels of crude oil per day last year, which would be a record. That’s about 1.5 million barrels per day more than the same figure from the year before.
SubmittedQUINTER — The search for Amelia Earhart can finally be called off! The famed Kansas aviator will be talking about her thrilling flights at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 27 at Quinter High School Auditorium in celebration of Kansas history. Scholar and performer, Ann Birney of Ride into History, will take the audience back to 1937, just before Earhart’s disappearance over the Pacific Ocean.
Sponsored by the Western Plains Arts Association, admission is by WPAA season ticket or $10 adults or $5 students.
Birney will give a show for Quinter area students Monday, Jan. 28, as part of the school district’s Kansas Day week celebration.
This Western Plains Arts Association project is supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Locally, the Dane Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kansas, is also a major contributor for this season’s programs.
Most people do not know that Earhart set out twice to fly around the world at the equator before she disappeared. The first time, heading west from California, she wrecked her twin-engine Lockheed Electra taking off from Hawaii. Birney, as Earhart, will take the audience to April 14, 1937. Earhart is waiting for her airplane, her silver “flying laboratory” to be repaired so that she can try again. This time, she tells the audience, she will go east instead of west, hoping to reverse her luck with the reversal in direction.
Earhart came into the public eye when she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air in 1928. The young social worker presumed that after the flight she would resume working with children at a Boston settlement house, but one book and innumerable speaking engagements later, she was instead planning more record-setting flights, and yet more speaking tours, books and articles. Among her other records, she became the first woman and second person to solo across the Atlantic, the first person to solo over the Pacific, the first person to fly from Hawaii to California and the fastest woman to fly non-stop across the U.S.
Birney is a member of Ride into History, a historical performance touring troupe, that has performed throughout the U.S., from the Smithsonian to Saipan. Made up of scholars who are also scriptwriters and performers, Ride into History is one of few “cross-over” groups whose members have been on both humanities councils and arts commission rosters. In addition to their performances, which include six other first person narratives, the troupe conducts adult workshops, school residencies and summer camps, guiding other people in becoming historians, researchers, scriptwriters and/or actors.
Her interpretation of Amelia Earhart is based on extensive research. She holds a doctorate in American Studies from the University of Kansas and, like Earhart, is a native Kansan. Birney has been doing her Chautauqua-style performances of Amelia Earhart since 1995. In March of 2000, she became the first person to do a historical performance for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, where she was described as “what living history should be—accurate, natural, evocative, and accessible.” Barbara Aliprantis of the American Center for the Theatre and Storytelling said of another of Birney’s performances, “Your telling of Amelia’s story was nothing less than brilliant. I was transported to another time and place.” Audiences of all ages have praised Ride into History’s performances for being both “entertaining and intelligent.” Dramatist Jean-Ellen Jantzen wrote, “Their energetic first-person narrative style, combined with authentic costuming and properties, makes this an enjoyable offering for virtually all audiences.”
David Downing of the NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium wrote of Birney’s after-lunch performance for the National Conference of Space Grant Consortium Directors: “I think you understand that this was a tough audience. Many of us have been everywhere more than once and have seen everything more than once. This was a group, many of whom routinely carry on conversations when the NASA brass are presenting. You on the other hand had their undivided attention.”
Two of the historic figures Ride into History interprets, Amelia Earhart and Calamity Jane, are integral to the myth of American individualism. According to the scholar/performers, one of the most fascinating things is discovering the point at which an ordinary, lively, independent girl becomes the woman who makes a choice which leads her to become an American symbol, a mythic figure. They ask, “What do these people have in common with each of us?”
— Submitted
By this time the new legislators have adjusted their chairs on the House and Senate floors and are presumably ready for business.
Which means, well, we’ll see when business starts. Could be a couple weeks, by which time lawmakers have met each other, learned about their families and pets, or whether the dramatically fast—Thursday—release of Gov. Laura Kelly’s budget for the upcoming year or two lights the fuse.
The weeks since Kelly has been governor-elect have yielded what most would consider relatively pro forma assertions that Kelly is going to “repair” the policies of the past eight years led by Gov. Sam Brownback and then Gov. Jeff Colyer. And mostly conservative Republican leadership responses have been that nearly everything Kelly wants to do costs money and threatens the budget—and possibilities of tax cuts.
***
Luckily for the governor and Legislature, there appears to be no dramatic catastrophe that requires first-week action by state government, no bridge collapse, no wildfire, no flooding. But the less-headlined issues ranging from care for children to school funding and health care for the poor are looming and will require administration/legislative action this session. Defining the problems will be the key to solutions, and those definitions and their costs are going to be the major issues for the session.
By week’s end, the dissection of Kelly’s budget will have started in both chambers, with her new Cabinet expected to have its input and changes to recommend. And, some issues, such as care for jeopardized children, don’t appear to have simple solutions because of the complexity of the agencies designed to protect them.
***
Much of what happens in this first dance will be under-the-covers, not generally reported and practically more complicated than most Kansans who have jobs to perform and families and children to provide for will notice. But those complex internal issues will impact just how the state provides for us.
For example, the House will this week adopt rules for the upcoming two years.
Rules? That’s a big deal? Sure, there’s no smoking or drinking in the House chamber, and you must be polite and not interfere with democracy. Behave.
But there are provisions—like whether sponsors of bills have to be named, or whether bills can be introduced by a committee, or whether committees will keep track of votes on amendments and such—that aren’t in writing and may or may not be.
Then there’s the big rule dealing with bills that make appropriations, and how they can be amended during floor debate. Now, if a House member wants to spend more money on something than the House Appropriations Committee approved, that member must propose cuts somewhere in the bill to keep its price tag at committee-approved levels…if the state’s general fund ending balance for the year is less than 7.5%.
We’ll see how that works out, and while it is not likely to spark dinner-table discussions in most homes in Kansas—we hope—it is a major decision that will influence deciding how to spend your tax money, and on what.
***
So, we probably have a couple or three weeks of debate ahead, generally not committed to legislation, about just where the state is going to head for the first year or two of the Kelly/Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers administration, and just how cooperative or combative the Legislature is going to be.
A couple House floor votes on Kelly-sought bills and we will have an idea about how state government is going to work for us.
Because, recall, state government works for us…
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com
SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department (WPD) has identified the man fatally wounded in an officer involved shooting on January 10, as 29-year-old Geoffrey Morris of Wichita. Morris died of his injuries on Saturday, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Morris-photo KDOC
Just after 1 p.m. that day two police officers and a Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) employee working with the enforcement apprehension unit, attempted to arrest Morris in the parking lot of the Sedgwick County Corrections Office, 905 N. Main. The officers knew Morris to be armed and dangerous.
Multiple warrants existed for Morris including for three counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery; intentional bodily harm with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault; use of a deadly weapon. The second for aggravated assault; use of a deadly weapon and attempted theft of property or services.
Officer nearly hit by Morris in the red vehicle-photo courtesy Wichita Police
Morris also had traffic warrants out of Newton and Wichita. In one case, Morris pointed a handgun and threatened loss prevention employees to avoid apprehension. In another case, Morris entered a home armed with a handgun along with other armed suspects. Morris and the other suspects battered three males in the home and a shot was fired. Property was stolen and they and fled.
The officers made multiple previous attempts to have Morris turn himself in peacefully. The officers were conducting follow-up on Morris and believed he may arrive at approximately 1 p.m. at the Sedgwick County Corrections Office with his 26-year-old girlfriend.
The Officers observed Morris arrive driving a red 2008 Ford Focus and park in a parking stall. His girlfriend exited the vehicle and entered the Corrections Office. The KDOC employee pulled behind the suspect vehicle and the two WPD Officers parked an unmarked vehicle and approached the front of the vehicle. The officers drew their handguns and gave verbal instructions for Morris to exit the vehicle.
Morris refused to exit the vehicle, reversed the vehicle forcefully ramming the KDOC vehicle and then pulled forward turning toward a WPD officer on the driver’s side of the vehicle, almost striking him. The two WPD officers fired multiple shots toward the suspect vehicle, striking Morris multiple times.
Morris drove the vehicle over a parking block, into a metal pole in the parking lot, into a concrete pillar, crossed Main Street and struck a concrete fence on the east side of Main. Morris was transported to an area hospital in critical condition for medical treatment. A WPD officer received minor injuries to his arm while removing Morris from the vehicle, after the crash. Morris was in possession of a handgun, and officers determined the tag on the Focus was reported stolen in Sedgwick County.
The WPD officer’s involved are a 13-year-veteran and a 5-year-veteran of the department. Both officers are part of the WPD Violent Crimes Task Force, focusing on arresting the most violent offenders. The continued proactive work of this task force has helped reduce shootings in Wichita and keep citizens safe. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
Lagerald Vick scored 21 points, Marcus Garrett added a career-high 20, and No. 7 Kansas held on to beat Texas 80-78 on Monday night when Jase Febres’ 3 at the buzzer missed wide
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Lagerald Vick scored 21 points, Marcus Garrett added a career-high 20, and No. 7 Kansas held on to beat Texas 80-78 on Monday night when Jase Febres’ 3-pointer at the buzzer never came close.
Dedric Lawson added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Jayhawks (15-2, 4-1 Big 12), who blew a 10-point second-half lead before escaping with their 10th straight win over the Longhorns.
The game was tied at 73 when Lawson made a pair of foul shots. Texas big man Dylan Osetkowski was forced into a jump ball at the other end to give Kansas possession again, and Vick knocked down a 3 from the wing with 1:31 left in the game to give the Jayhawks a cushion.
The teams swapped empty possessions and Texas (10-7, 2-3) was forced to foul Lawson, who missed the second of two free throws. The Longhorns pulled down the rebound and Courtney Ramey buried a 3-pointer to get them within 79-78 with 8.9 seconds left in the game.
They quickly fouled Garrett, a 64-percent foul shooter, and he made the second of two free throws to give the Longhorns a chance. But after racing the ball up floor, they settled for a contested 3 from Febres that clanked harmlessly off the side of the rim.
Matt Coleman II had 16 point to lead five Texas players in double-figures scoring. Kerwin Roach II added 13, Febres had 12 and Osetkowski finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Longhorns led 40-38 at halftime, but how the teams got there was wildly different.
Kansas played the first 20 minutes without committing a single turnover, got the ball in transition but struggled at the foul line, where the Jayhawks were just 2 of 7 in the half.
Texas knocked down eight 3-pointers and dominated on the glass.
But it was the Jayhawks who heated up beyond the arc to open the second half, knocking down four in the opening minutes to retake the lead. Vick curled in a pair, one off a nifty feed in front of his bench, and Kansas eventually stretched its lead to 57-45 with 11 1/2 minutes to play.
Febres made it interesting in the closing minutes.
The Jayhawks still led 71-64 when the Longhorns’ sophomore sharpshooter knocked down a 3-pointer. He added another after a jump ball at the other end, then hit a third in succession to answer Lawson’s bucket and pull Texas into a 73-all tie with 2:16 remaining in the game.
Kansas had opportunities to put the game away with free throws, but Lawson and Garrett missed key attempts down the stretch, and the Jayhawks finished just 11 of 21 from the line.
BIG PICTURE
Texas lost for the first time in seven games when it hit at least 10 3-pointers, going 13 of 34 from beyond the arc. The Longhorns also had an advantage on the glass, but they were unable to make defensive stops when they needed to in the closing minutes.
Kansas only committed four turnovers in the game, and an 11-of-22 clip from beyond the arc helped to mitigate the Longhorns’ long-range shooting. Freshman forward Ochai Agbaji, who had his redshirt removed a week ago, continued to contribute with four points in 25 minutes.
UP NEXT
Texas returns home to face Oklahoma on Saturday night.
RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two teens in connection with an armed robbery.
Grant-photo Reno Co.
According to police, two victims reported they were robbed at gunpoint just before 9p.m. Saturday in the 600 Block of North Star in Hutchinson.
One of the victims told police that 18-year-old Caleb Grant held a gun to his neck and threatened to kill him if he moved. The suspects allegedly took a cell phone, cash and a backpack.
Police arrested Grant who is from Wichita and he is jailed on a $26,500 bond. Police also arrested Destiny Hippen of Hutchinson and took her to juvenile intake.
Grant also faces a probation violation where he was convicted of assault last year which also involved a handgun.
There may also be a third suspect who has yet to be arrested, according to police.
