LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Court documents say a former volunteer volleyball coach at the University of Kansas stole dozens of pairs of underwear from players and catalogued them in labeled plastic storage containers.
Yee -photo courtesy University of Kansas Athletiecs
Police affidavit released Wednesday says that a search of 23-year-old Skyler Yee’s home uncovered a 40-drawer clear plastic storage container. Drawers with underwear tucked inside were labeled with the names of current and former university players and one member of an under-18 volleyball league that he coached. The search also yielded other storage containers, shoes, bras and sex toys from “unidentified owners.”
Yee was charged this month with 15 counts, including burglary and theft. He resigned last month from his university coaching duties. Defense attorney Casey Meek said previously that Yee maintains his innocence.
Elton Earl Beougher, 78, Hays, died Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019 at HaysMed.
He was born March 22, 1940 in Gove, Kansas, the son of Merlyn E. and Vivian V. (Smith) Beougher. He married Cecile Nola LaSalle on Aug. 21, 1960. She preceded him in death. He later married Wendy Morton on Sept. 30, 1994.
Elton graduated from Gove Consolidated Grade School in 1953, Gove Rural High School in 1957, Fort Hays State University in 1961 (BS) and 1964 (MS) and the University of Michigan in 1968 (PhD). He also attended Kansas State University and Winona State University in Michigan.
Elton taught junior and senior high school in Winona, Kansas, 1961-1964, senior high in Garden City, Kansas, 1964-1965, and college mathematics at Fort Hays State University, 1968-2000. He was a proud Tiger and proud of his association with FHSU. Elton served professionally as president and treasurer of the Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics and chairman of the Kansas Section and Kansas Governor of the Mathematical Association of Mathematics.
Elton became a member of the Methodist Church in 1952 and accepted Christ as his personal savior in 1972. He served as a teacher and youth leader on many committees, drove the bus for the Kid’s Club, played in the Handbell Choir and sang in the Chancel Choir. He was an early member of the group Crossroads and had a passion for its music ministry.
Elton enjoyed history and nothing more than a day on the prairie with his metal detector. He was a past president of the Smoky Hill Trail Association and served on the board of historic Fort Hays for many years. Hunting, fishing, and traveling were his interests. He worked crosswords daily but gave up Sudoku after he constructed an algorithm to solve the puzzles. He read physics books for fun.
Elton’s family was dear to his heart. He is survived by his wife Wendy, daughter Tracea Collins and husband Alan and grandchildren Alexis and Robyn, son Timothy and wife Ronda and grandchildren Shelbie (Jason), Courtney (Adrian), Laci, Josie, Luke, and Levi; also Chandler Morton and grandchildren Aidan and Mason and Jeremy Morton and wife Carmon and grandchildren Coby, Cole, and Will, brother Marvin and wife Marilea, two great-grandchildren Brooks and Graves, and many special nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Loren and sister-in-law JoAnn, a sister Ima Lee Heier, and his wife Cecile.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. Seventh St., Hays, with Rev. Michael Rose officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in the Gove Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays and from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Monday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the Hays First United Methodist Church or the Fort Hays State University Math Department for scholarships, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences and memories of Elton may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded the Do Not Drink Order for the Lane Co. Rural Water District 1 located in Lane County.
The Order took effect on February 18, 2019 due to a line break which placed the system at risk for bacteriological contamination. Laboratory testing samples collected from Lane Co. Rural Water District 1 indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacteriological contamination are deemed by KDHE to be resolved.
A Nitrate Advisory took effect on February 18, 2019 and will remain in effect until the secondary water source that is high in nitrate is no longer in use.
Until the Nitrate Advisory is rescinded the following steps should be observed:
DO NOT GIVE TAP WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.
Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.
ADULTS AND CHILDREN older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants because they can’t process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, if you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.
Only KDHE can rescind the Nitrate Advisory following testing at a certified laboratory.
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the Nitrate Advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
RENO COUNTY— Five people were arrested after a chase with Hutchinson police just before 4:30p..m Wednesday.
Clinton Smith -photo Butler Co. Jail
Lance Moody, 17, was taken into custody and faces possible charges of felony flee and elude, interference with law enforcement, and leaving the scene of an accident after the vehicle he was driving struck a parked vehicle during the chase in the 400 block of North Adams Street.
Four passengers in the vehicle — 21-year-old Clinton Smith, 23-year-old Zach Mountain, 21-year-old Richard Marshall and 19-year-old Nikkita Obrist were all arrested for interference with law enforcement when they fled the vehicle after the crash.
They are free on bond, according to online booking records.
JOHNSON COUNTY — Lenexa police reported Thursday they had identified the suspect in the alleged checkbook theft. The investigation continues, according to police. They released no additional details.
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JOHNSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged theft.
According to Wednesday afternoon social media report from Lenexa police, a victim accidentally left behind a checkbook on the store check-out counter.
Here’s the story: vic accidentally left her checkbook on the store counter. This shopper (suspect) picks it up and rather than turning it in to the clerk, stuffs it into her purse (theft of lost or mislaid property). If you can help us ID this suspect, DM or call 913-825-8097 pic.twitter.com/P3tHwWeKEq
The shopper(suspect) in the security camera video picks it up, and rather than turning it in to the clerk, stuffs it into a purse. This is a theft of lost or mislaid property, according to police.
If you can help ID this suspect and the victim, send a direct message to Lenexa Police or call 913-825-8097.
Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Rural state lawmakers are pushing a plan to allow the Kansas Farm Bureau to offer health insurance coverage to members without having to comply with federal Affordable Care Act mandates in hopes that the influential agriculture group can offer a lower-cost product.
But the proposal is drawing strong criticism from Democrats and health groups because the Farm Bureau would not be required to cover people with pre-existing medical conditions. The Farm Bureau also would face relatively little regulation, and critics of the bill worry that the group could lure healthy individuals away from other, more-regulated plans, making them less affordable.
The state Senate approved the bill Wednesday on a 28-11 vote , sending it to the House. The bill’s support came mostly from Republicans, who see it as an opportunity to give consumers a choice after spikes in health insurance rates that they blame on the 2010 federal health overhaul championed by former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
The Kansas bill also was inspired by a long-standing law in Tennessee and new ones in Iowa and Nebraska.
“The goal has been stated many times, to increase the number of Kansans with coverage,” said state Sen. Elaine Bowers, a Concordia Republican. “Let’s allow Farm Bureau members across the state to help reach these people, who find the ACA plans unaffordable.”
The bill would allow the Kansas Farm Bureau to provide “benefit coverage” to members and their dependents to cover their health costs.
While its coverage might work like health insurance, the measure, like the Iowa law enacted last year, declares that the coverage “shall not be considered insurance.” That would effectively exempt it from federal mandates and most state insurance regulations.
Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, a Republican, have not yet taken a public position on the legislation.
The Kansas Farm Bureau has about 100,000 members, and the Senate vote was a testament to its political clout, particularly with rural Republicans. All but one GOP senator — Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican — supported the bill.
Farm Bureau officials said they expect about 42,000 people eventually to take its coverage if the law passes and that rates will be significantly lower than plans that comply with Affordable Care Act mandates. They said their coverage would be targeted to individuals who either have no coverage now or people who are struggling to find or pay for individual coverage.
Kansas has seen the number of individual coverage plans offered through the federal ACA marketplace decline to 23 for 2019 from 42 in 2016, according to the Kansas Insurance Department. While average rate increases for 2019 were smaller than in past years, they’ve sometimes previously topped 25 percent, according to the department’s annual reports .
House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said the bill has appeal among GOP lawmakers outside rural areas because, “a lot of people look at that as a free market thing, giving people choice.”
But Democrats noted that people don’t have to be farmers or work in agriculture to join the Farm Bureau, only pay a $50 annual membership fee. Also, the bill requires only that Farm Bureau file a certified statement of its coverage plan’s reserves annually with the Kansas Insurance Department.
And they honed in on how Farm Bureau would be able to set higher rates or reject coverage for people who have pre-existing medical conditions, a feature of the Iowa law . Groups including the American Diabetes Association, the Cancer Action Network and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society have opposed the bill for that reason.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, proposed an amendment to require the Farm Bureau’s plan to cover pre-existing conditions. But it was voted down, 24-15 , with Republicans arguing that such a requirement would eliminate the flexibility Farm Bureau needs to offer an affordable product.
“Consumers with pre-existing conditions will almost certainly surely be turned away or offered excessive prices,” said Sen. Tom Hawk, a Democrat from Manhattan, where the Kansas Farm Bureau has its headquarters.
RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a Kansas murder trial and have made an arrest.
Samantha Bland is being held in Laredo, Texas-photo Courtesy Webb Co. Sheriff
On Tuesday, Bland was arrested in Texas on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated intimidation of a witness who testified against her brother Steven Meredith during the January preliminary hearing for murder, according to Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson.
The judge found sufficient evidence for Meredith of Junction City to stand trial in the killing of a confidential drug informant 48-year-old Carrie Jones. Her body was found by deer hunters in rural Riley County.
During the preliminary hearing, witnesses testified that Meredith believed Jones might reveal information about him and others in a 2013 drug case.
One witness testified that Meredith told her that he and another man drove Jones to a field, forced her to get out of the vehicle and then shot her.
Bland remains jailed in Webb County Texas on a $125,000 bond. Meredith was arrested almost a year after Jones’ body was found in October 2017.
BARTON COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Wednesday in Barton County
A 2001 Sterling trash truck driven by Charles Feist, 54, was eastbound in the 1100 block of Northwest 40 Road just southeast of Albert, according to the Barton County Sheriff. The driver fell asleep at the wheel.
The truck traveled off the road, struck a bridge rail and overturned. Feist was transported to the hospital in Great Bend for his injuries.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, Albert Fire Department, and Great Bend EMS at the scene.
Leslie Engel, BSN, RN-WCC and Michelle Weigel LPN CHT WCC successfully passed the national board certification exam in wound care.
The certification is awarded by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy.The certification certifies the recipients have completed coursework in evidence-based, wound care management and treatment strategies based on national standards.
Engle works as a case manager in the wound center, directing and managing care of the patients alongside the providers.Weigel is a certified hyperbaric technician.Both have been HaysMed associates for eight years.
Overland Property Group plans to redevelop the former Washington Elementary School, 305 Main, and construct income-qualified housing. As part of the process to apply for federal tax credits through the Kansas Housing Resources Corp., Overland Property Group must request a Resolution of Support from the local governing body.
The Hays city commission will consider that request during their work session tonight.
Other agenda items for review include a recommended bid award for a new double-drum compactor roller in the Service Division. The bid from Murphy Tractor and Equipment is for $34,445.91. The equipment would be used by the Service Division for asphalt street patching, overlays and repairs.
Finance Director Kim Rupp will also discuss the annual Comprehensive Financial Management Policy Review.
The complete Feb. 21. agenda is available here. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
