TOPEKA —An investigation by the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) has led to criminal charges in Shawnee County against a former Topeka Correctional Facility dental instructor for inappropriate conduct involving female inmates.
Tomas Co -photo Oklahoma Co. Sheriff
Tomas Co, 73, was returned from Oklahoma to Kansas Friday and charged by the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office with seven counts of unlawful sexual relations, according to a media release from the KDOC.
He has bonded out of the Shawnee County Jail, according to online jail records.
A KDOC employee since 2013, Co was responsible for the inmate training and employment program designed to teach inmates to produce dental prosthetics. He had supervised up to 16 inmates assigned to the program. He was released from employment at the Topeka Correctional Facility in December 2018.
Following the department’s investigation by its Enforcement, Apprehension and Investigation Unit, the investigation report was forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office.
“We will cooperate fully with the prosecution of this case,” said Corrections Secretary Roger Werholtz.
Topeka Correctional Facility, the state’s only correctional facility for women, has a population of 955.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Albert Pujols opened the weekend by passing Lou Gehrig on the career RBIs list and ended it by moving past Barry Bonds.
Pujols’ go-ahead, two-run double in the first inning Sunday started the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-3 win over the Kansas City Royals.
He pulled a fastball from Homer Bailey (2-3) just past third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez. Pujols has 1,997 RBIs and trails only Hank Aaron (2,297) and Alex Rodriguez (2,086) in RBIs, which became an official statistic in 1920.
Pujols did not speak with reporters after the game.
“He’s had an unbelievable career,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “He continues to add onto it.”
Matt Harvey (1-2) got his first win with the Angels, allowing one run and two hits in seven innings.
“I thought he picked up where he left off in his last inning of his last outing,” Ausmus said. “He was aggressive. He attacked the hitters. His stuff was good. He threw some really good changeups and curveballs.”
Harvey lowered his ERA from 8.03 to 6.54 as the Angels won a road series for the first time this season.
“The big thing was putting together a decent start from the last outing. I was trying to keep that going. The thought crept into my head early this morning,” Harvey said. “I used that as energy to stay focused and keep my attention. I wasn’t striking out the world, but the guys were making plays behind me. I knew, especially with the wind blowing in, that I could attack the zone.”
The key pitches for Harvey were improved changeups and curveballs. Pitching coach Doug White has cautioned Harvey not to overuse his slider.
“For him to stay on me about the changeup and the curveball and going through the drills we do in between starts has been huge,” Harvey said.
Kansas City’s Alex Gordon, who faced Harvey in the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets, said the 30-year-old right-hander “kind of looked like the Matt Harvey of old.”
Bailey gave up six hits to his first 13 batters and retired his final 10. He allowed four runs in six innings as the Royals dropped to an AL-worst 9-19.
“I thought Homer didn’t have his best stuff today, but really grinded it out, really competed and really battled through it to get us six good innings,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.
Tommy LaStella’s RBI groundout in the first and Andrelton Simmons’ RBI single in the third boosted the lead to 4-0.
“Soft singles, but singles nonetheless,” Bailey said. “Then Albert’s ball, if that’s 6 inches the other way it’s a double play. That’s just the way it goes with good hitters.”
Kansas City scored in the fourth without a hit when Alex Gordon reached on a wild pitch as he struck out, advanced on a walk, took third on a flyout and came home on Jorge Soler’s sacrifice fly.
Hunter Dozier’s RBI single off Ty Buttrey in the eighth cut the Royals’ deficit to 4-2. Justin Bour hit a three-run home run in the ninth against Ben Lively.
MOVES
Angels: Optioned RHP Jaime Barria to Triple-A Salt Lake and recalled RHP John Curtiss.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: OF/RHP Shohei Ohtani continues to improve in his return from Tommy John surgery, taking batting practice each day. Manager Brad Ausmus would not say when he might be ready to hit in a game.
Royals: OF Billy Hamilton was out of the lineup with right hamstring tightness, a day after leaving in the fifth inning.
UP NEXT
Angels: Los Angeles plans to bring up top pitching prospect Griffin Canning to start Tuesday at Toronto in his major league debut. The 22-year-old right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.56 ERA at Salt Lake, allowing one earned run in 16 innings with 17 strikeouts and two walks. “I think we’ve always liked the stuff,” manager Brad Aumus said. “There’s been a little caution because of the limited time in the professional ranks, and of course, the pitch count, which we addressed by sending him to Arizona to get up to 90 pitches.”
Royals: RHP Brad Keller (2-2) starts Monday against Tampa Bay after serving a five-game suspension for hitting Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox with a pitch April 17.
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Three runs and seven hits were not enough for the Fort Hays State baseball team to keep up with Central Missouri Sunday with the Mules pulling away to win the series finale 13-3. The Tigers (4-37, 2-28 MIAA) tied things up at 1-1 in the third inning before Central Missouri (32-12, 22-8) scored 12 runs over its final four at bats.
After the Mules took an early lead in the first inning, three consecutive singles from Bryce Baumwart, Jared Maneth and Marcus McDaniel loaded the bases in the third. Caleb Egan kept things rolling with another base knock, plating Baumwart to tie things up at 1-1 before UCM starting pitcher Luke Lucas (4-0) got out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.
Central Missouri got things going in the fourth, pushing across four runs then added four more in the fifth and seventh innings. The Tigers closed within 9-3 in the top of the seventh after Baumwart worked a one-out walk. Maneth followed with a double into the right field corner before McDaniel plated a run with an RBI groundout. Cody Starkel drove in another run with a double down the left field line two batters later, but the rally came to a close with another strikeout.
Tanner Smith (0-5) took the loss for the Tigers, surrendering nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits while striking out four over five frames. Maneth was the lone Tiger to collect multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with a run.
The Tigers will return to Larks Park next weekend (May 3-5) to wrap up the regular season against Pittsburg State. The series is set to begin at 7 p.m. Friday before a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday and a noon season finale Sunday.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has received a nearly $12 million federal grant to research challenges connected with rural drug abuse in the Midwest.
Kirk Dombrowski, professor of sociology at Nebraska, will lead the university’s new Rural Drug Addiction Research Center.
The five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health will fund a research initiative called the Rural Drug Addiction Center. Researchers will track 600 rural drug users in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.
Nebraska has seen a drastic jump in its drug overdose rate in recent years. The issue is complicated by a trend among the state’s drug users who are often addicted to a combination of substances. It’s an understudied phenomenon that’s been seen in other Midwestern states.
The program’s leader, Kirk Dombrowski, says current drug addiction treatment focuses on brain chemistry, but understanding social patterns of abuse can lead to new treatments.
COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of thefts and burglaries and have a suspect in custody.
Trevor Scott Brown-photo Cowley County
Police began taking burglary and theft reports on April 11 mainly in an area extending eastward from the East Chestnut Avenue bridge over the Walnut River. The reports ranged from the theft of golf carts and all-terrain vehicles to vehicle burglaries, according to a media release.
ACPD immediately identified the spike in crime in this area due, in part, to crime tracking software.
Patrol shifts began tackling the problem with increased physical presence and door-to-door crime prevention education. Bicycle officers also were deployed to the area as part of this increased presence.
ACPD’s investigations division began looking at the area and quickly identified a person of interest.
Trevor Scott Brown, 23, of Arkansas City, was arrested for a revoked bond. He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield with no bond through Cowley County District Court in Arkansas City.
Brown, had been arrested in January for similar crimes that occurred between October 2018 to January 2019 in the west part of Arkansas City. Brown was arrested Monday on an unrelated charge. At the time of his arrest, information was gathered that helped with this ongoing investigation.
Investigators later interviewed Brown at the county jail. At that time, detectives were able to gather direct information about all of the crimes in that area and locations to check for property that was stolen.
A majority of the stolen property since has been recovered.
During the course of the ACPD investigation, information surfaced connecting Brown to other crimes in Cowley County. Investigators worked closely with the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office to assist it in the investigation of those crimes.
The cases, which involved 12 residential victims and one business owner was forwarded to the Cowley County Attorney’s Office for consideration of additional burglary and theft charges.
Kaytee Wisley, a junior in Fort Hays State University’s Honors College, was recently selected as a Truman Scholarship finalist.
Wisley, majoring in political science, is originally from Wichita, where she went to high school at Wichita Southeast High School.
The Truman scholarship, recognized as the most prestigious nationally competitive scholarship in the United States for those seeking a career in public service, awards $30,000 to just 60 students every year.
“Only about 25 percent of the 900 applicants are selected as finalists, putting Kaytee in a very elite group,” said Dr. Lexey Bartlett, associate professor of English and Nationally Competitive Scholarships coach for FHSU.
“I was truly honored to represent FHSU in this highly competitive process, and I am really thankful for the support across campus that I received to become a finalist,” said Wisley.
“Dr. Bartlett mentored me throughout the entire process from writing my essays to organizing mock interviews, and I could not be more thankful for her help and the time she invested in me,” she said.
“The application process is rigorous and intensive. Truman finalists often go on to distinguished careers in public service due to the prestige of the scholarship’s name,” said Bartlett. “This is a huge honor for FHSU and demonstrates that Honors College students can be competitive at a national level with the best and brightest students across the country.”
“The opportunity encouraged me to think very critically about what my future career goals are and how pursuing graduate school would help me reach those goals. It also gave me the opportunity to meet an amazing group of fellow finalists who inspired me with the work they had done in their communities,” said Wisley.
“Though the interview process was extremely scary, I think it prepared me well for future interviews for graduate school, internships and job opportunities.”
Wisley plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy. After obtaining her master’s, she would then like to work in a local government advocating for better distribution of community services like mental health care and other social support services.
Dorothy Viola Sekavec, age 93, passed away on April 26, 2019 at Cedar Village in Ness City, Kansas. She was born on May 5, 1925 in Bazine, Kansas the daughter of Alex and Elizabeth Stieben Ehrlich.
On July 10, 1943 she married Harvey Sekavec in Bazine. To this union, four sons were born. Dorothy was a faithful and lifelong member of St. Paul’s Congregational Church of Bazine, where she sang in the choir and worked with the Ladies Aid. Dorothy was a homemaker and always ready to lend a helping hand and she enjoyed doing things for her family and others.
Her parents preceded her in death as did her husband, Harvey on June 6, 2002. She is survived by her sons, Dale and his wife, Brenda, of Garden City, Ron and his wife, Linda, of Ness City, Marvin and his wife, Twylia, of Brownell, and Gerald and his wife, Judy, of Hays; six grandsons, Matthew, Daniel, Caleb, Michael, Jeremy, and Christopher and 13 great grandchildren, Kaden, Macon, Onna, Valerie, Brendon, Christian, Taylor, Riley, Ellie, Brynlie, Jace, Noah, and Aubrey.
Funeral service will be on Friday, May 3, 2019, 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Congregational Church, Bazine. Burial in the Bazine Cemetery. Viewing will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul’s Congregational Church, Bazine.
Surrounded by loving family and friends, Donna Lee Stanton passed away peacefully into the open arms of Jesus on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. She was born November 5, 1932, in Ransom, Kansas, the daughter of Mike W. and Betty (Herren) Tuggle.
Donna moved to Stanton County when she was five years old. She married Lyndell Stanton on November 8, 1949, in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Donna was a farm wife, baker and dispatcher. She worked alongside her husband on the farm for many years. She had a huge garden and spent many hours canning; sharing her good fortune with friends and family. Donna was a baker in the Johnson Co-op bakery, and served as a dispatcher for the Stanton County Sheriff Department. However; music was Donna’s passion. She played for many school music contests, weddings, funerals, graduations, and for many other functions. She was always ready to play the organ. Donna played the organ almost every Sunday at the Methodist Church in Manter where she was a longtime member. Donna was a past member of Eastern Star.
She is survived by her son, Greg Stanton and wife Mary of Dayton, Ohio; daughter, Pam Caldwell and husband Skip of Scott City; brothers, Tom Tuggle and wife Barb of Green Valley, Arizona, and John Tuggle and wife Jaime of Corpus Christi, Texas; nine grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Donna is preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Ruby Tuggle; husband, Lyndell; sons, Rodney, Tommy and Bryce; and grandson, Diren Hill.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 6, 2019, at the United Methodist Church in Manter, Kansas, with Pastor Mary Courtney officiating. Interment will follow at the Stanton County Cemetery in Johnson, Kansas. Friends may call from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at Garnand Funeral Home in Johnson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Donna Stanton Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, Kansas 67855.
Laura Lorraine Moreland, daughter of Guy and Jessie (Eatherton) Jackson, was born March 3, 1944, and passed away at the Harlan County Hospital in Alma, Nebraska, on April 26, 2019, at the age of 75.
Laura grew up in Almena, Kansas. On July 1, 1961, she married Russell “Salty” Moreland in Norton, Kansas. They made their home in Oxford, Wood River and Orleans, Nebraska where they raised their family. Laura served as the Executive Director for the Orleans Housing Authority. Her husband, Salty, passed away October 15, 2007.
Laura dearly loved her family, especially her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed her work at the housing authority and helping the patrons with their activities.
Survivors include: three daughters, Becky, and her husband, Greg Goedert, Orleans; Barb, and her husband, Dennis Gardner, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Brenda Kuhl, Orleans; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three brothers and three sisters.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE AND INTERMENT – Monday, April 29, 2019—2:00 p.m.
PLACE – Mt. Hope Cemetery – Almena, KS
MEMORIAL – Laura Moreland Memorial Fund
Darrel J. Ruzicka, 61, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Darrell was born to George and Willa (Snider) Ruzicka on August 14, 1957 in Oberlin, Kansas. He attended the Oberlin Schools graduating from Decatur Community High School with the class of 1975.
Darrel worked at Raye’s Grocery Store for fourteen years. He loved to travel and traveled all over the United States. He rode his bicycle from Oberlin to the East Coast. While living on the East Coast, Darrel had a job planting trees. He saw and did many interesting things during his travels.
Darrel is survived by his parents, George and Willa Ruzicka of Oberlin, Kansas; daughter, Patricia Chitwood of Onalaska, Wisconsin; Grandson, Xavier Chitwood of Onalaska, Wisconsin; niece, Lacey Johnson of Tok, Alaska; nephews, Zeke Ruzicka of Oberlin, Kansas, Zach Ruzicka of Oberlin, Kansas, Derek Morel of LasVegas, Nevada, Levi Johnson of Valdez, Alaska, Wade Johnson of Tok, Alaska; Christopher Ruzicka of Hastings, Nebraska, and Scotty B. Ruzicka of San Clemente, California; three Great-Nieces and four Great-Nephews.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Doyle Ruzicka and Dennis Ruzicka; sister, Georganne Johnson; and grandparents, Gerald and Christina Snider, and Joseph and Emma Ruzicka.
A Graveside Service for family and friends is being planned for a later date at the Big Timber Cemetery, Jennings, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the Darrel J. Ruzicka Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, Kansas 67749. Online condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
Theresa Marie (Dinkel) Giebler, age 86 of Hays, Kansas passed on April 25, 2019 at Hays Medical Center. She was born July 24, 1932 in Emmeram,KS the oldest of ten children, to Anthony and Alvina (Stecklein) Dinkel. She graduated from Girls Catholic High School in 1950. She married James E. Giebler on September 4, 1951.
As a young woman she worked at Saint Anthony Hospital as a CNA for 13 years, in charge of the Polio Ward and on the Pediatric Ward. She worked for 31 years in dentistry with Dr. Edmund, Dr. Glover and Dr. Hallagin as an assistant and receptionist, then becoming the office manager until retirement. Much of her retirement years were dedicated to caring for her husband.
Her Catholic faith was very important to her along with the devotion to the Rosary. She was a lifetime member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. She was on the baking committee contributing her baked goods for funerals and dinners.
Her most joy in life was her family, immediate and extended. Each year, each child, relative and friend received a birthday card. Holidays and any other occasion to gather were cherished by her, to enjoy conversation and a meal. Her hobbies include embroidery along with watching KU basketball and KC Royals baseball.
She was preceded in death by her husband James E. Giebler, her parents, four brothers, infant Anthony Jr., Harold, Norman, and John Dinkel, four sisters, Elizabeth Hatfield, Rita Sander, Barbara Schoenberger and Charlene Rupp.
She is survived by eight children, Sheila Neuburger, Lawrence, KS; Pam Diehl and husband Steve, Wichita, KS; Greg Giebler and wife Laura, Esterville, Iowa; Steve Giebler and wife Debbie, Great Bend,KS; Rebecca Deatherage and husband David, Russell,KS; Deborah Fall and husband Scott, Hays, KS; Carma Chrisler and husband Chris, Hays, KS; James A. Giebler and wife Stacy, Westerville, Ohio; Her cherished 21 Grandchildren, 24 Great-grandchildren, 2 Great-great grandchildren, 4 Step-Grandchildren, 2 Step-Great-grandchildren and 1 Step Great-great grandchild and her sister Rosie Mermis, Olathe, KS
Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 1805 Vine Street in Hays. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Hays.
Visitation will be Monday 5 PM – 8 PM and Tuesday 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
A combined parish vigil service and rosary will be 7 PM Monday at the funeral chapel.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Katie Pelton, a FHSU graduate in ag business, shared chicks with students.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
The FHSU Ag Day on Thursday was not just an event for farmers, but had information about how everyone can relate to their environment and their food.
Alpha Gamma Rho, the FHSU ag fraternity, offered information about beef. The group offered pamphlets with beef recipes, a display identifying the cuts of beef and a poster listing an A-to-Z of beef products. It is not just steaks.
Casey Jensen, senior in ag business, said visitors seemed to be the most surprised that a beef product is used in making toilet paper.
Jensen, who is from Courtland, hopes to rejoin the family cattle ranching business after graduation.
A popular stop in the quad was the chicken table, which was hosting chicks.
Students could learn about row crops, such as wheat, at FHSU’s annual ag day on Thursday.
Katie Pelton, a FHSU graduate in ag business, grew up raising chickens, ducks, pigs, cattle, horses and other livestock on her parents’ farm in Colorado.
“I love agriculture, and I love advocating for agriculture,” she said.
Pelton was handing out candy — popular with the students. She noted items such as York Peppermint Patties or Three Musketeers contain eggs. Eggs are contained in may foods and eggs by themselves are a good source of protein.
Elissa Jensen, who is majoring in conservation ecology and natural resources, represented the FHSU Bee Club Thursday and was advocating for pollinators. The club gave away salvia plants, a nectar producing flower. The club has two hives on campus, which produced more than 60 pounds of honey last year.
Although bees sometimes are elusive, Jensen said the trees around campus are likely loaded with the insects at this time of year.
“Humans are the major factor behind the destruction of the bee population, sadly,” Jensen said.
Andrew Tucker, agronomy professor, exhibited ag technology, including a drone and sensor equipment that helps farmers better use their resources.
She encouraged people to plant bee-friendly flowers and if you spray your lawn or garden, try to do it in the early morning or evening when bees are less active. Also be mindful of the wind that can cause chemicals to drift.
Birds, bees and butterflies will also benefit from a water source, which can be as simply as a dog bowl set outside with a little bit of water in it.
Andrew Tucker, agronomy professor, was helping exhibit ag technology, including a drone and sensor equipment that helps farmers better use their resources.
A sensor attached to a drone can measure the photosynthetic capacity of crops. The drone is flown in a grid and creates a map with GPS coordinates. Areas that show up dark green are producing well, whereas light green, yellow or red areas are not producing as well. This allows farmers to adjust the amount of water or fertilizer they apply to certain portions of their crop.
“You use it where you need it. That way you are not concerned about getting nutrients in our groundwater supply that we don’t want there or have problems with runoff,” Tucker said. “It makes farmers more efficient and environmentally friendly.”
Companies flying surveys charge about $4 to $5 per acre, but a farmer can save an average of 25 pounds of nitrogen per acre. If the price of nitrogen is 40 cents per pound, that is a $10 savings per acre. That still amounts to a $5 to $6 per acre net savings for the producers.
Sigma Alpha, FHSU ag sorority, manned a display on farm safety.
Sigma Alpha, FHSU ag sorority, manned a display on farm safety. Common accidents on the farm are the result of grain bin entrapment and equipment rollovers.
“We are trying to talk about accidents and how to prevent them and overall safety on the farm,” said Jenna Berkgren of the sorority.
Between 2012 and 2017, 11 percent of all U.S. farms experienced an accident.
The Block and Bridle Club had a display that included cows and horse stomachs.
The Block and Bridle Club had a display illustrating cow and horse digestion. This included preserved specimens of the livestocks’ multi-chamber stomachs. The students used yeast, sugar water and hay on a hot plate to exhibit the process in ruminant system.
