Deputies on the scene of the Pyle Street arrest Friday photo Barton Co. Sheriff
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on drug charges in Great Bend.
Just before 7 a.m. Friday the Barton County Sheriff’s Office began executing a series of search warrants in the City of Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir. These warrants were the result of several weeks of investigation conducted by Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Warrants were executed in three locations, 2218 Jefferson, 2811 Meadowlark and 1100 Pyle. Four persons were arrested on various charges.
Sharr Hamby age 35 of Great Bend was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, violation of registered offender act (drugs), possession of drug paraphernalia and giving false information. Hamby’s bond is set at $40000.00. She was taken into custody at the Meadowlark address. Hamby was out on bond on a previous drug case. The bond in that case has been revoked and a no bond warrant has been issued.
Deputies arrested Joshua Frydendall, age 28 of Great Bend at 1100 Pyle Street on two District Court warrants for parole violation. He is being held with no bond.
Larissa Richards, 31 of Great Bend was also arrested at the Pyle St. address and requrested charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a firearm and defacing identifying marks of a firearm. Richards is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Richards photo Barton Co.Roads photo Barton Co.
Kashe Roda, age 30 of Great Bend was arrested for distribution of methamphetamine. Roda was in the Barton County Jail on an unrelated charge when he was arrested. He was booked in on July 11, for a parole violation. The current distribution charge stems from investigations prior to the 11. Roda is being held on the no bond parole violation as well as an additional $100,000 bond for the distribution case.
As the investigation continues and information is developed, we will pursue any investigation of co-conspirators or others involved. Further arrests may develop.
ABILENE — A two-time state champion tennis player and former Fort Hays State University tennis coach, Michael Willey has been named to replace longtime Cowboy coach Mike Jantz at Abilene High School.
Jantz retired from his teaching and coaching responsibilities at the end of the just completed school year.
Willey, who has been Jantz’s assistant coach for the past several years, earned his Kansas State championships in the early 90s playing doubles with Jordy Canfield white attending Abilene High School. Willey and Canfield qualified for the state tournament three times during their high school career, earning gold their final two seasons. During his junior campaign, the Cowboys won the Class 4A State Team Title.
Upon graduation from AHS, Willey played tennis while attending Bethany College. He later transferred to Fort Hays State University to get his college degree.
Willey was named the Fort Hays State University women’s assistant tennis coach upon completion of his degree and spent almost four years at that position. He next moved to Hays High School to be in charge of the boys and girls tennis program, a post he held for the next four years.
Eventually, Willey accepted an elementary PE teaching position back in his home town of Abilene and he returned to coaching as he worked with head coach Garry Stredney, who had been his high school coach, and Jantz as they continued the winning tradition of Cowboy tennis.
“I am really excited to come in and take over a program that I have been associated with for the last 15 years,” Willey said. “I am looking forward to continuing Abilene’s long tradition of winning the North Central Kansas League.
“We have the streak going winning the NCKL and we are going to try to keep that going,” Willey added. “We are going to be a little young this coming year in tennis but I expect big things here coming down the line.”
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Missouri man has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for kidnapping and raping a Kansas sheriff’s deputy.
Luth and Newman-Caddell
Brady Newman-Caddell, of Independence, was sentenced Friday. He pleaded guilty last year to rape, kidnapping and sodomy.
William Luth, of Blue Springs, Missouri, was sentenced last year to more than 41 years in prison for his role in the crime.
Prosecutors said the two men kidnapped the Johnson County deputy in October 2016. They forced her into a car and took turns raping and sodomizing her before eventually releasing her.
They were also charged in the February 2016 rape of an Independence woman.
Luth pleaded guilty in that case and was sentenced in January to 30 years. The case against Newman-Caddell in the Missouri case is pending.
DOUGLAS COUNTY — Crews recovered the body of 13-year-old Jaylon Harris-Jordan from Clinton Lake on Friday morning, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
First responders on the scene of the water rescue photo by Grant Stephens courtesy WIBW TV
He had been playing in the water east of the Clinton Outlet with others when he went under. Crews recovered the body not far from where he went under on Thursday evening.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY — First responders will continue the search Friday morning for a 13-year-old boy from Lawrence who is missing in the water near the Clinton Lake Outlet, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities responded to the lake Thursday evening for a water rescue. The search was underway in an area where the water is released from the lake and the water was moving very rapidly, according to Sgt. Kristen Channel with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. The search that was suspended just after 9:30p.m.
The sheriff’s department released no additional details late Thursday.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an unusual traffic stop.
Hammersmith photo Saline County
Just after 11a.m. Thursday, a police officer was southbound on Roach Street when he noticed a significant back up of traffic at the intersection of Roach and Cloud, according to Captain Paul Forrester.
The officer went around the backed up traffic to find 23-year-old Cooper Hammersmith sleeping at the wheel of his Chrysler 300.
Forrester said Hammersmith was not cooperative and after being placed in handcuffs, a search of the car turned up 26 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and cough syrup.
Hammrsmith was taken into custody on requested charges of possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, no tax stamp, DUI, and illegal stopping on a roadway.
He has six previous convictions that include drugs and a DUI, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
AUGUSTA – The Hays Larks will open Kansas Collegiate League Baseball postseason play Saturday against the McPherson Pipeliners.
The Larks finished the regular season 29-8 and tied for first in the Jayhawk West Division with Liberal at 10-6. But the Bee Jays claimed the regular season title via tiebreaker. Liberal was 26-12 on the season.
As division champions, the Bee Jays have secured a spot in the KCLB championship series against the winner of the South-Central Division champions, the Kansas Cannons. Both teams also qualified for championship week of the NBC World Series in Wichita, Aug. 1 to 10.
The Larks, Dodge City, Wellington and McPherson will have to fight it out for the final league’s final spot at the NBC.
They will play in a four-team, double-elimination league tournament starting Saturday in Augusta.
Wellington and Dodge City will play at 2 p.m. with the Larks and McPherson at 7 p.m.
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly appointed Earl Lewis as Director of the Kansas Water Office.
“Earl has proven to be a skilled and knowledgeable leader when it comes to water conservation and other important issues related to this precious resource,” Kelly said.
Lewis joined the Kansas Water Office in 1999 working first with reservoir operations and analysis before serving as the agency’s chief technical staff and overseeing agency operations. Before joining the Kansas Water Office, he worked for seven years in the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources working on water use, water right compliance, water conservation, and interstate litigation.
“I’m honored the Governor has selected me for this position and am excited to join the Kelly administration,” Lewis said. “I look forward to working with the Governor and stakeholders across Kansas to improve our water resources.”
Lewis is a lifelong Kansan and was raised on a farm in Osage County. His family raised row crops, cattle, and ran a custom hay business. He attended both Emporia State University and the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1992. He also holds a professional engineering license in Kansas.
Lewis’ appointment is pending confirmation by the Senate.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head baseball coach Jerod Goodale has announced 14 additions to his 2019 signing class, bringing the incoming group to 28 student-athletes. This year’s class includes players from six states and two countries and is made up of 11 freshmen and 17 transfers.
“I am so thrilled with the class our coaching staff has put together,” said Goodale. “It is an immensely talented group spanning all nine positions with a good mix of experience levels. We can’t wait to get everyone on campus and hit the ground running.
“We know that this group has a chance to do some special things during their time here in Hays. They will be pivotal in getting the program back to a level we all want it to be.
“Our coaching staff put in countless hours scouring the country to assemble a class this big and I can’t thank them enough.”
River Amos | Right-handed Pitcher/Outfielder | Holcomb, Kan. (Holcomb HS)
River Amos will be a true freshman from Holcomb High School in Holcomb, Kan. He earned honorable mention All-State honors as a junior pitcher in 2018 after helping the Longhorns to the Kansas 4A DII state championship in 2017. Amos was also a unanimous first team all-league selection as an outfielder while playing in the 2018 Kansas Select game and the 2019 Wild West High School All-Star Game. He also won state titles with the Longhorns in football and basketball.
Jace Armstrong | Outfielder | Hays, Kan. (Cloud County CC)
Jace Armstrong will enter his sophomore season in the fall after two seasons at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College. The outfielder redshirted the 2018 season before appearing in 21 games this last year, batting .306 with five extra-base hits in 36 at-bats. He was listed on the NJCAA All-Academic first team after the 2018-19 season. The Hays, Kan. native graduated from Hays High School after earning three letters on the ball field. Armstrong earned second team all-conference honors and was a Western Kansas all-star.
Jacob Bouzide | Infielder/Outfielder | Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Colby CC)
Jacob Bouzide is an incoming junior after playing two seasons at Colby (Kan.) Community College. The Calgary, Alberta, Canada native appeared in 65 games over his two years as a Trojan, racking up 62 hits, seven home runs, 34 RBI, 19 stolen bases and a .408 on-base percentage. He is a 2017 graduate of Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary.
Jacob Douglas | Right-handed Pitcher | Georgetown, Ontario, Canada (Garden City CC)
Jacob Douglas will be a junior in the fall of 2019 after two years at Garden City (Kan.) Community College. The pitcher made 40 appearances with the Broncbusters, accumulating a 12-8 record with 87 strikeouts over 113.1 innings. A native of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, Douglas was a three-time team MVP at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School. He helped the Jaguars record their first ever win in the provincial tournament, picking up the victory in the process.
Jacob Ensz | Left-handed Pitcher | Wichita, Kan. (Barton County CC)
Jacob Ensz will be a junior with the Tigers after two seasons at Barton (Kan.) Community College. The pitcher appeared in 19 games with the Cougars, making five starts. He compiled a 3.92 ERA over 41.1 innings of work, racking up 43 strikeouts and finishing with a 2-2 record. He helped Barton win the 2018 Region 6 championship, advancing to the NJCAA Division I World Series. A native of Wichita, Kan., Ensz is a 2017 graduate of Bishop Carroll High School where he was the Kansas 5A State Pitcher of the Year as a senior. He was a two-time All-State selection while earning three letters with the Golden Eagles.
Isaac Linker | Infielder | Hillrose, Colo. (Fort Morgan HS)
Isaac Linker is an incoming freshman after graduating from Fort Morgan (Colo.) High School. He was named Fort Morgan High Male Athlete of the Year as a senior after earning All-State honors and leading the league in RBI. The infielder was a three-time all-conference performer, accumulating a .402 lifetime batting average with the Mustangs. A native of Hillrose, Colo., Linker was a three-sport athlete, lettering three times in baseball, four times in football and three times in football.
Cade Peters | Right-handed Pitcher | Salina, Kan. (Barton County CC)
Cade Peters will be a junior with the Tigers after spending two seasons with Barton (Kan.) Community College. The pitcher made eight appearances on the mound in his career, starting two games. He posted a 2-1 record alongside a 2.02 ERA over 13.1 innings of work, striking out 11 batters. The Salina, Kan. native was a two-time letterwinner at Salina South High School, earning first team all-league honors in 2017 after earning honorable mention all-league status in 2016.
Jacob Pryor | First Baseman | Rantoul, Kan. (Allen CC)
Jacob Pryor is an incoming junior after playing at Allen (Kan.) Community College for three years. After redshirting in 2017, Pryor appeared in 36 games with the Red Devils. The first baseman totaled 10 extra-base hits and 17 RBI in 63 at-bats, posting a slash line of .333/.458/.571. He made just one error in the field, posting a .991 fielding percentage. Pryor was twice named on the NJCAA All-Academic team. A native of Rantoul, Kan., Pryor is a 2016 graduate of Central Heights High School. He was a three-sport athlete, earning four letters in baseball, two in football and two in basketball.
Grant Schmidt | Outfielder | Hastings, Neb. (Cloud County CC)
Grant Schmidt will be a junior after spending two seasons as a Thunderbird at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College. He was a KJCCC West All-Conference selection as a sophomore, earning honorable mention accolades after leading the squad with 13 home runs and 51 RBI. The outfielder appeared in 77 games in his career, compiling 58 hits, including 17 doubles, four triples and 16 home runs. Schmidt scored 52 runs while driving in 60 RBI, recording a .366 on-base percentage and a .577 slugging percentage. He did not commit an error in the outfield during his sophomore season, converting on all 65 of his chances. He was a three-sport athlete at St. Cecilia High School in his hometown of Hastings, Neb. Schmidt was a four-time letterwinner in football, basketball and golf while playing summer legion baseball due to a lack of a baseball program in high school.
Brayden Smith | Left-handed Pitcher | Great Bend, Kan. (Butler CC)
Brayden Smith will be a sophomore at FHSU after spending one year at Butler (Kan.) Community College and one year at Emporia State University. The pitcher redshirted in 2018 at ESU before making one appearance with the Grizzlies at BCC in 2019. The Great Bend, Kan. native lettered four times at Great Bend High School, picking up all-conference honors as a junior and senior. He also played football and basketball for the Panthers.
Garrett Stephens | Catcher | Lenexa, Kan. (Southeast Missouri State)
Garrett Stephens will be a senior for the Tigers after transferring from Southeast Missouri State. The catcher appeared in 21 games as a junior with the Redhawks, making nine starts behind the dish. He totaled three extra-base hits, driving in four runs and scoring seven. Before SMSU, Stephens was a two-year student-athlete at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. The Lenexa, Kan. native appeared in 74 games with the Blue Dragons, posting a .446 slugging percentage while recording nine home runs, 10 doubles and 60 RBI. He was named the Most Inspirational Athlete at HCC and earned the Frank White Fielding Excellence Award in the Ban Johnson League in 2018. Stephens earned three baseball letters at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School before graduating in 2016.
Ridge Stephens | Catcher | Tushka, Okla. (Eastern Oklahoma State College)
Ridge Stephens heads to Hays as a redshirt sophomore after two seasons at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The catcher redshirted the 2018 season before appearing in 39 contests this last year. He recorded a .321 on-base percentage, totaling 23 hits, 16 RBI and 15 runs while gunning down 14 would-be base stealers (14-of-40). The Tushka, Okla. native was a four-time letterwinner at Tushka High School, where he helped the Tigers to one state title. He was a Southeast Oklahoma all-star, named Native American All-State and participated in the Oklahoma state games.
Kade Wallace | Utility | Clay Center, Kan. (Cloud County CC)
Kade Wallace is an incoming junior after spending two years at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College. He was a second team all-conference performer as a sophomore after leading the Thunderbirds with a .328 batting average. The utility player added 13 extra-base hits, 41 runs and 30 RBI in 2019. For his career, Wallace appeared in 79 games at CCCC, batting .342 with a .434 on-base percentage, 76 hits and 48 runs scored. A native of Clay Center, Kan., Wallace is a 2017 graduate of Clay Center Community High School. He was a first team all-league selection all four years with the Tigers while also playing four years of football and two years of basketball.
Traelon Yarbrough | Infielder | Atoka, Okla. (Atoka HS)
Traelon Yarbrough will be a freshman for the Tigers after playing four years of baseball and basketball at Atoka High School in his hometown of Atoka, Okla. The infielder was named a Kiamichi all-star and was named the Atoka Stuteville Player of the Year.
2019 Fort Hays State Baseball Signing Class
Name Pos. B/T Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (Previous School)
River Amos RHP/OF R/R 6-3 190 Fr. Holcomb, Kan. (Holcomb HS)
Drake Angeron OF L/R 5-10 175 So. Morgan City, La. (Dodge City CC)
Jace Armstrong OF R/R 6-0 195 So. Hays, Kan. (Cloud County CC)
Zach Berg RHP R/R 5-11 180 Jr. Parker, Colo. (Western Nebraska CC)
Jacob Bouzide INF/OF L/R 5-9 170 Jr. Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Colby CC)
Griffin Brunson UT R/R 5-10 170 Jr. Garden City, Kan. (Garden City CC)
Jacob Callaway C R/R 5-9 170 Fr. Broomfield, Colo. (Holy Family HS)
Jake Campbell RHP R/R 6-1 185 Fr. Fort Collins, Colo. (Rocky Mountain HS)
Jacob Douglas RHP R/R 6-1 190 Jr. Georgetown, Ontario, Canada (Garden City CC)
Jacob Ensz LHP L/L 5-11 180 Jr. Wichita, Kan. (Barton County CC)
Cade Flaherty RHP/INF R/R 6-2 175 Fr. Omaha, Neb. (Burke HS)
Hunter Igo INF R/R 6-0 165 Fr. Derby, Kan. (Derby HS)
Isaac Linker INF R/R 6-2 220 Fr. Hillrose, Colo. (Fort Morgan HS)
Tanner Lukowski UT/RHP R/R 6-1 190 Fr. Omaha, Neb. (Skutt Catholic HS)
Jordon McFarland RHP R/R 6-2 180 Fr. Brighton, Colo. (Holy Family HS)
Hunter Parker RHP R/R 6-2 180 Jr. Aurora, Colo. (Western Nebraska CC)
Cade Peters RHP R/R 6-2 175 Jr. Salina, Kan. (Barton County CC)
Jacob Pryor 1B L/L 6-2 230 Jr. Rantoul, Kan. (Allen CC)
Jason Robertson OF/RHP R/R 6-0 180 Fr. Flower Mound, Texas (Marcus HS)
Grant Schmidt OF R/R 6-3 215 Jr. Hastings, Neb. (Cloud County CC)
Brayden Smith LHP L/L 6-5 215 R-So. Great Bend, Kan. (Butler CC)
Garrett Stephens C R/R 6-0 200 Sr. Lenexa, Kan. (Southeast Missouri State)
Ridge Stephens C R/R 6-1 190 R-So. Tushka, Okla. (Eastern Oklahoma State College)
Corbin Truslow 1B L/R 6-1 245 Jr. Georgetown, Texas (Garden City CC)
Kade Wallace UT R/R 5-11 180 Jr. Clay Center, Kan. (Cloud County CC)
Padraic Walsh RHP R/R 6-6 180 Jr. Aurora, Colo. (Dodge City CC)
Jaxson Webb OF/RHP R/R 6-4 190 Fr. Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence Free State HS)
Traelon Yarbrough INF S/R 5-9 180 Fr. Atoka, Okla. (Atoka HS)
Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in June. This was down from 3.5 percent in May and up from 3.3 percent in June 2018.
“June estimates show a 0.9 percent decline in state government jobs over the year,” said Secretary Delía García. “The main components of state government jobs are state hospitals, state universities and state agencies.”
The jobless rate in Ellis County was unchanged at 2.4 percent, while the unemployment rate in Rooks County fell from 4.8 percent in May to 4.5 percent. The Rooks County economy has taken two big blows recently with the bankruptcies at Dessin-Fournir and Plainville Livestock Commission.
Logan, Gove, Scott and Hamilton counties all posted unemployment rates of 1.9 percent, and Rush (3 percent) and Decatur (3.1 percent) were the only northwest Kansas counties with jobless rates at or above 3 percent.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs decreased by 900 from May. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 600 from the previous month.
Since June 2018, Kansas gained 11,000 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 10,000 private sector jobs.
“The unemployment rate in Kansas fell to 3.4 percent in June as the result of a significant decline in the number of unemployed people in the state,” said Labor Economist, Emilie Doerksen. “This also reverses the slight upward trend over recent months and extends the current period of low unemployment.”
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL will not suspend Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill under its personal conduct policy in a domestic violence case involving his 3-year-old son.
The league said Friday it has not been given access to information in the court proceedings, and a district attorney in June said an investigation was dropped because officials couldn’t prove who injured the boy.
The NFL added in its statement that “information developed in the court proceeding is confidential and has not been shared with us” and all law enforcement records are sealed.
“Local law enforcement authorities have publicly advised that the available evidence does not permit them to determine who caused the child’s injuries,” the NFL said.
Hill was suspended in April by the Chiefs. He is now is eligible to attend training camp and participate in all activities if the Chiefs lift their suspension.
The Chiefs suspended Hill on April 25 after a local television station aired a recording of a conversation between Hill and fiancee Crystal Espinal discussing the boy’s injuries. Hill has consistently maintained his innocence, saying his son’s health is his top priority.
At the time, owner Clark Hunt said he was “deeply disturbed” by the audio recording.
The investigation began after police were called to Hill’s home twice in March and determined the child had been injured. In the 11-minute recording reportedly made by Espinal in an airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, she tells Hill that when the boy was asked about his injured arm he replied: “Daddy did it.”
Hill denied any role in what happened to the child, saying: “He says Daddy does a lot of things.”
When Espinal tells Hill their son is “terrified of you,” he replies, “You need to be terrified of me, too …”
The Chiefs drafted Hill even though he pleaded guilty in 2015 to domestic assault and battery for attacking Espinal while a student at Oklahoma State. He was dismissed from the Oklahoma State football team and ended up playing at West Alabama, where he underwent counseling and court-mandated service work.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Former Hays High standout Tradgon McCrae’s run at the Kansas Amateur golf tournament at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park came to an end Thursday first round of match play.
McCrea, in the round of 64, lost to Pete Krsnich of Wichita two and one in 17 holes.
McCrea birdied the first hole to go 1 up, but bogeys on three and six would allow Krsnich, the former Kansas Jayhawk, to go 1 up and he led by one after a first-round 36.
Another bogey for McCrea on 11 put Krsnich 2 up through 11. Krsnich added a birdie on 15 and was 3 up before giving a shot back with a bogey on 16.
Heading to the 17th, McCrea trailed 2 up and need to win the hole to extend the match, but both McCrea and Krsnich recorded a par on the par-5 17 giving Krisnich the win.
LARNED – Larned State Hospital (LSH) will host “Frontiers in Mental Health,” its 16th annual mental health conference August 5-8, 2019, in the State Theatre, 617 Broadway, Larned, KS, Superintendent Lesia Dipman announced. The conference will kick off August 5 with a 5K run at 5:30 p.m. on the LSH campus. Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in five age divisions.
“This annual conference has become one of the premier behavioral health events in Kansas. We conduct this conference annually to aid the professional development of those working in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social work and corrections, but it is open to anyone with an interest in mental health,” Superintendent Dipman said.
Rich in history, LSH is the largest psychiatric facility in the state serving the western two-thirds of Kansas with more than 990 staff and the capacity to treat more than 450 patients. The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is responsible for administrative oversight of the hospital.
“Larned State Hospital has again put together an exceptional lineup of speakers and important topics to enrich the knowledge and treatment skills of attendees and help them better care for the people we serve,” KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said.
“Palliative Care: Core Principles and Practical Applications”
Featured speakers at the 2019 conference will be:
Dr. David Barnum, Ph.D.
Dr. Barnum, Diplomate of the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists, completed his doctoral training in clinical psychology with a specialization in health psychology at The University of Kansas. After his internship at Temple University Health Sciences, he began a 20-year career in community mental health, with particular emphasis in establishing and expanding clinical training programs as a means for developing professional staff in rural and under-served areas.Currently, he is the Clinical Director and Director of Clinical Training at Larned State Hospital as well as a co-owner of The Family Therapy Institute Midwest. He has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas and Benedictine College. Dr. Barnum has been an ambassador for the National Health Service Corps, is a past-president of the Kansas Psychological Association and served on the Continuing Education Committee of the American Psychological Association. He is a frequent presenter at local, national and international conferences on topics including diagnosis, ethics, risk management, clinical training and supervision, family psychology, autism spectrum disorders, treating family injustice, elements of effective psychological treatment and Ericksonian approaches to treatment, among others. He has published work in the treatment of children affected by abuse and foster care health psychology. He is currently co-chair of the Hospital Ethics Committee at Larned State Hospital.
Teresa Strausz Teresa Strausz is passionate about the human experience in organizations and learning. She has been supporting staff, students and adult learners throughout her career by providing education, supervision, training and dynamic learning opportunities in a variety of formats. Teresa earned a Master’s degree in Social Work in 1996 from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Organization Development in 2012 from Friends University. Teresa serves as a founding member of the Trauma-Informed Systems of Care team, social work field instructor, leadership coach, facilitator and consultant.
Dr. Leo Herrman
Leo Herrman, Ph.D. Dr. Leo Herrman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from FHSU. He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Developmental and Child Psychology at the University of Kansas. He currently is the Associate Professor/Director of Psychological Screening Clinic at FHSU.
He has an extensive background in administration and clinical supervision having served as Administrative Program Director for Kansas’ Violent Sexual Predator Treatment Program, Superintendent of Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility, Program Director and Acting Superintendent of the Youth Center at Topeka as well a chief psychologist there. His clinical experience includes work as a psychologist sex offender treatment programs, youth centers, substance abuse treatment programs and mental health centers.He is a licensed clinical psychotherapist and a certified substance abuse counselor. His teaching experience includes Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authorities’ Training Academy.
Dr. Herrman has written many articles and is known for his scholarly presentations to professional organizations. His research interest lies in the area of forensic psychology and suicide prevention programming, particularly in youth.
Brooke Mann
Brooke Mann, M.S.
Brooke Mann is a lecturer and the Director of the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). She earned her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Clinical Psychology from FHSU and is finishing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University – Commerce.
Her experiences include psychotherapy in in-patient and out-patient facilities, psychometric assessment, coordinating graduate clinical practice, supervising graduate students, and community outreach.
Her current research interests are in reducing stigma of mental illness, and diagnosis assessment of ADHD.
Karin Porter-Williamson, M.D.
Dr. Porter-Williamson is an Associate Professor and Division Director of Palliative Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is also the Medical Director for Palliative Care Services at the University of Kansas Health System and is the Medical Director for the KS-MO TPOPP Coalition. Dr. Porter-Williamson grew up in Topeka, Kan., attended Washburn Rural High School, then KU for her undergraduate degree in Biology, French and Psychology. She completed medical school and an internal medicine residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2002, and then completed fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative medicine in 2003 at San Diego Hospice. After training she returned to the University of Kansas and has been on faculty there for the past 16 years.Dr. Porter-Williamson’s academic interests include building systems for patient-centered, goal concordant plans of care, to improve the value of medical care for patients and families facing serious illness, and to integrate the principles of palliative medicine as the standard of care for all seriously ill patients and families. Dr. Porter-Williamson’s educational focus is on the training of medical professionals and inter-professional teams across the continuum of care to understand these principles and integrate them into their practice, with specific attention to communication skills necessary for goals of care discussions and serious illness care planning.
