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Month: July 2019

DUI case against Kansas lawmaker referred to county attorney

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The DUI case against Kansas Sen. Vic Miller has been referred to Shawnee County District Court from Topeka Municipal Court, where Miller used to be chief judge.

Vic Miller -photo Shawnee County booking photo

City spokeswoman Molly Hadfield says the case was referred to the county for charging consideration due to potential conflicts. Miller was the municipal court’s administrative judge from 2011 to 2015.

The court’s website shows that the municipal charges for DUI and inattentive driving were dismissed on June 20.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay says his office has received the charging affidavit from Topeka police and the case will go through the normal review process.

Topeka police arrested Miller in May after finding him inside his crashed vehicle in the ditch. Police said he wasn’t injured but appeared intoxicated.

Teresa Renee Higgins

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Teresa Renee Higgins, 64, Marion, died at home, Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

She was born, December 28, 1954, in Marion, Kansas. On November 25, 1972 Teresa married her high school sweetheart, Bill Higgins, at the Aulne Church and four years later they had their first son, Gabriel. Ten years later they excitedly welcomed Nicholas to their little family. Bill, Gabe, and Nic were her world!

Teresa and Bill raised their boys showing them an amazing example of true love, the importance of family, and the desire to help others. Teresa and Bill started their life together in Marion then lived in Newton, Admire, Hays, and Burlington, NC. In 1990 after years of various difficulties and numerous doctors, Teresa was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Even with this life changing news, Teresa continued to put others first as her MS progressed and would do anything she could to better the lives of others.

Surprising to some, but no surprise to those who truly knew Teresa best, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming an author. Her book, filled with creative memories, daily struggles, and inspirational thoughts was published in 2016. As a quadriplegic, she used voice activated software to share her story of “A Blessed Life Together”. Anyone who knew her would say Teresa’s positive attitude, willingness to listen and comfort others, and her care and concern for everyone she knew was second to none. In 2016 Teresa and Bill came back to where Teresa’s heart, and most importantly the majority of her family was, Marion KS. Always active and beloved members in any community in which they lived, Bill and Teresa enjoyed being back in Kansas. Teresa stayed busy in Marion, most recently helping to plan the 100th Hett Reunion in August 2018.

Survivors include, husband Bill Higgins of Marion; Son Gabriel Higgins and wife Lucia of Winston-Salem, NC; daughter-in-law Betsy Chandler, Fond Du Lac, WI; grandsons Daniel Hinton, Hays and Wyatt Higgins, Fond Du Lac, WI; 3 brothers, Rocky Hett and wife Shirley of Marion, Bruce Hett and wife Sandra of McPherson, Jack Hett and wife Donna of Marion; 2 sisters, LaVonda Rothman and husband Lew of Morristown, NJ, Shelley Stafford and husband Tom of Hays; and numerous nieces and nephews. Teresa was a great support and a true inspiration throughout her life to each of these family members and so many more.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her son Nic Higgins.

A public visitation will be held at Yazel-Megli-Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm Street, Marion, KS 66861, Friday, June 28th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. A celebration of her loving life will be held at a future date.

Memorials are suggested to the MEDI-PRIDE for banners and flags to decorate the new light poles of Marion’s Main Street.

Condolences can be sent to Yazel-Megli-Zeiner Funeral Home.

Kansas man pleads no contest in police shooting incident

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A 38-year-old man accused of trying to kill a Manhattan police officer has pleaded no contest to attempted voluntary manslaughter. Mark Harrison of Manhattan entered the plea Thursday.

Authorities on the scene of the 2018 shooting and barricade situation photo courtesy WIBW TV

The charges stem from a standoff with police on Feb. 5, 2018 during which he fired more than 30 times . One of the bullets struck Riley County Police Sgt. Pat Tiede.

A jury found Harrison guilty in February of criminal damage to property for gunshot damage to an armored vehicle sheltering officers. He was found not guilty of attempted capital murder related to two officers who were inside it.

A retrial had been scheduled on the attempted capital murder charge involving Tiede after jurors could not reach a verdict on that count.

Sentencing is July 22.

Jace Ashton-Lee Smothers

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Jace Ashton-Lee Smothers, age 19, of Norton, Ks., went home to his Lord and Savior on June 28, 2019 as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident near Paducah, Ky. Jace was serving on staff with Christ in Youth this summer, and they were on their way to Tennessee. Jace was born December 29, 1999 in Oberlin, Kan. to Terry and Sharon (Owen) Smothers.

Jace attended Norton schools, and graduated from Norton Community High School in 2018. He was a member of the Jay Singers, and participated in Java Jive, choir, forensics, drama club, pep band, and the band, where he received the John Philip Sousa Award. He also loved playing piano, his guitar, and his tuba, and won multiple awards at the local and state level. Jace was also a member of the Norton Christian Church, where he was actively involved with the youth group, student leadership team, and Norton Christian Church youth worship team.

Jace always showed up with home-baked goodies, which were often requested by other youth group members. Jace loved to bake and share with all. He attended Christ in Youth Move the last three years, growing in his faith and inspiring others with his passion and love of being a Kingdom worker. He was also involved in “D Now”, where he volunteered his parents to host and mentor a group of junior high men for “D Now” weekend. The boys were inspired to grow in their faith and walk with God. Jace was also involved with the Norton Christian Church missionary that traveled twice to Mexico, where he was known as “El Toro”, and traveled once to the Dominican Republic, where he was called “Gargantua” by the children of the families served. Hearing of Jace’s missionary travels and passion for spreading the word, he was asked to write a story for the Norton Telegram. This article was published in May of 2018, and will be republished for all to read.

Jace completed his first year at Ozark Christian College, majoring in youth ministry. Jace’s study tip was to laminate study cards so the tears would roll off. While attending school, he volunteered and mentored kids in the Joplin community through the Young Life organization, was active in Men’s Encounter, and served as a dorm dad at Lakeview Christian Camp. Last year, while at Men’s Encounter, Jace baptized his father, Terry, in the Holy Spirit. Jace and other Ozark Christian College students also traveled to multiple communities, ministering to local congregations where many lives were touched. Jace found his calling and grew even deeper in his faith, and enjoyed his life by spreading the Gospel and inspiring others to seek the Good News! He found a new family at Ozark Christian College through the professors, students, and others along his journey.

Jace was known for his infectious laugh, big heart, goofy smile, killer dance moves, and his love for God. He will be dearly missed by all lives he touched around the world. Jace loved his life, and was living large!

Jace is survived by his parents, Terry and Sharon, Norton, Ks.; his siblings: Tabbatha Scott, Lawrence, Ks.; Bronson, and wife, Danielle, Hays, Ks.; Brock, and wife, Amie, Norton, Ks.; Jonathan, and fiancé, Amanda, Nebraska City, Ne.; Krisondra, and fiancé, Nick, Kearney, Ne.; his girlfriend, Autumn Murphy, Liberty, Ky.; along with 10 nieces and nephews, as well as another nephew expected to arrive in August. He also leaves behind his maternal grandparents, Bill and JoAnn Owen, Hill City, Ks. Jace is preceded in death by a maternal great-grandmother, an uncle, a first cousin, a second cousin, a niece, and an unborn baby. Too numerous to list, he leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members, and friends.

2 Corinthians 5:8 “we are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Death takes the body. God takes the soul. Our mind holds the memories. Our heart keeps the love. Our faith lets us know we will meet again. Love you Jace!

FUNERAL SERVICE – Wednesday, July 3, 2019 – 10:30 A.M.
PLACE – Norton Christian Church – Norton, Kansas
VISITATION – Tuesday, July 2, 2019 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Enfield Funeral Home in Norton.
INTERMENT – Norton Cemetery – Norton, Kansas
MEMORIALS – A memorial has been established to the Ozark Christian College in Jace’s name.

Patsy Leone (Smith) Michael

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Patsy Leone (Smith) Michael, 75, of Norton, KS, passed away Friday, June 28, 2019, at Hays Medical Center in Hays.

She was born April 26, 1944 in Almena, KS to Ivan Raymond and Mildred Erma (Keene) Smith. She attended country schools in Norton County and then Norton High School. She lived most of her life in Norton and worked various jobs with the last being in the kitchen at Norton Hospital.

Patsy will greatly be missed by all who knew and loved her!

She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Eugene Smith.

Survivors include her brothers, Wayne L. Smith (Barbara) of Norton and Kenneth R. Smith (Lois) of Atwood; nieces, Rochelle Dearman (John) of Mooresville, NC, Robin Wiggins (Jeff) of Austin, TX and Kypris Cooper of Lavon, TX; nephews, Michael Smith (Heather) of Phillipsburg, KS, Brian Smith of Norton, Timothy Smith of Norton, Luke Smith (Shannon Pettijohn) of McDonald, KS and Jason Smith (Amber) of Colby, KS; six grand-nephews, five grand-nieces and one great-grand-niece. She is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later date as she requested cremation. Memorials may be made to Guardian Home Care of Norton, Kansas.

Kan. requires students to get vaccines, yet 15% of kindergartners missing shots

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By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN
Kansas News Service

Kansas wants students to get vaccines against measles, polio and more, but many remain under-vaccinated.
CHRIS NEAL / FOR THE KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

More than one in 10 kindergartners in Kansas schools last year lacked at least some of the shots that the state requires to shield students against outbreaks of measles, whooping cough and more.

The state’s most recent annual report pegged the figure at 15%.

Kansas health officials surveyed hundreds of schools and found one in five didn’t have any policies on excluding those kids for lack of vaccinations.

Don’t miss: Vaccine Opposition Isn’t Why Many Thousands Of Kansans Miss Out On Shots

Replies from those schools reflected worries about children falling behind on their learning if kept out of classrooms, or about cuts to state aid that hinges on enrollment.

Coffeyville nurse Kali Morgan reflected in the door of the fridge where her clinic stocks vaccines for children and teens who attend Coffeyville schools, and their families.
CREDIT CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Enough kindergartners appear to be getting shots against diseases such as polio, tetanus and hepatitis B to hit federal targets — and make all kids safer by lowering the chances of an outbreak — but Kansas lagged on shots for measles and chicken pox.

Kansas doesn’t survey statewide inoculation rates for grades other than kindergarten.

Statewide, 90% of last year’s kindergarten class had received their measles shots. For herd immunity, Kansas puts the goal at a minimum of 95%.

Herd immunity not only cuts the overall risk of outbreaks, it shields those in society most susceptible to serious illness. That’s people who can’t get immunized because they’re too young or have compromised immune systems.

Most of the state’s under-vaccinated kindergartners do not have religious or medical exemptions. Combined, those two groups made up just 2%. Kansas schools can’t deny entry to that 2% except when necessary during active outbreaks.

They can deny entry to the much larger group of children who have neither the required vaccines nor the legal exemptions to them.

Minors without insurance, with poor-quality insurance or on Medicaid qualify for free vaccines against 16 diseases, including HPV and measles. Read more here.

Coffeyville Public Schools, seated in a county that hit the state’s ambitious herd immunity target last year, aims to get vaccines to every child whose parents are willing. Children who arrive with gaps in their vaccine history get put on catch-up schedules to get them up to speed at a safe pace.

“I want the children to be protected from those diseases that used to devastate the pediatric community,” said Stephanie Ackley, a registered nurse at the 1,000-student elementary school, the largest in the state.

Ninety percent of her school’s students were on track with required shots this school year, Ackley said, or else working their way through the catch-up schedule.

“And that’s with a lot of people coming in that have never had vaccinations,” she said.

Ackley works at one of three health clinics at the district’s schools, operated by the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

The organizations teamed up several years ago, and families quickly turned to the new, convenient locations for primary care. Immunization rates shot up in a district where school officials and nurses recall them as abysmal before. By way of example, about a third of third-graders met the rules before the clinics opened, compared to nearly all of them today.

“If you have kids who aren’t getting shots, what do you do?” said Jason Wesco, the community health center’s executive vice president. “You go where the kids are.”

Schedule for children/teens: What shots are recommended and when?

Vaccine schedule for adults: What shots are recommended and when?

It frustrates him that more health care providers don’t take the same tack.

“It’s self-evident,” he said, “but we have a health care system that’s more interested in expensive tests and specialty care.”

Surveys and federal data suggest towns like Coffeyville face steeper hurdles to herd immunity. Rural areas have fewer pediatricians. Additionally, most children in Coffeyville schools come from low-income families. Poverty often leaves families with less preventive care.

Desirae Judd’s 4-year-old son gets his vaccines at the Coffeyville school clinics.

“It makes it really accessible,” Judd said. “When Emmett was born, we had a pediatrician that we loved … He moved away.”

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @Celia_LJ or email her at celia (at) kcur (dot) org.

Authorities say a Texas woman ate half a cake while roaming the aisles of a Walmart store and then refused to pay full price for it, claiming she had found it half-eaten

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WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) – Authorities say a Texas woman ate half a cake while roaming the aisles of a Walmart store and then refused to pay full price for it, claiming she had found it half-eaten.

Wichita Falls police Sgt. Harold McClure says the woman picked up the cake at the store’s bakery last Tuesday and ate half of it before getting to the checkout counter. He says a manager called police after the woman claimed she had found the cake that way and would not pay full price for it.

Officers ordered her to pay the full price but did not issue her a citation. She was banned from the store and her name wasn’t released.

In January, another woman was banned from a different Walmart store in Wichita Falls after she spent several hours driving an electric shopping cart around the parking lot while drinking wine from a Pringles can.

The city is about 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Dallas, near the Oklahoma border.

Cody Johnson hopes to bridge the Texas-Nashville cultural gap by straddling the traditional and the modern

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By KRISTIN M. HALL
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Country singer Cody Johnson knew there was a lot of distrust of Nashville’s commercial country music industry among his peers in Texas and Oklahoma.

Johnson finally signed to Warner Music Nashville after turning down multiple offers and more than a decade as a successful independent artist.

He needed Warner’s help to reach fans on country radio and for global distribution of his records. But he wanted to maintain creative control, from his music to his publishing and even his cowboy hat.

And he hopes to bridge the cultural divide between Texas and Nashville by straddling the traditional and the modern.

Johnson now has his first No. 1 country album and he’s proving that there is still an audience for traditional country music.

Richard A. ‘Dick’ Parsons

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Richard A. “Dick” Parsons, 90, Hays, was reunited in Heaven with many loved ones on Sunday, June 30, 2019.

Richard was born August 26, 1928 in Cheney, Kansas to Rollo Ray and Ada Estelle (Calkins) Parsons.   He was the youngest of nine children; Veral, Elton, JoAnn, Almira, Wayne, Galen, Dorothea, and Myraline.  In 1946 he graduated from Cheney High School.  Richard served in the United States Army from 1950-1952 as a tank commander in the Korean War.  On October 10, 1953 he was united in marriage to Barbara Ann “Bobbi” Myers in Wichita.  She preceded him in death on December 31, 2018.  They were blessed with three girls; Karen, Pamela, and Jennifer.

Richard graduated from a court reporting school in Topeka, Kansas in 1958, passed a state test, and was employed in Topeka for a few years as a court reporter.  He moved his family to Hays in 1964 and became the one and only Official Court Reporter for the 23rd Judicial District in the State of Kansas between the years of 1965 and 1994.  He also owned his own free-lance firm for taking private depositions.  Richard was an avid reader, volunteered at the Community Assistance Center, and delivered food to local shelters.

Richard moved to Cedar View in 2015, where he was taken care of lovingly by his eldest daughter, Karen.

Survivors include his three daughters; Karen Allen and husband Stan of Hays, Pamela Brady and husband Pat of Tomball, TX, and Jennifer Kruger and husband Kelly of Thornton, CO, a brother; Wayne Parsons and wife Flo of Pratt, a sister; Almira Zimmerman of Oklahoma, seven grandchildren; Alyson, Rebecca, Brenna, Jessica, Jordan, Kelsey, and Luke, and five great-grandchildren; Xavier, Chloe, Ellis, Tessa, and Jack.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers; Veral, Elton, and Galen Parsons, and three sisters; JoAnn Compton, Dorothea Collumber, and Myraline Slusser.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Hays Memorial Chapel, 1906 Pine Street, with Pastor Brant Rice officiating.  Military Honors will follow by the Hays VFW Post 9076 Honor Guard.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Friday and from 10:00 am until service time on Saturday, all at the funeral home.  Inurnment will be at a later date in Pioneer Cemetery, Cheney, KS.  Memorials are suggested to CASA of the High Plains, the Community Assistance Center, or Hospice of HaysMed.  Condolences and memories of Richard may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Update: Body found, sheriff identifies missing boater at Kansas reservoir

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MARION COUNTY — Emergency crews 0n Monday located the body of a boater reported missing  Sunday at the Marion Reservoir,  according to the sheriff’s department. 

Just after before 9:30 a.m. Monday, officials found the body of Steven Meyer, 46,  Eudora, according to the sheriff’s department..

Kansas Game Wardens are assisting with a multi-agency search for a man who went missing at Marion Reservoir. Game Warden Jake Spear is using a KDWPT drone to search from above.

Just before 1:30a.m. Sunday, the sheriff’s office received a report of the missing boater and located the victim’s truck and boat trailer at the Marion Cove boat ramp, according to the sheriff’s department.

Just after 3a.m. Sunday, crews recovered the unoccupied boat floating against trees along the north side of the reservoir near Nighthawk Road.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, boats from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and a Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft were assisting in the search.

Meyer’s body was released to the coroner’s office for an autopsy, according to the sheriff’s department.

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MARION COUNTY — Emergency crews continued the search for a missing boater on Sunday at the Marion Reservoir, according to the sheriff’s department.

Just before 1:30a.m., the sheriff’s office received a report of the missing boater identified as a 46-year-old from Eudora.

Authorities located the victim’s truck and boat trailer at the Marion Cove boat ramp, according to the sheriff’s department.

Just after 3a.m. Sunday, crews recovered the unoccupied boat floating against trees along the north side of the reservoir near Nighthawk Road.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, boats from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and a Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft were assisting in the search.

The family has asked for the name to be withheld.

Sheriff: Cocaine, black tar heroin found during I-70 traffic stop

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a Kansas traffic stop.

Maria L. Gallegos-Martinez photo Shawnee Co.

On Friday, a Shawnee County Sheriff deputy initiated a traffic stop on a 2008 Volvo on Interstate 70 near Valencia Road for a registration violation, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

Deputeis located illegal contraband  in the vehicle that included 9 kilos of cocaine and 1 kilo of black tar heroin.  The street value of the contraband is estimated to be around $1,000,000.

Deputies arrested Maria L. Gallegos-Martinez, 41, of Indianapolis, Indiana on requested charges of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Sell, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, according to Stallbaumer.

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