TOPEKA, Kan. –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.
Just after 2 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 500 block of NE Paramore on a report of shooting, according to Lt. Jennifer Cross.
Officers located a man later identified as Teddy Kleiner, 45, Topeka, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died.
Police released no additional details and have not reported an arrest.
Sabrina Ann Trout-Shrum, 24, passed away Tuesday October 1, 2019, in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Sabrina was born September 6, 1995, in Great Bend, Kansas the daughter of Paul and Melissa (Roberts) Trout.
She was a 2014 graduate of Central Plains High School, Claflin, Kansas.
Sabrina was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Holyrood and the Driftwood Fellowship, Enid. She loved music, singing, computer games, movies, and was an animal lover.
She is survived by parents, Lonnie and Melissa Watson of Holyrood, and Paul and Alana Trout of Oregon; her former husband Cody Shrum of Enid, Oklahoma, grandmother, Cheryl Montoya of Holyrood; sisters, Vanessa Watson of Hoisington, Kristen Watson of Holyrood; half brothers and sisters, Dayson Trout, Trenton Trout, Sariah Trout, Elise Trout, Lorelia Trout; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Alberta Watson, Steve Montoya, Glenn & June Gabbard, and Mike and Fran Roberts.
Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday at the funeral home. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place.
Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 10, 2019, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Holyrood.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Sabrina Shrum Funeral Expense Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
Norton resident Margarette Daphne (Ebborn) Nyland was born January 18th, 1938 in Gloucester England to Karl and Dorothy Ebborn (Nee) Harper. She passed away Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 at her home at the age of 81.
The family lived most of Margarette’s young years in the Forest of Dean until moving to Cheltenham Gloucestershire, where Margarette grew to womanhood. In 1970 she moved to Norton, Kansas where she met and married Veryl Nyland on November 19th, 1975.
She leaves behind her husband, Veryl of Norton; 1 brother in England; and 3 step-daughters, Lois Peters of Inman, KS, Karen Smith of Norton, KS and Joyce Rogers of Long Island, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents and step-daughter, Marj Lambert.
Cremation was planned. No services are scheduled at this time.
HAMILTON COUNTY — A 62-year-old Kansas man was killed in a single vehicle accident just after 11 a.m. Friday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford pickup driven by William R. Reed, Coolidge, was southbound on Kansas 27 when the truck left the roadway and entered the west ditch. The pickup went through a field and struck a utility pole.
Reed was transported to St. Catherine’s Hospital. It was unknown if he was wearing a seat belt, the KHP reported.
TOPEKA (AP) — An autopsy reports says a 50-year-old Topeka woman suffered methamphetamine intoxication when she collapsed and died while fleeing a home she apparently was burglarizing.
The report, released Friday, said her death in June was accidental.
The Topeka Capital-Journal acquired a copy of the report from the Shawnee County District Court Clerk’s office.
Topeka police Lt. Andrew Beightel said officers found Henderson had collapsed near a home. The autopsy said she fled the home and was seen on video collapsing three times.
Kansas Department of Corrections records show Henderson was paroled in 2012 after serving prison time for two counts each of burglary, robbery and theft and one count each of aggravated robbery and obstructing the legal process. The crimes were committed in Shawnee, Wyandotte, Butler and Sedgwick counties.
TOPEKA (AP) — Police in Topeka say a man has been killed in an overnight shooting.
Topeka police say in a news release that officers were called to a northeast Topeka neighborhood around 2 a.m. Saturday for a report of gunshots. Arriving officers found a man suffering from several gunshot wounds. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
Police have not released the victim’s name pending notification of his family members.
No arrests had been reported by late Saturday morning, and police asked anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers.
By STEPHAN BISAHA
Kansas News Service
A flight of doves breaks above the tree line. Fourteen-year-old Robert Goodall fires his shotgun. The birds continue on their path unharmed.
“Never shoot at the bird,” Robert’s grandfather, Richard Funk, said. “Always in front of it.”
Robert enjoys going hunting when his grandfather asks him to go along. But the morning’s been slow. He’d prefer something a little more exciting, like football.
“Dove hunting — you’re kind of just sitting there,” Robert said. “In football, you get to go hit people.”
Hunters come to Kansas from across the country for a shot at the state’s deer, elk and turkey. But older Kansas hunters are setting down their rifles, and guided youth hunts — Kansas’ go-to method for attracting the next generation of hunters — aren’t stopping the decline among the next generations.
So the state is now working on a plan that focuses on what it stands to lose: 60% of Kansas’ conservation dollars (the rest comes from taxes on firearms and ammunition sales).
“We’re at that point where it’s like, hey, the bells and whistles are going off,” said Tim Donges, president of the Kansas branch of Quality Deer Management, a nonprofit hunting organization. “We’ve got a problem.”
Hunting’s decline and the results
More Americans are spending time outdoors, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional fishing lines are being cast. Would-be wildlife photographers are growing in numbers. But 2 million fewer hunters took to the field between 2011 and 2016.
Kansas has remained popular for out-of-state hunters, with the total number of licenses and permits more than doubling over the past two decades to over 150,000 total. In-state, though, hunting licenses have declined about 14%.
Hunting licenses of all kinds contribute about $28 million to the state’s conservation coffers. Out-of-state licenses cost more, and their popularity has made up for having fewer Kansas hunters. But 2019 was the first in five years where non-resident sales decline, showing there is not a guaranteed way of covering the cost of identity and protecting endangered Kansas species.
Hunting advocates blame several factors: There’s the other entertainment options competing for kids’ attention, from sports to Netflix. Plus, more Kansans live in cities, which requires a road trip to bag a buck.
Yet the biggest concern hunting advocates point to is a lack of public hunting land, the same thing that draws out-of-state hunters in. That is to say, a vacationing hunter with money can lease a ranch owner’s property, giving himself or herself a large stretch of open land.
But less than two percent of Kansas land is free and open to the public, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism. That’s less than nearly every other state.
“The state behind us is Rhode Island, so it’s not great,” said Brad Loveless, secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism.
The mainstay won’t stay
For years, Kansas encouraged younger hunters by taking kids out on guided hunts. Organized trips could break down the access barrier created by the limited amount of public hunting land. Mentors passed down hunting knowledge to kids whose parents didn’t participate in the sport. And the state figured that early exposure may lead to a lifelong interest.
It worked for 27-year-old Justin Saathoff: He killed his first deer on a youth hunt at Evergy’s Jeffrey Energy Center in Saint Mary in the northeast part of Kansas.
Saathoff, now a labor relations specialist at Evergy, gives back by leading youth hunts.
“Somebody does not have a true understanding of what hunting is until they actually go do it themselves,” Saathoff said.
Still, the youth numbers are declining. Hunting advocates say part of the problem is that it often takes several hunts to get someone hooked. Recruits can spend hours in the field without a guarantee of excitement or anything to show for the effort. For experienced hunters, that wait is worth it.
“It takes more than one time for somebody to understand what it takes to go out and hunt and be successful,” said Jim Pitman, a district biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation. “We need to be putting mentors with these people that can take them out multiple times.”
That requires a lot of volunteer hours and mentors. Evergy says it’s not short of mentors willing to lead the hunts, but younger guides like Saathoff are the exception. Mentorship programs are starting to see the same problem that hunting at large faces — the need to find young replacements.
The next steps
Past recruitment efforts emphasized the importance of continuing Kansas’ grand hunting heritage. “Carry on the tradition” is the subtitle for Kansas’ previous hunter recruitment plan, which was created in the 1990s under former Gov. Bill Graves. Funding the state’s conservation efforts came second.
“I don’t know that it’s ever going to be as popular as soccer or football,” said John Ritchey, the Kansas director for the conservation group Ducks Unlimited. “But there is a deep tradition and heritage that follows hunting that would be the saddest thing if it were to disappear.”
“My dad and brothers hunted, and I didn’t necessarily feel welcome to go out with them even though they invited me.”
So, while continuing the youth hunt tradition, the state is looking to flip that by leading with the conservation message.
Last year, Kansas hired 23-year-old Tanna Fanshier to be the Department of Wildlife and Tourism’s new hunting recruitment coordinator. She said the traditionalist message doesn’t work for the young Kansans she’s trying to recruit, and is betting causes like protecting wildlife will reach their ears.
“We’re kind of the ‘Go Fund Me’ generation,” Fanshier said. “We want to give our money to something that’s important to us.”
The department is looking to attract groups they know have historically been underrepresented in Kansas’ hunting scene. New women-only hunting education events will be led by women instructors.
“My dad and brothers hunted, and I didn’t necessarily feel welcome to go out with them even though they invited me,” Fanshier said.
Plus, Kansas is looking at starting gear-rental programs at colleges so students don’t have to have the money to buy or the space stash hunting equipment.
Kansas is also taking inspiration from other movements, like farm-to-table. Think field-to-fork: a way to encourage urban-dwelling Kansans to get some of their food from hunting for the same reasons they eat local. Fanshier has experimented with going to farmers’ markets to give away samples of meat gathered from a hunt, showing shoppers that game doesn’t have to taste gamey.
The full recruitment plan is about six months off. The overall goal isn’t to get the number of Kansas hunters back to where it was 50 years ago, Fanshier said. It’s keeping tradition alive, the conservations coffers filled and having urban dwellers spend a little less time in the city and more time connecting with the Kansas prairie.
Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter @SteveBisaha or email him at bisaha (at) kmuw (dot) org. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.
DODGE CITY – It is with great pleasure that the Depot Theater’s board of directors announces a new 2019-2020 season under the artistic direction of Christopher King of Mullinville. King has volunteered to serve and will be the fourth person to lead the theater company established by Don Steele in 1984 as the Boot Hill Repertory Company at the Boot Hill Museum Complex.
Born and raised in Kansas, King’s 35-year theater career includes directing theater programs in New York, Philadelphia, and Kansas City. In addition, he holds directing credits in more than 30 productions including Our Town, Sordid Lives, The Miracle Worker, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Fiddler on the Roof.
“I am so honored to follow in the amazing footsteps and traditions of the Depot Theater Company,” said King. “Not only is this an exceptional theater, but the performing arts community, volunteer traditions and the quality of past productions have set a high bar. I look forward to meeting our partners, volunteers, actors and directors, production teams as well as getting to know the region better.”
King recently moved to Mullinville where he is renovating a home. “When I saw that the Depot Theater needed volunteer help, I was more than glad to step up to help ensure the future of performing arts in my adopted region.”
“It is with the utmost respect and appreciation for the tradition of providing high quality theater by actors, directors, technical, costuming and stage crews making up the Depot Theater Company that we announce this new era in theater in southwest Kansas,” said Katie Ruthi, president of the Depot Theater board of directors. “Countless hours of volunteer talent, effort and dedication have filled the Depot Theater and it is inspiring to have Christopher’s volunteer commitment as we build a sustainable future.”
Barbara Straight, president of the Depot Theater Guild and member of the board of directors said “We invite all Company members to continue their involvement with and dedication to the Depot Theater as well as invite community members to join the effort. We’re looking forward to future performances.”
Operations of the Depot Theater, 201 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., were temporarily paused on August 19, 2019, and since that time the board of directors has received an outpouring of support and ideas for future direction. In addition, the board has been conducting intense evaluation toward the goal of reorganizing and refocusing on its mission in order to develop a sustainability plan for the future.
The mission of the Depot Theater is to provide space for theater and performance arts and education to enhance the quality of life for our diverse community. All sponsors, patrons and community partners will be contacted as we move forward with a revised season.
With the support of the Mariah Fund, Kent Stehlik and Kathleen Holt have been working to establish a campaign Get on Board to revitalize and develop a fiscally sound plan for operations. While the event calendar remains in full swing, theater performances will resume before the end of the year with the spring season to be announced in the next few days. The Homestead Haunted House will be the next scheduled event.
King’s website can be found at www.kingtheater.weebly.com.
As the board of directors continues its revitalization and sustainability plan, all are invited to contribute positive ideas by visiting https://depottheaterco.com/ . The board and constituents of the Depot Theater deeply appreciate your patience as well as your many messages of on-going support.
– SUBMITTED –
Fort Hays State (2-2. 2-2 MIAA) at
Central Oklahoma (2-2, 2-2 MIAA)
Saturday, October 5 – 1 pm
Wantland Stadium – Edmond, Okla.
Fort Hays State Football returns to action on Saturday (Oct. 5) at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Kickoff is set for 1 pm at Wantland Stadium between the two teams, both entering at 2-2 on the season. The Tigers are looking for their third straight win after victories over Washburn and Missouri Southern in the two previous weeks, while also looking to run their win streak over UCO to five games after winning each meeting since 2015.
Fort Hays State will need to be ready for a battle on Saturday. The Bronchos finished 8-4 overall each of the last two years, claiming bowl wins each season. The last two meetings between the teams in Edmond have been nail biters for the Tigers, winning 31-24 in 2017 on a touchdown pass with 42 seconds remaining and 30-29 in 2015 on a field goal as time expired. Last year, FHSU defeated Central Oklahoma 15-0 in Hays on five field goals by Dante Brown. It was FHSU’s first shutout of an opponent since 2008.
The Tigers continue to thrive in the passing game, averaging 313.5 yards per game this season through the air to rank ninth in NCAA Division II. However, the rushing offense has established a presence in each of the last two games, averaging 171.5 per game in that span. Chance Fuller ranks seventh in NCAA Division II for passing yards per game (298) and fifth in passing touchdowns (12). Harley Hazlett has been his top target, averaging 97 receiving yards per game with 28 catches for 388 yards. Hazlett ranks fifth in NCAA Division II for receiving touchdowns with six. Charles Tigner leads the FHSU rushing attack, averaging 80.2 yards per game.
Defensively, the Tigers held each of their last three opponents to less than 400 yards of total offense. Last week they allowed 344 to Missouri Southern, the lowest of any opponent so far this year. Tanner Hoekman leads the Tigers in tackles with 34. Drew Harvey is right behind with 33, while leading the team in tackles for loss (5.0) and sacks (2.0). The Tigers have seven interceptions, which ranks 12th in NCAA Division II, all within the last two games. Hoekman, Hayden Kreutzer, and Isaiah Creal-Musgray all have two passes picked off so far this year.
Dante Brown continues to produce field goals at a high rate for the Tigers, making 9-of-12 attempts so far this year. His 2.25 field goals per game average ranks second in NCAA Division II. He ranks 16th in the nation in scoring, averaging 10 points per game.
Central Oklahoma is coming off a 59-10 loss at Northwest Missouri State this past week. UCO is 1-1 at home so far this year with a close 37-35 loss to Pittsburg State, a team now ranked No. 15 in the nation, and a 63-0 win over Lincoln.
FHSU Sports Information
Listen as the ‘Voice of the Chiefs’ Mitch Holthus recaps last week’s gritty win at Detroit and previews Sunday nights prime time home game at Indianpolis.
The Holthus Hotline airs Saturday mornings on your home for Chiefs football, KFIX (96.9-FM), at 8 a.m. during the Chiefs season.
By ANDREA TUDHOPE
Kansas News Service
Underwire bras may still be setting off the metal detectors at the Jackson County, Mo., jail, but the standoff over the issue, nicknamed “bra-gate,” has ended — at least for attorneys.
A new security protocol quietly rolled out in May caused some uproar after female attorneys complained they had to remove their bras to clear screening. At the time, Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté tweeted, “No one was asked to take off underwire bras.” However, the rules required that everyone clear the detector.
Despite a protest and a 90-minute meeting of the County Legislature in June, Forté doubled down on the new policy, which many considered sexist. He said his priority was to keep contraband out and protect jail staff.
At the time, the Legislature urged a quick fix and a mediated meeting. But the issue remained at a standstill. Attorneys set a meeting with Forté a few weeks later, but they said he didn’t show up.
But, at the start of September, the two sides reached a compromise with little fanfare. Now, if an attorney sets off the metal detector, she is wanded or patted down.
“All we ever wanted was to be able to meet with our clients the same way as men, and now we have been able to accomplish that,” said attorney Tracy Spradlin.
Spradlin commended the County Counselor’s Office and the sheriff for their work in resolving the issue, and she said she was thankful they didn’t have to bring a lawsuit against Jackson County. Spradlin said it was “no secret” that they would have gone that route.
“I’m thankful it didn’t come to that,” she said. “I think that would have been another waste of our time that we could have been meeting with clients and a waste of the county’s time for something that could be so easily resolved.”
Forté declined an interview with KCUR, but in a statement, he said the jail and the sheriff’s office “are forward-focused with no time to dwell on past issues.”
However, the issue remains for jail employees. Attorney Katherine Myers told KCUR the resolution does not apply to jail employees. Myers represents Charlotte Hardin, a jail employee who worked for the county for 20 years. She was placed on indefinite leave after removing her bra and sending it through the X-ray machine. Hardin has yet to return to work.
The new protocol for attorneys is still technically operating on a trial basis, but Spradlin said neither party has indicated any issues with the agreement.
Andrea Tudhope is a reporter at KCUR 89.3. Email her at [email protected], and follow her on Twitter @andreatudhope.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Ellis County has organized a group of 17 community members who want to make sure everyone in the county is counted in the 2020 census.
The response rate for the state of Kansas in 2010 was 73 percent. Ellis County was about 82 percent. The census would like to see a count rate above 90 percent.
Complete Count Committees are nonpartisan groups set up by states to make sure everyone in their state is counted on April 1, 2020. Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller is on both the state Complete Count Committee and the Ellis County Complete Count Committee.
Some of the people on the Ellis County Complete Count Committee, include HaysMed’s Edward Herrman, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes, USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson, and Ellis County Commissioner Dustin Roths.
Other organizations represented include Grow Hays, United Way of Ellis County, First Call for Help, City of Ellis, City of Victoria, Ellis County Ministerial Alliance, Hays Public Library and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We wanted to create a body to cover every single pocket of people in Ellis County,” Schwaller said, “particularly those who have been hard to count.”
Schwaller said the census is an economic and social issue.
Although the census is used to establish representation in both Topeka and Congress, census numbers are also used to determine funding for a slew of federal program.
Schwaller gave the example of the Northwest Business Corridor project. The city and county are currently seeking federal grant funds for road improvements on 230th Avenue north of Interstate 70. If the county’s population is not counted correctly, that funding could be in jeopardy.
Funding for transportation, hospitals and education facilities are also determined by census numbers.
“(For) every individual in Ellis County who is not counted, we will lose over $2,000 per non-counted person per year for the next 10 years,” Schwaller said. “That could really hamper our efforts to, again, build roads, assist Fort Hays in getting proper financial aid for students and help the medical center.
“The federal funding is key to keeping the community alive.”
Accurate population counts are also important in recruiting new businesses.
“As we talk about recruiting new businesses, either retail or tech firms, they look at whether a community is growing or not and whether we have the population to support them,” Schwaller said.
The census has determined certain populations are hard to count. These can include older residents, who might not have access to technology, college students and children ages birth to 5.
Students who are living in Hays as of April 1 need to count themselves in the census as Hays resident, Schwaller said. FHSU will have its own Complete Count Subcommittee to target the student population.
The committee can look at data on the census site, not only who was counted in 2010, but what areas may be being underreported in 2020.
“In the past, the census counts in Ellis County have been questioned,” Schwaller said. “In the 2000 census, we were a little short after having some growth in the ’90s. That really hurt the community — the City of Hays and Ellis County — because it meant we couldn’t unlock some federal programs to help us with our airport, maintain major streets in the city and get funding for programs. We just didn’t qualify.
“Their participation not only benefits the community as a whole, but it benefits them because they are counted and they are shown as living here. They’ll have better roads, better access to better services.”
Between now and the end of 2019, the committee will develop a plan to get the word out about the census. In late January, the committee will begin to promote that message, including notification that local residents will receive information on how to log on to the census website and complete their census surveys. This is the first year you will be able to complete the census online.
Schwaller said the committee hopes to have personnel at the Hays Public Library and Forsyth Library who can help residents log on to the site census website.
He emphasized the census website is encrypted and secure, and none of your personal information will be released to businesses or other government agencies. When the census data is released, it is released as aggregate data, which omits details such as your name.
Other states provide funding to promote the census — Kansas does not. The Kansas Health Initiative is providing funding to the Kansas League of Cities to promote the census. Ellis County’s committee plans to apply for a grant through that program, Schwaller said.
RELATED STORY: Census: Inequality grew, including in heartland states
RELATED STORY:Census to go online for 2020 count
RELATED STORY: With Millions In Federal Aid At Stake, Kansas Urges Latinos Not To Skip 2020 Census
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Ellis County Strategic Doing Re-Start drew approximately 100 people to Hays on Sept. 9.
At a followup meeting on Oct. 8, “we’ll begin uncovering needs, wants, visions, dreams and plans of the great group of folks who attended,” said Sandy Jacobs, executive director of the Heartland Community Foundation.
Jacobs encouraged any interested Ellis County resident to attend next week’s meeting.
“We need you to participate whether you attended the first meeting or not. Your input is extremely important to the process of defining Ellis County now and in the future,” she said.
The overriding theme last month was the senior community, according to Jacobs.
A number of attendees organized themselves into a specific group to address issues for seniors. They talked about retirees moving into Hays from rural areas, intergenerational childcare, neighborhood community centers, and memory care units available outside of medical care facilities.
Others talked about the need for a larger domestic and sexual violence center, regional transportation, especially for seniors and youth, and recreational activities for middle and high school age students.
An entire wall was papered with sticky notes on which project suggestions were written by the participants.
Facilitator Betty Johnson has compiled the information into themes and will return with them Tuesday. Johnson’s position is funded by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan.
“We will share the six to eight themes and people can pick one they want to be a part of. That’s when the groups will actually form again,” explained Jacobs.
A project doesn’t have to be grandiose.
She points to last year’s “The Neighbor Project” as an example, which came from the theme of becoming a more inclusive community.
“I think the group was first looking at a grand outcome. Then they understood it’s a step at a time.
“Rather than creating new events to bring people together, they would take themselves into an existing event and bring conversation cards and a table for people to sit around and talk. Bringing people together who had never met each other or reaching out and inviting different ethnicities to be a part of what they’re doing.”
Jacobs says she gets goose bumps thinking about what “The Neighbor Project” is doing.
“Just one step at a time, they’re quietly taking care of business and I’m really proud of them.”
After meeting recently with Johnson, the group is working on a new project called “Donuts on the Drive.” They’ll provide the donuts and coffee, set up in a neighborhood yard, and invite all the nearby residents to join together.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. It’s all about gathering people.”
Strategic Doing Re-Start begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2350 E. 8th St. A meal will be served. RSVP to [email protected] or call 785-621-4090.
“If you have or know of a project that has stalled, is needing to uncover resources or just wants more participants , come join us,” urges Jacobs. “Let us help find what you need.”
