TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Greg Orman says he has no plans to run for political office “anytime soon” after unsuccessful campaigns as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate and governor in Kansas.
The Kansas City-area businessman made the statement in an email to supporters Tuesday touting a column for the RealClear Politics website that decried what Orman views as political corruption involving both major political parties.
He quoted Mark Twain: “There is nothing to be learned from the second kick of a mule.”
Orman received 6.5 percent of the vote in last year’s governor’s race. But he received nearly 43 percent of the vote in a race for the Senate in 2014 against longtime Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, with no Democrat running.
Roberts is not seeking re-election to the Senate in 2020.
Noel L. Turley, age 52, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at the St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas.
He was born on June 21, 1967 in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Melvin Quinton and Jean Ann Dauma Turley. A lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas, he was a carpenter and fabricator.
Noel was a 1985 gradate of Scott Community High School and was a member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Scott City, Kansas.
Survivors include his One Son – Mel Q. Turley of Garden City, Kansas, One Daughter – Samantha M. Briggs of Holcomb, Kansas, Mother – Jean Ann Turley of Scott City, Kansas, One Granddaughter, Nancy LeAnn Turley of Garden City, Kansas, Two Grandsons, Three Brothers – David L. Turley of Scott City, Kansas, Keith L. Turley of Phoenix, Arizona, Nathan L. Turley of Scott City, Kansas and One Sister – Connie Wright of Scott City, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his Father.
Funeral Services will be held at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Scott City, Kansas at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2019 with Pastor Warren Prochnow presiding.
Memorials can be made out to the Noel Turley Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
GREENFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas truck driver alleges in a lawsuit that two rail cars were “uncontrolled” when they struck his semi as he drove over a stretch of unmarked tracks in southwest Missouri in the dark.
Brandan Bunnel’s lawsuit against BNSF Railway was moved this month from state to federal court.
The suit says the collision happened in April 2018 as Bunnel left a Dade County grain elevator after unloading cargo there. The suit says he suffered “serious, life-altering injuries” and that his truck was damaged when the rail cars slammed into the vehicle’s passenger side.
The suit says that at the time the crossing had no signs indicating the crossing was there, but that stop signs and “private railroad crossing” signs have now been placed there.
TOPEKA — U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen highlighted that USDA is providing $150 million in grants through the agency’s Community Facilities Program. The grants will help rural communities across the country continue their recovery from the devastating effects of natural disasters, which includes hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, straight-line winds, wildfires, landslides, and mudslides.
Throughout Kansas, numerous communities were devastated by natural disasters this year,” said Hinrichsen.
“USDA’s Community Facilities program can help rural communities in their recovery efforts by ensuring they have public services and facilities available to support their residents.”
Hinrichsen’s announcement is in coordination with USDA Rural Development’s Rural Housing Service Administrator Bruce Lammer’s recent statement that $150 million is included in the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act that President Trump signed into law on June 6, 2019. The grants may be used for relief in areas affected by Hurricanes Michael and Florence; wildfires in 2018; and other natural disasters where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided a notice declaring a Major Disaster Declaration and assigned a FEMA disaster recovery (DR) number. Check the FEMA website for regular updates and names of additional communities that may be added.
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, non-profit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in eligible rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
Grant applications will be accepted at USDA Rural Development offices on a continual basis until funds are exhausted. Grant assistance will be provided on a graduated scale; smaller communities with the lowest median household income are eligible for a higher proportion of grant funds. For application details, contact a USDA Rural Development Community Programs Specialist in Kansas:
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ks.
Addie Marie Dunlap, 43, died Saturday, October 5, 2019 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. She was born March 8, 1976 in Goodland, Kansas the daughter of Timothy Joseph & Susan Kay (Bowen) Hill.
Addie grew up and attended schools in Hays and Russell. In 1989, she moved with her family to Holcomb where she graduated from high school in 1994. After high school, Addie moved to Garden City and has lived in Garden City since. A homemaker, she worked for many years as a CNA in home health. She was a member of Cornerstone Church in Garden City. Addie’s hobbies include going to the beach, bacon cheese fries, her church activities, and spending time with her children. She loved animals, especially her dogs “Remi”, “Hazel”, & “Ceasar”, bird watching, and turtles. Addie also had a true hatred for June Bugs.
On September 5, 1998, she married Mark Dunlap in Garden City. He survives. Other survivors include four sons Matthew Dunlap (Carissa), Brandon Dunlap, Aaron Dunlap (Kaelene Francis), and Preston Dunlap all of Garden City; a daughter Sydney Dunlap of Garden City; her father Timothy Joseph Hill of Hays, Kansas; two brothers Joseph Hill (Becky) of Garden City and Jonathan Koppel of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and one grandchild Kynslea Dunlap. Addie is preceded in death by her mother.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2019 at Cornerstone Church in Garden City with Pastor Ed Binns officiating. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. The family suggests memorials given to the Addie Dunlap Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.
Following a trend across the Johnson County suburbs, the Overland Park City Council passed an ordinance Monday night banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The move followed a hearing on the new non-discrimination measure in September that drew more than 50 people to a city community development committee meeting — and little opposition.
Council members adopted the ordinance on 10-1 vote on Monday.
Backers of the proposal took the Overland Park action as a landmark development.
“It’s fantastic,” said Brett Hoedl, chair of the Equality Kansas of Metro Kansas City. “We assumed it was going to go this way, but I get jittery every time we go into one of these meetings.”
He said the Overland Park ordinance could create pressure for adoption of a statewide law in Kansas banning discrimination against people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.
The new ordinance prevents residents and employees from being denied housing, employment or services from businesses because of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Brett Hoedl celebrates the passage of an non-discrimination ordinance offering protection to the LGBTQ community. CREDIT MICHELLE TYRENE JOHNSON
Council Member Dave White voted for the ordinance, but said he wanted more teeth in the legislation. The ordinance allows fines of up to $1,000.
“We’re saying, ‘Yes, it’s illegal but we can only fine them,’” White said. “We can’t do anything more than that and none of the money goes to the person who suffered the discrimination.”
Nearly two dozen states outlaw discrimination against someone because they are LGBTQ. Missouri and Kansas are not among them.
Overland Park is the largest city in Johnson County to pass a non-discrimination ordinance. It follows Kansas City, Kansas, Lawrence, Manhattan, Merriam, Roeland Park and Prairie Village.
Keri Maricle’s teaches anatomy and physiology using yoga at NCK Tech in Hays.
By BRENDA LEIKER NCK Tech
The beginning of yoga can be traced to over 5,000 years ago, and some scientists believe upwards of 10,000 years ago would be more accurate. When we think of yoga now, the idea of a body stretching and contorting in awkward shapes probably comes to mind.
However, to Keri Maricle’s Anatomy and Physiology class at NCK Tech, yoga has become a learning tool.
Students recently were learning about the muscular system and Maricle incorporated the popular activity into class.
“Students are looking to be more engaged,” said Maricle.
“They want to be involved; they want hands-on. Since this is what the focus is at NCK Tech (hands-on), this type of activity works great.”
Maricle had students on the floor mimicking an on-screen poses, labeling the muscles and according to Maricle, “rattling off the names of the muscles by the time class was over.”
Incorporating language and activities common to students in today’s society is changing the way to teach science. Taking selfies is an everyday occurrence for most students. Maricle has found a ways to take this non-stop activity and turn it into a learning tool.
Students were given directions on a particular “face” to make and then identify the muscles used in that particular expression. There are forty-three muscles in the face, and whether it is a smile, frown, pucker or wink, different muscles in the face work in unison to create the expression.
“Students have a higher retention rate when they are working with something they enjoy and do every day,” commented Maricle.
“The human body has been around for a very long time, but our understanding of how it works is continually changing. Teaching students about science (and the body) has to continually change also.”
Maricle is in her first year of teaching health sciences at NCK Tech but has taught students at all levels including high school, college and even elementary students involved in science camps.
She will be the featured speaker at the upcoming Science Café, Monday, October 14; 7:00 p.m. located at The Venue/Thirsty’s, 2704 Vine in Hays. The topic for the evening will be “Importance of Scientific Education in Western Kansas – Engaging young students and adults to think critically about the world around them.”
It appears that at least us folks who hang out at the Statehouse — and possibly the rest of voting-age Kansans —
may get dragged through the debate over who gets the final say on who gets to sit on the Kansas Supreme Court.
There are seven pretty good jobs on the high court, paying $145,600 a year (a dab more for the Chief Justice) and which include reserved indoor parking, so if they have automatic garage door openers at home, they don’t have to wear a coat to drive to work. Nice.
But choosing who gets those nice jobs is now pretty much the decision of the governor, who picks from three candidates who have been screened for qualification, or maybe weight, by the nine-member Supreme Court Nominating Commission. That commission is headed by a Kansas lawyer, and the roughly 10,000 Kansas-licensed lawyers elect one member from each congressional district to sit on the commission. The governor appoints four members, one from each congressional district, who may or may not be lawyers but generally have some free time.
Once the governor looks through the list of nominees, she/he names a winner, and the person is on the court.
Well, that’s not the way some folks look at it. They figure that lawyers choose lawyers for the majority of the commission, and those lawyers choose the nominees who will be recommended to the governor. Sort of an insiders’ deal among lawyers, they say.
Conservatives, generally, want something between that governor’s choice and the black robe, and want the Senate to have to confirm the governor’s choice—essentially veto power over an appointment they don’t like or feel may turn the court in a direction they don’t like, or maybe just a slap at lawyers winnowing the field for the court.
Some other folks figure that having a lot of lawyers on the Supreme Court Nominating Commission means that they’d probably nominate folks who have a pretty good background in the law so the governor can choose from journeymen, not apprentices.
The Special Committee on Judiciary last week suggested that the 2020 Legislature consider changing the state constitution as it deals with filling Supreme Court vacancies—getting rid of that nominating commission and letting the governor nominate a candidate who needs approval by the Senate.
The issue splits relatively oddly, even for the Kansas Legislature. Conservative Republicans don’t like Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly naming the next two members of the Supreme Court. Justice Lee Johnson and Chief Justice Lawton Nuss are retiring this year, and Kelly will get to name their replacements without Senate confirmation. That much is locked up…she’ll make her appointments before a constitutional amendment could be considered by Kansas voters.
But a constitutional amendment to give the Senate the final say and eliminate the Supreme Court Nominating Commission? That might—if approved in the Legislature by a two-thirds vote and a simple majority of Kansas voters—give the Senate the power to derail future nominations.
It puts all the power in the hands of 21 senators.
The result? Probably that lawmakers of a party different than that of the governor can blast the governor for making a bad choice, or at least a choice they don’t like. While governors for years have said they don’t specifically ask even in private meetings with the nominees just where they stand on, say, abortion or the death penalty or any number of controversial issues, don’t count on senators to even assert they won’t ask about issues, just general temperament.
Will one person make the decision about who gets to sit on the Supreme Court, or 21? And do a majority of voters care?
We’ll see…
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com
A Norton Correctional Facility offender, Saysavat N. Bounyadeth, died on Saturday, Oct. 5, according to a news release Tuesday from the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Bounyadeth, 43, was transported by ambulance to the Norton County Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m. The official cause of death is pending an autopsy; however, preliminary reports indicate Bounyadeth succumbed to a heart-related issue at the correctional facility.
It is the second death of a Norton inmate in less than a month. On Sept. 16, officials announced the death of Jeremy J. Palmer, 46, who was transported from a job site to the local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy showed Palmer died as a result of a cardiac event.
Bounyadeth’s death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the KDOC said in the release.
Bounyadeth was serving a 72-month sentence for previous convictions in Johnson County. In 2019, he was found guilty in Johnson County of two counts of burglary.
The Norton Correctional Facility houses low-medium and minimum-custody male offenders and has a population of 962.
Betty S. Nauert, 95, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Hays, KS on October 6, 2019 after a long and full life.
She was born January 2, 1924 on the farm in Glencoe Townships, Trego County to Rudolph and Caroline Georgian Seibel, the last of their 10 children.
She was a graduate of Trego County High School, Wakeeney, and attended Adela Hale School of Business in Hutchinson.
Betty married Edward Eugene Nauert on May 25, 1948 in Larned, KS. He preceded her in death on July 1, 2002. After marriage, they settled in Larned where they raised a family of five girls. She was employed at First State Bank and Trust Co. beginning of March 21, 1949, retiring April 30, 1990 and met many wonderful people throughout those years.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Altar Society, American Legion Auxiliary, V.F.W. Auxiliary, volunteered in Girl Scouts and the American Cancer Society.
Survivors include her five daughters, Carol Mott and fiancé Arlyn Smith, Wichita, Cathy Kuhn and husband Tom, Hays, Connie Lett, Olathe, Cherie Berndt and husband Terry, Manhattan, Cristi Mourn and husband Richard, Colorado Springs, CO; nine grandchildren: Ryan Mott and wife Haley, Melissa Mott, Brian Kuhn and wife Courtney, Brandon Kuhn and wife Ann, Ethan Lett, Hunter Berndt, Austin Mourn and wife Starla, Cambria Mourn, Jenna Mourn, and four great grandchildren: Clara Mott, Ruby Mott, Lola Mott, and Crislynn Mourn; a sister-in-law Faye Seibel, and many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers: Rudy Seibel and wife Eloise, Ervin, who passed away in infancy, Ed Seibel and wife Anna, Martin Seibel and wife Gwen, Carl Seibel and wife Norma, Henry Seibel; three sisters: Stella Tauscher and husband Lee, Erma Rueschhoff and husband Bill, Lydia Rueschhoff and husband Bob.
Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2019 at Sacred Heart Church, Larned with Father Bernard Felix officiating, with burial in Larned Cemetery, Larned. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2019 with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned.
Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Church or to the donor’s choice, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.
KANSAS CITY– Twenty defendants, primarily residents of Kansas City have been indicted for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Most of the defendants were arrested during a law enforcement operation last week that resulted in seizures of firearms, heroin and other illegal drugs, and large amounts of cash, according to the United State’s Attorney.
Errick Eugene Martin Jr., also known as “Dough Boy,” photo MDC
Ladele D. Smith, also known as “Dellio” and “Dog,” 32, Roy O. Franklin Jr., 29, David J. Duncan IV, also known as “Deei” or “DJ,” 30, Terrance R. Garner, also known as “T-Dot,” 34, Joshua D. Marchbanks, 29, Cory Tremaine Brown, also known as “Twin,” 39, Carleeon D. Lockett, also known as “Tone,” 27, Gary Othniel Toombs, 39, Errick Eugene Martin Jr., also known as “Dough Boy,” 28, Kenneth Dewayne Scott, also known as “Kenny,” 23, Cordell D. Edwards, also known as “Duke,” 31, Victor Gonzalez, also known as “Lil Vic” and “El Chavo,” 30, Michael E. Sims, also known as “Mikey,” 33, Cordarrel Lamonte Scott, also known as “DOB,” 33, Marco Rashon Maddox, 35, and Herman Graham Bell Jr., 64, all of Kansas City; Cornelius Phelps, also known as “Tim Tim,” 33, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Sirrico L. Franklin, also known as “Chico” and “Rico,” 28, of Raytown, Mo.; Lencorya Tiko Montrel Grady, also known as “Thick,” 44, of Springfield, Mo.; and Martin Christopher Garner, also known as “Looch” and “Lu Lu,” 32, of St. Louis, Mo., were charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
The federal indictment was unsealed following a law enforcement operation on Wednesday, Oct. 2, in which 16 of the 20 defendants were arrested. Approximately 200 federal agents and local law enforcement officers were involved in the operation, which also resulted in the arrests of two additional individuals who have been charged with being felons in possession of firearms in separate cases related to the underlying investigation of this case.
According to court documents, investigators seized 23 firearms, approximately 350 grams of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, $75,000 in cash, scales, an apparent drug ledger, and drug packaging materials during the course of the arrest operation and accompanying search warrants. Smith, Duncan, Martin, Garner, Gonzalez, Scott, Phelps, and Bell were arrested with firearms either on their person, in their vehicle, or in their residence.
The indictment alleges that all 20 of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute at least a kilogram of heroin, as well as cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, codeine, and marijuana, from Jan. 1, 2011, to Oct. 1, 2019.
In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Smith, Roy Franklin, Sirrico Franklin, and Toombs are charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, and using controlled substances.
Officers executed a search warrant at a residence maintained by Smith, Roy Franklin, Sirrico Franklin, and Toombs during the Oct. 2 operation and seized approximately 350 grams of suspected heroin, a digital scale, packaging material, two Glock handguns, two Mico Draco AK-47 pistols, a Century Arms AK-47 pistol, and an apparent bullet proof vest. According to court documents, officers also found a stolen Jeep, riddled with bullet holes and missing the back window, that allegedly had been used by conspirators in a shoot-out on Sept. 9, 2019, in the area of 35th Street and Woodland. Investigators also recovered live ammunition and shell casings inside the vehicle.
Duncan was among those arrested in his apartment during the Oct. 2 operation. According to court documents, officers located three firearms under his mattress: a Zastava M92PV, a Glock Model 19, and a Norinco MAK90 AK-47. Investigators also seized approximately $7,100 in cash, an apparent drug ledger on the nightstand listing nicknames and dollar amounts, and Duncan’s Dodge Charger.
LoVonna K. Jerauld, age 58, passed peacefully on September 28, 2019, following a long battle with cancer.
LoVonna was born November 14, 1960, in Garden City, Kansas, the daughter of Chester & Darlene (Rapier) Jerauld. LoVonna graduated in 1979 from Wichita County High School in Leoti, Kansas. She was employed in the Medical Bookkeeping Field for many years before her failing health forced her to step away.
Four Nieces-
Jennifer & Marc Edwards, Bethany Augustine, Katie & Matt Owings and Becky & Vince Gomez
Five Nephews-
Christopher Jerauld, Scott Jerauld, Nathan Augustine, Josh & Rachel Augustine & Joshua Rudrow.
And several Great Nieces and nephews.
Her father, Chester Jerauld, predeceased LoVonna.
Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas with Pastor Warren Prochnow officiating.
Burial will be in Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas.
There will be no calling times.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the American Cancer Society or Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Scott City, Kansas.
