COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and USD 465 officials are investigating a school janitor for alleged sex crimes.
Jantzen photo Cowley County
On Sunday, a parent and student reported to police incidents that took place between the juvenile and an employee at Winfield High School, according to a media release.
Following an investigation, police arrested 21-year-old Brenden Jantzen on a requested charge of indecent liberties with a girl under the age of 16, according to the release.
Jantzen is on the USD 465 staff as a custodian, according to district director of business and finance Tom Fell.
His job duties also included working with the district’s in-school suspension program.
On Wednesday, Jantzen was formally charged and is no longer in custody, according to online court records.
On September 9, theUSD 465 school board will meet and may determine Jantzen’s employment status, according to Fell.
Jantzen is due in court again September 25, according to the county attorney’s office.
NEW YORK —Walgreens announced on its corporate website Thursday that the company is joining other retailers in asking our customers to no longer openly carry firearms into their stores other than authorized law enforcement officials.
On Tuesday, Walmart and Dillons parent company Kroger have requested that customers not openly carry firearms in their stores, even where state laws allow it.
Last month, a gunman entered a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, killing 22 people . The gunman used an AK-style rifle — one that Walmart already bans the sale of — in the deadliest shooting in the company’s history. Texas became an open carry state in 2016, allowing people to openly carry firearms in public.
The nation’s largest retailer has been facing increasing pressure to change its gun policies by gun control activists, employees and politicians after the El Paso shooting and a second unrelated shooting in Dayton, Ohio, that killed nine people . A few days before that, two Walmart workers were killed by another worker at a store in Southaven, Mississippi.
In the aftermath of the El Paso shooting, Walmart took an initial step of ordering workers in stores nationwide to remove video game signs and displays that depict violence. But that fell well short of demands for the retailer to stop selling firearms entirely. Critics have also wanted Walmart to stop supporting politicians backed by the NRA.
The retailer has long found itself in an awkward spot with its customers and gun enthusiasts. Many of its stores are located in rural areas where hunters depend on Walmart to get their equipment. Walmart is trying to walk a fine line by trying to embrace its hunting heritage while being a more responsible retailer.
With its new policy on “open carry,” McMillon noted in his memo that individuals have tried to make a statement by carrying weapons into its stores just to frighten workers and customers. But there are well-intentioned customers acting lawfully who have also inadvertently caused a store to be evacuated and local law enforcement to be called to respond.
Walmart and Kroger joins a string of other retailers and restaurants including Starbucks, Target and Wendy’s in asking customers not to openly carry their guns when they visit their premises. But they are not enforcing an outright ban because they don’t want to put their employees in confrontational situations.
Walmart says it hopes to help other retailers by sharing its best practices in background checks. And the company, which in 2015 stopped selling assault rifles like the AR-rifles used in several mass shootings, urged more debate on the reauthorization of the assault weapons ban while also calling for the government to strengthen background checks. Walmart said it sent letters Tuesday to the White House and the congressional leadership that call for action on these “common sense” measures.
Kroger said late Tuesday that it’s joining those encouraging elected leaders to pass laws that will strengthen background checks and remove weapons from those who have been found to pose a risk for violence.
Over the last 15 years, Walmart had expanded beyond its hunting and fishing roots, carrying items like assault rifles in response to increasing demand. But particularly since 2015, often coinciding with major public mass shootings, the company has made moves to curb the sale of ammunition and guns.
Walmart announced in February 2018 that it would no longer sell firearms and ammunition to people younger than 21 and also removed items resembling assault-style rifles from its website. Those moves were prompted by the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people.
In 2015, Walmart stopped selling semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15 style rifle, the type used in the Dayton shooting. The retailer also doesn’t sell large-capacity magazines. Dick’s Sporting Good stopped selling assault-style weapons in 2018.
In a news release Thursday, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office reported fielding multiple reports of a caller impersonating the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office asking the recipient to return a phone call to number 844-242-0008.
Upon calling the number back, the scammer tells the victim they’ve either failed to appear in Ellis County District Court or are the defendant in a lawsuit in another state in which they’ve failed to appear.
The scammer then persuades the victim into paying a court fine or the lawsuit off with American Express prepaid gift cards, coaxing the victim to relay the card account numbers over the phone.
“We do not request bond payment through American Express prepaid gift cards,” the sheriff’s office said. “Our main office telephone number remains 785-625-1040. If you receive a call from our office regarding a similar request, simply hang up on the scamster and report the incident to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
Finally, we are working toward resolving these unsolicited calls through normal investigative procedure. No matter how long it takes. As always, we thank you for your continued support.”
WEST HAVEN, Conn.– The University of New Haven has named former University of Kansas Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., as its new director of athletics and recreation, according to a media release from the school.
Zenger photo courtesy UNH
KU fired Zenger in May 2018. He replaces Chris Palmer, a former football coach who spent decades in the National Football League, who retired earlier this year.
Zenger played football at Fort Hays State University.
With more than 25 years of experience in administration, development, coaching, and academia, Zenger brings unprecedented experience to the Chargers. Most recently, he served as an assistant to the chancellor at Texas Christian University and an adviser to the director of athletics. Prior, he was director of athletics for the University of Kansas (2011 to 2018) and Illinois State University (2005 to 2011).
Zenger, who officially joined the University on September 1, leads the University’s intercollegiate athletics program and oversees its recreational offerings. He has been charged with directing the University’s early exploration of a potential move to the Division I level.
“President Kaplan’s growth of the University’s programs, facilities, and endowment during his tenure has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Zenger said. “And his excitement about expanding the University’s athletic footprint and reputation is exceptional. I am very pleased to be joining this remarkable community and can’t wait to begin contributing to the University’s success.”
Zenger was selected following an extensive national search that was conducted by a university-wide committee, in consultation with DHR International, a respected global executive search firm. During the recruiting process for this vital position, President Kaplan and Zenger connected on a multitude of levels. The duo will jointly teach a seminar for honors students that will take place during the fall semester.
As director of athletics at the University of Kansas, Zenger raised tens of millions in funds, built nine athletic buildings, and created a culture of collegiality in the athletic department. During his seven years, the athletic teams combined to make nearly 70 postseason appearances. The program earned four national Coach of the Year awards and 11 Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year awards. Twice during his tenure the athletics department set a record for the program’s highest cumulative GPA.
“We are thrilled to bring Sheahon’s broad background and talent to the University of New Haven and look forward to his vision and leadership of our athletics program,” said President Kaplan. “He brings a unique combination of strengths and experience that are aligned with our ambitious vision to ensure that our student-athletes compete at the highest level on and off the field.”
Zenger joins the University at an exciting time in its history. Earlier this year, the University announced that The Charger Challenge, the University’s inaugural comprehensive campaign, which was launched as a precursor to the University’s Centennial in 2020, exceeded its original goal of $100 million. The milestone, which does not include more than $28 million in federal and state contracts that have also been secured during the campaign, was reached almost a year in advance of the start of the 100th year, leading the University to increase its campaign goal to $120 million to raise additional funds for, among other priorities, athletics. According to President Kaplan, continuing to build the athletics program will help advance the momentum that has taken place on campus.
“Our student-athletes have long proven to be stars on the field, in the classroom, and in the community, said President Kaplan. “I am confident that Sheahon will take our already successful athletics program to an even higher level. I look forward to the many important contributions he will undoubtedly make.”
According to the release, the University of New Haven is a private, co-educational university that was founded on the Yale campus in 1920.
LINCOLN COUNTY, NE — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.
photo courtesy Nebraska State patrol
Just after 1 a.m. Tuesday, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol observed an eastbound Nissan Pathfinder speeding near York, according to a media release. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 detected the odor of a controlled substance coming from inside the vehicle.
Troopers searched the vehicle and found approximately 18 pounds of marijuana as well as 800 THC vape cartridges. The driver, Aaron Braun, 26, of Madison, Wisconsin, and passenger, Kristofor Cooks, 27, of Fitchburg, Wisconsin were both arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp. Both were booked into the York County Jail.
Later Tuesday morning, another trooper observed a Ford F-250 with a license plate violation traveling eastbound near North Platte. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle revealed 14 pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and multiple types of controlled pills. The driver, Keith Cerney, 32, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no drug tax stamp. He was booked into the Lincoln County Jail.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Google will pay $170 million to settle allegations its YouTube video service collected personal data on children without their parents’ consent.
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joe Simons during Wednesday’s media briefing on the settlement
The company agreed to work with video creators to label material aimed at kids and said it will limit data collection when users view such videos, regardless of their age.
Some lawmakers and children’s advocacy groups, however, complained that the settlement terms aren’t strong enough to rein in a company whose parent, Alphabet, made a profit of $30.7 billion last year on revenue of $136.8 billion, mostly from targeted ads.
Google will pay $136 million to the Federal Trade Commission and $34 million to New York state, which had a similar investigation. The fine is the largest the FTC has levied against Google, but it’s tiny compared with the $5 billion fine against Facebook this year for privacy violations.
YouTube “baited kids with nursery rhymes, cartoons, and more to feed its massively profitable behavioral advertising business,” Democratic Commissioner Rohit Chopra said in a tweet. “It was lucrative, and it was illegal.”
The federal government has increased scrutiny of big tech companies in the past two years — especially questioning how the tech giants collect and use personal information from their billions of customers. Many of the huge Silicon Valley companies are also under antitrust investigations aimed at determining whether the companies have unlawfully stifled competition.
Kids under 13 are protected by a 1998 federal law that requires parental consent before companies can collect and share their personal information.
Tech companies typically skirt that by banning kids under 13 entirely, though such bans are rarely enforced. In YouTube’s lengthy terms of service, those who are under 13 are simply asked, “please do not use the Service.”
Yet many popular YouTube channels feature cartoons or sing-a-longs made for children. According to the FTC, YouTube assigned ratings to its video channels and even had a “Y” category directed at kids ages 7 or under, but YouTube targeted ads to those kids just as they would adults.
The FTC’s complaint includes as evidence Google presentations describing YouTube to toy companies Mattel and Hasbro as the “new Saturday Morning Cartoons” and the “#1 website regularly visited by kids.”
“YouTube touted its popularity with children to prospective corporate clients,” FTC Chairman Joe Simons said. But when it came to complying with the law, he said, “the company refused to acknowledge that portions of its platform were clearly directed to kids.”
According to the settlement, Google and YouTube will get “verifiable” consent from parents before they collect or use personal information from children. The company also agreed not to use data collected from children before.
YouTube has its own service for children, YouTube Kids. The kids-focused service already requires parental consent and uses simple math problems to ensure that kids aren’t signing in on their own.
YouTube Kids does not target ads based on viewer interests the way the main YouTube service does. But the children’s version does track information about what kids are watching in order to recommend videos. It also collects personally identifying device information.
On Wednesday, Google said that starting early next year, YouTube will also limit personalized ads on its main service for videos meant for kids. Google is relying on video creators to label such items, but will employ artificial intelligence to help.
YouTube won’t seek parental consent there, however, even on videos intended for children. YouTube is avoiding that precaution by instead turning off any personal tracking on those videos, saying it will collect only what is needed to make the service work. For such videos, YouTube also won’t offer features like comments and notifications.
Videos made for kids will still feature ads — just not the targeted, personal ads that generally bring in the most money for video creators.
“I think there has been a general anxiety of the kids and family community of creators on YouTube for quite some time,” said Chris Williams, CEO and founder of pocket.watch, a studio that works with many popular YouTube child stars, including Ryan ToysReview.
Pocket.watch helps YouTube stars expand beyond the streaming site and find new lines of business, from consumer products to network TV shows. Williams expects that business to become more important. But YouTube will still be the big way to build an audience, he said.
“It represents a part of the puzzle for your brand growth, a big one,” he said.
The settlement now needs to be approved by a federal court in Washington. As with the Facebook settlement, the FTC vote was 3-2, with both Democrats opposing it as too weak.
Sen. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said the settlement won’t turn YouTube into a safe place for children and “makes clear that this FTC stands for ‘Forgetting Teens and Children.'”
A coalition of advocacy groups that helped trigger the investigation said the outcome will reduce behavioral advertising targeting children.
Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, said the settlement “finally forced Google to confront its longstanding lie that it wasn’t targeting children on YouTube.”
But he said the “paltry” fine signals that politically powerful corporations can break the law without serious consequences.
Other critics, including dissenting Democratic Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, said too much responsibility was being placed on video creators to classify their own content as kid-oriented, and thus limited to less-lucrative ads. They say that potentially allows Google to turn a blind eye as some try to cheat the system to make more money through ad revenue sharing.
Andrew Smith, the FTC’s consumer protection director, acknowledged that concern as valid, but said YouTube “has strong incentives to police its platform” to avoid further action.
Google is already under a 2011 agreement with the FTC that barred it from mispresenting its privacy policy and subjected the company to 20 years of regular, independent privacy audits. Google was fined $22.5 million in 2012 for violating that settlement when the FTC found it improperly used tracking cookies on Apple’s Safari browser.
Chi-Ying Huang passed away Wednesday evening, September 4, 2019 at the Goodland Regional Medical Center. He was the son of Ai-Yu Huang and Chung-Chong Yu Huang born in Shanghai, China on May 24, 1937.
Ying was the youngest son of five, he and his parents immigrated to Anchorage, Alaska in 1955 and settled in Seward, Alaska. Ying graduated from Seward High School and he attended the University of Alaska and later graduated from the Institute of Medical Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1959. His first job as a medical technologist was in Wenatchee, Washington. In 1960, he served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Berlin, Germany for two years.
After an honorable discharge from the Army in 1962, Ying assumed his profession in medical technology in Goodland, Kansas in January of 1963. On January 24, 2006 he retired after 43 years of employment with the Goodland Regional Medical Center.
Ying married Kin Hsu on November 27, 1965 in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Catholic Church, Goodland, Kansas. They have been married 53 years and have 3 children, Lauren (Ping) Morris-Omaha, NE, Kalissa (Ming) Kaufman McAtee and husband Mike-Colorado Springs, CO, Lung Huang and wife Courtney-New York City, NY. Ying enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren-Connor & Brenna Morris, Victoria & Audrey Kaufman, and Parker and Archie Huang.
Ying had recovered from a medical crisis Oct. 2017 and had been able to enjoy traveling to spend time with his children and grandchildren, playing poker, lunch and socializing at the hospital, Wednesday night dinners with friends, PEO Chapter Z BIL gatherings, gardening, and being a handyman. Ying should be remembered most by his caring smile, laugh and willingness to help everyone.
Ying served as a member of the Goodland Medical Foundation Board, Goodland City Commission, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, the Veterans of Foreign War, the Goodland Elks Lodge and the Sugar Hills Golf Club and was an active member with the Goodland Cemetery Board.
Ying is preceded in death by his parents, brothers-Chi-Hung, Chi-Tim, sister-Chi-Mei Huang Chao, and niece Lydia Chao.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 6, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with a Rosary Service being held at 7:00pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 10:30 AM MT at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland with Father Andrew Rockers and Father Norbert Dlabal officiating. Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.
Memorials may be designated to the Ying Huang Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Funeral services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and after asking the public for help have located a suspect and made an arrest.
Donald Jackson, Jr. photo Topeka PoliceDonald Jackson, Jr., photo Shawnee Co. Jail
Just after 11:00 p.m. August 27, police were dispatched to the 2500 Block of SW Clay in Topeka after report of a shooting, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.
Upon arrival, officers located a woman who was suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg. AMR transported her to a local hospital for treatment.
Information gathered has led investigators to issue an attempt to locate for Donald Jackson Jr, 44 of Topeka. He was last seen leaving the area in a small, red, two door vehicle, according to Jones.
On Wednesday, the US Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force located Jackson and arrested for on requested charges that include Aggravated Battery, Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling and Shooting into an Unoccupied Dwelling, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.
Jackson has numerous convictions that include arson, criminal threat, obstruction and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He was released from prison August 15.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.
Donald Jackson, Jr. photo Topeka Police
Just after 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 2500 Block of SW Clay in Topeka after report of a shooting, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.
Upon arrival, officers located a woman who was suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg. AMR transported her to a local hospital for treatment.
Information gathered has led investigators to issue an attempt to locate for Donald Jackson Jr, 44 of Topeka. He was last seen leaving the area in a small, red, two door vehicle, according to Jones.
Police advised the public not approach Jackson and notify law enforcement if you see him.
Jackson has numerous convictions that include arson, criminal threat, obstruction and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He was released from prison August 15.
HUTCHINSON— A woman found beaten and unconscious in an alley in Hutchinson August 24 has died.
Ervin photo Reno County
According to the Reno County Attorney’s office, 29-year-old Lora Stratton died at a Wichita hospital. She never regained consciousness.
Senior District Attorney Thomas Stanton says he will be filing a motion amending charges against 24-year-old Isaac G. Ervin to first-degree murder.
Stanton says no additional charges are anticipated at this time against the co-defendant, 22-year-old Delshay Visonhaler, who is charged with one count of reckless aggravated battery and one count of obstruction.
Ervin is expected to make an appearance before Judge Joe McCarville for a status hearing on Sept. 18. Stanton says the amended charges will be brought against the defendant at that time.
Cheryl Ann Nedrow Kastle-Fenton was born on March 15, 1945 in Phoenix, Arizona to Cyril P. Nedrow and Mary Grace Elizabeth James Nedrow.
She moved back the family farm in Kirwin, Kansas shortly after WWII ended. She attended school in Kirwin, KS until she graduated in 1963. She then attended Fort Hays State college for 1 year before marrying her high school sweetheart, Larry S. Kastle. They were wed on March 15, 1964.
Cheryl moved west with Larry as work took them to Western Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado. They eventually settled in Berthoud, CO in 1968 where they raised their two children, Tracy and Lori, and lived out the remainder of her life. During these years, Cheryl was very involved in her community. She was a Cub Scout den leader for 2 years, Scout Committee Chair for 2 years, Campfire Girl leader for 2 years, Charter member of the local Lioness Club, Lions Club member, held numerous offices for the bowling leagues she was involved in, 9 Health Fair Coordinator for 14 years, United Methodist Women member, involved in the organization of the UMW Craft Fair and Bake Sale, and charter member of the Berthoud Community Fund Committee. On top of her volunteer activities Cheryl worked as a Pharmacy Tech for Berthoud Drug then McKee Medical Center for 13 years. She went back to school in 1992 and attained her Certified Dental Assistant. She worked 11 years for Dr. Gary Dicks in Longmont, CO until her retirement in 2005. On May 26th, 2007 Cheryl married David W. Fenton in Berthoud, CO. They were married until her passing.
She is survived by husband David; son, Tracy A Kastle (Glenda) of LaPorte, CO; daughter, Lori A Ungaro (Brian) of Green River, WY; step daughter, Annette Watson (Mike) of Oklahoma; step son, Matt Fenton (Connie) of Livermore, CO; step daughter, Valerie Hennessey (Jason) of Windsor, CO; sister, Kathryn Lohrmeyer of California; sister, Mary Buchanan (Doug) of Lyons, KS;12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Cheryl was preceded in death by husband, Larry Kastle; parents Mary Grace and Cyril Nedrow.
A Life Celebration Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday September 13th, 2019 at the Kirwin United Methodist Church, 151 W Main Kirwin, KS. A luncheon will directly follow the service in the basement. Interment to take place at 1:30 pm in the Bogart Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the “Berthoud United Methodist Enduring Gift Fund” c/o Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home,1102 N Lincoln Ave Loveland, CO 80537.
Ronald F. “Ron” Munsch, 69, Schoenchen, died Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at HaysMed.
He was born January 19, 1950 in Hays, the son of Whitey and Leanore (Leiker) Munsch. He was a truck driver for Whitey Munsch Trucking, a ringman for Bob Munsch Real Estate and Auction, and worked for Town and Country Well Service. In 1976 he was married to Rita Ellis. They later divorced. Ron was a jack of all trades. He enjoyed gardening, going to auctions, cooking, and barbequing hogs for picnics and parties. He loved his grandkids.
He is survived by his three sons; Bill Munsch and wife Maria of Hutchinson, Rick Munsch and wife Nikki of Great Bend, and Allen Munsch and wife Ivone of Hutchinson, a daughter; Michelle Pollman and husband Shawn of Walnut, a brother; Bob Munsch and wife Karen of Schoenchen, two sisters; Kathy Thompson and husband Bill of Schoenchen and Jeannie Munsch and husband Bob Jarmer of Great Bend, eight grandchildren; Jerrod Norton and wife Kylie, Shawlisa John and husband Jesse, Hunter Pollman, Braxton Love, Darin Munsch, Caylon Munsch, Sophia Harrison, and João Munsch, and three great grandchildren; Camdon Norton, Kaiden Norton, and Hadley John.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be at a later date. Burial took place at St. Anthony Cemetery in Schoenchen. Memorials are suggested to American Legion Post #180, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Condolences and memories of Ron may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com
