RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigated a report of shots fired late Wednesday and early Thursday in the in the Redbud Estates manufactured home community in Riley County.
Just before 9:10 p.m., the Riley County Emergency Dispatch Center began receiving several calls reporting shots fired in the 2500 block of Farm Bureau Road.
When officers arrived on scene, they attempted to make contact with a 35-year-old male inside a residence where the shots were reportedly coming from.
As a precaution, people in the area were advised to shelter in place or evacuate depending on their proximity to the home.
Officers made contact with the man inside the residence. Officers later filed a report for criminal discharge of a firearm and disorderly conduct.
The scene was cleared a little after Midnight.
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RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigated a report of shots fired late Wednesday and early Thursday in the 2500 block of Farm Bureau Road in the Redbud Estates manufactured home community in Riley County.
The Riley County Police Department asked the public to stay away from the area while they investigated and later reported they took no actual enforcement activity
The RCPD released no additional information early Thursday morning. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.
TOPEKA — Kansas schools will require two new vaccines come August, including one against a virus that’s hospitalized 13,000 people and killed 200 across the country since 2016.
Vaccines against Hepatitis A and four types of meningococcal disease will be required for some grades come August. CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
The new rules, which apply to public and private schools, will be phased in over the next several years. But come August, schools will check that:
Kindergartners and first-graders have gotten hepatitis A vaccine.
Seventh-graders have had their first dose of a MenACWY, a vaccine against four types of meningococcal bacteria.
11th-graders get a dose of MenACWY, too (even students who received a first dose when they were younger will need a booster dose).
Kansas allows exemptions for medical and religious reasons, but not philosophical reasons.
Nationally, 25 states have seen more than 20,000 cases of hepatitis A in widespread outbreaks since 2016.
Most people shake off hepatitis A in a matter of weeks. Others fight it for months.
The liver infection often spreads through contamination in water, raw or undercooked foods or through sex.
Kansas hasn’t seen any recent cases, though its neighbors have. More than 300 in Missouri and nearly 100 in Colorado have gotten sick.
Read about the known side effects of specific vaccines here. No evidence links vaccines to autism, a myth that got its start with a debunked academic article. Read Autism Speaks’ FAQ page on what does and doesn’t cause autism here.
Most people shake off hepatitis A in a matter of weeks, the federal Centers for Disease Control say. But others fight the illness for months, suffering from things like diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, fever, jaundice and stomach pain.
Last month, the federal panel of health experts that sets vaccine guidelines recommended children and teens who missed the hepatitis A shots as toddlers get them now. In Kansas, federal data suggest more than 85% of children receive it as toddlers, in part because it was already required for day care.
Fewer Kansans get the MenACWY vaccine. Meningococcal bacteria cause, among other things, meningitis.
Source: Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Outbreaks are rare but nearly a third of patients die, lose limbs or sustain long-term brain damage.
People living in close quarters, such as college dorms, are at higher risk of contracting meningococcal disease.
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.
Shane Leroy Mullen, age 60, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, at his home in Oakley, Kan. Shane made his memorable first appearance on Sept. 16, 1958, being delivered by his grandmother, Mabel Linder, on his grandparent’s farm northeast of Leoti, Kan. Shane was the baby of the family, the son of Leonard and Sharon Mullen.
Growing up on a farm on Beaver Creek northeast of Leoti, he spent his days hunting, fishing, riding his horse named “Pal” and later becoming involved in 4-H and high school rodeo.
In 1976, Shane graduated from Wichita County High School and married Kathy Appl. From this union, a daughter, Shala Rae, was born on Aug. 22, 1977. They later divorced.
In 1982, Shane and his brother, Kevin, started K&S Trucking, and later he began custom harvesting and raising livestock. Shane had a deep love and respect for farming, ranching, and trucking and for the hardworking man. He knew that it took hard work and dedication to “get er done” and that “it ain’t easy being a big operator.”
On Oct. 22, 1994, Shane married Cindy Miller in Windsor, Colo. Their daughter, Katelyn Marie, was born on Sept. 26, 1998. Shane and Cindy farmed and ranched in rural Russell Springs, then later moved to Oakley, Kan., where they operated Mullen Custom Harvesting and continued to raise a small black angus herd on their farm south of Oakley. Shane was also a crop insurance adjuster and later started Mullen Insurance Agency serving farmers in western Kansas and eastern Colorado.
Shane was a member of the Butterfield Trail Historical Association and the Russell Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Shane was baptized the same day as his daughter, Katelyn. He was a member of the Winona United Methodist Church and later also a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church.
Shane’s surviving family includes his wife Cindy Mullen, Oakley, Kan.; two children, Shala (Kevan) Steele, Fredonia, Kan. and Katelyn Mullen, Oakley, Kan.; two grandchildren, Dillon Steele and Kinley Steele, Fredonia, Kan.; his mother, Sharon Mullen, Leoti, Kan.; three siblings, Rick (Patty) Mullen, Plainville, Kan., Kandice McCabe, Pueblo, Colo., and Kevin (Kathy) Mullen, Leoti, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Mullen.
There will be a visitation for Shane’s friends and family on Friday, July 19, 2019 at the Oakley United Methodist Church from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services for Shane will be at noon on Saturday, July 20 at the Oakley United Methodist Church.
Shane’s favorite desserts will be served at the church after the funeral service, with graveside services following at the Russell Springs cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Butterfield Trail Historical Association or the Oakley United Methodist Church, sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748.
Louene Daisy McBride, 104, Overland Park, formerly of Hays, died Monday, July 15, 2019 at Homestead of Overland Park.
She was born July 12, 1915 in Hesston, Kan., the sixth of seven children born to Ara H. and Hattie May (Boyer) Steele.
With her siblings, she would help on the family farm in Halstead.Every Sunday, she would bake cookies and the boys would play baseball.Louene graduated from Halstead High School in 1934 and soon began nurses training at Halstead Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1941.
Louene was a United States Army nurse, serving at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, Colo., during World War II.In 1943, she met and married Paul McBride.He preceded her in death in 1964.
She lived in Hays for over 50 years and was a nurse at Hadley Hospital.Louene was active in the First United Methodist Church, but most of all she was devoted to her family, helping and supporting them with their respective interests in music, football and going to Kansas City Royals games.
As an avid card and game player, Louene was a member of several bridge and canasta clubs.She loved to work on jigsaw puzzles, help make scrapbooks, and was a lifelong fan of any Kansas sport with KU and K-State basketball and KC Royals baseball being her favorites.She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.
Survivors include her son-in-law; John Bundy of DeSoto, two grandchildren; Brent Bessey of Shawnee and Kim Erickson and husband Scott of Valley Falls, six great-grandchildren; Tyler Bessey, Hunter Bessey, Gracie Bessey, Sophie Bessey, Courtney Henney, and Jonathan Henney and fiancé Ashlyn Bartling, numerous nieces and nephews, and many adopted loved ones and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; Paul, her daughter; Mary Margaret Bundy, a step-son; Jerry McBride, five brothers; Alva, Eldo, Wayne, Floyd, and Bob Steele and a sister; Zella Crandall.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019 at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St., Hays, Kansas.Burial will follow in Fort Hays Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until service time on Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the ISIS Shrine Circus or Amedisys Compassionate Care Hospice of Kansas City.Condolences and memories of Louene may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas priest has been charged with one count of possessing child pornography.
Christopher Rossman-courtesy photo
The Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, said in a news release Thursday that it reported Christopher Rossman to authorities in September 2016 after learning he had accessed inappropriate content on his computer. Rossman was suspended from the ministry at that time.
The archdiocese said it received information that an FBI investigation resulted in the charge being filed.
At the time, Rossman was pastor at Roman Catholic churches in Baldwin City and Lapeer. He previously worked at churches in Olathe, Topeka, Holton, Mayetta and Potawatomi Reservation.
The Kansas City Star reports Rossman’s attorney, Scott Toth, said it was too early to comment on the case.
Two new vaccines will be required for school-age children for the 2019-20 School Year: Meningococcal and Hepatitis A. KDHE proposed changes to the vaccine requirement regulations earlier this year and held a public hearing concluding a 60-day public comment period in June. The regulations were approved by KDHE and will go into effect on August 2.
“We received many comments and input from all viewpoints,” KDHE Secretary Lee Norman said. “We listened and read all of the input and concerns submitted to us. We looked at the evidence. Both Meningitis and Hepatitis A illnesses are severe and preventable, and the safety profile of the vaccines is well-recognized. As an agency charged to establish policies that protect and improve the lives of Kansans, we felt the addition of the two vaccines was essential for the health and safety of our state.”
Changes for 2019-20 School Year
Students entering Kindergarten and Grade 1 for the 2019 -2020 school year now need two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine.
Students entering Grade 7 for the 2019-2020 school year need one dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.
Students entering Grade 11 need one dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine if not vaccinated prior to their 16th birthday. They will need two doses if their first dose was before their 16th birthday.
The meningococcal ACWY vaccine protects against meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease has two common outcomes: meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and bloodstream infections. The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease spread through the exchange of nose and throat droplets, such as when coughing, sneezing, or kissing. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. With bloodstream infection, symptoms also include a dark purple rash. About one of every 10 people who gets the disease dies from it. Survivors of meningococcal disease may lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become developmentally disabled, or suffer seizures or strokes.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
The hepatitis A vaccine protects against the hepatitis A virus. The virus is spread primarily person to person through the fecal-oral route. In other words, the virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (stool) of an infected person. Symptoms can include fever, tiredness, poor appetite, vomiting, stomach pain and sometimes jaundice (when skin and eyes turn yellow). An infected person may have no symptoms, may have mild illness for a week or two, may have severe illness for several months, or may rarely develop liver failure and die from the infection. In the U.S., about 100 people a year die from hepatitis A.
Exemptions from Vaccines
There are exemptions to vaccines. In accordance with KSA 72-6262, legal alternatives to vaccination requirements include medical contraindications and religious beliefs. The medical exemptions signed by a medical clinician must be submitted on an annual basis by the family/guardian of the student. There could also be instances in which a person has a religious belief that prevents them from receiving a particular vaccination. The parent/guardian of the student must submit a written statement indicating they are adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such vaccination. The school board or governing body for nonpublic schools are responsible for ensuring compliance with the regulations and statutes.
There is still time to enjoy the Ellis County Fair.
The Demo Derby is at 7:30 tonight at RPM Speedway.
The pits open at 3:30 p.m.
Monster trucks will take center stage at RPM at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
You can head out early and check out the exhibits in the air-conditioned Unrein Building and enjoy rootbeer floats at 5 tonight in the livestock arena sponsored by Midland Marketing.
DOC will take the Midway stage at 8:30 tonight.
Thursday night schedule.
5:00 p.m. Free Root Beer Floats – sponsored by Midland Marketing – Livestock Show Arena
5:00 p.m. 4-H Dairy Show – Livestock Arena, immediately following – 4-H & Open Class Bucket Calf Show, immediately following 4-H Beef Show
5:00-10:00 p.m. Commercial Exhibits open in Unrein Family Building
5:00-10:00 p.m. Face Painting-TMP Cheeleaders – Unrein Family Building
6:00-10:00 p.m. Jason D’Vaude – Modern Vadevillian – Midway
6:00-10:00 p.m. Totally Twisted Balloon Artist – Midway
6:00-10:00 p.m. Hays Hobby Shop, RC Cars open practice
6:00-10:00 p.m. Inflatable Carnival & Laser Tag $5 armbands
7:00-8:00 p.m. Happy Hour-Beer Garden
7:30 p.m. Demolition Derby – RPM Speedway
8:30 p.m. DOC @ Midway Stage
Friday
7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
4-H Food Stand Open
8:30 a.m.
Register for 4-H Livestock Judging Contest – Livestock Arena
9:00 a.m.
4-H Livestock judging contest begins
10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Schenk Building open for public viewing
4:00-6:30 p.m.
4-H BBQ-Deutschfest Hall & Unrein Family Building
5:00-9:00 p.m.
Commercial Exhibits open in Unrein Family Building
5:00-9:00 p.m.
Face Painting-TMP Cheeleaders – Unrein Family Building
The story has been corrected after the Pawnee County Attorney sent incorrect information.
PAWNEE COUNTY— A Kansas man has been found not guilty of burglary in Pawnee County.
Lyle Miller photo Pawnee Co.
On Wednesday a Pawnee County District Court jury heard testimony that on August 26, 2018, while checking cattle on leased property in northern Pawnee County a farmer noticed the chain leading back into the property had been cut, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.
Upon closer inspection, he discovered the locks securing the barn, a trailer house and an RV located on the property had been broken. The Pawnee County Sheriff was then called to the scene.
Later the same afternoon, the defendant 49-year-old Harold Mason was stopped and arrested in Barton County on local charges.
Shayla Richmeier, 28, and Eric Reed, 47, both of Great Bend were also arrested at the time. A search of his vehicle located items from the Pawnee County Burglary, a faucet still in the original box with the victim’s name on the shipping label and various boy scout memorabilia. At the time, the defendant told a Barton County Detective he’d purchased the faucet and did not know how the other items ended up in vehicle. None of the other items reported stolen have been recovered.
Mason did not testify in his own defense, nor did he present any witnesses.
The jury made up of 7 women and 5 men deliberated for approximately 80 minutes before returning a Not Guilty verdict.
In March, the co-defendant, Richmeier, entered a No Contest plea to an amended charge of Criminal Trespass. The State agreed to dismiss similar charges against Reed prior to Preliminary Hearing, according to McNett.
Online enrollment is now live for Hays USD 489. Click here.
You can access the online enrollment portal by using your PowerSchool log in information. If you don’t remember your PowerSchool password, there is an option on the login page to reset the password.
Families with new students and incoming kindergarten students must enroll at Hays High School on Wednesday, July 31 or Thursday, Aug. 1.
Please email Amy Arnhold at [email protected] if you have any questions with the electronic enrollment process.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Officials in West Palm Beach are hoping a continuous loop of children’s songs played throughout the night will keep homeless people from sleeping on the patio of a city-owned rental banquet facility.
West Palm Beach parks and recreation director Leah Rockwell tells the Palm Beach Post they’re trying to discourage people from sleeping outside the glass-walled Waterfront Lake Pavilion, which she says rakes in some $240,000 annually from events.
The loop of “Baby Shark” and “Raining Tacos” is a temporary fix to keep homeless people off the patio. Rockwell says the city wants to formalize hours for the facility, which should make trespassing laws easier to enforce.
Illaya Champion tells the Post “it’s wrong” to chase people away with music. He says he’ll still sleep there, but “it’s on and on, the same songs.”
