Year: 2019
Tributes to Michael Jackson flow on 10th death anniversary
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s estate paid tribute to his artistry and charity Tuesday as fans began gathering to celebrate his memory on the 10th anniversary of the King of Pop’s death.
“Ten years ago today, the world lost a gifted artist and extraordinary humanitarian,” the Jackson estate said in a statement to The Associated Press. “A decade later,
Michael Jackson is still with us, his influence embedded in dance, fashion, art and music of the moment. He is more important than ever.”
The estate has doggedly worked to protect and enhance Jackson’s legacy, a task made more challenging this year when two men accused Jackson of molesting them as boys in the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland,” sparking new scrutiny of years-old claims that Jackson preyed on children. Jackson was acquitted of abuse allegations in 2005 and always vehemently denied such allegations, and the estate and his family angrily refuted the men’s claims when the documentary was released in March, noting the men had at one time been among Jackson’s biggest defenders and one testified on his behalf at his criminal trial.
The estate is using the anniversary of Jackson’s death to celebrate and accentuate Jackson’s vast humanitarian work. It called on fans to honor Jackson’s memory by engaging in charitable acts “whether it’s planting a tree, volunteering at a shelter, cleaning up a public space or helping someone who is lost find their way. … This is how we honor Michael,” the statement read.
Mourners began to gather early Tuesday and placed elaborate flower arrangements and poster-sized pictures of Jackson, some featuring signed messages from dozens of fans, outside his mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
A florist delivered on arrangement from a client in Japan. A heart made from flowers in the colors of the Iranian flag featured the message “Iran (hearts) MJ.” Another flowered heart read “Love from Denmark.”
A fan from Las Vegas, dressed as Jackson in bright red shirt and one white glove, was among the first mourners to appear.
Fans also plan to gather at Jackson’s last home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, where the singer received a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol on the afternoon of June 25, 2009, from his doctor. Jackson was declared dead at a hospital at age 50.
Others planned to gather around Jackson’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One group planned a Hollywood rally Tuesday to declare his innocence of molestation allegations.
Thomas Mesereau, the attorney who successfully defended Jackson at his 2005 trial, issued a statement Tuesday saying “Jackson’s compassion, humanity, empathy and talent continues to inspire family, friends, supporters and fans across the globe. The legend of this great father, son, sibling and artist marches forward with characteristic brilliance and wonder. His legacy can be attacked by opportunists. But it will never be defeated. Michael Jackson was a great and kind man.”
John Branca and John McClain, both major figures in Jackson’s career when he was alive, as co-executors have taken his badly debt-ridden estate and grossed over $1.3 billion through various Jackson-related projects in the past decade, including the film “This Is It,” a pair of Cirque du Soleil shows and the sale of Jackson assets that included The Beatles catalog.
Jackson left everything to his mother, his children and charity in his will.
The singer’s father, Joe, died last year and is buried in the same cemetery as his son, but Michael’s 89-year-old mother, five brothers, three sisters and three kids remain alive and well 10 years later.
The death of Jackson was a massive cultural phenomenon, bringing an outpouring of public affection and revival of his songs and largely erasing the taint that remained after his criminal trial, despite his acquittal.
It was one of the earliest instances of the mass mourning on social media that would soon become common, and a massive worldwide audience both on TV and online watched his July 27, 2009 public memorial that included touching tributes from family members including daughter Paris and performances from Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie.
Kan. pilot forgets to retract landing gear during touch-and-go practice
SEDGWICK COUNTY — The pilot of a small plane avoided injury after an accident just after 10 a.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1966 Mooney M20C piloted by Blair Gordon Gill, 56, Wichita, was doing touch-and-go landings at Jabara Airport, 3512 North Webb Road in Wichita.
The pilot forgot to retract his landing gear after completing his first touch-and-go. On his second landing, the pilot thought he was extending the landing gear but was in fact retracting it.
This resulted in a gear-up landing on Runway 18, according to the KHP. Gill was not injured.
Man convicted in shooting that killed 3 in downtown Lawrence
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man was convicted Tuesday in a shooting that killed three people in a popular downtown area of the Kansas college town.
Anthony Roberts Jr., 22, of Topeka, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree felony murder, one count of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
Deputy District Attorney David Melton said Roberts opened fire in October 2017 after he and his friends confronted a group of other Topeka men with whom they had “bad blood” as crowds were leaving bars, concerts and other events on the main downtown Lawrence street.
But Roberts’ attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense and was legally openly carrying a gun with an extended magazine before the shooting.
“Anthony and his friends are being pummeled, and Anthony’s about to be next,” said Joshua Seiden, one of two defense attorneys representing Roberts. “Anthony saw guns being drawn, he had no time to think, and he reacted. Anthony drew his gun, a 9-millimeter Glock. To protect his friends and to protect himself, Anthony fired that Glock.”
The gunfire killed 22-year-old Leah Brown, of Shawnee; 20-year-old Colwin Lynn Henderson, of Topeka; and 24-year-old Tre’Mel Dupree Dean-Rayton, of Topeka. Two others were wounded but survived. Brown was the only victim who knew no one else involved.
But Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson urged jurors not to excuse Roberts’ action as self-defense. He said forensic testing showed all 15 9mm shell casings left behind in the area were fired by Roberts’ Glock 26.
“There was no self-defense in this case,” he said. “There simply was murder.”
A second defendant was convicted previously of attempted voluntary manslaughter, and a third of misdemeanor battery.
Sentencing is set for Aug. 1. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
KBI continues to seek leads in 2016 murder of Saline Co. woman
SALINE COUNTY – On June 25, 2016, 57-year-old Lori Heimer was found deceased in her home in rural Saline County. Investigators from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Saline County Sheriff’s Office have followed hundreds of leads in an effort to hold Heimer’s attacker accountable. On the anniversary of her murder, the investigation is active and ongoing, but the case remains unsolved.
At the time of her death, Heimer operated Lori’s Poodle Patch, a dog breeding business, from her home in Assaria. Authorities continue to seek information from anyone who had contact with Heimer through this dog business, in the month of June 2016.
Anyone with information about the death of Lori Heimer is urged to contact 1-800-KS-CRIME. Callers may remain anonymous.
— KBI
Joshua Aaron Hicks
Joshua Aaron Hicks, age 37, of Hays, Kansas passed away June 22, 2019 in Hays. He was born May 10, 1982 in Goodland, Kansas to Doug Hicks and Debbie (Weigel).
Josh married Heather Elaine (Pracht) on August 18, 2012 and together have two children, Connor and Kaitlyn. He was an amazing father who enjoyed spending time with his children. He loved nothing more than getting together with friends and family. He was an avid Chiefs fan.
Josh is survived by his wife, Heather and children Conner and Kaitlyn all of Hays; his parents, Doug and Vickie Hicks of Hays and Debbie and Fritz Cage of Portland, Oregon; his siblings, Melissa (Steve) Hampton, Matthew Erb, Heather K. Hicks, Erik Hicks, and Dustin (Barb) Hicks. Grandparents, Sharon Hicks, and Beverly and Howard LaFlair as well as numerous nieces, nephews and one great-nephew.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Marvin Hicks, Fred and Norma Erb, and Francis J. Weigel; an uncle, Craig Weigel and a cousin, Blake Ericsson.
A private celebration of life service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions are suggested to The Hicks Family Fund on Facebook.
Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
K-State researcher: New transmission model for Ebola predicted latest cases in Uganda
MANHATTAN — A new risk assessment model for the transmission of Ebola accurately predicted its spread into the Republic of Uganda, according to the Kansas State University researchers who developed it.
According to a media release from KSU, Caterina Scoglio, professor, and Mahbubul Riad, doctoral student, both in the Mike Wiegers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering at Kansas State University; Musa Sekamatte and Issa Makumbi at Uganda Ministry of Health; and Felix Ocom with the World Health Organization in Uganda, published “Risk assessment of Ebola virus disease spreading in Uganda using a multilayer temporal network” in bioRxiv on May 23.
The paper describes a new model to better predict how diseases like Ebola spread. The model combines data of people’s constant contacts — such as family members and co-workers — with their temporary contacts — such as people in a market or encountered during travel. According to Scoglio, the model should be used as a risk assessment tool to prepare and distribute resources, but it also has been accurate thus far regarding the movement of Ebola from the Democratic Republic of Congo into Uganda.
“This is very a new type of model,” Scoglio said. “Since we consider movement data in addition to constant contacts, we saw that not only are the districts directly bordering Congo at risk but that the districts on the path to some important Ugandan destinations also are at risk.”
In 2018, Scoglio and her collaborators worked with Ugandan officials to collect movement data to model disease progression and find areas most at risk. According to the model, the Kasese district was the highest risk area for an infected person to enter the country. The researchers used the model to create a 150-day simulation of possible disease progression in Uganda and produced a map of 23 Ugandan districts at risk.
The specific scenario used in the simulation is similar to actual events so far. According to the Uganda Health Ministry’s June 18 release, there are three confirmed cases of Ebola in travelers to Uganda — all from one family that entered the country at the Kasese district border.
“The risk assessment maps can be used to allocate and distribute limited resources,” Scoglio said. “Uganda has about 4,000 doses of the new Ebola vaccine. They are vaccinating health workers, communicating about how to prevent spreading diseases, and advising people to limit travel in high-risk areas. We have much respect and admiration for how Uganda has organized the preparedness and now the response.”
The researchers used the simulation of Ebola in Uganda to test their model because there is a lot of traffic coming into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo for health care, trading and refuge. Ebola is highly contagious through physical contact with an infected person and their bodily fluids.
Scoglio said that even though the real events in Uganda have aligned with the simulated model, the scenario should only be used to mitigate the risk.
“One very important point for the public to understand is the concept of risk and probability with these maps,” Scoglio said. “It should not be interpreted that these red regions will be affected because that will cause panic in the population, but rather these are a guide for allocation of limited resources in regions that could be potentially affected if no mitigations are implemented.”
This model may open a new era in infectious disease management, Scoglio said. She gives credit to Aram Vajdi, doctoral student in electrical and computer engineering at Kansas State University, for developing the framework for the theoretical model based on a multilayer temporal network and the Gillespie algorithm. Scoglio also praised Riad, who applied the data collected from Uganda and how Ebola was transmitted to create the risk assessment.
According to Scoglio, network models used for highly infectious disease risk assessment must be able to anticipate changes in human-to-human contacts — unlike many other models, which are based mainly on constant contacts and constant movement flows. Using these models can help increase the effectiveness of preventive measures by targeting the most critical regions and can help decrease the risk of Ebola and other infectious diseases from spreading.
LETTER: USD 489 should rename Oak Park in honor of longtime educator
To The USD 489 board and other interested parties:
I note that media reports are that the request to name the Oak Park facility after Emma Kolb, who dedicated her life to education here, was summarily rejected because someone ( nameless) in Topeka told someone on your staff not to name a building after a person. Please see my earlier letter about this.
Having been raised and educated in this school district, with schools named Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Felten, Kennedy, O’Loughlin, Wilson, and Thomas More, that reasoning seems to be logically fallacious.
It would be a break in tradition to NOT name the building after a person, and what better person than Emma Kolb.
Please try to apply some common sense to your decision as you deliberate this issue in the Toepfer Board Room at the Rockwell Center.
John T. Bird
Attorney at Law
Hays, Kansas
HPD Activity Log June 21-24
The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 28 traffic stops Fri., June 21, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Found/Lost Property–100 block Main St, Hays; 9:27 AM
Suspicious Activity–1600 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 9:32 AM
Water Use Violation–1700 block Anthony Dr, Hays; 11:20 AM; 12 PM
Intoxicated Subject–1300 block E 27th St, Hays; 12:11 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–600 block Monroe St, Ellis; 12:13 PM
Credit Card Violations–2000 block Metro Ln, Hays; 6/13 12 AM; 6/21 3:30 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–1000 block E 41st St, Hays; 4:02 PM
Burglary/vehicle–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 4:16 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2200 block of Centennial, Hays; 6:06 PM
Mental Health Call–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 7:18 PM
Mental Health Call– 2900 block Broadway Ave, Hays; 8:15 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–2400 block Main St, Hays; 12 AM
The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and conducted 10 traffic stops Sat., June 22, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–Mopar Dr and Vine St, Hays; 8:10 AM
Civil Dispute–2500 block General Hancock St, Hays; 12:49 AM
Drug Offenses–700 block Elm St, Hays; 1:44 AM; 1:47 AM
Drug Offenses–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 4:42 AM; 5:08 AM
Animal At Large–300 block E 24th St, Hays; 7:50 AM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:40 AM
Wildlife Incident–1800 block Allen St, Hays; 9:18 AM
Suspicious Person–300 block W 10th St, Hays; 10:22 AM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6/13 11:20 AM; 11:24 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–600 block E 13th St, Hays; 6/19 10:28 AM; 6/22 10:28 AM
Found/Lost Property–W 23rd St, Hays; 10:34 AM
Disturbance – Fight–300 block W 16th St, Hays; 3 AM; 4 AM
Domestic Disturbance–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 10:45 AM; 10:55 AM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6/20 3 PM; 3:08 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6/20; 10:20 PM; 10:31 PM
Animal At Large–300 block W 15th St, Hays; 11:38 AM
Unattended Death–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 12 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 6/19 5 PM
Dead Animal Call–400 block Main St, Hays; 2:04 PM
Welfare Check–400 block W 13th St, Hays; 2:02 PM
Animal At Large–200 block E 24th St, Hays; 3:52 PM
Welfare Check–1100 block E 17th St, Hays; 4:14 PM
Found/Lost Property–Douglas Dr and Haney Dr, Hays; 4:36 PM
Theft (general)–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 4:30 PM; 5 PM
Liquor Offense, sell, furnish, transport–500 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:48 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 21 traffic stops Sun., June 23, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Intoxicated Subject–1000 block Vine St, Hays; 12:27 AM
Battery – simple–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:35 AM; 12:40 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:12 AM; 1:14 AM
Driving Under the Influence–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:44 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:45 AM; 2:14 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 2:33 AM
Battery – Domestic–1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 4:45 AM; 4:48 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–1000 block W 28th St, Hays; 8:04 AM
Criminal Trespass–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 9:31 AM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1000 block E 41st St, Hays; 6/22 6:45 PM; 6/23 12:45 PM
Animal Call–1900 block Main St, Hays; 5:28 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block E 6th St, Hays; 6/22 5:45 PM; 6/23 5:45 PM
Civil Dispute–2300 block Walnut St, Hays; 8:05 PM
Mental Health Call–3500 block Fairway Dr, Hays; 9:49 PM
Disorderly Conduct–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 10:13 PM
Juvenile Complaint–1100 block E 17th St, Hays; 10:26 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 11 traffic stops Mon., June 24, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Abandoned Vehicle–2400 block Pine St, Hays; 12:40 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 1:23 AM
Water Use Violation–100 block E 5th St, Hays; 2:40 AM
Assist – Other (not MV)–1600 block E 27th Terr, Hays; 2:42 AM
Animal At Large–1100 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 7:48 AM
Animal At Large–2200 block Downing Ave, Hays; 8:21 AM
Missing Person–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 3/16; 6/24
Abandoned Vehicle–200 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:36 AM
Welfare Check–2500 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 9:46 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–300 block W 37th St, Hays; 11:55 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–300 block E 16th St, Hays; 6/19 4 PM; 6/24 11:59 AM
Drug Offenses–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 12:51 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block E 8th St, Hays; 6/21 7:15 PM; 6/24 12 PM
Suspicious Activity–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 4:11 PM
Found/Lost Property–2800 block Grant Ave, Hays; 4:11 PM
Civil Dispute–300 block E 16th St, Hays; 5:07 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–600 block Walnut St, Hays; 5:12 PM
Burglary/vehicle–300 block Main St, Hays; 2 PM; 6:30 PM
Identity Theft–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 8 AM; 5:47 PM
Burglary/vehicle–300 block Main St, Hays; 2 PM; 6:30 PM
Drug Offenses–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 5/23 8 AM; 9 PM
Drug Offenses–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:28 PM
Suspicious Activity–2500 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 10:26 PM
Suspicious Activity–200 block E 19th St, Hays; 11:18 PM
Mary Alice (Fleming) Craven
Mary Alice (Fleming) Craven, 87, of Hays, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, passed away Sunday, June 23, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center.
Mary Alice was born March 7, 1932, in Ellsworth County, Kansas. She was one of five children born to Hazen and Edith (Bailey) Fleming. She grew up in Ellsworth and graduated from Ellsworth High School. She then attended Ft. Hays State University where she graduated with a degree in Nursing.
Mary Alice was united in marriage to Harold Dean Craven on June 10, 1956 in Ellsworth. This union was blessed with three children; David Allan, Michael Dean and Lois Lee. They made their home in Ellsworth until 1965 when they moved to Russell. Then in 1975, they moved to Hays. Harold preceded her in death on January 28, 1996.
Mary Alice was a Registered Nurse for St. Anthony’s Hospital in Hays for over 23 years before retiring. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hays. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, tending her flowers in her garden, oil painting, bird watching and going to the Hays Senior Center.
Mary’s surviving family include her two sons, David Allan Craven (Rosalyn) of Hays, Kansas and Michael Dean Craven (Darla) of Hays, Kansas; sister, Dorothy Lacey of Abilene, Kansas; five grandchildren, Chad LaRue, Dennis Craven, Jeremy LaRue, Toni Craven and Frances Lamb. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; daughter, Lois; son-in-law, David LaRue; three brothers and grandchild, Shawn Asavadilokchi.
Celebration of Mary’s Life will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, June 28, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Hays Fire Department offers reminder on fireworks rules, safety
Fireworks will be allowed in Hays city limits from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 2, 3 and 4.
Police: Brothers caught burglarizing Kansas high school
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custody.
Just after 2a.m. Saturday, police responded to burglary in progress call at Northwest High School1, 1220 North Tyler in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A USD 259 security guard reported seeing two suspects later identified as 26-year-old Cody Stewart and 27-year-old Braden Stewart both of Wichita inside the school.
As officers arrived as the two suspects were exiting the school carrying two fans and made an arrest. They had entered the building through an opening in the roof, according to Davidson.
Police booked the brothers on requested burglary charges. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.
22-year-old Mo. man arrested in connection with shooting of 3-year-old
By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A 22-year-old St. Joseph man has been charged in connection with the shooting and wounding of a three-year-old girl this past weekend.
Riandten C. E. Brant also faces drug charges.
The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office this afternoon charged Brant with a Class C felony of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, claiming that on June 22nd, Brant possessed methamphetamine at 1610 Beattie Street, the residence of the child, identified only as “A.B.” in the felony complaint.
Court papers disclose that police issued a search warrant at the residence and found Brant with 28.5 grams of methamphetamine in the basement of the residence.
Police first went to the residence on a shooting call.
St. Joseph Police says the three-year-old was shot late Saturday morning. She is listed in stable condition.