Ashlyn Hemmerling-Jefferson Co.Sarah Hemmerling -photo Jefferson Co.
OSKALOOSA, Kan. (AP) — A Baldwin City woman has pleaded guilty in the death of her mother’s boyfriend at a northeast Kansas lake.
Jefferson County Attorney Josh Ney announced Thursday that Ashlyn Hemmerling pleaded guilty to premeditated first-degree murder after prosecutors presented evidence in her trial in Jefferson County District Court.
She was charged in the March 2018 shooting death of 22-year-old Taylor Dean Sawyer in a remote area of Perry Lake.
Blevins -photo Jefferson Co.
Her boyfriend, 23-year-old Jonathan Blevins, was convicted in March of first-degree murder in Sawyer’s death. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 50 years.
Authorities said Sawyer was the boyfriend of Hermmerling’s mother, Sarah Hemmerling, who was charged with obstruction before that charge was dropped.
TOPEKA —Stormont Vail Health has signed a 10-year partnership agreement with Spectra, the venue management company of the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka, Kansas, in which the arena will be renamed the Stormont Vail Events Center.
Image courtesy Stormont Vail
According to a media release from the hospital, the agreement, approved by the Shawnee County Commission, includes major exterior and interior signage, a Mothers Room, and brand recognition in all advertising for the facility. The arena’s website domain has changed to www.StormontVailEventsCenter.com, reflecting the arena’s new name. Stormont Vail has a long history in Topeka and a devotion to improving the health of the communities it serves. This partnership is an investment in the health and wellness of the community, both physically and economically.
“Our mission to improve the health of our community goes far beyond physical health,” said Robert Kenagy, M.D., president and chief executive officer for Stormont Vail Health. “Investing in our city and fostering local partnerships around improving the community’s overall health is vital. Both of our organizations have a long history in Topeka and we are looking forward to all the positive momentum partnering with Spectra will bring.”
Kellen Seitz, general manager of the Kansas Expocentre for Spectra, said, “Our management efforts to promote a positive and patron centric environment for our venue align perfectly with Stormont Vail Health. We couldn’t think of a better partner to advance and engage in community efforts than a true Topeka born and bred company. This naming rights partnership will continue to advance the venue forward in our industry and we are so proud to be aligned with such a great community leader in Stormont Vail Health.”
The multi-facility campus is undergoing a $48 million renovation projected to be completed by May 2021.
Bobby E. Brillhart, 81, passed away June 13, 2019 in Beloit. He was born January 17, 1938 in Union Town, KS, the son of Maudie (Snyder) and Jake Brillhart.
He was a retired teacher.
He is survived by his wife, Priscilla; children, Karen Thomas (Kevin) of Pratt, Dennis Brillhart (Amanda) of Tulsa, Douglas Brillhart (Christie), 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, and a sister, Marie Stephenson of Lamoni, IA.
Funeral services will be at the First Christian Church, Downs.
Memorials may be given to the Downs Lions Club and the Christian Church in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs, KS 67437
Dorothy Darlene (Shinn) Sleezer Swalley, 86, died June 12, 2019, at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood. She was born June 8, 1933, in El Dorado, Kansas, the daughter of Bennie R. and Opal Neoma (Hogg) Shinn.
Darlene attended grade school in Silica and Lindsborg. She started High School in Wichita but then graduated from Claflin High School in 1950. She then went on to graduate from Brown-Mackie School of Business and also completed several business courses from Barton County Community College.
She married Charles Merle Sleezer and they later divorced. She then married Fred Swalley Jr., on March 20, 1953, in Bentonville, Arkansas. He survives. They started their married life in Delaware, Oklahoma, moving later to Harper, Kansas, and finally to Claflin where they have resided for the last 57 years.
Darlene was a smart, methodical, and driven individual. She was the bookkeeper and part owner of Fry’s Tank Service. From 1981 to 1988 she owned the Tall Shop in both Great Bend and Garden City and later worked as a secretary for the Family Recovery Center at Clara Barton Hospital and then Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend.
Darlene was an avid reader and a devoted grandmother who loved spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Fred Swalley, Jr. ; four sons, Rick Sleezer and wife Carolyn of Morrison, Colorado; Bruce Swalley of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Tracy Swalley and wife Cathy of Overland Park, and Brad Swalley of Great Bend; grandchildren, Dallas Sleezer of Lochbuie, Colorado, Gwen Cole and husband Kenny of Hoisington, Sydney Swalley of Daytona, Florida, Tyler Swalley and wife Jessica of Wichita, Olivia Swalley and fiancé Grant Ellis of Overland Park, Jake Swalley of Miami, Florida, Morgan Dodds and husband Greg of Sumter, South Carolina, McKenna Swalley and fiancé Chase Waggoner of Wichita; two step grandchildren, Gavin Brivik of Los Angeles, California and Alex Brivik of Kansas City, Missouri, Jr. Hamby of Brown Valley, California, Robert Hamby and family of San Angelo, Texas, Cynthia Kuntz and family of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Carrie Roe and family of Morrison, Colorado, Patricia Jones & family of Peyton, Colorado; and 8 great grandchildren, Royce, Dallas, Braeden, Alexander, Greyson, Juaquin, Joelysia, and Jaylia; and a special cousin, JoyLee Warner and husband Gary of Holyrood.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bennie Shinn, mother, Opal Thompson, step father, R.T. “Bob” Thompson, and a brother, Rev. Ross Shinn.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bennie Shinn, mother, Opal Thompson, step father, R.T. “Bob” Thompson, and a brother, Rev. Ross Shinn.
Friends may call 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Monday, June 17, 2019, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Diana Webster presiding. Burial will follow in Claflin Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Claflin Ambulance Service in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
Eight registered nurses at HaysMed were honored recently at a recognition ceremony and luncheon. They completed the yearlong RN Residency Program offered at HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System.
The program began in July, and the nurses spent the first three weeks in a classroom setting. The remainder of training focused on clinical experience, one-on-one mentorship with their preceptor, high-fidelity simulations and on-the-job training. Additionally, nurses received training from professionals in several departments, such as radiology, pharmacy, cardiac care, peri-op and others.
The RN Residency class included Kelsey Belzer, Caitlin Gabel, Gabriela Garcia, Nick Knickerbocker, Ciara Kroeker, Lindsay Mattison, Sarah McDonald and Omelia Thomas.
The RN Residency Program at HaysMed is one of only two in the state and has been offered since 2008. Shari Hertel, RN, heads the program and has oversight of all the training.
“It is so important for new nursing graduates to have a group of peers and mentors who assist them in enhancing their skills and becoming comfortable with the challenges of practice,” Hertel said. “Our program is evidence-based, with positive clinical outcomes that will help not only the participating nurses, but also our patients.”
Currently, there are 19 nurses scheduled in the next program, which begins July 10. The program is open to newly graduated RNs and RNs who have less than one year of acute care experience.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs signed kicker Harrison Butker to a five-year contract extension Thursday, locking up the former Panthers practice squad player through the 2024 season.
The 23-year-old Butker was signed away from Carolina during the 2017 season, when Cairo Santos went on injured reserve. The former seventh-round draft pick wound up kicking so well he earned the full-time job, and the Chiefs released Santos the following year.
In two seasons with Kansas City, Butker is 62 of 69 on field goals and 93 of 97 on extra points.
The Chiefs have been busy solidifying what they believe is their core group, signing offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz to a one-year extension on Wednesday.
RENO COUNTY — Authorities say the careless use of smoking materials is to blame for a fire in Reno County.
Thursday morning fire photo courtesy Hutchinson Fire Department
Just before 5a.m. Thursday, fire crews responded to 17 Maple Street in Hutchinson for a report of a structure fire. First arriving crews reported a working fire in a 1 ½ story duplex, according to Fire Chief Steve Beers.
Crews were able to contain the fire with an interior fire attack, but not before it did extensive damage to the kitchen area of the one of the duplexes.
Smoke and heat damage were also noted in the structure. Even though the building was reported vacant, fire crews searched the vacant building for individuals as citizens have been seen near and in the structure. No one was located inside the structure after a search was completed.
Crews were on scene for over two hours. No injuries were reported. At the time of the fire, no gas or electricity was provided to the home. Fire investigators have ruled the cause of this fire as careless use of smoking materials. These smoking materials then ignited some nearby clothing.
Tanner Lee Cullens pleaded no-contest to an amended complaint in Ellis County District Court on Thursday to charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated intimidation of a victim and aggravated battery.
The plea was entered after a plea agreement was negotiated with Cullens, from Ellsworth County, with the state dropping charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault as part of the agreement.
The charges carry a potential sentence of 27 years and up to a $500,000 fine.
As part of the plea agreement, the state recommended imprisonment totaling 71 months, with a further 36 months of post-release supervision.
Cullens was also required to give a statement detailing his involvement with co-defendant Jeremy David Schulmeister surrounding the charges.
23rd Judicial District Chief Judge Glenn Braun found Cullens guilty after he entered his plea.
Cullins along with Schulmeister were charged after they allegedly offered a ride to Max Diederich, on Feb. 7, but instead took Diederich took a rural area at gunpoint and robbed him of his phone, clothing and cash, before forcing him out of a moving vehicle.
Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 5.
The Ellis County Commission approved the purchase of four mechanical CPR units for its front-line ambulances during its meeting Monday.
The county received a Kansas Board of EMS KARF grant to pay for half of three of the units. The commissioners opted to pay for the fourth unit on its own. The total cost to the county will be $35,472.
Health Services Director Kerry McCue said the mechanical units are superior to CPR given by a person. The use of mechanical CPR units also frees up EMS staff to monitor patient medication and heart monitors.
It also increases safety of EMS staff, because staff can seat-belted into the ambulance.
Commissioner Dustin Roths said he favored purchasing three units using the grant match and waiting to purchase the fourth unit.
However, Commissioner Butch Schlyer, a former nurse, said he favored purchasing the fourth unit now.
“CPR, it can wear you out really fast. To sustain it for more than a few minutes is really tough,” he said, adding he thought the purchase of these devices was a life-saving issue.
Ultimately, all three commissioners voted in favor of purchasing all four units.
In other business, the commission:
Approved a conditional-use permit for Nex-Tech to put up an 85-foot telephone pole for a cellular site at at 323 Pfeifer Ave. in rural Ellis County.
Reappointed David McDaniel to the Joint Planning Commission. Another position is open on the commission. Contact the county or a county commissioner if you have interest in being on the commission.
Approved Osborne County joining the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Program
Accepted a bid of $414,096 for 70,400 square yards, or about 5 miles, of cold in-place recycling of asphalt road surface.
PLAINVILLE — Dozens of area ranchers are still waiting on their money after checks worth tens of thousands of dollars per producer bounced in a check-kiting scheme involving the Plainville Livestock Commission.
As the case has unraveled, ranchers have expressed shock and disappointment in the Tyler Gillum and his wife who owned the Livestock Commission, betrayal by the federal regulators who were supposed to protect the ranchers, and frustration at the legal proceeding that seem to be dragging on.
Rex Mulder of Mulder Farms in Logan said his family business has borrowed money to keep going as a result of not being paid for cattle they sold at the Plainville Livestock Commission.
He said the case has caused stress for his family and the entire ranching community.
Wes Cook, Plainville rancher, said he is hanging on for now without taking on more debt, but it has been difficult.
“I don’t know if I will ever see all of it,” Cook said of the money he is owed.
Checks from the Plainville Livestock Commission for two sales — one at the end of January and the other on Feb. 5 — bounced.
Money that was supposed to be set aside to pay cattle sellers was transferred from a custodial account to the Plainville Livestock Auction’s operating account. The Almena Bank froze both accounts, which resulted in bounced checks.
Almena Bank filed an interpleader case, which is legal action that seeks to determine to whom the money that was transferred out of the custodial account belongs.
Almena Bank has paid $916,652.29 into the Court Registry in the interpleader case, according to court records. That money is being held until the ranchers’ case is settled.
Plainville Livestock Commission declared bankruptcy on March 1. The interpleader case has been transferred from Norton District Court to federal bankruptcy court. The ranchers’ case is pending separately from the main bankruptcy proceedings and is still working its way through the court system.
“I was shocked and disappointed. They seemed trustworthy,” Mulder said of the Gillums when he had found out they had been indicted on federal charges.
The Gillums are charged with 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement to the Small Business Administration in an application for a $1.5 million loan, and one count of making a false statement to Almena State Bank in an application for a $500,000 line of credit.
The indictment alleges investigators examined unfunded checks and wire transfers totaling more $2 billion sent by Tyler Gillum as part of the scheme.
The indictment alleges the Gillums defrauded Almena State Bank in Almena; Landmark Bank in Manhattan; Colorado East Bank and Trust in Lamar, Colorado; Astra Bank in Scandia; TBK Bank in Dallas; Guaranty State Bank in Beloit; and The Bank in Oberlin.
“I think something should be done,” Cook said of the Gillums. “They should lock him up or something.”
Mulder expressed frustration with the USDA, which regulates market agents like the Gillums under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
“The USDA failed us,” he said. “They should have shut them down. It should not have gotten to this point.”
The Plainville Livestock Commission had been cited before for not having sufficient funds in its custodial account, which by law is to hold money owed to cattle sellers.
Multiple filings have happened since the case was transferred to the bankruptcy court. Fifty-six parties to the case are listed on court records.
Parties in the case had until Friday, June 7, to object to any monetary claims filed in the case. Almena Bank did file objections on multiple claims and those people and entities have until June 21 to file responses to the objections.
James Overcash, the trustee for the bankruptcy estate, has filed a claim as a part of the interpleader case. That filings says that Overcash believes part of the money that is now being held by the court in interpleader case should be part of the bankruptcy estate.
However, other filings claim all of the money that was frozen by Almena State Bank should be used to pay unpaid cattle sellers.
The court hearing to discuss this and the other responses to disputed claims to the money that was frozen by Aleman Bank is set for 10:30 a.m. July 11.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas-based water park company has sold two of its attractions and given the buyer the right to acquire its Kansas site where a 10-year-old boy was killed nearly three years ago.
Schlitterbahn on Thursday announced the $261 million agreement with Cedar Fair Entertainment to sell a water park and resort in New Braunfels, Texas, and another property in Galveston, Texas. Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair will also have the right to buy the company’s Kansas water park for $6 million in cash.
Caleb Thomas Schwab-courtesy photo
The deal comes after Schlitterbahn remained mum on its plans for the Kansas City, Kansas, park where Caleb Schwab was decapitated in August of 2016 on the 17-story Verruckt slide.
Caleb’s family received nearly $20 million in settlements and two women who were seriously injured while riding with him settled for an undisclosed amount.
Odelia Haselhorst, 97, longtime resident of Hays, died Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at Mapleton Care Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
She was born July 8, 1921 in Schoenchen, the daughter of Carl and Mary (Depperschmidt) Werth. On February 11, 1947 she was united in marriage to Raymond H. “Ray” Haselhorst. They celebrated 54 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on December 15, 2001. Odelia was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She enjoyed traveling, especially in her later years. One of the highlights of her travels was participating in the baths and rosary procession at the Lourdes Shrine in France. She enjoyed watching the Colorado Rockies baseball games. Odelia was a lovely and kind woman who most importantly, enjoyed life and truly looked forward to every day.
Survivors include a daughter; Cheryl Kessler (Jerry Davis) of Denver, CO, two daughters-in-law; Chrysanne Haselhorst of Allen and Karen Clutter of Colorado Springs, CO, three grandsons; Steve Haselhorst of Kansas City, MO, Shane Haselhorst (Kathleen) of Kinsley and John Kessler II of Fleming Island, FL, two granddaughters; Shara Haselhorst of Hays and Christina Kessler Gutmann (Thorsten) of Herrenberg, Germany, seven great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandson, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; Raymond, two sons; Steve Haselhorst and Charles Haselhorst, a daughter; Janet Buddemeyer, two sons-in-law; John Kessler and Mark Buddemeyer, four brothers; Nick Werth (Theresa), Frank Werth (Minnie), Paul Werth (Emmy), and Henry Werth, and five sisters; Julia Linenberger (Bob), Tillie Whitehurst (Lynn), Tina Brannen (Al), Mary Legge (Ralph), and Helen Siers (Shirley).
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, June 17, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Anthony Cemetery, Schoenchen. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:15 pm on Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, St. Joseph Church, or the American Heart Association. Condolences and memories of Odelia may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com
WESTCLIFFE, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas teenager who died at a Colorado church camp likely had a blood clot that lodged in his lung.
Demarius Cox -center photo courtesy USD 410
Custer County Sheriff Shannon Byerly said in a news release that preliminary autopsy results indicate that 16-year-old Demarius Cox, of Hillsboro, Kansas, had a pulmonary embolism. Emergency crews rushed to the Sky Ranch Horn Creek summer camp Friday morning after receiving a report that the teen wasn’t breathing. The camp is in a rural area of the Rocky Mountains near Westcliffe, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Denver.
Demarius had been visiting the camp as part of a Hillsboro church’s youth group. He had run track this year for his high school.
