WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man while responding to a bogus emergency call is suing over wages.
Police body camera images of The December 2018 fatal response to a hoax call that led to Finch’s death -courtesy Wichita Police
Justin Rapp alleges in the lawsuit filed Thursday that he wasn’t allowed to resume his usual jobs “in a reasonable amount of time” after fatally shooting 28-year-old Andrew Finch in December 2017. He says that caused him to lose out on $31,000 from his regular police duties in Wichita and a city-approved off-duty security job.
Rapp wasn’t charged. He said he feared Finch was reaching for a firearm when he fired, not knowing that a hoaxer had reported a fake homicide and hostage situation at Finch’s home. A lawsuit filed by Finch’s family is pending.
The city’s attorney declined to comment on Rapp’s allegations.
Don and Chris Bickle with Tiger cheerleaders and Victor E. Tiger at a reception in their honor announcing their latest $1 million gift to Fort Hays State.
By HAYLEY BIEKER FHSU Foundation
Don and Chris Bickle have long been known for their philanthropy and support of Fort Hays State University. A reception earlier this week in FHSU’s Center for Applied Technology celebrated the couples latest $1 million commitment to the university.
The majority of their gift will support Tiger Athletics, which will continue to propel FHSU’s student-athletes and programs to success. The remainder of their gift will support:
• The Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship
• The Robotics program within FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology
• Their lifetime support of Fort Hays State University’s Alumni Association
• FHSU President Tisa Mason in support of her strategic plan for the university
Their gift to the president’s strategic initiatives fund will help fuel the success of FHSU’s strategic plan for years to come
“We are here to honor Don and Chris Bickle – some of our most loyal and generous supporters to Fort Hays State University,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. “I want to express our humble gratitude for their loyalty and commitment, but also for their ongoing support and encouragement, which permeates throughout our community.”
“You’ve supported Tiger Athletics in many ways over many years,” added Curtis Hammeke, director of FHSU Athletics. “From the indoor training facility, which has meant so much to all of us, to the new video board, and your scholarship support. I could go on.”
“As you know, we feel it’s important to not just have nice facilities, or facilities that are as good as others, but we strive to have facilities that are even better,” said Hammeke. “Recruiting is the livelihood of our athletic program, and our facilities make a great difference in that recruitment process. I feel that this all leads back to making Hays the special community that it is, and Fort Hays State the special university that it is.”
“I’m so very grateful for this opportunity to recognize the ongoing support of Don and Chris,” said Dr. Melissa Hunsicker Walburn, interim dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
“Sometimes we are challenged as educators to ask ourselves: ‘Why do we do what we do? What is our why?,’ ” she said. “For many of us, our answer is to fuel the passions of the next generation – their curiosities, their imagination and their desire to explore the world around them. There’s no doubt that this support from Don and Chris will create many, many opportunities, which would otherwise not be accessible to a great deal of FHSU students.”
“Today,” she continued, “I thank Don and Chris most specifically for their continued support of experiential world travel and the learning opportunities that would remain ideas and dreams rather than actual plane tickets and detailed itineraries. Thank you for your support of student travel, and for allowing our students the opportunity to learn from other cultures.”
Cody Escritt, a graduate student from Nebraska, spoke on behalf of FHSU’s robotics program.
“I’ve worked a lot with the robotics program here at Fort Hays State – throughout my undergraduate program in manufacturing and now in my graduate program as I’m taking a course in advanced education through instructional technology,” he said. “I know I would not be where I’m today without our robotics, without our phenomenal instructors and without your support. It’s very important for students, like myself, to have this robot, this up-to-date technology, and to learn what it will be like in the field upon graduation.”
“I’m here today to represent the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association,” said Mike Koerner, vice president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
“We want to thank you for the many ways you’ve helped our mission of developing positive life-long relationships between the university and our alumni, faculty, staff, friends and students,” he said. “FHSU’s alumni events just wouldn’t be the same without you running up and down the aisles singing the university’s unofficial anthem ‘In Heaven There is No Beer.’”
In typical Don Bickle fashion, he concluded the celebratory reception by leading the FHSU pep band, cheerleaders and mascot, Victor E. Tiger, in the university’s unofficial anthem and fight song. Before long, the full crowd had joined Don in clapping and singing along.
Join Don and Chris Bickle in supporting the area(s) of campus that mean the most to you by visiting https://foundation.fhsu.edu/donate.
To learn more, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu or contact the FHSU Foundation at 785-628-5620 or [email protected].
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of armed robberies and have made an arrest.
Green photo Sedgwick Co.
Police involved with the investigation identified 20-year-old Darren Green as a suspect involved in the robberies beginning in July on July 8, when employees at Burger King, 3500 S. Meridian, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint, according to officer Charley Davidson.
On August 28, an employee at Meridian Grocery, 2719 S. Meridian, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint. The next day, an employee at Domino’s Pizza, 2047 W. 21st Street North, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint.
On October 20, employees at the Money Center inside of Walmart, 3030 N. Rock Rd., reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint. The following day, an employee at Check into Cash, 2424 S. Seneca, reported an unknown suspect attempting to rob the business at gunpoint. Later that day, employees at Advance America, 601 N. Ridge Road, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint.
No injuries were reported in these incidents.
On Wednesday evening police arrested Green at his home without incident.
The investigations are ongoing, and they will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has denied a new trial for a Kansas home day care worker who was convicted in the death of a 9-month-old baby.
The sentencing for 44-year-old Carrody Buchhorn is now set for Nov. 18. She faces nine to 10 years in prison.
Her sentencing had been delayed while she argued that she deserved a new trial. She got new attorneys after she was convicted last year of unintentionally but recklessly causing the death of Oliver Ortiz in 2016 in Eudora.
Her new attorneys challenged the work of her trial attorneys and how they handled the testimony of the coroner, who ruled that the baby’s death was a homicide. A judge ruled last week that her trial attorneys “were not ineffective.”
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor is retiring amid calls for her to step down after a Missouri judge overturned the double murder conviction of a man whom she helped send to prison more than two decades ago.
The Douglas County, Kansas, district attorney’s office said in a statement this week that Chief Assistant District Attorney Amy McGowan is transitioning her cases to other attorneys in preparation for her Nov. 1 retirement. The statement provided no other explanation.
McGowan didn’t immediately return a message from The Associated Press left for her through the prosecutor’s office.
McGowan had been the subject of recent protests by the KC Freedom Project after a judge found that, while working in the Jackson County, Missouri, prosecutor’s office, she failed to disclose exculpatory evidence in Ricky Kidd’s case. He was freed from prison in August after a judge found clear and convincing evidence that he was wrongfully convicted of the February 1996 deaths of George Bryant and Oscar Bridges in Kansas City, Missouri. Prosecutors subsequently decided not to retry him.
“She should be disbarred,” Kidd told The Kansas City Star’s Editorial Board in September.
McGowan also was accused of withholding evidence in the case against Richard Buchli II, a Kansas City attorney who spent about five years in prison in the 2000 death of his law partner before his conviction was overturned. Charges later were dismissed. And in 2013, the Kansas Supreme Court found McGowan made improper comments during closing arguments in five cases between 2007 and 2009. In one instance, the court vacated a sentence in a child-exploitation case.
After Kidd was freed, protesters held signs and chanted in Douglas County and in downtown Topeka in front of the state agency tasked with investigating complaints against attorneys.
Cheryl Wright Kunard, a spokesman for the Douglas County district attorney’s office, told the Lawrence Journal-World it would be inappropriate to respond to questions about whether the protests influenced McGowan’s decision to retire.
The Douglas County prosecutor’s office previously defended McGowan in a statement, saying that while she did make errors in Kidd’s case, the verdict was overturned primarily because the main witness recanted.
“False and grossly misleading rumors are being spread that Ms. McGowan was ‘found guilty,’ ‘convicted,’ and ‘disciplined,'” the statement said. “Ms. McGowan has never been convicted nor disciplined by the Missouri Court System or the Kansas Supreme Court.”
Elizabeth J. “Betty” Buchholz, age 86, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney. She was born March 22, 1933, in Gorham, Kansas to Vincent and Delphine (Kuhn) Copp. She shared a happy life with her husband, Duane W. Buchholz.
Betty was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and canning, sewing and hand quilting quilts, crocheting and was an accomplished seamstress. She was an incredibly giving, talented and creative person.
Betty is survived by her husband, Duane Buchholz of WaKeeney; a son, Eugene F. Buchholz and wife Michelle of Oakley, California; a daughter, Gail A. Jensen and husband Richard of WaKeeney; three brothers, Michael Copp of Olathe, Kansas, Dwayne Copp of Roseville, California and Lawrence Copp of El Segundo, California; three sisters, Patricia Roe of WaKeeney, Rosemary Mai of Salina and Mary Jane Wahlmeier of Norton; two grandchildren, Tara Harold and husband Thomas of Moorpark, California, Kimberly Pinto and husband David of Oakley, California as well as two great grandchildren, Caylee and Dominic Harold and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Vincent Copp Jr.
Memorial services will be 10:30 AM with memorial visitation from 9:30 until service time on Friday, October 25, 2019 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment will follow the Memorial Service at approximately 11:45 AM at the WaKeeney City Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital/WaKeeney Family Care Center or the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of WaKeeney
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Steven A. “Steve” Herrs, 64, Salina, passed away October 22, 2019 at his home after an 8-year battle with soft tissue sarcoma cancer. He was born Jan. 4, 1955 in Washington, Kan, to Marvin and Clara (Ohlde) Herrs.
Steve graduated from Linn High School in 1973. He received an associate degree from Cloud County Comm. College in 1975, and his Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University in 1977.
Steve married Eunice M. Wiechmann, in 1975 in Barnes, Kan.
In 1977 the couple moved to Concordia, Kan, where Steve began his commercial broadcasting career at KNCK radio.
The couple moved to Norton, Kan, in 1978 where they made their home for the next 38 years. During that time Steve worked 12 years at KQNK radio. In 1990, Steve left broadcasting for a 26-year career in corporate communications at Rural Telephone/Nex-Tech, before retiring in 2017.
While in Norton, Steve was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Steve was also involved in the community, serving on the boards of the Norton County Extension Council, Norton Area Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission and Pioneer Country Development.
Steve is survived by: son, Dustin Herrs (Jessa) of Salina; daughter, Sheena Lobmeyer (Nicholas) of Hays; grandsons, Paxton, Elijah, and Tripp Herrs, and Isaac Lobmeyer; granddaughters, Annabelle and Lainey Herrs; brothers, Harvey Herrs of Horton, DeWayne Herrs (Roberta) of McPherson, and Rodney Herrs (Karen) of Tonganoxie; sisters-in-law, Anita Ohlde (Ronald) of Palmer, and Beverly Winter (Scott) of Manhattan; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Steve was preceded in death by his wife, Eunice, his parents, brother, Ralph Herrs, sister-in-law, LaDean Herrs, and brother-in-law, Ronald Wiechmann.
Friends may call noon-8 p.m., Sunday, October 27th at Ryan Mortuary, Salina where the family will receive friends from 2-5 that afternoon.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Monday, October 28th, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Salina. Burial will be at approximately 3:00 pm Monday afternoon in the St. Peter Lutheran Church Cemetery, near Barnes. A time of food and fellowship will follow at the St. John’s Lutheran Church fellowship hall, Palmer.
Memorials are suggested to Christ The King Lutheran Church, Salina, Kan.
Kirby Lee VanDegrift, 64, passed away on October 24, 2019, at his home in Ness City, Kansas.
He was born on September 22, 1955, in Ness City, Kansas the son of Barry and Loretta (Schweitzer) VanDegrift.
Memorial service will be on Saturday, November 2, 2019, 10:30 AM, at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Inurnment will follow in the Ness City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Kirby VanDegrift Funeral Fund.
Webster Reservoir is no longer on a KDHE Watch/Warning list for blue-green algae.
KDHE
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has issued public health advisories for Kansas lakes.
Warnings:
Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County
Lake Jeanette, Leavenworth County
Lakewood Park Lake, Saline County (unchanged)
Lifted Warnings 10/24:
Central Park Lake, Shawnee County
Yates Center Kids’ Fishing Pond, Woodson County
When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
Water contact should be avoided.
Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.
Watches:
Gathering Pond near Milford (Hatchery Supply Pond), Geary County
South Lake, Johnson County
Lifted Watches 10/24:
Carousel Lake (Gage Park), Shawnee County
Lake Afton, Sedgwick County
Rock Garden Pond (Gage Park), Shawnee County
Webster Reservoir, Rooks County
A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.
During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
Signage will be posted at all public access locations
Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms
Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.
KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.
Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.
