ELLIS – The 6th annual St. Mary’s Valentine’s Dance has been rescheduled for Sat. April 6, 2019, featuring Jimmy Dee and the Fabulous Destinations. The event will be held in the newly remodeled school gymnasium.
Tickets are on sale now at $25.00 each (includes dinner and dance). Attendees must be 21 & older to attend.
There is also a Valentine’s Day Raffle. Get your chance to win 2 prizes:
7” Samsung Galaxy Tablet (no need to be present)
50/50 Cash (winner needs to be present at dance)
Tickets are available for an additional price of (2) – $5.00 or (6) – $10.00.
Dinner & Dance tickets may be purchased by calling or stopping by today at St. Mary’s Parish Office, 703 Monroe St., Ellis or Divine Mercy Radio, 108 E. 12th St. #1 in Hays.
In February, Kansas Judge Michael Gibbens came under fire in national news for claiming that two girls, ages 13 and 14, acted as “aggressors” in a situation of exploitation in which a 67-year-old male, Eugene Soden, paid them to have sex. While public reaction to Gibbens ruling was appropriately harsh, the reality is that his decision is reflective of a much larger societal and legal paradox.
Countryman-Roswurm
Informing his ruling, Gibbens made multiple statements that less harm was done to the girls because he felt they had acted “voluntarily” and were paid. In speaking of the 13-year-old, Gibbens questioned:
“So, she’s uncomfortable for something that she voluntarily went to, voluntarily took her top off for, and was paid for?”
“I wonder, what kind of trauma there really was to this victim under those peculiar circumstances?”
As a society, we must ask, why did money sanitize what, in any other circumstance, would be considered child rape? And more concerning, how did the exchange of money shift the narrative so dramatically so as to characterize children as aggressors in the crime of which they were victims?
The answers lie in the paradox in which victims of child sex trafficking are legally apprehended and consequently, socially stigmatized. Twenty-five states, including Kansas, still allow commercially sexually exploited minors to be charged and prosecuted for prostitution and human trafficking offenses despite federal and state laws that recognize these same minors as victims of child sex trafficking. This paradox still exists despite an increase in awareness, and specific laws to protect children from such offenses over the last couple of decades.
Laws, and the manner in which they are applied, should reflect a community’s attitudes and beliefs.
The law in Kansas fixes the age of consent at 16 in apparent recognition that sexual contact between an adult and a minor is not consensual. Despite this long-standing law and an increased understanding of the damaging effects of sexual violence, victim-blaming toward sex trafficking survivors remains. Gibbens’ comments towards the children in this case, reflect a culture that seeks to diminish or justify the harm of buyers and abusers by placing responsibility within the victims. The reactions of citizens, in which nearly half of the comments on social media placed blame on the minors and used terms such as “delinquent,” “out of control,” “promiscuous,” “prostitute,” and “choice” illuminate the reality of this disconnect. Illustrating this further, in response to Gibbens’ ruling, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt proposed a new law that would prevent judges from reducing sentences for adult sex offenders because a child was labeled the “aggressor.” Kansas lawmakers rejected the bill.
Thus, amidst anti-trafficking awareness campaigns and fancy fundraisers, as Kansans we must ask ourselves: How do we really view individuals who have been victimized by and survived human trafficking? If we truly care, how do we shift our culture to recognize all survivors of sexual violence, including child sex trafficking, as unequivocally blameless in the conduct that constitutes their very victimization? How do we ensure that individuals victimized are afforded services, protection, and responses free of judgement and injustice, while simultaneously developing modes of accountability for offenders?
We must put an end to the paradigms, practices, and policies that allow survivors to be criminalized for surviving their victimization while perpetrators get a pass. Instead, we must believe the experiences of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and hold forth the truth of their innocence. We must protect survivors and provide access to holistic services. We must demand justice.
Dr. Karen Countryman-Roswurm is the Founding Executive Director of the Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT) as well as an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Wichita State University. Grounded in her own life experiences of overcoming streets and systems, Dr. Roswurm has over two decades of personal, professional practice, and community-based research expertise in the Anti-Trafficking Movement.
Linda Smith served as state legislator and Member of Congress from Washington (1983-1998). She founded Shared Hope in 1998.
RENO COUNTY — After a Reno County judge granted the latest defense request to withdraw as counsel for a man accused in a 2015 murder case, she held another hearing for the defendant Wednesday.
Trass
The Judge informed 34-year-old Brennan Trass there will be no additional defense attorney assigned to his case. He has gone through seven and couldn’t get along with any of them.
“You waived your right to have appointed counsel by your actions,” Judge Trish Rose told Trass. “It would be an exercise in futility to assign another.”
The trial will proceed on March 25 for Trass who’s accused of shooting and killing 24-year-old Jose Morales. His body was found on the floor of his residence on Aug. 17, 2015.
In court Tuesday, the defendant became angry and started yelling to the point, he had to be removed from the courtroom.
Salina Attorney Bobby Hiebert who was allowed to withdraw from the case will still be in the courtroom at trial as backup counsel, but will not be at the defense table.
The judge set a hearing for next Monday for a motion to suppress where the defendant will have to argue his motion without an attorney.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man has been convicted of killing his girlfriend’s mother’s boyfriend near a northeast Kansas lake.
Blevins -photo Jefferson Co.
Jurors in Jefferson County found 23-year-old Jonathan Davis Blevins, of Topeka, guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Taylor Dean Sawyer. His body was found March 14, 2018, at Perry Lake. Sentencing for Blevins is set for April 18.
His girlfriend, Ashlyn Hemmerling, will be arraigned later this month on a charge of first-degree murder. Her mother, Sarah Hemmerling, initially was charged with obstruction, but that charge was dropped.
Ashlyn Hemmerling-Jefferson Co.Sarah Hemmerling -photo Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig said previously that authorities believe Ashlyn Hemmerling helped orchestrate the homicide. He said circumstances leading to the homicide may have involved a domestic dispute as well as drug use.
ThursdayA chance of rain and snow showers before 1pm, then a chance of rain showers between 1pm and 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 36 to 39 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday NightMostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 25. Windy, with a northwest wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.
FridaySunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph.
Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 26. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
RENO COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Reno County.
First responders on the scene of Wednesday’s fatal Reno County crash -photo courtesy KWCH
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Impala driven byMalyssa D. Depperschmidt, 19, Sylvia, was northbound on Thompson Road one mile north of Sylvia.
After stopping at the stop sign at U.S. 50, the driver pulled out into the lanes of U.S. 50 and was struck by a 2000 Kenworth semi driven by Jimmie L. March, 43, Houstoniina, Missouri.
A passenger in the Chevy Depperschmidt, Dwayne J. Depperschmidt, 20, Slyvia, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger in the Chevy Cody A. George, 18, Sylvia, was transported to Wesley Medical Center.
Malyssa Depperschmidt was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. March was not injured. All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A drunken driver who killed a 35-year-old motorcycle rider will serve two days in jail, five days of house arrest and a year of probation.
Eslinger -photo Sedgwick Co.
Alexandra Eslinger pleaded guilty in January to vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, both misdemeanors, in the July 2017 death of Jesus Navarro-Gonzalez.
She was sentenced last week. She was also ordered to complete drug and alcohol treatment.
Police said Eslinger turned into a parking lot and caused a crash that killed Navarro-Gonzalez.
Court records say Eslinger had a blood-alcohol level of .102, above the legal limit of .08 at the time of the crash.
The probation carries an underlying sentence of a year of jail time if she violates probation.
Court records indicate Eslinger had a previous DUI conviction.
WICHITA, KAN. – A former EMT in Jackson County, Kan., was sentenced Tuesday to five years on federal probation for stealing morphine from vials, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Jackson County EMS google image
One condition of his release is he not engage in any occupation that would give him access to controlled substances without prior approval from his probation officer. He also must complete an approved substance abuse program.
Colby W. VanWagoner, 33, Mayetta, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by deception and one count of making a false statement during an investigation.
The crimes took place while VanWagoner was working for the Jackson County Emergency Medical Service in Holton, Kan. In his plea, VanWagoner admitted he tampered with vials of morphine sulfate. He replaced morphine with saline solution and put the vials back into narcotic boxes on ambulances and in office stocks. Tests showed the concentration of morphine in vials that had been tampered with was low as 1 percent or less. The concentration of morphine should have been 100 percent.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Two days after allowing just two runs in a pair of tough-luck 1-0 losses, FHSU surrendered 23 runs on Wednesday in 12-4 and 11-8 losses to Oklahoma Baptist. The Tigers went winless on their four-game road swing to Oklahoma in non-conference action and dipped to 7-8 overall on the season. Oklahoma Baptist improved to 10-14 overall with the wins on a day where the wind was howling out.
Game 1: Oklahoma Baptist 12, Fort Hays State 4
Game one of the doubleheader was shortened to six innings due to the run rule, which the Bison reached in the bottom of the sixth. The game did not get off to a good start when FHSU starter Michaelanne Nelson surrendered five runs in the first inning, including four on a grand slam by Demi Dobbs, after issuing a pair of walks to load the bases. Nelson lasted only a third of an inning before turning the ball over to Megan Jamison in relief.
Jamison held the Bison at bay over the second, third, and fourth innings, allowing FHSU to claw its way back into the game. In the second inning, Terran Caldwell drove in Fort Hays State’s first run with an RBI single. In the third, Bailey Boxberger laced a seeing-eye single through the right side of the infield to plate the Tigers’ second run. In the fifth, a double to lead off the inning by Sara Breckbill and then an RBI double by Elise Capra pulled the Tigers within two at 5-3. However, the progress all went away when OBU plated five more runs in the bottom of the fifth. A bases-clearing throwing error plated the last three runs of the five in the inning.
After coming into the game in relief in the pitching circle in the fifth, Sierra Rodriguez gave the Tigers their final run of the game with a solo home run in the sixth, making the score 10-4 in favor of OBU. A two-out, two-run double by OBU in the bottom of the sixth pushed the score to the run-rule margin of eight.
In relief, Jamison went 4.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk. Rodriguez allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk in 1.1 innings of work. Nelson took the loss, moving to 2-4 on the year.
Game 2: Oklahoma Baptist 11, Fort Hays State 8
The Tigers saw another rough start in game two when Oklahoma Baptist plated four runs in the first. Three consecutive singles plated the first run for OBU, then a three-run homer by Demi Dobbs instantly pushed the lead to four.
Tiger starter Hailey Chapman settled in and held the Bison scoreless in the second and third before the Tigers erupted for a huge eight-run fourth inning to take their first lead of the day.
FHSU started its rally with a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. Sierra Rodriguez took a wild pitch in the foot, which forced in Fort Hays State’s first run. Terran Caldwell then knocked in a run on a fielding error by the third baseman, cutting the lead in half. Katie Adler tied the game up with a single up the middle plating two runs. Caldwell and Adler then came in to score on a Sara Breckbill double to the left center gap, giving FHSU the lead at 6-4. Bailey Boxberger then sent a ball over the left field wall for her third home run of the season and pushed the Tiger advantage to 8-4. However, it was not enough as the Tigers nearly gave back all of its runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Oklahoma Baptist plated its first pair of runs in the fourth on a two-RBI double with one out. Another double instantly made the score 8-7 in favor of FHSU. A walk, then a two-out single wound up loading the bases. Shelby Savage made the Tigers pay by hitting OBU’s second grand slam of the day and erasing all the work the Tigers accomplished in the top half of the inning. Chapman lasted only 3.2 innings before handing the ball to Michaelanne Nelson, who kept the Bison scoreless over the final 2.1 innings. But, the damage was done and FHSU was held scoreless the rest of the way as well.
Tiger Notes
-The pair of losses on Wednesday to Oklahoma Baptist were the first losses this year in which the Tigers scored more than one run.
-The Tigers had not surrendered more than 8 runs in a game this season until both contests Wednesday.
-Bailey Boxberger led the Tigers with 3 RBI for the day.
-Sara Breckbill led the Tigers in hits for the day, going 4-for-7 at the dish.
Up Next
Fort Hays State now gears up for weekend conference matchups at home with Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. FHSU swept Pittsburg State in a non-conference doubleheader earlier this season in Pittsburg.
The TMP boys had three players named to the All Mid-Continent League second-team on Tuesday.
Seniors Jared Mayers and Ryan Karlin area joined on the second-team by sophomore Jackson Schulte after helping the Monarchs to a fourth place finished at last week’s 3A state tournament in Hutchinson.
The 2018-19 All MCL boys basketball first-team is headlined by five unanimous selections including three-time first-team selection Trey Sides of Phillipsburg.
Sides is joined on the first-team by Plainville’s Jared Casey and Tanner Copeland and Ellis’ Zackary Eck and Brady Beougher of Stockton.
Casey is a two-team first-team selection after leading the MCL in scoring this past season after averaging 21 points per game.
Oakley’s Kade Hemmert, Ty Sides of Phillipsburg and Smith Center’s Kyle Sasse joins the trio of Monarchs on the second-team.
Ellis’s Cade Lewis and Brady Frickey were named to the honorable mention team with Hill City’s Dalen Journigan, Trego’s Keagan Shubert and Kade Melvin of Norton.
Phillipsburg claimed their second straight MCL regular season crown.
After claiming their third consecutive Mid-Continent League regular season championship and their fourth in the last five years, finishing 9-0, the TMP Lady Monarchs had two players named to the 2018-19 All MCL second-team on Tuesday.
Senior Emily Schippers averaged a team-high 10.6 points per game and was joined on the second team by fellow senior Jillian Lowe. Lowe averaged 8.3 points per game this past season.
Plainville’s Aubree Dewey, the league’s top scorer at 28 points per game was one of three unanimous first-team selection along with Trego’s Lili Shubert and Jordyn Lowrie from Oakley.
It’s the second straight year Dewey has been named to the first-team.
Grace Eck of Ellis and Norton’s Taryn Kuhn was also named to the first-team.
Lowe and Schippers are joined on the second-team by Norton’s Hadley Hauser, Phillipsburg’s Alexi Beach and Stockton’s Shae Griffin.
Smith Center’s Bree Freiling and Tallon Rentschler were named to the honorable mention team. Ashley Babcock or Phillipsburg, Libby Frost from Trego and Norton’s Tessa Hauser were also honorable picks.
ELLSWORTH COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Wednesday in Ellsworth County.
I-70 semi crash Wednesday in Ellsworth County
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Kenworth semi driven by Oritz M. Rubio, 28, Chicago, IL., was eastbound on Interstate 70 one mile east of 12th Road.
The wind caught the trailer causing it to overturn and block both lanes.
A passenger in the sleeper Rosas U. Diaz, 29, Chicago, IL, were transported to the hospital in Ellsworth.
The driver was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
RENO COUNTY – Police are still working to determine the identity of the suspect who walked into a Hutchinson Kwik Shop and demanded money.
It happened around 1:15 a.m. on March 7 at the Kwik Shop at 43rd and Plum. A white male, possibly in his early 20’s, entered the store, placed a black backpack on the counter and demanded money from the register. The suspect wore a hood and kept his face covered, according to police.
No weapon was actually seen according to police and the 63-year-old employee cooperated and gave the suspect cash from the register. He then left the store with the cash.
Police ask that if you have any information that could assist them with their investigation, call them at 694-2832 or Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 1-800-222-TIPS.
