TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman who already was celebrating the return of one cat that disappeared three weeks ago after an explosion at her home says she’s received a second “miracle.”
House explosion June 19 in Topeka -photo courtesy GoFundMe
Ashley Nadeau posted to her Facebook page Tuesday that her cat, Kunimitsu, was found in a pipe at the site of her destroyed home in Topeka.
On Wednesday, she posted that she and a friend dug a second cat, Mr. Tibbs, out of a pile of rubble near the home.
The cats disappeared after a July 19 explosion that destroyed Nadeau’s home and damaged two other houses. Fire officials said the explosion was tied to a storm that downed a utility line.
Nadeau and her daughter left the house shortly before the explosion.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ most populous county left the rest of the state waiting nearly 13 hours until Wednesday morning for complete primary election results that proved to be pivotal in a high profile and close Republican race for governor — the second consecutive major election fumble by the affluent Kansas City-area county.
photo courtesy Johnson Co. Election office
“I’m embarrassed for our county,” Johnson County election commissioner Ronnie Metsker told The Kansas City Star . “It’s embarrassing for our office, it’s embarrassing for me, for our team and for the vendor.”
In an odd twist, one of the candidates in the tight GOP race for governor, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, is also the statewide official responsible for elections. Under Kansas law, the secretary of state appoints the top elections officials in the four most populous counties, including Metsker in Johnson County. Kobach quickly came to his colleague’s defense and said the delays were not Metsker’s fault.
Kobach was leading Gov. Jeff Colyer by fewer than 200 votes after Johnson County’s results were finally tallied, and the race has not yet been called.
“There certainly were problems, including with the voting machines and things like that, but I have no reason to believe that there was orchestrated, or even unorchestrated, mischief,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas.
Metsker and other officials blamed the problems on long lines and delays updating data from the computer thumb drives that gather results from Johnson County’s new voting machines. This was the first election using those machines, which provide a paper audit trail and purportedly encompass the latest technology.
While nearly all of Kansas’ 105 counties had posted all results except provisional and absentee ballots by late Tuesday, Johnson County’s returns were just trickling in and weren’t completed until nearly 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Johnson County also had significant delays reporting results in the November 2016 election, which Metsker at that time blamed on a software malfunction. The old touch-screen voting machines used in that election were 14 years old, among the oldest still in use in the country and left no paper audit trail.
In May, the Johnson County Commission approved the purchase of 2,100 voting machines at a cost of $10.5 million, the newspaper reported.
Election Systems & Software, the voting equipment vendor, said in a statement that the delay in Tuesday’s primary in Kansas was due to slow processing on encrypted thumb drives and that the accuracy of the results was “never in question.”
“Johnson County followed proper procedures in conducting their election,” the company said. “ES&S takes accountability for and apologies for the slower than normal upload of results.”
On Wednesday, Metsker and Kansas election director Brian Caskey both cited the problem with thumb drives. Each thumb drive should have taken only seconds to upload information to the reporting software.
“What should have taken seconds at first took minutes, and then minutes turned into half hours,” Metsker said.
ACLU Legal Director Lauren Bonds, who helped man the election hotline, said Johnson County voters mainly called about voting machine malfunctions and the lack of preparedness by poll workers about what to do when that happens. Some sites did not have enough paper ballots as a backup. Johnson County did not appear to have “a contingency plan for these types of issues, which other counties seem better suited to handle,” she said.
The Johnson County election office said in a statement Wednesday it is confident in the integrity of the votes cast and the accuracy of the vote tabulation process. The county said it was working with the vendor to identify the cause of the delay, resolve the issue, and ensure the problem does not happen again.
Multiple voting sites that were supposed to close at 7 p.m. Tuesday did not close until about 8:30 p.m. because people were still in line. The turnout of nearly 30 percent of registered voters for a primary was also higher than anticipated.
“I don’t think they had enough machines deployed because it took voters longer to cast a ballot than they had planned,” Caskey said. “They had longer lines and they had a higher turnout than they had planned for.”
Metsker told the newspaper that in hindsight they should have had more machines and more poll workers.
Kobach appointed Metsker to clean up the mess left by Brian Newby, who departed in late 2015 to take the helm of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. An investigation by The Associated Press found Newby left behind a scandal in the Johnson County election office, where he was having an affair with a woman he promoted and used her to avoid oversight of their lavish expenses.
EDWARDS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Wednsday in Edwards County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 International Truck driven by Gregory C. Langenegger, 68, Burns, was eastbound on U.S. 50 just north of Lewis.
The truck rear-ended a 2008 Ford Explorer driven by Joanne E. Taylor, 18, Lewis, who was stopped, waiting to turn north onto Sunnyside Drive.
Taylor and a passenger Daniela K. Fulls, 42, Lewis, were transportred to the Edwards County Hospital. Langenegger was not injured. All three were properely restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
WICHITA, KAN. – A former Wichita police officer pleaded guilty today and admitted he knew about illegal poker games, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Bruce Mackey -photo Sedgwick County
Bruce Mackey, 46, Goddard, pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony. Mackey admitted that while he was a police officer he knew and did not report individuals who were conducting a gambling business. During an illegal poker game in February 2014, Mackey told the organizers of the game that one of the gamblers was a Wichita police officer working undercover.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 26. He faces a penalty of up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst are prosecuting.
City Manager Toby Dougherty announces the appointment of Ryan Hagans as the new Fire Chief for the City of Hays effective Aug. 8. Hagans has served as the Interim Fire Chief since Chief Gary Brown’s retirement from the Hays Fire Department.
Hagans is a graduate of KU’s Certified Public Manager Program. During his 15 years with the Hays Fire Department, Hagans has held many positions including Firefighter, Fire Engineer, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain and Deputy Fire Chief.
In announcing the appointment, City Manager Dougherty stated, “Mr. Hagans has been a dedicated member of the Hays Fire Department since October 27, 2003. He has served admirably as Deputy and Interim Chief, and I am confident he will excel as Chief.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — All Kansas high school juniors will be able to take ACT exams and assessments for free next school year, according to state education officials.
Department of Education spokeswoman Denise Kahler said that the free tests are being financed through additional funding from the state Legislature as part of its new school finance plan.
“We’re excited about it,” Kahler said. “We think it’s a great opportunity for our kids, and we’re very appreciative of the Legislature for allotting funding for us and providing this for our students.”
The ACT exam gauges a student’s readiness for success in college and covers English, math, reading and science. The ACT WorkKeys assessments measure essential workplace skills such as mathematical reasoning and comprehending work-related reading materials. The exams will be administered statewide in February.
Some Kansas school districts have previously funded ACT exams for students. The ACT also waives fees for students who can show an economic need. Students otherwise pay $50 for the ACT exam and an additional $16.50 for an optional writing assessment.
State officials said they’ll recommend, but not require, that all juniors take both tests. Officials are also encouraging seniors who didn’t take the tests last year to do so this year.
Students’ ACT scores last year fell to their lowest point in five years. About 29 percent of Kansas high school graduates who took the ACT in 2017 scored at the college-ready benchmark on all four subjects, down from 32 percent in 2013. The national average is 27 percent.
DunnFormer Hays High School assistant basketball coach Matt Dunn has been named assistant coach at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Dunn, a native of Olathe, will serve as a Jaguar assistant under head coach Jason Gardner.
Prior to joining the collegiate coaching ranks, Dunn served as an assistant for the Hays High Indians under coach Rick Keltner.
Dunn coached the Indians in 2005-06 and 2006-07 and was also the boys and girls tennis coach at Hays High.
To this day, Coach K is the best coach I’ve ever worked for — first class in every way, as good as coach as there is,” Dunn told Hays Post via email on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the time spent working for him! I contacted him through email back in in 2005. At the time, I was an assistant coach at Perry LeCompton High School, but I wanted to finish up my degree at Fort Hays State University and work under an experienced head coach. Best email I ever sent out, and luckily he responded! Loved my time at Hays!”
Keith Gillis was born on December 31, 1936 on a farm near Breckenridge, MI to Denver and Clara Gillis. He was the youngest of 8 kids. Keith graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1955 and joined the Air force at the age of 19. He served in Korea and Vietnam and was stationed in many other places.
While he was stationed in Salina, KS, he met and married Judy Larson and they were married for 36 years before she passed away in 1996. During their marriage they welcomed 2 children, Robert and Sarah. Keith retired from the Air Force in 1976 and the family settled in Gaylord. Keith was active in the community, serving on the City Council, calling bingo on Thursday nights, being a member of the American legion and the Commercial Club. Keith was also active with the local Boy Scouts. Keith also was a member of the local fire department and was a fireman for twenty years. He was a member of the Gaylord Community Church.
Keith had many hobbies including, collecting trains, wood working and crafts and fishing. Later in life, Keith met and married Doris Hartung and were married for 6 years before she passed away.
Keith was preceded in death by wives Judy and Doris. Left to celebrate his life are his son, Robert and his daughter, Sarah Wildfong (Bret), 6 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Susan (Major) Young was born July 4. 1940 in Youngstown, OH to Robert Bruce Major and Jane (Hum) Major. Susan was a happy and optimistic child and was 5 when her brother Charlie was born. Her father was a Boy Scout leader for many years and the children grew up involved in the Scouts, visiting Boy Scout Jamborees and various other events during their childhood. Her parents were also involved in the Masons and Susan, therefore, belonged to Job’s Daughters Organization. The family moved several times and Susan graduated high school at San Mateo High School, San Mateo, CA.
Susan met James Alvin Young in Alameda, CA and they married in 1961. Susan had 4 children, Jennifer Lynn Craft (1962), Debra Kay (Gosser) Kerr-Hunter (1964), Lynda Sue Ortiz (1965) and Daniel Jay Young (1970). James was an Active Duty Airman in the U.S. Navy. The family moved many times during their marriage and lived in Virginia, California and Hawaii. The marriage ended in 1972. Susan and the 4 children moved from Barber’s Point, HI to Temple City, CA to live with her parents.
Some of our fondest memories are from the time living in Temple City. During this time Susan got her CNA certificate and worked at Temple City Convalescent Hospital. She enjoyed her job helping others. Her sweet smile, gentle way, and humor were well-received by the residents she helped.
Susan never learned to drive a car, but, was a seasoned traveler on the LA County Bus system and could get virtually anywhere on a bus, always with children in tow.
Susan met Gordon “Rocky” Racco in the late 1980s and although they never married, they lived a quiet life together with their pet parakeets in Victorville, CA. These were happy times for Susan because they both enjoyed welcoming company. Due to health reasons, Susan moved to WaKeeney, KS in 2002. Rocky soon followed. Susan cared for him until he passed away in 2003.
In 2004, Susan purchased the first and only house she ever owned. She was so proud to make her monthly payments and enjoyed taking care of her own things. During this time, she also worked part-time at Debbie’s flower shop sweeping the floor, taking out trash, and watering plants.
Susan had an unexplained traumatic brain injury in 2007 and was left with short-term memory loss and dementia requiring her to reside in a nursing home. She had many nursing friends over the years being in 5 nursing homes, Long Term Care, Wheatland, Trego Manor, Rhode Island, and Smoky Hill in Salina which was her last facility.
To her children, Susan was the most caring, kind, gentle, and trusting person you could ever imagine. They believe that the very best traits each of them possess were taught to them by her example. She never met a stranger and her open and easy smile would make anyone meeting her immediately feel at ease. She was curious about other people and would often sacrifice her own comfort and needs for the good of another. She had a well-developed sense of humor and was prone to bouts of silliness just to make others laugh. She loved music and singing and would burst into song, often campfire songs, when she was feeling great.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her ex-husband, and her longtime partner.
She is survived by her brother, Charles and wife Shari, 4 children Jenny, Debbie, Lynda and Danny and wife Mindy, 7 grandchildren, Stevie, Rayna (Joey), Ashley (Jeff), Amanda, Jimmy (Tess), Eileen and David Jr., 2 great-grandsons Dominic and Jamison, and 2 nieces Amy (Ben) and Marcie (Howdy).
She will be greatly missed.
Memorial services are not planned at this time. Cremation was chosen.
Henderson, Nevada, resident Thelma Jane Koch passed away July 24, 2018 at the Tranquil Breezes Assisted Living in Henderson, NV at the age of 89.
Thelma was born March 11, 1929 in Agra, Kansas the daughter of Elvin & Blanche (Furlong) Wheelbarger. She graduated from Agra High School with the class of 1947.
She was united in marriage to Fred W. Koch on October 3, 1953 in Kansas City, MO.
Thelma worked for the Federal Civil Service as Senior Budget Analyst for the Department of Army in Monterrey, CA. She retired in 1990. She & Fred lived in Altus and Duncan, OK until Fred passed away on May 25, 2004. She then returned to Galt, CA and later moved to Henderson, NV to be near her daughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; her son, Victor Rafiner; 3 brothers; and 3 sisters.
Survivors include her son, Fred W. Koch & wife, Linda of Elizabethtown, KY; Daughter, Brenda Whiteman of Henderson, NV; 8 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, KS, with Pastor Blake Stanwood officiating, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2018. Burial will follow in the Agra Cemetery, Agra, KS.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Agra High School Alumni Association.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Immigration hardliner Kris Kobach led Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer by less than 200 votes Wednesday following the state’s Republican primary election for governor, and it will be days before the race is settled.
Kris Kobach during Wednesday media briefing on the tight race for the GOP nomination for Kansas governor-courtesy Kobach campaign
But Kobach isn’t waiting: He said Republicans can’t afford to delay campaigning for the general election and he plans to will start immediately. Kobach acknowledged during a news conference that his lead may disappear when all votes are counted, but he said it’s imperative that the party not wait — because Democrats won’t.
The election is a test of whether President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Kobach could help the secretary of state despite an aggressive, no-apologies brand of conservative that has alienated even some fellow Republicans.
Kobach is perhaps Trump’s closest ally in Kansas: He advised the White House and served as vice chairman of a now-disbanded election fraud commission.
Colyer raised more campaign contributions, was endorsed by the National Rifle Association and has the backing of Kansas political legend, former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole. Colyer became governor in January, succeeding Sam Brownback after the former governor was appointed by Trump to an ambassador’s post.
The two candidates sent their supporters home early Wednesday from election night watch parties when results were slow from the state’s most populous county, Johnson County in the Kansas City area, which has 23 percent of the state’s registered voters. The county suffered problems with new voting machines.
Kobach urged supporters who’d gathered in the ballroom of a Topeka hotel to get some sleep early Wednesday. He ended his remarks on a conciliatory note that contrasted sharply with the final weeks of his campaign.
“This has been a very tough scrimmage,” Kobach said. “I want everybody to join together, regardless, stand for the principles we all believe in.”
Colyer released a statement saying he was not conceding, citing the closeness of the vote and the “extraordinary problems” in Johnson County, adding: “We are committed to ensuring that every legal vote is counted accurately throughout the canvassing process.”
Kansas has no automatic recounts in elections. In a primary, a candidate must ask and pay for a recount regardless of how close the race finishes.
State law also allows mail-in ballots postmarked Tuesday to be counted if they arrive within three days of the election. County officials also still must review so-called provisional ballots, which are issued to voters when there is a question about whether they are eligible to vote at a particular polling place.
The secretary of state’s office estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000 provisional ballots were cast in the election. County officials don’t begin certifying their results until Monday.
Colyer was trying to avoid becoming the first Kansas governor to lose a primary since 1956, and the first nationally since Hawaii’s Neil Abercrombie lost a Democratic primary in 2014.
Kobach built a national reputation as a conservative agitator for both tough immigration policies and strict voter identification laws. He was an early supporter of Trump in the 2016 presidential race, advised him during the campaign and in the White House.
During his campaign for governor, Kobach repeatedly said: “I don’t back down. I double down.” He even rode in parades in a Jeep with a replica machine gun mounted on back, and stepped up its use after the vehicle’s appearance in a July parade in the Kansas City area spurred criticism.
Some Republicans worry that Kobach’s aggressive personality would make it harder to appeal to a broader electorate and give Democrats an opening in a red state that has been willing to elect Democrats as governor in the past.
After voting for Colyer in Topeka, Carolyn Wojakowksi, a 71-year-old retired teacher, said she supported Colyer because she believes he has the better chance of winning the Nov. 6 general election. As for Kobach, she said: “He’s alienated himself from part of the people in Kansas by his strong stance.”
In the Democratic race, voters nominated veteran state Sen. Laura Kelly, of Topeka, to settle their first contested primary for governor since 1998.
At 12:27 p.m. Wednesday, City of Hays emergency dispatchers were notified of a structure fire at 503 Elm, Apt. A1. The Hays Fire Department, assisted by Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS, was immediately dispatched.
Arriving firefighters found a window air conditioner unit burning inside an apartment building. Firefighters had to force entry into the apartment. One hose line was used to control the fire. The fire was contained to the kitchen area of the apartment. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters used ventilation fans to remove the smoke from the adjacent apartments.
The most probable cause of the fire was a malfunction of the AC unit’s electrical outlet.
Six firetrucks and 19 firefighters responded. The last crew left the scene at 2:29 p.m.
“Thanks to the effort of alert neighbors that called 911 the damage was minimal,” the HFD said in a news release. “Your Hays firefighters would like to remind everyone of the benefits of having working smoke alarms in your home.”
ZweygardtEagle Radio of Hays scored high marks during the 2018 Kansas Association of Broadcasters Awards of Excellence.
Jonathan Zweygardt earned first-place honors for complete newcast, while Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock placed first in the complete sportscast category. C.D. DeSalvo placed third in the complete broadcast category.
Wellbrock, DeSalvo and Dustin Armbruster earned honorable mention in the sports play-by-play category for their football broadcast of Fort Hays State University versus Central Missouri in 2017.
Scott Boomer and Mike Holliday also earned honorable mention in the DJ personality aircheck category for The Bull Morning Show.
Awards will be presented at the annual KAB convention in October in Wichita.
