KANSAS CITY (AP) – A man has been convicted in the fatal road rage killing of a Kansas City area mother after she stopped for groceries.
Forty-year-old Christopher Taylor was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the 2016 death of 22-year-old Whitney Gray, of Independence.
Gray was driving a minivan with a 16-year-old, a 3-year-old and an 8-month-old inside when Taylor began following her closely and nearly caused an accident while trying to pass her in Independence. At a light, a liquid was thrown from the passenger side of Gray’s van onto Taylor’s sport utility vehicle, and then a loud “pop” was heard. Gray died at the scene. Not one else was hurt.
Taylor was later arrested in Box Elder, South Dakota. Sentencing is set for Aug. 24.
LAWRENCE — Six Kansas artists have created site-specific artwork for the Salina Health Education Center — the new home of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Salina and the KU School of Nursing-Salina — which will have its grand opening June 21.
According to a media release, the selected artists come from across the state, and their respective installations are inspired by the missions of the two schools located in the Health Education Center.
This artwork by Dierk Van Keppel of Merriam is on view in the east entrance of the new Salina Health Education Center-photo courtesy University of Kansas
Dr. William Cathcart-Rake, director of the School of Medicine-Salina, said commissioning new artwork for the building where students and employees spend so many hours makes it a less sterile environment.
“Adding artwork to the hallowed halls of health care education can expand students’ horizons and help them consider their chosen career in more holistic terms,” Cathcart-Rake said.
Geraldine Craig and Nelson Smith of Lindsborg designed a mixed-media work focused on the theme of healing for walls outside second-floor classrooms. A. Mary Kay of Lindsborg created four paintings for the main lobby that reflect the natural processes of birth, growth, death and renewal. Dylan Mortimer of Westwood installed a collage of brightly colored cellular formations in the building’s community room. Alan Tollakson of Emporia created a sculpture using stone and light that symbolizes the layered relationships involved in medicine for the second-floor study lounge. Dierk Van Keppel of Merriam installed a glasswork piece in the east entrance depicting a sunset and horizon as images of hope.
Van Keppel, a KU alumnus who studied sociology and glassmaking, said this opportunity allowed him to achieve his goal of integrating his artwork into the fabric of KU.
“I believe in the mission of the school, which is to believe in rural America,” Van Keppel said. “This school represents hope for rural medicine. The goal of my work is to complement the environment of the school with transcendence and hope.”
Spencer Museum Director Saralyn Reece Hardy served on the project review panel that selected artist projects.
“Art and medicine are necessities for quality of life throughout Kansas,” Reece Hardy said. “Artists nurture the communities they work in, as will this next generation of nurses and doctors educated in this building.”
In addition to the artworks created for the building, the artist team of Anne Arkebauer from Leawood and Carolyn Wedel from Salina is creating a commemorative print for the building’s opening.
The grand opening of the Salina Health Education Center is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 21. The new campus is located in a historic former bank building at 138 N. Santa Fe Ave.
MAIZE, Kan. (AP) — Newly released court documents say a former Kansas teacher who also worked as a law enforcement officer had sex with a 17-year-old girl at school.
Yelverton -photo courtesy Maize High
The affidavit released Wednesday says 44-year-old Johnny Yelverton told a Wichita police detective that he started a romantic involvement with the girl who was in some of his classes in late March.
The affidavit also says explicit photos of the girl were found on his phone after the girl’s family went to police.
Yelverton is charged with sexual exploitation of a child and having unlawful sexual relations with a student. Before his resignation last month, he taught fire science and law and public safety courses to Maize High School and Maize South High School students at the Maize Career Academy.
Fort Hays State University’s Society for Human Resource Management student chapter was recently awarded a 2017-2018 Superior Merit Award from the Society for Human Resource Management.
The merit award program, originating in 1972, was created to encourage student chapters to require ongoing excellence in requirements, operations, programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession and SHRM engagement.
“It is truly an honor for our chapter to receive recognition from SHRM for the work we do on campus,” said Marina Arenivas, Liberal senior and FHSU’s SHRM chapter president. “This is a big accomplishment and only reaffirms the commitment our members have to this profession.”
“We have worked hard throughout the years to bring speakers and programs that benefit not only our members, but all students on campus,” said Arenivas.
The Society for Human Resource Management is the world’s largest human resource professional society, representing 285,000 members in more than 165 countries. SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China, India and the United Arab Emirates.
The society has been the leading provider of resources serving the needs of HR professionals and advancing the practice of human resource management for almost seven decades.
“As we move together forward, young professionals like these being honored at distinguished student chapters play a vital role in SHRM’s success,” said Johnny C. Taylor Jr., SHRM president and chief executive officer. “I’m especially honored to thank this year’s award winners because they offer excellent evidence that SHRM’s future is indeed in good hands.”
The Hays Baseball Association and Hays Larks Baseball are hosting the seventh annual “First Responders Night” at the Larks Park on Saturday, June 16, at 7 p.m.. everyone is invited to attend the game to help pay tribute to law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and all first responders for their commitment and contributions to our community. The Hays Larks will be playing the Oklahoma City Indians, and admission is free courtesy of the evening’s game sponsor, Nex-Tech.
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler, a Hays Larks board member, praised the dedication of the area’s first responders.
“The Hays Larks are honored to recognize the hard work of these outstanding members of our community. These men and women have dedicated their lives to providing safety and security for us and we are pleased to pay tribute to them and their families,” he said.
All first responders are encouraged to attend the Larks baseball game with their families.
“This event should be a fun time for all, so let’s help the Larks pack the park and recognize our local first responders while cheering on the Larks to a victory,” Scheibler said.
Collapsed bridge in Reno County. The north side of the road is in McPherson County. The south side of the road is Reno County-photo Reno Co. Public Works
RENO COUNTY — A bridge in northeast Reno County will be out of use for an extended period of time after a large wheat cart fell through the deck and into the North Fork Blaze Creek Wednesday.
Don Britton of Reno County Public Works says the single-axle cart was way too much for the 91-foot wooden structure to handle. He expressed frustration that people aren’t paying attention to, or simply disregarding, weight limits on the spans they are crossing.
Britton said it’s too early to tell if the bridge will be replaced or not. The structure is maintained by Reno County and shared by McPherson County. The north side the road is McPherson County. The south side in Reno County.
HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, recently recognized several nursing Associates with awards. Shannon Toll, Patient Care Technician (PCT) in Acute Care was recognized with the Caring Hands PCT of the year award. The PCT is a very important part of the patient care team as they extend the care of the nurse through positive interaction with patients and visitors by anticipating needs.
Shannon Toll – PCT of the Year 2018
The Lanita Smith LPN of the Year award was presented to Sharon Bittel, LPN at the Orthopedic Clinic. The LPN of the Year award is named after Smith, a former nurse that took pride in her role as an LPN and her ability to positively impact a patient’s life as a nurse in many different roles at HaysMed. This award honors an LPN who displays many of the same characteristics that Smith had including kindness, compassion, concern and friendliness all the while being a great member of the patient care team.
ELLIS — The Ellis City Pool is offering public swimming lessons June 18-28 and July 9-19 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. through the American Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Program. They will offer levels 1-6 and Preschool/Toddler Aquatics.
Lessons are $25 per family for the first student, $20 for the second student, and $15 for subsequent students. If you would like to sign up your child, contact the Ellis City Pool in person at 301 Taylor St. in Ellis or call (785) 726-3130.
Randy ClinkscalesI grew up in Texas until my parents were divorced when I was in the fourth grade. A couple of years later, I moved to Kansas with my sister, mom and step-father. From that point forward, with the exception of four years of college, my life has been in Kansas.
My father continued to live on the coast of Texas. Because of the move and the distance, as well as all of the things that kids get into as they grow older (such as work, school activities, and the like), our time together was, many times, a week or two at Christmas, and a week or two in the summer.
One summer, my dad decided to spend most of his summer in Silverton, Colorado, commuting every couple of weeks back to Texas. That summer, I got a job in Silverton and lived with my dad.
My dad was really laid back that summer. He had some funky leather pants that he would wear while in Silverton.
His favorite activity was to get in his Jeep and go four-wheeling over some mountain passes. That summer, dad had many visitors from his hometown of Edna, Texas. Both friends and relatives would come to visit and stay for a period of time.
My dad would volunteer to take the visiting family and friends on a guided Jeep tour. My recollection is that the tour was over a pass called Engineer Pass, and you would come back on Cinnamon Pass.
This was not an easy jaunt. It was a “most of the day” trip. We would travel over one pass to Lake City, generally have lunch there, and then come back over the other pass back to Silverton.
I do not know how many times my dad did that trip that summer – many, many times. Most of the time, I would go with him, if I was not working.
What really amazed me later on in life was thinking about the enthusiasm that he showed each and every time that he made that trip. Though he had done it many times, he always showed enthusiasm to the family or friends that he was guiding over the mountain passes. His enthusiasm never diminished. He knew that for many of them this was the first time that they had been in the mountains and had this type of experience.
The climb over the passes was not easy. Not only was it rocky, it, many times, was on mountain edges. But my dad was always safe; he always calmed everyone down. Though there were a lot of gasps, he never exacerbated the situation. In all the times that I have done those passes with my dad, never was there a problem.
I know that when a family comes to me and they are facing long-term planning, or even dealing with a chronic illness, they are going on a journey that they have never been on before. The journey may be long, and certainly complex, and many times scary, if not heartbreaking.
It is important for me to let families know that they have a guide on their journey. It is important to me that families know that issues are going to come up, but we are here to take care of them.
Dealing with elder law, and helping people with long-term plan or chronic-illness issues, is very specialized. It ends up being more than a transaction. At least in my office, it becomes a life-long relationship. Elder law should deal with more than just estate planning; it should also address financial, health care and self-determination issues.
Sometimes I think that when people are looking at long-term planning, or if they are trying to deal with how to manage a chronic illness in their planning process, they get really overwhelmed. They just freeze rather than face what is going on.
I often tell families in my office that I know we are going to go on a long journey. Sometimes the journey may seem like a maze, but if they let me get them to the next corner, I will tell them where to turn.
I kind of felt like that with my dad. He was willing to bring his enthusiasm and knowledge in being a guide for people’s journey over the mountain passes. With him they felt safe.
My dad died two years ago. At his funeral, I had an interesting thought. I know that my dad was at peace with his passing, but I had this vision that in the afterlife, he would be meeting his friends and family. He would be wearing those funky leather pants, standing by his Jeep, probably with a little bit of beard growth, and ready to give them a tour of their new world.
Please do not be afraid addressing long-term care issues. With the proper guide, you will find great relief, and perhaps even peace of mind.
Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16th, 10:00 a.m. City Hall Building, Stockton, Ks. Selling: 6 SHOTGUNS, 4 RIFLES, 2 REVOLVERS, KNIFE COLLECTION, CAST IRON AND POST OFFICE DOOR BANKS, ANTIQUE DROP FRONT SECRETARY, 2 WINDMILL WEIGHTS, VINTAGE WIND UP TIN FERRIS WHEEL PLUS OTHER OLD TOYS, HOUSEHOLD, NEW SHOP TOOLS, 2 WACONDA SPRINGS CROCK JUGS PLUS MANY MORE HARD TO FIND ANTIQUES!
Come spend the day with us June 16th to see what all we find for the Auction.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dozens of elected officials in Rep. Kevin Yoder’s congressional district in Kansas are pushing him to demand an end to the forced separation of families caught crossing the U.S. border illegally.
Rep. Kevin Yoder
Democratic state Rep. Jarrod Ousley of Merriam and Republican state Rep. Linda Gallagher of Lenexa delivered a letter Wednesday to Yoder’s office in Overland Park.
The letter urged Yoder to demand that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stop separating families. The GOP congressman is chairman of a House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee.
Yoder said in a statement that he is “heartbroken” by the separations and is working to find a solution.
Most of the more than 60 people who signed the letter are state lawmakers or local officials in the 3rd Congressional District in the Kansas City area.
