McPHERSON, Kan.-McPherson scored two first half goals and piled on four more in the second half in a 6-0 win over Hays in the 4-1A State Soccer Quarterfinals. The Lady Indian defense was solid in the first half. It took McPherson to the 28th minute to score their first goal. They broke through again a little over seven minutes later to give them a 2-0 lead at the half.
The Lady Bullpups continued their strong offensive attack in the second half against a hustling Hays squad who couldn’t get their offense going despite a couple of late runs. The Lady Indians finish their season at 11-7-1. McPherson improves to 17-1-1 and will move on to the state semifinals on Friday in North Newton.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged bomb threat.
Norris-photo Saline Co.
Just before 2p.m. Monday, police responded to a bomb threat at Taco Bell located at 1040 E. Iron Avenue in Salina, according to Captain Paul Forrester.
A man called the police department saying that there was a bomb at Taco Bell. The police arrived at the restaurant and the manager evacuated the establishment. The police department was able to trace the call to Michael Norris, 35, of Salina.
Police arrested Norris on requested charges of aggravated criminal threat and giving a false alarm.
FREDONIA – A Kansas man Tuesday pleaded guilty to reckless second-degree murder and other charges in the death of Michael P. Elam, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Schlegel-photo Wilson Co.
Dejay Lynn Schlegel, 37, Neodesha pleaded guilty in Wilson County District Court to one count of murder in the second degree–reckless, one count of arson, one count of interference with law enforcement, and one count of theft.
Judge David W. Rogers accepted the pleas and scheduled sentencing for August 8 at 1:30 p.m. The crimes occurred on December 13, 2016.
The case was investigated by the Neodesha Police Department and Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Attorney General Jessica Domme of Schmidt’s office is prosecuting the case.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas science teacher is retiring after 50 years at the same high school.
Robert Hart -photo courtesy Leavenworth High
77-year-old Bob Hart arrived at Leavenworth High School in 1967, after teaching at other schools for three years. He intended to stay only a couple of years but “just kind of fell in love with Leavenworth.”
He says his interest in coaching led him to teach. He says that “in order to be a good coach, you have to be a good teacher.” And he says coaching sports that included football and track helped him become a decent teacher.
Hart says he will miss the students. He says that while the physical layout of the school changed over the years, the students are “about the same as when I started.”
SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is reviewing the actions of two on-duty officers who went to a residence on a possible domestic violence call Sunday evening, according to officer Charley Davidson.
After they arrived, one of the officers adjusted the home ‘s surveillance camera.
“When an officer can articulate safety concerns, I am supportive of their decision,” WPD Chief Gordon Ramsay said.
Prouse -photo KDOC
“With rapidly changing technology and the increasing number of home security cameras, the WPD continually reviews practices to ensure they are in line with the expectations of the community and officer safety.”
According to police, at approximately 11 p.m. Sunday, the Officers responded to a call at St. Francis Hospital involving 41-year-old Brandon Prouse and an adult female who was a possible domestic violence victim.
Hospital staff had removed Brandon’s house arrest anklet in the hospital. A disturbance between Prouse and the woman followed. She expressed to hospital staff she was concerned for her safety as the two were leaving together.
Hospital staff called 911. Officers arrived, but both Prouse and the woman could not be located on hospital grounds.
Officers then drove to Prouse’s home in the 1400 block of south Market looking for the woman.
Prior to visiting the residence, Officers researched Prouse’s criminal history. The criminal history check revealed past incidents of violence and domestic violence.
At Prouse’s home, Officers observed the surveillance camera mounted on a swivel mount next to the front door. Due to safety concerns, one of the Officers turned the camera away from where the Officers were standing on the porch. Officers were unable to contact anyone at the residence and left.
The Officers’ body worn camera systems recorded the visit and the video will be part of an internal review, according to Davidson.
MARION COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just before 3p.m. Tuesday in Marion County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Chevy 1500 driven by Rhonda Michelle Hannon, 43, Newton, was northbound on Kansas 15 just south of 150th Road.
The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right. The driver overcorrected, traveled across the center of the highway into the northbound ditch and rolled.
Hannon and a passenger Christina Renae Miller, 45, Canton, were pronounced dead at the scene. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
Thomas More Prep-Marian announced Tuesday that Bill Meagher has accepted the position of Head High School Boys Basketball Coach. He begins his role as the team prepares for the 2018-19 season.
Applications were received from across the state and a selection committee was formed consisting of Msgr. Barry Brinkman, TMP-Marian Pastor Designate, Curtis Hammeke, Fort Hays State University Athletic Director, Kerri Lacy, Principal Lincoln Elementary and Chad Meitner, Principal TMP-Marian.
Currently Meagher serves in the role of Campus Minister and Junior High Theology Instructor. Adding the responsibility of Head High School Boys Basketball Coach, Meagher will provide students with guidance in both spirituality and leadership formation. The mission of the boys basketball program is to teach the necessary skills to become good husbands, fathers and leaders.
Meagher was Head Basketball Coach at Kennedy Middle School from 2007-2010, Assistant Basketball Coach for Hays High School in 2011 and came to TMP-Marian in 2012 as Assistant Basketball Coach. He lives in Hays, Kan., with his wife Mandy and three children, Thomas, Andrew and Emma.
“I love the opportunity to work and mold young people. We have fantastic students here at TMP-Marian and I am excited to continue to get to work with them,” said Meagher. “The (boys) basketball program has always operated at a high level. I will work to maintain and grow the program and be a caretaker of the winning tradition,” continued Meagher.
The basketball program at TMP-Marian has a rich 92 year history beginning in 1926 as the Hays Catholic Academy Blue Jays, the SJMA Cadets in 1931 until finally becoming the Monarchs in 1970.
“Bill’s service and dedication to the future of our students is evident through his passion for the Catholic faith and instilling that faith into students both on and off the court. We are excited for the qualities Bill brings to the school and what the future holds for the TMP-Marian Monarchs Boys Basketball program,” said TMP-Marian Principal Chad Meitner.
Located in Hays, Kan., Thomas More Prep-Marian is a Catholic school serving grades 7-12. Students come from Hays, the surrounding region, and from countries around the world. The school was founded by the Capuchin Franciscans as Hays Catholic College in 1908 and ultimately became Thomas More Prep-Marian in 1981. The school continues to serve young people in the traditions of spiritual growth, academic excellence, and leadership formation.
TREGO COUNTY – The Trego County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday, May 22, to rescind the burn ban and the ban on fireworks in Trego County.
Even though the burn ban has been lifted, anyone that is burning outside of a trash barrel must first call the Trego County Communications Office at 743-5721 to request permission to burn before it can be started.
Anyone not getting permission prior to burning could be subject to citation and fines.
Certain conditions must be met before permission will be given, including wind speed, fire index and other conditions. All burns must be started after sunrise and completed before sunset and be constantly monitored while burning. Anyone not following regulations may be subject to fines and prosecution.
The Trego County Commission, along with the Rural Fire Chief and Emergency Manager will continue to monitor conditions and the bans maybe reinstated at any time depending on conditions.
The decision to allow fireworks will be revisited every week until July 4th and could be subject to immediate change due to environmental conditions.
William Clare “Bill” Barker, age 75, of Hays, Kansas, died Sunday, May 20, 2018, at his home.
He was born on May 7, 1943, in Norton, Kansas, to Clarence J. and Goldie E. (Van Diest) Barker. He married Priyanai (Suvanasingha) on November 28, 1969, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She preceded him in death on November 30, 1994. He then married Rita J. (Long) on May 31, 1997, in the Old St. Anthony Hospital Chapel in Hays, Kansas.
He worked in Oberlin, Colby and Hays in the insurance and banking business and retired in 2008, after 20 years with the Farmers Credit Union in Hays, Kansas. He was a 1961 graduate of Prairie View High School and a 1965 graduate of Kansas State University. He taught middle school for a few years in Buhler and Independence before moving to Hays, Kansas in 1990. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and served four years in Bangkok, Thailand and Little Rock, Arkansas.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hays, a Lifetime Member of the V.F.W. Post No. 6882 and the Rotary Club both of Colby. He enjoyed fishing, all sports and was an avid Kansas State fan.
Survivors include his wife, Rita Barker, of the home; one daughter, Anita Thiel and husband, Jess, Levant, KS; two step daughters, Sue Molnar, Hays, KS; Donna Lehmann and husband, Anand Mukherjee, Brooklyn, NY; two brothers, Steve Barker and wife, Suzanne, Kearney, NE; Dave Barker and wife, Cathy, Lawrence, KS; two grandchildren, Oscar and Nora Mukherjee.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday, May 25, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church, 7th and Ash, Hays, Kansas. Burial in Fort Hays Memorial Garden Cemetery, Hays, Kansas with military honors by the Hays V.F.W. Post No. 9076.
Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601 and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Friday, at the First United Methodist Church, Hays, Kansas.
The family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church or Hospice of Hays Medical Center.
Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state inspection has found 11 alleged violations of regulations at a Kansas water park where a 10-year-old boy died in 2016.
The Kansas Department of Labor made an audit of the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City public Tuesday, a day after issuing a notice to the park. The inspection was last week.
The audit said safety signs in some park areas were not adequate, records were not available for review and some operating and training manuals were not complete.
The audit said one ride’s parts weren’t replaced as the manufacturer recommended.
The department issued a warning that the issues must be addressed.
A spokeswoman said Schlitterbahn would issue a statement about the audit.
The boy who died nearly two years ago was decapitated while riding a now-closed giant waterslide.
Joanne Claycamp, 85, formerly of WaKeeney, KS, late of Kenosha, WI, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 16, 2017, at Casa Del Mare.
Born in Hill City, KS, on July 14, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Arnold and Oakie (Bell) Hillman. She was educated in the schools of WaKeeney and married her high school sweetheart, Henry Claycamp. Shortly after, Joanne and Henry began a lifelong adventure of many moves across the country as Henry progressed in academic and business positions. She moved to Kenosha in 2010 from living in McKinney, TX, and previously on both US coasts, and even a year in Switzerland.
Joanne was known as both a talented cook and a gracious hostess for both casual and formal dinner parties. She was always active in community social and volunteer activities wherever she lived. Joanne was a managing volunteer for the American Cancer Society in California and a committed hospital volunteer in McKinney. She spent some of her empty nest years sharpening her bridge play, painting, pottery and tap dancing with Evening Stars tap dancing group in Texas.
Above all, Joanne loved family and gathering her family for visits and holidays. Surviving are her four children, Eric (Margaret) Claycamp of Grapevine, TX, Gregg (Rebecca) Claycamp of North Potomac, MD, Jan (Dennis) Claycamp-Dickey of Woodstock, GA, and Jill (Dan) Watring of Kenosha, WI; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Dorene Hitchcock.
A graveside gathering will take place May 26, 2018, 1:00 PM at the WaKeeney City Cemetery.
Memorials in Joanne’s name will be accepted for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or the American Cancer Society.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A California man confessed after his arrest that he made the hoax calls that led a police officer to fatally shoot an unarmed man in Kansas, adding he routinely made similar calls to seek attention, a detective testified Tuesday.
Tyler Barriss, 25, is accused of calling Wichita police from Los Angeles on Dec. 28 to report a shooting and kidnapping at a Wichita home. The person who made the two calls said he shot his father in the head and was holding his mother and younger brother at gunpoint in a closet in the house.
Police went to the house where they thought the crime was occurring, and an officer fatally shot 28-year-old Andrew Finch after he opened the door.
The shooting drew national attention to “swatting,” a practice in which a person makes a false report to get emergency responders to descend on an address. Finch had not been the intended target of the call.
Sedgwick County Judge Bruce Brown ruled after the preliminary hearing Tuesday in Wichita that there was sufficient probable cause for trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter, giving a false alarm and interference with a law enforcement officer. The arraignment was set for June 29.
Los Angeles police detective Edward Dorroh told the court that in a police interview the day after the Kansas shooting Barriss claimed that he had “calculated the risk” that someone might be hurt responding to a false call. Reading from the transcript of that police interview, he testified Barris told him “it was only a matter of time and I guess that time was last night. It was so stupid.”
Dorroh said he asked him whether he knew someone could get hurt, and Barriss replied: “I did know that. I am not going to deny that. I did know… the worst possible outcome happened. It is just so unfortunate.”
The detective also testified that when asked why he did it, Barris replied that it was “attention seeking” and that he would have kept doing it if he hadn’t been caught.
Barriss, who used the Twitter handle @SWAuTistic,” told investigators that the Wichita swatting was the result of a dispute over a video game involving a $1.50 bet, Dorroh said. One of the players contacted Barriss because a rival in the game was taunting him. Barriss told police he got the Wichita address from the player who initially contacted him, then followed the other player on Twitter and confirmed the address with him.
Wichita police officer Justin Rapp testified that he was assigned to provide cover from across the street for responding officers on the night of the Wichita shooting. He said he believed at the time that the man who came to the door was the one who had called 911 to report he had killed his father and was holding his mother and sibling at gunpoint.
Rapp said Finch was not compliant with the commands from police officers, and he saw him very briefly put his hands up to ear level and just as quickly put them down to his waist band. Finch then made a motion that looked like he might be drawing a gun from his waistband or a holster. Rapp said he fired one shot from his rifle.
“My fear is that he is going to open fire on the officers,” Rapp said, adding his decision to shoot was based on information from the 911 call and Finch’s actions on the porch.
Prosecutors have declined to charge the police officer who fatally shot Finch. District Attorney Marc Bennett told reporters in April that the officer who fired the shot was stationed across the street, and fired believing Finch was reaching for a weapon when he moved his arm.
Bennett told reporters after Barriss was charged in January in Kansas that there was no other situation quite like it to reference, acknowledging the “sort of novelty” of the case.
Bradley Sylvester, the attorney who represents Barriss, said Monday that what the defense is trying to accomplish at the preliminary hearing is to find out as much evidence as possible that is not in the reports and get as much information as possible. The defense did not present any evidence at this stage of proceedings.
Asked whether the defense believes the evidence supports the involuntary manslaughter charge, Sylvester replied: “That is a weird question because there is not another case quite like it.”
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the preliminary hearing for a California man accused of making a hoax call that led to police fatally shooting an unarmed man in Kansas. (all times local):
1 p.m.
A judge has found probable cause for a California man to stand trial on allegations he made a hoax call that led police to fatally shoot an unarmed man in Kansas.
Twenty-five-year-old Tyler Barriss is accused of calling police from Los Angeles on Dec. 28 to report a shooting and kidnapping at a home in Wichita, Kansas. Police stormed the address and an officer shot 28-year-old Andrew Finch at his front door.
Barriss faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, giving a false alarm and interference with a law enforcement officer.
Barriss engaged in “swatting,” a practice in which someone makes a false report to get emergency responders to an address.
Wichita police officer Justin Rapp testified that he was assigned to provide cover for responding officers. Rapp says he fired one shot because he feared Finch was reaching for a firearm.
Barriss will be arraigned June 29.
___
10:50 a.m.
A detective says a California man confessed after his arrest to making a hoax call that led to police fatally shooting an unarmed man in Kansas.
Los Angeles Detective Edward Dorroh testified Tuesday in a preliminary hearing for 25-year-old Tyler Barriss in Wichita.
Barriss is accused of calling police from Los Angeles on Dec. 28 to report a shooting and kidnapping at a home in Wichita, Kansas.
Dorroh told the court he asked Barris whether he knew the risks of making such calls. Barriss replied that he couldn’t deny he knew the risk. Barriss told Dorroh that the “worst outcome happened. It is just so unfortunate.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A California man accused of making a hoax call that led to police shooting an unarmed man in Kansas is returning to court, where a judge is set to decide if there is enough evidence to put him on trial for involuntary manslaughter and other charges.
Tyler Barriss, 25, is accused of calling police from Los Angeles on Dec. 28 to report a shooting and kidnapping at a Wichita home. The person who called said he shot his father in the head and was holding his mother and younger brother at gunpoint in a closet in the house in Wichita.
Police went to the house where they thought the crime was occurring, and an officer fatally shot 28-year-old Andrew Finch after he opened the door.
Barriss’ preliminary hearing is scheduled before Sedgwick County Judge Bruce Brown in Wichita. Barriss also faces charges of giving a false alarm and interference with a law enforcement officer.
Prosecutors have declined to charge the police officer who fatally shot Finch. District Attorney Marc Bennett told reporters in April that the officer who fired the shot was stationed across the street, and fired believing Finch was reaching for a weapon when he moved his arm.
The shooting drew attention to “swatting,” a practice in which a person makes a false report to get emergency responders to descend on an address.
Bennett told reporters after Barriss was charged in January in Kansas that there was no other situation quite like it to reference, acknowledging the “sort of novelty” of the case.
Bradley Sylvester, the attorney who represents Barriss, said Monday that what the defense is trying to accomplish at the preliminary hearing is to find out as much evidence as possible that is not in the reports and get as much information as possible.
Asked whether the defense believes the evidence supports the involuntary manslaughter charge, Sylvester replied: “That is a weird question because there is not another case quite like it.”
Grandma and Grandpa Becker were people of action rather than words. Not that they didn’t have much to say. They just chose their words well and needed only a few to convey much.
As their oldest grandson, I visited them during the summer when I was growing up in the late ‘50s. I always talked Grandma into letting me sleep in the screened-in porch on the east side of their home.
Shaded by tall elm trees, this was the coolest place to slumber on those warm summer nights before air conditioning. More importantly, the porch was right next to my grandparent’s room where I felt safe and slept like a log each night.
Their morning activities would always wake me, and their longest conversations of the day took place while drinking black coffee with bacon and eggs several hours before I crawled out of my comfortable bed. In the background you could always hear a black Zenith AM radio providing them with the news and weather of the upcoming day.
I’d just lie there comfortably in my bed soaking up the sounds. I knew Grandma would make me my own special breakfast at a more kid-visiting-his-grandparents hour.
My Grandpa Bert was a tall slender man with kind eyes and a rich baritone voice that invited attention and respect. During those early-morning conversations with my Grandma Rose, he spoke with a gentleness that was unlike any other.
While I didn’t really think of it back then, I just remember I loved listening to them visit and appreciated how my Grandpa talked to my Grandma.
Today, I understand what I was listening to were conversations between a woman and a man who had truly become one.
Grandpa always respected and took care of Grandma’s every need. She cheerfully and willingly gave back all that she received.
My Grandpa Bert was a veteran of World War I, saw action in France. He died nearly 25 years before Grandma Rose. His later years were difficult, and he suffered from Parkinson’s disease. I also believe ghosts from those brothers in arms, who didn’t return home with him, weighed heavy on his soul.
Still, I never heard him complain. Grandma and my mother loved and cared for him when he couldn’t do so for himself.
I have always considered myself a lucky man to have inherited some of the wonderful attributes of the Becker family – cheerfulness, perseverance, a willingness to think, work smart – and the ability to enjoy and appreciate others.
Having Becker blood also means you have family and some good friends willing to stand by your side during the best and worst of times. And while your living may be hard-earned – your life will be rich beyond measure.
John Schlageck is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion.
