TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly appointed Thomas Hongslo and Donald Scheibler to the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (CPOST).
“Making sure that all of Kansas’ police and law enforcement officers are properly trained is imperative to the safety of every person in our state,” Kelly said. “We are lucky to have Thomas and Donald join our team. I know they will work hard to make sure every Kansas officer receives the training they need to best serve our communities.”
Thomas Hongslo, Lenexa, currently works as the Lenexa chief of police.
Donald Scheibler, Hays, currently works as the Hays chief of police.
The commission ensures that police or law enforcement officers in Kansas have met all requirements of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act. It may suspend, revoke or deny the certification of officers who fail to meet the requirements, or has met the requirements by falsifying documents or failing to disclose information required for certification. CPOST also provides accredited instruction, which is required for the permanent appointment of full-time police and law officers.
The governor appoints 10 of the commission’s 12 members. The final two seats are filled by the superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol and the director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and have made an arrest.
McNett photo Barton Co.
Just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to 721 Madison in Great Bend in reference to an unknown disturbance. Upon arrival, a 20-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman told police three suspects identified as as Tia McNett, 30, Cody Buckingham, 18, and a juvenile entered into the residence.
One victim told officers that he was struck in the head with an unknown object. The female victim stated she was battered by McNett. The suspects stole property and left the area, according to police.
EMS transported the male victim was transported to the hospital in Great Bend where he was treated and released. The female victim received minor injuries and refused medical attention.
The Police Department issued an Attempt To Locate for the suspects. They have arrested McNett and the juvenile suspect was located and arrested at an address in Great Bend. Officers found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on his person. He was was booked at the Barton County Jail and later transported to Bob Johnson’s Juvenile Detention Facility. McNett is being held in the Barton County Jail. Authorities have not released potential charges against her.
TOPEKA, KAN. – More than 50 people have been indicted on federal charges as a result of a three-year investigation to identify traffickers behind a rising tide of heroin, fentanyl and other drugs on the streets of Manhattan, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Sylvester Calvert photo KDOC
“Fentanyl and heroin are a deadly combination,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. “Our goal is to save lives by disrupting the pipelines bringing these and other poisons to the city Manhattan.”
OVERDOSE DEATH
Federal indictments filed last week and kept under seal until now allege that 18-year-old Kansas State student Maxwell F. Dandaneu was found dead Sept. 26, 2017, in his off-campus apartment from an overdose caused by fentanyl. An indictment alleges Dandaneu got the drugs from a drug trafficking organization made up of five conspirators who are among 54 defendants whose names appear in one of a 13 grand jury indictments.
Defendants Henry Clark, Sylvester Calvert, Michael Calvert, James Toliver, and Blake Woodard are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in Dandaneu’s overdose death, as well as other charges. Woodward is charged with directly distributing the fentanyl to Dandaneu that led to the fatal overdose.
DRUGS CHARGED
In addition to heroin and fentanyl, other drugs that traffickers are accused of distributing include ecstasy, marijuana, methamphetamine and hydrocodone.
CRIMES CHARGED
Dennis Butler, RCPD Director during Wednesday’s news conference in Topeka
The indictments include charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in bodily injury or death, distributing controlled substances resulting in bodily harm or death, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, unlawful possession of a firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, maintaining a drug involved premise, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, using Facebook Messenger in furtherance of drug trafficking and removal of property to avoid seizure.
CHICAGO CONNECTION
Law enforcement officers called the investigation Operation Chicago Connection, based on the fact that in 2016 investigators began to hear talk on the streets of this college town about traffickers who some sources called “the Chicago Boys.” In the following months, investigators worked to get a clearer picture of what was going on. What they learned was that some traffickers were making regular trips to Chicago to bring back heroin, fentanyl and other drugs.
TAKEDOWN
Law enforcement officers were out in force Tuesday, serving arrest warrants and search warrants in Manhattan as part of a federal takedown that was one of the largest in state history. Defendants were scheduled to begin making initial appearances in federal court in Topeka today.
Indictment nine (One defendant, fentanyl, removal of property to prevent seizure)
Chanel Toliver, 32, Manhattan, Kan.
Indictment ten (One defendant, methamphetamine)
Damon Brown, 44, Westmoreland, Kan.
Indictment 11 (One defendant, heroin, felonious use of a communication device)
Jason Simonds, 46, Manhattan, Kan.
Indictment 12 (One defendant, felonious use of a communication device)
Jerah Gasser, 26
Indictment 13 (One defendant, firearms)
James Atkinson, 50, Manhattan, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes in the 13 indictments carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in bodily injury or death (Clark, S. Calvert, M. Calvert, J. Toliver, B. Woodyard): Not less than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million.
Conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in bodily injury or death (K. Obrecht): Not less than five years and not more than 40 years, and a fine up to $5 million.
Distributing heroin resulting in bodily injury or death (B. Woodyard): Not less than 20 years and a fine up to $5 million.
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Maintaining a drug involved premise: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.
Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million.
Conspiracy to make a false statement to obtain a firearm: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Using Facebook Messenger in furtherance of drug trafficking: Up to four years and a fine up to $250,000.
Removal of property to prevent seizure: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.
The case was jointly led by the Riley County Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Riley County Attorney’s Office, the Junction City Police Department, the Geary County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department, the Junction City Police Department.
MAIZE, Kan. (AP) — Voters in the Maize school district overwhelmingly approved more than $100 million in bonds, which will pay for two new schools and other projects in the rapidly growing district.
Unofficial results from Tuesday’s election show one question passed with 85 percent of the vote and the second passed with 77 percent. About 2,989 votes were cast, which is 11.6% of registered voters.
Besides the new schools, the $108.2 million in bonds will be used for an auditorium, a storm shelter, an indoor pool, safety upgrades, renovations at the high school and other projects.
District officials previously said taxes will not be raised for the bonds.
Superintendent Chad Higgins said in a statement the district has grown 9% in five years, adding 600 students.
WRIGHT COUNTY, Mo.—The body of a missing 3-year Missouri girl was found Wednesday in a pond near where she was reported missing, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Vivian Fitzenrider courtesy photo
Just after 6p.m. Tuesday, authorities reported Vivian Fitzenrider had disappeared near 13th and Oakview Lane in Mountain Grove.
Volunteers showed up to help with the search Tuesday night and worked until just before midnight.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, according to the Patrol. The Mountain Grove Police Department and the Wright County Sheriff’s Department are assisting.
Attention minority and/or women owned businesses, this workshop is for you!!
Minority & Women Owned Business Certification gives diverse businesses the ability to compete for real-time business opportunities from private corporations to government agencies.
Benefits of registering as a certified minority and/or woman owned business include:
* Access to contracting opportunities
* Access to networking events
* Opportunity to bid on contracts with goals
* Opportunity to expand your marketing and business relationships
If you are interested in learning more about the Minority, Woman and/or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification Program, register to attend the upcoming FREE DBE/MBE/WBE Certification Workshop to hear more about the criteria, application process and potential benefits of certification.
Please RSVP to Ernee Sly at ernee@growhays or 785.628.3102.
The Center for Health Improvement at HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, is offering an after school activity for children ages 6-11 during the fall semester.
Kids in Motion is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:35 – 5:45 p.m. The program will run from September 3 through December 19. The classes are held at The Center for Health Improvement’s Gymnasium at 2500 Canterbury Drive in Hays.
The program provides age appropriate indoor and outdoor activities designed to keep children active in a fun environment, and develop and improve motor skills. The children will enjoy time with friends while learning about health and fitness.
The afternoon will be complete with a healthy snack. Transportation from school to The Center is optional through USD 489 through the Kids in Motion enrollment.
The fee is $210 for members and $225 for nonmembers for the entire semester. A monthly payment plan is available. Drop-ins are welcome with a $10 fee per class. To register go to https://haysmed.clubautomation.com or call 623-5900. Registration is limited to 25 children.
For more questions or more information call 785-623-6309 or email [email protected].
MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged fraud.
Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report for theft in the 3100 block of Anderson Avenue in Manhattan.
Robbins Motor Company and Kansas State Bank reported a known male suspect fraudulently used bank information from victim’s check to take took money from the victims, according to the Riley County Police Activity report. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $80,000.00.
Jamie Keller, Palco 4-H, donated his prize-winning hog to a fundraiser for the Rooks County Health Center expansion project.
PLAINVILLE – Jamie Keller, a member of the Palco 4-H club, knows a thing or two about raising award winning hogs. He also knows how to support a worthwhile cause.
Jamie, age 13 and the son of Jeff and Lacey Keller of Palco, wanted to help support the Rooks County Health Center (RCH) in some way, and with the guidance of his parents, hit on the idea of offering one of his show pigs as a donation for the upcoming fundraising event being held by the Rooks County Healthcare Foundation (RCHF).
Fairways For The Future, a charity golf tournament being held on September 14 to help fund the new hospital expansion project, includes a whole hog roast supper after the tournament.
Jamie is donating a market weight hog that earned him a blue ribbon at the Rooks County Free Fair.
Jamie won a total of three blue ribbons in the market weight category and a Grand Champion award in the breeding gilt category. Not just an award winning hog raiser, Jamie also earned Grand Champion ribbons in the visual arts and rocketry categories.
The 248-pound blue ribbon winner will be the “guest of honor” at the general admission event held after the golf tournament. The event includes an evening of music and dancing provided by local band Gypsy Road.
Fairways For The Future is a 3 Person Scramble charity golf tournament that will be held at the Rooks County Golf Course five miles north of Plainville.
Golfers in the 18-hole tournament receive the whole hog roast dinner, live music, silent auction for their registration fee. Cash prizes will be awarded, plus golfers can enter for a chance to snag $50,000 in the Hole in One Contest, sponsored by Solutions North Bank of Stockton.
For those who don’t play golf but want to join the after-tournament party, tickets are available for $25 per person for the supper and music. Tickets for the after-tournament party can be purchased at Carmichael True Value and Ruder Oil in Plainville and Solutions North Bank in Stockton or by calling 785-688-4428.
The golf tournament begins play at 9:00 a.m. Admission for the hog roast supper and music begins at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14.
Golfers can register before Aug. 31 for early registration discount. On line registration is available at www.fairways4thefuture.com or by calling Eric Sumearll at 785-688-4428.
NEW YORK – Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday that discount retail chains Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar will pay $1.2 million in fines and damages for selling expired products.
The settlements resolve a multi-month undercover investigation over the chains’ sale of expired over-the-counter drugs, Dollar General’s sale of obsolete motor oil, and Dollar Tree and Family Dollar’s failure to comply with New York’s bottle deposit law.
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“It’s a tough pill for customers to swallow that the over-the-counter drugs they were buying may have been expired,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“Consumers have a right to expect that products on store shelves are safe, fresh and suitable for their advertised use. These settlements will ensure that Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar will not only pay both a substantial fine and damages, but, more importantly, update their business practices to comply with the law so that no expired over-the-counter drugs are sold to a consumer again.”
Beginning in March 2016, investigators for the New York State Office of the Attorney General conducted undercover visits to numerous Dollar stores throughout New York State to inspect store shelves for expired products. At a number of Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar stores, investigators found over-the-counter drugs that were months beyond their expiration dates. New York law prohibits the sale of over-the-counter drugs beyond the date marked on the product’s label.
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Additionally, investigators also found on shelves at a number of Dollar General stores a variety of Dollar General-branded motor oils that are obsolete, including DG SAE-30 — which is not suitable for most automobile engines built after 1930 — and DG SAE 10W-40 and DG SAE 10W-30 motor oils — which are not suitable for use in most engines built after 1988. The Dollar-General branded motor oil bottles used the same or similar descriptors as other brands of motor oil that are suitable for modern engines and were placed next to those brands on store shelves. There were also no on-shelf signs near those products to warn consumers of their unsuitability for use in modern engines.
Finally, beginning in December 2017, undercover investigators visited a number of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores and attempted to return bottles that are subject to New York’s bottle deposit law. At some stores, investigators were either told that the store did not accept deposit bottles for return, or would only accept them with proof of purchase, in violation of New York’s bottle deposit law, which requires retail stores to accept beverage containers for redemption if they are of the design, shape, size, color, composition, and brand sold or offered for sale at the store. At some stores, investigators also purchased a Starbucks brand bottle of Frappuccino, and in some cases, were charged a bottle deposit, even though the bottles are not subject to New York’s bottle deposit law.
The settlements with both Dollar General and Dollar Tree/Family Dollar (Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar in 2015, but each chain continues to maintain separate store operations) require the New York stores to make significant reforms to their policies and procedures for managing their stock of over-the-counter drugs, including:
Maintaining and utilizing a system for electronically recording and tracking the expiration dates on merchandise delivered to their distribution centers,
Maintaining and enforcing policies and procedures that require employees to rotate stock when restocking store shelves, as well as conducting weekly inspections of store shelves to remove any expired products,
Conducting monthly audits of each retail store to check for expired products, and
Instituting third-party audits of 10% of the chains’ New York stores for a period of at least one
year to check for expired over-the-counter drugs.
Additionally, Dollar General discontinued the sale of obsolete motor oil during the course of the investigation and has agreed to pay $1,100,000 in restitution, damages, penalties, and costs to the State of New York. Dollar General customers who purchased obsolete motor oil may file a complaint online or call 1-800-771-7755 to be mailed a form.
Virginia Marie Miller, 90, passed away Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore, KS
She was born October 8, 1928 in Hodgeman County, the daughter of William L. and Alice K. Burns Trauer. A lifetime area resident she was a farmer and homemaker.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church and First Baptist Women, both of Hanston, KS. Enjoyed helping with bible school and was involved with the church quilting groups. She was also involved in various Baptist missionary groups and belonged to the Hanston Senior Center.
On June 10, 1945, she married Earl Miller Jr. in Burdett, KS. He died March 7, 2000.
Survivors include: son, Rodney (Fran) Miller, Dodge City, KS; two daughters, Nancy Will, Fort Smith, AR, Sandra (Ken) Pedigo, Albuquerque, NM; three grandchildren, Cannon Kress, Van Buren, AR, Renee (Aaron) Miller-McCaffery, Ellinwood, KS, Rodney Miller Jr. Dodge City, KS and six very loved great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Miller Jr.; parents, Alice and Bill Trauer; step-father, Cap Powell; two brothers, Donald and William (Billie) Trauer; sister-in-law, Ramona Trauer and a son-in-law, Jan Will.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, Hanston, KS with Pastor Rod McMillan and Pastor Doug Ellison presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore, KS. Burial will be in the Hanston Cemetery, Hanston, KS.
Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, KS 67854.
Women wanting tips on how to dress stylishly on a limited budget won’t want to miss the “Second-Hand Rose Style Show” on Monday, Sept. 9, at the Hays After 5 Christian women’s meeting.
Models will feature the latest in fashions that they purchased for a fraction of the original cost at thrift shops, Goodwill, and garage sales. The fun evening will begin at 7 p.m. at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2350 E. Eighth.
Local journalist Becky Kiser will emcee the style show. Kiser, who works for Eagle Communications, produces news for the Hays Post website and five Hays radio stations. She has also taught broadcast journalism classes at Fort Hays State University.
Also on the program will be inspirational speaker Donna Roth Hillis of Wichita. Hillis, a former corporate flight attendant and retired nurse, is now the board chair of the West Wichita YMCA.
In her talk titled “Shattered But Not Broken,” Hillis will share how an ordinary life can be transformed into something extraordinary.
All teachers in attendance at the program will be recognized.
Cost of the dinner program is $12.50. Reservations are required by Thursday, Sept. 5, to [email protected] or to (785) 202-1036. Hays After 5 is affiliated with Stonecroft Ministry of Overland Park.
Phyllis C. Wilson Geist Rowland, age 86, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, KS. She was born in Wichita County, KS, on the Pleasant Valley farm to John F. and Beulah L. Heath Wilson, on December 25, 1932. She attended a one-room school for 8 years before attending WCCHS in Leoti.
She married Gene Geist in 1950. Five children were born to this union. They divorced. After her children were all in school, she attended Garden City Junior College and Fort Hays University where she received a BA and a Masters in English. She taught senior English classes at Scott City High School for 8 years.
She moved to McPherson and married Kenneth Rowland in 1978, and later taught at St. John’s Military School and McPherson Junior High. She received a Master’s degree in Ed Psych with emphasis on gifted education and then taught gifted classes at Prairie Hills Middle School, Hutchinson. After Phyllis and Ken retired, she wrote memoirs and taught memoir writing classes in Jacksonville, Florida and across the state of Kansas, with one continuous weekly class from 1996 to 2012 at Watermark Books and Café and at Riverbend Bistro, Wichita.
One of her greatest pleasures was the family gatherings each year the weekend after Christmas. For many years her Gift of Memories was often completed in time for family Christmas gifts.
She helped over 100 people write, edit, and/or publish their own Gift of Memories.
She wrote a historical novel, Ghost Writer, based on documented research about a distant grandmother who came from Matlock, Derbyshire, England to settle in Long Island, NY, in 1648.
Phyllis was a member of The First Christian Church of Scott City, KS; a former music director for church services at Maple Gardens Retirement Village of Wichita, KS; a member of several writing groups: KWA, WRCW, and KWA Critique Group, and a long-time member of APH (the International Association of Personal Historians.)
Phyllis’ surviving family includes her two daughters – Susan (Neil) Arnold of Winfield, Kansas, Gina (Craig) Ramsey of Scott City, one son – Shane (Cindy) Geist of Scott City, one daughter-in-law – Jacki Jones of Tempe, Arizona, two stepsons – Don (Gaye) Rowland, Richardson, Texas, Kent Rowland of Winfield, Kansas, one brother – Fran (Jan) Wilson of Kearney, Nebraska, two sisters – Aleta (Lauerence) Hastings of Wichita, Kansas, Esther Walker of Ulysses, Kansas, 14 Grandchildren – Kate Stevens of Gilbert, Arizona, Kristin Jessup and Marc Ramsey of Scott City, Kansas, Abri Dennis, Logan Geist, and Lisa Geist of Wichita, Kansas, Karita Geist, Englewood, Colorado, Jeremy Arnold and Seth Arnold of Winfield, Kansas, Dallas Griffin of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Heath Griffin of Leslie, Arkansas, Cory Wick, Brian Wick and Shaena Tuohy of Sachse, Texas and 26 great-grandchildren.
Her parents; one daughter, Robin Geist-Wick; one son, Bill Geist; husband, Ken; and a special friend, Joe Beaver, preceded her in death.
