KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has completed its investigation of the police chief in Kansas City, Kansas, and turned over results to the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office.
A spokeswoman for KBI said Wednesday that the bureau wrapped up the investigation last week. It’s unclear when prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges against Terry Zeigler.
The investigation centers on whether Ziegler “double dipped” when he took paid time off work while also charging the county government for work he did on a lake house.
The Unified Government allowed Ziegler to pay little rent on the house on Wyandotte Lake Park if he made repairs on the property. Officials put the lease in writing after a citizen inquired about it.
Gerald Lee Rohleder, age 66, of Omaha, Nebraska passed away Friday, May 10, 2019 at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha.
Jerry was born on July 25, 1952 in Hays, Kansas to Alvin and Anita (Meier) Rohleder. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Military Academy in 1970 and was united in marriage with Marie Pfeifer on August 4th, 1973. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State College in 1974 Jerry spent over 42 years at Mutual of Omaha as a Senior Technical Solutions Architect where he continued to work until his passing.
In addition, he spent over 20 years as a computer science educator at various schools throughout the Omaha area. His loves in life included his family, teaching, sharing his knowledge of technology, laughter, gardening, Clint Eastwood, oatmeal cream pies, Cherry Mash candies, and especially being a Grandfather.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Marie, daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Benjamin Puetz, grandson Cameron (2.5 years), granddaughter Winter (7 months), mother Anita Rohleder (Hays, Kansas), sister Debbie (Rohleder) Hensch and brother-in-law Duane Hensch of Wichita, Kansas. He is proceeded in death by his father Alvin Rohleder.
The new reality of smoking at Kansas high schools is visible in the parking lots, where used-up Juul pods have taken the place of cigarette butts.
VAPING 360 / FLICKR
“You can pick up the discarded Juul cartridges all over the concrete,” Andover High School school resource officer Heath Kintzel said of the popular vaping brand. “It’s everywhere.”Kansas school officials told the state Board of Education on Tuesday that vaping is an increasing epidemic. In 2017, about a third of Kansas high school students tried vaping at least once. Between 2017 and 2018, the number of students vaping increased by 80 percent.
That has educators looking for a solution.
“For me, it was pretty eye-opening in terms of just the amount of vaping that had occurred in a short amount of time,” David Stubblefield, the executive director of school administration for the Blue Valley Unified School District, told the board. “It really exploded exponentially in the last two or three years.”
Vaping — that is, electronic cigarettes — almost always involves nicotine, the same addictive chemical found in traditional cigarettes. It usually involves flavors that would appeal to younger smokers.
Some adults have turned to vaping to quit smoking, though the Food and Drug Administration does not approve e-cigarettes for that use. The Centers for Disease Control acknowledges that while e-cigarettes could help some smokers quit, there isn’t enough research to say how effective they are. There also hasn’t been enough research to fully understand the health consequences associated with vaping, partially because of e-cigarettes’ fast adoption.
Plus, the devices often look like pens and USB drives. Some are built into hoodie strings. They can give off little smoke. This allows them to go unnoticed, especially in schools.
“Unless you physically see a student holding it, using it, blowing the smoke from it, it is really difficult to know when kids are actually using it in a school,” said Andover principal Kristen Kuhlmann.
The main recommendation for combating e-cigarettes: education. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said students may not know there is nicotine in their e-cigarettes.
The department also recommended lessons for teachers to better identify vaping.
But education officials are bracing themselves for a long campaign against vaping, much like the decades-long process of reducing traditional cigarette use.
“They’ve just burst upon the market,” said Mark Thompson, a consultant on health for the Kansas State Department of Education. “We’re really playing catch-up here.”
TOPEKA – The Kansas Water Office (KWO) is currently accepting applications from those who would like to participate as a member of one of the 14 Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) which are established by the Kansas Water Authority (KWA). Interested individuals are encouraged to apply soon as the deadline is only two weeks away.
Ellis County is in the Smoky Hill-Saline Regional Advisory Committee.
These committees play a key role in advising the KWA on implementation of each region’s water supply priorities as part of the Kansas Water Vision and the Kansas water planning process as a whole. They help identify and provide input on other emerging water resource related issues and concerns. The committee selection process will ensure all of the water users and interests within the region are represented.
Kansans can have a definite lasting impact on the future of water resources through RAC membership. Interested persons can apply at www.kwo.ks.gov. The application deadline is May 31, 2019.
As the state’s water office, KWO conducts water planning, policy coordination and water marketing as well as facilitates public input throughout the state. The agency prepares the Kansas Water Plan, a plan for water resources development, management and conservation.
New Blue Dragon head track and field coach Robert Spies speaks to a gathering at his introductory news conference on Monday at the Sports Arena. (Steve Carpenter / Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College Athletic Department announced on Monday that Robert Spies will become the new head coach of the Blue Dragon Track and Field program.
Director of Athletics Josh Gooch made the announcement at an introductory news conference on Monday at the Sports Arena.
Spies will officially take the program over July 1. Hall of Fame Blue Dragon head coach Pat Becher announced his retirement earlier this season after 34 seasons. Becher’s official last day is June 30.
Spies becomes just the fifth head coach of the Blue Dragon men’s program and just the third head coach of the women’s program at Hutch CC.
“This is an exciting day for the future of Blue Dragon Track and Field,” Gooch said.
“This is a great time, not just for myself, but my family,” Spies said. “I know that there are very, very, very big shoes to fill. I’ve known Coach Becher for a very long time. I’m going to do my best to keep things going.”
Before Hutchinson, Spies has guided four other collegiate track and field programs and has had success at each stop.
Prior to Hutchinson, Spies was the head coach at McPherson College. Starting at McPherson in 2013, Spies produced 75 NAIA national qualifiers and 33 NAIA All-Americans. He coached one NAIA national champion, 73 conference champions, 92 all-KCAC performers and more than 60 school records fell in his tenure with the Bulldogs.
From 2011 to 2013, Spies was the head coach at Bethany College in Lindsborg. At Bethany, Spies’ teams produced eight NAIA national qualifiers, three All-Americans, 13 conference champions, 58 all-conference performers and 10 school records.
Spies isn’t a stranger to the Jayhawk Conference. From 2007 to 2010, he was the head coach at Fort Scott Community College. While at Fort Scott, Spies mentored three NJCAA All-Americans, nine NJCAA national qualifiers, 36 all-Jayhawk East performers and 34 school records fell in those four seasons.
Spies started coaching at Pittsburg State University as an assistant in 2006 and 2007. With the Gorillas Spies coached eight NCAA All-Americans, one NCAA national runner-up, 10 national qualifiers, six conference champions and 18 all-conference performers and five school records fell.
Spies was named the KCAC Coach of the Year three times (2016, 2017 and 2018). He was also the McPherson College Coach of the Year in 2018.
“One of the things that was appealing to me about Hutch was the continuity … not in just the athletic department but around the campus,” Spies said. “(Gowans Stadium is a nice selling point. When you can bring a kid in and tell them we host nationals here, that’s a really nice selling point. I like to have a stadium.”
While at Pittsburg State, Spies was also the Student Fitness Facility Supervisor. Before that, from 2001 to 2004, Spies was the Strength and Conditioning coach at Virginia Military Institute.
Spies ran collegiately at Fort Hays State University. He was a 4-time NCAA Division II All-American, a 12-time Conference champion in both the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. While at Fort Hays State, Spies was ranked 14th in the world in the 60 meters, clocking a time of 6.57 seconds during his senior year. He has also competed at the USA National Championship level.
Spies completed a Bachelor’s degree in childhood development with a minor in recreation from Pittsburg State. He earned a Master’s degree in human health performance and recreation with an emphasis in sport and leisure management.
Robert and his wife, Ermelinda, have two children, Davian and Sofia.
TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly has signed a bill that would prevent judges from lowering sentences for child sex offenders if they think the victims were willing participants in the crime.
Soden -photo Leavenworth Co.
“Judges must interpret and apply the law with common sense and an understanding of the real world, especially in child sex crime cases,” Kelly said. “I was deeply troubled when a Kansas judge viewed a child victim as an aggressor when an adult commits a sex crime. I’m pleased to sign this bill eliminating the ability to reduce sentences for sex crimes in these cases,” Kelly stated in a media release.
The bill signed this week comes after a Leavenworth County judge in February reduced the sentence for 67-year-old Raymond Soden because he thought the 13- and 14-year-old girls involved in the case were “aggressors.”
The bill eliminates the reason for a downward departure in sentencing for sexually violent crimes when the victim is younger than 14 years and the offender is an adult. It also would make that departure factor unavailable when human trafficking victims are involved regardless of their age.
John Henry Schroeder, 85, of Colby, died Monday, May 13, 2019, at Citizens Medical Center, Colby. He was born October 21, 1933, in Thomas County, Kansas, to Leon M. and Protus (Ackard) Schroeder.
John graduated from Levant High School with the class of 1951. He married Betty Stickel on May 23, 1952.
John was a lifetime farmer and cattleman, especially loving wheat harvest. He was a member of the Masons, receiving a 50-year pin, a life member of ISIS Shrine and a life member of the Elks and served on several boards. John was a member of the Levant Community Church. He and Betty enjoyed traveling and wintering in Texas.
John was preceded in death by his parents, son John Richard “Rick” Schroeder; brother Robert Schroeder; sister Mary Garrett and niece Gloria Ribordy.
He is survived by his wife Betty, of Colby; daughters, Diana (John) Presley, Dodge City, Kansas, and Debra (Bob) Aday, Waxahachie, Texas; sister Lois Anne Frodin, Goodland, Kansas; six grandchildren, Jeremy (Janie) Presley, Courtney (Matt) Howard, Ashley (Brock) Seidl, Benjamin Schroeder, Nicolas (Kelly) Schroeder and Von Aday and 11 great-grandchildren.
Cremation was chosen. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2019 at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, at the Colby Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Shriners Hospital for Children or the Levant Community Church, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information, visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 94. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.
Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
FridayIncreasing clouds, with a high near 86. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Friday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
SaturdayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Saturday NightShowers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican-led Senate has passed a wide-ranging bill to ban abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy, acting only hours after Alabama’s governor signed a near-total abortion ban into law.
Senators voted 24-10 for the bill early Thursday. The proposed eight-week ban allows exceptions only in medical emergencies, not cases of rape or incest.
The measure now returns to the House for another vote on the Senate changes, ahead of a Friday deadline to pass bills.
Republican-led legislatures around the U.S. are imposing new restrictions, hoping more conservative justices will overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion.
Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur in about the sixth week of pregnancy.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican-led Senate has now passed a bill to ban abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy.
Senators approved the legislation 24-10 early Thursday with just hours left before a Friday deadline to pass bills. It needs at least one more vote of approval in the GOP-led House before it can go to Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who voiced support for it on Wednesday.
Parson called on state senators to take action, joining a movement of GOP-dominated state legislatures emboldened by the possibility that a more conservative Supreme Court could overturn its landmark ruling legalizing the procedure. Their vote came only hours after Alabama’s governor signed the most stringent abortion ban in the nation on Wednesday, making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases.
The Missouri proposal includes exceptions for medical emergencies, but not for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Doctors would face five to 15 years in prison for violating the eight-week cutoff. Women who receive abortions at eight weeks or later into a pregnancy wouldn’t be prosecuted.
Outnumbered Senate Democrats launched into an attack on the bill before Republican supporters had a chance to bring it up for debate on the Senate floor.
“So much of this bill is just shaming women into some kind of complacency that says we are vessels of pregnancy rather than understanding that women’s lives all hold different stories,” St. Louis-area Democratic Sen. Jill Schupp told colleagues. “We cannot paint with a broad brush and interfere by putting a law forward that tells them what they can and cannot do.”
Missouri is among a growing number of states where abortion opponents are working with renewed enthusiasm following President Donald Trump’s appointment of more conservative high court justices. Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have approved bans on abortion once fetal cardiac activity can be detected , which can occur in about the sixth week of pregnancy. Similar restrictions in North Dakota and Iowa have been struck down in court.
Supporters say the Alabama bill is intentionally designed to conflict with the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationally in hopes of sparking a court case that might prompt the justices to revisit abortion rights.
Missouri’s bill also includes an outright ban on abortions except in cases of medical emergencies. But unlike Alabama’s, it would kick in only if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
If courts don’t allow Missouri’s proposed eight-week ban to take effect, it includes a ladder of less-restrictive time limits ranging from 14 to 20 weeks. Roe v. Wade legalized abortion up until viability, usually at 22 to 24 weeks.
“This is not a piece of legislation that is designed for a challenge,” Missouri’s Republican House Speaker Elijah Haahr said. “This is the type of legislation that is designed to withstand a challenge and to actually save lives in our state.”
Other provisions in the wide-ranging abortion bill include a ban on abortions based solely on race, sex or a “prenatal diagnosis, test, or screening indicating Down Syndrome or the potential of Down Syndrome.”
The bill would also require that both parents be notified for a minor to get an abortion, with exceptions. A change made after hours of late-night negotiations means written notification is only required if the second parent has joint legal or physical custody of the minor.
Current law requires written consent from only one parent
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities are investigating what appears to be a deadly hit-and-run crash in Kansas City.
Officers responded early Sunday to a report about a body lying in a road. Missouri Capt. Tim Hernandez says the victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An emergency room doctor says the victim appeared to have been struck by a vehicle. Hernandez says the traffic investigation unit doesn’t have any witnesses or video to determine what happened, or any suspect information.
The TMP baseball team saw their season come to an end Wednesday afternoon in a wild, 15-14 loss to Concordia in the 3A regional semifinals in Concordia.
In the nearly three-hour contest, the two teams combined for 26 hits and 29 runs.
Aaron Breit postgame interview
The Monarchs raced out to a four-run lead in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Carson Jacobs and then with the bases loaded, Colby Dreiling delivered a bases-clearing double to take a 4-0 lead after one inning.
In the top of the season the Panthers offense exploded for nine runs on six hits to take a 9-4 lead.
Each team added a run in the third and then Concordia scored two in the fourth and three in the fifth to build a 15-5 lead through four and a half innings. But the Monarchs, on the brink of elimination would rally for nine runs in their half of the fifth.
The Monarchs sent 14 to the plate and collected six hits in the inning. Among those were a Tyson Dinkel two-run single and the second three-run double of the game for Dreiling, giving him a career-high six RBI’s. But after the Monarchs closed within one at 15-14 Dreiling struck out to end the inning leaving the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second.
TMP was able to get the tying run to second in the sixth inning but were unable to threaten again as they see their season come to an end with the 15-14 loss.
Colby Dreiling suffered the loss for the Monarchs. He allowed nine runs, six were earned with a pair of walks in an inning and two-thirds.
Dreiling collected a pair of hits and drover in six runs. Brady Kreutzer was three-for-four with four runs scored. Carson Jacobs added a pair of RBI’s.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 67-year-old man accused of stalking several women who worked at massage parlors has been found guilty on eight of 10 federal charges against him.
Gross -photo Jackson Co.
Robert Gross, who has a criminal record dating back to the 1960s, was convicted Wednesday on two of four stalking charges and six gun-related charges.
Federal prosecutors accused Gross of stalking several women between Oct. 1 and Dec. 22, 2017, mostly employees of massage parlors in Lawrence and Johnson County, Kansas. The women told police their cars were keyed, screws drilled into their tires and their windows smashed out.
The jury was shown a video of Gross abusing a Lawrence massage parlor worker. Charges are pending in that case.
Gross’ attorney presented no evidence during the trial.
Gross was arrested in December 2017 after buying two guns in Liberty, Missouri.
STONE COUNTY, Mo — One person died in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Stone County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Toyota Tundra driven by Gideon M. Dunn, 37, Branson, was eastbound on Mo. 76 two miles west of Branson. The pickup rear-ended a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Carlos G. Garate, 41, Emporia that had slowed to make a turn.
A passenger in the van 13-year-old Ace Garate was transported to Cox Hospital in Branson where he died.
EMS also transported Carlos Garate and three other passengers from the van including Alina B. Garate, 64, Amy Garate, 37 and Mercedes Garate, 64, all of Emporia to Cox Hospital in Branson for treatment of minor injuries.
Dunn and Ace Garate were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.
