Governor Laura Kelly, on behalf of the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, announced Wednesday the 2019 grant awards for the Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. The grant program is a partnership among federal, state and local governments to create safer communities and improve criminal justice systems.
“I’m pleased to announce these important grants available to improve the safety of Kansas communities and families,” said Kelly. “Our law enforcement offices, nonprofits and community health organizations do much to keep our citizens safe. I commend them for their work and look forward to continuing to partner with them to improve many aspects of our criminal justice system.”
Northwest Kansas agencies receiving grants include Norton County, Rawlins County and Scott County.
The JAG program provides funds to criminal justice system partners in addressing crime and improving public safety. The KCJCC established four primary areas for distributing these funds that include; reducing recidivism, improving law enforcement technology and officer safety, improving victim services and supporting projects that enhance the functionality of the Kansas criminal justice information system.
The Governor also announced the Federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment of State Prisoners Grant Program (RSAT) grant award. The Kansas Department of Corrections was awarded $119,046 by the KCJCC. The funds are used for treatment of adult inmates.
The KCJCC also awarded the Kansas Bureau of Investigation $716,746 from the Federal National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) grant program. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of the criminal history record information in support of background check systems.
The Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (KCJCC) oversees the criminal justice federal funding made available to Kansas through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The KCJCC is representative of the Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Corrections, the Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Jon Armstrong, left, interim director of admissions at Fort Hays State University, visits with Wamego High School senior Caden Moore and his parents, Jason and Roshelle Moore, at FHSU’s Student Recognition Program event in Topeka earlier this month. (Photo by Tiffany Reddig.)
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing
For Jacob Wick, it will be somewhat of a homecoming. For his high school classmate, Caden Moore, it will be making a new home for himself when they begin their college careers at Fort Hays State University next fall.
The two Wamego High School seniors were part of a group students honored at an annual Student Recognition Program at the Ramada Inn in Topeka earlier this month.
The Topeka SRP is one of 12 of its kind – all across the state and one each in Colorado and Nebraska – held during a month’s time through January and February. The 2019 SRPs will conclude this week, with events at Beloit Thursday and at Garden City and Dodge City on Sunday.
Topeka’s program was the second such event of the day for representatives from the FHSU admissions office, who were in Overland Park earlier in the day on Feb. 10.
It was double duty again the following Sunday for Jon Armstrong, interim director of admissions, and his crew. Following a morning SRP in Kearney, Neb., on Feb. 17, nearly 100 students were recognized at the Hays event, annually held on the Fort Hays State campus.
“Sure, it’s busy this time of year,” said Hugo Perez, assistant director of admissions who has attended every single one of the SRPs this year. “But it’s our job. It’s what we do, and I love it.”
What admissions personnel do at the SRP events that began in 1989 is to recognize students who have expressed interest in FHSU and to give them and their parents and family an introduction to the university.
Other university officers, administrators and faculty also attend the programs to answer questions.
This year was a record-breaking attendance at the Topeka site with 54 students from the surrounding area being recognized.
Two of those were Wick and Moore, who made the 40-mile trip with their parents.
Wick, who was born and raised in Hays before moving to Wamego with his family when he was entering sixth grade, said he had been thinking about FHSU as one of his options for post-secondary education.
Even after a diligent search – he checked out four other universities, some larger than Fort Hays State, some similar size – Wick decided on FHSU.
“After being raised in Hays, I always thought it was a possibility to come back here for college,” said Wick, who plans to major in business-finance with a minor in banking.
“The campus is smaller than some, just the right size,” he said, “and the amount of scholarships you can get makes it really affordable.”
Moore also was impressed with the financial aid opportunities as well as the academics – and why not?
He received a Tier 1 award through FHSU’s Honors College as well as other scholarships. The Tier 1 is a $10,000 award for tuition and room and board, renewable for three years.
“I really liked the environment and the small student-to-teacher ratio, too,” said Moore, who plans to major in pre-law.
Following talks by FHSU administrators, including President Tisa Mason, those in attendance are treated to a video about the university featuring student success stories.
Every single student at the SRP is then recognized, called to the front of the room, and gets the opportunity to take a photo with Mason.
Each of the SRP events also features two scholarship drawings – a $500 award to be used toward tuition costs and a $600 textbook award – as well as a drawing for a laptop computer.
Because of the size of the Hays SRP (nearly 100 attended this year) two awards each of $500 and $600 were given out.
Megan Gray, a senior at Valley Heights High School in Blue Rapids, was excited about attending the Topeka event, and that was even before her name was drawn out as the winner of the laptop.
Gray, who will be a third-generation student for her family next fall, plans to major in elementary education. Her grandparents, Steve and Carol Hood, also have degrees from Fort Hays State, as does her mother, Tonya Metcalf.
Gray became interested in Fort Hays State when her mom earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing online through FHSU’s Virtual College. Gray decided to schedule a campus visit and liked what she saw.
“I love the campus,” Gray said. “It wasn’t too big, and everyone was so welcoming.”
Several students at the SRP events are children of FHSU alumni.
One of those at the Hays event was Jenna Howard from WaKeeney, who plans to major in geosciences. Her parents, Hardy and Dawn Howard, each have two degrees from FHSU.
“I knew Dad really liked it here,” Jenna Howard said of one reason she was interested in Fort Hays State. Another was that her oldest sister, Larissa, is majoring in geosciences at FHSU and is scheduled to graduate in May. “And I really like the campus and the professors.”
Emily Schippers, a senior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays, also is following her older sister, as well as a parent, to FHSU.
Sara Schippers is a sophomore nursing student, the same major that Emily has chosen.
However, Emily said that she had been thinking about the medical field long before her sister chose nursing.
“I chose nursing mostly because of her, and I chose Fort Hays State because of him,” Schippers said, nodding toward her parents. The Schippers sisters’ mom, Geralyn, is a registered nurse, and their dad, Troy, is an FHSU graduate.
Schippers said being close to home was a consideration, as well as “the homey environment.” She also has already received some scholarships to help with her college expenses.
Scholarship aid from FHSU is nothing new for the Schippers family.
“I grew up in the ’80s during the farm crises,” said Troy Schippers, who lived at home in Victoria during his college days so he could help his dad on the family farm. “I was fortunate to have a renewable scholarship to help with costs. Now, the scholarships are even better. I got a degree in finance, and I’m very proud to be an FHSU grad.”
Tina Wick, Jacob Wick’s mom and another Fort Hays State alum, said she would have supported her son’s decision, no matter where he decided to attend college. But she admitted she was partial to her alma mater.
“In my heart, yes, I was glad he chose (FHSU) just because I had such a great experience in college there,” she said. “I feel that companies heavily recruit Fort Hays State grads, because they know the product of the students coming out – both with their knowledge and their work ethic.”
The Wicks still have several friends in Hays, and Tina Wick said she is looking forward to returning to FHSU more often now. She said she hasn’t changed her mind in nearly 30 years about the quality of it programs.
“Fort Hays State was so much more advanced in its graphic design department than the larger schools back then. Now, I can hardly wait to see what the new art building is going to look like,” Wick, a graphic design graduate, said of the new art and design building scheduled for completion for fall 2019.
“FHSU was a great school back when I was in college,” she continued, “but it seems like it’s even better today in what it has to offer.”
Friday. A chance of snow and sleet before 8am, then a chance of drizzle between 8am and noon, then a chance of rain showers after noon. Patchy fog before noon, then patchy fog after 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 40. Southeast wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night A chance of rain showers before 4am, then a chance of snow and sleet. Areas of fog before 7pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 30. Southeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.
SaturdaySnow, possibly mixed with sleet, becoming all snow after 9am. The snow could be heavy at times. Widespread blowing snow, mainly after 1pm. High near 31. Very windy, with an east northeast wind 10 to 20 mph becoming north northwest 33 to 43 mph. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Saturday NightPatchy blowing snow before midnight. Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Very windy, with a west northwest wind 27 to 37 mph decreasing to 9 to 19 mph.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Republican-controlled legislative committee has rejected a Democratic proposalto allow Kansas residents to register to vote on the same day they cast their ballots.
The House Elections Committee’s vote Thursday was 7-5 against the measure. The state’s current registration deadline is three weeks before an election.
Republicans argued Thursday that the change would increase costs for county election offices. They’ve worried in the past about potential voter fraud.
Same-day registration is a longstanding goal of Democrats and voting-rights groups. They see it as a way to boost turnout.
Democratic Rep. Tim Hodge of North Newton said: “Why do want to keep people from voting?”
Republicans control the committee because they have a House majority. GOP Rep. J.C. Moore of Clearwater joined the committee’s four Democrats in supporting the bill.
Reno County — A Kansas felon has been formally charged after an incident at a motel in Hutchinson.
Andes -photo Reno Co.
On February 12, Hutchinson police officers were called to the Sunflower Inn on the report of an armed subject. Two employees at the motel told police they were threatened by 37-year-old Marten Alan Andes and that he put them in fear for their safety.
According to police Andes also allegedly forced his girlfriend into a car at gunpoint and threatened to kill her and their 8-month-old child. He is accused of putting the gun to her head while making the threats.
During the incident, Andes fired the gun in the air a couple of times.
Andes remains jailed on a bond of $242,500 for aggravated kidnapping, criminal threat, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
He has nine previous convictions including aggravated robbery, aggravated arson, theft, burglary, weapons violations and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic Lady Celtics used a 9-0 run to end the first quarter and open the second quarter to build an eight-point with 5:45 to play in the first and they would never trail again on their way to a 53-37 win Thursday at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.
Rose McFarland postgame
The Monarchs opened the game with back-to-back threes from Jillian Lowe and Adell Riedel to go up 6-0 but the Celtics answered with a pair of threes of their own to tie the game at six. The two teams were tied two more times in the first quarter, including at 13-13 before the Celtics put together that 9-0 run.
In the second quarter Hutchinson-Trinity built a double-digit lead with 4:20 to play in the second before leading 29-19.
The Celtics opened the second half on a 6-0 run and outscored the Monarchs by 12 in the third quarter as they built on their double-digit lead on their way to the 53-37 win.
On Senior night Emily Schippers collected 12 points to lead the Monarchs and Trinity’s Olivia Shank lead all scorers with 22.
Game highlights
The loss ends the Monarchs’ eight-game win streak and drops them to 15-5 on the season. They will host Hoisington on Monday at 7 p.m.
Hutch-Trinity boys 74, TMP 54
The Hutch-Trinity boys opened the game on a 14-2 run and Kaleb Hammeke poured in a new season-high 32 points to lead the Celtics passed the TMP boys 74-54 Thursday at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.
Bill Meagher postgame
After jumping out to the 12-point first quarter lead Trinity went up by 15, at 22-7 with just under two minutes to play but TMP was able to cut the deficit to eight at the end of one when Ryan Stoecklein came off the bench and hit three straight threes.
Stoecklein, who missed much of the season with an ankle injury would re-injure it late in the first quarter and not return to the game.
The Celtics were able to build their lead back up to 12 on two separate occasions in the second quarter but the Monarchs never went away and a Jackson Schulte three-pointer coupled with a Ryan Karlin fast break bucket cut the Trinity lead to 36-30.
But every time the Monarchs made a run the Celtics had an answer. This time they outscored the Monarchs 16-2 over a five-minute stretch of the second and third quarters to go up 52-32.
A lead the Monarchs could never overcome as they fall 74-54.
Game highlights
Kaleb Hammeke, who committed to Fort Hays State this week, lead all scorers with 32 points and his brother Lucas added 17.
The Monarchs were led by Ryan Karlin who finished with 12 points. Fellow senior Jack Johnson finished with seven points, nine rebounds and five blocks.
TMP drops to 10-11 on the season and will host Lyons in the first round of sub-state Tuesday.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old Olathe girl has been charged along with an adult suspect in the death of an Overland Park teenager.
Alan Hicks -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff
The girl was charged as a juvenile with first-degree felony murder in the January death of 17-year-old Ben Workman-Greco, who was fatally shot at his apartment. Prosecutors have filed notice that they will seek to have her tried as an adult.
Prosecutors allege Workman-Greco was killed during a robbery.
Her co-defendant, 21-year-old Alan MIchael Hicks, is charged in Johnson County District Court with first-degree felony murder. He was arrested in Las Vegas last week and booked into the Johnson County jail Wednesday night.
Hicks made his first court appearance Thursday. He’s being held on $1 million bond.
TOPEKA – While there has been attention in the media recently related to outbreaks of measles in multiple states, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) can verify that there are no current outbreaks of measles in Kansas. There have been five outbreaks of measles in the United States reported in 2019 in the following states: New York (three outbreaks, including one in New York City and two in other counties), Washington and Texas. These outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from other countries such as Israel and Ukraine, where large measles outbreaks are occurring.
“The majority of people who have developed measles in these outbreaks have not been vaccinated against measles, or have not completed the recommended measles vaccine series,” said KDHE Acting Secretary and State Health Officer Lee A. Norman, M.D. “While measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, measles is still common in many parts of the world including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Travelers with measles continue to bring the disease to the United States. Measles can spread in the United States when it reaches a community in this country where groups of people are unvaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages vaccination before traveling internationally,” said Dr. Norman.
Most people in Kansas are fully vaccinated against measles. To protect against the potential of outbreaks in the state and to protect those who are too young to be vaccinated or are unable to be vaccinated because of certain health conditions, KDHE encourages all people in Kansas to be fully vaccinated. The CDC recommends that children be vaccinated with a two-dose series of Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 – 15 months of age and an additional dose of MMR at 4 – 6 years of age. Other children and adolescents who have no history of vaccination are recommended to receive two doses of MMR at least four weeks apart. Adults born after 1957 who have no history of vaccination are recommended to receive one dose of MMR.
“When people get vaccinated, they are protecting themselves and their community. This concept is called herd immunity. It is an important reason for you and your family to get vaccinated — so you can help keep yourselves and your community healthy. Germs can travel quickly through a community and make a lot of people sick. If enough people get sick, it can lead to an outbreak. But when enough people are vaccinated against a certain disease, there are fewer germs in the communities, and when people are exposed to them, they are much less likely to become infected — and the entire community is less likely to get the disease,” said Dr. Norman.
Through herd immunity, even people who cannot get vaccinated will have some protection from getting sick. In this situation, if a person does get sick, there is less chance of an outbreak because it is harder for the disease to spread.
JEFFERSON COUNTY (AP) — A man already facing state charges of animal abuse is now facing federal charges, too.
Garcia -photo Jefferson Co.
A federal indictment announced Thursday charges 39-year-old Paul Garcia of Barnhart with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges Garcia already had a felony record when he possessed a weapon on Sept. 14. No further details about that crime were released.
Garcia was charged earlier this month after a Jefferson County deputy found a small dog in a ditch and wrapped in tape. Fingerprints from the tape led police to Garcia, who allegedly told authorities he believed the animal was spying on him for police.
The dog recovered and was reunited with its owner.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY (AP) A man faces charges accusing him of binding a dog’s legs and mouth with tape and throwing the animal into a ditch, where it was found 12 hours later in the bitter cold.
Jefferson County Missouri Sheriff Dave Marshak on Thursday announced the arrest and charges against 39-year-old Paul Garcia of Barnhart. He is jailed on $50,000 bond on charges of animal abuse and armed criminal action.
The rescued black and brown dachshund, Jimmy, is improving.
The small dog was found early Saturday along Highway M. Marshak says electrical and duct tape was wrapped around Jimmy’s mouth and muzzle; the front legs were bound together by tape, as were the back legs.
A deputy found the dog. Authorities believe Jimmy had been at the spot for around 12 hours.
HARPER COUNTY—An earthquake shook portions of Kansas Thursday evening. The quake at 5:20p.m. measured a magnitude 3.2 and was centered approximately four miles east of Harper, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Image courtesy Kansas Geological Survey
This follows a series of seven small earthquakes Wednesday and again Thursday in Oklahoma including 2.8 magnitude quake near Oklahoma City.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Court documents say a former volunteer volleyball coach at the University of Kansas stole dozens of pairs of underwear from players and catalogued them in labeled plastic storage containers.
Yee -photo courtesy University of Kansas Athletiecs
Police affidavit released Wednesday says that a search of 23-year-old Skyler Yee’s home uncovered a 40-drawer clear plastic storage container. Drawers with underwear tucked inside were labeled with the names of current and former university players and one member of an under-18 volleyball league that he coached. The search also yielded other storage containers, shoes, bras and sex toys from “unidentified owners.”
Yee was charged this month with 15 counts, including burglary and theft. He resigned last month from his university coaching duties. Defense attorney Casey Meek said previously that Yee maintains his innocence.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded the Do Not Drink Order for the Lane Co. Rural Water District 1 located in Lane County.
The Order took effect on February 18, 2019 due to a line break which placed the system at risk for bacteriological contamination. Laboratory testing samples collected from Lane Co. Rural Water District 1 indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacteriological contamination are deemed by KDHE to be resolved.
A Nitrate Advisory took effect on February 18, 2019 and will remain in effect until the secondary water source that is high in nitrate is no longer in use.
Until the Nitrate Advisory is rescinded the following steps should be observed:
DO NOT GIVE TAP WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.
Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.
ADULTS AND CHILDREN older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants because they can’t process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, if you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.
Only KDHE can rescind the Nitrate Advisory following testing at a certified laboratory.
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the Nitrate Advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
RENO COUNTY— Five people were arrested after a chase with Hutchinson police just before 4:30p..m Wednesday.
Clinton Smith -photo Butler Co. Jail
Lance Moody, 17, was taken into custody and faces possible charges of felony flee and elude, interference with law enforcement, and leaving the scene of an accident after the vehicle he was driving struck a parked vehicle during the chase in the 400 block of North Adams Street.
Four passengers in the vehicle — 21-year-old Clinton Smith, 23-year-old Zach Mountain, 21-year-old Richard Marshall and 19-year-old Nikkita Obrist were all arrested for interference with law enforcement when they fled the vehicle after the crash.
They are free on bond, according to online booking records.
