TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials at the Kansas state agency responsible for inspecting nursing homes say it did not act correctly in response to problems uncovered in a federal government audit.
The Office of Inspector General report estimated that the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services failed in 2014 to verify that 65 percent of the issues found during nursing home inspections had been corrected.
The office also determined that the state agency neglected to conduct inspections every 15 months, as it is required to do. The report said the longest break between inspections was 18 months.
The Office of Inspector General is submitting recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid that would change the way all states handle inspection reports.
Phillipsburg resident John D. Shea passed away Feb. 10, 2019 at the Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings, NE at the age of 77. He was born June 6, 1941 in Norton, KS, the son of Hamilton and Elsie (Custer) Shea.
Survivors include his son Randie of Phillipsburg; 2 daughters, Bonnie Ewing of Phillipsburg and Tonia Driggs of Manhattan, KS; 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks & Phillips County 4-H Shooting Sports.
Visitation will be from 9:00 to 9:00 Wednesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.
Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Donald E. Chegwidden, 82, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.
Services will be at 1 P.M. on Friday, February 15, 2019, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Memorials will can be given to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Shrine Children’s Hospital and can be sent in care of the mortuary.
Pearl Williams was found Tuesday evening and is safe, according to Wichita Police.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Police have issued a Silver Alert for a missing Kansas man.
Williams -photo courtesy Wichita Police
At approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday, police in Wichita were contacted by a 66-year-old man who reported not being able to locate his 88-year-old father, Pearl Williams, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Photo of truck is not actual truck but an example
It was reported that Williams left his home in the 1700 block of north Spruce in Wichita at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday in a 1998 blue Ford F150 with Kansas tag 959GFB and has not returned. The family reported this behavior is not normal for Williams.
If you know the whereabouts of Williams or see him, please call 911 immediately.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help locating a Kansas felon listed on the 24 Most Wanted List for February, according to the Saline County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page.
DeWitt -photo Saline Co.
Jason DeWitt, 48, has an active Saline County District Court felony arrest warrant with charges of: one count of Identity Theft and one count of Theft by Deception. He is described as 5-foot-8, 224 pounds with brown hair and eyes, according to the sheriff’s department.
DeWitt has previous convictions for drugs, driving while suspended and obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Anyone with information on DeWitt is asked to contact the Saline County Sheriff.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged attempted-murder and have a suspect in custody.
Porter -photo Sedgwick Co.
At approximately 1 a.m. on January 6, police responded to an unknown call for EMS in the 2400 block of south Glendale in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Upon arrival, officers located a 21-year-old man who had sustained gunshot wounds to the upper body. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital in serious condition. He remains hospitalized.
The investigation revealed the victim and 25-year-old Jeffrey Vermont Porter were in the parking lot of the Wildwood Apartments, 5001 E. Pawnee in Wichita. While at this location, Porter fired multiple shots from a handgun, striking the victim. The victim was able to run to a nearby residence and ask for help.
On Monday, police located Porter in Riley County where he was arrested. His is being held on requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated and a Bond $250,000.
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RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged attempted-homicide and have a suspect in custody.
Just before 9a.m. Monday, the Riley County Police Department, in coordination with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office and the Wichita Police Department, responded to 200 Tuttle Creek Blvd in Manhattan, according to a media release.
Authorities arrested without incident Jeffrey Vermont Porter, Jr, 25, of Wilsey, KS, on a $250,000 Sedgwick County warrant for attempted homicide and a no bond Harvey County warrant for probation violation.
Authorities will present the case to the Sedgwick County attorney. Porter’s first appearance in court is expected later this week.
Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. South wind 7 to 10 mph.
Breezy, dry, and unseasonably warm conditions can be expected across southwest Kansas Wednesday. Elevated to Critical Fire Risk Conditions will be possible, especially west and southwest of Dodge City. Outdoor burning is discouraged Wednesday afternoon. #kswxpic.twitter.com/ntPTCekihU
The Hays Area Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 8:15 a.m. in City Hall City Commission Chambers, 1507 Main.
Agenda items include a public hearing on a request by James Werth for a two ft. side yard variance to reduce the side yard to construct a detached garage at 3113 Thunderbird Circle.
The board will also hear a requests from Alberto Solis and Fredy Urgell Sosa to reduce the street side yard setback from 14 ft. to 2.5 ft. to construct a carport at 217 W. 14th Street, and a request by Brandon Johnson for a variance in height of a detached garage, an increase from 18 ft. to 22 ft. at 3314 Thunderbird Drive.
PHILLIPS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a scam and made an arrest.
Muntean -photo Phillips County Sheriff
On February 9, deputies were dispatched to the El As De Oros Mexican Restaurant, 609 3rd Street in Phillipsburg in regards to a quick-change scam which had occurred, according to a social media report from the sheriff’s department.
Security cameras captured the crime as it occurred and the suspect identified as 38-year-old Ghiolbana Muntean of Corona New York (a Romanian National) can be seen exchanging large bills for smaller ones with an employee.
The quick-change scam works by quickly and repeatedly exchanging bills between parties until the victim is confused and loses track of what has been exchanged. It is a favorite scam of gypsies, according to the sheriff’s department.
Deputies were able to locate Muntean at a local hotel and took her into custody, charging her with theft by deception.
A companion with Muntean posted a $1500 cash bond and they left the area.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have rescued a doe that was found trapped in a storm drain in suburban Kansas City.
Police in Olathe said in a Facebook post that someone stumbled across the animal Saturday while walking a dog. The post described the doe as “very agitated and in distress.” The department estimated that it had been in the hole for about a week.
A video shows an animal control officer reaching a long pole with a loop on the end into the open manhole and pulling out the doe. After emerging, the doe bounds into a wooded area. The officer then told the county that the manhole needs fixing.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge is refusing to again delay the trial of Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell after plea negotiations broke down.
Michael O’Donnell-photo Sedgwick Co.
U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren on Monday noted O’Donnell’s trial had already been postponed four times.
The judge chided co-defense attorney Joshua Ney for not attending the status conference where the date was set and then waiting until two weeks before trial to ask for another continuance.
Ney cited in a motion last week his heavy workload, telling the court that plea negotiations stalled on Feb. 4.
The government has accused O’Donnell of fraudulently obtaining $10,500 from his campaign accounts for his personal use. An indictment charges him with 23 counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering.
