LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A 67-year-old Leavenworth man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for soliciting a 13-year-old girl on Facebook.
Soden -photo Leavenworth Co.
Raymond Soden was sentenced Tuesday after pleading no contest in August to solicitation. He admitted in his plea that he knew the girl was 13 when he began exchanging messages with her offering to pay for nude photos of her and her friends as well a sex acts.
Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in a news release that Soden had prior convictions for battery and for sexual battery.
Prosecutors argued for a sentence of more than 13 years but Soden’s attorney asked for probation.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal 3-vehicle accident.
One of the vehicles involved in Monday night crash -photo courtesy KAKE
Just before 5p.m. Tuesday police responded to a traffic crash at Pawnee and Maize Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
First responders found a woman identified as 30-year-old Elissa Warns-Branson of Wichita trapped in a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Fire department crews were able to remove her from the vehicle but she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Davidson.
Investigators determined a 2016 Dodge Truck driven by a 55-year-old man was northbound at a high rate of speed on Maize Road when it clipped a northbound 2011 GMC Sierra Truck.
The Dodge then rear-ended the Hyundai that was stopped at the red light at Pawnee, according to Davidson. The collision pushed the Hyundai approximately 50-yards to the north and Dodge truck flipped onto its roof.
The 55-year-old Dodge pickup truck driver remains hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities believe a medical condition may have contributed to the accident, according to Davidson.
A 56-year-old GMC pickup driver was not injured. It was the 28th fatality accident in Wichita in 2018.
The victim was identified Tuesday as Ronald Smith of Topeka.
Police say he was hit Monday evening in the southbound lanes of U.S. 71 in south Kansas City.
Smith was on the inside shoulder of the highway and tried to cross the highway for unknown reasons. A Volkswagen traveling south was unable to stop and hit Smith, who died at the scene.
The driver was not injured.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Authorities say a pedestrian has been struck and killed in Kansas City.
Police say the crash happened around 6 p.m. Tuesday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 49. The name of the victim wasn’t immediately released.
Several lanes of traffic were temporarily shut down while officers investigated and cleared the scene.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two convicted felons have been charged with killing an 88-year-old man in his Wichita home during a robbery.
Onek -photo Sedgwick County
54-year-old Landon Onek and 36-year-old Austin Stewart were charged Tuesday with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and two counts of theft in the death of Floyd Gilbert. Bond is set at $500,000 for Stewart and $250,000 for Onek.
Glibert’s son, Abner “Corkey” Gilbert, went to his father’s home Thursday night after not hearing from in two days and found his body. He said his father was a retired aircraft sheet-metal worker who lived alone. His father’s car was missing.
Court records show Onek and Stewart have served time for theft, drug counts and other crimes. And Onek’s parole was revoked just last week in a drug case.
A 21-year-old Hays woman has been charged with having sexual relations with a 14-year-old.
According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Ellis County District Court, Skylar Madison Henson was charged with three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
The complaint alleges that on three separate occasions earlier this year Henson had sex with a 14-year-old.
Henson has also been charged with two counts of distribution of marijuana.
The filing of criminal charges are merely allegations of criminal wrong doing. The defendant maintains a presumption of innocence unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
RILEY COUNTY— A Kansas girl has died from her injuries in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County. Five others were injured.
One of the vehicles involved in the 3 vehicle Riley County crash -photo courtesy WIBW TV
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Lauren Renea VenMeter, 25, Manhattan, was stopped on eastbound U.S. 24 at the U.S. 77 Junction five miles north of Manhattan. The driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
A southbound 2016 Ford passenger vehicle driven by Darrell J.Thompson, 59, Wamego, struck the left side of the Nissan. The Ford then crossed the center line and struck the left side of a 2016 GMC Sierra driven by Mason Edward Miller, 64, Manhattan.
A 9-year-old girl in the Nissan was transported to a Wichita hospital where she died Wednesday, according to the KHP.
VanMeter and other passengers in the Nissan including one juvenile girl and two juvenile boys were transported to Via Christi in Manhattan.
One other juvenile girl was airlifted to KU Medical Center.
Thompson and Miller were properly restrained at the time of the accident and not injured. The KHP did not have complete seat belt usage details of the occupants in the Nissan.
The KHP no longer releases names of juveniles under the age of 14 involved in accidents.
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RILEY COUNTY— Six people were injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Lauren Renea VenMeter, 25, Manhattan, was stopped on eastbound U.S. 24 at the U.S. 77 Junction. The driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
A southbound 2016 Ford passenger vehicle driven by Darrell J.Thompson, 59, Wamego, struck the left side of the Nissan. The Ford then crossed the center line and struck the left side of a 2016 GMC Sierra driven by Mason Edward Miller, 64, Manhattan.
VanMeter and passengers in the Nissan including one juvenile girl and two juvenile boys were transported to Via Christi in Manhattan.
Two additional passengers in the Nissan, a juvenile girl was transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka and another juvenile girl was airlifted to KU Medical Center.
Thompson and Miller were properly restrained at the time of the accident and not injured. The KHP did not have complete seat belt usage details of the occupants in the Nissan.
GOVE COUNTY — Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s office have yet to determine the cause of a Sunday afternoon fire in Quinter.
The Formation Plastics building late Monday
Investigators believe they know the general area where it started but may never know what started the fire, according to Gove County Sheriff Allan Weber.
Just before 4 p.m., crews responded to report of a fire at Formation Plastics, 101 Sunset Ave. in Quinter, according to Weber.
Sunday afternoon fire in Quinter -photos courtesy Gove Co. Sheriff
When crews arrived, the building was totally engulfed in flames and due to the nature of the business, the smoke was toxic. The fire continued to smolder until late afternoon Monday.
The business makes plastic items including seats for transport buses, items for circuit boards and other plastic parts.
The facility is a total loss. There were no injuries.
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a dispute over a snake.
Photo courtesy Great Bend Police
Just before 5p.m. Tuesday, police were notified of a subject at 1017 Taft in Great Bend who was in possession of an exotic, venomous snake in violation of Great Bend City Ordinance.
According to a media release from police, the snake was reported to have bitten the owner on Tuesday and he received medical attention for the injury.
Officers responded to the residence to investigate the complaint and they contacted 25-year-old Ari Hooley.
During the course of the investigation, Hooley admitted owning the exotic venomous snake, which was identified as a coral cobra.
Hooley photo Barton County
Hooley refused to cooperate with the police and turn the snake over to animal control officers.
Police obtained a search warrant for the residence, located the reptile, which had been decapitated and buried by the owner, prior to officer’s arrival.
While executing the initial search warrant, narcotics were located in the residence. A second search warrant was obtained and executed for the illegal narcotics. Officers located evidence of cultivation and distribution of a large quantity of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Officers also located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the residence.
Cooley was arrested and transported to the Barton County Detention Center, where he was booked in lieu of a $300,000.00 bond on requested charges of unlawful cultivation or distribution of controlled substances within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp
The Golden Belt Humane Society assisted in the investigation and arrest.
If you have any information about this crime or any other crime, please contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.
Dr. Tisa MasonAt Fort Hays State University, we are breaking ground in today’s higher education landscape as a state university with highly accessible, award-winning programs. I have been thinking a lot about our accessibility. For many the word is quickly associated with affordability, and affordability is indeed a big part of accessibility, but access also means many other things: Our students also have access to Ph.D. faculty, undergraduate research, service learning, travel study, internships, living and learning communities, and so much more – all accessible to students from the first day they enroll, not limited to upperclassmen.
Another way we provide accessibility is through multiple delivery pathways. We meet students where they are, for instance through our distance education programs, international partnerships, and a strong military program for both active and veteran military personnel and their spouses. Or as our website proclaims: “We’re there – no matter where you’re stationed.” I once took a call from a student on a naval ship off the coast of Japan!
We are accessible not only to individuals but also to entire communities. A case in point is how the College of Education is creatively and aggressively addressing the teacher shortage in Kansas. Our Transition-to-Teaching (T2T) program is in high demand. The largest T2T program in the state, it is designed to fill the need for secondary teachers across Kansas by working with individuals who choose to change their careers to teaching. After a summer orientation experience, T2T teachers immediately enter classrooms in their local communities to teach while completing two years of coursework.
We view the T2T program as a partnership between the teacher, the school district and FHSU as the T2T teachers move from novice to expert in the classroom. T2T teachers have been very successful, as evidenced by recent recognition of program completers Justin Coffey for Kansas Teacher of the Year and Heidi Albin for the national Milken Educator Award. This past summer, we had 174 new T2Ts – a record number. When this is coupled with last year’s 130 T2Ts, we are officially over 300 currently in the program.
A unique offering in the Department of Teacher Education is the Para Pathway Program, developed in response to the need for elementary teachers in Kansas. The program, funded by a grant from the Kansas Board of Regents, provides a means for experienced para-educators to become licensed teachers in their districts. This program can be life changing as it allows para-educators to grow professionally while maintaining employment in their district. Through strategic use of scholarship funds and support, we help the schools acquire the licensed teachers they need and improve employment opportunities for Kansas citizens. Currently 218 students are in the program, with 33 program completers.
A newly developed program this summer is the pilot special education program, which allows current special education para-professionals to work as the teacher-of-record in a special education classroom while completing the graduate-level master’s program for licensure. We have 68 teachers starting the program this year which indicates we are making great strides toward addressing the high-need shortage area of special education.
Another example is Dodge City, where we are helping the public school district address language barriers. The goal is to help current teachers communicate better with students and families from different cultures. The Dodge City ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) certificate program started this fall with 20 teachers. Through this partnership, FHSU provides coursework to prepare this group to add an ESOL endorsement to their teaching licenses. ESOL training will improve teacher effectiveness in Dodge City – which has the potential for tremendous impact on the local community.
The College of Education is just one area in which we demonstrate how we think differently – how we innovate. We capitalize on our resources to create new ways to address continuing issues such as teacher shortages while opening up new pathways to education.
At FHSU, access is clearly a multidimensional word. I love how our faculty provide access to multiple opportunities to learn and thrive in Hays, in Dodge City, and around the world.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child endangerment allegations.
Rogers -photo Sedgwick Co.
Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a walk in shooting call at St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, according to a media advisory from police.
At the hospital, police contacted 2-year-old and 4-year-old boys with non-life threatening gunshot wounds to their hands. The 2-year-old was treated, released and placed into protective custody. The 4-year-old remained hospitalized Wednesday.
Investigators learned the boys, their mother and 26-year-old Delano Rogers arrived at Rogers’ residence in the 2200 Block of South Main Street in Wichita. The boys began playing with the handgun which fired injuring them.
Rogers took the boys and their mother to the hospital and left. Police found him at the residence, took him into custody and booked on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment, interference with the judicial process and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
During the investigation, police located a handgun in a vehicle in the 700 Block of Minneapolis, according to the advisory.
Police will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.
Diana Lee (Smith) Nuss, 72, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, Kansas.
Diana was born February 26, 1946 in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of Dannie W. and Leona (Messick) Smith. At the age of 3, Diana and her family moved to Holyrood, Kansas and after a few years moved to Russell. She graduated from Russell High School in 1964. She then attended Kansas University, graduated with a Degree in Science in 1969. Later she attended Ft. Hays State University and graduated with a Masters in Mathematics.
Diana was united in marriage to Kenneth Nuss on June 9, 1991 in Russell.
Diana was a Math, Science and Biology Teacher in the Lucas Luray High School from 1973 to 1983. She then moved to the Russell School District and worked in the Russell High School as a teacher in Math, Science, Physics and Biology from 1983 to 1993. She also was a coach for Basketball, Volleyball and Tennis and keep stats on all sporting activities for the high school. Then in 1993 she returned to the Lucas Luray High School till 1998. From 1998 to 2000, she was a teacher at Thomas Moore Prep in Hays, Kansas. She then worked for C.P.I. in Great Bend until retirement in 2012. She has been a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church since 1983. She was very active in the church from the Choir to the Board. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, reading, playing solitary, watching NASCAR with Kenny, but her great love was doing activities and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Surviving family include her husband of 27 years, Kenneth Nuss of the home; two sons, Daniel Owens (Trisha) of Newton, Kansas and Michael Owens (Kristen) of San Antonio, Texas; three stepsons, Duke Nuss (Lori) of Russell, Kansas, Todd Nuss (Stacey) of Lawrence, Kansas and Brandon Nuss (Katya) of Russell, Kansas; 17 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Celebration of Diana’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Trinity United Methodist Church with Pastor Ezekial Koech officiating. Visitation and Family greeting friends will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday, December 7, 2018 at Trinity United Methodist Church. Cremation has preceded the services. Memorials have been established with Trinity United Methodist Church or Russell Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Golden Plains Credit Union would like to invite you to the Grand Opening of our new Downtown Mortgage location on Wednesday, December 12 at 4 p.m. We will have a Hays Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting followed by refreshments and promotional giveaways.
“We are excited about our presence in downtown Hays and having another location for your mortgage needs,” said Ruth Ruder, vice president branch services in Hays.
Golden Plains’ Mortgage Lending department currently has three employees at the downtown location. The hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We offer a variety of mortgage loans including 1st mortgage, 2nd mortgage, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC), Rural Development loans, First-time Homebuyer grants and Construction loans.
“Our convenient downtown location provides a one-stop shop for all your home buying needs,” said Melissa Amrein, assistant vice president mortgage services .
Please stop by on December 12th and visit with our staff at 118 E. 11th Street (across from Gella’s Diner). We look forward to seeing you there!
About Golden Plains Credit Union Golden Plains Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution. Golden Plains has 15 locations throughout Central, Western and Southeast Kansas, with approximately 79,511 members and over $648 million dollars in assets.
