Tanner Lee Cullens was sentenced in Ellis County District Court Friday to 71 months in prison for his involvement in a February robbery in Ellis County.
Cullens and co-defendent Jeremy David Schulmeister were arrested in February after they allegedly offered a ride to Max Diederich on Feb. 7. Instead, investigators said they took Diederich took a rural area at gunpoint and robbed him of his phone, clothing and cash, before forcing him out of a moving vehicle.
During sentencing, the court first took up that motion.
After consulting with his attorney, J. Alex Herman, Cullens confirmed with the court he had not been coerced or threatened and decided to withdraw the motion to withdraw his plea.
Herman also confirmed with Cullens during the proceedings that he was not being coerced in his decision to withdraw the motion.
Neither the state, represented by Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees, nor the defendant or his attorney presented evidence or made statements prior to sentencing.
Schulmeister
The mother of the victim was in the courtroom and also declined to make a statement.
Drees asked the court for the 71-month sentence originally agreed upon and said he felt it is appropriate given the facts of the case and his lack of a criminal record.
Herman agreed and said he believes the evidence would show that Cullens was culpable for the crimes, but was not involved to the same level as his co-defendant Schulmeister.
Braun sentenced Cullens in line with the plea agreement, sentencing him to 59 months for aggravated robbery, with 36 months of post-release supervision, to run concurrently with a sentence of 18 months for aggravated intimidation of a victim along with 12 months for aggravated battery to run consecutively — totaling 71 months.
He was also ordered to pay $255 in restitution to the victim related to the phone that was stolen that was not returned to the victim along with $438 in court costs.
Cullens will be credited for time served — 211 days.
He was warned that despite a lack of prior convictions, since the sentencing was for three felonies, once released he can no longer be in possession of a firearm, per federal law, and cannot vote or hold office in Kansas, per state law.
TOPEKA – Jobs for America’s Graduates – Kansas (JAG-K) received a $2,500 grant provided by the Taco Bell Foundation to support approximately 4,000 youth in 79 JAG-K programs across the state. The funding will go towards sponsoring the State Career Development Conference in Salina on April 15, 2020. More than 200 students will attend the annual event, which features competitions in categories that showcase skills and competencies learned in the JAG-K program.
“We are pleased to be a recipient of the Taco Bell Foundation’s investment in America’s youth,” said Chuck Knapp, President and CEO of JAG-K. “We appreciate Taco Bell Foundation’s commitment to education and empowering this nation’s next generation of leaders.”
JAG-K is one of more than 350 youth-serving organizations that will receive a portion of the nearly $6 million in grants being presented by the Taco Bell Foundation’s philanthropic arm this year. The awarded grants are an example of the Taco Bell Foundation’s goal to empower young people to channel their passions and go on to achieve their dreams.
“Young people have always been the heart and soul of our brand,” said Frank Tucker, Chief People Officer at Taco Bell and President of the Taco Bell Foundation. “Expanding our impact in this community is one of the best ways we can support the passions of young people and create opportunities that help them unlock and reach their potential.”
About JAG-K
JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades seven through 12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. Participants in the program face multiple barriers to success that their JAG-K Career Specialist helps them overcome through a nationally accredited evidence-based model. In 2018, JAG-K students had a 98 percent graduation rate.
The 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization is one of 35 state affiliate organizations of Jobs for America’s Graduates and is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by DCF. In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include AT&T, John Deere, and Taco Bell.
To learn more about JAG-K, visit www.jagkansas.org, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates- Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.
There is still time to sign up for a free educational program explaining Medicare basics.
The program is set for from 11:30 a.m. to 12: 20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, with the same information presented from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the basement of the Ellis County Administrative Building, 718 Main.
Whether you are turning 65 in the next year or helping a family navigate through the decisions related to health insurance, the Medicare basics program is designed to answer your questions.
Donna Krug, Cottonwood Extension District Director, is the presenter. She, along with her husband, John, are certified SHICK counselors. Contact Krug at (620)793-1910 or [email protected] to sign up.
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Missouri took advantage of a handful of big plays and outscored No. 11 Fort Hays State 27-14 in the second half as they rallied for a 34-30 win in the season opener for both Thursday night at Walton Stadium.
The Tigers jumped out to a 13-0 first half lead but he Mules scored on two long touchdowns in the final 5:35, the last coming after a Chance Fuller fumble on a pass attempt.
Layne Bieberle, who led FHSU with 99 receiving yards on four catches, hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass on the first possession of the game.
Following a UCM fumble on their first possession, the Tigesrs drove to the Mules three yard line but had to settle for a 20-yard Dante Brown field goal. Brown would hit a career-best 51-yarder early in the second quarter to put the Tigers up 13-0.
UCM scored on a 66-yard run from Coby Wilkerson after he broke several tackles in the backfield on third and short.
Brown’s third field goal of the game from 36-yards out gave the Tigers a 16-7 lead at halftime.
Both teams scored on their first two possession of the second half and the Tigers appeared poised to put the game away after a sack on third down midway through the fourth but a fake punt set up a 65-yard touchdown pass from Brook Bolles to Shea Wyatt with 5:35 to play to cut the Tigers lead to 30-28.
Fuller, who completed 27 of 42 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, was hit while attempting to pass on the Tigers next possession and was ruled a fumble giving the Mules the ball at their own 45 yard line. Three plays later, Bolles hit Cameron Saunders for the game winner.
FHSU had four straight incomplete passes on their last possession, the last two batted down at the line of scrimmage.
Thanks to the big plays, Central Missouri finished with 516 yards of total offense.
The Sternberg Museum is having its annual Star Wars Day event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. There will be special Star Wars-themed displays of animals, life-size characters and vintage toys.
Enjoy the fun activities and learn about the amazing science behind Star Wars. Kids will have a chance to win prizes in the Star Wars costume contest.
Although the census is not set until next year, you may see census employees in your neighborhood now verifying addresses. Courtesy photo
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
You will be able to count yourself in the 2020 census in a new way — on the internet.
The U.S. Census Bureau will send invitations for your household to sign in online to complete your census form beginning March 9. Ninety-five percent of Americans will receive their invitations by mail, but 5 percent will have invitations dropped off at their homes. This is because the U.S. Census Bureau will not be sending census invitations to post office boxes.
You will be able to login to the website using computers, tablets and smartphones. You will also be able to complete the census by phone, by mail or in person with a census taker.
Steven Hale and other representatives of the U.S. Census Bureau in Kansas were in Hays Wednesday talking to the Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance about the ramp up to the 2020 Census.
You may be seeing census employees in the community now who are verifying addresses prior to the census next year.
The U.S. Census Bureau is also forming Complete Count Committees to help ensure accurate counts across the country. There is a state Complete Count Committee, but they can also be formed at the local level by local governments or civic groups. In some areas, librarians and even Girl Scout troops are leading the push to have their communities correctly counted.
The U.S. Census Bureau knows from past census audits communities with Complete Count Committees have more accurate counts.
Hale said people are more likely to listen to community members and trusted local officials.
In areas such as Liberal, where some census tracts are more than 80 percent Hispanic, U.S. Census Bureau is working with a local Complete Count Committee as well as Hispanic partnership specialists like Carlos Urquilla-Diaz to bridge culture divides.
“Let me help you be the bridge,” Urquilla-Diaz said. “I can initiate those conversations. It may be hard at first, but I can be a bridge and translate and create trust and understanding through those communities. After all this is over, we are still going to be dealing with their souls for 10 or more years. Whether you count them or not, whether you like them or not, they have a significant impact on the economics of and the political part of the state of Kansas.
“If you don’t get the money for the state of Kansas, that money will go somewhere else. The checks will be cut. How much is in that check every year depends on all of you.”
Group quarters counting will start in January. This includes college dorms, military barracks, senior living centers and prisons.
Hale said the modern census faces a number of challenges, including a mobile population, a diverse population, a distrust of government, complex living arrangements and rapidly changing use of technology.
The two hardest populations to count, Hale said, are children younger than 5 and adults older than 65.
The 10 questions on the census form will include:
Name
Phone number
Age
Sex
Race
Hispanic/non-Hispanic
Relation to householder
Household tenure (rent/own)
Number of people in household
Usual place of residence
All information that is taken will be kept confidential. Anyone releasing confidential census data is subject to up to a $250,000 fine and five years in jail. When data is released, it is only released in summary form. Census information is not shared with other government agencies.
Hale talked about why the census is important. The census is constitutionally mandated as a means to apportion U.S. House seats. Hale said Kansas is not expected to lose representation in the House as a result of this census, but that will not be determined until all of the numbers are in.
Perhaps a larger impact is money. Kansas receives $6 billion in federal funds annually. The census data is used to allocate funds for a bevy of government program. The top five are Medicaid, federal student loans, SNAP (food stamps) Medicare Part B and infrastructure projects.
“When you ask why should we care about listening to you guys about the U.S. census, the answer is very simple. It’s in front of you,” said Urquilla-Diaz, “All of these programs in front of you, and there are many more. If any of those programs affects you, your family or your friends, that is a reason why you should care. For example, when we undercount children, the needs of those children will be there period. K through 12 can be affected in a very negative way. The same thing with senior citizens.”
The 2020 count will affect funding through 2030.
“We have one shot to get it right in 10 years,” Hale said.
The U.S. Census Bureau will need to hire 4,500 people in Kansas, both part-time and full-time.
One audience member, asked where the census bureau was going to find these employees in a tight labor market. Emily Kelley, census coordinator, said anyone who is 18 or older, has a driver’s license and passes a federal background check can be a census employee. You can set your own hours and the number of hours you wish to work.
“It is a great side hustle job,” Kelley said. “It is a great gig economy job. Instead of driving Uber, get out and walk and earn money that will help pay for your holiday shopping or the next family vacation.”
Edward Cross is president of the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association.
By EDWARD CROSS Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association
Energy matters – a lot. Throughout most of human history, global life expectancy was 30-35 years. In the last 200 years, global life expectancy has doubled. Extreme poverty has dropped from 90% of humanity to 10% and falling. The growth in human liberty and the dramatic increase in available energy are likely the two main catalysts for this tremendous progress.
Few doubt that energy has improved lives and enabled human progress. Yet one of the biggest challenges facing the world is the polarized debate over the future of energy. Facts and economics are too often replaced with assertions and emotions. Discussions about fossil fuels and alternative energy sources often degenerate into a battle to delegitimize the other side. This is a recipe for inaction. And it keeps billions of people trapped in energy poverty.
Energy at scale provides a critical foundation for economic development. A recent report from Wood Mackenzie, a reliable energy research and consultancy group, said fossil fuels will contribute about 85% of the world’s energy supply by 2040 and forecasts about 15% of global energy will come from carbon-free sources by then. In addition, nearly 100% of new energy demand is coming from emerging economies. Emerging economies need reliable affordable power, transportation fuels, and economic building blocks like industrial heat and fertilizers. All require oil and gas.
The oil and gas industry has done such a good job of creating abundant, affordable, always-available energy that the world takes it for granted. Energy is so woven into our daily lives that few question whether it will be there, or where it comes from.
Oil-based products are likely the first thing you touch at the beginning and end of each day, whether it is your alarm clock, television remote, cellphone, or even the toothpaste and toothbrush you use to brush your teeth. Those who wear makeup or synthetic fibers, such as polyester or nylon, are using or touching petroleum nearly 24 hours a day. As a key component in heart valves, seat belts, helmets, life vests, and even Kevlar, petroleum is saving tens of thousands of lives daily. Furthermore, oil and gas are key components in many medicines and antibiotics such as antiseptics, antihistamines, aspirin, and sulfa drugs.
We all expect our heat to run, gas stations to have fuel, and lights to never flicker – all at an affordable price. Around the world, billions of people are expecting a middle-class quality of life and its requisite available, affordable, reliable energy. None of this demand is going away soon. Because energy is so reliable and available, the public believes they no longer require it.
We all encounter this paradox anytime we engage in a conversation about energy and the environment. Some folks assume that we don’t need fossil fuels anymore. A stark example is anyone who wants to end oil and gas production while still benefitting from oil and gas based materials and fuels.
The oil and gas industry and general public have common ground. We both share a common desire to create prosperity globally.
There is a very real opportunity to create a stronger, more effective connection between oil and gas development and the public that allows us to work together on a common goal to create prosperity for people around the world.
Americans deserve the facts. And the fact is, history has disproved the false premise that economic growth and significant increases in energy production must, necessarily, come at the expense of environmental improvement.
While the oil and gas industry continues to address public concerns about important economic and environmental issues with accurate, fact-based, scientific information, we also recognize it is just as important to address big-issue visceral concerns with information that demonstrates how industry and companies care about people’s needs and concerns. Companies in the Kansas oil and gas industry understand responsibility comes through what we do and how we do it. For companies in the Kansas oil and gas industry, responsibility is an integral part of considerations and decisions.
The U.S. has a unique opportunity to show the world how energy abundance can be used as a positive force to lift people up. More than a billion people around the world face challenges for adequate food and education, clean water and protection from heat and cold due to a lack of access to energy. To rise out of poverty and enjoy health and safety, people need more energy, not less. We should all work together to ensure more people have access to safe, affordable, and reliable energy, no matter which state, nation, or continent they reside.
Edward Cross is president of the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association.
Drake Kee, left, and Wyatt Engel present a poster on a chemistry research project.
By DIANE GASPER O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Two Fort Hays State University students are taking advantage of the philosophy, “To teach is to learn twice.”
Drake Kee and Wyatt Engel began the fall semester at FHSU with a different perspective on learning after mentoring other students assisting with their chemistry research project.
Kee and Engel spent part of their summer working at a camp on campus with visitors from the Daejeon Science High School for the Gifted in Daejeon, South Korea.
The Korean students, led by Kee and Engel, helped with a research project of designing and fabricating new organic materials to harness solar energy.
“The best way to learn is through teaching someone,” said Kee, a junior biology major from Beloit. “I taught the Daejeon students things they didn’t know, and I learned some things from them, too.”
Besides getting exposed to more research opportunities, working with the Daejeon students also served as a cultural education.
One particularly valuable lesson Kee said he learned was how to communicate in ways that the Daejeon students would understand him, taking into account their limited knowledge of the English language.
“This definitely pushed Drake and Wyatt to be better communicators,” said Dr. Arvin Cruz, associate professor of chemistry.
Cruz is in charge of the research project and recruited Kee and Engel to participate. They both were eager for the unique opportunity.
“It’s really hard to get to do this kind of research as an undergrad, so I feel really fortunate to be here at Fort Hays State,” said Engel, a sophomore chemistry major from Victoria.
The duo accompanied Cruz to the American Chemical Society Conference in Orlando, Fla., last spring, and presented Kee’s paper on the project.
Cruz said having undergrad students involved in research projects is not all that uncommon. What makes this situation unique is the supervisory roles Kee and Engel were charged with as well as taking on a level of research that is usually done at much larger research universities.
“This is a high quality research project, on something that’s really in demand. And this is being done by underclassmen who haven’t yet taken advanced courses in chemistry,” Cruz said. “What a great learning opportunity for them.”
MANHATTAN — Six Kansans have been appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam to serve on the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Advisory Board. Board service will begin on September 12.
The Marketing Advisory Board provides constituent observation and comment for a variety of industry sector strategies supporting agriculture business development, international agricultural development/trade, From the Land of Kansas trademark program, local foods and affiliated programs, agricultural workforce development, and agricultural education.
“Continuing to receive feedback from Kansans engaged in the agriculture sectors is a high priority as we work to remain relevant with today’s market dynamics. We welcome these advisory board members,” said Beam. “They will be great contributors to the agriculture marketing team which is charged with developing and conducting market development activities for Kansas agricultural commodities and food products.”
Newly appointed members include: Kyle Antenen, farmer/rancher, Ness City; Mike Bergmeier, ShieldAg Equipment, Hutchinson; Brice Elnicki, Producer’s Cooperative Association, Girard; Janice Nikkel, Mill Brae Ranch, Maple Hill; Mallory Shinliver, Helena Agri-Enterprises, Nashville; and Brian Zitlow, Great Western Bank, Shawnee.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s purpose is to serve, promote and grow the state’s largest industry. The Division of Agriculture Marketing advocates for and promotes agriculture across the state and works to provide an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. For a full list of all advisory board members, go to agriculture.ks.gov/MarketingAdvisoryBoard.
In a news release Thursday, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office reported fielding multiple reports of a caller impersonating the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office asking the recipient to return a phone call to number 844-242-0008.
Upon calling the number back, the scammer tells the victim they’ve either failed to appear in Ellis County District Court or are the defendant in a lawsuit in another state in which they’ve failed to appear.
The scammer then persuades the victim into paying a court fine or the lawsuit off with American Express prepaid gift cards, coaxing the victim to relay the card account numbers over the phone.
“We do not request bond payment through American Express prepaid gift cards,” the sheriff’s office said. “Our main office telephone number remains 785-625-1040. If you receive a call from our office regarding a similar request, simply hang up on the scamster and report the incident to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
Finally, we are working toward resolving these unsolicited calls through normal investigative procedure. No matter how long it takes. As always, we thank you for your continued support.”
