By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Calling it “not a big change but an unusual change,” Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler reviewed the update to marijuana laws in Kansas regarding CBD oil containing THC for city commissioners last week.

The change is in the 2019 Uniform Public Offense Code (UPOC) which is revised and published annually by the Kansas League of Municipalities for adoption by cities in the state.

THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is the active ingredient in marijuana.

“The change in the law creates an affirmative defense for those being treated by a doctor and receiving CBD oil of up to 5% THC,” Scheibler explained.

“A person in possession of CBD oil with no more than 5% THC that has been prescribed by a doctor will not be found guilty in this section (of the UPOC) if the person or their minor child has a debilitating medical condition and is being treated by a doctor for the illness with CBD oil.”

The person must also have in their possession a letter written within the last 15 months from a Kansas doctor which says the person/minor child has a debilitating condition and is being treated with CBD oil. The letter must be shown to law enforcement when requested.

“If they do all those things and they’re arrested and charged, when they go to trial they’ll be found not guilty. This change in the law allows a person to use prescribed medical treatment using CBD oil without being convicted of a crime.”

Other changes noted by Scheibler are current laws moved into the UPOC for 2019.

They include:

• Unlawful interference with EMS/medical service attendants

“Where we see this is sometimes at large parties and somebody is injured. People want to interfere and assist and help.”

• Possession of a firearm while under the influence

“This is one we actually see quite a bit. This law prohibits a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs to carry a loaded firearm or to have it in their immediate access while in a vehicle. We see it on DUIs. We’ve arrested a person for DUI and they’ve got a loaded handgun underneath the seat, or in the door, or in the console.  This law prohibits them from doing that.

“Prior to this being moved into UPOC, we’d have to charge those people through District Court because we still had that in the ordinance for the city, so I’m happy to see this one in there.”

Scheibler noted the law does not apply to a person who possesses a firearm in their own home, their business, or on their own property.

A change to the 2019 Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas addresses driver’s licenses in possession of the driver.

According to Scheibler the law was changed because law officers across the country are experiencing incidents of drivers refusing to hand over their license to the officer, claiming the law only required them to display it.

“This change now clearly states the law requires the driver to promptly deliver the license to the officer when requested.

Scheibler says it’s an officer safety issue.

“One of the most dangerous things the officers do is a traffic stop. And the longer they’re out there on the traffic stop alongside the road with semi-trucks going on the backside of them, arguing with people about whether or not they’re getting the driver’s license, the more danger there is to the officer.

“I’m happy to see this change.”

City commissioners will consider adopting the 2019 Uniform Public Office Code and 2019 Standard Traffic Ordinance at their meeting tonight.

Other agenda items include consideration of bid awards:

• Replacement of  the 1993 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Compressor System used by the Hays Fire Department. Staff recommends the proposal from Air and Fire Systems, Salina, for $37,954.
• Construction of concrete cart paths on the Back 9 of the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course. The low bid of $48,675 is from J Corp, Hays. The asphalt cart paths on the Back 9 were installed in 1998 and have deteriorated.

The Aug. 22 agenda is available here.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

 

 

By KIRBY ROSS

Phillips County Review 

LOGAN — It wasn’t quite standing room only, but it was pretty close to it.

    A large portion of the population of the city of Logan and the Logan USD 326 School District turned out en masse to a town hall meeting at the high school last Thursday.

     The purpose of that meeting?  To hear about, and to voice their opinions on, the ambitious $14 million plan to invest in solutions to multiple community infrastructure problems.

     Those problems include aging buildings housing elders in the local nursing home and elementary school students.

     Regarding solutions, the City of Logan, the Logan School District, Logan Manor Nursing Home and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation are currently considering a unique conceptual idea that would integrate several intergenerational community facilities into one structure.

     The basic elements of this facility would include

• A new 36-bed nursing home based on the modern “Green House Project” design
• A new pre-k through fourth grade elementary school
• A new 1,200-seat gymnasium with associated locker room complex, which would also serve as a community storm shelter holding up to 450 people
• A weight room and wellness facility which would be open and available to the public
• A community room and gathering place, and a small theater room holding up to 50 patrons

     The new ‘Intergenerational Center’ would be north of the existing high school building and would be connected to it via a climate-controlled indoor corridor.

     All elements of the facility would be interconnected, allowing residents from the nursing home to visit and participate in the pre-school through fourth grade classrooms, attend ballgames and practices, etc.

     Imagine elders walking down to see a basketball game, or being wheeled to it, and never leaving the structure they are living in.

     The current plan also includes upgrades to the existing high school cafeteria so the school and nursing home could share food preparation and dietary staff.

     The budget for this project also contemplates resurfacing and improving the existing parking lot located on the west side of the school, and adding additional parking adjacent to the football field.

     One of the primary purposes of last Thursday’s town hall was to gauge public support for the plan, and to enlist public assistance in pursuing the financing for it should a consensus be reached to pursue it.

     The Hansen Foundation has committed to paying for half of the cost. No taxpayer money would be utilized in covering the other half—it would all be raised through other statewide and national charitable foundations, as well as from alumni and other individuals wanting to assist.

     With the meeting getting underway around 6:30 p.m., it lasted for close to two and a half hours and included an introduction and presentation from Brien Stockman, who is a trustee of the Hansen Foundation.

     Stockman was followed by presentations from representatives of the school board, the school principal, the nursing home administrator, the project architect, and the general contractor who has teamed up with the architect.

     After the presentations, the floor was opened to questions and comments.

     At the beginning of it all, a show of hands was asked for from the people who were leaning towards proceeding based upon what they had already heard or read.  

     A show of hands was also requested from those who were inclined to oppose the project based upon what they had already heard or read.

     Those supporting the project were clearly in the majority, but there were a number of holdouts.

     At the conclusion of the meeting Stockman asked whether those in attendance had come to some sort of consensus. “Who thinks they can support this?” he asked.  Hands were raised as they had before—but then the supporters started standing up and clapping and within a very short time the entire room was standing and loudly vocally cheering the plan.

     This reporter saw just one person in opposition at the end—just one—and saw a number of people who had raised their hands in opposition at the beginning of the evening joining in with the cheering supporters at that end. 

The Ellis County Democratic Party will honor the 60^th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s campaign trip to Hays with a day full of activities. Many of Kennedy’s activities in Hays for a fundraiser on Nov. 20, 1959, will be recreated. The highlight will be a banquet at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, at the former Kennedy Middle School, known as Jefferson West in 1959.

History enthusiasts will not want to miss a planned panel discussion on the impact of Kennedy’s visit and campaign strategy, as well as Democratic strategist Norbert Dreiling’s influence in bringing the Massachusetts senator to Hays. Also planned is a Kennedy exhibit at Forsyth Library. Further details, including sale of banquet tickets and the guest speaker, will be announced at a later date.

Presidential hopeful John F. Kennedy toured five cities in a Kansas tour Nov. 19-20 of 1959. Prior to arriving in Hays, Kennedy stopped in Kansas City, Wichita, Dodge City and Salina. Instead of relying on party leaders to choose a candidate at the national convention, Kennedy ushered in a new era, traveling from state to state to win delegates.

While in Hays, Kennedy gave an interview to the local television station, held a press conference in the Memorial Union on the campus of Fort Hays Kansas State College (now Fort Hays State University), rode in a parade down Main Street, and was the keynote speaker at the banquet. There was an overflow crowd at the fundraiser in the school’s gym, with 645 in attendance. Ticket price was $10, which would be $88 today.

The Ellis County Democratic Party recognizes the importance of remembering this moment in history and wants to commemorate it on this special occasion. Reserve this day on your calendar to learn more about the future 35^th president’s trip to Hays.

“It is important to recognize important historical events in our county’s history, and John F. Kennedy’s stop in Hays 60 years ago should be remembered,” said Henry Schwaller IV, chairman of the Ellis County Democratic Party and mayor of the city of Hays. “We would like to invite the people of Ellis County and all Kansans in joining us for this special event.”

Additional details will be announced at a later date. For updates, check the Facebook page for the Ellis County Kansas Democratic Party.

By LESLIE KIMBELL

RUSSELL – Four Old Broads may wrap up the Russell Community Theater 2019 Season, but it also kicks off a countdown to celebration. RCT’s first production, God’s Favorite, was presented in 1986. With three productions in the planning stages for 2020, RCT will be celebrating its 100^th production next fall.

RCT volunteer, Crystal Craig, is seated in the director’s chair for this fall’s production. The cast of seven includes Teressa Roe, Sheryl Krug and Debora Kreutzer, all veteran RCT actors/volunteers. Becky Anschutz and Nikki Kuntzsch are returning to the RCT stage, while Georganna McCrary and Rob Williams are making their RCT debut.

In Four Old Broads, retired burlesque queen Beatrice (Teressa Roe) needs a vacation from Magnolia Place Assisted Living. A Sassy Seniors Cruise sounds perfect if she can convince her best friend, Eaddy Mae (Becky Anschutz), to join her.

Other residents are facing their own issues – including Imogene (Sheryl Krug) and her memory loss, Maude (Georganna McCrary) and her soap opera obsession, and Sam (Rob Williams) and his never ending search for love. And things just haven’t been the same since Nurse Pat (Debora Kreutzer) began working there. Hopefully, Ruby Sue (Nikki Kuntzsch) can get her nose out of her book long enough to lend a hand.

Adventures unfold as the gals try to outsmart the evil Nurse Pat and solve a multitude of mysteries. Hilarity ensues as they try to throw Nurse Pat off their trail and make it to the cruise ship after all.

Performances run Tuesday through Saturday, October 8-12 at the RCT Playhouse (5^th and Kansas, Russell). Show time is 8:00 pm. Admission is $12 or by season ticket. Four Old Broads is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Russell Community Theater is a nonprofit theater company in Russell, Kansas. The sole purpose of RCT is to produce theater for the community and the surrounding area. Completely volunteer-driven, RCT is supported financially solely through ticket admissions and gifts from those supportive of community theater. Since its inception in 1986, RCT has presented 96 full-scale theatrical productions. For more information, call 785-483-4057. Please find us on Facebook.

— Russell Community Theater

CHEYENNE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a report of someone allegedly impersonating an officer.

According to the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Department, an unmarked black Dodge pickup with emergency lights is attempting to pull over vehicles in Cheyenne County claiming to be a deputy for the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff told residents “If an unmarked black Dodge pickup attempts to pull you over do not stop and call 911. The last known direction of travel was East on U.S. 36 just East of Wheeler. All of the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s vehicles are either gray Ford pickups or white Ford Explorers. All of our vehicles are marked with “Cheyenne County Sheriff”

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

After the sudden closure of the Ellis City Pool, the Ellis City Council was hopeful construction on the new pool would begin quickly enough so the pool could open at the start of the swim season next summer, but Lamp Rynearson aquatics group leader, Andy Smith, informed the council Monday that would be unlikely.

“We’re just not in a position to go through all of the steps, in the order that they need to be gone through to get us there,” Smith said.

“It’s unfortunate really that the pool can’t make it one more year,” he said, “but I understand conditions, what they are, is the situation we find ourselves in.”

In response to the council’s questions about the possibility of opening at some point during the summer, he said there were variables that make it hard to determine.

“It might be possible,” Smith said, “but I would rather under-promise and over-preform.”

A large unknown for the project is the weather during the winter months.

“If we have a winter like we had last year, there is no chance of it,” Smith said.

The biggest concern with construction during the winter is the concrete flatwork that needs to be completed, he said, before low temperatures set in.

“The chances of having the right weather for the February, March, April and have this pool go in is dicey at best,” Smith said.”Once the ground freezes, you are done.”

With the current timeline, moving quickly enough to beat winter will not be possible, he said.

“We are not going to be ready for a contractor to start until the dead of winter,” Smith said.

While the project is unlikely to be completed as fast as the council hoped, Smith told the council the project is in a good position.

“We are ready to get the surveying and the soil borings going for the engineering,” he said.

The engineer can only use drawings up to a point until data from the site is collected.

“That’s the bottleneck at this point,” Smith said.

After getting authorization, Smith said he would begin the surveys and finalize the pool design.

Smith expects final plans to be completed in about 90 days, with two opportunities for the council to review the design during the process.

Once the design is finalized and approved, he said construction bids could be sought in January

“It’s going to be a great time of year to be bidding this project,” Smith said. “I am hoping that we are on the front end of most of these 11 projects that were all awarded (Community Development Block Grants) just like your city was. Hopefully, we will have some hungry contractors.”

Once a bid is accepted and construction begins, he said the pool should be completed in eight to nine months.

City Clerk Amy Burton also gave a report on the Splash Bash and other fundraising that has occurred since the pool was closed.

While she did not have a complete total from the Splash Bash, she told the council she had more than $10,000 that had been recorded on Monday, bringing the total raised for the project to more than $17,000/ That included a $5,000 donation from Equity Bank. More has been committed, but not collected.

“I definitely think we have support out there,” Burton said. “We’ve got people excited about the project and anxious to see where our next fundraiser goes.”

SHERMAN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Wednesday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Kenworth semi driven by Jayden L. Baker, 22, Colby, was northbound on Kansas 27 in the City of Goodland.

The driver turned eastbound onto 16^th Street and the truck rolled onto a 2010 GMC Acadia driven by Tina Jean Roe, 62, Goodland, that was stopped at the stop sign at 16^th Street.

EMS transported Roe to Goodland Regional Medical Center. Baker ws not injured. Both drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

 Governor Laura Kelly announced the 2020 State General Fund Grant Programs funding awards for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs and Children’s Advocacy Centers.

Options: Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, which is based in Ellis County and serves northwest Kansas, was awarded $220,144.

Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center, which has a center in Hays, was awarded $49,095.

 “These services are oftentimes life-saving,” Kelly said. “From issues of domestic violence to children’s advocacy, it’s important that we provide the resources these important organizations and their staff members need to keep Kansans and our communities safe.”

 In all, more than $6.4 million in grants were awarded to communities across Kansas.

 Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Grant Awards

The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault funds support the enhancement and expansion of sexual and domestic violence programs. The funds are used for support services, outreach and training for community-based programs located in large and small communities across Kansas. These programs provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including emergency safe shelter, crisis hotline calls and crisis intervention, on-going counseling and support, and advocacy to help victims increase safety for themselves and their families. These services for victims and survivors and their families are life-saving and assist them in transforming their lives.   

The funds also are used to leverage federal funds to help expand services and improve responses across the state. Without these funds, millions of federal dollars would not be available to help these vulnerable families or to increase safety in Kansas communities.

 2020 SGF for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Grant Awards

County	Organization Name	Grant Award
Allen	Hope Unlimited	$152,625
Barton	Family Crisis Center, Inc.	$257,210
Butler	Family Life Center	$95,625
Crawford	Safehouse Crisis Center	$253,004
Douglas	The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center	$127,875
Douglas	The Willow Domestic Violence Center	$233,342
Ellis	Options:  Domestic & Sexual Violence Services	$220,144
Finney	Family Crisis Services	$127,126
Ford	Crisis Center of Dodge City	$75,157
Harvey	Harvey Co. Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force	$251,271
Johnson	SAFEHOME	$276,097
Leavenworth	Alliance Against Family Violence	$88,971
Lyon	SOS	$244,783
Reno	BrightHouse	$146,276
Riley	Crisis Center	$391,604
Saline	Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas	$381,950
Sedgwick	Catholic Charities, Harbor House	$192,661
Sedgwick	StepStone	$72,991
Sedgwick	Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center	$299,762
Sedgwick	Wichita Family Crisis Center	$214,856
Seward	Liberal Area Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence Services	$191,732
Shawnee	Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence	$412,531
Shawnee	YWCA Center for Safety & Empowerment	$251,747
Wyandotte	Friends of Yates	$376,263
Wyandotte	Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault	$180,610
	TOTAL	$5,516,213

 Children’s Advocacy Centers in Kansas Grant Awards

The Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) are child-focused, community-oriented programs coordinating investigation and intervention services for abused children by bringing together professionals and agencies in a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary model. The CAC model of collaboration is designed to ensure children are not revictimized by the systems designed to protect them by creating cohesion among professionals representing investigation, advocacy, medical, prosecution and treatment. This team approach results in a more collaborative and efficient investigative process. The unique model is designed to protect children and bring enhanced accountability to the system, increasing the opportunity for children to begin the healing process. 

 The CAC grant program provides funding to hire and train staff to provide sexual and physical abuse victims with child-sensitive forensic interviews; advocacy services for victims and non-offending caregivers; and coordinate multi-disciplinary case review teams and efforts across systems to enhance services.

 2020 Children’s Advocacy Centers Grant Awards

County	Organization Name	Grant Award
Allen	Hope Unlimited	$50,500
Barton	Family Crisis Center	$62,938
Butler	Sunlight Child Advocacy Center	$49,083
Cloud	North Central Kansas CASA	$14,346
Crawford	Children’s Advocacy Center	$43,861
Ford	Meadowlark House Child Advocacy Center	$33,796
Harvey	Heart to Heart	$48,237
Johnson	Sunflower House	$116,238
Leavenworth	First Judicial District CASA Association	$42,976
Lyon	SOS	$50,290
Reno	Horizons Mental Health Center	$67,304
Riley	Sunflower CASA Project	$35,613
Saline	Child Advocacy and Parenting Services	$38,990
Scott	Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center	$49,095
Sedgwick	Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas	$60,253
Sedgwick	Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County	$116,023
Shawnee	LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center	$61,195
	TOTAL	$940,738

 

By QUINCY SNOWDON
Aurora (Colo.) Sentinel

AURORA, Colo. — A man accused of assaulting multiple women in Colorado and Kansas days after he was released from prison earlier this year has pleaded not guilty to a litany of charges filed against him in four separate cases, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Tre Carrasco, 24, formally entered a not guilty plea to all 16 charges currently filed against him at an arraignment Aug. 16.

An Arapahoe County District Court judge denied a request from Carrasco’s defense attorney to delay the arraignment, according to court records.

A native of Hays, Kansas, Carrasco has been accused of assaulting three different women in three different cities days after he was released from a Kansas state prison Feb. 1, according to court documents.

Two days after he was released, police say Carrasco raped a woman at gunpoint in the passenger seat of her car in Hays. Officials issued a warrant for his arrest that day.

On Feb. 7, police believe Carrasco attempted to kidnap a woman in Aurora while stealing her car outside of a 24-hour Fitness on South Abilene Street.

Five days later, investigators believe Carrasco drove the stolen car, a silver Toyota Camry, to a Cherry Hills Village home where he raped another woman at knifepoint.

Aurora police arrested Carrasco later the same day after local SWAT officers “conducted a high risk stop” on the car the Kansas native was suspected to have stolen.

Though he had not previously been arrested in Colorado, Carrasco was named as a suspect in at least six other crimes that were sexual in nature between November 2008 and July 2011 in Hays, according to an arrest affidavit filed by Cherry Hills Village police.

Hays investigators told Cherry Hills Village police “over time, the seriousness of the history (of Carrasco’s crimes) has escalated.”

In 2008 and 2009, Carrasco was suspected of peeping into windows and tickling women’s feet and legs as they slept.

In June 2010, he was suspected of raping a woman in Hays. A year later, Carrasco was arrested after police said he chased a Hays woman walking on a street, beat her and violently sexually assaulted her.

In April 2013, Carrasco was sentenced to slightly more than eight years in prison for the July 2011 assault.

He incurred a litany of disciplinary infractions while in Kansas prisons between 2014 and 2018, including using stimulants, disobeying orders and disrespecting corrections officers, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Carrasco is a registered sex offender in Kansas, according to police.

He is currently being held at the Arapahoe County Detention Center on a $1.1 million bond, according to county records.

Trial dates in Carrasco’s Aurora and Cherry Hills Village cases have not yet been set, according to county records.

It remains unclear when Carrasco could be extradited to Kansas to face additional charges there.

He’s scheduled to appear next in Arapahoe County District Court at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 20 for a case management conference.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation

The KBI is assisting the Trego County Sheriff’s Office with the death investigation of 48-year-old Corina Knoll of Collyer.

At around 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, the Trego County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. Sunday the Trego County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a suicide at the residence at 609 Ainslie Ave., in Collyer, Kan.

When the Trego County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol arrived, they located Knoll who had been shot.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.

The investigation is ongoing.