Jason Woody of Woody Auction Gallery in Douglass says the auction generated enough interest across the country that more Sandzen pieces might be auctioned in the future.
The pieces auctioned on Saturday were owned by the late Emerson and Freda Moore of Wichita.
Sandzen lived and taught in Lindsborg from 1894 until his death in 1954. He created more than 3,000 paintings, 328 prints and countless watercolors and drawings inspired by the French Impressionists.
Search on Douglas Co. Lake photo KDWP&T Game Wardens
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s office says the 18-year-old last seen Saturday evening before the boat he was on capsized in a county lake was Cameron Kirchner of Gardner.
Kirchner and a friend were on a boat the turned over on the Douglas County State Fishing Lake near Baldwin City Saturday. The other person, a 17-year-old, was able to swim to shore but Kirchner did not surface. Authorities originally said the missing person was 17.
Divers searched for Kirchner throughout the holiday weekend and the search continued Tuesday. Officials said they consider it a recovery, rather than a rescue effort.
Kirchner’s family said in a statement they appreciated the efforts of law enforcement and support received from friends and strangers. The family asked for privacy and declined media interviews.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita city officials plan to close six of the city’s nine public pools by 2023.
The city council voted Tuesday to close the pools, including the McAdams Park pool in northeast Wichita despite opposition from some black community leaders.
The pools remaining open are College Hill, Harvest Park and Aley Park. Five of the pools being closed will be replaced by splash parks, which are children’s play areas and not planned for swimming.
Recreation director Troy Houtman says the splash parks are much less expensive to operate and don’t require lifeguards or much staffing, so they can be open for longer hours and more days than swimming pools.
Some opponents said closing the pools would hurt neighborhoods and increase use at the remaining pools.
BOURBON COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 10a.m. on Tuesday in Bourbon County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner dump truck driven by Charley L. Ballou, 61, Fort Scott, was eastbound on Yellowstone Road three miles southwest of Prescott.
The truck was dumping gravel and struck the overpass with the dump bed. The truck then left the road on the south side and came to rest on edge of road.
Ballou was transported to Mercy Hospital. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
KANSAS CITY– A man has been charged in federal court for his role in making preparations to launch a terrorist attack with persons he believed were members of ISIS, but who were actually undercover law enforcement agents, according to Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
Robert Lorenzo Hester, Jr., 25, of Jefferson City, MO, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Kansas City, Mo., with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
Hester, who remains in federal custody, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, when he arrived at an arranged meeting with an undercover law enforcement agent. The criminal complaint was signed on Sunday and made public today following Hester’s initial court appearance.
“First on social media, then during face-to-face meetings with an undercover FBI employee, this defendant repeatedly expressed his intent to engage in acts of violent jihad against the United States,” Dickinson said.
“He believed he was part of an ISIS-sponsored terrorist attack that would result in the deaths and injuries of many innocent victims. He readily participated in the preparations for an attack, provided materials and resources for an attack, and voiced his intent to carry out an attack. I commend the FBI for protecting the public from a security threat.”
“Terrorism knows no demographic boundaries and remains the FBI’s top priority,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Field Office Eric Jackson. “The arrest of Hester is the culmination of an extensive FBI investigation and demonstrates the challenges law enforcement faces in identifying individuals intent on causing harm.”
“As alleged in the complaint, Robert Lorenzo Hester, Jr. attempted to provide material support to ISIS by participating in what he believed would be a deadly attack committed in the name of the foreign terrorist organization,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General McCord. “Countering terrorist threats remains the highest priority of the National Security Division, and we will continue our efforts to identify and hold accountable those who seek to commit acts of terrorism within our borders.”
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Hester demonstrated through his statements and actions that he posed a security threat by his willingness to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and his willingness to assist in what he believed would be a murderous terrorist bombing and gunfire attack.
Hester is a U.S. citizen who was born in Missouri. He was enlisted in the U.S. Army for less than a year, receiving a general discharge from service in mid-2013.
FBI agents undertook a review of Hester’s publicly available posts on multiple social media accounts in September 2016. On Oct. 3, 2016, Hester was arrested by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department in an unrelated case and remained in state custody until he was released on bond on Oct. 13, 2016. His bond conditions included electronic monitoring. While Hester was being monitored, undercover federal agents maintained regular contact via an encrypted messaging app and text messages, and met with him on several occasions.
On Jan. 24, 2017, Hester pleaded guilty in state court to property damage and unlawful use of a weapon and was released on his own recognizance. Hester was no longer on electronic monitoring after that date. Undercover agents continued to meet in person with Hester and communicate via social media, texting and an encrypted message app.
Hester agreed to meet again with an undercover agent on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. When Hester arrived for that meeting, he was arrested. Hester was the sole subject of this undercover investigation.
Undercover Investigation
According to the affidavit, the investigation began when the FBI became aware (through multiple confidential sources) of Hester’s social media posts, in which he expressed animus towards the United States and suggested an adherence to radical Islamic ideology and a propensity for violence. Hester used several online aliases, including “Mohammed Junaid Al Amreeki,” “Junaid Muhammad,” “Rabbani Junaid Muhammad,” “Rami Talib,” “Ali Talib Muhammad.”
On Oct. 3, 2016, Hester was arrested by Columbia police officers after an incident in the parking lot of a grocery store. Hester, who appeared to be in an argument with his wife, threw a folded pocket knife through a plate-glass window near the entrance of the store. When store employees confronted Hester, he assumed an aggressive stance and forcefully placed his hand into the diaper bag he was carrying in a manner that appeared to be reaching for a weapon. Police officers later recovered a 9mm handgun from the diaper bag. Hester was in custody until Oct. 13, 2016, when he was released on bond and placed on electronic monitoring.
On Oct. 15, 2016, two days after Hester’s release on bond, an FBI employee using an undercover identity contacted Hester by private message. The FBI employee had accepted a friend request from Hester the day before Hester was arrested for the grocery store incident. They continued to communicate via social media, text and an encrypted messaging app, the affidavit says, during which Hester presented himself as a security threat, stating, for example, that the U.S. government should be “overthrown,” and suggesting “hitting” the government “hard,” while noting that it would not be “a one man job.” Hester identified categories of potential targets for attack and said he wanted a “global jihad.” Hester stated that he was trying to find like-minded people to help. When the undercover employee mentioned “brothers,” Hester said he wanted to meet them.
Hester then established that he would act on the statements he made online. In early November, the affidavit says, Hester made arrangements with the undercover employee – whom he never met in person – to meet with “one of the brothers.” The undercover employee arranged this meeting with another undercover FBI employee.
During a Jan. 31, 2017, meeting, the undercover employee provided Hester with a list of items to purchase, including 9-volt batteries, duct tape, copper wire, and roofing nails. The undercover employee implied that these items would be used to make bombs, the affidavit says, stating that those materials are needed “to make … things … to bring some kind of destruction.” Hester allegedly responded by stating: “I’m just ready to help. I’m ready to help any way I can.” When the undercover employee stated that what they were planning was “going to bring them to their knees … and then they gonna know to fear Allah,” Hester expressed his anticipation by stating: “I can’t wait. I can’t wait.”
Hester and the undercover employee agreed to meet again at Hester’s residence the next day. When the undercover employee arrived, the affidavit says, Hester gave him the items he had purchased. The undercover employee told Hester they were planning something “10 times more” than the Boston Marathon bombing, and Hester expressed his approval. The undercover agent told Hester that they were planning on “killing a lot of people.” The undercover employee told Hester that he could “walk away,” the affidavit says, but Hester said, “I’m down.” The undercover employee told Hester they were going to “wage all kinda war,” and Hester again expressed his approval.
The undercover employee then pulled back blankets in the back of the SUV to show Hester three AK-47 style rifles and two .45-caliber handguns. The undercover agent told Hester that, while they had plenty of firearms, they needed more ammunition. Hester stated that he could not purchase ammunition because of his state charges, but that he had a friend that could get ammunition for him. Hester stated that he would have money to purchase ammunition after he received his tax refund and after he was paid in a couple of weeks.
The undercover employee also opened a backpack, which contained pipes and fuse, stating, “these are bombs right here.” The undercover employee explained that the duct tape Hester provided would be used to tape the bombs together, which Hester acknowledged, and that the nails Hester provided would “cut peoples’ heads off.” Hester responded: “Oh yeah. I know,” indicating that he understood the nails were to be used as shrapnel for bombs.
The undercover employee stated that they had more backpacks that they were going to put in different locations. Hester acknowledged that he understood, and stated that they had to be smarter than the Boston Marathon bombers. Hester again confirmed that he was “down,” the affidavit says, and that he understood they had to “lay low” and act in a manner to avoid detection.
The undercover employee stated that they were going to “strike fear in all these infidel hearts,” and Hester responded that he agreed and that he was ready.
According to the affidavit, Hester contacted the first undercover employee via text message on Feb. 2, 2017, and indicated he would “have some more stuff … in a couple of weeks when I get paid.” Hester asked the undercover employee, “When you talk to the brother again let him know I’ll have some more gifts in a couple of weeks.”
On Feb. 4, 6, 7, 11 and 16, 2017, Hester communicated with an undercover employee via an encrypted messaging app. Hester said that he was excited, that he was “happy to be part” of it, and that it was “time they answer for their atrocities.” Hester predicted that it was “going to be a good day for Muslims worldwide.” Hester asked how the “party plan” was coming along and reiterated that he would get more “supplies.” The undercover employee told Hester that the “party” would take place on Presidents’ Day and that the targets of the operation would include busses, trains and a train station in Kansas City, Mo. Hester said, according to the affidavit, that it felt “good to help strike back at the true terrorist.”
On Feb. 17, 2017, Hester met again with the second undercover employee and provided more roofing nails. Hester accompanied the undercover employee to a nearby storage facility, where the two examined the security cameras. Hester was arrested shortly thereafter.
Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has taken a step to restore guaranteed teacher tenure after GOP lawmakers ended it in 2014.
The House gave first-round approval Tuesday after Prairie Village Democratic Rep. Jerry Stogsdill attached the tenure bill as an amendment to another bill.
Supporters say the amendment ensures due process for teachers but opponents say local school boards and districts should have control over tenure decisions.
There is a tenure bill in the Education Committee but it hasn’t received a vote. An upcoming deadline for bills to pass their committee of origin could have killed it.
The teachers’ union sued over the 2014 measure, saying it violated the Constitution because it was attached to a budget bill on the House floor. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the legislature.
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating a reported attempted rape and aggravated burglary at a home in Manhattan.
Two 22-year-old women reported an unknown suspect entered their house in northeast Manhattan February 19 according to a media release.
The alleged victims fought off the suspect who then left the home, according to police.
Officers listed a third 22-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man as victims of aggravated burglary as a result of the incident. They were in the residence at the time the alleged incident. The suspect took an iPhone 5.
Police ask that anyone with information contact Riley County Police Department or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Homeland Security Department is greatly expanding the number of people living in the U.S. illegally who are considered a deportation priority.
The new guidelines under President Donald Trump call for the deportation of any individuals in the country illegally if they are convicted, charged or suspected of a crime, which could include traffic infractions. Read more on the order here.
Department memos released Tuesday eliminate guidelines under the Obama administration that focused enforcement on immigrants in the United States illegally who have been convicted of serious crimes or are a threat to national security. The Obama administration also focused its enforcement resources on people who had just crossed the border.
The new guidelines also called to send some immigrants caught crossing the Mexican border illegally back to Mexico, regardless of where they are from.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A foundation has raised about $25,000 for a Wichita police officer who was hit by a fleeing driver.
$10,000 already has gone to the family of Brian Arterburn. He sustained injuries to his chest, abdomen and brain when he was struck Feb. 7 while putting tire-deflating spike strips on a road. A 31-year-old man is charged.
Honore Adversis Foundation president and founder Paul Zamorano says the other $15,000 – and 100 percent of all funds received in the future – will go to the family when they need it.
Zamorano says fundraising efforts have drawn “an overwhelming response” and that the $25,000 may not include all proceeds from various restaurant and business fundraisers. The foundation is an affiliate of the Wichita police union.
Monday’s hearing on a bill that would expand eligibility for Medicaid drew a crowd. The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to table the bill, essentially killing it for this session. MEG WINGERTER / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
A bill to expand KanCare most likely is dead after a House committee voted Monday to table it until April.
The House Health and Human Services Committee was expected to vote on a bill that would expand eligibility for Kansas’ privatized Medicaid program known as KanCare. Instead, the members narrowly approved a motion by Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican, to sideline it until the veto session, a move that most likely kills the bill.
Monday is the legislative deadline for most bills to pass out of their committee or stay alive by passing through an exempt committee. But it doesn’t appear that Medicaid expansion supporters have any viable options for keeping the bill alive.
“It’s dead,” said Rep. Dan Hawkins, the Wichita Republican who chairs the committee.
Barker said the committee needed more time to assess the state’s financial situation before voting to expand Medicaid. He said the Kansas Supreme Court could order the state to find more funding for schools in the next few months, for example.
“I try not to make a decision until I have all the facts,” he said.
Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican, said the move to table deceived new legislators, who may not have understood they were killing the bill.
“I’m just speechless because it was such an underhanded move,” she said.
Kansas limits eligibility for Medicaid to children, pregnant women, people with severe disabilities and parents earning less than a third of the federal poverty line, or about $9,200 annually for a four-person family.
If Kansas expanded eligibility, as 31 other states have done, a four-person family could have up to $33,465 in income and a single adult up to $16,642 to be eligible for Medicaid.
The committee spent much of its meeting debating the merits of expanding Medicaid. Advocates pushed expansion as a way to allow low-income working people to pay for insurance and to shore up the finances of rural hospitals.
Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican, left, speaks during Monday’s committee meeting on a Medicaid expansion bill. At right is Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican. CREDIT MEG WINGERTER / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
“To me, the big question we have to ask ourselves is this good for the people,” said Rep. Cindy Holscher, an Olathe Democrat. “I think we have to see it is.”
Opponents said expanding Medicaid would be costly and do little to improve patients’ health. Rep. Abraham Rafie, an Overland Park Republican, said not enough of the Medicaid expansion money would directly benefit rural hospitals and safety net clinics.
“I think there’s many things we can do to improve access to care in our state,” he said.
Advocates said they weren’t giving up pushing for Medicaid expansion, but they acknowledged their chances were slimmer. Mike Oxford, executive director of the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, said after the hearing that he doubts lawmakers will want to take up the bill later in the session.
“I think we’ve got a steep climb,” he said.
Even if an expansion bill clears the procedural hurdles and overcomes the skepticism of many lawmakers, Gov. Sam Brownback has repeatedly said he is opposed to such a proposal. He recently it would be foolish for the state to move forward given plans by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Meg Wingerter is a reporter for kcur.org Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics in Kansas. You can reach her on Twitter @MegWingerter.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported just after 8p.m. on Saturday, a 2011 Freightliner semi driven by Gregory A. Botwinik,, 41, Osawatomie, was eastbound on U.S. 50 four miles south of Spearville.
The semi went into the left passing lane to pass a Volvo semi.
The Freightliner semi struck a 2002 Chrysler minivan driven by Ankara Romero, 29, Dodge City, head-on.
Ankara Romero-courtesy photo
Romero and a passengers Edward Reynaga, 12; Emily Reynaga, 7; Edwin Reynaga, 1, all of Dodge City were transported to Western Plains Medical Center in Dodge City where they died.
Another child in the van 5-year-old Evelyn Reynaga of Dodge City was transported to Western Plains Medical Center and transferred to a hospital in Wichita. She died on Sunday, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Botwinik was also transported to Western Plains Medical Center. The driver of the Volvo semi from Indiana was not injured.
Seat belt use by occupants of the van was unknown, according to the KHP.
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is seeking individuals to participate in a beef genetics trade mission to Costa Rica on April 23-27, 2017. In an effort to increase market opportunities for U.S. and Kansas beef genetics, this program provides an opportunity for Kansas purebred beef cattle producers and allied industry to continue developing relationships with livestock producers in Costa Rica. KDA strives to encourage and enhance economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy by exploring and expanding both domestic and international marketing opportunities.
Attendees will participate in a field day showcasing calves sired by U.S. Red Angus and Charolais bulls crossed with local Costa Rican Brahman dams in an effort to demonstrate the advantages of heterosis in a tropical climate. Initial data from this project supports the use of U.S. genetics. Attendees will also visit a local research university implementing projects utilizing U.S. beef genetics. Additional opportunities to engage with potential buyers of beef semen and embryos and visit Costa Rican ranches will be arranged as part of the mission. Kansas ranchers and related agribusinesses specializing in producing germplasm qualified for export are invited to participate.
This trade mission is funded in part by the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. Selected participants will be eligible for travel stipends for airfare depending upon number of applicants and fund availability. Participants will be responsible for the cost of hotels, meals and other incidental expenses.
Individuals interested in participating should complete the application form available on the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/international. The application deadline is Monday, March 6, 2017.
For more information, please contact KDA agribusiness development coordinator Billy Brown at [email protected] or (785) 564-6752.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are considering legalizing medical marijuana for certain medical conditions.
The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee heard the bill Monday. If it passes, Kansas would join 28 other states that have some type of medical marijuana program.
Supporters say medical marijuana could help patients who have exhausted available medicine options. Melissa Ragsdale, whose 7-year-old son suffers from seizures, told the committee industrial hemp cannabidiol helped her son but it only stops certain seizures and that broader access could help.
Supporters also say marijuana would be better than potentially harmful prescription narcotics.
Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Lobbyist Ed Klumpp argues marijuana should go through a vetting process like other prescription drugs. He says legalizing usage for some people makes stopping illegal marijuana use more difficult.
