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Family Crisis Center reports higher numbers of domestic and sexual violence

The Family Crisis Center in Great Bend was formed over 30 years ago to provide advocacy and support to all survivors and victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse.

Executive Director Joanne Wondra says the number of cases reported in 2017 at the Center have gone up compared to 2016. In 2016, the organization based at Broadway and Main, reported 29 cases of child abuse. In 2017, that number jumped to 81.

Joanne Wondra Audio

Domestic violence cases overall went up 47 cases between the two years. The Family Crisis Center handled 58 sexual assault cases in 2016, compared to 93 in 2017. There were also 109 forensic interviews with juveniles last year. Conducting a forensic interview means law enforcement believed there was enough abuse done to the child that an interview was warranted.

Although Wondra is saddened by the increased numbers of cases, she says it also means that more victims are coming out with the courage to say something.

Joanne Wondra Audio

The Family Crisis Center provides a 24-hour crisis hotline to professional training and has several connections for healing and protection. Services for the Domestic and Sexual Violence Center are offered for Barton, Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Kiowa, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush, and Stafford counties.

2 Kansas men dead after small plane crash

GRANT COUNTY – Two Kansas men died in a small plane crash just after 9p.m. Thursday in Grant County.

Ulysses airport map -google image

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1970 Beech 58 piloted by Daniel R. Dunn, 68, Scott City, took off from Ulysses heading for Scott City. Officials are unsure if there was a mechanical issue, but the pilot attempted to make it back to Ulysses and crashed five miles north of Kansas 25 and the U.S.160 junction.

Dunn and a passenger Michael T. Steele, 64, were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Garnand Funeral Home.

 

Friday Sports Headlines

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – New Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte will have a seven-year contract starting at $1.3 million per year. The University of Texas System Board of Regents is scheduled to approve Del Conte’s contract when it meets next week. Del Conte’s annual salary will reach $1.57 million in the final year in 2024. The regents are also expected to approve a new $1.7 million annual salary for football defensive coordinator Todd Orlando.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas track coach Mario Sategna was fired “without cause” despite a record of multiple men’s and women’s Big 12 championships, according to documents released by the school. Sategna had been under an ethics and misconduct investigation in 2016. He was allowed to return to the team with no explanation of the probe or what it found. Sategna was dismissed Feb. 15. New athletic director Chris Del Conte said the program needed a “new” direction despite Sategna’s record of success.

UNDATED (AP) – Kansas plays at Texas Tech on Saturday in a matchup that could well decide who wins the league. Kansas can clinch a share of its 14th straight conference crown with a victory. The sixth-ranked Red Raiders won decisively in Lawrence earlier this season.

National Headlines

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AP) – Canadian defenseman Jocelyne Larocque apologized Friday for taking off her silver medal almost immediately after it was placed around her neck at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Larocque, a two-time Olympian, then held onto the medal during the medal ceremony following the United States’ 3-2 shootout victory over Canada on Thursday. Canada had won the previous four gold medals in women’s hockey. She says she’d like to have that moment back.

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) – Canada’s Kelsey Serwa has raced to victory in women’s skicross, giving her a gold medal to go with the silver she won in Sochi four years ago. Alina Zagitova has won the women’s figure skating competition to become the first Russian gold medalist at the Pyeongchang Olympics. The 15-year-old Zagitova edged her friend and training partner Evgenia Medvedeva to end the gold drought for the Olympic Athletes from Russia.

CLEVELAND (AP) – Bradley Beal scored 18 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 17 and the Washington Wizards spoiled the home debut for Cleveland’s four new players with a 110-103 win over the Cavaliers. Washington is 8-2 since losing star guard John Wall with a knee injury. LeBron James scored 32 points to pace the Cavs.

UNDATED (AP) – Two top 10 teams saw action in NCAA hoops. Killian Tillie scored 17 points, Rui Hachimura added 16 and No. 6 Gonzaga beat San Diego 77-72 . Carsen Edwards scored a career-high 40 points and Dakota Mathias added 18 to help No. 9 Purdue outlast Illinois in a 93-86. In other games, No. 11 Cincinnati beat Connecticut 77-52, No. 22 St. Mary’s handled Pepperdine 75-61, No. Arizona beat Oregon State 75-65 and Memphis got an upset win over No. 23 Houston 91-85.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – The New Jersey Devils have acquired speedy winger Michael Grabner from the New York Rangers in the first trade between the cross-river rivals. New Jersey sends a 2018 second-round draft pick and 20-year-old defensive prospect Yegor Rykov to New York. The Rangers now have eight selections in the June draft, including five in the first three rounds.

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (6) Gonzaga 77 San Diego 72
Final (9) Purdue 93 Illinois 86
Final (11) Cincinnati 77 UConn 52
Final OT (14) Arizona 75 Oregon St. 65
Final (22) Saint Mary’s (Cal) 75 Pepperdine 61
Final Memphis 91 (23) Houston 85

Kan. man captured after running from courthouse deputy

JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities captured a wanted Kansas suspect after an extensive search.

Shipley-photo KDOC

Matthew John Shipley, 33, Topeka, was in the Jackson County District Court in Holton when he was searched by a Jackson County Court Security Deputy, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputy located what was believed to be drug contraband. Shipley allegedly fled the courthouse.

Jackson County Deputies, Holton Police Officers and Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers searched several locations in an around Holton and the Sheriff’s Office asked the public’s assistance to help locate him.

Deputies received numerous tips of Shipley’s location. The investigation led them to Baileyville, Kansas.

Shipley had received a ride to that area early in the day. Jackson County authorities, Nemaha County Deputies and KHP Troopers surrounded a farmstead in the 1700 Block of E. Road, south of Baileyville.

Shipley fled into a field and later surrendered to law enforcement. Deputies transported him to the Jackson County Jail, where he is being held on felony interference with law enforcement and an outstanding warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections. He has a previous drug conviction in Shawnee County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Police: Search continues for missing Kansas boy

Hernandez- photo courtesy Wichita Police

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigating the circumstances surrounding a missing 5-year-old Kansas boy.

On Wednesday, police reported the missing child case involving Lucas Hernandez is now a criminal investigation, according to Officer Paul Cruz.

Investigators have arrested 26-year-old Emily Glass, according to the Sedgwick County Booking report. She is the boy’s step-mother.

Glass is being held on two counts of endangerment to a child. The charges are related to information revealed during the investigation of Lucas’ disappearance. He remains missing.

Officers and investigators have been working on this case nonstop since Saturday evening. Investigators continue to conduct interviews, follow-up on leads, and examine evidence. The department cannot go into further details at this time, because the case is an active criminal investigation.

Lucas was reported missing at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. Officers were dispatched to a lost juvenile call at a residence in the 600 block of South Edgemoor. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the boy’s 26-year-old stepmother. She reported she last saw Lucas in his bedroom at approximately 3 p.m. prior to her showering and falling asleep.

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police records show the father and stepmother of a missing 5-year-old Kansas boy had a sometimes violent relationship.

Police provided several incident reports about the couple Wednesday after announcing that the 26-year-old stepmother, Emily Glass, had been arrested on suspicion of endangering the boy and another child.

Glass reported her stepson Lucas Hernandez missing on Saturday. She hasn’t been formally charged.

One police report says Glass held a wooden ax handle during an April 2016 argument in which the boy’s father, Jonathan Hernandez, suffered a bloody nose and other injuries. Glass had bruises on the side of her head and accused him of slapping her.

The report says officers couldn’t determine the primary aggressor. Glass was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The same charge against Hernandez was dismissed.

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Kansas man charged in beating, burning dog

Hunter-photo Leavenworth Co.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas man is accused of beating the family dog and burning her with a propane torch.

Lemuel Dean Hunter Jr., 57, was charged Wednesday with a felony count of cruelty to animals. His bond has been set at $10,000.

Leavenworth Police say they were called to a home Monday and were told by someone there that a relative, now identified as Hunter, was abusing the family dog. Police say the 3-year-old corgi and beagle mix was struck with a board, kicked, choked and burned with a torch.

Hunter has denied the allegations and tells police he was trying to move the dog from one kennel to another.

Authorities say Leavenworth Animal Control evaluated the dog and kept her in their custody Wednesday.

Kan. lawmakers cancel debate on NRA-backed gun safety bill

Schools wouldn’t be required to teach students about guns under a bill in the Kansas Legislature. But if they did, they’d need to start with an NRA program.
SCREENSHOT OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION’S EDDIE EAGLE WEBSITE

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislative leaders have canceled a debate on a gun-safety education bill giving preference to a National Rifle Association program in elementary schools.

Top Kansas House Republicans said they called off Thursday’s debate because they want to work on a comprehensive plan for preventing gun violence at schools.

But they were facing backlash from Democrats and GOP moderates. Republican Rep. Stephanie Clayton said it was too soon after a Valentine’s Day shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead.

The bill would allow schools to offer gun-safety courses starting in kindergarten but mandate that the curriculum be based on the NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe program through the fifth grade.

Supporters said the bill would encourage schools to teach gun safety and the NRA has a good program.

Kansas travels to Texas Tech in Big 12 showdown

(AP) – A look at the upcoming weekend around the Big 12:

GAME OF THE WEEKEND: Kansas at Texas Tech. This matchup could very well decide who wins the league — and in fact, Kansas can clinch a share of its 14th straight conference crown with a victory. The sixth-ranked Red Raiders won decisively in Lawrence earlier this season, but the eighth-ranked Jayhawks lead the league by one game. The bench was crucial for the Red Raiders in the first matchup at Kansas, scoring 42 of their 85 points.

LOOKING AHEAD TO SATURDAY: Reeling Oklahoma hosts Kansas State. The Sooners were blown out by the Jayhawks 104-74 on Monday. Baylor and TCU square off in Fort Worth, while injury-plagued Iowa State travels to West Virginia. Oklahoma State is at Texas, which is fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Devonte Graham of Kansas. Graham is playing his best basketball as a senior, averaging career highs in points (17.6), assists (7.2) and rebounds (4.2) per game. Graham is also shooting 41.6 percent on 3s, and he and Oklahoma’s Trae Young are the only players in the league with at least 200 assists.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Jayhawks, led by Graham, lead the league with 286 3s. Kansas is averaging 10.2 3s per game, followed by Oklahoma at 9.7 … West Virginia is first in conference with 14.2 offensive rebounds a game but just ninth with 24.1 defensive rebounds. … Texas is the only team in the Big 12 with more turnovers than assists. … Young’s struggles of late have been well documented. But he is still averaging 28.3 points a game, which are 10 more than any other Big 12 player.

ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE: Baylor has clinched its eighth straight conference title. The third-ranked Lady Bears beat No. 6 Texas 93-87 on Monday to move to 16-0 in the league, three games ahead of the Longhorns. … Baylor will be the top seed for the Big 12 tournament, which West Virginia won last year as the sixth seed. … Oklahoma State was ranked 25th on Monday.

Woman competent for trial in Kan. murder, kidnapped baby

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a 35-year-old woman is competent to stand trial in the death of a Wichita woman and the kidnapping of the woman’s newborn child.

Yesenia Sesmas-photo Dallas Police

A judge on Thursday ordered that 35-year-old Yesenia Sesmas stand trial March 26 on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated interference with parental custody and other counts.

Prosecutors allege Sesmas fatally shot 27-year-old Laura Abarca of Wichita in November 2017 and abducted Abarca’s 6-day-old daughter.

She and the baby were found two days after the abduction in Texas. The child was returned to relatives in Wichita.

The Texas woman allegedly drove from Dallas to Wichita to meet Abarca, who she met years ago while working at a Wichita restaurant.

Video shows young Kan. YMCA sex assault victim being hit

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Court records in the case against a Kansas man charged with sexually two girls at a YMCA child care say video shows one of the children being struck twice in the face.

Gaston-photo Sedgwick Co.

A police affidavit was released Wednesday in the case against 21-year-old Caleb Gaston. He’s charged with raping a 4-year-old girl and committing aggravated indecent liberties with a 3-year-old girl last month at the Downtown YMCA Kid Zone in Wichita.

The affidavit says video shows a staff member taking the 4-year-old to a bathroom after she was hit. The girl later told a social worker she had been assaulted while she was getting sick in the sink.

Gaston’s attorney, Steve Ariagno, said in an email that Gaston “denies any and all allegations of wrongdoing.”

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