We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Month: March 2019

Dorial Green-Beckham gets Missouri jail time in marijuana case

Posted on

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Former NFL wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after a Missouri judge ruled that a marijuana arrest amounted to probation violation.

Green-Beckham was sentenced Friday.

Springfield police say Green-Beckham had marijuana in his pocket after jumping from a home window while officers were executing a search warrant in December. No charges were filed, but Judge Jerry Harmison ruled that the arrest was a violation of probation in Green-Beckham’s 2017 driving while intoxicated case.

Green-Beckham’s attorney, Tyson Martin, asked for treatment or counseling instead of jail time.

Green-Beckham played two years at Missouri and was a second-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2015. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and cut before the 2017 season.

Kansas doctor sentenced to life for unlawfully distributing prescription drugs

Posted on

WICHITA, KAN. – Wichita physician Steven R. Henson was sentenced today to life in federal prison for unlawfully distributing prescription drugs, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Henson-photo Sedgwick Co.

“I want this case to send a message to physicians and the health care community,” McAllister said. “Unlawfully distributing opioids and other controlled substances is a federal crime that could end a medical career and send an offender to prison.”

McAllister continued: “We are dealing with an epidemic. Nationwide, more than 70,000 Americans died in 2017 from drug overdoses. That is more than all the American casualties during the war in Vietnam.”

Henson, 57, operated the Kansas Men’s Clinic at 3636 N. Ridge Road in Wichita, stood trial in October and was convicted on the following counts:Conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs outside the course of medical practice (Counts 1 and 2). Unlawfully distributing oxycodone (Counts 3 through 14). Unlawfully distributing oxycodone, methadone and alprazolam (Count 16). Unlawfully distributing methadone and alprazolam, the use of which resulted in the death of a victim on July 24, 2015, identified in court records as N.M. (Count 17)
Presenting false patient records to investigators (Count 19). Obstruction of justice (Count 20) Money laundering (Counts 26 through 31).

Evidence at trial showed Henson was giving dangerous, maximum strength opioid prescriptions to people who did not need them.

Henson was registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to dispense prescription controlled substances. His registered addresses included the Wichita Men’s Clinic and a location at 1861 N. Rock Road, Suite 201.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Henson: Wrote prescriptions without a medical need. Wrote prescriptions in return for cash. Post-dated prescriptions.Wrote prescriptions without a legitimate medical exam and wrote prescriptions for people other than the ones who came to see him.

U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten wrote in an order denying the defendant’s motion for acquittal: “The defendant kept no medical records, performed no physical examinations or physical tests, gave massive amounts of opioids to patients with little demonstrated need, wrote unneeded, non-controlled prescriptions in order to defeat pharmacy limits on controlled substances, and knew that patients were traveling improbably long distances to receive opioids. There was ample evidence that Henson was prescribing opioid medications in amounts likely to lead to addiction, and in amounts so expensive that the patients would likely be forced by economic circumstances to support their addiction by selling some of the drugs to others.”

The judge criticized Henson for deliberately not confronting the fact his patients were addicts. He had a uniform, scripted colloquy with patients in which he asked them if they had pain, they said yes and then he gave them prescriptions. In that way, he avoided asking more questions or ordering more tests. Marten called it, “a pantomime of a genuine doctor-patient relationship (that) demonstrated a consistent policy of avoiding the truth.”

Evidence presented at trial showed Henson prescribed opioid medications in amounts likely to lead to addiction and ignored the risk that his patients would pay for their drugs by selling some of the drugs to other people.

McAllister said: “The prosecution of cases involving a health professional’s misuse of medical expertise and authority is extremely important to fight the opioid epidemic. The vast majority of health care providers are people of integrity who follow their oath to help others, abide by the law, and do all they can to protect patients from becoming addicted. The evidence showed that is not what Dr. Henson did in this case.”

“For any doctors, pharmacists or nurses who disregard their oath and distribute powerful drugs illegally to enrich themselves, the message today is that they will be prosecuted to the full extent allowed by federal law.”

Update: Kansas governor concedes pension proposal unlikely to pass

Posted on

f=”https://www.apnews.com/447fec23322240d89089f9e2395de232″>her proposal to reduce Kansas’ annual contributions to its public pension system probably won’t pass the Republican-controlled Legislature this year.

Gov. Kelly signed a bill for an immediate, $115 million payment to KPERS.

But Kelly said Friday that the state “absolutely” must revise its schedule of payments to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.

She added, “I think the Legislature knows that.”

Republicans have said her plan is unwise. The House rejected it last month.

By law, the state must ramp up contributions to close a long-term KPERS funding gap by 2035. Kelly proposed giving the state an extra 15 years to create budget breathing room.

Kelly’s comments Friday came after she signed a bill for an immediate, $115 million payment to KPERS. It repays with interest a contribution skipped in 2016 because of budget problems.

—————

TOPEKA—Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held her first bill signing ceremony Friday morning.

The following remarks are from the Governor at he bill signing ceremony for Senate Bill 9. The legislation that fixes past mistakes by repaying part of the debt to the state
retirement system.

I’m delighted to be joined by friends and former colleagues, Senator Carolyn McGinn and Senator Tom Hawk, our Republican and Democratic leaders from the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

We invited House Appropriations Chairman Troy Waymaster and ranking member Rep. Kathy Wolf Moore, who we know worked hard on this legislation. They were unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

I want to thank all four of these legislators for their leadership on this bill and for their work on the challenging process of shepherding a state budget through the Kansas Legislature.

I’d also like to welcome some very special people – retired state employees and KPERS beneficiaries.

Kansas is what it is in large part thanks to our public employees. Working as firefighters, teachers, engineers and so much more – our state retirees made their own special contribution to Kansas throughout the course of their professional lives.

In exchange for their dedicated service, the state committed to provide a stable retirement system. The retirees upheld their end of the deal, but the state did not. KPERS payments have been delayed, layered, or eliminated 15 times in the last 9 years.

Senate Bill 9 is an effort to right that wrong. It will pay $115 million for a previously skipped payment with interest.

While Senate Bill 9 was not my proposal, I very much support it. It is a step in the right direction. And I am encouraged that lawmakers are now committed to improving the long-term stability and sustainability of our KPERS pension system.

But this is just the first step in what will be a long road to recovery.

And as we look down that road – we see KPERS payments balloon. They will nearly double in the next 10 years – climbing to almost $1 billion per year. That is not sustainable. And we will have to find a solution together.

As a budget wonk, I’m thrilled that my first bill to sign as governor pays down debt. But we have much more to do to fix the damage of the last several years.

Republicans and Democrats must work together. We must put politics aside and make wise choices about how we can protect retirees and their benefits – while also putting our pension system on a sustainable path.

Bridge and ramp work scheduled to begin Monday in St. Joseph

Posted on

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Bridge joint repairs on U.S. Route 36, Route 752, Route 759 and Interstate 229 will begin Monday, March 11, and continue throughout the summer.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has contracted with Capital Paving and Construction, LLC to complete the repairs.

While some of the work will occur with only single-lane closures or work off the roadway, motorists who utilize the ramps at the I-229 and U.S. Route 36 interchange in St. Joseph will want to note the planned work schedule below as several ramps in that area will close for repair. The ramp closures noted below will be around-the-clock closures for the dates listed. Signed detours will be in place during the closures.

Planned schedule of work (subject to change):

  • March 11 – April 12: Route 752 over I-229, one lane at a time. Route 752 will remain open throughout the work.
  • March 11 – April 23: US Route 36 between Route C/Z and Route 31 south. One lane each direction of US Route 36 will remain open throughout the work.
  • April 15 – May 2: Passing lane of US Route 36 over I-229 and 6th Street closed, both directions. Driving lane will remain open.
  • May 3 – 29: Ramp CLOSED from I-229 southbound to US Route 36 eastbound.
  • May 3 – May 17: Ramp CLOSED from 8th/9th street to US Route 36 westbound.
  • May 3 – May 17: Driving lane of US Route 36 over I-229 and 6th Street closed, both directions. Passing lane will remain open.
  • May 3 – 29: Ramp CLOSED from US Route 36 westbound to I-229 northbound.
  • May 30 – June 21: Ramp CLOSED from US Route 36 westbound to I-229 southbound.
  • June 24 – July 16: Ramp CLOSED from I-229 northbound to US Route 36.
  • July 17 – August 8: Ramp CLOSED from US Route 36 eastbound to Route 759.
  • August 9 – Sept. 6: Ramp CLOSED from US Route 36 westbound to Route 759.

 

All work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled. Updates are also provided on a web page dedicated to the project: https://www.modot.org/buchanan-county-bridge-joint-repairs-us-route-36-and-i-229.

In addition, MoDOT provides updated information on Twitter and Facebook @MoDOTNWDistrict.

For their own safety, and that of road crews, MoDOT encourages all travelers to slow down, eliminate distractions, pay attention and Buckle Up Phone Down.

– Missouri Department of Transportation news release –

Struggling rural Missouri hospital booted from Medicare

Posted on

SWEET SPRINGS, Mo. (AP) — A rural Missouri hospital has been cut off from the federal Medicare program after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found serious deficiencies threatening patient health and safety.

The federal government has terminated I-70 Community Hospital’s Medicare contract, citing deficiencies that jeopardized patients’ safety.

The federal health agency pulled I-70 Community Hospital in Sweet Springs from its Medicare program on Thursday.

The 15-bed facility about 65 miles east of Kansas City closed and voluntarily suspended its license in February after state regulators found that it was “out of regulatory compliance.”

Oklahoma-based Cohesive Healthcare Management & Consulting was appointed by a court to take over the hospital’s operations. Cohesive Healthcare plans to appeal the federal agency’s decision.

The hospital’s interim CEO, Roland Gee, said the facility is working to address deficiencies so that it can reopen.

I-70 Community Hospital is the latest facility formerly run by North Kansas City-based EmpowerHMS to face regulatory and financial issues. Oswego Community Hospital in Oswego, Kansas, which was owned by EmpowerHMS, also shutteredin February, saying it was unable to pay its bills.

Two other hospitals formerly operated by EmpowerHMS, Hillsboro Community Hospital in Hillsboro, Kansas, and Fulton Medical Center in Fulton, Missouri, were placed under new management after struggling to pay employees and meet other financial obligations.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid also cited Hillsboro Community Hospital for serious deficiencies that included a failure to follow chest-pain procedures for three patients with cardiac complaints and two patients for suicidal thoughts.

The hospital’s CEO didn’t return a request for comment.

Friday’s Closing Grain Bids

Posted on

March 8th, 2019

 

St Joseph

 

Yellow Corn

3.49

White Corn

no bid

Soybeans

8.36 – 8.48

LifeLine Foods

3.57

 

 

Atchison

Yellow Corn

  3.58 – 3.62

Soybeans

  8.35

Hard Wheat

  3.92

Soft Wheat

  3.89

 

 

Kansas City Truck Bids

Yellow Corn

 3.49 – 3.64

White Corn

 3.69 – 3.73

Soybeans

 8.43 – 8.69

Hard Wheat

 4.16 – 4.61

Soft Wheat

  4.10 – 4.20

Sorghum

 5.88 – 5.97


USDA Cash Grain Prices

For more information, contact the 680 KFEQ Farm Department.
816-233-8881.

Obituaries March 8th

Posted on

Donald Eugene Wohlgemuth
1929 – 2019

Donald Eugene Wohlgemuth, 89, of Effingham, KS died on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at his home unexpectedly.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 at the Becker Chapel, 402 3rd St, Effingham, KS. The body has been cremated and interment of the cremated remains will follow the service at the Coal Creek Cemetery, North of Valley Falls, KS. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Valley Falls, KS or to Atchison County Emergency Medical Services and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Don was born on Sept. 3, 1929 in Atchison KS the son of William Henry and Florence Irene (Peak) Wohlgemuth. He attended the Shannon Grade School and graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1947. He served in the U.S. Army 53 Battalion Signal Corp during the Korean Conflict. Don worked as a carpenter for several construction companies, Robinson, Marsh, Heller and then his own company. He was an active member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Valley Falls, KS where he had served as Secretary of the Church Council for six years. He drove the school bus for ACCHS in Aug. 1945 at the age of 16, he had 59 children he delivered to school from his route. Don was a collector of antique tools and often asked “did you ever see one of these?” He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was a proud photo carrying Grandpa who loved to show pictures of and tell about his grandchildren.

He was married to Mary Claire Reichart on July 31, 1953 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Atchison. She survives of the home in Effingham. Additional survivors include two sons; Kirk (Ruth) Wohlgemuth, Effingham, KS, and Kent (Mary Beth) Wohlgemuth, St. George, KS, two brothers; David (Lucile) Wohlgemuth, McGehee, AR, and Henry “Ike” Wohlgemuth, Sugar Creek, MO, a sister Virginia Glaman, Kansas City, MO, three grandchildren, three step grandchildren, three great grandchildren and six step great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. His parents, three brothers, two infant brothers and Earl Wohlgemuth, and a sister Lorene Boggs, preceded him in death.

 

Rosalie Brod
1918 – 2019

Rosalie Brod, 100, of Overland Park, passed peacefully on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. Graveside services were held at Shaare Sholem Cemetery in St. Joseph on Friday, February 22.

Rosalie, an only child, was born to Jack and Anna (nee Herman) Lazriowich on June 7, 1918 in Kansas City, MO. Soon thereafter the family relocated to St Joseph, MO where Rosalie was raised. During her youth she enjoyed dance and was frequently lauded as a very proficient tap dancer.

An outstanding student, Rosalie graduated from Central High School in 1934 and turned 16 the following week. She attended St. Joseph Junior College for one year and then transferred to University of Kansas. After one year at KU, Rosalie transferred to University of Iowa where she graduated in 1939 from the School of Pharmacy. Rosalie practiced as a pharmacist throughout her adult life until her retirement in 1979.

In 1941 Rosalie and some of her girlfriends traveled to Kansas City where she met her future husband, Alfred Brod and it was love at first sight. The two were married a few months later and moved to Fort Worth, TX where Alfred worked for Uhlmann Grain. Their first child, and only daughter, Lynne, was born in Fort Worth, followed by Milton in Leavenworth, KS during WWII, and then Herbert in Fort Worth after the war. In 1951 the family returned to St. Joseph where Alfred took over his father-in-law’s used furniture and antiques business.

After Alfred died in 1976 Rosalie remained in St Joseph until 1980 and then relocated to San Antonio, TX where her daughter and family had recently moved. Unwilling to just sit around, Rosalie became active in the community, taking adult education courses and joining Temple Beth El and the local Jewish Community Center. During the next twenty-five years Rosalie served in the position of President of the senior’s group for the synagogue and also the same position for the JCC seniors group, where she received the “Charles Pearl” award for her significant volunteer efforts. At the suggestion of members of the local community, Rosalie became a committeewoman for the Democratic Party, helping to influence policy positions that involved the Jewish community.

Not limiting herself to the Jewish community, Rosalie also volunteered in the hematology and oncology clinic at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB where she was honored as Volunteer of the Year for Wilford Hall MC. She also spent extensive time as a volunteer reader for students in the nearby elementary school, and served on the grants application task force for United Way, evaluating proposals designed to help senior citizens.

Rosalie enjoyed reading, playing bridge and mah jong with her friends, attending musical theatre and dramatic plays, and helping with her grandchildren (Cheryl and Scott Potempa). Her hobbies included her stamp collection and her Wedgewood. She was an avid sports fan and was especially pleased when her San Antonio Spurs won several NBA championships. Rosalie was excited to celebrate her 100th birthday in June 2018, joined by friends and family and gorging on KC BBQ. No Passover was complete unless chopped liver was part of the menu.

In 2008 Lynne and her late husband Ken began to travel extensively and Rosalie made her final move to Overland Park where her son Milton and his wife Natalie lived. Rosalie is survived by her daughter Lynne Potempa and significant other (Charles B. Hill, III), sons and daughters-in-law Herbert (Jerri Anne) and Milton (Natalie), four grandchildren (Cheryl, Scott, Joshua and Jeffrey) and five great-grandchildren (Andrew, Reece, Kyle, Asher and Rose). The family suggests that contributions could be made to Hadassah or The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, or a charity of one’s choice.

Rosalie was known for her quick wit and love of learning and she remains an inspiration for all.

 

Nanette Perkins-Parker
1965 – 2019

Nanette Perkins-Parker, 53, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Living Community.
She was born December 27, 1965 in St. Joseph, MO.
Nanette was preceded in death by her nephew, Alexander Perkins.
Survivors include her parents, Leon and Gloria (Schoff) Perkins; brothers, Todd Perkins, Chad Perkins; nephew, Mason Perkins; and her beloved dog, Pebbles.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Update: Suspect arrested in Christmas week death of teen in NE Kansas

Posted on

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have made an arrest in the homicide of 19-year-old Jacob Bouck whose body was found Christmas Eve approximately one mile West of Wamego on the Kansas River.

Lamia-Beck -photo Pottawatomie Co.
Jacob Bouck’s body was found on Christmas Eve- photo courtesy Pottawatomie Co. Sheriff

Detectives with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 23-year-old Cody Lamia-Beck of Wamego, according to Sheriff Greg Riat.

He was taken into custody Wednesday on requested charges of 2nd degree murder and is currently being held at the Pottawatomie County Jail in Westmoreland. No bond has not been set, according to Riat.

The investigation into this homicide continues. The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who has information about this crime to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353 or ptsheriff.com

Buchanan County Jail Activity (3/7-3/8/19)

Posted on

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Buchanan County Jail. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. These are courtesy photos.

This information is provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The St Joseph Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information.

Trump Administration Playing by the Book on USMCA Approval

Posted on

Politico says the Trump Administration is taking an unusual approach, for this administration, in trying to talk lawmakers into supporting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal. They’re following a “traditional playbook.” White House officials have dozens of meetings with rank-and-file lawmakers as they try to “charm” Democrats into getting behind the trade agreement.

The administration wants a vote on the trade deal by this summer. However, there are still large numbers of Democrats who say no to the deal unless several substantial changes get made. There’s also the specter of Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs hanging over the discussions. Tomato growers in Texas and Florida are pushing against each other over a six-year-old tomato deal with Mexico.

The Commerce Department wants to scrap the deal, which the Florida growers are in favor of while Texas is pushing back against the idea. Florida growers want to relaunch an anti-dumping investigation against Mexico. The dispute could complicate the administration’s efforts to get the new trade deal ratified. Dozens of border state trade groups wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, asking him to negotiate a deal that addresses grower concerns but to not withdraw from the six-year-old pact.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File