ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man in connection with an alleged assault on a 79-year-old victim.

Just before 9a.m. Monday, police responded to a disturbance at a home in the 700 Block of North 2nd Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Police&nbsp; determined that during the disturbance property was damaged and a 79-year-old was a victim of battery by a family member.

Police located the 24-year-old family member suspect identified as Alexander Kelley outside the residence. When officers confronted Kelley, he was holding a pipe which he swung at officers as he was being arrested.

Police booked him into jail on requested charges of&nbsp; domestic battery, criminal damage to property, interference with law enforcement, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635865943930.png" alt="Kelley photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Kelley photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man in connection with an alleged assault on a 79-year-old victim.Just before 9a.m. Monday, police responded to a disturbance at a home in the 700 Block of North 2nd Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Police&nbsp; determined that during the disturbance property was damaged and a 79-year-old was a victim of battery by a family member.Police located the 24-year-old family member suspect identified as Alexander Kelley outside the residence. When officers confronted Kelley, he was holding a pipe which he swung at officers as he was being arrested.Police booked him into jail on requested charges of&nbsp; domestic battery, criminal damage to property, interference with law enforcement, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas man swung pipe at officer during arrest

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Halloween accident arrested 23-year-old Caleb Leivian of Wichita.

Just after 9p.m. Sunday, police working in the area of Douglas and Broadview were alerted by a citizen that someone had been hit by a car, according to Officer Trevor Macey.

Police located a &nbsp;4-year-old boy who had been struck by a westbound vehicle on Douglas.&nbsp;EMS and Fire Department personnel responded to treat the child, who was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He has since been released.

Officers learned that the child was trick-or-treating in the area and had gone into the street where he was struck by the vehicle. 

The driver, identified as Leivian, was arrested on scene after an investigation revealed signs of impairment. He was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Battery; DUI Causing great bodily harm, DUI; 2nd&nbsp;conviction, No proof of insurance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;

A family member established a<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-and-healing-for-kimanis-family?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer"> GoFundMe page</a> to assist with the expenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635799076053.png" alt="Leivian-photo Sedgwick Co. Jail&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Leivian-photo Sedgwick Co. Jail&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Halloween accident arrested 23-year-old Caleb Leivian of Wichita.Just after 9p.m. Sunday, police working in the area of Douglas and Broadview were alerted by a citizen that someone had been hit by a car, according to Officer Trevor Macey.Police located a &nbsp;4-year-old boy who had been struck by a westbound vehicle on Douglas.&nbsp;EMS and Fire Department personnel responded to treat the child, who was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He has since been released.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635863352628.png" alt="Photo courtesy GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers learned that the child was trick-or-treating in the area and had gone into the street where he was struck by the vehicle. The driver, identified as Leivian, was arrested on scene after an investigation revealed signs of impairment. He was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Battery; DUI Causing great bodily harm, DUI; 2nd&nbsp;conviction, No proof of insurance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;A family member established a<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-and-healing-for-kimanis-family?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer"> GoFundMe page</a> to assist with the expenses.

Kan. boy hit by alleged drunk driver while trick-or-treating is home

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused of leaving the scene of a fatal crash and fire will make a court appearance Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp; An arraignment hearing is scheduled for 43-year-old Russell W. Polk, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 11:30p.m. on March 31, 2020, 911 dispatch was notified about a vehicle on fire, at approximately 7500 W. 101st&nbsp;Street North, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;

Sheriff's deputies arrived along with the Sedgwick County Fire Department and observed a Dodge truck on its side fully engulfed in flames.&nbsp; After the fire was extinguished, first responders located the body of a woman in the pickup. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

The preliminary investigation into the accident indicated the truck was originally southbound on Ridge Road. It entered the field on the west side of Ridge, struck the ditch on 101st&nbsp;Street North and the driver lost control. The truck rolled into the south ditch.&nbsp;

The following day, deputies arrested Polk and booked him in the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility for 2nd Degree Murder, according to Easter. Authorities believe Polk was driving at the time of the crash and that the victim was still alive when Polk fled the scene.&nbsp;

Polk remains jailed on a bond of $100,000, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=37055">according to online jail records.</a>&nbsp; He has numerous DUI and related driving convictions along with a conviction for criminal threat, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1585864808889.png" alt="Polk&nbsp; has numerous DUI and related driving convictions along with a conviction for criminal threat, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Polk&nbsp; has numerous DUI and related driving convictions along with a conviction for criminal threat, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused of leaving the scene of a fatal crash and fire will make a court appearance Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp; An arraignment hearing is scheduled for 43-year-old Russell W. Polk, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 11:30p.m. on March 31, 2020, 911 dispatch was notified about a vehicle on fire, at approximately 7500 W. 101st&nbsp;Street North, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;Sheriff's deputies arrived along with the Sedgwick County Fire Department and observed a Dodge truck on its side fully engulfed in flames.&nbsp; After the fire was extinguished, first responders located the body of a woman in the pickup. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;The preliminary investigation into the accident indicated the truck was originally southbound on Ridge Road. It entered the field on the west side of Ridge, struck the ditch on 101st&nbsp;Street North and the driver lost control. The truck rolled into the south ditch.&nbsp;The following day, deputies arrested Polk and booked him in the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility for 2nd Degree Murder, according to Easter. Authorities believe Polk was driving at the time of the crash and that the victim was still alive when Polk fled the scene.&nbsp;Polk remains jailed on a bond of $100,000, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=37055">according to online jail records.</a>&nbsp; He has numerous DUI and related driving convictions along with a conviction for criminal threat, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. man who fled fatal crash, fire set for arraignment hearing

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 2, the 306th day of 2021. There are 59 days left in the year. 

On Nov. 2, 2000, American astronaut Bill Shepherd and two Russian cosmonauts, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, became the first residents of the international space station. 

In 1783, General George Washington issued his Farewell Address to the Army near Princeton, New Jersey. 

In 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states with the signing of proclamations by President Benjamin Harrison. 

In 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued a declaration expressing support for a "national home" for the Jews in Palestine. 

In 1920, white mobs rampaged through the Florida citrus town of Ocoee, setting fire to Black-owned homes and businesses, after a Black man, Mose Norman, showed up at the polls to vote on Election Day; some historians estimate as many as 60 people were killed. 

In 1947, Howard Hughes piloted his huge wooden flying boat, the Hughes H-4 Hercules (derisively dubbed the "Spruce Goose" by detractors), on its only flight, which lasted about a minute over Long Beach Harbor in California. 

In 1963, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dihn Diem was assassinated in a military coup. 

In 1976, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter became the first candidate from the Deep South since the Civil War to be elected president as he defeated incumbent Gerald R. Ford. 

In 1994, a jury in Pensacola, Florida, convicted Paul Hill of murder for the shotgun slayings of an abortion provider and his escort; Hill was executed in September 2003. 

In 2003, in Iraq, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter carrying dozens of U.S. soldiers, killing 16. In Durham, New Hampshire, V. Gene Robinson was consecrated as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. 

In 2004, President George W. Bush was elected to a second term as Republicans strengthened their grip on Congress. Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was slain in Amsterdam after receiving death threats over his movie "Submission," which criticized the treatment of women under Islam. 

In 2007, British college student Meredith Kercher, 21, was found slain in her bedroom in Perugia, Italy; her roommate, American Amanda Knox and Knox's Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted of killing Kercher, but both were later exonerated. (Rudy Guede, a petty criminal who was convicted separately in the case, is serving a 16-year sentence.)

In 2010, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives, picking up 63 seats in midterm elections, while Democrats retained a majority in the Senate; Republican governors outnumbered Democrats after gaining six states. Californians rejected a ballot measure that would have made their state the first to legalize marijuana for recreational use. 

Ten years ago: The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to some 19,000 Japanese-Americans who'd served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service.

Five years ago: Ending a championship drought that had lasted since 1908, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in extra innings. In Iowa, Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio and Urbandale Officer Justin Martin were shot and killed while sitting in their patrol cars in separate attacks about 2 miles apart; suspect Scott Michael Greene later pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to consecutive life prison terms. Garth Brooks was named entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.

One year ago: In the closing hours of the presidential campaign, President Donald Trump charged across the nation delivering an incendiary but false allegation that the election was rigged, while Democrat Joe Biden pushed to claim states that were once seen as safely Republican. Even as Trump insisted that the nation was "rounding the turn" on the coronavirus, Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, broke with the president and joined a chorus of Trump administration scientists sounding alarm about a spike in infections.

Today's Birthdays: Political commentator Patrick Buchanan is 83. Actor Stefanie Powers is 79. Country-rock singer-songwriter J.D. Souther is 76. Actor Kate Linder is 74. Rock musician Carter Beauford (The Dave Matthews Band) is 63. Actor Peter Mullan is 62. Singer-songwriter k.d. lang is 60. Rock musician Bobby Dall (Poison) is 58. Actor Jenny Robertson ("Bull Durham") is 58. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage is 57. Actor Lauren Velez is 57. Actor Sean Kanan is 55. Actor David Schwimmer is 55. Christian/jazz singer Alvin Chea (Take 6) is 54. Jazz singer Kurt Elling is 54. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is 54. Rock musician Fieldy is 52. Actor Meta Golding is 50. Rock singer-musician John Hampson (Nine Days) is 50. Actor Marisol Nichols is 50. Rapper Nelly is 47. Actor Danny Cooksey is 46. Rock musician Chris Walla is 46. Actor Reshma Shetty is 44. TV personality Karamo Brown ("Queer Eye," "Dancing With the Stars") is 41. Country singer Erika Jo is 35. Actor-singer Kendall Schmidt is 31.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Tuesday, Nov. 2, the 306th day of 2021. There are 59 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 2, 2000, American astronaut Bill Shepherd and two Russian cosmonauts, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, became the first residents of the international space station. On this date: In 1783, General George Washington issued his Farewell Address to the Army near Princeton, New Jersey. In 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states with the signing of proclamations by President Benjamin Harrison. In 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued a declaration expressing support for a "national home" for the Jews in Palestine. In 1920, white mobs rampaged through the Florida citrus town of Ocoee, setting fire to Black-owned homes and businesses, after a Black man, Mose Norman, showed up at the polls to vote on Election Day; some historians estimate as many as 60 people were killed. In 1947, Howard Hughes piloted his huge wooden flying boat, the Hughes H-4 Hercules (derisively dubbed the "Spruce Goose" by detractors), on its only flight, which lasted about a minute over Long Beach Harbor in California. In 1963, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dihn Diem was assassinated in a military coup. In 1976, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter became the first candidate from the Deep South since the Civil War to be elected president as he defeated incumbent Gerald R. Ford. In 1994, a jury in Pensacola, Florida, convicted Paul Hill of murder for the shotgun slayings of an abortion provider and his escort; Hill was executed in September 2003. In 2003, in Iraq, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter carrying dozens of U.S. soldiers, killing 16. In Durham, New Hampshire, V. Gene Robinson was consecrated as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. In 2004, President George W. Bush was elected to a second term as Republicans strengthened their grip on Congress. Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was slain in Amsterdam after receiving death threats over his movie "Submission," which criticized the treatment of women under Islam. In 2007, British college student Meredith Kercher, 21, was found slain in her bedroom in Perugia, Italy; her roommate, American Amanda Knox and Knox's Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted of killing Kercher, but both were later exonerated. (Rudy Guede, a petty criminal who was convicted separately in the case, is serving a 16-year sentence.)In 2010, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives, picking up 63 seats in midterm elections, while Democrats retained a majority in the Senate; Republican governors outnumbered Democrats after gaining six states. Californians rejected a ballot measure that would have made their state the first to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Ten years ago: The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to some 19,000 Japanese-Americans who'd served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service.Five years ago: Ending a championship drought that had lasted since 1908, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in extra innings. In Iowa, Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio and Urbandale Officer Justin Martin were shot and killed while sitting in their patrol cars in separate attacks about 2 miles apart; suspect Scott Michael Greene later pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to consecutive life prison terms. Garth Brooks was named entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.One year ago: In the closing hours of the presidential campaign, President Donald Trump charged across the nation delivering an incendiary but false allegation that the election was rigged, while Democrat Joe Biden pushed to claim states that were once seen as safely Republican. Even as Trump insisted that the nation was "rounding the turn" on the coronavirus, Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, broke with the president and joined a chorus of Trump administration scientists sounding alarm about a spike in infections.Today's Birthdays: Political commentator Patrick Buchanan is 83. Actor Stefanie Powers is 79. Country-rock singer-songwriter J.D. Souther is 76. Actor Kate Linder is 74. Rock musician Carter Beauford (The Dave Matthews Band) is 63. Actor Peter Mullan is 62. Singer-songwriter k.d. lang is 60. Rock musician Bobby Dall (Poison) is 58. Actor Jenny Robertson ("Bull Durham") is 58. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage is 57. Actor Lauren Velez is 57. Actor Sean Kanan is 55. Actor David Schwimmer is 55. Christian/jazz singer Alvin Chea (Take 6) is 54. Jazz singer Kurt Elling is 54. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is 54. Rock musician Fieldy is 52. Actor Meta Golding is 50. Rock singer-musician John Hampson (Nine Days) is 50. Actor Marisol Nichols is 50. Rapper Nelly is 47. Actor Danny Cooksey is 46. Rock musician Chris Walla is 46. Actor Reshma Shetty is 44. TV personality Karamo Brown ("Queer Eye," "Dancing With the Stars") is 41. Country singer Erika Jo is 35. Actor-singer Kendall Schmidt is 31.

Today in History - Nov. 2

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas lawmaker who has acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation Monday after he was charged with domestic battery in a disturbance involving his brother at his grandfather’s home.

Magistrate Judge James Phelan said Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City could be freed on a personal recognizance bond, without putting up a deposit or collateral. The hearing was held via Zoom and Coleman didn’t appear because he is receiving medical care. No information was provided about his health status and Coleman’s attorney, David Bell, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking details.

Overland Park police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kansas-city-kansas-congress-d8716ccabd233448ea77860d6b97b419">arrested the 21-year-old Saturday evening</a>.

Bell entered a plea of not guilty. He said the allegations involved two family members at the home of Coleman’s grandfather, Ronald Tomberlin.

Tomberlin and Coleman’s brother, both spoke on the call and said they weren’t afraid of the lawmaker.

“Judge, I have spoken to his mother and we are going to seek help for Mr. Coleman to help him with some of the issues that he is facing,” Bell said.

Phelan set his next court appearance for Dec. 22 and gave Coleman 21 days to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow the recommendations of a mental health specialist.

Coleman’s grandmother, Marsha Tomberlin, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2021/11/01/kansas-rep-aaron-coleman-arrest-misdemeanor-domestic-battery-charge-argument-family-member/6234078001/" target="_blank">The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;</a>that the dispute was over “religious beliefs.” She said Coleman also accused his brother of stealing his phone to call the police. No further details were provided.

The Associated Press filed records requests for the probable cause affidavit, but it wasn’t immediately available. The police incident report provided no details about what the dispute was over and the grandmother’s phone number wasn’t listed.

It wasn’t immediately clear what consequences Coleman might face in the House.

“Given what little we know about the situation, I am concerned for everyone involved,” Speaker of the House, Ron Ryckman said in a weekend statement. “I know that law enforcement will thoroughly investigate and assess the situation so that we can take appropriate action.”

House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer issued a statement urging Coleman to resign and calling his arrest “extremely disturbing.”

After he was elected last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kansas-city-kansas-congress-d8716ccabd233448ea77860d6b97b419">Coleman received a written reprimand&nbsp;</a>from a legislative committee about his conduct before taking office. The House committee’s investigation of Coleman followed accusations of abusive behavior toward girls and young women. He acknowledged some of the behavior on social media and said he had been a troubled teenager.

Earlier this month, Coleman was also banned from the Kansas Department of Labor’s offices because the agency’s director said Coleman had tried to improperly gain entry to the department’s main office through a secured employee entry and berated a security officer.

At that time, Coleman said he was trying to help constituents deal with the state’s unemployment system.

Coleman&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron4KS37/status/1454440954153160704" target="_blank">tweeted&nbsp;</a>before his arrest Saturday that he had been isolated from other students while in grade schools, leaving him “traumatized as well as several years behind in my social skills.”

“This deficiency,” he wrote, “makes it difficult to express to the world the love that I hold in my tender heart. It makes it even harder to form and maintain meaningful relationships, including romantic relationships.”

He didn’t immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A first-year Kansas lawmaker, who was reprimanded by his colleagues for abusive conduct before taking office, has been arrested on suspicion of domestic battery. 

Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City was arrested Saturday evening and Johnson County Jail records show he remains in custody Sunday afternoon.

The 21-year-old's arrest comes eight months after he received a written warning from a legislative committee about conduct before taking office that included abusive behavior toward young woman and girls.

 House Democratic leader Tom Sawyer says Coleman's constituents and the State of Kansas would be better served if he were to resign and get the help he badly needs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635804497310.png" alt="Aaron Coleman in his Saturday night booking photo from Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Aaron Coleman in his Saturday night booking photo from Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas lawmaker who has acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation Monday after he was charged with domestic battery in a disturbance involving his brother at his grandfather’s home.Magistrate Judge James Phelan said Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City could be freed on a personal recognizance bond, without putting up a deposit or collateral. The hearing was held via Zoom and Coleman didn’t appear because he is receiving medical care. No information was provided about his health status and Coleman’s attorney, David Bell, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking details.Overland Park police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kansas-city-kansas-congress-d8716ccabd233448ea77860d6b97b419">arrested the 21-year-old Saturday evening</a>.Bell entered a plea of not guilty. He said the allegations involved two family members at the home of Coleman’s grandfather, Ronald Tomberlin.Tomberlin and Coleman’s brother, both spoke on the call and said they weren’t afraid of the lawmaker.“Judge, I have spoken to his mother and we are going to seek help for Mr. Coleman to help him with some of the issues that he is facing,” Bell said.Phelan set his next court appearance for Dec. 22 and gave Coleman 21 days to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow the recommendations of a mental health specialist.Coleman’s grandmother, Marsha Tomberlin, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2021/11/01/kansas-rep-aaron-coleman-arrest-misdemeanor-domestic-battery-charge-argument-family-member/6234078001/" target="_blank">The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;</a>that the dispute was over “religious beliefs.” She said Coleman also accused his brother of stealing his phone to call the police. No further details were provided.The Associated Press filed records requests for the probable cause affidavit, but it wasn’t immediately available. The police incident report provided no details about what the dispute was over and the grandmother’s phone number wasn’t listed.It wasn’t immediately clear what consequences Coleman might face in the House.“Given what little we know about the situation, I am concerned for everyone involved,” Speaker of the House, Ron Ryckman said in a weekend statement. “I know that law enforcement will thoroughly investigate and assess the situation so that we can take appropriate action.”House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer issued a statement urging Coleman to resign and calling his arrest “extremely disturbing.”After he was elected last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kansas-city-kansas-congress-d8716ccabd233448ea77860d6b97b419">Coleman received a written reprimand&nbsp;</a>from a legislative committee about his conduct before taking office. The House committee’s investigation of Coleman followed accusations of abusive behavior toward girls and young women. He acknowledged some of the behavior on social media and said he had been a troubled teenager.Earlier this month, Coleman was also banned from the Kansas Department of Labor’s offices because the agency’s director said Coleman had tried to improperly gain entry to the department’s main office through a secured employee entry and berated a security officer.At that time, Coleman said he was trying to help constituents deal with the state’s unemployment system.Coleman&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron4KS37/status/1454440954153160704" target="_blank">tweeted&nbsp;</a>before his arrest Saturday that he had been isolated from other students while in grade schools, leaving him “traumatized as well as several years behind in my social skills.”“This deficiency,” he wrote, “makes it difficult to express to the world the love that I hold in my tender heart. It makes it even harder to form and maintain meaningful relationships, including romantic relationships.”He didn’t immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment.___OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A first-year Kansas lawmaker, who was reprimanded by his colleagues for abusive conduct before taking office, has been arrested on suspicion of domestic battery. Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City was arrested Saturday evening and Johnson County Jail records show he remains in custody Sunday afternoon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635710410061.png" alt="Image courtesy Johnson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Johnson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The 21-year-old's arrest comes eight months after he received a written warning from a legislative committee about conduct before taking office that included abusive behavior toward young woman and girls.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">RELEASE: House Democratic Leader Responds to Representative’s Arrest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/p340E5QDAU">pic.twitter.com/p340E5QDAU</a>&mdash; Kansas House Democrats (@KSHouseDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSHouseDems/status/1454872735516086272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> House Democratic leader Tom Sawyer says Coleman's constituents and the State of Kansas would be better served if he were to resign and get the help he badly needs.

Judge orders mental exam for Kan. lawmaker after battery charge 

The
 Federal Trade Commission is sending 34,893 checks and PayPal refunds 
totaling more than $2 million to consumers who lost money through a 
deceptive direct mail publications scheme. Agora Financial, LLC, 
NewMarket Health, and other related defendants tricked consumers into 
buying pamphlets, newsletters, and other publications through false 
promises and deceptive marketing.&nbsp; The refunds will provide full 
compensation for consumers who bought certain health- and 
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<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-sues-publisher-targeting-seniors-phony-diabetes-cure-money">According to an October 2019 FTC complaint</a>, the Agora defendants primarily targeted its publications, including The Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Diabetes in 28 Days, at older consumers nationwide. Agora falsely marketed The Doctor’s Guide
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 falsely promising that the book would show consumers how to claim 
hundreds to thousands of dollars to which they are entitled in 
“Congressional Checks” or “Republican Checks.”

The FTC is using the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/publisher-will-pay-more-2-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-targeted">money it recovered from Agora Financial and related defendants</a>
 to provide consumer refunds totaling $2,052,868, via paper checks and 
PayPal. People who receive refund checks should deposit or cash them 
within 90 days, as indicated on the check. PayPal refunds will be 
available for 30 days after they are issued. Recipients who have 
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to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

In
 2020, FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers
 across the country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier 
this year that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek 
monetary relief in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission is sending 34,893 checks and PayPal refunds 
totaling more than $2 million to consumers who lost money through a 
deceptive direct mail publications scheme. Agora Financial, LLC, 
NewMarket Health, and other related defendants tricked consumers into 
buying pamphlets, newsletters, and other publications through false 
promises and deceptive marketing.&nbsp; The refunds will provide full 
compensation for consumers who bought certain health- and 
finance-related publications sold by the defendants.<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-sues-publisher-targeting-seniors-phony-diabetes-cure-money">According to an October 2019 FTC complaint</a>, the Agora defendants primarily targeted its publications, including The Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Diabetes in 28 Days, at older consumers nationwide. Agora falsely marketed The Doctor’s Guide
 as a simple and scientifically proven protocol that can permanently 
cure type 2 diabetes in 28 days, without any changes in diet or 
exercise.The FTC also alleged that the Agora defendants deceptively marketed Congress’ Secret $1.17 Trillion Giveaway,
 falsely promising that the book would show consumers how to claim 
hundreds to thousands of dollars to which they are entitled in 
“Congressional Checks” or “Republican Checks.”The FTC is using the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/publisher-will-pay-more-2-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-targeted">money it recovered from Agora Financial and related defendants</a>
 to provide consumer refunds totaling $2,052,868, via paper checks and 
PayPal. People who receive refund checks should deposit or cash them 
within 90 days, as indicated on the check. PayPal refunds will be 
available for 30 days after they are issued. Recipients who have 
questions about their refund can call the administrator, Ankura 
Consulting Group, LLC, at 1-833-460-2437. The FTC never requires people 
to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.In
 2020, FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers
 across the country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier 
this year that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek 
monetary relief in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

Feds send $2M to consumers duped by direct mail scheme

Alex Francis Riedel Jr., age 87, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 29, 2021, at the Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney, Kansas. Alex was born June 24, 1934, in Ellis to Alex F. and Anna (Glassman) Riedel.&nbsp; Alex graduated from Ellis High School and then served in the US Army. He worked for Midwest Energy for over 35 years and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and refurbishing antique furniture. Alex was also a dedicated blood donor for many years. He is survived by two brothers, Paul Riedel and wife Mary of Minneapolis, Kansas and Joe Riedel and wife Kathy of Garden Plain, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Alvin, Fr. Richard, Tony, Ted, Alfred, Elmer and Eugene as well as a sister, Mary Ann Blue. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM on Friday, November 5, 2021, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis. Inurnment will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery. The Funeral Mass may be viewed on Facebook Live. If you want to view online please go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;and select the Facebook Live tab at the top of the page. Once the service starts the video will come on live. Memorials are suggested to Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital and Long Term Care. Donations made payable to the organization may be sent to Keithley Funeral Homes PO Box 86 Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>. Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635804742077.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Alex Francis Riedel Jr., age 87, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 29, 2021, at the Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney, Kansas. Alex was born June 24, 1934, in Ellis to Alex F. and Anna (Glassman) Riedel.&nbsp; Alex graduated from Ellis High School and then served in the US Army. He worked for Midwest Energy for over 35 years and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and refurbishing antique furniture. Alex was also a dedicated blood donor for many years. He is survived by two brothers, Paul Riedel and wife Mary of Minneapolis, Kansas and Joe Riedel and wife Kathy of Garden Plain, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Alvin, Fr. Richard, Tony, Ted, Alfred, Elmer and Eugene as well as a sister, Mary Ann Blue. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM on Friday, November 5, 2021, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis. Inurnment will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery. The Funeral Mass may be viewed on Facebook Live. If you want to view online please go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;and select the Facebook Live tab at the top of the page. Once the service starts the video will come on live. Memorials are suggested to Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital and Long Term Care. Donations made payable to the organization may be sent to Keithley Funeral Homes PO Box 86 Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>. Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637.

Alex Francis Riedel Jr.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two teenagers in connection with a home robbery on Halloween.

Just after 11:00 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 200 block of SW Gage on a report of a robbery that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

The victim indicated the suspects knocked on his door and when he opened it, they forced their way in and began to strike him. The two suspects stole items from the residence and left.

The two suspects were known to the victim and identified. Officers conducted follow up and later located the suspects at their residence in the 3200 block of SW California in Topeka were they were taken into custody and a search warrant was served. 

Both suspects were 15-year-olds and were booked into juvenile department of corrections.

The first was arrested on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and battery on a law enforcement officer. The second teen is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, according to Johnson.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two teenagers in connection with a home robbery on Halloween.Just after 11:00 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 200 block of SW Gage on a report of a robbery that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.The victim indicated the suspects knocked on his door and when he opened it, they forced their way in and began to strike him. The two suspects stole items from the residence and left.The two suspects were known to the victim and identified. Officers conducted follow up and later located the suspects at their residence in the 3200 block of SW California in Topeka were they were taken into custody and a search warrant was served. Both suspects were 15-year-olds and were booked into juvenile department of corrections.The first was arrested on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and battery on a law enforcement officer. The second teen is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, according to Johnson.

Trick or Treat: 15-year-olds jailed for Kansas robbery

WICHITA - As fatalities on our nation’s roadways continue to rise at a disturbing rate, a new AAA survey indicates that there has been a decline in unsafe driving behaviors, but speeding and handheld cellphone use remain stubbornly high, putting all motorists and pedestrians at risk.

In responding to the annual survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers self-reported that they engaged less frequently in all unsafe behaviors, including red-light running, drowsy driving and driving while impaired on cannabis or alcohol. However, nearly half of drivers surveyed admitted to speeding in the last 30 days―and didn’t think they’d ever be caught by police. More than a third of those surveyed felt the same way about holding or talking on a cell phone while driving.

The survey did not address whether changes in lifestyle brought on by the pandemic contributed to the reported changes in driving behaviors for better or worse.

“Whatever the reason, it is encouraging to see a reduction in some unsafe behaviors but still troubling to see others persist,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman. “The ultimate goal is to see the majority of drivers form safe driving habits and practice them whenever they’re on the road.”

According to the survey, all risky behaviors have declined, to some extent, over the past three years. But, the increase in fatalities illustrates that there remains room for improvement across the board. As more Americans return to the daily commute, AAA reminds all motorists to practice safe driving behaviors by focusing on the task of driving, and keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

The new data is from the AAA Foundation’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSCI), highlighting the gap between drivers’ attitudes and reported behaviors. The following shows some of the improvements in unsafe driving behaviors from 2018 to 2020.

The proportion of people who reported having engaged in the following unsafe driving behaviors at least once in the past 30 days

While fewer Americans took to the roads in 2020 due to the pandemic, those that did appeared to take greater risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that an estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes—an increase of 7.2% and the largest number of fatalities since 2007. And, the numbers for 2021 look even worse, as&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479376&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">NHTSA</a>&nbsp;estimates 8,730 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first three months of the year.

While the reasons for this increase are being studied, theAAA Foundation’s TSCI reveals some areas of admitted driving behavior that remain disturbingly high, despite declining since 2018: speeding and using a cell phone. Drivers who participated in the TSCI survey admit to risky driving behaviors despite knowing that loved ones, family or friends would strongly disapprove. Cell phone use is one such area where perception and behavior do not match.

The proportion of people who believe people who are important to them would somewhat or completely disapprove of the following distracted driving behaviors, which shows that these behaviors are becoming more socially unacceptable.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“While we are seeing positive trends in safer driving behaviors, it’s not quite time to declare victory,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research. “Downward trends in self-reported impaired driving, red-light running, and drowsy driving is the kind of progress we need to curb the recent spikes in traffic fatalities.&nbsp; The self-reported speeding and cellphone use are major concerns - we can do better.”

AAA&nbsp;recommends these safety tips to keep in mind:

●Obey speed limits.&nbsp;Drivers tend to overestimate the time saved by speeding. You’d have to travel 100 miles to save roughly 5 minutes, moving at 80 mph instead of 75 mph. Speed kills and isn’t worth the cost. And recent&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;Foundation research&nbsp;shows that small speed increases were enough to raise a driver’s risk of severe injury or death.

●Out of sight, out of mind. Stow your smartphone away, turn it to airplane mode, or activate call/text blocking features like Apple’s Do Not Disturb.

●Only drive sober. If you consume marijuana, alcohol, or use potentially impairing prescription medications, then don’t drive. And if you’re going to drive, then don’t consume these substances.

●Stay alert. Stop driving if you become sleepy because you could fall asleep at any time. Fatigue impacts reaction time, judgment, and vision, causing people who are very tired to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk.

The annual TSCI identifies attitudes and behaviors related to traffic safety. The survey data are from a sample of more than 2,800 licensed drivers ages 16 or older who reported driving in the 30 days before the survey, which was administered between Oct. 23 and Nov. 23, 2020. The&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;Foundation issued its first TSCI in 2008, and the latest report is online:&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479374&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">AAAFoundation.org</a>.

<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479374&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank"></a>About the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. TheAAAFoundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by researching their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research develops educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users.

AAA&nbsp;provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to more than 63,000,000&nbsp;members nationwide and more than 350,000 members in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. &nbsp;AAA&nbsp;is a&nbsp;non-stock, membership corporation working&nbsp;on behalf of motorists, who can map a route, access a&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479373&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">COVID travel restriction map</a>, find local gas prices and&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479372&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">electric vehicle charging stations</a>,&nbsp;discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;Mobile app (<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479371&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">AAA.com/mobile</a>) for iPhone, iPad and Android. &nbsp;For more information on joining or renewing a Membership, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479370&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">www.AAA.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635772470172.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy AAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy AAA</figcaption>
 </figure>By AAAWICHITA - As fatalities on our nation’s roadways continue to rise at a disturbing rate, a new AAA survey indicates that there has been a decline in unsafe driving behaviors, but speeding and handheld cellphone use remain stubbornly high, putting all motorists and pedestrians at risk.In responding to the annual survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers self-reported that they engaged less frequently in all unsafe behaviors, including red-light running, drowsy driving and driving while impaired on cannabis or alcohol. However, nearly half of drivers surveyed admitted to speeding in the last 30 days―and didn’t think they’d ever be caught by police. More than a third of those surveyed felt the same way about holding or talking on a cell phone while driving.The survey did not address whether changes in lifestyle brought on by the pandemic contributed to the reported changes in driving behaviors for better or worse.“Whatever the reason, it is encouraging to see a reduction in some unsafe behaviors but still troubling to see others persist,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman. “The ultimate goal is to see the majority of drivers form safe driving habits and practice them whenever they’re on the road.”According to the survey, all risky behaviors have declined, to some extent, over the past three years. But, the increase in fatalities illustrates that there remains room for improvement across the board. As more Americans return to the daily commute, AAA reminds all motorists to practice safe driving behaviors by focusing on the task of driving, and keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.The new data is from the AAA Foundation’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSCI), highlighting the gap between drivers’ attitudes and reported behaviors. The following shows some of the improvements in unsafe driving behaviors from 2018 to 2020.The proportion of people who reported having engaged in the following unsafe driving behaviors at least once in the past 30 days<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635771919425.png" alt="* indicates a change is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level" />
 <figcaption>* indicates a change is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level</figcaption>
 </figure>While fewer Americans took to the roads in 2020 due to the pandemic, those that did appeared to take greater risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that an estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes—an increase of 7.2% and the largest number of fatalities since 2007. And, the numbers for 2021 look even worse, as&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479376&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">NHTSA</a>&nbsp;estimates 8,730 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first three months of the year.While the reasons for this increase are being studied, theAAA Foundation’s TSCI reveals some areas of admitted driving behavior that remain disturbingly high, despite declining since 2018: speeding and using a cell phone. Drivers who participated in the TSCI survey admit to risky driving behaviors despite knowing that loved ones, family or friends would strongly disapprove. Cell phone use is one such area where perception and behavior do not match.The proportion of people who believe people who are important to them would somewhat or completely disapprove of the following distracted driving behaviors, which shows that these behaviors are becoming more socially unacceptable.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635772138889.png" alt="* indicates a change is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level." />
 <figcaption>* indicates a change is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.</figcaption>
 </figure>“While we are seeing positive trends in safer driving behaviors, it’s not quite time to declare victory,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research. “Downward trends in self-reported impaired driving, red-light running, and drowsy driving is the kind of progress we need to curb the recent spikes in traffic fatalities.&nbsp; The self-reported speeding and cellphone use are major concerns - we can do better.”AAA&nbsp;recommends these safety tips to keep in mind:●Obey speed limits.&nbsp;Drivers tend to overestimate the time saved by speeding. You’d have to travel 100 miles to save roughly 5 minutes, moving at 80 mph instead of 75 mph. Speed kills and isn’t worth the cost. And recent&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;Foundation research&nbsp;shows that small speed increases were enough to raise a driver’s risk of severe injury or death.●Out of sight, out of mind. Stow your smartphone away, turn it to airplane mode, or activate call/text blocking features like Apple’s Do Not Disturb.●Only drive sober. If you consume marijuana, alcohol, or use potentially impairing prescription medications, then don’t drive. And if you’re going to drive, then don’t consume these substances.●Stay alert. Stop driving if you become sleepy because you could fall asleep at any time. Fatigue impacts reaction time, judgment, and vision, causing people who are very tired to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk.The annual TSCI identifies attitudes and behaviors related to traffic safety. The survey data are from a sample of more than 2,800 licensed drivers ages 16 or older who reported driving in the 30 days before the survey, which was administered between Oct. 23 and Nov. 23, 2020. The&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;Foundation issued its first TSCI in 2008, and the latest report is online:&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479374&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">AAAFoundation.org</a>.<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479374&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank"></a>About the AAA Foundation for Traffic SafetyEstablished in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. TheAAAFoundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by researching their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research develops educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users.About AAAAAA&nbsp;provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to more than 63,000,000&nbsp;members nationwide and more than 350,000 members in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. &nbsp;AAA&nbsp;is a&nbsp;non-stock, membership corporation working&nbsp;on behalf of motorists, who can map a route, access a&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479373&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">COVID travel restriction map</a>, find local gas prices and&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479372&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">electric vehicle charging stations</a>,&nbsp;discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;Mobile app (<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479371&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">AAA.com/mobile</a>) for iPhone, iPad and Android. &nbsp;For more information on joining or renewing a Membership, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://aaacluballiance.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2b%3a3%3f1-%3eLCE59.%3c5%3a%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=5430239&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=479370&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">www.AAA.com</a>.

Speeding, handheld cell use most prevalent of bad driving behaviors

Today is Monday, Nov. 1, the 305th day of 2021. There are 60 days left in the year. 

On Nov. 1, 1765, the Stamp Act, passed by the British Parliament, went into effect, prompting stiff resistance from American colonists. 

In 1478, the Spanish Inquisition was established. 

In 1861, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln named Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan General-in-Chief of the Union armies, succeeding Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott. 

In 1936, in a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi Germany as an "axis" running between Rome and Berlin. 

In 1949, an Eastern Airlines DC-4 collided in midair with a Lockheed P-38 fighter plane near Washington National Airport, killing all 55 people aboard the DC-4 and seriously injuring the pilot of the P-38.

In 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to force their way into Blair House in Washington, D.C., in a failed attempt to assassinate President Harry S. Truman. (One of the pair was killed, along with a White House police officer.)

In 1952, the United States exploded the first hydrogen bomb, code-named "Ivy Mike," at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. 

In 1973, following the "Saturday Night Massacre," Acting Attorney General Robert H. Bork appointed Leon Jaworski to be the new Watergate special prosecutor, succeeding Archibald Cox. 

In 1989, East Germany reopened its border with Czechoslovakia, prompting tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the West. 

In 1991, Clarence Thomas took his place as the newest justice on the Supreme Court.

In 1995, Bosnia peace talks opened in Dayton, Ohio, with the leaders of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia present. 

In 2003, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean stirred controversy within his party by telling the Des Moines Register he wanted to be "the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks." (The former Vermont governor explained that he intended to encourage the return of Southern voters who had abandoned the Democrats for decades but were disaffected with the Republicans.) 

In 2015, the Kansas City Royals won their first World Series crown since 1985, beating the New York Mets 7-2 in Game 5, which lasted 12 innings, ending after midnight.

Ten years ago: Europe's days-old plan to solve its crippling debt crisis and restore faith in the global economy was thrown into chaos by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's stunning decision to call a referendum on the country's latest rescue package. (Papandreou dropped the referendum plan two days later.) Dorothy Rodham, 92, mother of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton's mother-in-law, died in Washington.

Five years ago: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fired the commander of the peacekeeping force in South Sudan after an independent investigation sharply criticized the military response to deadly attacks in July on a U.N. compound housing 27,000 displaced people. Most of an African-American church in Greenville, Mississippi, was destroyed by an arson fire; the building was spray-painted with the words "Vote Trump." (A member of the church later pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.) The Chicago Cubs forced a deciding Game 7 in the World Series as they defeated the Cleveland Indians 9-3.

One year ago: Two days before Election Day, the Texas Supreme Court denied a Republican-led petition to toss nearly 127,000 ballots cast at drive-thru voting places in the Houston area. (A federal judge also rejected that effort the following day.)

Today's Birthdays: World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player is 86. Country singer Bill Anderson is 84. Actor Barbara Bosson is 82. Actor Robert Foxworth is 80. Country singer-humorist Kinky Friedman is 77. Actor Jeannie Berlin is 72. Music producer David Foster is 72. Actor Belita Moreno is 72. Country singer-songwriter-producer Keith Stegall is 67. Country singer Lyle Lovett is 64. Actor Rachel Ticotin is 63. Apple CEO Tim Cook is 61. Actor Helene Udy is 60. Pop singer-musician Mags Furuholmen (a-ha) 59. Rock singer Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 59. Rock musician Rick Allen (Def Leppard) is 58. Country singer "Big Kenny" Alphin (Big and Rich) is 58. Singer Sophie B. Hawkins is 57. Rapper Willie D (Geto Boys) is 55. Country musician Dale Wallace (Emerson Drive) is 52. Actor Toni Collette is 49. Actor-talk show host Jenny McCarthy is 49. Actor David Berman is 48. Actor Aishwarya Rai is 48. Rock singer Bo Bice is 46. Actor Matt Jones is 40. Actor Natalia Tena is 37. Actor Penn Badgley is 35. Actor Max Burkholder is 24. Actor-musician Alex Wolff is 24.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Monday, Nov. 1, the 305th day of 2021. There are 60 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 1, 1765, the Stamp Act, passed by the British Parliament, went into effect, prompting stiff resistance from American colonists. On this date: In 1478, the Spanish Inquisition was established. In 1861, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln named Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan General-in-Chief of the Union armies, succeeding Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott. In 1936, in a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi Germany as an "axis" running between Rome and Berlin. In 1949, an Eastern Airlines DC-4 collided in midair with a Lockheed P-38 fighter plane near Washington National Airport, killing all 55 people aboard the DC-4 and seriously injuring the pilot of the P-38.In 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to force their way into Blair House in Washington, D.C., in a failed attempt to assassinate President Harry S. Truman. (One of the pair was killed, along with a White House police officer.)In 1952, the United States exploded the first hydrogen bomb, code-named "Ivy Mike," at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. In 1973, following the "Saturday Night Massacre," Acting Attorney General Robert H. Bork appointed Leon Jaworski to be the new Watergate special prosecutor, succeeding Archibald Cox. In 1989, East Germany reopened its border with Czechoslovakia, prompting tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the West. In 1991, Clarence Thomas took his place as the newest justice on the Supreme Court.In 1995, Bosnia peace talks opened in Dayton, Ohio, with the leaders of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia present. In 2003, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean stirred controversy within his party by telling the Des Moines Register he wanted to be "the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks." (The former Vermont governor explained that he intended to encourage the return of Southern voters who had abandoned the Democrats for decades but were disaffected with the Republicans.) In 2015, the Kansas City Royals won their first World Series crown since 1985, beating the New York Mets 7-2 in Game 5, which lasted 12 innings, ending after midnight.Ten years ago: Europe's days-old plan to solve its crippling debt crisis and restore faith in the global economy was thrown into chaos by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's stunning decision to call a referendum on the country's latest rescue package. (Papandreou dropped the referendum plan two days later.) Dorothy Rodham, 92, mother of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton's mother-in-law, died in Washington.Five years ago: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fired the commander of the peacekeeping force in South Sudan after an independent investigation sharply criticized the military response to deadly attacks in July on a U.N. compound housing 27,000 displaced people. Most of an African-American church in Greenville, Mississippi, was destroyed by an arson fire; the building was spray-painted with the words "Vote Trump." (A member of the church later pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.) The Chicago Cubs forced a deciding Game 7 in the World Series as they defeated the Cleveland Indians 9-3.One year ago: Two days before Election Day, the Texas Supreme Court denied a Republican-led petition to toss nearly 127,000 ballots cast at drive-thru voting places in the Houston area. (A federal judge also rejected that effort the following day.)Today's Birthdays: World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player is 86. Country singer Bill Anderson is 84. Actor Barbara Bosson is 82. Actor Robert Foxworth is 80. Country singer-humorist Kinky Friedman is 77. Actor Jeannie Berlin is 72. Music producer David Foster is 72. Actor Belita Moreno is 72. Country singer-songwriter-producer Keith Stegall is 67. Country singer Lyle Lovett is 64. Actor Rachel Ticotin is 63. Apple CEO Tim Cook is 61. Actor Helene Udy is 60. Pop singer-musician Mags Furuholmen (a-ha) 59. Rock singer Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 59. Rock musician Rick Allen (Def Leppard) is 58. Country singer "Big Kenny" Alphin (Big and Rich) is 58. Singer Sophie B. Hawkins is 57. Rapper Willie D (Geto Boys) is 55. Country musician Dale Wallace (Emerson Drive) is 52. Actor Toni Collette is 49. Actor-talk show host Jenny McCarthy is 49. Actor David Berman is 48. Actor Aishwarya Rai is 48. Rock singer Bo Bice is 46. Actor Matt Jones is 40. Actor Natalia Tena is 37. Actor Penn Badgley is 35. Actor Max Burkholder is 24. Actor-musician Alex Wolff is 24.

Today in History - Nov. 1

<a href="https://yazelmeglifh.com/obituaries/lauren-thiessen">Lauren Thiessen Obituary 2021 - Yazel - Megli Funeral Homes (yazelmeglifh.com)</a>

Lauren’s life began on September 18, 1948, the son of Willard and Lena (Neufeld) Thiessen in Newton, Kansas. He graduated from Berean Academy Class of 1966 and then went on to receive his bachelor’s in business administration from Fort Hays State University in 1971. 

He married the love of his life, Jo Ann (Giebler) Gottschalk, on May 8, 1982, in Hays, Kansas.

Lauren retired from Scott Rice Office Interiors as a salesman in 2018. He was a member of Central Christian Church where he taught marriage classes, mentored married couples, and was an elder. He was also a member of Bel Aire Chamber of Commerce. He loved his family, especially the grandkids, fishing, golfing, and restoring his 1979 El Camino. His loving family includes his wife Jo Ann of the home; sons Garry Thiessen of Ames, Iowa, Brent Thiessen (Wendy) of Marshalltown, Iowa, Scott Thiessen (Tammy) of Avon, Ohio, Cory Gottschalk of Norman, Oklahoma, Chad (Cassie) Gottschalk of Wichita, daughter Nicole Thiessen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; sisters and their husbands, Jolyn and Dave Stark of Raymore, Missouri and Lavada and Dan Klinger of Phillipsburg, Kansas; nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Gottschalk.

Lauren passed peacefully into his Savior’s arms on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the age of 73 years old. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Central Christian Church, 2900 N. Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas. A private family burial in Emmaus Cemetery, Whitewater, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be directed to Central Christian Church at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ccc.org/give" target="_blank">www.ccc.org/give</a>&nbsp;or His Helping Hands at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ccc.org/hishelpinghands" target="_blank">www.ccc.org/hishelpinghands</a>&nbsp;or Berean Academy&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bereanwarriors.org/giving" target="_blank">www.bereanwarriors.org/giving</a>&nbsp;or in care of Lamb Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358, Whitewater, Kansas 67154.

Please sign his online guest book and leave a memory of Lauren at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.yazelmeglifh.com/" target="_blank">www.yazelmeglifh.com</a>&nbsp;.

To order&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sympathyfloralstore.com/en-us/funeral-flowers/productdetails/?eod=sxi1Z5G6UOE%2B5nNU%2FJi4oMIvmyBpsrEYh%2FUpRiCyPd4TMlTM3EXdHUx5qw6MsKIcjAV%2FJ%2BrKu5IbZHdgGOraLph4dWETR1rLJ%2ByzYvqSEw417YHoAeApC4BVm5oNEIq0i2eEgoecInKgEz%2BFxgHuHsXODNEs8cAF0m74YQfD%2Bip3bJCl4OEpfdbLGknFZmQaACArwJY%2FAb76vSxiQJHvA%2BjwjIMSA%2Fr%2F4fIdD5zXhFhU0M5s9UNLR3lit005Cg1i%2FOFGmuShfvuVQKjN3idAQwGaqYBe2ol%2BCq1d0fpNyX3eNPig%2FV%2F4KSWxzMctWcWO20yC%2BrGtgjqIYtWEpnRZ6afQPF9YAqQzB3KxJGpPmuWoBN6WcQeU1JD9BKSTcDMrzU4J6f4UZloImVjN%2FYR5P%2BNp57GjZB%2FXSZ3x8vGa5isIiWE0Tk7XESuuTrvG9%2BlIsL%2BbRffClTRuBfz0cSkX%2FRiY0m7OEUit2I4R6usaBFplIbRYJvA5ekGOCQjPIj0QDw5Qe2ibeIgLTI3tRKH%2FWLV52w7mSkdVFkBPLx8xf7djDOO65oCUoJoS3ldx68Qry9WH%2FAwNyDkpYb%2BlN2aQdjKMsnJnxTokq%2FYEjR%2FT6%2Fdc48r8tqN6EFRap%2Fe5pJ7KpRPk8gQDWTostMAtbjHIW7EXUaUYx2OC6CCGMPDqs80RUUay0J%2FCdOt2xg3oJ5m%2Bb7MlA1K8RfAXkl0BroBD%2BKM079%2BTgAaT6Vw2P9cv%2F8H9F1n6hJkTfDFFW7ozeiGVLE%2FewjFKZofcWbo9VvjkVTXE%2BxYSA4oMsvxox5CD6mAULeMNqnNwU8st6AfPa41fez3he2dbUZq5seiNfFDKFsiLwqHcTw%2Boy5gw%2Bd3txurZaaCQezggNlsDX0UseH2K5VPmBi%2BD9maz8bUiq3OmMC%2BEXJUCmoyidOIZajJ6FP2Vg9MbVsd57iVffSg45tH7pOYFPIRMhjPRCKrfKfDUggQvb4H%2BCbsidi0IDvs5Hte9SgXe%2Bh4W686ZaTaqsDLBohCeaYl4imL5Q7Bh5jR8xVOcsumZZ6tg2P8Rm8HsqtNxrnOoc3enS0jcYWIEZjSZpXQT%2BdFMve4IDJjWtI8GI29CfKi3oLDgjMwykj5edlW5wnpQAb6klM4elpvJ11pcTkim40rahb1hV5w3x9U3YInP0Wj2TwY5XAFkX%2F45kkw%3D&amp;co=7&amp;affiliateid=4490&amp;v=01&amp;pm=199&amp;sku=tre-ttim">memorial trees</a>&nbsp;or send flowers to the family in memory of Lauren Thiessen, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://condolences.com/Lamb-Funeral-Home/flowers/?bgs=NkKw3748jCQVnX3pVaaIUfCgF9CYFab5O8C26pSwun6esUY5%2B0ndrAuyrch2kZTIiXcoPKWg78jnMr2F8%2FFeDeu4qcc%2FAZP0G9VfpPgvdb7838hceOT7HtwjMf5OmuhponYryJgg9t2S09%2FpMTB1RymsiA499BmXCZZg5AtP%2BUZXb85PCru3nDok7uwQv9FW2gtL7XCed8reLbvy6T7ARoWDQ1n1MsYOCNPmAY1D6nzdodFZnX2FazD0V0pSZusVeA%2BDTQymVquK3l0fLvdpj3KOsgS1bKaCBUfFC4XpDUM7mTQlnD6xDVZtsgz4XtKdzDzPH6Rv0%2BT%2FEH%2BLqkt6s6kOCMHnITZwK7uQm6%2BbVv11ZFbydSfLNiIxF7Pz7e6uncWLAQnwhBsh%2FALhW%2FHvRitgS7LaeaM%2FTq8hX0AO%2FK5mIHOPzK9QQZLmEti%2F4k9dKqiOC032vNXC8uL%2FXA1rktuCGSSycMUlz%2B3Iua67YMqCtx0TjFBKAUB%2BgBbfyhedG%2FC80TKC9n1%2BwdWZDiQ7CATYVVIxNZ%2Be1GhengEd7RUU%2FRexKLBgnh1BgF8toIEm%2FAKLUw1gHbRZP%2BgI2cl%2FlqWB85TCIwrUYA7N6YBm%2BwfVIh8UF0m2QL%2BPxkyyAZNLsAfXifBK1Q267rRQq8bDOTipHTykjYXBMuochyBs3wvzGts%2FIDM3S%2Bgj%2F%2BQcwLhvChyaJgMd4e6qSTmmcSvpFWv4QoYBpfJD%2FUbgCprPqW10qh6QzwljhDE0j9uGAF6qvaSmJzsxJEOURhciZ9npxx3TFu5zH1DMndWZ1%2BaDTrrZonPn9cVb5y9R9yxW9R7xpJBB%2F8L181cpH1HKbhdaFP7kenDp%2FA5ERNE7OIWH3S1TrWZX9eoNeN7VOFhJA6GvaCo95cS70YBrg%2FSx7i4w9zkezgGZ2%2B2NhjY3%2B7SKuC8j%2FS1fLyRh5SW%2F%2BUTY%2FmhvK0DbYGf2fVABtOQQ3REYfQzQqmCi%2BARdjuX%2FvJQHoSwalvyhNW6Ii15SVOazoVebhw544ObZDE3fef4cb%2FXTJK7nNDVF5z%2BMrp%2FHpdkKpfiAxAP47QABjUqMg3hJlEnvyslqFcZwE%2BBd%2FA%2BtS0it%2BhdqJpHsDK9u0ndmalzv%2FytOH10m%2Bw7K5wISYd1gU%2BE4RwuZt9cxdHLI65xvphcu47lmzSaYltSDaGz8y9REMUCyiZV5%2FPvZqB4BT2%2FSPHBKCkvCwUf3M7h7%2FE1Rdn9wCF5iJ0bCpR41uJ6ELjmfxRusysf%2FWCye6rsVeF495%2FIyUF500akbLTIpqB%2BwAwn1jg%3D%3D">flower store</a>.

<h2>Lauren Keith Thiessen</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635708675137.jpeg" alt="Lauren Keith Thiessen" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Keith Thiessen</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://yazelmeglifh.com/obituaries/lauren-thiessen">Lauren Thiessen Obituary 2021 - Yazel - Megli Funeral Homes (yazelmeglifh.com)</a>September 18, 1948 - October 27, 2021Lauren’s life began on September 18, 1948, the son of Willard and Lena (Neufeld) Thiessen in Newton, Kansas. He graduated from Berean Academy Class of 1966 and then went on to receive his bachelor’s in business administration from Fort Hays State University in 1971. He married the love of his life, Jo Ann (Giebler) Gottschalk, on May 8, 1982, in Hays, Kansas.Lauren retired from Scott Rice Office Interiors as a salesman in 2018. He was a member of Central Christian Church where he taught marriage classes, mentored married couples, and was an elder. He was also a member of Bel Aire Chamber of Commerce. He loved his family, especially the grandkids, fishing, golfing, and restoring his 1979 El Camino. His loving family includes his wife Jo Ann of the home; sons Garry Thiessen of Ames, Iowa, Brent Thiessen (Wendy) of Marshalltown, Iowa, Scott Thiessen (Tammy) of Avon, Ohio, Cory Gottschalk of Norman, Oklahoma, Chad (Cassie) Gottschalk of Wichita, daughter Nicole Thiessen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; sisters and their husbands, Jolyn and Dave Stark of Raymore, Missouri and Lavada and Dan Klinger of Phillipsburg, Kansas; nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Gottschalk. Lauren passed peacefully into his Savior’s arms on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the age of 73 years old. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Central Christian Church, 2900 N. Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas. A private family burial in Emmaus Cemetery, Whitewater, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be directed to Central Christian Church at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ccc.org/give" target="_blank">www.ccc.org/give</a>&nbsp;or His Helping Hands at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ccc.org/hishelpinghands" target="_blank">www.ccc.org/hishelpinghands</a>&nbsp;or Berean Academy&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bereanwarriors.org/giving" target="_blank">www.bereanwarriors.org/giving</a>&nbsp;or in care of Lamb Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358, Whitewater, Kansas 67154. Please sign his online guest book and leave a memory of Lauren at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.yazelmeglifh.com/" target="_blank">www.yazelmeglifh.com</a>&nbsp;.To order&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sympathyfloralstore.com/en-us/funeral-flowers/productdetails/?eod=sxi1Z5G6UOE%2B5nNU%2FJi4oMIvmyBpsrEYh%2FUpRiCyPd4TMlTM3EXdHUx5qw6MsKIcjAV%2FJ%2BrKu5IbZHdgGOraLph4dWETR1rLJ%2ByzYvqSEw417YHoAeApC4BVm5oNEIq0i2eEgoecInKgEz%2BFxgHuHsXODNEs8cAF0m74YQfD%2Bip3bJCl4OEpfdbLGknFZmQaACArwJY%2FAb76vSxiQJHvA%2BjwjIMSA%2Fr%2F4fIdD5zXhFhU0M5s9UNLR3lit005Cg1i%2FOFGmuShfvuVQKjN3idAQwGaqYBe2ol%2BCq1d0fpNyX3eNPig%2FV%2F4KSWxzMctWcWO20yC%2BrGtgjqIYtWEpnRZ6afQPF9YAqQzB3KxJGpPmuWoBN6WcQeU1JD9BKSTcDMrzU4J6f4UZloImVjN%2FYR5P%2BNp57GjZB%2FXSZ3x8vGa5isIiWE0Tk7XESuuTrvG9%2BlIsL%2BbRffClTRuBfz0cSkX%2FRiY0m7OEUit2I4R6usaBFplIbRYJvA5ekGOCQjPIj0QDw5Qe2ibeIgLTI3tRKH%2FWLV52w7mSkdVFkBPLx8xf7djDOO65oCUoJoS3ldx68Qry9WH%2FAwNyDkpYb%2BlN2aQdjKMsnJnxTokq%2FYEjR%2FT6%2Fdc48r8tqN6EFRap%2Fe5pJ7KpRPk8gQDWTostMAtbjHIW7EXUaUYx2OC6CCGMPDqs80RUUay0J%2FCdOt2xg3oJ5m%2Bb7MlA1K8RfAXkl0BroBD%2BKM079%2BTgAaT6Vw2P9cv%2F8H9F1n6hJkTfDFFW7ozeiGVLE%2FewjFKZofcWbo9VvjkVTXE%2BxYSA4oMsvxox5CD6mAULeMNqnNwU8st6AfPa41fez3he2dbUZq5seiNfFDKFsiLwqHcTw%2Boy5gw%2Bd3txurZaaCQezggNlsDX0UseH2K5VPmBi%2BD9maz8bUiq3OmMC%2BEXJUCmoyidOIZajJ6FP2Vg9MbVsd57iVffSg45tH7pOYFPIRMhjPRCKrfKfDUggQvb4H%2BCbsidi0IDvs5Hte9SgXe%2Bh4W686ZaTaqsDLBohCeaYl4imL5Q7Bh5jR8xVOcsumZZ6tg2P8Rm8HsqtNxrnOoc3enS0jcYWIEZjSZpXQT%2BdFMve4IDJjWtI8GI29CfKi3oLDgjMwykj5edlW5wnpQAb6klM4elpvJ11pcTkim40rahb1hV5w3x9U3YInP0Wj2TwY5XAFkX%2F45kkw%3D&amp;co=7&amp;affiliateid=4490&amp;v=01&amp;pm=199&amp;sku=tre-ttim">memorial trees</a>&nbsp;or send flowers to the family in memory of Lauren Thiessen, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://condolences.com/Lamb-Funeral-Home/flowers/?bgs=NkKw3748jCQVnX3pVaaIUfCgF9CYFab5O8C26pSwun6esUY5%2B0ndrAuyrch2kZTIiXcoPKWg78jnMr2F8%2FFeDeu4qcc%2FAZP0G9VfpPgvdb7838hceOT7HtwjMf5OmuhponYryJgg9t2S09%2FpMTB1RymsiA499BmXCZZg5AtP%2BUZXb85PCru3nDok7uwQv9FW2gtL7XCed8reLbvy6T7ARoWDQ1n1MsYOCNPmAY1D6nzdodFZnX2FazD0V0pSZusVeA%2BDTQymVquK3l0fLvdpj3KOsgS1bKaCBUfFC4XpDUM7mTQlnD6xDVZtsgz4XtKdzDzPH6Rv0%2BT%2FEH%2BLqkt6s6kOCMHnITZwK7uQm6%2BbVv11ZFbydSfLNiIxF7Pz7e6uncWLAQnwhBsh%2FALhW%2FHvRitgS7LaeaM%2FTq8hX0AO%2FK5mIHOPzK9QQZLmEti%2F4k9dKqiOC032vNXC8uL%2FXA1rktuCGSSycMUlz%2B3Iua67YMqCtx0TjFBKAUB%2BgBbfyhedG%2FC80TKC9n1%2BwdWZDiQ7CATYVVIxNZ%2Be1GhengEd7RUU%2FRexKLBgnh1BgF8toIEm%2FAKLUw1gHbRZP%2BgI2cl%2FlqWB85TCIwrUYA7N6YBm%2BwfVIh8UF0m2QL%2BPxkyyAZNLsAfXifBK1Q267rRQq8bDOTipHTykjYXBMuochyBs3wvzGts%2FIDM3S%2Bgj%2F%2BQcwLhvChyaJgMd4e6qSTmmcSvpFWv4QoYBpfJD%2FUbgCprPqW10qh6QzwljhDE0j9uGAF6qvaSmJzsxJEOURhciZ9npxx3TFu5zH1DMndWZ1%2BaDTrrZonPn9cVb5y9R9yxW9R7xpJBB%2F8L181cpH1HKbhdaFP7kenDp%2FA5ERNE7OIWH3S1TrWZX9eoNeN7VOFhJA6GvaCo95cS70YBrg%2FSx7i4w9zkezgGZ2%2B2NhjY3%2B7SKuC8j%2FS1fLyRh5SW%2F%2BUTY%2FmhvK0DbYGf2fVABtOQQ3REYfQzQqmCi%2BARdjuX%2FvJQHoSwalvyhNW6Ii15SVOazoVebhw544ObZDE3fef4cb%2FXTJK7nNDVF5z%2BMrp%2FHpdkKpfiAxAP47QABjUqMg3hJlEnvyslqFcZwE%2BBd%2FA%2BtS0it%2BhdqJpHsDK9u0ndmalzv%2FytOH10m%2Bw7K5wISYd1gU%2BE4RwuZt9cxdHLI65xvphcu47lmzSaYltSDaGz8y9REMUCyiZV5%2FPvZqB4BT2%2FSPHBKCkvCwUf3M7h7%2FE1Rdn9wCF5iJ0bCpR41uJ6ELjmfxRusysf%2FWCye6rsVeF495%2FIyUF500akbLTIpqB%2BwAwn1jg%3D%3D">flower store</a>.

Lauren Keith Thiessen

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.

At 5:30 a.m. Saturday, police were working a call in the 1700 block of SW Clay in Topeka when they saw a disturbance in the 1800 block of SW Clay, according to Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

As the officers were approaching the disturbance, they heard gun shots&nbsp; saw people running. Two individuals were detained and found to be the victims of an aggravated assault.

Information led them to a residence on that block where the suspect had run back into. Police surrounded the house and they called the suspect out where he was eventually taken into custody.

The suspect was identified as Jerome C. Vetaw, 42 of Topeka. Police arrested and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Assault,&nbsp;&nbsp;Criminal Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, according to Johnson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635627435322.png" alt="Vetaw photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Vetaw photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.At 5:30 a.m. Saturday, police were working a call in the 1700 block of SW Clay in Topeka when they saw a disturbance in the 1800 block of SW Clay, according to Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.As the officers were approaching the disturbance, they heard gun shots&nbsp; saw people running. Two individuals were detained and found to be the victims of an aggravated assault.Information led them to a residence on that block where the suspect had run back into. Police surrounded the house and they called the suspect out where he was eventually taken into custody.The suspect was identified as Jerome C. Vetaw, 42 of Topeka. Police arrested and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Assault,&nbsp;&nbsp;Criminal Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, according to Johnson.

Police catch suspect in Kan. drug deal shooting

By MAX MCCOY <a href="http://kansasreflector.com">Kansas Reflector</a>

CHERRYVALE — The chain of low hills known as the Bender Mounds extends in a diagonal seven miles northeast of here, islands of limestone and scrubby trees over level fields where this time of year soybeans have just been harvested. The lonely hills meander across what is now U.S. Highway 400, where travelers whoosh by in comfort at 65 mph.

But 150 years ago, the rugged Osage Trail ran between these mounds, somewhat north of the present highway. This section of the trail ran the 47 miles from the Osage Mission at what is now St. Paul to Independence, Kansas, and food and lodging was hard to come by. Tired and hungry travelers would sometimes stop for a hot meal and a hard bed at the Bender Inn, a two-room frame cabin on the south side of the trail between the mounds.

Many of the travelers were never seen again, victims of a multiple-murdering frontier family that has gone down in history as the Bloody Benders. The Bender saga is a thoroughly American crime story, full of mystery and gore, and their story is as famous in its way as the gunfight at the O.K. Corral or the killing of Billy the Kid. But the enduring mystery behind the Benders is what happened to them. They vanished into history and became the stuff of nightmares — and books, television shows and movies.

“I bought it because I love history and would like to find out where (the killings) happened,” said Bob Miller, a Wells Fargo financial adviser from Independence, Kansas, who now owns the parcel where the Bender cabin is believed to have stood.

For 65 years, Miller said, the land was owned by a family who farmed it out and had little interest in its history. No search of the property for the location of the cabin or graves was formally conducted, at least not that anybody could remember. When the property came up for auction last year, through Indiana firm Schrader Real Estate and Auction Co., Miller knew he had to bid on it.

Miller won by purchasing a package of parcels that included the Bender site. He declined to disclose how much he paid.

“I really like history a lot,” he told me. “I’ve never had an acre of land before. Somewhere, somehow, some way, I’m going to get some kind of expert investigation going there. The whole thing is just so bizarre, and one of America’s first documented mass murders.”

Miller grew up on tales of the Benders and often visited the old historical museum in Cherryvale where a replica cabin stood and the town celebrated “Bender Days.” The story is the kind of gruesome stuff that has fascinated kids for generations, especially Kansas kids like me.

“Between 1870 and 1873 several travelers who disappeared between Independence and Osage Mission were traced to within a few miles of the Bender Mounds,” according to the WPA guide to Kansas published in 1939. “So many stories of mystery, murder, and the supernatural were associated with the area that cautious persons would go long distances to avoid it.”

By all accounts, the Benders were a strange lot. There were four of them, including an older couple named John Sr. and Kate, and a younger couple, also named John and Kate. They had come from St. Louis in 1870-71 to join a small community of Spiritualists, part of a movement that flourished after the carnage of the Civil War and maintained it was possible to talk to the dead.

The older Benders were described as unpleasant and spoke mostly German. But the younger Benders were different. They may have been brother and sister, or perhaps common law husband and wife. John Jr. was strong and handsome. But it was young Kate that attracted the most attention, a red-haired 20-something who was a trance medium, advertised herself in local newspapers as “Prof. Katie Bender,” and who claimed supernatural powers to heal.

By May 1873, the mystery of the missing travelers would be solved.

A search party found the Bender cabin deserted and their livestock untended. In an orchard out back they found the remains of between eight and 11 bodies —it was difficult to determine exactly how many, but at least one was a child — and a trapdoor in the floor of the cabin that led to a bloody cellar, rank with blood and gore.

“Though stories of strange experiences at the inn had circulated throughout the community since its establishment, few had given them credence,” according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/bender-knife/10106">Kansas Historical Society</a>. “After the discovery, though, such tales seemed more plausible. Neighbors reported violent behavior, strange séances, and narrowly escaping with their lives.”

It was theorized that victims were forced to sit at a table with their backs against a stained canvas curtain and, while distracted by Kate — who gets most of the blame in traditional accounts — were dispatched by a hammer blow to the back of the head. After being shoved through the trap door into the bloody cellar, they may have been finished off with a knife across the throat. The motive was robbery, as travelers often carried large amounts of cash to buy land and cattle.

But nobody knows for sure what happened in the cabin. Those who did know ended up dead or disappeared.

When the Bender site went up for auction last year, it renewed my interest in the bloody family. Stories about the upcoming auction ran in news outlets around the world. Not having the means, or frankly the will, to own such a site, I submitted no bid. But after the sale, I did contact the auction company a couple of times, asking to be put in touch with the new owners. Unsurprisingly, the auction company did not respond to my requests.

But I lucked out last weekend when I visited the Cherryvale Historical Museum. The museum used to be downtown, but it’s now in what was once a private residence and is open 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. The replica Bender cabin that used to be at the old museum is long gone. Cherryvale doesn’t celebrate Bender Days anymore, either.

The museum still has three hammers taken from the Bender property shortly after the crimes were discovered, and I wanted to see them. They were there, in a cabinet behind bulletproof glass that has become hazy with the passage of the years. They were difficult to photograph, so I asked if the case could be opened.

But the kind woman who was tending the museum that day suggested I contact local historian Carol Staton, who knew more about the Benders than just about anybody in town. So I did, and had a pleasant conversation with Staton about a particularly unpleasant crime. Then I asked if she knew who had bought the land at auction.

Why yes, she said. It was a friend of hers in Independence. She gave me Bob Miller’s name.

Miller told me he hasn’t done anything with the land since buying it in February because he just hasn’t had the time. He would like to investigate the site, he said. It is undoubtedly the piece of land the cabin was on, but the actual location of the cabin and the orchard have been lost over the years. Because he has a keen interest in history and a respect for doing things right, Miller said he’d like to partner with a team of professional archaeologists, perhaps from a Kansas university, to do a ground-penetrating radar study and possibly undertake excavations.

There may be more to the Bender story than we know, he said. Finding the location of the cellar abattoir or the orchard cemetery may lead to discoveries that were not possible with 1870s technology. Some of the victims were never identified.

“If we could find some stuff,” Miller said, “some bones or maybe teeth, that would allow for DNA matching with living relatives.”

The Benders were discovered when the relative of a victim went searching in 1873.

Col. Alexander York, a state senator and Civil War veteran, wanted to find his missing brother, physician William York. Dr. York, who had disappeared on the Osage Trail.

Scouting the trail with a posse of 15 or so men, Col. York called upon the Bender Inn. The Benders said yes, the doctor had been there, but he had left unharmed. Kate suggested, the story goes, that for a price she could use her clairvoyant powers to help locate the missing man. The colonel left, but suspicion lingered.

The cabin was later found deserted. The discovery of the bodies, including that of Dr. York, followed.

A wagon and team belonging to the Benders was later located abandoned near Thayer, and a clerk at the depot there said four individuals matching the family’s description had bought tickets and boarded a train to Humboldt. That’s the last real clue we have as to the murderous family’s fate, even though the governor of Kansas at the time offered a $2,000 reward for their capture.

Over the years, tales have placed the Benders in Canada, in St. Louis, and even escaping — however improbably — in a hot air balloon. These stories have continued unabated, and as recently as 2013 amateur sleuths claimed to have solved the mystery of the Benders, including one theory that young John and Katie lived the rest of their lives in Colorado and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://truewestmagazine.com/article/history-mystery-solved-hiding-in-plain-sight/">are buried in plain sight</a>&nbsp;at Glenwood Springs.

The two theories that seem most likely are that the Benders successfully escaped to parts unknown, or that they were lynched by locals and buried in secret. The former is more probable, as it’s been my experience that people have a hard time keeping a secret — and a secret as big as the fate of the Benders couldn’t be kept by a group for 15 minutes, much less a century and a half.

“It’s just a mystery that keeps perpetuating itself,” Staton, the local historian, said.

After the bodies were found in 1873, the cabin was ripped apart, board by board, until nothing was left. In time, all visible traces of the Bender place disappeared at the mound, just as the Benders themselves disappeared.

Staton said she has visited the site, or at least peered at it from the public road. An individual on the museum board, she said, has sometimes led private tours out to the Bender Mounds, and this persuaded the board to consider hosting day trips.

Miller said he has no plans to open the site to the public as yet, because he wants professionals to survey the location first.

On my trip to Cherryvale last weekend, I drove out to the Bender Mounds. I’m not going to reveal the precise location of the site, because like Miller I fear a loss of historical data beneath a crush of uninvited visitors. I can tell you that the roads around the site are poorly maintained, and that some are impassible in wet weather without a four-wheel drive vehicle. On one half-mile stretch of road, my Jeep was nearly up to its axles in mud.

A few miles away from the site, at the rest area where U.S. Highway 400 meets U.S. Highway 169, is a state historical marker about the Benders. It doesn’t give the location of the site, just saying it is near.

The narrative on the marker indicates how attitudes toward the Benders have changed over the years, at least among historians.

The text on the marker, as originally provided by the state historical society, described Kate Bender as “a beautiful, voluptuous girl with tigerish grace” and “the leading spirit of the murderous family.” The description was typical of most narratives about the Benders and, in 1970, is what led Samuel Goldwyn Jr. to openly speculate whom he should cast as the beautiful and diabolical Kate in an intended major release. Jacqueline Bissett seemed a frontrunner.

While Goldwyn’s film was never made, there have been smaller films featuring the Benders. In 2016’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0s5lOHliQY">“Bender,”</a>&nbsp;Nicole Jellen played Kate. There have also been novels and graphic novels, most notably&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Geary">Rick Geary’s</a>&nbsp;“Saga of Bloody Benders.” There have been a mountain of nonfiction books, the latest of which is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622578/hells-half-acre-by-susan-jonusas/">“Hell’s Half Acre”</a>&nbsp;by Susan Jonusas, set for release in March 2022, which promises to tell us the “untold story.”

The current state historical marker has been edited to omit any mention of Kate as voluptuous or possessing grace, tigerish or otherwise. While Kate is an intriguing historical figure, there’s just no evidence to suggest she was the family mastermind. Murder is a dull and brutish business, no temptress required.

If there is an untold story to be told about the 1873 horror seven miles northeast of Cherryvale, chances are it won’t come from a movie or a book. But it just might emerge from the mud at the base of a mound on an otherwise featureless parcel of farmland recently purchased by a local kid who was fascinated by one of the bloodiest true stories in Kansas history.

Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. A native Kansan, he started his career at the Pittsburg Morning Sun and was soon writing for national magazines. His investigative stories on unsolved murders, serial killers and hate groups earned him first-place awards from the Associated Press Managing Editors and other organizations. McCoy has also written more than 20 books, the most recent of which is "Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River," named a Kansas Notable Book by the state library. "Elevations" also won the National Outdoor Book Award, in the history/biography category. Max teaches journalism at Emporia State University.

The above opinion piece is republished with permission from <a href="http://kansasreflector.com">Kansas Reflector</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635690639426.jpeg" alt="The Benders operated a modest “inn” on the Osage Trail northeast of Cherryvale in the 1870s. They also murdered at least a dozen travelers. The Bender cabin was at a mound not unlike this one, which is a mile or so from the actual site, which has no visible trace of the mayhem which took place there. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Benders operated a modest “inn” on the Osage Trail northeast of Cherryvale in the 1870s. They also murdered at least a dozen travelers. The Bender cabin was at a mound not unlike this one, which is a mile or so from the actual site, which has no visible trace of the mayhem which took place there. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MAX MCCOY <a href="http://kansasreflector.com">Kansas Reflector</a>CHERRYVALE — The chain of low hills known as the Bender Mounds extends in a diagonal seven miles northeast of here, islands of limestone and scrubby trees over level fields where this time of year soybeans have just been harvested. The lonely hills meander across what is now U.S. Highway 400, where travelers whoosh by in comfort at 65 mph.But 150 years ago, the rugged Osage Trail ran between these mounds, somewhat north of the present highway. This section of the trail ran the 47 miles from the Osage Mission at what is now St. Paul to Independence, Kansas, and food and lodging was hard to come by. Tired and hungry travelers would sometimes stop for a hot meal and a hard bed at the Bender Inn, a two-room frame cabin on the south side of the trail between the mounds.Many of the travelers were never seen again, victims of a multiple-murdering frontier family that has gone down in history as the Bloody Benders. The Bender saga is a thoroughly American crime story, full of mystery and gore, and their story is as famous in its way as the gunfight at the O.K. Corral or the killing of Billy the Kid. But the enduring mystery behind the Benders is what happened to them. They vanished into history and became the stuff of nightmares — and books, television shows and movies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635690777723.jpeg" alt="Bob Miller purchased the land where the Benders’ cabin was once located. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Bob Miller purchased the land where the Benders’ cabin was once located. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>“I bought it because I love history and would like to find out where (the killings) happened,” said Bob Miller, a Wells Fargo financial adviser from Independence, Kansas, who now owns the parcel where the Bender cabin is believed to have stood.For 65 years, Miller said, the land was owned by a family who farmed it out and had little interest in its history. No search of the property for the location of the cabin or graves was formally conducted, at least not that anybody could remember. When the property came up for auction last year, through Indiana firm Schrader Real Estate and Auction Co., Miller knew he had to bid on it.Miller won by purchasing a package of parcels that included the Bender site. He declined to disclose how much he paid.“I really like history a lot,” he told me. “I’ve never had an acre of land before. Somewhere, somehow, some way, I’m going to get some kind of expert investigation going there. The whole thing is just so bizarre, and one of America’s first documented mass murders.”Miller grew up on tales of the Benders and often visited the old historical museum in Cherryvale where a replica cabin stood and the town celebrated “Bender Days.” The story is the kind of gruesome stuff that has fascinated kids for generations, especially Kansas kids like me.“Between 1870 and 1873 several travelers who disappeared between Independence and Osage Mission were traced to within a few miles of the Bender Mounds,” according to the WPA guide to Kansas published in 1939. “So many stories of mystery, murder, and the supernatural were associated with the area that cautious persons would go long distances to avoid it.”By all accounts, the Benders were a strange lot. There were four of them, including an older couple named John Sr. and Kate, and a younger couple, also named John and Kate. They had come from St. Louis in 1870-71 to join a small community of Spiritualists, part of a movement that flourished after the carnage of the Civil War and maintained it was possible to talk to the dead.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635691054438.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The older Benders were described as unpleasant and spoke mostly German. But the younger Benders were different. They may have been brother and sister, or perhaps common law husband and wife. John Jr. was strong and handsome. But it was young Kate that attracted the most attention, a red-haired 20-something who was a trance medium, advertised herself in local newspapers as “Prof. Katie Bender,” and who claimed supernatural powers to heal.By May 1873, the mystery of the missing travelers would be solved.A search party found the Bender cabin deserted and their livestock untended. In an orchard out back they found the remains of between eight and 11 bodies —it was difficult to determine exactly how many, but at least one was a child — and a trapdoor in the floor of the cabin that led to a bloody cellar, rank with blood and gore.“Though stories of strange experiences at the inn had circulated throughout the community since its establishment, few had given them credence,” according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/bender-knife/10106">Kansas Historical Society</a>. “After the discovery, though, such tales seemed more plausible. Neighbors reported violent behavior, strange séances, and narrowly escaping with their lives.”It was theorized that victims were forced to sit at a table with their backs against a stained canvas curtain and, while distracted by Kate — who gets most of the blame in traditional accounts — were dispatched by a hammer blow to the back of the head. After being shoved through the trap door into the bloody cellar, they may have been finished off with a knife across the throat. The motive was robbery, as travelers often carried large amounts of cash to buy land and cattle.But nobody knows for sure what happened in the cabin. Those who did know ended up dead or disappeared.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635691149420.jpeg" alt="The Bender Room, in the Cherryvale Historical Museum, offers an exhibit about the family and slayings. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Bender Room, in the Cherryvale Historical Museum, offers an exhibit about the family and slayings. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>When the Bender site went up for auction last year, it renewed my interest in the bloody family. Stories about the upcoming auction ran in news outlets around the world. Not having the means, or frankly the will, to own such a site, I submitted no bid. But after the sale, I did contact the auction company a couple of times, asking to be put in touch with the new owners. Unsurprisingly, the auction company did not respond to my requests.But I lucked out last weekend when I visited the Cherryvale Historical Museum. The museum used to be downtown, but it’s now in what was once a private residence and is open 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. The replica Bender cabin that used to be at the old museum is long gone. Cherryvale doesn’t celebrate Bender Days anymore, either.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635691232034.jpeg" alt="The Benders’ hammers are displayed at Cherryvale Historical Museum on Oct. 24. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Benders’ hammers are displayed at Cherryvale Historical Museum on Oct. 24. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The museum still has three hammers taken from the Bender property shortly after the crimes were discovered, and I wanted to see them. They were there, in a cabinet behind bulletproof glass that has become hazy with the passage of the years. They were difficult to photograph, so I asked if the case could be opened.No dice, I was told.But the kind woman who was tending the museum that day suggested I contact local historian Carol Staton, who knew more about the Benders than just about anybody in town. So I did, and had a pleasant conversation with Staton about a particularly unpleasant crime. Then I asked if she knew who had bought the land at auction.Why yes, she said. It was a friend of hers in Independence. She gave me Bob Miller’s name.Miller told me he hasn’t done anything with the land since buying it in February because he just hasn’t had the time. He would like to investigate the site, he said. It is undoubtedly the piece of land the cabin was on, but the actual location of the cabin and the orchard have been lost over the years. Because he has a keen interest in history and a respect for doing things right, Miller said he’d like to partner with a team of professional archaeologists, perhaps from a Kansas university, to do a ground-penetrating radar study and possibly undertake excavations.There may be more to the Bender story than we know, he said. Finding the location of the cellar abattoir or the orchard cemetery may lead to discoveries that were not possible with 1870s technology. Some of the victims were never identified.“If we could find some stuff,” Miller said, “some bones or maybe teeth, that would allow for DNA matching with living relatives.”The Benders were discovered when the relative of a victim went searching in 1873.Col. Alexander York, a state senator and Civil War veteran, wanted to find his missing brother, physician William York. Dr. York, who had disappeared on the Osage Trail.Scouting the trail with a posse of 15 or so men, Col. York called upon the Bender Inn. The Benders said yes, the doctor had been there, but he had left unharmed. Kate suggested, the story goes, that for a price she could use her clairvoyant powers to help locate the missing man. The colonel left, but suspicion lingered.The cabin was later found deserted. The discovery of the bodies, including that of Dr. York, followed.A wagon and team belonging to the Benders was later located abandoned near Thayer, and a clerk at the depot there said four individuals matching the family’s description had bought tickets and boarded a train to Humboldt. That’s the last real clue we have as to the murderous family’s fate, even though the governor of Kansas at the time offered a $2,000 reward for their capture.Over the years, tales have placed the Benders in Canada, in St. Louis, and even escaping — however improbably — in a hot air balloon. These stories have continued unabated, and as recently as 2013 amateur sleuths claimed to have solved the mystery of the Benders, including one theory that young John and Katie lived the rest of their lives in Colorado and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://truewestmagazine.com/article/history-mystery-solved-hiding-in-plain-sight/">are buried in plain sight</a>&nbsp;at Glenwood Springs.None of these are convincing to me.The two theories that seem most likely are that the Benders successfully escaped to parts unknown, or that they were lynched by locals and buried in secret. The former is more probable, as it’s been my experience that people have a hard time keeping a secret — and a secret as big as the fate of the Benders couldn’t be kept by a group for 15 minutes, much less a century and a half.“It’s just a mystery that keeps perpetuating itself,” Staton, the local historian, said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635691538560.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>After the bodies were found in 1873, the cabin was ripped apart, board by board, until nothing was left. In time, all visible traces of the Bender place disappeared at the mound, just as the Benders themselves disappeared.Staton said she has visited the site, or at least peered at it from the public road. An individual on the museum board, she said, has sometimes led private tours out to the Bender Mounds, and this persuaded the board to consider hosting day trips.Miller said he has no plans to open the site to the public as yet, because he wants professionals to survey the location first.On my trip to Cherryvale last weekend, I drove out to the Bender Mounds. I’m not going to reveal the precise location of the site, because like Miller I fear a loss of historical data beneath a crush of uninvited visitors. I can tell you that the roads around the site are poorly maintained, and that some are impassible in wet weather without a four-wheel drive vehicle. On one half-mile stretch of road, my Jeep was nearly up to its axles in mud.A few miles away from the site, at the rest area where U.S. Highway 400 meets U.S. Highway 169, is a state historical marker about the Benders. It doesn’t give the location of the site, just saying it is near.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635691638811.jpeg" alt="The Bender historical marker sits at a rest area at the intersection of U.S. Highway 400 and U.S. Highway 169 near Cherryvale. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Bender historical marker sits at a rest area at the intersection of U.S. Highway 400 and U.S. Highway 169 near Cherryvale. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The narrative on the marker indicates how attitudes toward the Benders have changed over the years, at least among historians.The text on the marker, as originally provided by the state historical society, described Kate Bender as “a beautiful, voluptuous girl with tigerish grace” and “the leading spirit of the murderous family.” The description was typical of most narratives about the Benders and, in 1970, is what led Samuel Goldwyn Jr. to openly speculate whom he should cast as the beautiful and diabolical Kate in an intended major release. Jacqueline Bissett seemed a frontrunner.While Goldwyn’s film was never made, there have been smaller films featuring the Benders. In 2016’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0s5lOHliQY">“Bender,”</a>&nbsp;Nicole Jellen played Kate. There have also been novels and graphic novels, most notably&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Geary">Rick Geary’s</a>&nbsp;“Saga of Bloody Benders.” There have been a mountain of nonfiction books, the latest of which is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622578/hells-half-acre-by-susan-jonusas/">“Hell’s Half Acre”</a>&nbsp;by Susan Jonusas, set for release in March 2022, which promises to tell us the “untold story.”The current state historical marker has been edited to omit any mention of Kate as voluptuous or possessing grace, tigerish or otherwise. While Kate is an intriguing historical figure, there’s just no evidence to suggest she was the family mastermind. Murder is a dull and brutish business, no temptress required.If there is an untold story to be told about the 1873 horror seven miles northeast of Cherryvale, chances are it won’t come from a movie or a book. But it just might emerge from the mud at the base of a mound on an otherwise featureless parcel of farmland recently purchased by a local kid who was fascinated by one of the bloodiest true stories in Kansas history.Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. A native Kansan, he started his career at the Pittsburg Morning Sun and was soon writing for national magazines. His investigative stories on unsolved murders, serial killers and hate groups earned him first-place awards from the Associated Press Managing Editors and other organizations. McCoy has also written more than 20 books, the most recent of which is "Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River," named a Kansas Notable Book by the state library. "Elevations" also won the National Outdoor Book Award, in the history/biography category. Max teaches journalism at Emporia State University.The above opinion piece is republished with permission from <a href="http://kansasreflector.com">Kansas Reflector</a>.

MCCOY: A mysterious murder site has a new owner

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

In our modern society of today, it’s important to have various kinds of networks. But what if we could have a network of networks?&nbsp;

Today we’ll meet a team of people who are building connections between multiple networks for the economic benefit of small businesses and communities across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Christina Long is strategic director for this new cross sector network known as NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment, sometimes known as NetWorked for Change or NetWorked for short. She knows the importance of these issues firsthand.&nbsp;

Christina is a Wichita native and a graduate of Wichita State. She was a cultural affairs reporter for the Wichita Eagle and then worked with the Wichita school system in student support.&nbsp;

In 2013, she launched her own business known as CML Collective. CML&nbsp;Collective strives to develop and enhance marketing and communication strategies for brands that recognize inclusion as a business imperative.&nbsp; “We want to create positive channels of communication for communities of color,” Christina said.&nbsp;

Among other services, CML Collective offers training titled&nbsp;Go Long – Leadership that Lasts, provided by Christina and her husband, Jonathan Long.&nbsp;

When she founded her small business, Christina reached out to the Small Business Development Center. She learned about various resources including NetWork Kansas, the statewide entrepreneurship organization.&nbsp;

In 2015, Christina conducted a half-day workshop to build awareness of these small business support resources. This would become known as Create Campaign, Inc., which provides business development support for minority business founders in the Wichita area.&nbsp;

“I could see we needed a bridge&nbsp;between entrepreneurs and service providers,” Christina said. She served in a leadership role in the Wichita Urban Entrepreneurship-Community (E-Community) and helped start similar organizations in Kansas City, Kansas and Shawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;n 2019, she published her book, titled&nbsp;For the Greater Success.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635641676307.jpeg" alt="Christina Long. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Christina Long. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityIn our modern society of today, it’s important to have various kinds of networks. But what if we could have a network of networks?&nbsp;Today we’ll meet a team of people who are building connections between multiple networks for the economic benefit of small businesses and communities across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Christina Long is strategic director for this new cross sector network known as NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment, sometimes known as NetWorked for Change or NetWorked for short. She knows the importance of these issues firsthand.&nbsp;Christina is a Wichita native and a graduate of Wichita State. She was a cultural affairs reporter for the Wichita Eagle and then worked with the Wichita school system in student support.&nbsp;In 2013, she launched her own business known as CML Collective. CML&nbsp;Collective strives to develop and enhance marketing and communication strategies for brands that recognize inclusion as a business imperative.&nbsp; “We want to create positive channels of communication for communities of color,” Christina said.&nbsp;Among other services, CML Collective offers training titled&nbsp;Go Long – Leadership that Lasts, provided by Christina and her husband, Jonathan Long.&nbsp;When she founded her small business, Christina reached out to the Small Business Development Center. She learned about various resources including NetWork Kansas, the statewide entrepreneurship organization.&nbsp;In 2015, Christina conducted a half-day workshop to build awareness of these small business support resources. This would become known as Create Campaign, Inc., which provides business development support for minority business founders in the Wichita area.&nbsp;“I could see we needed a bridge&nbsp;between entrepreneurs and service providers,” Christina said. She served in a leadership role in the Wichita Urban Entrepreneurship-Community (E-Community) and helped start similar organizations in Kansas City, Kansas and Shawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;n 2019, she published her book, titled&nbsp;For the Greater Success.&nbsp;Christina worked with NetWork Kansas in various ways. In 2020, NetWork Kansas CEO Steve Radley approached her with an idea:&nbsp;&nbsp;What if there was a network of networks for economic development? Essentially, this meant creating a process for enhanced communication and collaboration among the various support systems for entrepreneurs.&nbsp;This became what is now known as NetWorked.&nbsp;The mission of NetWorked is to connect unconnected networks and close the gap between people, information and assets in order to develop pathways that boldly solve community challenges. “We want to encourage cross-sector collaboration,” Steve Radley said.&nbsp;Along with multiple resources within NetWork Kansas itself, NetWorked involved key external resource persons such as Virginia Barnes from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Jeff Usher from the Kansas Health Foundation. Among the other members of this leadership team is the NetWork Kansas product manager for rural entrepreneurship in western Kansas.&nbsp;That is Christy Preston who lives at the rural community of Selden, population 219 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“We want to support communities big and small, urban and rural,” Christina Long said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Ultimately, the success of investment in these communities impacts our wellbeing as a state.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“We had our first (online) convening in March 2021,” Christina said. Since then, Christina has facilitated monthly sessions, recorded live and posted online, with various stakeholders for NetWorked. Topics include various grants, programs and technical assistance that provide cross-sector investment in non-profit community development organizations as well as for-profit businesses.&nbsp;“We want to make bold changes and attack real problems,” Christina said. What drives her to do this work?&nbsp;&nbsp;“I live by the African proverb that says, `I am because we are,’” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re interconnected. I want to bring about changes in people’s lives and make this a better place.”&nbsp;For more information on Christina’s work, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cmlcollective.com/" target="_blank">www.cmlcollective.com</a>. For information on NetWorked, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkedforchange.com/" target="_blank">www.networkedforchange.com</a>.&nbsp;What if we could have economic and entrepreneurial development that is supported, not just by a network, but by a network of networks? That should multiply the benefits. We commend Christina Long, Steve Radley and all those involved with NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment for making a difference with their collaborative efforts. Their networking is having an impact of impacts.&nbsp;And there’s more.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll learn about one new small business initiative next week.&nbsp;Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.