Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLOUISVILLE (WAVE) - A man is dead after a stabbing in the Shawnee neighborhood late Saturday night Louisville police said officers were called to the 100 block of South 41st Street around 11:30 p.m on May 3 where they found a man who had been stabbed He was taken to UofL Hospital where he later died The Jefferson County Coroner later identified the victim as 57-year-old Kevin Beach LMPD’s Homicide Unit is investigating. There are no suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call the anonymous tip line at 502-574-LMPD or use the online crime tip portal OKLA (KOKH) — A crash at 45th Street and OK-3W just northwest of Shawnee resulted in one death and two injuries The crash occurred at approximately 12:48 a.m According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) whose name is withheld pending next of kin notification collided with a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Saanecia Thomas The unnamed driver was pronounced deceased at the scene were transported to the Shawnee hospital to be treated for injuries The cause of the collision is under investigation For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here. A man being held by Shawnee County Department of Corrections was later turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Corrections booking records show that Emmanuel Rodriguez-Maldonado Fur harvesting." His booking is also labeled “Hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement." Lalo Muñoz, who is executive director of El Centro of Topeka said he hasn't heard any reports of ICE agents in Topeka nor received called with concerns patients and students safe no matter legal status More: $1,000 to seek asylum? House Republicans propose new immigration fees Rodriguez-Maldonado was booked into Shawnee County Corrections at 4:10 p.m Deputy director Shawnee County Department of Corrections Tim Phelps confirmed that Rodriguez-Maldonado was released into ICE custody at 9 a.m The Kansas City ICE office didn't respond for comment Shawnee County Corrections didn't respond for comment Shawnee County Courthouse renovations are complete which would be responsible for design and construction work linked to the renovation in December 2022 The project was funded by the American Rescue Plan with the rest coming from the budgets of different courthouse departments according to December 2022 Shawnee County Commission documents said he's happy to see the project completed because we never did shut down the courthouse," said Riphahn "People had to be moved around and shuffled around but I'd like to thank all the staff for putting up with the inconvenience Amanda Monhollon said the completed work at the Shawnee County Courthouse include the following: Replacement of the entire mechanical system and associated pumpsA complete overhaul of the HVAC systemInstallation of a new window system with energy-efficient glazing throughoutConversion of all fluorescent lighting to energy-efficient LED fixturesA modernized fire alarm system upgraded to current code standardsUpgrades to building security and video surveillance systems10 refreshed and modernized courtrooms now equipped with advanced audio/visual technology to support remote and video testimonyAccessibility improvements including ADA-compliant public restroomsLandscaping and irrigation enhancements valued at $125,000"These improvements address longstanding facility challenges and reflect the county’s ongoing investment in safety In 2023, Topeka saw $101.2 million in private and public construction costs for the top 10 largest building projects, The Capital-Journal previously reported The courthouse was the second largest project with a cost of $10 million to fund "These types of capital expenditures not only represent a commitment by local employers to invest in Shawnee County," said GO Topeka President Molley Howey said they also mean jobs for contractors and residents of our community who have worked and will contribute to bring these projects to life." Howey said Updated to show the Classes 6A-4A tournaments scheduled for Tuesday have been moved to Thursday The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association has released the brackets for the Oklahoma high school 2025 slowpitch softball state tournaments All games will be played at Firelake Ballpark in Shawnee More: OU track signees Jordan Atkinson and Kassidi Watkins shining for Mustang entering state More: Oklahoma Charge, ranked No. 3 in nation, eye title behind former OU volleyball coach More: Oklahoma high school winter sports: 2024-25 All-State, All-City teams in basketball, swimming & wrestling Home/Firefighter Training/Firefighter Drills “Don’t eat more than your mask can hold?” While it’s often shared in jest the reality behind it is no laughing matter Shawnee (KS) Firefighter John Glaser tragically lost his life after experiencing an air emergency during a search for a victim in a burning home He called out to his captain while attempting to manage the emergency In a desperate effort to breathe, he removed his face piece and inhaled toxic smoke. A Mayday was declared, and the rapid intervention teams (RITs) were activated Glaser was located approximately 11 minutes after the call This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the unforgiving nature of our work, and the importance of physical readiness, equipment checks, and rapid Mayday recognition and response. Here is a link to the NIOSH report on this incident (1MB Check out this month’s Mayday Monday podcast where we talk to Assistant Chief Ryan Pyle from Shawnee The Virginia Beach (VA) Fire Department has developed a technique to help with this self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) emergency It has been 15 years since Firefighter John B Glaser made the ultimate sacrifice while battling a house fire in Shawnee The lessons learned from that tragic day remain just as relevant today as they were then Tony Carroll is deputy chief of operations with the Louisa County (VA) Fire & EMS Department Free State third baseman Finn Moore runs to third base in a 1-0 win over Shawnee Mission South on Saturday Free State baseball relied on its pitching to get a 1-0 win over Shawnee Mission South at home on Saturday The Firebirds (18-2) had a hard time getting their offense going but the team got seven runless innings from pitchers Cayman Cook and Ben Graves pitched five innings and threw five strikeouts against three hits Graves pitched the final two and threw three strikeouts against one hit “I like how we’re responding in tight ball games,” coach Mike Hill said “I thought we were particularly strong on the mound today — Cook was good for five innings When you can put Ben Graves in to get six outs The Raiders put their leadoff hitter on base with an error but the Firebirds turned a double play on the next at-bat and finished with a strikeout right after Cole Wright was the only Firebird to get a hit in the bottom of the first on a ground ball single the Raiders started with a single but didn’t get anyone else on base but a popout and a strikeout put the Firebirds back at the plate the team got two runners on base with walks Owen Lester and Wesley Cupps got on base before a groundout closed the inning Shawnee Mission South started with a runner on base for the third straight inning The Free State defense turned its second double play in the next at-bat and Cook threw another strikeout to enter the bottom of the third Free State scored the only run of the game in the third as Ryker Mahnke started with a leadoff double The Raiders got two outs in the next two at-bats while Mahnke advanced to third base Finn Moore brought him home on an RBI single but a flyout in the next at-bat closed the inning The Firebirds turned their third double play after a leadoff single in the top of the fourth and Cook again finished the frame with a strikeout Lester tripled to start the bottom of the fourth kept the Firebirds from adding some cushion to their lead “We missed a few opportunities offensively,” Hill said But the way we respond in those close games is a positive.” The Firebirds retired the side in three at-bats for Cook’s last inning on the mound the Firebirds put two runners on base with walks from Graves and Moore but a lineout ended the fifth inning without a run Graves took over on the mound and threw two strikeouts in the sixth as the Firebirds retired the side in the first three at-bats again Cupps hit a single to provide Free State’s only hit of the sixth before the defense came back out to close the game and Wright caught a pop fly to put the first two batters out The Raiders got the game-tying run on base with a single but a groundout ended the game in the next at-bat Free State catcher Andrew Zimmerschied said he and the team keep their confidence high in those late moments when they need their pitchers to make a play the Firebirds feel good about their chances “We know he has the stuff,” Zimmerschied said He does a really good job throwing strikes and that’s absolutely crucial in those one-run ball games there’s no telling what can happen.” The Firebirds have five games left in the regular season before the playoffs begin They’ll travel to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday and Olathe Northwest on Thursday and finish the week with the first City Showdown match at Lawrence High on Friday Free State pitcher Cayman Cook winds up for his throw in a 1-0 win over Shawnee Mission South on Saturday Free State pitcher Ben Graves throws a pitch in a 1-0 win over Shawnee Mission South on Saturday Free State left fielder Owen Lester runs toward home plate in a 1-0 win over Shawnee Mission South on Saturday Free State hitter Ryan Weishaar hits a ground ball in a 1-0 win over Shawnee Mission South on Saturday Free State shortstop Charlie Peters throws off balance to first base in a 1-0 win over Shawnee Mission South on Saturday the spring sports season entered its final month as some sports are rapidly approaching the .. The latest headlines from the Lawrence Journal-World and KUsports.com Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of Kansas, LLC | https://www2.ljworld.com | 1035 N. Third Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 | 785-843-1000 | Terms of Service He scattered six hits over six innings without issuing a walk Shawnee (9-7) broke the game open with a four-run second inning and never looked back going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs for the Renegades keeping the Pirates off the scoreboard for the remainder of his outing Chase Kowal came on to pitch the seventh inning for Shawnee and closed out the game with a perfect frame Xander Rudisill and Matthew Raeter each doubled for the Pirates but the team couldn’t string together enough hits against Tenet’s dominant pitching The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Shawnee Mission South community is mourning the loss of two teenagers who were killed in a car crash last week 18-year-old Itzel Guerra and her 17-year-old boyfriend, Jose Placensia Castañeda were driving back from prom Jose picked Itzel up from the dance when he crossed the median and struck another car head on According to the Kansas State Highway Patrol crash log Itzel's family and friends held a memorial on Saturday afternoon in her honor "I'll always remember her as that girl in that bright blue dress going to prom," Itzel's younger brother He plans to hold onto his final memories of Itzel forever "She always brought joy and light to the people who she touched the most and who were closest to her," Guerra said It's a memory that now holds more meaning after her passing "Just not knowing that her last day on this earth would be that morning of her prom night is what scars me the most," Guerra Inside Itzel's family church on Norton Avenue Family and friends were asked to wear white and light blue in honor of Itzel and Jose "I think it represents how it's a celebration and a party and not a funeral because that's what [Itzel's] mom wanted," Bre'onna Shockley said Shockley is a close family friend of the Guerra's "Blood means very little when you have relationships with people that are so strong," Shockley said "[Itzel's] mom wants her to be remembered as the beautiful girl she was when she left and dropped her off that night That's how we like to keep her in our thoughts." The Kansas City community raised thousands of dollars to help Itzel's and Jose's families with funeral expenses "I never imagined just how strong the community was going to come together and support us," Jose's brother Placensia explained Itzel and his brother were similar in many ways loved their families and their lives were taken far too soon Itzel was just a few weeks away from her high school graduation as a vow to keep his sister's memory alive "It means a lot and it shows how unforgotten she'll be," Guerra said Shawnee Mission South High School is having a candlelit vigil for Itzel and Jose on Monday night from 8 p.m Jose's family will hold funeral services on Tuesday night. Donation links for Jose can be found here and donation links for Itzel can be found here Report a typo Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 4:42:31 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Reed Becker | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comNatalie Olson led Cherry Hill East by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and and four runs scored in a 16-4 win over Shawnee in Medford Dylan Kratchman also went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Brianna Purcell was 3-for-4 with a triple Izzy Morrison and Ashley Robbins each contributed an RBI for Shawnee Cherry Hill East (9-5) extends its winning streak to three games and will travel to face Rancocas Valley on Monday while Shawnee (1-12) will host Eastern on Monday Reed Becker can be reached at rbecker@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Taylor created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Sign up for our daily email affirmations by entering your information below If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email in the box below and click "Send" Click here to learn more: Documentation (opens in new tab) 6 May 2025 4:42:45 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); “My main inspiration for working in healthcare as a dietitian is to help people by promoting health and wellness” Lilly Westphal is a registered dietitian with the Nutrition Services at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission I realized most of my family health history is unknown and preventative medicine to avoid onset chronic disease,” said Westphal I got the opportunity to travel to France which really sparked my interest in nutrition and health one of my favorite things is to try lots of different foods and experience different cultures It has given me a greater appreciation of life and opportunities.” She also spent time doing volunteer work serving in soup kitchens “All of these moments inspired me to want to be an inpatient dietitian so I can work closely with patients to promote nutrition to help support their recovery.” Westphal is a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Team Member Award with AdventHealth Shawnee Mission because she is known to approach work with positivity and a determination to provide the highest level of patient care consistently demonstrating strong productivity and generosity with her talents and ability to foster collaboration makes her an invaluable resource and an irreplaceable asset to the team “I chose to work at AdventHealth because of the strong team of dietitians we have working here and the opportunity for growth,” said Westphal “I have learned that I thrive in environments where I can closely interact with others and have opportunities to expand my knowledge.” Westphal has stated that the best day she has worked at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission is every day that a patient she follows up on shares how her nutrition recommendations made a difference in their recovery and lives “It is very fulfilling to see patients take charge of parts of their health care and strive to get better.” you may find Westphal on an outdoor venture “One thing someone wouldn’t know by looking at me is that I am a huge fan of the outdoors I really enjoy going on walks or hikes to explore new trails AdventHealth is expanding its nursing workforce enhancing hands-on training programs and reinforcing its commitment to exceptional patient care our organization embarked on multiple global mission projects that made a significant impact on the lives of two families in need we honor the extraordinary acts of kindness and compassion demonstrated by our nurses across the region Three remarkable nurses from AdventHealth Avista's surgery center have embarked on.. A local nurse and a CEO were recognized by the Central Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce the new senior executive officer of AdventHealth for Children speaks with Becker's Hospital Review about the future of pediatric care AdventHealth North Pinellas achieves elite national status as a straight- ‘A’ for patient safety  All AdventHealth hospitals in Pasco County continue to earn straight ‘A’ hospital safety grades from The Leapfrog Group Fish Memorial and New Smyrna Beach earn top marks from national watchdog AdventHealth Waterman Foundation honors Dr Jonathan Schroeder and Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute for their transformative philanthropy AdventHealth President/CEO David Banks saw early on how caring for others with compassion and purpose could make a difference We are proud to announce that AdventHealth Avista’s emergency room has received the Pediatric Advanced COPPER recognition The Colorado Pediatric Preparedness for the Emergency Room (COPPER) is a.. a training specialist at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission won the 2024 Outstanding Team Member Award for her dedication to helping others Inspired by her father and her background in.. Our website uses cookies. Please review our privacy policy to find out more about the cookies we use Browsing our website means you accept these terms “My older brother Mason was killed by a drunk driver “My mom encouraged me to see a therapist to cope with my grief Endres returned to college and switched her major to social work she began working at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission as a therapist It is in this work of helping individuals struggling with addiction and getting them on their recovery journeys that has brought full-circle healing in her life “God used the brokenness I experienced in missing my brother to lead me on this journey and I know Mason would be so proud of the work I am doing now,” said Endres Megan Endres was the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Team Member Award for AdventHealth Shawnee Mission a crowning achievement for her years of dedication to service within the Behavioral Health Assessment Center (BHAC) I have been blessed to work shoulder to shoulder with the most incredible behavioral health colleagues and other professionals serving patients and families,” said Endres “I love my coworkers and am grateful to be a part of such an amazing team.” Working in BHAC comes with its own unique set of challenges Endres approaches every situation with grace earning consistent recognition from colleagues and community partners like Johnson County Mental Health Her clinical expertise is matched by her ability to provide reassurance and trust to her team making her presence a source of relief and confidence “One of the best days I've had at work was during a night shift in the ER as a behavioral therapist,” said Enders “I recall one patient who shared with me that she was on the verge of taking her life but came to the ER for help instead she told me she had felt incredibly alone in her struggle she felt hopeful about her mental health for the first time ever and it was a very sacred moment that reminded me how meaningful our work is at AdventHealth.” leading by example with humility and a deep sense of purpose Her excellence is not just about what she does Another major turning point in her life occurred on the morning of September 11 struggling with fear and anxiety on the morning of the 9/11 attacks,” said Endres “My friend Mary shared with me the hope and assurance of receiving Jesus Christ into my heart and I became a Christian that morning amidst the chaos and uncertainty of that tragic moment.” Endres has experienced the love and kindness of God which has reshaped the core of who she is as well as her goals and dreams I am convinced that everything good and right in my life is because of Jesus working in and through me by the grace of God.” Endres is devoted to her family including her No “One fun fact about me is that I grew up as a farm kid in north-central Kansas and had both my tractor safety and hunter safety licenses before I could legally drive,” said Endres and I love visiting with my husband and kids to experience the country life.” a dietitian at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission is dedicated to promoting health through nutrition and was honored with the 2024 Outstanding Team Member Award onboarding and training programs specialist with AdventHealth Shawnee Mission’s Nutrition Services department discovered she was the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Team Member Award it felt great to be nominated,” said Young “I try my best to help people each day; by getting this nomination I have at least partially succeeded in that endeavor.” Young says that it was her father who inspired her to be the best person she can be “My dad was one of those people that could walk into a room and make friends with almost everyone in there He was always such a positive person and genuinely cared about people I try to be like him in all of my interactions with people.” Young has always wanted to help people in one way or another Prior to making the transition to healthcare Deciding to leave teaching in public education was a turning point for her both personally and professionally “Teaching becomes so much of your identity that it was an incredibly hard decision to make,” said Young “The burnout I was feeling was so heavy and my mental health took a huge dip I still have a teacher’s heart and use that in my current role to train others.” When interviewing for her role with AdventHealth in 2022 Young felt like this is where she was supposed to be she really enjoyed the focus on whole-person healthcare and I can appreciate their Service Standards of Keep Me Safe She ensures seamless and supportive experiences for team members Her contributions embody AdventHealth’s mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ making her a deserving recipient of the Outstanding Team Member Award “My team really believes in my abilities to educate and train people,” said Young “They’re my cheerleaders and biggest supporters we work together to try and solve those issues head-on.” We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience on our website. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service In millions and millions of commercial property value Shawnee County appraiser Steve Bauman said the Walmart Distribution Center is the highest appraised commercial property in the county Shawnee County communications director Amanda Monhollon said the property received an Industrial Revenue Bond from the county ownership of the property is in Shawnee County's name GO Topeka president Molly Howey said Topeka has seen remarkable property values Shawnee County’s economic growth has driven a remarkable rise in local property values," Howey said in a written statement we have the second‑lowest poverty rate in Kansas rank in the top 7 percent nationally for wage growth and remain one of the country’s strongest housing markets These achievements underscore our reputation as an aspirational place to live Mars Chocolate FactoryThe Mars Chocolate Factory located at 100 Mars Blvd. is the second highest appraised commercial property in Shawnee County. In 2025, it was appraised for $77,829,910 when the property was appraised at $80,663,530 The Target Distribution Center located at 1100 SW 57th St. was appraised at $54,711,200 in 2025 The appraisal value remained the same from 2024 to this year St. Francis Hospital located at 1700 SW 7th St. had an appraisal value of $53,556,970 in 2025 This value remained the same from last year Reser's Fine Foods located at 3728 SE 6th St. was appraised at $41,276,000 in 2025 The property diminished in value in comparison to last year's appraisal of $41,797,850 Hills Pet Food Administration BuildingThe Hills Pet Food's administration building located at 1035 NE 43rd St. was appraised at $37,326,620 in 2025. Hill's property dropped in value as well. Its appraisal rate in 2024 was $37,765,470 The Frito Lay Factory located at 4236 SW Kirkland Ave. was appraised for $26,957,980 in 2025. The Shawnee County appraisers website does not show records for this address The Home Depot Distribution Center located at 5200 SW Wenger St. was appraised in 2025 for $26,863,200 Its value stayed the same between 2024 and 2025 Smuckers located at 2200 NW Brickyard Road in 2025 was appraised for $26,572,250. Shawnee appraisers website does not have data available for this location (Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse that some readers may find disturbing.) The Shawnee First Church of the Nazarene is facing a civil suit amid allegations of a coverup after a church donor was charged with sexually abusing four women when they were children remaining anonymous in a lawsuit filed last month a donor and former board member at the First Church of the Nazarene in Shawnee Their suit accuses the church of not only knowing about the abuse but also covering it up by threatening anyone who discussed it or attempted to report it The lawsuit was filed in Oklahoma County District Court was charged in November in Pottawatomie County District Court with two counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child under age 16 related to the accusations in the civil filing Court filings state that various incidents involving Sulivant took place between 2008 and 2013 Plaintiffs suffered in silence because (the church) refused to protect them," lawyers for the alleged victims wrote "Only recently did Plaintiffs learn that those they trusted within the church knew about Sulivant all along and could have easily prevented their suffering." Public Eye: In rural Oklahoma, sexual assault survivors are hours away from help One victim was a 15-year-old girl who was groped by Sulivant while in the church’s administrative office in 2008 The girl and her mother brought the accusations to Johnny Stephens The pastor also privately told the girl she was a “bad kid” and that her story would not be believed Stephens added that if she tried speaking up Stephens then told the mother he would call the Shawnee Police Department but the family later found out he never called the police More: A look at the lives of those experiencing homelessness in Shawnee Another alleged victim was a 9-year-old girl She claimed that in 2009 Sulivant lured her to his truck in the church parking lot where he began kissing her neck and trying to “get under her clothes,” according to the suit She said she was eventually able to break free of his grip and flee to a restroom and how disgusting she felt,” the lawsuit states To this day no guy can hug her or touch her without her remembering what Sulivant did.” When the 9-year-old’s mother reported her daughter’s abuse to the church pastor in 2016 “he had already known of at least four other girls that Charles Sulivant had ‘tried something with,’” according to the suit Stephens told the mother his way of taking care of the issue was by not allowing Sulivant to be away from the foyer without his wife Another woman alleged that when she was 18 years old in 2011 rubbed her body and tried kissing her while she was at the church’s gym “I could really go for a girl like you,” before she turned her head away and ran When the 18-year-old's parents confronted Stephens about what happened he brought the woman's parents and Sulivant into his office but Stephens said Sulivant “was just confused” and might have dementia The suit also claims that the pastor told the 18-year-old’s parents that Sulivant would not be allowed anywhere but the lobby and that he could no longer be alone with women or girls But he did not tell Sulivant’s previous issues to the family and did not report the incident to the police One more woman alleged she was abused by Sulivant from 2008 to 2012 Sulivant would inappropriately touch her chest underneath her dress and spin her around and call her his “little girlfriend,” as detailed in the suit The woman said she stopped wearing dresses to church because of what Sulivant was doing but that he regularly engaged in this behavior with her until she was 12 Opinion: One in seven children in Oklahoma County will experience abuse. You can help When her mother reported Sulivant to the pastor Stephens instead said that Sulivant “was just being friendly,” according to the suit He also did not let the complainant’s family know about Sulivant’s prior incidents and that one of the women found out from her former Sunday school teacher that Sulivant had allegedly harassed and assaulted her The teacher told her that Sulivant “made comments about the size of her breasts and constantly tried to hug her and touch her breasts” against her will and this happened “regularly throughout the late 90s and early 2000s,” as stated in the suit When the teacher allegedly reported the harassment to Stephens and his wife “they both shook their head and ignored the report,” according to the suit two Shawnee police detectives visited the pastor and his wife at their home According to a probable cause affidavit written by one of the detectives “Johnny (Stephens) knew that I was there to talk about Sulivant Johnny also asked initially before I told him what girls were involved if I was there to talk about [Jane Doe 1] When I told him that it was actually the [Jane Doe 2] situation that was reported in 2016 Johnny advised that he was familiar with that situation too.”  When the detectives further questioned Stephens about Sulivant You have (got) to stop this,” and “You have got to stay away from these young girls and we are watching you,” according to the affidavit Stephens also told investigators he’d reached out to Terry Rowland “Johnny stated that Rowland told him that he needed to continue doing what he was doing to handle the situation,” detectives wrote The pastor also admitted he did not make any police reports or Occupational Health Service referrals about Sulivant’s alleged actions saying that he had “never seen Sulivant be inappropriate” but had “always heard about it,” according to the affidavit Stephens also denied knowing people had lost their jobs or been threatened when trying to go to higher-ups More: Did a Shawnee police officer hold woman 'hostage' to make her husband comply? What Public Eye found Detectives later questioned Sulivant during an August interview at the police department Sulivant admitted Stephens had called him into his office multiple times and told him to stop touching girls Detectives also wrote that Sulivant described his feelings toward the girls as “lust” and that he “never thought of the girls as being kids,” according to the affidavit Sulivant also said he had "repented" for his actions and had apologized to one of the girl's parents and that he still owed the other girls an apology "Sulivant admitted that he knows what he did to the girls was inappropriate did not return requests for comment by press time Stephens said he could not make any comments on the case acknowledging that he previously "might have already made too many." Michael Thompson legal counsel for the Church of the Nazarene did not return a phone call to The Oklahoman before publication The affidavit also states that a Choctaw Church of the Nazarene youth minister found out during a summer camp about two of the women's experiences and attempted to report their allegations to Rowland and his then-lead pastor Mike Meaks According to Dinnel's interview detailed in the affidavit both church officials said he should not report them and leave it up to the girls' families Dinnel told investigators that he sent the appropriate statute to the church authorities and made an anonymous referral to DHS Dinnel was let go from his position about six months later the church tried to pass a board motion stating that church staff could not report issues like this to DHS," a detective wrote Related: Director James Toback ordered to pay $1.68B in sexual assault trial involving 40 women are pursuing damages from the church in excess of $75,000 arguing that church officials were grossly negligent in their failure to stop Sulivant's abuse Also named as defendants in the lawsuit were the church's southeast district advisory board and the nationwide Kansas-headquartered Church of the Nazarene as a whole that there was a substantial risk that the policies and customs it promulgated and the negligence and indifference of its agents and employees would — and were — causing serious harm to young girls at the church," lawyers wrote The four women are being represented by Nix Patterson LLP, a law firm headquartered in Texas that specializes in civil claims arising from sexual abuse and assault throughout the country. Attorneys with the law firm also recently represented dozens of women in a New York lawsuit against film director James Toback who was accused of sexual harassment and assault that allegedly spanned decades More: As Southern Baptists grapple with long ago abuse, an Oklahoma church takes steps Wednesday, a jury awarded a total of $1.7 billion in damages to 40 women in the Toback case "The jury's verdict is about justice," said Nix Patterson attorney Brad Beckworth in a statement to USA TODAY it's about taking power back from the abusers — and their enablers — and returning it to those they tried to control." the North Union baseball team walked off their field with the taste of victory it did not come without some anxious moments before the Wildcats defeated Springfield Shawnee 3-2 in Central Buckeye League play It was the seventh time this season NU was inv.. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A Shawnee casino patron caught on camera destroying a slot machine earlier this year has been criminally charged The video of George Smith at Grand Casino Hotel & Resort went viral in January Smith said he went into a rage when the machine malfunctioned while he was allegedly winning a jackpot Smith was arrested in Oklahoma City last week on a warrant and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center Smith was transferred to the Pottawatomie County jail A Grand Casino patron recorded Smith body slamming the slot machine Smith claimed the machine went black as he was winning a big jackpot my family we gonna be straight,” said George Smith Smith spoke to News 9 by phone from a hospital bed as he recovered from injuries from throwing his body into the machine Metro man comes forward after destroying Shawnee casino slot machine offered a statement at the time saying there was a criminal investigation underway The tribe later filed an arrest warrant in Pottawatomie County Smith viciously and maliciously destroyed a gambling machine as he screamed that the machine would not pay out to other patrons The affidavit said Smith was taken to the floor by CPN police and had to be sedated by paramedics to be taken to the hospital A toxicology report showed traces of Phencyclidine or PCP in Smith's blood possibly causing the violent behavior and hallucinations Tribal police said after reviewing security video and body camera footage Smith was seen foaming at the mouth and unaware of why he was talking to law enforcement tribal police said the machine went black due to Smith pounding on it Smith was charged by the Pottawatomie County District Attorney with one count of felony destruction of property He was released from the Pottawatomie County jail on bond over the weekend Tribal police estimated the damage to the slot machine to be $16,959.50 Jennifer Pierce is an Emmy-award-winning reporter and is a member of the Indigenous Journalists Association Metro man comes forward after destroying Shawnee casino slot machine and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox North Union’s baseball team fell short of Springfield Shawnee by a 5-4 count during a recent game The Wildcats slipped to 1-15 overall and 0-11 in the Central Buckeye Conference following the road contest Ashtin Haubiel pitched a complete game for NU The revelation was startling when it came to a pair of plant biologists already deep into graduate school studies: The huge majority of seeds sold in the United States are produced overseas in low-cost labor markets like China and India they’re repackaged under different brand names in terms of national security,” says Matthew Kost The two met at Ohio State University in 2009 and the two struck up a conversation about the lowly spud “That was my pickup line,” Matthew remembers the Kosts own and operate a company that produces seeds locally so the plants that grow from them are better suited to the Midwest Their emphasis on hometown horticulture is all about promoting biodiversity and healthy communities The Buffalo Seed Company is headquartered at the Kosts’ Shawnee home but their seed-producing plants are grown on plots scattered throughout the area None of the plots are irrigated or chemically fertilized—the only additions are compost chicken manure and local straw for mulch and weed control How does that work in Kansas City’s drought-prone summers where temperatures can reach 100 degrees or more the climate will knock out 95 percent of plants the first year,” Matthew says “We save seeds from the 5 percent that survive and it’s surprising how quickly the selection process happens.” “We’re stewarding these seeds,” Nancy says and many of the 375 types of seeds for sale (vegetables herbs and flowers) have undergone seven to eight years of adaptation on land the couple owns and on other plots farmed by a network of contract growers first sources seeds from locations around the world that most closely match our climate The seeds often come from national seed banks where they’re available to researchers and businesses It’s a gap the Kosts aim to bridge between seeds locked in banks and seeds that can be purchased retail by individual farmers and gardeners Matthew gets additional seeds from local farmers who have saved them for generations like a woman in Lawrence who noticed her heirloom tomatoes—Arkansas Traveler and Wood’s Famous Brimmer—set fruit during summer’s hottest days when other tomatoes quit Seeds also come from friends and immigrants. As a former director of Cultivate Kansas City Matthew oversaw the organization’s New Roots program for refugees and became familiar with plants like green eggplant and Burmese winter squash.  was encouraged to cross-pollinate with other winter squash into a true Midwestern variety that the Kosts simply call America When a seed variety adapts itself to a local region but still grows with a range of sizes Most seed companies don’t sell landraces because customers want to know exactly what they’re going to get But a diverse output is the key to surviving changing weather conditions and harmful insect attacks.  grows a highly mixed patch of tomatoes that yield different sizes at different times in colors ranging from red and yellow to purple and orange The opposite of diversity can happen when plants become too uniform over time That’s when the Kosts add some of the older “It’s a sweet spot we try to hit,” Matthew says Buffalo Seeds can be ordered online or found at Merriam Feed and Seed and the Overland Park Farmers’ Market from a vendor called Dirt Beast Farm The Kosts also hope to arrange sales at Made in KC stores this spring—because seeds shaped by Kansas City’s soil and climate are the ultimate in locally made Kansas City magazine keeps readers updated on the latest news in twice-weekly newsletter.  Dish brings you food news and our critic picks.  The Loop offers exclusive news reports and our curated events picks It is often said that there is no middle ground.. These prominent golden-agers talk about lifelong achievements KC restauranteurs and husband and wife duo Pam and Ted.. we help our readers celebrate our city’s triumphs tend to its faults and revel in the things that make it unique Two of the three men accused in a drive-by shooting near the Shawnee Sports Complex in 2024 pleaded guilty Monday (WCHS) — Two of the three men accused in a drive-by shooting near the Shawnee Sports Complex in 2024 pleaded guilty Monday pleaded guilty to four counts of wanton endangerment and Zion Clark pleaded guilty to three counts during court hearings Monday morning Drug charges against Clark were dropped as a result of the guilty plea Jacobs, Clark and Kaden Bowman, 24, were arrested following a shooting on May 19, 2024, in the 200 block of Smoot Avenue in the Dunbar area Jacobs and Clark were taken into custody after Nitro police officers said they spotted a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle and made a traffic stop in the area of Martin Pointe and New Goff Mountain Road shortly after the shots were fired Kanawha County deputies said they found an AR-style rifle in the rear of the vehicle and were told a pistol was under the front seat according to the criminal complaint from the Kanawha County Magistrate Court Deputies said he later told them he fired the pistol multiple times in the direction of other people at an apartment building in the area He also accused Jacobs of firing the rifle Deputies said Bowman allegedly admitted to shooting a pistol at unknown people in the apartment building who were accused of shooting at his home the deputy found that the shots were fired in the same direction as the Shawnee Sports Complex where several youth sporting events were being held Aaron Espolt's resignation as superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools the district has launched its search for a new leader Espolt resigned following an Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) investigation into decades-old misconduct allegations the state revoked his teaching license in December 2024 Shawnee Public Schools (SPS) officially severed ties with him last month SPS confirmed Espolt did not receive pay for the remainder of his contract the district is still paying a price—spending thousands of taxpayer money in the search for a new superintendent By the time Espolt became Shawnee’s superintendent he had built a decades-long career in education Espolt's past resurfaced in August 2024 when the OSDE opened an investigation into him and two other teachers over allegations of inappropriate conduct with female students His career included frequent moves between Oklahoma school districts Online court records further reveal complaints of possible long-standing misconduct with allegations dating back to his coaching stint at Little Axe in the early 2000s and later as a teacher at Boone-Apache Schools Espolt has consistently denied the accusations he described the claims as “vague and salacious.” Espolt's attorney argued there was no documentation to support the allegations claiming they were written to damage Espolt’s reputation Despite Espolt's denials and secrecy regarding OSDE's findings The Shawnee Board of Education hired the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) to conduct a thorough search The goal is to find a leader who aligns with the district’s priorities and the community’s values “The school cannot survive without the community and the community cannot survive without the school,” Espolt said in his ‘State of the Schools’ address in February 2024 Now, the district is turning to that same community for input to help shape its future. Parents, students, and staff were invited to participate in online surveys through ThoughtExchange a platform that gathers community feedback on key issues Teresa Wilkerson will continue leading the district The Shawnee Board of Education emphasized their commitment to moving forward and restoring trust in the community The district is expected to announce updates on its search process in the coming weeks Shawnee Public Schools is looking ahead—with hopes of hiring the next superintendent before the summer Interested candidates can apply here: [Shawnee Superintendent Search Application] Lisa Monahan is an award-winning journalist She currently anchors at noon and files special reports for News 9 Now, the district is turning to that same community for input to help shape its future. Parents, students, and staff were invited to participate in online surveys through ThoughtExchange Interested candidates can apply here: [Shawnee Superintendent Search Application] and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInOVERLAND PARK the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education voted to change the district’s personal electronic device policy “Our teachers have been asking for a policy for a while,” said Dr “We feel like this is going to give them the teeth to enforce this universally We accept the fact that no matter what we adopt as a policy there is going to be some growing pains for a while there is going to be a time in which it is difficult for those boots on the ground but we are committed from the district office on down to supporting our staff and our kids.” After months of discussion and getting feedback from the community it was decided that the device rules would differ for each grade level “Our kids are different at different age groups,” said David A the district’s Chief Communications Officer and the team felt it was appropriate that they pay attention to that and have regulations that track with the different ages and their developmental stages.” the new policy states personal electronic devices should stay in backpacks or personal storage bins during the school day All devices brought to school need to be silenced or set to “school” or “do not disturb” mode personal electronic devices must be stored in the student’s locker or a spot designated by school administration during the school day Students can access their devices at their lockers during the passing period All devices should be placed on silent or “do not disturb” mode during school hours Headphones and earbuds can only be used with school devices and with teachers approval to support learning Superintendent Personal Electronic Device Rec. Part 2 Pptx (4) by gswartz00 on Scribd should be silenced and stored during class Teachers may provide a secure storage option in their classroom Devices can be used between classes and at lunch but must be silenced and put away during class time unless used for learning with a teacher’s approval In the Superintendent’s report during the Board of Education meeting the new personal electronic device policy follows the district’s Level 1 Disciplinary Action Chart First offenses call for an informal talk by a staff member and a parent or guardian may be contacted with discipline escalating upon repeat offenses and Shawnee Mission East High School all spoke on how rules similar to this policy have already been implemented at their schools “Much of what’s in this policy has been our practice,” said Smith we don’t expect it to be that much different We are going to spend the next three weeks making sure we get the word out and making sure our teachers and students understand it and then we will implement it.” Smith says the Superintendent will be bringing back data at the end of the year to look at the roll out of the new policy and how the policy is working He says this policy will be part of an ongoing conversation on how to address personal electronic device use at district school Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Shawnee was a devout woman of faith who loved to share Jesus with everyone she met She had a special gift and calling to love and encourage people and to make everyone feel special knew that her life revolved around spending time with her grandchildren and babysitting her granddogs she worked many years in the convenient store business and was the first manager of Pockets.  to the late Dudley Dinkins and the late Shirley O’Bryant Dinkins to Gary Wayne Reddick who survives of Paris Veronica (Bobby) Morris and family of Greenfield Joe (Misty) Reddick and family of Greenfield Reese Reddick and Ryder Reddick; a special niece Charlie Dinkins; and many more loved family members she was also preceded in death by one brother Johnny Dinkins Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home A private graveside service was held at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery Serving as pallbearers were family members.  This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors — The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education approved a new policy Monday covering cell phones and other personal electronic devices Michael Schumacher presented his final recommendations on the new policy during the board's meeting Monday night The Board approved the recommendations with a 6-1 vote The new policy is based on recommendations for elementary The plan also includes disciplinary actions if students do not abide by the plan More information about the policy is available online