News

Leavenworth County jurors have acquitted a man of a murder charge but found him guilty of racketeering, according to a news release from the County Attorney's Office.

Depaul Leavenworth Attainable Housing is holding its second annual sleep out fundraiser June 7 on the lawn of the First United Methodist Church, 422 Chestnut St. The event starts at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. “It’s an evening of hospitality,” said LAH director Sister Amy Willcott. “We’re trying to emphasize the event of hospitality more because it’s a dinner where people sit down and share a meal.” There will also be lawn games and a chance to hear from city and program leaders who will talk about how the LAH program is working to house the formerly homeless in the community.The dinner will be catered by Terry Booker and served outside. “It’s not really a picnic but eating outside in solidarity with people who don’t have the opportunity to eat inside,” Willcott said. “The sleep out part is sort of also in solidarity with those who have to sleep outside.”Willcott said that sleeping out is optional, though. People can also participate virtually.“Go home and have an awareness of gratitude,” Willcott said. She pointed out that some people are considered homeless because they no longer have stable homes, so they may couch surf or are living in their cars. “They don’t have money to pay rent and so next week they’re going to be without a house,” Willcott said. “So, homeless is not only our brothers and sisters who sleep at the shelter or on a sidewalk. There are others who are without stable housing.”Depaul Leavenworth Attainable Housing is a wrap-around program that extends beyond the services offered by Interfaith Community of Hope shelter to help individuals retain permanent housing. The program addresses a full spectrum of issues that may result in homelessness. “Our program is the kind of social circle of support that is not just the house that people have. It’s also somebody that checks on them and helps them with things like health care, mental health care, finances - and someone to check in with them once a week,” Willcott said. “Any one of us can have a tragedy in our lives that puts us in a tailspin. Sometimes it causes homelessness.”The LAH program is supported through donations and sponsorships. In 2023, LAH had acquired nine houses for individuals who were formerly unhoused. The program has now acquired 17 properties for housing. “Every person (accepted into the program) pays a third of their income for the house. They are working or they have an income like if it’s an elderly person,” said Willcott.Willcott said that the event helps spark more discussions about homelessness solutions. “Let’s collectively put together our civic will to help our brothers and sisters,” Willcott said. A ticket to Friday’s event can be purchased in advance for the catered dinner and evening festivities ($30/adult and $15/children under 12) by contacting Willcott at awillcott@scls.org or call 913-297-2965 or by visiting the event website, depaulusa.networkforgood.com/events/66421-leavenworth-2nd-annual-sleepout

Students in the Basehor-Linwood High School Innovation Academy recently put their talents to work to design a USD 458-themed wrap for the vehicle driven by Basehor Police Department’s School Resource Officer Jennifer LeManske. The Innovation Academy is a project-based program designed to give students an opportunity to work on projects and collaborate with community partners to earn credit for multiple classes in one project design. This program supports real world, personalized learning that is set within a flexible learning environment.Four sophomores, Carson Dixon, Cole Hofer, Nathan Martin and Jacob Sharp, put together the project with each student tying their portion of the project to their individual course content including classes for graphic design, marketing and business essentials.Working directly with LeManske, the team developed several designs and prototypes to present to the Basehor Police Department administration as well as members of the school district. After hearing feedback and suggestions, they came up with the final design. That design was unveiled at the Innovation Academy Showcase, set up prominently at the entrance to the event so everyone entering the event would be able to see it. The vehicle was also positioned in a shady spot so the under-glow lights could be seen.That design incorporates the primary district colors of green and gold as well as the Basehor-Linwood Bobcat logo. All district school logos are also part of the overall design, keeping in mind that the vehicle is primarily an emergency vehicle, but it also captured each school’s pride and spirit. LeManske spent time explaining how each element of the design was important not only for her ability to respond to a call for service, but also keeping her and everyone around her safe during that time.“The students worked on all aspects of design and implementation of the car wrap. They even spent time peeling the previous decals off of the vehicle to prepare it for the wrap. The project culminated at the Innovation Showcase when they had the big reveal and were able to share the final product and all of their hard work with fellow students, staff and their parents and community,” said Jana Rochel, BLHS digital media communications teacher.LeManske is finishing her second school year as a school resource officer with the Basehor-Linwood school district. She is the sole SRO in the district and works with all students ranging from preschoolers to high school. While she spends most of her time at BLHS, she especially enjoys getting to know the younger students and letting them get comfortable with her and her presence at the schools. She also occasionally brings other Basehor Police Department officers with her to events at schools to visit with students.LeManske said that Basehor Police Chief Kevin Self looked for a great opportunity like this project to partner with students and have those students connect with law enforcement. She also gave the students direction to have the final design reflect what sets Basehor apart from other school districts in the metropolitan area.“This project was a huge opportunity for the students to get exposure and experience. The overall sense of pride when they saw the finished project was priceless. I could not be more proud of how much work, effort and pride they put into this project. We shoot for the absolute best from our academics, athletics and our school pride and I wanted them to set our patrol vehicle apart from others and they did just that,” she said.LeManske said she was thankful for the project as it brought together students and law enforcement. An adding blessing was getting to meet parents at the unveiling to hear how the project has impacted their son.The new patrol car will be on display and will be part of the competition at this summer’s Kansas Juvenile Officers Association conference in Wichita.

Jury selection was expected to begin Monday morning in the trial of a man accused of murdering someone whose body was found in a burning vehicle in Leavenworth County.

A Tonganoxie man has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for a 2022 crash that resulted in his son's death.