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A representative of an immigrant rights organization expressed opposition to a recent County Commission proclamation that proclaimed Leavenworth County as "non-sanctuary."

The Leavenworth Police Department is providing extra foot patrols at the Wolman Aquatic Center after receiving reports of guns at the public pool, a police official said.

Two Basehor-Linwood Middle School eighth-grade students recently placed first in the Kansas Youth State Bass Fishing Tournament and have qualified for the organization’s national tournament. Reed Rochel and Hudson Komarek are members of the Bobcat Bass fishing club. The two students have fished together as a team for three years.Bobcat Bass is a community club, not affiliated with the Basehor-Linwood school district. Anglers from ages 8 through seniors in high school comprise the team with members from Basehor, Lansing, Leavenworth, Piper and McLouth. There are 16 youth members and 14 high school members in the club.Preliminary qualifying tournaments are held throughout the state including lakes in Perry, Melvern and Wilson. The state competition was held at Melvern in late April and was part of the Bass Federation of Kansas State Tournament. Reed and Hudson competed against three other teams and were the only team to catch a qualifying bass. Weather was a factor the day of the tournament as wind picked up throughout the day, making it increasingly more difficult to fish where they wanted.“These boys worked so hard through the year with ups and downs and battled bad weather, but saved their best outing for the tournament that matters most,” said Brian Hutchinson, president of Bobcat Bass.Scott Komarek is Hudson’s dad and in his third season as Reed and Hudson’s boat captain. He grew up fishing and spent many summers with his parents and brother at Lake Wilson or fishing in their farm pond. Scott has enjoyed watching the boys mature and develop as anglers over those three years. His responsibility is to run the motor and take them where they want to fish. While he still gives them some guidance and tips, Reed and Hudson are responsible for tying their own knots, netting the fish, fixing tangled reels and unsnagging their lines.“We didn’t have fishing clubs like this growing up so having the opportunity to do something like this has been great. I think it has been as much fun for me as it has been for the boys. My goal for this year is to get them ready for high school angling,” Komarek said.There are 11 bass fishing clubs throughout Kansas and teams can fish in five different tournament trails. Each trail has a championship and winners and other members who place high enough earn a berth to a national championship. The Bass Federation National Tournament will be held July 23-26 at Lake Hartwell, South Carolina.Jana Rochel is Reed’s mom and couldn’t be prouder of her son. “As a mom, I am very proud of the hard work and determination these boys have put into fishing. They have braved the elements and had some good days and not so good days on the water. It is so nice to see them earn this accomplishment,” Jana said.Information about Bobcat Bass can be found on the organization’s Facebook page. Specific inquiries can be sent to the group’s email, bobcatbassinfo@gmail.com.

Hundreds attended the funeral of a beloved Warren Middle School teacher Tuesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Leavenworth. The burial followed at Mount Muncie Cemetery. Noah Jason Bryant, 22, was the victim of a random shooting May 14 in North Kansas City. Bryant was critically injured in the assault, and the family was told at the hospital that he would not survive. He was pronounced dead May 15 and put on life support, pending his family’s decision to consent to organ donation.“I was torn about that. I really didn’t want to do it, so I told them ‘Let me think about that,’” said his mother, Michele Bryant. However, it was discovered that Noah Bryant had already signed his driver’s license permitting organ donation.“He made that decision for us,” said Michele Bryant. On May 17, around 300 supporters lined the North Kansas City ICU hallways for an honor walk as the family accompanied Noah Bryant to the surgical room. His final gifts saved the lives of seven organ recipients. Noah Bryant’s final act of service matched the way he lived, his family said. “I’m not sad just because he was my brother,” said his sister Grace Bryant. “He was so much more. Noah was too big for this earth. That’s probably the best way I could put it. He was every single good thing.”Noah was a 2020 graduate of Leavenworth High School. He had a beautiful singing voice, his family said. In 2018, the high school put on a production of “Newsies.” Bryant got the part of Joseph Pulitzer. “The director wanted him to look older for the part, so Noah grew a beard,” said Michele Bryant. “He was one of the few 16-year-olds who could grow a full beard. After that, he kept the beard.”Noah Bryant was the life of the family gatherings, the family said. He could also be counted on to be the problem solver.“If you needed anything, you called Noah,” said his uncle, Jason Wiggin. Last year, Noah became a substitute teacher at Warren Middle School, where his mother and his father, Virgil Bryant, also work. “We both work at Warren Middle School, so he got a job there as a building sub,” Michele Bryant said. “And the kids there just loved him. It was great because he was slight in size, but he was the biggest personality in the room. He was able to make a connection with those kids that was amazing.”Noah Bryant was very family-centered, the family said. His brother, Benny Bryant, 15, who just finished eighth grade at Warren Middle School, said Noah always came to his football games to support him.“He was a great brother,” said Benny Bryant. “He was the coolest person. I just wanted to be around him. It feels really great when you have someone you think is so awesome who cares about you, too.”Grace Bryant, who just wrapped up her freshman year at the University of Saint Mary, said her brother was in constant contact with support.“He was always showing up and supporting me in all of my activities,” Grace Bryant said. “I graduated from Leavenworth High School. I played soccer and cross country. And if I wanted my brother there, he would be there, no matter what.”The Bryant family said they have been deeply touched by the messages from the community telling stories about how Noah affected their lives as well. Michele Bryant read from one of the messages she received from Amy Troyer, who hired Noah as a teaching sub for Warren last year. Troyer wrote:“I think that very first day after I met Noah, I connected with you to tell you that I just loved him – his energy, his presence, his immediate alignment with what I shared was important to me and my team, Noah is just a whole vibe. Something I never told you, though, was how it was so clear to me was that he was raised with so much love in your family, it set him up to be the kind of person who is so firm in his foundation that he had an abundance of love to give to others who needed it. And he put himself out there to do something different. His servant’s heart just shined.” Theresa Wiggin spoke at the funeral about the effects Noah had on the family.“He merged our souls with his and to each other,” she said. “He kept us together as a family. He captivated us, so we wanted to be near him always. His brightness is all around us and will continue to be around us if we but listen to that small, still voice. Noah is ours forever, for all time and eternity.”At the funeral on Tuesday at the church, Virgil Bryant gave the eulogy.“If you believe in the heavenly father, then just know that there is also an adversary. And today, I will not allow the adversary to take that joy,” he said. “I encourage you to do the same thing. There are way too many beautiful moments and memories for the adversary to come in here and steal that away. That’s what the adversary wants. The purpose of the adversary is disruption, distraction, to belittle our heavenly father. I will not allow the adversary to do that. I encourage you all to keep your faith strong, and pray, and together we will stand against negativity. We will stand against the adversary.”