Month: June 2015

Residents to explore transitions from career to next stage of life

by Karen Hostetler

As we face a new stage of life after leaving our primary career, how can we pave the way and conquer the uncertainties?

“Three Transition Stories: Discovering What’s Next After Your Primary Career” is the topic of a forum that will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kan. Light refreshments and an opportunity to network will be available from 6 to 6:15 p.m. before the beginning of the forum.

Mary Lou Jaramillo, former president-CEO of El Centro, will be the moderator of a panel consisting of NedRa Bonds, Lorrie Eigles, and Carol Heil. They will discuss and answer questions about how they made decisions as to when to leave their primary careers, how to face uncertainties, and how they discovered what came next in their lives.

NedRa Bonds majored in American studies and was involved in the field of education, but now is a fiber artist, specializing in quilts, dolls, and soft sculpture. She uses her talents to share messages about social justice and to teach and preserve history.

Lorrie Eigles has a bachelor’s degree in art, sociology and American studies and a master’s degree in counseling. She has worked in government, education, and corporate and small business settings. She is currently a visual artist, a life, career and retirement coach, and writes “Lorrie’s Learnings” e-articles.

Carol Heil retired as executive director for the Arts Council of Johnson County in December 2008, applied to the Peace Corps in March 2009 and served in the Peace Corps’ South African Program January 2011-March 2013.

For more information and to register, contact Karen Hostetler at karenh@sckck.org or the library at 913-596-5807 or www.kckpl.org (Go to Events/June 23/Next Chapter KC Forum). The forum is co-sponsored by the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library and Next Chapter Kansas City, which is a program of Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City, Kan.

Karen Hostetler is the Next Chapter KC director.

Supreme Court upholds consecutive sentences in KCK double-murder case

The Kansas Supreme Court today upheld the consecutive sentences of a man who pleaded guilty to two counts of felony murder in connection with an arson and fatal fire.

Curtis T. Horn
Curtis T. Horn

Curtis T. Horn appealed the two consecutive sentences of 20 years each that he received in Wyandotte County District Court.

The Supreme Court said there was no abuse of discretion by the district court judge, as had been argued by the defendant. “Based on the case facts, a reasonable person could agree with the district court’s decision to run the sentences consecutively,” the court stated in its opinion today.

According to court documents, Horn had pleaded guilty to two counts of felony murder in the Feb. 2, 2013, deaths of his past girlfriend, Brandi Johnson, and Johnson’s 2-year-old niece, Amiyah McClenton.

Court documents stated that Horn admitted at a plea hearing that he intentionally set fire to the apartment building near 76th Drive and Garfield. Horn had first strangled Johnson, then set the fire that killed McClenton, according to court documents.

The district judge in the case stated during sentencing: “In this case, however, it was the actions of [Horn] immediately after he strangled [Johnson] that are truly troubling and truly horrific. [McClenton] was not yet three years old . . ., yet [Horn], for reasons only known to him, decided she could be used as a witness against him as she observed him causing the death of [Johnson]. Defendant placed the child in a bedroom and lit the apartment on fire. Young [McClenton] eventually died of smoke inhalation. . . She was not yet able to even have dreams of what her life could be. Her life ended suddenly, tragically, inexplicably.”

At the sentencing, Horn had expressed remorse for his actions and said he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol on the day of the crimes.

Horn also had been charged by the district attorney with endangering 15 children who were at the apartments when the fire was set.

The scenes of the murders and fire in February 2013 near 76th and Garfield Drive in Kansas City, Kan. (File photo)
The scene of the murders and fire in February 2013 near 76th Drive and Garfield in Kansas City, Kan. (File photo)

Veterinarian explains how to reduce risk of animals getting West Nile virus

Mosquito season is arriving early thanks to recent weather patterns, which means it’s time to start prevention measures a little sooner — not only for humans, but also for susceptible pets.

“Our weather patterns have been quite abrupt and with the moisture that we’ve had, coupled with the really warm temperatures, mosquitoes are really taking off,” said Elizabeth Davis, professor and section head of equine medicine and surgery at Kansas State University. “The Kansas Department of Health and Environment mosquito surveillance in the state of Kansas has found that the levels of Culex mosquitoes, which effectively transmit West Nile virus, are already higher than they were in all of 2014.”

The levels now are even greater than the levels observed in June 2013 when the state of Kansas had 92 human West Nile cases. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has already confirmed one positive case this year.

Reducing the risk of West Nile virus in humans, horses and other animals is about taking precautions early, Davis says. For certain animals like horses, vaccines are an option.

“Right now is the ideal time to vaccinate your horse if you have not done so already,” Davis said. “Working with your veterinarian to design an ideal protocol is a great way to know that you are protecting your horse against all possible disease threats. Once the vaccine has been administered, it usually takes about two weeks to get a good booster reaction and that protection is going to last at least six months. If you vaccinate now, you’re going to have horses that are very well protected through the warm weather, which in this area is going to extend through early October.”

While West Nile virus does not cause disease in small animals like dogs and cats, Davis said that mosquitoes can transmit various infectious diseases as well as a parasite that can cause heartworm disease in dogs and cats. Therefore, for many reasons it is beneficial to minimize mosquito populations.

Minimizing mosquito populations at this time of year can have several benefits, according to Davis.

“Ways that we can do that are to identify areas that mosquito breeding might be taking place, such as standing water in old tires, a water trough or even a birdbath. Empty those as soon as possible,” Davis said. “If you need to leave water out for your animals, clean those areas at least once a week, if not more frequently, and that will really diminish the number of mosquito populations that are breeding and potentially harboring this virus.”

Symptoms of West Nile vary in humans and animals, but the virus is potentially deadly to both. For humans, symptoms can range from a headache and fever to swelling of the brain and death. For horses, symptoms range from mild — fever or change of appetite — to severe, such as neurologic disorders.

For questions about how to protect your animals, contact your local veterinarian or the Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center at 785-532-5700.