Month: October 2015

Former Manhattan city attorney indicted on child porn charges

The former city attorney of Manhattan, Kan., is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., today on charges of distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Bill D. Raymond, 53, Andover, Kan., is charged with three counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in November 2014, February 2015 and May 2015 in Butler and Riley counties.

A federal grand jury indicted Raymond on Sept. 30, 2015.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years on each distribution count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.

Time remains to purchase tickets for KCKCC’s 4.0 Gala

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

With less than one month to go before the Kansas City Kansas Community College 4.0 Gala, organizers are making final preparations to make sure it is an evening to remember.

The 4.0 Gala is Oct. 24 at Lake Quivira. AT&T is the Presenting Sponsor for the 4.0 Gala. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The program begins at 8 p.m.

During the program, two awards will be given. Former mayor of Bonner Springs, Clausie Smith, will receive the Wyandotte Countian of the Year, and Bishop Ervin Sims Jr. will receive the KCKCC Distinguished Alumni Award. Individual tickets are $100, and the gala is black tie optional.

“The KCKCC 4.0 Gala is a fundraising event that helps to provide funds, through donations, auctions and other fun events that take place during the evening,” said Dawanna Fangohr, committee chair for the KCKCC 4.0 Gala. “This enables us to provide scholarships to students who often find themselves with little or no options to get an education.”

The purpose of the Wyandotte Countian of the Year Award is to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the Wyandotte community. To qualify for the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award, nominees must have either attended or graduated from KCKCC. Nominations were made earlier this year for both awards, and a committee selected the honorees.

In addition to the program and dinner, there will be a live auction by the Nigro Brothers as well as a silent auction. Among the auction items are Kansas City Chiefs tickets, a signed Kansas City Chiefs football, a suite to the Missouri Mavericks and more.

“This is the perfect time to bid on some great auction items while fundraising for scholarships. We will also be recognizing Clausie Smith with the Wyandotte Countian of the Year Award and Bishop Ervin Sims Jr. with the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award. Both award winners are being recognized for their outstanding contributions,” Fangohr said. “This is also a terrific opportunity to get to know some of our scholarship recipients.”

For more information about the 4.0 Gala, contact Dawanna Fangohr at 913-288-7675 or by email at [email protected].

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Bonner Springs elementary teacher named ‘teacher of year’

Beau Bragg, physical education teacher at Bonner Springs Elementary School, was recently named the 2015 Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

This past year, Bragg was named a member of the Kansas Teacher of the Year team, serving as an advocate for public education across the state.

He said the experience was humbling, and recognition in any form is always gratifying.

“It’s such an honor to be noticed for my contributions to students, staff and the Bonner Springs community,” Bragg said. “Receiving the notification that I have been selected as KAHPERD Elementary Educator of the Year, by a committee of other physical educators that do what I do every day, is truly an honor.”

This award also gives Bragg a nomination for National Teacher of the Year through the S.H.A.P.E. America and Central District organizations. Bragg said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to represent Kansas educators and the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville district.

“I will do my best to continue to serve the profession and represent our state at the next level,” he said.

Bragg will be recognized at the KAHPERD state awards banquet on Oct. 29 in Wichita.

KAHPERD represents physical education professionals across the state. Each year the organization selects an elementary and secondary educator to represent the state.
– Story from Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Public Schools