April 2016 – Page 54 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

State files brief in Gannon case

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt this evening filed with the Kansas Supreme Court the state’s brief in Gannon v. Kansas.

The brief argues that Senate Substitute for House Bill 2655, a school-finance bill signed into law last week by Gov. Sam Brownback, satisfies the requirements of the prior Supreme Court order regarding the equitable funding of public schools.

The brief argues that the court’s threat to close schools should be withdrawn because the new law meets the Kansas Constitution’s requirement for equitable funding.

According to the brief, even if the court remains dissatisfied with the Legislature’s work, the new law makes clear the court should sever and strike down only those parts of the law that violate the Constitution rather than striking down the state’s entire school-funding system.

Oral arguments are expected in the case at 9 a.m. May 10.

A copy of the brief is available at http://1.usa.gov/1W5763A.

KCKCC divides at Allen; will honor Mike Haen on Saturday

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Coming off a split at Allen County Thursday, Kansas City Kansas Community College will honor the late Mike Haen prior to the Blue Devils’ home doubleheader Saturday.

The Blue Devils held off Allen County for a 9-7 win but left the 9-inning nightcap on the bases in a 6-1 setback at Iola. The split kept the Blue Devils (18-8) in second place in the Jayhawk East two games back of Neosho County (20-6) and two games ahead of Allen and Johnson County, both 16-10; and three in front of Cowley and Fort Scott, both 15-11.

Prior to Saturday’s home twin bill with Allen County, the family of Mike Haen will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at 12:45 p.m. Named head KCKCC baseball coach in 1978, Haen was accidentally shot and killed while serving as a reserve police officer.

A popular instructor at KCKCC where he taught in the Social Science Division, the KCK Police Academy bears the name of Dr. Michael Haen Police Academy. Haen’s widow, Joanne Haen of KCK; their three children, Pier, Micah and Nichole; and other family members are expected for the first pitch.

Standout relief pitching by freshman Avery Fliger saved KCKCC in its opener at Allen County. Fliger came on after Allen had scored three runs to cut the KCKCC lead to 7-6 and slammed the door on the Red Devils, allowing only three hits and one runs in four innings. The only run off Fliger came on a leadoff home run by Torrence Sumerlin in the seventh.

Eli Lovell swung the big bat for the Blue Devils, driving in four runs with a two-run double, two-run home run and a single while Drew Holtgrieve and Chase Redick each homered.

Three of the home runs came in a 4-run first inning, Redick led off the game with a home run, Lovell hit a 2-run shot and Holtgrieve a solo round tripper. Lovell helped the Blue Devils open a 7-1 lead with a 2 run double following the first of two singles by Conor Behrens and a walk and later scored on a ground ball. Singles by Albert Woodard and Behrens added an insurance run in the sixth and the Blue Devils got another on two Allen errors in the seventh.

The Blue Devils rapped out a dozen hits in the nightcap but left 11 runners on base. KCKCC had at least one hit in every inning but one only to have Allen’s Jake Butterfield turn back every scoring opportunity but one, mainly with nine strikeouts and a defense that turned two double plays.

“He pitched well,” said KCKCC coach Matt Goldbeck.

The Blue Devils’ lone run came in the second on singles by Zach Mahoney, Easton Fortuna and Redick. Woodard, Fortuna, Redick and Ryan Fisher had two singles each for the Blue Devils, who were without an extra base hit for the first time this season. Brandon Reid took the loss, giving up single runs in each of the first three innings and a pair of home runs in a 3-run fifth.

Lampson reappointed chief judge of 29th judicial district

Judge Wayne Lampson has been reappointed to a two-year term as chief judge of the 29th judicial district, according to the Kansas Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss announced the appointment, which is effective Feb. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2017.

Lampson has served as a district judge in the 29th judicial district since 1995. He presides over cases in Wyandotte County.

“We are glad that Judge Lampson agreed to serve another two years as chief judge, providing continuity in capable leadership in the 29th judicial district,” said Justice Nuss, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court.

“I am honored to continue serving as chief judge for the 29th judicial district,” Lampson said. “I look forward to working with all members of the court to better serve the people of Kansas.”

Lampson is a native of Kansas and graduated from Emporia State University and the University of Tulsa School of Law. Before being appointed to the bench, Lampson served as the Wyandotte County counselor, worked in both the district attorney’s office and the city attorney’s office, and was in private practice in Wyandotte County.

Each of Kansas’ 31 judicial districts has a chief judge who, in addition to his or her judicial responsibilities, has general control over case assignments within the district, as well as general supervisory authority over the administrative and clerical functions of the court.