Tuesday, April 30, 2019

MSSU mourns the passing of Ruth Kolpin Rubison

(From Southern News Service)

Officials at Missouri Southern State University are remembering Ruth Kolpin Rubison, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 96.

A longtime Carthage resident, she was considered a pioneer in radio, television and cable television – and was hugely instrumental in the broadcast program at MSSU.

In 2008, KGCS moved to channel 22 and began broadcasting a digital signal, which allowed it to reach more than 167,000 households in Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma. The changes were made possible by a generous donation from the Ruth I. Kolpin Foundation. As a result, the KGCS studios were named in her honor.








“Not only was she recognized as the first Pioneer Broadcast Award recipient for her significant career, she helped strengthen the foundation for our television station and our students for future success,” said Judy Stiles, general manager of KGCS.

“Her financial support for our digital upgrade allowed KGCS to continue to serve the region. Her generosity in establishing an endowed scholarship continues to help Missouri Southern broadcast students pursue their education and career goals, and her financial support through her foundation provides key support for our annual Regional Media Hall of Fame and Media Showcase events.”

“Ruth Kolpin was a wonderful person with a heart of gold,” said Dr. Alan Marble, president of MSSU. “Her extraordinary generosity will have a positive impact on the students, faculty, and staff of Missouri Southern for generations to come. With her passing, our community lost a treasure, but heaven gained an angel.”


Joplin R-8 Board committee to discuss major financial items for 2019-2020

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education's Finance, Salary and Benefits Commitee will hear a preliminary review of major financial items for the 2029-2010 school year from Dr. Ron Lankford, assistant superintendent of business services when it meets 4 p.m. today in the Memorial Education Building

Paul Richardson: Not all communication is done through social media

(Paul Richardson's The Horse I Rode In On column runs weekly in the Neosho Daily News, Seneca News-Dispatch, and on the Turner Report.)

If you missed the Bowl-A-Thon hosted by The Clay Cup or the Blessing of the Bikes on the Historic Downtown Square, hopefully you were at one of the many other events taking place in and around Neosho at the same time.

Notable events are taking place weekly along with many other smaller more personal affairs. If you encounter someone complaining about nothing to do, then either they have totally isolated themselves or they desperately need guidance. Please help them!

I understand that not everyone uses social media, so accessing Neosho Area Community Events may not be an option. Not everyone receives this publication that you are now reading. That may not be an option. Their only option may be the one where someone takes a moment, shares a cup of coffee and discusses the calendar for the upcoming week. That may be the task that has fallen on your shoulders. 








Many of the events that are occurring in the community never find their way to a television commercial or broadcast on the radio. Nor are they placed on flyers and distributed by hand throughout the community. The times are not just a changin’, the change has come and gone with the mass of the population now finding their information in a whole new way.

Having had some experience with communicating with the masses, through a business that we owned, working in sales, and working in public relations, it is difficult to determine how people obtain their information. 

In a conversation that I had recently, another individual that works in an area of sales stated that you must ask. That is a common practice taught to sales staff. Just ask the customer and their always helpful and accurate response will fulfill your needs.

Having stated that with tongue in cheek, that method will work if you have a face-to-face with a customer and if they are accurate in their response. If you are trying to bring people into an event, a face-to-face may never happen and especially not with everyone. An event drawing thousands of people in attendance will not offer the opportunity for individual contact.

Many businesses have gone the route of soliciting surveys as a follow-up method. A good survey requires special construction in the questions in order to eliminate the few that would try to play with your mind by offering weird responses. 








Once the weird is removed from the equation, then one needs to deal with accuracy and precision, or let’s state that another way, validity and reliability issues. 

On top of all these details, not everyone will respond to a survey, so then you are required to take on the process of putting lipstick on the pig and trying to get as many as possible to dance with it. 

Depending upon the survey, a number exists that must be reached for the survey to statistical viability. Many retailers offer coupons, discounts or giveaways to compel their customers to participate. This is not always or may never be a solution for an event. As you see, the complexity of surveys has taken up an entire paragraph and I only touched on the high points.

It appears that anything less than getting the entire hive telepathically connected, the only solution is to utilize every possible method and then fall back to some of the ancient ways. 

One might just need to disconnect from their devices, forget about social media, stop and smell the roses while sipping a cup of coffee during polite conversation and a discussion of what is going on in the community. 

Heaven forbid that we meet in the park to play chess or sit down for a game of dominoes or whatever your poison may be in a card game. That would require human interaction and eye contact.

As for everyone who got the word, we all came together, watched the potters and others threw some clay, while some actually made some bowls, or everyone looked at some bikes depending on which event you were at, engaged in some other fun activities and all the while ate, visited and had a generally good time. For those that didn’t make it, sorry you missed the fun! Maybe you will be there next time.


Ed Martin: Young teachers want to negotiate their contracts without unions

(From Phyllis Schlafly Eagles)

A new survey this month conducted by the nonprofit Teacher Freedom shows that a growing number of younger teachers (aged 35 and under) want the freedom to negotiate their salaries and pay packages without Union involvement.

"A new generation of teachers are finding that the one-size-fits-all negotiating and political mafia style of national unions just don't work for them," said Ed Martin, president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles. "This is really no surprise, as giant monopoly unions have entrenched themselves into particular industries, almost completely eliminating freedom and choice from certain industries.










"Some states have already started to move against public union monopolies and the rising generation of young teachers might just fuel that fire even hotter. Public unions have become a particular blight on America, taking hundreds of millions and funneling them to partisan political causes. We are ready to help these teachers fight for a better free market and decimate the influence of these huge political mafias we call labor unions."

(Editor's note: Martin conveniently fails to note that Teachers Freedom, the not-for-profit that conducted the survey he bases this on, is an organization that was created to eliminate teacher unions.)


Long time area music teacher pleads not guilty to felony statutory rape, sodomy charges

Long time area music teacher Robert Andrew Pommert, 60, Joplin, waived his formal arraignment on felony charges of statutory rape and statutory sodomy Monday in Newton County Circuit Court and pleaded not guilty.

Pommer was bound over for trial following a February 25 preliminary hearing.








Pommert, 60, who has worked as an instructor at Ozark Christian College and Crowder College and who taught guitar at Palen Music in Joplin for more than 20 years, was arrested by the Newton County Sheriff's Office August 23 on the basis of information provided to investigators by the clinical child therapist at the Children's Center in Joplin, who reported receiving disturbing information from a three-year-old girl that indicated to her the child had been "exposed to inappropriate sexual behavior," according to the probable cause statement.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 3.


Monday, April 29, 2019

Former Jasper fireman sentenced to 15 years for child molestation

Former Jasper Fire Protection District chief engineer was sentenced to 15 years in prison today in Jasper County Circuit Court on a charge of child molestation in the first degree.

According to the terms of the plea bargain, Jarred Taffner is required to serve the entire sentence.








As part of the deal, the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office dismissed a second chlid molestation charge and two charges of statutory sodomy.

Taffner had molested the child four times between January 2017 and March 2018, according to the probable cause statement.








Clean Missouri: Don't let gerrymandering proposal advance in Senate

(From Clean Missouri)

The Missouri House just sent their gerrymandering proposal — HJR48 — to the state senate.

This new constitutional amendment would not only undo the voters' mandate for fair maps and fair redistricting — it would make our redistricting process more political than it was before the landslide passage of Amendment 1.

We can’t let them ignore the will of the people. Contact your Senator right now and tell them to protect fair maps and shut down this gerrymandering scheme.










HJR48 is politicians' plan to allow gerrymandering in Missouri — and we need your help to stop it in the Senate. If passed:

-Political appointees could rig maps to advance their own interests;

-Lobbyists and political appointees could split communities in the name of 'compactness;’

-And independence added to process with state demographer role would be gone.

We can’t look back on this moment thinking we could have done more to stop HJR48. Contact your Senator and tell them to stand with voters and protect fair maps.

Contact your senator now.

Three Joplin R-8 teachers receive Golden Apple awards

(From Joplin Schools)

Teachers play a vital role in the lives of our children. The purpose of the Golden Apple Awards Program is to recognize excellence in the teaching profession and to inform the public of the exceptional quality of instruction in the Joplin community.

It is also an opportunity to recognize the importance of education and the tremendous resource we have in our teaching professionals. 








Eighty-six Joplin teachers were nominated for Golden Apple awards, which reward local educators. Teachers can be nominated by students, parents or other teachers. The Golden Apple awards program is in its 34th year. The awards by grade level:

Kindergarten to second grade: Betsy James, Cecil Floyd Elementary School.

Third to fifth grade: Lauren Frieden, Stapleton Elementary School.

Sixth to eighth grade: Heather Van Otterloo, South Middle School.

Ann Wagner: Foreign aid can keep Guatemalsns from making dangerous trip to U. S.

(From Second District Congresswoman Ann Wagner)

Last week, I traveled to Guatemala to meet the U.S. Embassy’s Migration Working Group and explore how foreign aid is helping alleviate the migration crisis on our southern border.

Ninety percent of Guatemalan migrants come to the U.S. to expand their families’ income. But Guatemalan families told me they desperately want to create economic opportunities in their own country. 

I met youth who are trying to make a living in agriculture and handicrafts but have no access to formal banking; with the help of the U.S., they established a savings and loan program to lift their village out of poverty. 










I also met Sandra, an indigenous Mayan woman who built an agricultural cooperative that employs 500 women and exports vegetables to Trader Joe’s. I met many indigenous women who are healing from domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking thanks to American assistance. 

U.S. foreign aid gives women and youth the training and opportunities they need to achieve prosperity in Guatemala and not make the dangerous trip to our southern border.



Carthage radio pioneer, philanthropist Ruth Kolpin dead at 96

Carthage radio and cable television pioneer Ruth Kolpin Rubison died Saturday at age 96.

Rubison and her family have owned KDMO-AM and KXML-FM in Carthage since 1963.

She was also responsible for bringing cable television to Carthage and other area communities.







She was inducted into the National Cable Television Pioneers Association in 1988 and in 1992 received the international Athena Award. She was the first recipient of the Pioneer Broadcasters Award from MSSU in 1997 and she is a past recipient of the Richard M. Webster Citizen of the Year Award presented by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.

Missouri Southern television programming comes from the Ruth Kolpin Studio, which was upgraded and modernized to digital technology thanks to her contributions.

A complete obituary will be published later on Inside Joplin Obituaries.




GOP schemes to overturn will of Missouri voters

(From Rep. Ingrid Burnett, D-Kansas City)

I have received a lot of emails concerned about the efforts of some Republican legislators to undermine the intent of the recently approved Amendment 1 called Clean Missouri.

Under this scheme, Missouri voters would be asked to completely scrap a new process for redistricting state legislative seats that they just ratified in November under Clean Missouri. The House granted preliminary approval on April 23 by a vote of 100-49. I voted in opposition with nearly all Democrats and a few Republicans.

Voters ratified Amendment 1, dubbed Clean Missouri, with 62 percent support less than six months ago to completely overhaul how new House and Senate districts are drawn. 

Under the new system, a nonpartisan demographer will oversee redistricting and be charged with drawing maps that maximize the number of competitive districts. This system is slated to be used for the first time during the next redistricting cycle in 2021.









Republicans, who built supermajorities in both legislative chambers over the past two decades in part due to winning favorable district maps, generally opposed Clean Missouri and favored the old system in which districts were drawn by partisan commissions. 

House Joint Resolution 48 seeks to largely restore that system, although with some modifications, for the upcoming redistricting cycle.

Even if both chambers approve HJR 48, voters will still have the final say as the measure automatically would go on the November 2020 ballot for ratification. 

Given the overwhelming margin by which Clean Missouri was approved and the fact that it’s redistricting system hasn’t yet had an opportunity to be implemented, it is uncertain if voters would be willing to so soon undo what they have just done. A second House vote is required to send HJR 48 to the Senate



Sunday, April 28, 2019

Authors Fair held at Crowder College

The accompanying video from KSN/KODE offers an overview of the annual Crowder College Authors Fair, which was held Saturday.

Forty authors from three states attended. If you blink fast, you will miss Nancy Hughes, whose column appears weekly on the Turner Report and me. We are right at the beginning.

I did readings from Newton County Memories and Lost Angels during one of the morning sessions.

It was a well-organized and well-attended event.







Arraignment set for Joplin man accused of first degree murder in stabbing death

Michael J. Osborne, 32, Joplin, is scheduled to be arraigned on first degree murder charges Monday before Judge Gayle Crane in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Osborne, who allegedly stabbed Shawn Rockers, 27, Joplin, to death January 11, is also charged with armed criminal action.

He was bound over for trial following an April 11, preliminary hearing.


Hearing set for Illinois truck driver who killed eight-year-old Destiny Chambers

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled Monday morning in Jasper County Circuit Court for a DeKalb, Illinois truck driver charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the September 27 hit-and-run death of Destiny Chambers, 8, a third grader at Soaring Heights Elementary School in Joplin.

The probable cause statement says Lance T. Lee, 49, DeKalb, Illinois, hit Destiny P. Chambers, 8, at 6:55 a.m. and never stopped until he reached Strafford.








At first, Lee told the Highway Patrol he thought he hit a deer on I-44, but he changed his story, admitted being on Newman Road and said he thought he hit a mailbox.

Lee said he told his employer that he hit a deer because he could have been charged with hitting a mailbox.

Former Jasper fireman back in court Monday on child molestation charge

Former Jasper Fire Protection District chief engineer Jerred Taffner, 31, is scheduled to be back in court Monday morning for a pre-trial conference, according to online Jasper County Circuit Court records.

Taffner is charged with two counts of child molestation and two counts of statutory sodomy.

Taffner allegedly molested an underage girl at least four times over the span of a year, according to the probable cause statement.

Taffner is being held in the Jasper County Jail without bond as he awaits trial.



Hearing Monday for Joplin man charged with Christmas Eve 2017 murder

A 9 a.m. pre-trial conference is scheduled Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court for Artilius Jordan, 48, Joplin, who is charged with first degree murder in connection with the December 24, 2017 shooting death of Sean Harris, 43, Joplin.

Jordan shot Sean Harris in cold blood because he believed Harris was having sex with Jordan's girlfriend, according to the probable cause statement.

Jordan went to a home at 627 S. Byers Avenue where his girlfriend was and where Harris was visiting to confront him, according to the statement. Jordan was accompanied by Moses Ramsey and Joseph Czahor.

Harris was coming down the stairs of the apartment building when Jordan pulled a handgun and with Ramsey's encouragement, shot Harris at least twice, with one of the shots hitting him in the chest, according to the probable cause statement. Harris died at Freeman West Hospital.










Ramsey was initially also charged with first degree murder, but the charge was later dropped.

The case against Jordan has been on hold after Judge Gayle Crane ordered a mental evaluation to determine if Jordan is capable of assisting in his own defense.

As he was waiting for a bed to open at the hospital in Fulton, Jordan sent a letter to Judge Crane alleging that Jasper County jailers were putting something in his food.

In the letter, Jordan insisted he did not kill Harris.

That's not what happened and i'm going to prove it to the court, if God is willing and i am still living. 
***
Lost Angels: The Murders of Rowan Ford and Doug Ringler is available in paperback and e-book  formats from Amazon.com.

Judge suppresses former Joplin doctor's confession in child pornography case, trial set for June

When former Joplin pediatric surgeon Guy Rosenschein's trial on child pornography charges begins in June in U. S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, prosecutors will not be allowed to use his confession against him.

A federal judge ruled recently that investigators elicted Rosenschein's potentially incriminating statements by continuing to question him after he invoked his right to counsel.

Rosenschein, who had his medical privileges revoked earlier this month in Missouri, was initially arrested in November 2016.

The case against Rosenschein will still include the information that led to his questioning in the first place, including the tracing of child pornography to his IP address and the subsequent discovery of more incriminating evidence during the execution of a search warrant at the doctor's home.

The facts surrounding law enforcement questioning of Rosenschein were detailed in the judge's opinion:

On November 8, 2016, law enforcement officers executed a state court search warrant for Rosenschein’s home. He was arrested and taken to the police station by a Bernalillo County detective. There, an FBI agent interviewed Rosenschein and gathered information about his background. 


Rosenschein, a pediatric urologist who is originally from France but has lived and practiced medicine in the United States for decades, did not appear to have any problem understanding the agent, though he did speak English with an accent. 

After the interview, Rosenschein was informed of his Miranda rights and he agreed to participate in a polygraph examination administered by the agent. After the polygraph, Rosenschein participated in a two and a half hour interview with the agent, which was videotaped. This interview is the subject of Rosenschein’s motion to suppress. 










The agent began the interview by telling Rosenschein that after reviewing the results of the polygraph, he had no doubt that Rosenschein had sexually touched a minor. 


Rosenschein was noncommittal, and the agent told him that he must decide what “path” he wanted to walk because “[i]t makes a difference for you. It makes a difference for what happens to you.” 

After telling Rosenschein that he knows Rosenschein has achieved his professional goals by making some “hard choices,” the agent said, “Today is the most difficult choice you will ever have to make.” Then the agent told Rosenschein that he was the “last person in a long line of people who is going to talk to you and offer you an opportunity to be truthful but also get some help. I suspect that you are somebody who battles with urges and battles with things that give you pleasure but that you don’t feel good about.” 

After mentioning “programs” and “counseling,” The agent told Rosenschein that “if you’re honest about those things, it makes a difference. It makes a difference in the consequences you’ll face. It makes a difference in the programs that are available to you. It makes a difference in your everyday personal life because you will feel better about it . . .” 

Then Rosenschein asked, “Where do we go from here?”, and the agent told him that he should start by telling the truth “because those things make a difference for you.” Then Rosenschein said, “Maybe, maybe I should get a lawyer.” 










The agent immediately told Rosenschein that he could not go any further now that Rosenschein had made that statement, to which Rosenschein replied, “I don’t say I, I don’t want to talk. I didn’t say that.” 

The agent said that he had to be very careful at this point and added, “What I need to know is whether or not you wanna talk to me now or whether or not you wanna stop talking and get a lawyer. Because understand, if you wanna stop talking and get a lawyer, you won’t see me again. Okay?” 

Rosenschein then asked the agent what he wanted him to do, and the agent said that he wanted Rosenschein to make up his mind. The agent then stated that he could not answer Rosenschein’s question, but he could offer Rosenschein “help”: 

“I can offer you an opportunity to bear [sic] your soul and get things off your chest, but I can’t do that if you wanna get an attorney. You have to make up your mind.” 

Rosenschein then asked what help the agent was offering, to which the agent replied, “cathartic help.” When Rosenschein did not understand the word “cathartic,” the agent explained that being truthful will help Rosenschein “from an emotional standpoint.” 

The agent then continued, “if you’re truthful with me and you describe to me the circumstances under which those things happened, that makes a difference. It makes a difference in what the consequences are for you, in what charges you’ll face. It makes a difference in how people will view you.” The agent said that defendants who do not show cooperation and remorse “get put in a different box” when charges are filed and when consequences are discussed. 

The agent then suggested that if Rosenschein revealed the problems he was struggling with, the agent could get Rosenschein help with “programs.” After acknowledging that this would not make Rosenschein’s problems go away, the agent told Rosenschein, “I legitimately and sincerely think that talking to me will make a difference for you, but you have to make up your own mind. I can’t give you any legal advice.” 

The agent then told Rosenschein that he did not believe that Rosenschein was “one of those people” who does not want help, but rather someone who had made mistakes but wants to do the right thing. “I wanna help you, but it means that you gotta talk to me. And it means you have to make your mind up about what you want.... What I need to know is do you want to get an attorney, or do you wanna talk to me?”

At this juncture. Rosenschein asked for five minutes alone, and the agent agreed. The agent left the room and a few moments later, Rosenschein stood up from his chair and put on his jacket. 










At this point, the agent returned and Rosenschein said, “I think I will take an attorney. It doesn’t really matter. My life is over so when it is over it is over.” The agent stated that he did not understand what Rosenschein said, and again Rosenschein announced (this time more audibly), “I will take a lawyer.” The agent asked, “You want an attorney?” Rosenschein responded, “Yes. It’s over anyway. Whatever. Even if I win, it’s over. It doesn’t mean I will not do something else.”

The agent pressed on, telling Rosenschein that he could not talk to him anymore, to which Rosenschein responded, “Well, I didn’t say I don’t want to talk to you. I didn’t say I want to remain silent. I just said I will take a lawyer.” 

The agent did not end the conversation, but instead told Rosenschein, “Well, the—the point is is that at this point, given that you want an attorney, I have to stop talking to you. So, um—” Rosenschein responded to that with the statement, “I need some advice, and I need some legal advice.”

At this point the agent said, “Well, let me tell you what’s gonna happen from here forward.” 

When Rosenschein agreed, the agent explained, “what will happen is you’re gonna go to jail today,” and stated that Rosenschein probably would be in state custody initially, but that Rosenschein’s case was “likely going to be picked up federally” due to Rosenschein’s alleged travel with a minor. 

At this point, Rosenschein started to object, saying that “this kid has nothing to do—” but was cut off by the agent, who stated that he was not asking Rosenschein questions. The agent continued, telling Rosenschein that it was likely going to be a federal prosecution and there would likely be other charges. 

Then Rosenschein queried, “What is the penalty?” and asked the agent what would happen if he continued to talk to the agent. 

The agent responded that first they have to make sure that Rosenschein really wanted to talk to him because Rosenschein had stated that he wanted an attorney, but that the difference would be that Rosenschein got to tell his side of the story up front, and that it would make a difference not only in how Rosenschein would be “perceived in the legal system,” but also “in the consequences and the charges that are brought against you.” 

But then the agent quickly noted that he was not asking a question and did not want a response from Rosenschein but was merely trying to answer his question. 

Rosenschein said that he understood. Then the agent told Rosenschein, “If you decide not to talk to me and you still want an attorney today, chances are you’re not gonna get to tell your side of the story to anybody in law enforcement going forward. Maybe you will, maybe you won’t. But chances are probably not.” 










At this point, Rosenschein informed the agent, “I’ll talk to you. And I know what I’m doing.”

The agent said that he needed to consult with other people to make sure that he “says the right words” to continue the interrogation, because “this is an unusual circumstance… I don’t usually have people say, ‘I want an attorney,’ and then say, ‘I don’t want an attorney.’” There was a discussion off the record. 

When the agent returned to the conversation, Rosenschein said, “I will talk to you, but I will still take an attorney later on.” 

Again, the agent responded that they needed to be careful and make sure that they understood exactly what Rosenschein did and did not want to do, and Rosenschein responded, “I want to talk to you, and I want to take a lawyer after.”

The agent told Rosenschein that he was going to go over his rights one more time, so that there was no misunderstanding. The agent then summarized their conversation, which Rosenschein agreed with. 

Next, the agent read out the Miranda rights on a written waiver form. 

Rosenschein said, “After I speak with you, I go to jail anyway,” and the agent responded, “That’s true.” 

Again, the agent asked him if he understood his rights (“Yeah”) and if he wanted to answer questions without a lawyer present. 

Rosenschein replied that he might answer only one question and change his mind. The agent said that Rosenschein could change his mind at any time he wanted. Then the agent asked, “So, this means that you are willing to answer questions now without a lawyer present?” 

Rosenschein responded, “Exactly.”

The agent clarified, “Even though you said before you might wanna get an attorney or that you should get an attorney?” 

Rosenschein answered with a question of his own: “If I get an attorney, so I get him right now?” 

The agent explained that he would not get a lawyer immediately unless he had one on a retainer, but otherwise one could be appointed at a court hearing. 

“That would take days,” replied Rosenschein. 

When the agent confirmed this, Rosenschein asked, “Would I get out of jail in the meantime or not?” The agent said that he did not know a lot about how state court works, and that it was possible that he could have a bail hearing and that they could release Rosenschein on his own recognizance, and there was a possibility that he would remain in custody, but the decision would belong to a judge. 

In response, Rosenschein said: “Okay. Let’s go to jail. Forget it. I mean, it doesn’t matter what I do. It’s over. You know what I mean?” Then, Rosenschein confirmed that he was willing to talk to the agent without a lawyer present, acknowledged that he signed the waiver form, and asserted that he knew what he signed.

What Rosenschein admitted during the interrogation was revealed in a news release from the U. S. Attorney for the District of New Mesico, which is printed below:

On July 21, 2016, and again on August 8, 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from “chatstep.com” indicating that a user identifying himself as “Carlo” had sent images of child pornography to another user. The IP address associated with the user “Carlo” originated from the Albuquerque area.

NCMEC forwarded this information to the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Bernalillo County Sherriff’s Office (BCSO) Detective Kyle Hartsock initiated a criminal investigation.

Detective Hartsock first reviewed the distributed files and confirmed that the images contained child pornography. Detective Hartsock observed that the image distributed on July 31, 2016, is a color image depicting a prepubescent boy laying on his stomach on a bed with a distinct patterned bedspread and pink/purple blanket. (The next two paragraphs describe photos of an adult and the boy engaged in anal sex.)

Detective Hartsock obtained a subpoena for the internet service provider associated with the IP address and learned that the account was registered to Defendant, a pediatric surgeon employed by Presbyterian Hospital.

On November 7, 2016, Detective Hartsock obtained a state search warrant for Defendant’s residence, which was executed the following day. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement located a 16-year-old boy (John Doe) inside Defendant’s bed wearing only underwear.

Defendant falsely identified John Doe as his nephew, but law enforcement later determined that John Doe was a former patient of Defendant’s.

The search of Defendant’s residence revealed numerous electronic devices that were seized for further analysis. The forensic analysis on most of the seized devices remains pending. Several of the devices are encrypted and will require further analysis in order to gain access. During the search law enforcement located a thumb drive attached to a keychain found in the ignition of Defendant’s vehicle, which was found to contain over one thousand images and videos of child pornography. This thumb drive is the subject of Count 3 of the indictment.

Defendant was first interviewed by Detective Kyle Hartsock during the execution of the search warrant and was later interviewed by FBI SA Marcus McCaskill. During his first interview, Defendant stated that John Doe was a former patient who stays with him from time to time. Defendant stated he owns two planes and a helicopter and has flown John Doe to several locations throughout the United States.

During his interview with SA McCaskill, Defendant admitted that he is sexually attracted to underage males “on occasion,” but has not had sexual contact with a minor since approximately 1994 in Paris.

When asked about chatstep.com, Defendant admitted that he has likely used the name “Carlo” in the past. Although he stated that he usually uses the name “Steve.” Defendant accepted responsibility for the thumb drive and stated that he obtained it in Europe several years ago. He stated that he had not looked at the thumb drive in approximately seven years, however the forensic data indicates that the files were accessed as recently as May 2016.

The complete forensic analysis of the seized thumb drive indicates that the device contained approximately 1,042 images and 78 videos of suspected child pornography. The initial file comparison from NCMEC indicates that Defendant possessed 41 files of previously identified children. Is it clear from the files contained on the thumb drive that the focus of the collection is prepubescent and pubescent minor males.

Following the execution of the first search warrant, federal law enforcement officers learned that Defendant’s home contained a “secret room” located inside the residence. This room was not discovered during the execution of the first search warrant.

Pursuant to a federal search warrant, agents re-entered Defendant’s residence and gained access to the room where they located two safes. Inside one of the safes, agents located five printed photographs depicting a dark-complected, possibly foreign-born, minor male child who was approximately 11 to 15 years of age based on body and pubic development.

Four of the photographs depicted the child nude in the shower. The time stamp on the back of the photo noted “Avril 94” (April 1994). Agents also located flight logs detailing an entry for travel to the Koh Kong province of Cambodia in March 1994.

An Apple iPhone3G was seized from Defendant’s office inside his residence. Defendant provided BCSO officials with the password to access this phone. The forensic analysis of the phone revealed a Yahoo Messenger account with the user name “cambodia1994.”

Hundreds of Yahoo chat messages were recovered from the phone, most of which focused on sexually explicit conversation. “Cambodia1994” primarily identified himself as “Steve” and claimed to be a teenage male living in the United States. “Steve” engaged in sexually explicit conversations with multiple users, often presenting himself as a minor working in a “club” and being forced to have sexual contact with adult males. “Steve” describes violent sexual experiences and how he is increasingly enjoying the contact.

(The next portions of the motion featured verbatim transcripts of the conversations.)

Law enforcement also seized an iPhone6 from Defendant’s residence. The forensic analysis of this phone revealed approximately one dozen photographs that appear to have been taken in a hospital or medical setting.

Investigators learned that it is against Presbyterian Hospital policy for physicians to take medical photographs on their personal phones. Several of the photographs depict close up views of genitalia.

In December 2017, the Arkansas FBI Office issued a news release asking for the public help's in finding information about Rosenschein's dealings with minors during the time he practiced in that state, a time that corresponds with the years he practiced in Joplin.

***
Lost Angels: The Murders of Rowan Ford and Doug Ringler is available in paperback and e-book formats from Amazon.com at the links below and can be purchased locally at Always Buying Books, Changing Hands Book Shoppe and The Book Guy in Joplin, Pat's Books in Carthage and Granby Auto Supply and Hardware.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Nancy Hughes: Captured by a camera

“. . . Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to
become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about
the righteous life that God desires.”
James 1:20 (NIV)


“I am so embarrassed,” my friend greeted me as I opened my front door. “I just made a fool of myself today,” she continued. “That’s an everyday occurrence for me,” I smiled, “so just once isn’t too bad.”

But there was no smile in return. She sat down, shook her head and explained what had just happened.

She had gone to the principal’s office at school because the bus driver had reported that her daughter Sara had been jumping over seats while the bus was in motion and was not listening to his repeated requests to sit down.

“I was so angry when I walked in the office and never gave anyone a chance to speak,” she said. “I glared at the principal and the bus driver and told them that Sara would never ever jump over bus seats nor would she disrespect her bus driver by not obeying what he told her to do.”










At this point she put her hands on her head and looked at me: “I followed that with a comment about how awful it was that they would accuse my daughter of doing such a thing and ended by saying that evidently someone was lying.” I took her hand and silently waited as she finished her story.

“As I made that last statement, the principal leaned over and pushed the start button on his DVD player. I watched what the bus camera had recorded. Sara. My daughter. Jumping over bus seats. Ignoring her bus driver’s repeated demands to sit down.” Oh my.

She looked at me as regret and shame poured from her eyes and onto her shirt. “I’m a Christian. A Christian! And today I was a horrible example of Jesus to everyone who heard me at the school.”

Ever been there? Ouch. Me, too. Instead of memorizing today’s Scripture from James 1:20 and putting it into practice every single day, I find myself changing the words around a bit so that it sounds more like this: “I am quick to become angry and speak and slow to listen.”

When my mouth engages without ever consulting my Spirit, I know that, within minutes, regret is going to rise to the surface. Regret for what I said and for my very unchristian behavior. That is why James 1:20 is so important for us all.

We need to remember that as Christians we represent the Creator of the Universe. No matter what we say or do, there will always be someone watching and listening, even if we are never captured by a camera.

Father, for every single situation that I face today, help me to remember that I am an example of your Son no matter where I am. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .


Reflect

Have you ever become angry or frustrated and shared everything that came to your mind without stopping to think what you were saying?

Apply

The next time you face a situation – no matter what the issue – mentally tell your lips that they are super glued together and open your ears to what is being said.

Then picture everyone around you watching and listening to see if you will be a Christian example to them.

Power

James 1:20 (NIV) “. . . Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

Proverbs 15:18 (NIV) “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares.”

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV) “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”

(Nancy Hughes' latest book, The Journey Continues: Healing from the Heart, is available at Amazon.com at the link below.)

Kim Frencken: Teachers are...

Sassy, stubborn, creative, curious, determined, funny, serious, happy, and lovable. We have our positive side, some flaws, and lots in common with others who have chosen this lifetime calling.

We are proud and possessive. Just ask any teacher about HER kids or HER school. These aren't just any kids. They belong to the teacher. Once a child is in a classroom, they become the child of that teacher. For life.

A teacher is proud to share the accomplishments of her kids. She is proud to see them grow up and go to college, or work in a business, or get married and have children of their own. Teachers (unfortunately not all of the time) love their school. They are proud of the schools' accomplishments and recognitions. They love to hear their schools' name mentioned at a meeting, on the news, or in a conversation.










Teachers are tender-hearted. We can talk tough and even stand up against the class bully, but let one of our kids get hurt and we dissolve. Let one of our kids suffer a heartbreak and we're just like melted butter. Read the story about the dog that dies and .... well, you get the point.

Teachers are fierce when it comes to defending their profession. Nothing gets our feathers ruffled like a non-teacher complaining about a teacher or telling a teacher how to teach. OR, even worse, a teacher- wannabe masquerading as a teacher. We've paid our dues (and in some cases we're still paying them) to earn our degrees. We went through rigorous (I hate that word) teacher training programs. This isn't our first field trip. We've ridden the field trip bus. So don't even think of stepping in and pretending to be a teacher or tell us what to do. Not until you've walked a mile (or a hundred) in our shoes.

Teachers are optimist. To a fault. When all around us is caving in, we still look for that glimmer of hope. We can't believe anything negative about our school or even our colleagues (most of them!). We keep hoping for the best and hanging on. We don't believe that budget cuts will actually affect our school. Until they do. We don't believe that parents or administrators won't support us. Until they don't. We don't believe that our best lesson will fail. Until it does. We just keep looking up.

Teachers are human. We laugh. We cry. We love snow days. We live for the week-end. Dread Sunday night/Monday morning transition. Some teachers are morning people and some don't hit their side until later in the day. Much later. We love. We protect. We place the needs of others above our own. We're loyal. And once, a teacher..... always a teacher.

(For more of Kim Frencken's writing and information about her educational products, check out her blog, Chocolate For the Teacher.)

***
Let Teachers Teach by Randy Turner is available in paperback and e-book formats at Amazon.com

My roller coaster path to hell and this week's top Turner Report/Inside Joplin posts

The top 10 Turner Report posts this week have a slightly different look. Five of the top 10 involve, at least in part, me writing about personal topics.

The most unusual one, coming in at number three, was originally posted six months ago in which I wrote about making an insulting response to a reader and not having any regrets about it.

Some people who do not like me or the Turner Report (as hard as it is to believe, those people exist) began sharing the post this week in an effort to show people how despicable I truly am.

Apparently, I am full of hate and I am headed on a roller coaster path to hell.

Thankfully, I have their readership while I am taking the trip.








My guess is it didn't change too many people's views, but I still appreciate the added readership.

Coming in at number 10 is a holdover form last week. People seem to enjoy when I admit I am wrong. Fortunately, I don't have a problem doing that and have done that on those occasions when I have made mistakes.

Other personal topics included my revisiting my heart attack from three years ago and a bad review for my novel No Child Left Alive.

Crowder College Authors Fair

Thanks to the organizers of the annual Crowder College Authors Fair. I had an enjoyable time today, had the opportunity to talk with many people and also did readings from Lost Angels and Newton County Memories.

And thanks to Nancy Hughes for taking the photo that accompanies this post.

Lost Angels, Newton County Memories  available at The Book Guy in Joplin

Lost Angels; The Murders of Rowan Ford and Doug Ringler and Newton County Memories are now available at the Book Guy on 15th Street in Joplin.

The books can also be purchased at Always Buying Books and Changing Hands Book Shoppe in Joplin, Pat's Books in Carthage and Granby Auto Supply and Hardware in Granby and in paperback and e-book formats from Amazon.com

The top 10 posts for the Turner Report, Inside Joplin and Inside Joplin Obituaries and links to each of them are posted below:







The Turner Report

1. Don't drink the wine; it may explode

2. Neosho man pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking, weapons charges

3. I have no regrets about my insulting response to reader's comment, plus top posts for Turner Report, Inside Joplin this week

4. Hearing scheduled in felony DWI case of man who killed Joplin child, Neosho man

5. New review: No Child Left Alive "disgusting and an insult to anyone who cares about public education

6. Cynthia Davis: Mueller report shows Obama used the government to go after his political enemies

7. Sarah Mwangi named Joplin R-8 assistant superintendent of learning services

8. Three years ago this week, I said farewell to cheeseburgers

9. So you want to be a Joplin R-8 director of educational support and human services

10. I am sorry; I was wrong

Inside Joplin

1. Jasper Police: Keep an eye out for this sex offender

2. Woman wanted on dangerous drugs charge tried to elude Seneca police by cramming herself into suitcase

3. Jasper County Marriage Licenses April 9-23

4. Jasper County Dissolution of Marriage Petitions

5. Joplin Police Department Weekend Arrests

6. Joplin Police Department Arrests April 25-26

7. Jasper County Sheriff's Office Arrests

8. Joplin Police Department Arrests April 22-23

9. Four stores, including three from Carthage, sell liquor to minors during Jasper County Sheriff compliance check

10. Newton County Dissolution of Marriage Petitions

Inside Joplin Obituaries

1. Fred Whitehead

2. Nate Berry

3. Bethany Ward

4. Steve Ousley

5. Bill Woolever

6. Eric Lawson

7. Tim Tate

8. Tina Daniels

9. Lillian Hukill

10. Brenda Robertson

***
Lost Angels: The Murders of Rowan Ford and Doug Ringler is available in paperback and e-book formats at Amazon.com

Friday, April 26, 2019

BIlly Long: Medicare for All will be Health Care for None

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

After passing Obamacare without one Republican vote, the Old Blue Democrats promised over and over again that if you liked your health care plan, you could keep it.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Several months after Obamacare passed, 4 million Americans were told they couldn’t keep their health care plan. 

Now, almost 10 years later, the New Green Democrat Majority is serving up a whopper that would make Paul Bunyan blush. They are now proposing a one-size-fits-all health care plan in lieu of Obamacare.

The New Green Democrat Majority recently introduced Medicare for All legislation that would scrap our current health care system and replace it with a government-run, single-payer system. 










This radical socialist policy would eliminate all private and employer-sponsored health care plans that currently cover 216 million Americans. 

This so-called health care for all plan would get rid of a number of specialized programs that cover 58 million seniors and disabled individuals, eliminate TRICARE, our current health care system for our military and their families, as well as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which covers nearly 7 million children.

A recent poll revealed that 60 percent of Americans wanted nothing to do with Medicare for All once they realized how much more in taxes they would have to pay. 

If implemented, Medicare for All would cost hardworking taxpayers $32 trillion over the next decade. This would require enormous tax hikes, specifically on middle class families. 

Numerous studies have shown that even doubling the federal and corporate income taxes and tripling payroll taxes wouldn’t be enough to pay for this new health care system.

Not only would Medicare for All cost trillions of dollars, it would hinder patient’s access to care. Hospitals would lose $150 billion a year under Medicare for All. Your access to care will certainly be impeded, and several countries are proof of this. 










In 2017, the average wait time in Canada for a patient going to see a general practitioner followed by a specialist was more than 10 weeks. Some specialized doctors had wait lists up to 5 months. That’s not an issue in the U.S. 

Along with longer wait times, a Medicare for All system would mean more bureaucratic red tape for new, lifesaving drugs. Compared to the Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency approves drugs at a much slower rate, and even when approved, takes longer to get them to patients. Again, not a problem in the U.S.

As much as the New Green Democrat Majority tries to sugarcoat this massive government overreach as a win for the American people, the realities of Medicare for All are much different. I will continue to fight against this socialist plan by proposing free market solutions that work for the people rather than against. When hospitals start losing $150 Billion a year, Medicare for All will soon need to be renamed Healthcare for None.


So you want to be a Joplin R-8 director of educational support and human resources

The Joplin R-8 School District is advertising for a director of educational support and human resources to replace Sarah Mwangi, who is replacing Steve Gilbreth as assistant superintendent of learning services.

Gilbreth is replacing Shane Hopper as Joplin High School principal.

You can't tell the players without a scorecard.






The vacant position was advertised on the school district's website Wednesday and is printed below.

Director of Educational Support and Human Resouces
Job Description
Primary LocationADMINISTRATION BUILDING
Salary RangePer Year
Shift TypeFull-Time
or

Sarah Mwangi named Joplin R-8 assistant superintendent of learning services

(From Joplin Schools)

Joplin Schools is pleased to announce Ms. Sarah Mwangi as the new Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services.

(Note: Mwangi will take the place of Steve Gilbreath, who will replace Shane Hopper as Joplin High School principal.)

Dedicating over a decade of her career to Joplin Schools, Mwangi has a strong desire to continue the great work of educating Joplin students. She has a drive for success and passion to help all students reach their full potential. 

Mwangi is a champion of education for Joplin Schools. She will be transitioning to assistant superintendent from her current role as the Director of Educational Support and Human Resources.

Mwangi shared, “I’m humbled and honored to serve our community and district in this new role. There is no greater responsibility than ensuring we provide a quality education to our students. Joplin Schools is a remarkable district with amazing educators. 








"We are fortunate to provide many opportunities for our students and I look forward to growing this even more. A significant amount of curriculum work has been accomplished the past two years under Dr. Gilbreth’s leadership. 

"It will be my goal to continue the momentum, build capacity within our educators, and help provide the next structures needed to enrich and foster learning in each Joplin Schools classroom.”

“Ms. Mwangi has successfully proven herself as a classroom teacher, building principal and central office administrator. Joplin Schools has benefited from her past leadership and will continue to do so with her new role of service. I am certain that Sarah will collaboratively build upon the good work of Dr. Gilbreth in order to maximize the learning of every student,” stated Dr. Moss, superintendent.

Mwangi started her education career in the Kansas City Missouri School District, where she completed a unique residential internship program through Missouri Southern State University. She moved back to the Joplin area in 2008, where she taught at West Central Elementary and later served as an instructional coach for Jefferson Elementary and Emerson Elementary. 








In 2012, Mwangi became the principal of Columbia Elementary and four years later served as principal of Irving Elementary. This school year, Mwangi has served as the Director of Educational Support and Human Resources.

She received her bachelors of education from Missouri Southern State University and masters in educational administration from Missouri State University. Mwangi received her educational specialist degree from William Woods University and additionally is expected to complete her doctoral degree in 2020.

Mwangi will begin her new role on July 1, 2019.

***
Let Teachers Teach by Randy Turner is available in paperback and e-book formats at Amazon.com

Kay Johnson recipient of Joplin Schools Support Staff of the Year

(From Joplin Schools)

Congratulations to Kay Johnson - Joplin Schools 2019 Support Staff of the Year recipient! She was surprised with an all-school assembly on Monday, including her family who came to join in on the celebration!

Ms. Kay has been part of Joplin Schools for twenty-five years, serving as a library aide and secretary. She was nominated by peers for her welcoming smile, passion and caring personality for others. Some things mentioned about Kay were:

"I have watched Ms. Kay interact with everyone in the front office with respect and empathy. The way that her sweet unconditional loving personality can deescalate most is, in fact, one of her superpowers."

"Ms. Kay has been with Joplin Schools for nearly 25 years. Her knowledge of the history of our district amazes me. She adapts to new things and has seen many changes throughout her years. She always speaks of the past and present with pride and adoration for our district."










"Ms. Kay not only lives in the community, but she serves as our storm shelter volunteer, designs and edits the yearbook, serves on the PTO, etc. She goes above and beyond her job duty on a daily basis. Ms. Kay is part of our school community. She can be found reading with a student in the office, playing nurse, being a shoulder to cry on for students, and supporting the positive behavior awards students earn throughout the year. She's one of a kind and a true servant leader to our school, district and community."

Thank you for serving our students, district and community! Joplin Schools is better because of champions like yourself Ms. Kay! Congratulations on a well-deserved honor!