Counter-Human Trafficking Operation Leads to Arrests, Victim Assistance

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, led a counter-human trafficking operation Jan. 23 and 24 that resulted in the arrest of two men who sought to have sex with a child, as well as services provided to more than a dozen potential trafficking victims.

Jose Trinidad-Diaz, 33, of Kansas City, Mo. / Mexico

Two men have been charged with felony attempted child enticement after they tried to meet whom they believed to be a 14-year-old girl for sex. It was actually under-cover detectives who had been chatting with them online and by text message. Those men are Jose Trinidad-Diaz, 33, of Kansas City, Mo. / Mexico and Dominic Shelby, 34, of Kansas City, Kan.

Dominic Shelby, 34, of Kansas City, Kan.

At the same time as the predator operation, investigators conducted a victim advocacy operation at a Clay County hotel. They had posted an online ad purportedly soliciting sex, knowing that many sex workers are victims of human trafficking. Twenty-seven sex workers responded to the hotel, and 13 agreed to accept services to leave a life of sex trafficking and/or sex work. Advocates from the organizations Value Unconditional and Relentless Pursuit met with them to begin giving them resources for their journeys.

The operation was a joint effort by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations – Kansas City, and the Ray County Counter Human Trafficking Task Force. The Ray County Task Force is a team of subject matter experts in the counter-trafficking space who contribute their time and knowledge at no cost to host law enforcement agencies. They are credentialed law enforcement officers and analysts from several sheriff’s offices and have deep connections to a network of aftercare and survivor support service organizations.

During this operation, Task Force volunteers hailed from the Butler, Bourbon and Greenwood County sheriff’s offices in Kansas, the Washoe County, Nev., Sheriff’s Office and the Goodyear, Ariz., Police Department. They work discreetly with in-jurisdiction agencies with the support of the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office and many other credentialing agencies. Financially, they are supported by private donations from generous donors who believe in the mission of supporting law enforcement.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Last week’s operation aimed to reduce the occurrence of human trafficking that takes place in Clay County and the Kansas City metropolitan area.

KPGZ News – Sarah Boyd contributed to this story.

Environmental Health Program Recognized by FDA

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently recognized Clay County Public Health Center (CCPHC) for its commitment to food safety and continuous improvement within its environmental health program. For the past 10 years, the program worked to successfully pass the verification audit and meet all FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.

The nine standards require an environmental health program to operate at the highest level. This includes developing a comprehensive training program for regulatory staff, the ability to prepare and respond to emergencies, consistency with national inspection criteria, regular self-assessment, industry and community relations, and more. Overall, participants are always focused on one goal: reducing factors that lead to foodborne illness.

“We want to be the most effective and responsive environmental health program we can be,” said Director of Public Health Darrell Meinke. “The work we’ve done to accomplish these standards will have a positive impact on the health of the people in our community for many years to come. I am extremely proud of our staff, past and present, for their efforts to achieve this recognition.”

Clay County Public Health becomes one of nine programs across the United States to complete all nine standards and receive a Certificate of Achievement from the FDA. There are 3,300 environmental health programs in the nation and 980 are currently enrolled in the FDA Retail Food Program Standards, actively working towards this goal.

“The performance measures specified for each of the nine standards are not minimum criteria, but instead represent a high benchmark to which a regulatory retail food program should aspire,” said Kimberly Destromp, acting office director of FDA’s Office of Retail Food Protection. “Active participation in this program clearly demonstrates a remarkable level of commitment to achieving program excellence.”

Clay County Public Health Center’s environmental health program is currently made up of nine employees and headed by Section Chief Robert Gilliland. They oversee 745 food establishments in Clay County, completing regular and complaint-based inspections, training food handlers and managers, and assisting facilities with any information they need to ensure the public is protected from foodborne illness. The program also provides oversight for pools/spas, hotels, septic systems, and vector (mosquito) concerns.

KPGZ News – Kelsey Neth contributed to this story.

Double Header Domination for Bulldogs

The Kearney Bulldogs boys and girls basketball team both grabbed a win in a double header matchup against the Excelsior Springs Tigers on Friday, January 24. Both teams started strong and kept the Tigers on their heels throughout the game.

The lady Bulldogs came out swinging in the first quarter with a 10-0 run on the Tigers from Brooke Paalhar and Addie Taylor. Kennedi Casey and Mallyrie Schwab-Wetzel also contributed to the first quarter, putting Kearney up 16-5 to start the second quarter.

In the second quarter, Kayla Resler put her name in the scorebook, along with Ryleigh Van Emmerik and Addi Smith. The girls’ squad spread out the scoring stats in the second half with Kennedi Casey, Maggie Lakin, Jocelyn Lincoln, and Josie Masters.

The Bulldog girls team won over the Tigers, 54-20. They are 5-9 on the season.

Carter Brock leaps to advance the Bulldogs’ lead 11-4 early in the first half.

Kearney boys came out fighting in a similar way, outscoring the Tigers 21-4 in the first quarter. There was a lot of excitement from Andrew Way getting three big dunks from pass assists from his guards, as well as a Brad Doll 3-point bomb from half court at the first half buzzer.

Not only was the offense hot throughout the game but the defense was a huge factor with great blocks and easy transitions which led to offensive points.

The Bulldogs did a great job sharing the scoring responsibilities around the team. Trey Smith led the scoring with 16 points. Drew Wilson followed closely with 15 and Brad Doll had 10 points. Andrew Way scored 9 points, Sal DiBenedetto made 7, Brock Scott scored 6, Carter Brock made 5, Ty Smith had 4 and Trent Fritz had 2.

The Bulldog boys team dominated over the Tigers, 74-31. They are 10-4 on the season.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

School District Opens Kindergarten Enrollment

Kearney School District’s kindergarten enrollment launched on Jan. 21 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Now is the time for children who will be age five on or before July 31, 2025, to enroll in kindergarten.

Parents/guardians will be required to provide a birth certificate, a record of required immunizations, and a proof of residence for their child during kindergarten enrollment. Use the district’s online district boundary map to locate the elementary school your child will attend. Parents should note that those boundaries were recently changed and will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.

Any request to transfer an incoming kindergarten student to a different elementary school for the 2025-2026 academic year must be submitted by Feb. 11 for consideration. Transfer requests will only be considered for the reasons outlined in the request form. Approval is not guaranteed. A decision will be made as soon as possible and is contingent upon a wide variety of factors including classroom space and available resources. Parents or guardians will be responsible for providing transportation to and from school if the transfer request is approved.

Kindergarten Orientation events will be held from 6 to 7 pm on Thursday, May 8, at each of the districts’s elementary schools. This is an opportunity for families to receive helpful information about KSD, tour their school and meet their child’s teachers and building principal.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Public Safety Half Cent Sales Tax Decision Moves to Voters

The City of Kearney Board of Alderman approved an ordinance to place Proposition A: “A Public Safety Tax,” on the April ballot for voters to decide. The proposition imposes a citywide sales tax of 1/2 of 1% for the purpose of improving public safety in Kearney.

“The thing that I think is important, is that it will not apply to utilities, gasoline, or prescription drug purchases,” said Thomas.

The Board of Alderman heard a presentation by Chief Mark Thomas at the January 6 city meeting. Chief Thomas’ presentation outlined why the police department was seeking a sales tax initiative, who would be taxed and what would be taxed.

Chief Thomas said additional funds would go to expanding the School Resource Officer program, enhancing officer safety and preparedness, upgrading department technology and facilities, and increasing support, education, and outreach for the community. If approved, funds would expand the number of school resource officers, fund a community outreach officer, provide for police training, upgrade equipment and technology, as well as ADA improvements and safety equipment for first responders.

If approved retailers will begin collecting the sales tax on October 1st, 2025, and the sales tax will have a sunset date in 25 years.

Chief Thomas noted two important parts of this initiative. Anyone who shops in Kearney, whether they are a resident or non-resident including interstate travelers, will pay the sales tax. Thomas also noted that the sales tax will not apply to certain items.

“The thing that I think is important, is that it will not apply to utilities, gasoline, or prescription drug purchases,” said Thomas. “That’s really important for our local residents I think.”

David Lehman also added that it was important to point out that this is not a property tax on residents and that non-residents would also be paying the sales tax: “The burden is not just on our residents. When you’ve got Starbucks right off the highway [and] you’ve got people coming off the highway who are going to pay this tax too.”

By law sales tax revenues must be spent to improve public safety within Kearney. It cannot be used for any other purpose. Residents of Kearney will have a chance to vote on this sales tax on the April 8, 2025, election ballot.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.