The Kansas City Star from Kansas City, Missouri • 58

i "WTAWIUMECOPY ri www Kansas city coin 2 METROPOLITAN THE KANSAS CITY STAR Thursday April 8 2004 The Star Suspect told police of inappropriate relationship First glance A former Olathe woman charged in the 1982 murder of her husband told police in 2001 of an relationship with another suspect in the case prosecutors say Melinda Raisch 46 is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of David Harmon gamers Missouri awards The Star Staff County District Court first-degree murder in the killing of David Harmon who was 25 The other man is named in court documents as an unindicted co-conspirator Last month attorneys filed a motion to have her police statements thrown out asserting that police unfairly pressured her She also said had indicated that something bad might happen "including discussions about how nice it would be if she and (die co-conspirator) were able to be according to Wednesday's motioa She ended the interview by saying that she had more information but did not want to reveal it "because I know where I stand" In his motion filed last month attorney Tom Bath said police used to pressure her into giving statements On Wednesday Bath said that he had not seen die response but that he planned to file a written response by April 19 To reach Tony Rizzo call (816) 234-7713 or send email to trizzokcstarcom A few days later when detectives sought to re-interview her father would not allow her to answer questions without her attorney present It was not until 2001 after Olathe police reopened the case that detectives sought to talk to her again Olathe Police Sgt Steve James and Detective Bill Wall along with a local officer went to home in Delaware County Ohio After speaking with them for several hours she went with the officers to the Department to record a statement While denying any direct responsibility for the murder Raisch allegedly said that she felt the presence of die man now listed as a co-conspirator She said that she had been in an "emotionally relationship with him She acknowledged that the relationship was "in- By TONY RIZZO The Kansas City Star A woman charged in the 1982 murder of her husband admitted in 2001 that she had an relationship with another suspect in the case prosecutors said Wednesday In the same interview with police Melinda Raisch also said she felt the of the man who has not been charged on the night her husband was bludgeoned in their Olathe duplex more than 22 years ago Prosecutors made public for the first time Wednesday some of the things Raisch told detectives in December 2001 after they reopened the unsolved homicide investigation and paid a visit to her Ohio home Raisch 46 is charged in Johnson and made an "intentional end around the lawyer she had hired in 1982 Prosecutors filed their response Wednesday and a hearing before District Judge Steve Leben is scheduled for April 28 man standing over her She said she heard another man say "I think killed One of the men led her from the bedroom she said and demanded a key to the bank where David Harmon worked After she pointed it out the man knocked her unconscious she said She told police that she thought the suspects were African-American and in their mid-30s In her initial statement to Olathe police within hours of the slaying Raisch said she awoke to the sound of a loud thump and saw a METROPOLITAN DIGEST KANSAS CITY Kansas City Star sports columnist Joe Posnanski has won the sweepstakes award from the Missouri Associated Press Managing Fditors for a story about a journey home to the Dominican Republic by Kansas City manager Tony Pena In addition the newspaper won several other awards including first-place finishes in every category of the journalism contest Ihe first-place winners: Spot news: The newspaper staff for coverage of last tornados Feature writing Steve Paul and Kick Montgomery for "A Journey in which they retraced the route of Lewis and Clark Spot sports: The sports staff for coverage of a NASCAR racing weekend Sports feature: Posnanski for his story about Tony Pena Community affairs: Donna McGuire Mark Morris and Grace Hobson for "Protecting Our a series about problems in the social service system Elements of Excellence: Sarah Smith Nessel for her headline Strut Their Yowls and The newspaper also won second place in community affairs for a series by Judy Thomas about crumbling highways and second in spot sports for coverage of Roy resignation as basketball coach at the University of Kansas Third-place winners were DeAnn Smith and Donna McGuire in spot news for their coverage of die end of Kansas desegregation case and Sam Mellinger in sports features for a profile of Tony Temple a liigh school star longer had time to serve the residents Story 37 had represented Ward 1 for five years Story who works for VeriClaim a company that provides claims services for the insurance industry said he recently took on more responsibility at work A nominating committee at the April 19 council meeting wijl recommend one or more candidates to fill the position and the council is expected to select a replacement then The candidate selected will serve the remainder of term which ends in April 2006 Those interested in applying should submit a letter and resume to City Administrator Scott Lam-bers 4800 Town Center Drive Leawood KS66211 by 5 pm April 15 Candidates must live in Ward 1 which includes Leawood north of 95th Street and the area from 95th to 103rd streets east of Lee Boulevard Fitzgerald Assault in park A woman was assaulted about 5 pm Wednesday as she walked in a Leawood park police said Leawood Police Detective John Dickey said the woman was attacked as she walked on a trail that winds through the Tomahawk Creek Park on Tomahawk Creek Parkway across from the American Academy of Family Physicians office building The trail is visible from the parkway and then veers back into a wooded area next to a pond Detectives spent late Wednesday looking for clues to the assault in the wooded area a couple of hundred yards from the parkway Dickey could not describe the injuries He said she was taken to a hospital where she was being interviewed Brad Cooper Fire displaces residents A fire early today forced residents from a Kansas City apartment complex Firefighters were called about 3:14 am to 3434 Gillham Plaza and found heavy smoke coming from the building The fire was contained to one unit of the three-story building Investigators said the fire was caused by a faulty extension cord No injuries were reported The local chapter of the American Red Cross was assisting more than a dozen residents from the building who could not return to their homes Authorities estimated damage at about $61000 Hoffmann Driving peril A motorist who apparently was having a seizure nearly crashed into a group of construction workers along a Northland highway Wednesday The incident occurred about 10 am along US 169 just north of Barry Road Kansas Gty police managed to get the man to stop shortly after he sped through a construction site along the highway police said The man had earlier left a worksite in Smithville when workers there noticed that he did not look well police said They alerted police who caught up with the man along US 169 During a brief police pursuit the man nearly struck several firefighters and a group of construction workers No injuries were reported and paramedics treated the man at the scene police said Rice FRED BLOCHER The Kansas City Star The fountain of new life Crews worked Wednesday to resuscitate an old fountain thought to be from the early years of the Country Club Plaza On Wednesday Bryan 1 strangers authorities said The three men drove around until one of the strangers robbed the 20-year-old at gunpoint The 20-year-old struggled and stabbed the gunman before jumping out and fleeing Authorities say they found the man hiding in a bus at 21st Street and Television Place He was later released The man who was stabbed was taken to a hospital His condition was unknown Man water pipe in the basin black jacket The second suspect is described as a black male 30 to 35 years old five feet eight inches to five feet nine inches tall with a thin build He had black hair and also wore black pants a black T-shirt and a black jacket The suspects fled in a dark gray or black newer-model truck Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS (474-8477) Bormann INDEPENDENCE mpel (left) and Cliff Holt drilled for been missing since early Sunday morning when he attended a party in rural Linn County Alonzo Brooks was last seen about 3 or 4 am Sunday Linn County Sheriff Marvin Stites said he had not ruled out foul play Authorities found boots in a field near the farmhouse about a mile east of La Cygne Kan Partygoers told authorities that a fight took place about 2 or 3 am Sunday but no one could say whether Brooks was invplved Stites said 75 to 200 people attended the party Those questioned have been cooperative he said Stites said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation would join the local search today Local authorities have searched by foot The Kansas Highway Patrol searched by air earlier this week he said Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 1 (800) 471-TIPS (471-8477) Dawn Bormann LOTTERIES LEE'S SUMMIT WYANDOTTE COUNTY Fire traced to smoking Independence police think cigarettes caused a house fire that killed an Independence man last month The victim died of smoke inhalation Police said Hoyt Etter Jr 53 probably was smoking cigarettes when he suddenly fell asleep from narcolepsy After examining the scene police said they think Etter woke up sometime during the fire got up and became overwhelmed by the smoke The fire broke out March 24 at 9010 Wilson Road Man Change on M-350 Motorists should watch for a traffic shift on Missouri 350 near Noland Road today as workers prepare for a bridge replacement project Just after morning rush hour the left lane of westbound Missouri 350 will close and all westbound traffic will merge to the right lane then divert to a bypass at the Little Blue River bridge east of Noland Road according to Missouri transportation officials The alignment will mean that two-way traffic will use the east-bound bridge for five months while construction crews remove and replace the old westbound bridge Bradley Teacher pleads guilty A former teacher at Whittier Elementary School in Kansas City Kan pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child Joseph Martin Jr 47 of Olathe was charged last fall in Wyandotte County District Court after school officials discovered "inappropriate in his classroom Martin who had worked for the district since 1996 was a computer science teacher at the school The district fired him last fall A sentencing date has not been set A Cronkleton OLATHE winning numbers: Missouri Pick 3: 6-8-8 Straight-play winners won $598 box-play winners won $200 A 50-cent bet paid half Missouri Pick 4: 8-3-8-5 Missouri Show Me 5: 6-8-12-20-36 No winner of $50000 jackpot Four numbers paid $750 Missouri Lotto: 8-11-16-18-25-26 No winner of estimated $34 million jackpot Five numbers paid $635 four paid $26 Kansas Pick 3: 2-9-4 Straight-play winners won $500 box-play winners won $80 A 50-cent bet paid half Super Kansas Cash: 7-11-20-25-31 super cashball 13 for estimated $2255 million jackpot Kansas 2by2: Red 18-21 white 2-24 Powerball: 2-7-16-35-37 powerball 10 for an estimated $478 million jackpot Please check with lottery officials for confirmation of these numbers CITY: Contracts for violators challenged Continued from B-l cials and prosecutors pushed him to comply with city rules that regulate landfills containing concrete and asphalt Eddy said he initially thought about requiring the notices be sent to all departments that contract work but decided against it "If we do that just going to get lost in the he said "We need to be able to hold one department Eddy said he also wanted to address other problems raised in The report such as the lack of approved sites to handle concrete asphalt and other construction debris It appears no such site exists within the city biggest problem is we closed all the landfills in Kansas Eddy said nobody wants a landfill in their backyard whether garden waste trash or construction Eddy said one of his biggest battles since joining the council was helping to close the old Southeast Sanitary Landfill near 87th Street and Indiana Avenue want to run the risk of opening that up he said promise was made to the city that we were going to close that and we Eddy wants to avoid adopting the state standard which allows concrete and asphalt to be dumped in any landfill The city adopted the more stringent standard nearly 20 years ago because materials from construction jobs often were ending up in empty fields and vacant lots throughout the city Ton want to do Eddy said opening up Pandora's Since voters Tuesday approved $250 million in bonds for capital improvement projects including streets and bridges it becomes likely the city will have even more construction debris needing disposal "As that comes forward all of our thinking may have to Eddy said To reach Kevin Hoffmann call (816) 234-4415 or send e-mail to khqffmannQkataTAom Hotel robbery A robber pinned a Days Inn hotel clerk against a wall Tuesday night while a second robber stole money from the cash register The derk 57 did not report any injuries The first suspect is described as a black male about 30 to 35 years old five feet six inches tall with a heavy build He had black hair and wore black pants a black T-shirt and LEAWOOD JACKSON COUNTY Robbery and stabbing The Jackson County Office is investigating a stabbing and robbery that occurred about 2 am Wednesday near Interstate 435 and Truman Road The incident started when a 20-year-old man was picked up by two LINN COUNTY Councilman steps down Gty Councilman Shelby Story resigned Wednesday saying he no Gardner man missing A 23-year-old Gardner man has Republicans Democrats debate binding decisions BUDGET: Continued from B-l The overall budget including federal funds and state revenues that are dedicated to specific purposes such as school road and gaming taxes would rise 45 percent or $967 million compared with the current year Spending from general revenue over which the legislature has direct control would grow 65 percent or $429 million A bit more than half the increase would go to schools and social services The remainder would be spread among various departments to provide a 2 percent pay raise for state employees cover higher costs of employee fringe benefits and provide small funding increases after three years of cut Democrats continued to criticize cuts in health care Rep Vicky Ri-back Wilson a Columbia Democrat said reducing the number of nursing home inspectors and eliminating many vacant positions would result in higher overtime costs and an overworked staff General fund spending on public health programs would be cut $14 million Wilson said the budget work because it diminishes the ability to fight diseases like West Nile virus and tuberculosis Rep Margaret Donnelly a St Louis County Democrat chided Republicans for reducing eligibility for Medicaid and for the Health Insurance Program which covers children of moderate-income families does it benefit a child to put more money into education if that child is too ill to Donnelly asked Bearden dismissed the criticisms as hyperbole He said the cuts would be relatively minor and would motivate people to stop expecting government to provide all their care Several lawmakers complained that the legislature had failed to fully fund the formula for distributing basic aid to local schools Even with the $103 million added this week authorized funding will fall $602 million short of what the formula requires Rep Gint Zweifel a St Louis County Democrat pointed to the dozens of local elections this week to raise money for schools He said the legislature had made a conscious decision in recent years to shift the tax burden to local property owners Rep Bob Johnson a Summit Republican complained that the school funding formula was broken He said the underfunding of the formula was irrelevant to relatively wealthy districts such as Summit which gets little increase in state aid as total state funding grows That forces Summit to raise local property taxes which means "people living on fixed incomes get smacked right between the Johnson said At least one lawmaker was pleased with some aspects of the budget Majority Leader Jason Crowell a Cape Girardeau Republican praised Bearden for finding enough money to keep open a psychiatric treatment facility in Cape Girardeau Gov Bob Holden proposed dosing it and another treatment center in El Dorado Springs when he presented his budget proposal in January In both cases Republican politicians representing the areas protested Gowell said keeping the Cape Girardeau facility open was "a bipartisan success for the kids of southeast To reach KitWagar Jeffersondty correspondent call (816) 234-4440 or send e-mail to million increase in general state funds for the public school system beyond what schools are expected to receive this year Bearden mocked social services advocates who described the budget as containing "draconian and cuts State spending on social services he pointed out would rise by $121 million next year The cuts in Medicaid which pays for medical care for the poor amounted to about 5 percent of the budget and were far outweighed by higher spending for drugs fees and payments to hospitals steps taken are necessary to try to control future growth in the Bearden said "If we do something we will out-spend our ability to pay And we need to represent all the people not just some of I I.