Cottey College announces thirteenth president

The Cottey College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Cottey’s thirteenth president, Dr. Stefanie D. Niles.

Dr. Niles comes to Cottey from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where she serves as the Vice President for Enrollment and Communications, a position she has held since 2018. Prior to that, she worked at Dickinson College, Hollins University, Bryn Athyn College, DePauw University, and the University of Tennessee. Dr. Niles also brings leadership experience from serving on many boards and associations across higher education throughout her career; most notably serving as the president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in 2018-2019 and her selection into the Fulbright International Education Administrators Program in 2017.

Dr. Niles earned a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia, an M.S. in Education from Indiana University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

“Cottey is incredibly fortunate to find a candidate like Dr. Niles,” said Kathryn Bayne, Chair of the Cottey College Board of Trustees. “She has extensive experience in a variety of increasingly responsible positions in higher education. Her work in enrollment and communication will be an asset to the College as it continues to move forward. We owe our thanks to the Presidential Search Committee and Chair Grace Chalker for their excellent work.”

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to become the next president of Cottey College,” said Dr. Niles. “I am inspired by Cottey’s mission to educate women to be contributing members of a global society, particularly as I have both benefited personally from a single-gender educational experience, and I have worked at a women’s college. The unique experience that Cottey offers its students is distinctive and important, and I’m eager to champion Cottey and be a vocal and impassioned advocate for the many opportunities offered to the women it serves.”

“On behalf of International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and our members throughout the United States and Canada, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Stefanie D. Niles as the 13th President of Cottey College,” said Patricia L. Brolin-Ribi, President of International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. “Dr. Niles, through her vision and values, will provide excellent leadership for the future of the college. We are very fortunate to have her join us at this time in Cottey’s history.”

“I am so pleased to know Cottey College will be in good hands following my retirement,” said Dr. Jann Weitzel. “With the help of the excellent leadership team already in place on campus, I know Dr. Niles and Cottey will find incredible success.”

Dr. Niles will be joined in Nevada by her husband Chris. They have two college-aged children, Parker and Alexa. Dr. Niles’ first day on campus will be July 1, 2022.

Cottey College is an independent, liberal arts and science college for women located in Nevada, Missouri. Its residential student capacity of 350 typically represents 40 states and 20 countries. Cottey is owned by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international women’s organization of over 210,000 members, making Cottey the only nonsectarian college in the United States owned and supported by women for women.

Obituary - Carol Ann Ryser

Memorial services for Carol Ann Ryser of Mission Hills, Kansas will be Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Church of the Resurrection in Overland Park, Kansas. Details to be announced. Arrangements under direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Carol Ann Ryser, born Carol Ann Carter in 1937 at Research hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

She grew up in Holden, Missouri, Northern Arkansas, and spent most of her growing years in Thayer, Missouri where she graduated from High School in 1955. She lived with her parents, Leland Carter and Mary Fran Carter, and her younger brother, Larry, above their family owned funeral home in Thayer.

After graduating from High School, Carol Ann went to William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri where she graduated in 1959 with a B.A. in Chemistry. She was a pre-med student and was accepted in several Medical Schools but decided to go to the University of Kansas Medical School in Kansas City, Kansas. Upon graduating from Medical School in 1963 she entered a Pediatric Residency at KU Med. During her tenure in the Residency program, she also managed to spend two years with the US Army on the island of Crete in Greece as a special consultant.

Following her time in Crete, she accepted the post as Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and was the Director of the Children’s Rehab Unit at KU and completed her Pediatric Residency in 1967. While she was busy with her duties at KU Med, she also was on the consulting staff of Research Hospital in Kansas City and begin a private practice in Gardner Hospital in Gardner, Kansas.

Her interest begin to change in Medicine as she became more and more involved helping families cope with abusive situations. She was one of the first physicians who travelled in the state of Kansas talking about the abuse of children, helping with the Courts understand child abuse, and training medical professionals on how to address the situation. This led her to becoming more involved in the Psychological aspect of medicine as she soon became a Transactional Analyst with the International Transactional Analysis Association as a Certified Clinical Analyst in 1976.

At this point in her life she focused all her medical training and expertise on families and established MATRIX, a non-for-profit organization that provided psychotherapy for abused patients and training for physicians. During this time she became a consulting physician at Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital.

Her final Medical career led her to working with chronically ill patients, many of whom had Lyme disease. From the mid-90’s until her retirement in 2013, her focus was with patients with debilitating diseases and formed Health Centers of America during this time.

Patients loved Carol Ann. She always took time with each patient, as demonstrated by her initial interview of her patients which lasted 2-3 hours or more. Her patient base was not just the Metro-KC area but had patients from all over the United States. She spent much time at conferences presenting her theories of illness and her methodology of treatment.

Carol Ann had been previously married before marrying Michael Ryser in April of 1980. She had two children by her pervious marriage, Stephanie Reece and Andrea Reece. With her marriage to Michael, she became the stepmother to Chris Ryser and Erika. Even with her busy schedule during all these years, she considered her primary focus as a mother and wife. Michael and Carol Ann worked together from 1974 through her retirement in 2013.

Carol Ann became critically ill with pneumococcal pneumonia in 2012 which was complicated by her Crohn’s disease. As her health was failing over the past few years and as the pain increased, she was no longer able to move around. After going to the hospital on the 2nd of April with failing health, she passed away on April 14, Present during her passing were her husband, children, and grandchildren at her bedside.

She leaves behind: Michael Ryser her husband; her children: Stephanie and daughter Lucia; Andrea, partner Becky and son Carter; Chris, wife Lisa and son Collin, Erika, husband Greg and son Nicolas.

Obituary - Judy Moore

Judy Ann Moore, 58, Nevada, MO, passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Freeman West in Joplin. Judy was born March 23, 1964 in Nevada to Oran A. and Maxine (Mason) Burrus. She married Carl P. Moore on August 23, 1985 in Nevada and he survives of the home.

Judy grew up in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School in 1982. Judy worked in food service at Cottey College for nine years and an additional two years for the Nevada R-5 School District. She was a past member of the First Baptist Church and had also attended Life Church in Nevada. Judy loved being with her family, especially her grandchildren, and was an avid Las Vegas Raiders fan.

In addition to her husband Carl, she is survived by three children, Katie Yockey, Nevada, Bradley Moore, Nevada, and Caryl (C.J.) Brasher (Josh), Nevada; seven grandchildren, Sean Yockey, Haleigh Yockey, Emma Yockey, Aidan Moore, Rilen Livengood, Brantley Stroud, and Brynner Stroud; sister, Jeanne Burrus, Nevada; father, Oran Burrus, Nevada; and her mother-in-law, Twila Moore, Nevada; also survived by several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at Moore Cemetery in Nevada with Pastor Chance Foster officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Memorials are suggested in Judy’s memory to the American Diabetes Association c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Low temperatures tonight

There have been *A LOT* of complaints about the wind lately. The good news is winds will become light at sunset tonight and remain light on Tuesday. 

The bad news is this will allow temperatures to fall into the 30s tonight. Freeze warnings are in effect along and north of highway 36. Frost advisories are in effect farther south.

One arrested after stabbing in Belton

This morning at approximately 0803 hours the Belton Police Department received a call regarding a stabbing victim located at a convenience store near 163rd and Cornerstone Dr. When emergency personnel arrived, they located the victim inside a vehicle. 

The victim is a 46 year old Independence, Missouri resident. This crime is particularly disturbing because the victim sustained life-threatening injuries to include multiple stab wounds to her face. She was transported to a local hospital for emergency care. 

The Belton Police Department has identified 42 year old James W. Cook  as the suspect and he was taken into custody without incident.

Drivers needed!

 

Drivers, you asked and here it is! Local driving position- home every night, sleep in your own bed. Salary plus benefits. Must have 2 years  experience and clean MVR. Call 660-227-6080

From the Lamar Police Department

The Lamar Police Department is pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Shaw to the rank of Lieutenant. He will have the responsibilities of the Assistant Chief of Police. Steve is a lifelong resident of Lamar and a 1996 graduate of Lamar High School. 

Steve has worked for the City of Lamar for over 20 years as a patrol officer, a corporal, a sergeant and as a detective. Congratulations Steve, we are confident you will continue to serve the citizens of Lamar well.

Paola woman charged after Cass County Police chase

On 04-23-22, the Cass County Courts charged 27 year old Makayla Kettler, from Paola Kansas, with first degree tampering with a motor vehicle (D Felony) and resisting arrest by fleeing (E Felony). Her bond was set at $7,500 (10% cash only).

View original story below:

https://www.midamericalive.com/2022/04/pursuit-from-kansas-ends-in.html