Jane Carder grew up in a quiet Humboldt neighborhood, lived in Iola for years and was “absolutely horrified” Thursday when four people, including the shooter, were shot to death eight blocks from her Hesston home.
“It was unbelievable that it would happen here, and just because of a protection from abuse (order)” that was handed to Cedric Ford, the suspect, 90 minutes before he went on the rampage. Investigators think that was a cause.
“You don’t think of it happening in a place like Hesston,” Carder said.
Calls flooded the Carder household Thursday evening, from friends and relatives concerned about their welfare. John Carder is an executive with GVL Poly, a company that fashions various products from plastic. He is former mayor of Iola, 1980-89, and spent 16 years as Hesston city manager.
“Our third shift didn’t want to come to work Thursday night,” Jane Carder said of her husband’s business.
Jane said stayed home Friday, not wanting to be one of those driving by to gawk at the plant and the media frenzy. “It’s just crazy here right now,” she said late Friday morning.
THE SHOOTINGS also hit home with Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy and his deputies.
“Once again,” Murphy said, “this shows a shooting can happen anywhere, even in rural communities in Kansas.” Though only 15 minutes north of Wichita, Hesston has a population of 3,700.
Murphy thinks the Hesston event may be a catalyst for local businesses and industries to be proactive in requests for training the department provides with a program called ALICE. “We’ll help anyone who wants training, at no cost to them,” Murphy said. Public meetings are scheduled occasionally and a full-scale exercise will be March 11 at Marmaton Valley High School, while students are on spring break.
Murphy said he had purchased and soon will distribute 20 hand-held radios to all county schools, including Allen Community College. Cost of $7,000 came from his law enforcement trust and VIN (vehicle inspection) funds — “no tax money was involved.”
Murphy said the radios would be ready for use anytime schools were in session, tuned to a direct frequency to the 911 center. They also may be used for communications between schools.
