A Kansas man has pleaded guilty to an Internet sex crime that took place while he was in the Kansas Sexual Predator Treatment Program at Larned State Hospital

Mark D. Brull, 38, Larned State Hospital, pleaded guilty to one count of transferring obscene material to a child. In his plea, he admitted that while he resided at Larned State Hospital he became friends with co-defendant Ryan J. Dancosse, a resident of Wichita. Brull provided Dancosse with the passwords to Brull’s social networking profiles including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Youtube, as well as his email account. With Brull’s knowledge and agreement, Dancosse found and copied images of pornography and then uploaded the images to Brull’s accounts for others to see and discuss.

In April 2011, Brull and Dancosse began communicating with a 14–year-old boy living in Massachusetts. In April and May 2011 Brull communicated with the boy via email and telephone. Brull guided the boy to his social networking profiles on the Internet, where he knew Dancosse had uploaded pornography. The boy was able to view the images on his computer and then discuss them with Brull. The images included depictions of nude males performing sexual acts.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 4. Both parties have agreed to recommend to the judge a sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Co-defendant Ryan J. Dancosse, 40, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography. He is set for sentencing Oct. 2.

Grissom commended the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Wichita Police Department and the Sudbury, Mass., Police Department , U.S. Attorney Jason Hart and Attorney General Steve Karrer of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office.

7:30 p.m.  Rooks County Emergency Management Director Butch Post told Hays Post, “Between 250-300 acres of wheat stubble and grass were burned in today’s fire south of Damar. The fire was started when a controlled burn got out of control when the wind changed.”  Fire crews from Graham, Ellis and Rooks County brought water tanker trucks to help fight the blaze. Midland Marketing and local farmers also provided water. “At one time we had 15,000 Gallons of water ready to use,” said Post.  Nobody was injured.

4:35 p.m.   Officials on the scene say the fire is “under control.”  However, there is a lot of work to do as fire crews watch for hot spots and wrap up the long afternoon of work in the heat.

3:50pm – Crews continue to battle the blaze.  Trucks and crews from Rooks, Graham and Ellis counties are on the scene, coordinating their efforts.

2: 20 p.m The Rooks County Rural Fire Department is on site battling a grass fire.  Rooks County Emergency Management told Hays Post that the fire is a couple of miles south of Damar.  No other information is available at this time except that the Emergency Manager and fire crews are on site. Graham County has also reportedly sent crews to assist.  Stay tuned to Hays Post and Eagle Radio for updates. Click on the  map for a closer look at the location.

In a first-ever appearance at the world-renowned space museum, Buzz Aldrin, an American astronaut and one of the first men to walk on the Moon, will visit the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center Saturday, August 24, 2013, and will be signing his book, Mission to Mars.

As well as a pioneering astronaut who was the 2^nd person to step foot on the moon, Aldrin is an aerospace engineer who designed an orbital rendezvous technique critical to future planetary landings.  In his book, he proposes that humans could be taken to Mars by 2035.

“It will be a great honor to welcome Aldrin, a pioneer of space exploration, to share his vision and advocacy to push toward new boundaries,” said Richard Hollowell, Cosmosphere CEO. “At the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, our mission is to ‘honor the past and inspire the future of space exploration.’ We do this on a daily basis as we welcome visitors to our Hall of Space galleries, educate and entertain children on field trips and, through our STEM-based Camp KAOS programs. Aldrin’s visit places a very large exclamation point on the importance of our mission.”

Aldrin will be appearing August 24, 2013, from 1pm to 3pm in the Hall of Space Museum’s Apollo Gallery to sign copies of Mission to Mars. Visitors must purchase a copy/copies of Mission to Mars at the Cosmosphere.  A Hall of Space admission is also required. Advance purchases of Mission to Mars will also require a receipt and advance orders will be available for pickup at the signing.

The book has received many positive reviews from the science community.

“Colonizing space is essential for the long-term survival of the human race, and this book shows us how.” —Stephen Hawking

“Any time an Apollo-era astronaut steps forward with ideas for our future in space, it’s time to stop whatever we’re doing and pay attention. Buzz Aldrin, one of the first moonwalkers, has no shortage of these ideas. And in Mission to Mars he treats us to how, when, and why we should travel there.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson

“Page by page, this book makes you want to slide into your space suit and light your engines.” —Bill Nye, The Science Guy®

Books may be purchased in advance by calling (620) 662.2305 x350 or (800) 397.0330 x350, at the Cargo Bay Gift Store, or online at the Cargo Bay Gift Store. Estimated arrival of books is August 1

Nelson Worley, 43, of Osawatomie knows a lot about luck.  Worley was clinically dead a year and a half ago after going into cardiac arrest.  A good samaritan brought him back to life.  Saturday night Worley experienced another kind of luck: he won $1,000,000.

“First and foremost, I’m lucky to be alive,” Worley said. “Winning a million dollars?  I never expected that.”

“It’s his good karma coming back to him,” said Shannon, Worley’s wife of 12 years. “He is a great husband, father and provider, and he deserves this.”

The winning numbers in the July 20 Powerball drawing were 14-25-27-38-58 Powerball 6.  Worley matched the first five numbers.  Had he matched the Powerball number in addition to the other five numbers he matched, he would have won a $141 million jackpot.

“I could complain, but why?” joked Kansas’ newest millionaire.  “I’m quite happy.”

Worley said he used to always let the computer pick his numbers for him, but about a month ago he started to pick his own numbers, too.  His winning $4 ticket had two plays, one with numbers Worley picked himself and the other with numbers picked by the computer (Quick Pick).  It was the Quick Pick play that won him the $1 million.

Worley owns his own stucco contracting business, New LLC, in Osawatomie.  He and his wife have five children and one grandchild between them.  The Worleys plan to use their prize money to pay off their house, buy a swing set and make some investments.

2: 35 p.m. Reports from London say the Prince and wife Kate have a new baby boy.

Today marks a historic moment for the British monarchy as Prince William’s wife, Kate, is about to give birth to the couple’s first child, who will become third in line to the throne. Palace officials say Kate is in the early stages of labor in a central London hospital and “things are progressing as normal.”