MANHATTAN — Police are currently looking for an inmate from the Riley County Jail who was approved for work release and failed to return after his work shift.
Officers initiated the investigation July 26 after Jason Leonard, 38, Manhattan, failed to return to the Riley County jail.
Leonard, who is serving time for a probation violation stemming from a felony burglary and misdemeanor theft case, is described as a black male, approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 170 pounds.
Those with information about his whereabouts are encouraged to contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers.
HUTCHINSON — The man who was found guilty of attacking District Attorney Keith Schroeder during a court hearing has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Michael Sherman
Michael Sherman, 27, was sentenced Monday before Judge Trish Rose. A Reno County jury convicted Sherman of attempted first-degree murder for attacking Schroeder as he was being sentenced in another case.
During Monday’s sentencing, the defense asked the court for a less sentence for Sherman stating the only reason so much time was being considered was the fact that the victim was the district attorney. He went on to say Sherman was simply frustrated. But Rose denied the motion noting that the attack was not just on Schroeder but on the court system — a place where people are suppose to feel safe. With that, she sentenced Sherman to a middle range term of 21 years.
That will be added to the 13 plus years he already is serving in a child molestation case.
TOPEKA -A fatal accident just before 1:30 a.m. on Saturday in Shawnee County is still under investigation.
The Shawnee County Sheriff’s office reported a 2003 Chevy Impala and a 2014 Chevy Camaro were southbound on U.S. 75 just north of Topeka when the collision occurred. The Impala went into a ditch and hit trees.
Four people in the Impala were transported to the hospital for treatment. Desiree Rias, 59, Topeka, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The driver of the Camaro John J. Tumino, 40, Leavenworth was not injured.
TOPEKA — All Kansas kids ages 5 to 13 are encouraged to enter artwork in the 13th annual poster contest for Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day — a nationwide effort to increase roadway safety and reduce traffic fatalities.
The Kansas Department of Transportation announced Monday that three statewide winners will receive family packages at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City and $50 gift cards from Dillons of Kansas.
A total of 18 regional winners in the six regions and age groups (ages 5-7, ages 8-10 and ages 11-13) will each receive a bicycle and a helmet donated by Safe Kids Kansas.
All entries must be postmarked by Sept. 19 and should be mailed to: AAA Kansas, Public Affairs, 3545 SW 6th Street, Topeka, KS, 66606. On the back of the 8.5-by-11-inch paper entry must be the child’s full name; age at time of entry; mailing address; county; a parent’s name; and contact phone number. Numerous transportation safety organizations in Kansas sponsor the contest.
For more information, go to KDOT’s website at www.ksdot.org.
Below are the northwest Kansas kids who have won the contest in the past three years:
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The number of Kansas children in state custody has risen to all-time highs as the number of child abuse and neglect complaints also is climbing.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports about 7,000 children were in state custody at the beginning of June, including 6,168 in out-of-home foster care placement.
Kansas Children’s Alliance executive director Bruce Linhos says workers and government officials are struggling to find a cause for the increase.
An in-depth report by the Kansas Health Institute last month included comments from some advocates blaming state policies for straining poor families.
But a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Children and Families attributes the increase to heightened awareness and reporting of child abuse and neglect.
STONINGTON, Conn. (AP) — Authorities say a Connecticut man shot to death his girlfriend’s pet turtle.
Sgt. Louis Diamanti, Stonington’s animal control officer, says 31-year-old Steven Richard used a BB gun rifle to shoot the turtle in the head Friday night outside a home.
Police had responded after a neighbor reported an argument between Richard and the woman who lives in the house. They discovered the dead turtle in the yard.
Police say Richard did not explain why he shot the pet. A phone listed for Richard had been disconnected Monday. He was released on a promise to appear Aug. 4 in court on a charge of cruelty to animals.
Diamanti says he does not know what type of turtle it was.
PHILLIPSBURG — Some of the biggest stars in the rodeo world will be in Phillipsburg from July 31 to Aug. 2.
During that weekend and the days preceding it, Kansas becomes the destination of many pro rodeo contestants as they compete at four Sunflower State rodeos: Phillipsburg, Abilene, Hill City, and Dodge City, and two more rodeos within less than a day’s driving distance, in Carson and Sidney, Iowa.
Nineteen-time world champion Trevor Brazile competes at last year’s Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo. He is among 440 contestants to enter this year’s rodeo, which is July 31 to Aug. 2. Photo courtesy JJJ Photos.
For the Phillipsburg rodeo, 440 contestants have entered it, and among them are 69 world champions and 509 National Finals Rodeo qualifiers. Four of the reigning PRCA champions will be in Phillipsburg (Trevor Brazile, all-around; Chad Ferley, saddle bronc; Shane Hanchey, tie-down roping, and J.W. Harris, bull riding), and eight of last year’s Phillipsburg rodeo champs will return to defend their titles (Clint Cooper, all-around and tie-down co-champion; Seth Hardwick, bareback riding; Bradley Harter, saddle bronc riding; Justin Maas co-champion in the tie-down roping; Tyler Pearson, steer wrestling co-champion; York Gill, team roping heeler; and Taylor Jacob, barrel racing.)
Last year, saddle bronc rider Bradley Harter made Phillipsburg his home base for the week. He rode in Phillipsburg, Abilene, Dodge City, and Dalhart, Texas, and came home to his wife and son each night at the rodeo grounds. He got to introduce her to the good cooking at Shelly Ann’s Cafe. “I’ve always bragged about that cafe to my wife. Everybody’s so nice in there, and the food is really good.” He also added his autographed picture to the collection of rodeo memorabilia in the cafe. Harter will ride on Sat., August 2.
It was in Phillipsburg last year, after Taylor Jacob won the barrel racing, that she finally realized she was headed to her first National Finals Rodeo. “It’s funny,” she said. “When I won (Phillipsburg), I thought, ‘I’m going to the NFR.’” The 2013 Women’s Pro Rodeo Association Rookie of the Year finished the season in fourth place in the world and set a new NFR record with a run of 13.37 seconds in the seventh round. She will run on Wed., July 30, during slack.
Last year’s tie-down roping champion Clint Cooper, who tied with Justin Maas with times of 8.2 seconds each, returns to Phillipsburg to rope on August 1. Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo is one of his favorites, in part because of his Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame dad, Roy Cooper. “My dad’s always liked (this rodeo.) I came here with my dad when I was younger.” In his twelve years of pro rodeo, he figures he’s never missed competing in Phillipsburg.
Many of the timed event contestants will compete in slack, which will be held at 7 pm on Tues., July 29 and Wed., July 30. Slack is free to the public. Rodeo performances take place July 31-August 1-2 at 8 pm each night. Due to injuries to themselves or their horses, or because of travel conflicts, it is not guaranteed that all contestants will compete. Tickets are available at Heritage Insurance in Phillipsburg at 785-543-2448. A complete list of contestants can be found at KansasBiggestRodeo.com.
The following cowboys and cowgirls, ranked in the top 15 in the PRCA and Women’s Pro Rodeo Association standings as of July 16, 2014 are entered to compete in Phillipsburg. They are listed by event below:
Bareback riding
3. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore.
12. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas
Well, except for some of you who early-voted, you have about a week to decide just what sort of campaign you have been treated to by the candidates out there at the parade or park or community dinner or maybe at the front door.
And, it’s going to be interesting because this election cycle is different than ones we’ve seen recently.
There are hot-button slogans that, with just a glance, appear to be virtually useless except to fill out speeches or brochures, and there are issues that probably are important, but which nobody is talking much about.
A campaign that is mostly about slogans? Check the GOP primary to replace retiring Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, who served three terms.
Anyone talking about car insurance, life insurance or maybe whether you got a good estimate on the cost to replace that damaged roof? Nope, it’s the Affordable Care Act, and while most everyone either likes it or doesn’t like it, there is virtually nothing that the Kansas Insurance Commissioner can do about it. It’s almost like campaigning in opposition to hail.
What? Isn’t that most of what we’re hearing on the campaign trail, this Obamacare and how the Republicans in the race don’t like it? Yes, but there probably is more that a Kansas insurance commissioner can do about fire insurance and car insurance and such than Obamacare. You just aren’t hearing much of it. Biggest issue in the insurance race that few are hearing about is whether insurance companies ought to be subject to Kansas regulation, so Kansans get the insurance they are paying for, and not being tricked.
For most legislative races, while there is still the Obamacare issue that state lawmakers can’t do anything for or against—that’s Congress, not the Kansas Legislature—it’s still a hot topic.
The real question reflects on us voters. Why do we keep the screen door open for candidates who talk about something they can’t fix or kill, anyway?
Now, once the talk about Obamacare is over, we get to the stuff that ought to matter to us, but frankly, we’re not hearing much about.
There are always taxes, and so far, most candidates for the Kansas House where something can be done about the state income and sales taxes aren’t saying much. It’s either roughly “we’ll see how it works out” to “well, I’ll have to get into office to start wrangling with that.” It’d be nice if most candidates had some idea of what they’d like to see done…either raising some taxes or halting the income tax rate cuts, or maybe just deftly taking the other side of the issue: Spending.
And, that other side, it’s either we’re spending too much or we’re not spending enough on…fill in the blank…or it’s too early to tell.
Maybe that is the real answer. So far, state revenues have dropped while some 190,000 Kansans and their businesses aren’t paying state income taxes. Maybe they’ll spend that money they’re saving on taxes to hire new workers or buy machinery or maybe just vacation in the state and spend the money on their families.
It might just be too early to tell how that goes. Might happen, might not happen, and we’re finding out month to month how that lower taxes to free up spending is working.
But this is the last week to get at least an idea on what that candidate on the doorstep or at the coffee shop or neighborhood meeting is thinking about the issues, and how that lines up with your beliefs.
And, whether that candidate is still using the lines he/she used to try to get a date in high school…hoping you’ll settle for letting him/her leave a good impression, either with some real information, or by just being nice…
Syndicated by Hawver News Co. of Topeka, Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. To learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit www.hawvernews.com.
After a rainy June, July has produced just more than 2 inches of rainfall in Hays.
That could change, as the National Weather Service in Dodge City is predicting a rainy week — with the chance of storms beginning tonight and running through Thursday.
There is a slight chance of storms late tonight and early Tuesday, with those chances increasing throughout Tuesday.
According to the NWS, some of the storms could produce heavy rain and lightning.
According to the hazardous weather outlook issued early Monday morning, the chances of storms becoming severe is currently low.
The Hays Police Department conducted 16 traffic stops on Friday, 24 on Saturday and 16 on Sunday, according to the HPD activity log. The department also received 17 animal calls over the three-day period.
July 25
Water use violation, 3800 block Post Road, 1:44 a.m.
Driving under the influence, 1100 block Downing, 2:13 a.m.
Water use violation, 1000 block East 41st, 2:30 a.m.
Water use violation, 1700 block Douglas, 6:59 a.m.
Lost animals, 2200 block Oak Street Terrace, 8:14 a.m.
Animal at large, 1100 block Pinehurst, 8:28 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 500 block Pine, 9:53 a.m.
Found/lost property, 23rd and Allen, 9:25 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 1900 block Vine, 10:02 a.m.
Mental health call, 3400 block Vine, 11:55 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 2700 block Augusta, 12:38 p.m.
Found/lost property, Hays area, 1:22 p.m.
Telephone harassment, 2500 block Marjorie, 1:39 p.m.
Bicycle/Lost, found, stolen, 3500 block Hillcrest, July 25
Civil dispute, 3500 block Vine, 2:41 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 22nd and General Custer, 3:59 p.m.
Found/lost property, 300 block West 27th, 4:04 p.m.
Parking complaint, 500 block East 16th, 4:49 p.m.
Domestic battery, 200 block East Seventh, 5:25 p.m.
Civil dispute, 700 block Riley, 6:00 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 1300 block Felten, 6:13 p.m.
Theft, 1900 block Vine, 6:20 p.m.
Battery on law enforcement official, 100 block West 12th, 9:30 p.m.
July 26
Intoxicated subject, 3600 block Vine, 12:21 a.m.
Criminal damage to property, 1000 block Reservation Road, 12:30 a.m.
Unwanted person, 200 block West Sixth, 1:22 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 600 block East Fifth, 3:09 a.m.
Drug offenses, 2400 block Indian Trail, 7:47 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 1900 block Vine, 8:05 a.m.
Theft, 1600 block East 27th Street Terrace, 1 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 300 block West Seventh, 10:35 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 1200 block Main, 10:50 a.m.
Animal at large, 200 block Castillian, 11:10 a.m.
Lost animals, 1600 block East 27th Street Terrace, 12:26 p.m.
Civil dispute, 1700 block Eisenhower, 1:01 p.m.
Drug offenses, 4300 block Vine, 1:02 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident/hit and run, 300 block West Seventh, 12 a.m.
Animal cruelty/neglect, 1000 block Reservation Road, 3:43 p.m.
Assist, 100 block West 12th, 4:54 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 200 block West Seventh, 6:07 p.m.
Harassment, 2700 block Ash, 8:29 p.m.
Domestic disturbance, 400 block East Fifth, 8:10 p.m.
Theft, 3600 block Vine, 9:15 p.m.
Miscellaneous incident, Hays, 9:58 p.m.
Water use violation, 2700 block Sternberg, 10:01 p.m.
Criminal damage to property, 100 block East 23rd, 10:38 p.m.
July 27
Animal call, 3600 block Vine, 1:08 a.m.
Intoxicated subject, 200 block East Seventh, 2:20 a.m.
Domestic battery, 500 block West 17th, 11:42 a.m.
Domestic disturbance, 400 block East 12th, 1 p.m.
Animal call, 1600 block Allen, 2:21 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 2900 block Vine, 3:11 p.m.
Disturbance, 700 block East Sixth, 3:23 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 13th and Steven, 6:28 p.m.
Found/lost property, 100 block East 13th, 10:29 p.m.
Lost animals, 1000 block Reservation Road, 10:55 p.m.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One of four remaining clinics in Kansas that provide abortions has closed because its doctor and manager have retired.
The Aid For Women clinic in Kansas City, Kan., closed Saturday and is referring patients to three other clinics in Kansas, two in suburban Kansas City and one in Wichita.
Clinic manager Jeff Pederson says former patients need to fight for reproductive rights instead of relying on clinic works to wage that battle.
Wichita-based anti-abortion group Operation Rescue filed a complaint with the state Board of Healing Arts in 2012 alleging Aid for Women failed to report child sexual abuse. A lawyer for the clinic denied those claims.
Operation Rescue on Sunday hailed the clinic’s closing and said it was told recently that the BOHA case against the clinic was ongoing.
The Ellis County Fair is an annual showcase of accomplishments by local youth and adults. The most delicious category includes exhibits by members of the 4-H foods project. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share prize-winning recipes from our 4-H members.
Linda Beech
Today, I’d like to treat you to two very different recipes, one for award-winning yeast rolls and another for a decadent triple-layer cake. I know you will find occasions to try both.
In the “breadbasket of the nation” it is only fitting that Kansas 4-H cooks learn to make top-quality yeast breads. Katie Weisenborn, of the Gemini Juniors 4-H Club, exhibited these delicious Crescent Rolls which were named the Best 4-H Bread at the Ellis County Fair.
Crescent Rolls
2 1/4 ounce package dry active yeast
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 cup warm water
½ cup sugar
1 cup milk, scalded (2 minutes in microwave)
3 eggs, beaten
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon salt
7 cups flour
Dissolve yeast with 1 Tablespoon sugar in warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Mix butter, salt, milk and one-half cup sugar in large mixing bowl. Add 2 cups flour, mix well. Add yeast mixture and beaten eggs. Beat well. Add remaining flour, or enough to make a soft dough. Cover and let rest 20 minutes. Knead dough on lightly floured board and place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until double in bulk. Punch down and divide dough into thirds. Roll one third into a 12-inch diameter circle. Cut circle into 16 pie-shaped wedges. Roll up into crescent shapes, starting with the wide ends. Place crescent rolls on greased cookie sheet and let rise 1 hour, covered loosely with plastic wrap or tea towel. (Note: Leave plenty of room on sheets, these rolls need plenty of room. Do not crowd.) Repeat with remaining dough. Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees or until golden brown.
Kaleigh Weber, of the Ellis Sunflowers 4-H Club, was named the junior champion winner on her delicious layer cake. This would be a tasty way to use up bananas that are getting dark.
Banana Nut Cake
2 1/3 cups flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups mashed bananas (about 3 medium)
2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup finely chopped nuts
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour sheet cake pan or two 9-inch or three 8-inch round layer pans. Beat all ingredients in large mixer bowl on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, for 30 seconds. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Pour into pans. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting, below.
Cream Cheese Frosting
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
½ cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix all together. Add small amounts of milk if too thick.
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
