MANHATTAN -A suspect wanted on several warrants for various offenses in Pottawatomie County, Wamego, and Manhattan, was arrested on Thursday evening.
Anthony Michael Brazzle, 22, oManhattan, was arrested in the 1500 block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard just before 8:30 p.m. on charges of possession of opiates, opium or other narcotics and probation violation.
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office issued a release on Thursday asking for assistance in locating Brazzle.
Brazzle was given a bond of $4,356 and is confined at the Riley County Jail
While seeing a police force burst through a school is a frightening scenario, yesterday the Hays Police Department Special Situations Response Team did just that in a training exercise, in order to be prepared for an active shooter scenario, should it ever occur in Hays.
These training sessions are used “to prepare ourselves if we have something like that,” said HPD Corp. Brandon Hauptman.
The HPD conducted the training throughout the day at Roosevelt Elementary School, 2000 MacArthur, using special tactical equipment.
“We like to use the schools because we want to be familiar with the environment we are in,” Hauptman said. “If this is the place it could happen, we want to make sure we are familiar with the buildings.”
The training included single, two, three and team response training from a real event scenario, meaning the officers participating carried with them what they would have available during regular patrols.
“Typically an active shooter response would be from the patrol level.” Hauptman said. “All officers would have their issued handgun with them, we all carry 9mm now…there could be officers that aren’t on the team that go, but everyone is going to have either a patrol shotgun, or patrol rifle that they bring in.”
While the training is necessary and carries with it a small element of danger, the HDP conducts these training sessions with great care and safety, according to a statement made by the HPD before the training.
Hauptman said the team trains for this kind of scenario approximately once a year.
WINFIELD, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are looking for a jail inmate who did not return from a court-ordered furlough in Cowley County.
The sheriff’s office said in a news release that 19-year-old Candise Renee Cross of Winfield left the Cowley County Jail with her mother Thursday for a dentist appointment, but apparently fled during a bathroom stop on the drive back to the jail.
Cross was serving time for failing to appear in two Cowley County court cases, one for interfering with law enforcement and the other for misdemeanor battery.
Cross is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing about 135 pounds. She has reddish brown hair with dark streaks and was last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — People in Wichita have gathered for a vigil honoring the nine people killed in a shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina.
The vigil was held Thursday at St. Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal Church, which is Wichita’s oldest African-American church. Speakers included Wichita city councilwoman Lavonta Williams and NAACP Wichita branch president Kenya Cox.
The Rev. Joseph Nixon, who is the pastor of the Wichita church, told those who attended the vigil that praying came with a mandate and that they had a job to do more than just pray.
Another vigil is scheduled for Friday at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
Jeremy Guthrie strikes out four and picks up first win since May 20 Thursday vs. Milwaukee. (Jason Hanna)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Alcides Escobar had three hits and scored twice and Jeremy Guthrie pitched six effective innings as the Kansas City Royals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Thursday night.
Escobar doubled to lead off the Royals’ two-run first then scored on Lorenzo Cain’s sacrifice fly. Escobar singled in the second, stole second base and scored on Mike Moustakas’ two-out single.
Kendrys Morales’ two-out single in the first drove in Eric Hosmer, who had doubled, with the other Royals’ run.
Guthrie (5-4) picked up his first victory since May 20, allowing two runs and seven hits, walked none and struck out four.
Greg Holland worked the ninth to earn his 12th save in 13 opportunities.
With the victory, Ned Yost surpassed Whitey Herzog as the winningest manager in Royals’ history with 411 wins.
Retiring Public Works Director I.D. Creech is presented the key to the city by Hays Mayor Eber Phelps.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
It’s not a bad way to way to retire from your job–having your last day proclaimed in your honor by the city mayor.
Hays Public Works Director I.D. Creech is retiring Friday, after more than 30 years of public service with county and city administrations in Kansas.
Mayor Eber Phelps read a special proclamation during the Thursday night city commission work session, thanking Creech for his public service, dedication and integrity.
“I.D. Creech began his career in city-county government as in intern in the budget office for the city of Wichita and has since served as city administrator for Ellsworth, city manager for Osage City, city administrator for Valley Center, county administrator for Harper County, and director of public works for Hays,” Phelps read from the plaque.
“I.D. has dedicated the last 30 years to serving the public in a professional manner and with the highest ethical standards. Therefore, I, Eber Phelps, mayor of Hays, on behalf of the city commission, declare Friday, June 19, 2015, as ‘I.D. Creech Day.'”
Creech also served as interim Hays Regional Airport manager from May through November, 2014.
Creech was given a second plaque from the mayor affixed with the key to the city of Hays.
He started his job in Hays almost exactly four years ago, on July 11, 2011. Creech said he and his wife, who was in the audience to watch the ceremony, “plan to travel.”
The Hays director of public works is responsible for the service, solid waste, planning, inspection and enforcement, airport, fleet maintenance, buildings and grounds, and stormwater management divisions.
A review of applications for the position began in March after Creech announced his retirement in late February.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura has been put on the 15-day disabled list because of right ulnar nerve inflammation.
Ventura, Kansas City’s opening-day starter, is 3-6 with a 4.68 ERA in 12 starts. He left his June 12 outing with weakness and numbness in his right hand and fingers, then experienced hand cramps after a bullpen session Wednesday.
Ventura joins left-handed starters Danny Duffy and Jason Vargas on the disabled list.
The AL champions recalled right-hander Yohan Pino from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, and he is to take Ventura’s turn Friday against Boston. Pino was 4-2 with a 4.93 ERA with Omaha and 0-1 with 0.64 ERA in six relief appearances this season with Kansas City.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents has approved 2 percent increases in the base salaries of the top administrators at five state universities.
The board approved the additional compensation Thursday.
University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little will receive a base salary of about $510,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The increase is $10,000.
Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz will see his salary rise about $9,300 to $476,000.
Wichita State University President John Bardo’s salary will be about $357,000, an increase of about $7,000.
Fort Hays State University President Mirta Martin’s base salary will rise by $5,200, to about $265,000, and Pittsburg State University President Steve Scott’s salary will be about $263,000, also about $5,200 higher.
The board’s action does not cover interim Emporia State University President Jacqueline Vietti.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Health officials are warning the public about a toxic algae bloom in three lakes in Kansas.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the public health warning Thursday for Chisholm Creek Park Lake in Sedgwick County. Warnings were also issued for Marion Reservoir in Marion County and Memorial Park Lake in Barton County.
The lakes under the warning are not closed. The agency says activities like boating and fishing may be safe, but people and animals should avoid direct contact with the water.
Officials say pets that swim in or drink water affected by the algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may get very sick or die.
Areas of fog will quickly end this morning. Temperatures will rise even a few degrees warmer each of the next couple of days, as daily highs remain in the mid to upper 90s into next week. Overnight lows will be mild, and mainly in the low 70s.
Today Areas of fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 92. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Tonight Clear, with a low around 70. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 20 mph.
Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Increasing clouds, with a low around 71. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph.
Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. East wind 9 to 11 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — An Emporia State University instructor working to develop the state’s first master’s degree program in forensics science is getting some real-world experience.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that associate biological sciences professor Melissa Bailey is spending nine weeks interning in the crime lab. Bailey is serving as the interim director of the new master’s program, which starts this fall with an inaugural class of 25 students.
Bailey has been working with the major crime labs in Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area in designing the 40-hour program. During her Johnson County internship, Bailey will spend time in every section of the lab. The goal is to familiarize her with current practices so graduates of the new program will be prepared for the workforce.
HUTCHINSON– Kansas State Fair General Manager Denny Stoecklein announced his resignation to the state fair board Thursday.
Stoecklein has been with the fair for the past 20 years and will become the new Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Hutchinson Community College, replacing M.L. Hinkle.
Stoecklein said his decision came down to having a chance to work for a school that has meant a lot to him and his family.
Stoecklein says that he still expects to keep a very busy schedule with his new job, but says he’s looking forward to having Labor Day off for the first time in about 20 years. Stoecklein says its really hard to single out just one thing that he’s most proud of when it comes to his 20 years at the fair, but the capital improvement projects and the 100th birthday of the fair certainly stands out.
Stoecklen has been the General Manager of the fair for the past 12 years.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The economy has improved slightly in rural parts of 10 Western and Plains states, but a new survey suggests little growth ahead.
The overall Rural Mainstreet index improved to the neutral score of 50 in June from last month’s 49.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the strong dollar is continuing to hurt crop prices and exports, so farm income is down in the region.
Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
The survey indexes range from 0 to 100. Any score below 50 suggests decline in that factor in the months ahead.
The weak crop prices and current bird flu outbreak have bankers worried. The confidence index registered 45.9 in June, up from 41.5 in May, but still negative.
