SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A 51-year-old woman was found guilty in the operation of an unlicensed animal boarding facility in Salina.

The Salina Journal reports that Stephanie Pankratz was convicted Monday on 80 counts in connection with the facility, including 22 counts of failure to register, 19 counts of not meeting animal care requirements and three counts of owning prohibited wild, exotic, poisonous or vicious animals.

Authorities say Salina Animal Shelter workers confiscated 51 animals from Pankratz’s boarding facility called Playful Pets on Oct. 23, 2014. According to the shelter’s animal services supervisor, Vanessa Cowie, workers found excessive feces, fleas and evidence of intestinal parasites at the facility. Cowie also said the facility was over capacity and did not have electricity.

Pankratz is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 28.

HARPER, Kan. (AP) — Southern Kansas experienced nearly two dozen earthquakes in the past week, including 10 separate quakes centered in a quarter-section of land five miles southeast of Harper.

U.S. Geological Survey records indicate the cluster of earthquakes occurred between 8:23 p.m. Friday and 5:04 p.m. Sunday in Harper County, with several occurring just 10 to 20 minutes apart.

The Hutchinson News reports the largest of quakes in that cluster had a magnitude of 2.5, with the others between 1.8 and 2.27. Two other quakes that happened within a mile of the cluster both had a magnitude of 3.1.

The cluster was among 18 earthquakes recorded in Harper County in the past week.

Sumner County recorded four earthquakes, including three in a tight cluster 5 miles east of Caldwell.

GREAT BEND — The three trumpeter swans have been taken off exhibit at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo due to an increase of avian influenza that is sweeping across the country, according to a media release.

Many citizens and individuals have been asking about why the swans are missing, and the zookeepers want to keep the public informed.

This type of influenza rarely infects humans but is highly communicable through the avian species. At the advice of the state veterinarian, emergency action plan has been put into place by the Great Bend zookeepers where the swans will be safely held in a controlled back area of the zoo until fall migration is over.

“The Trumpeters at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo are a breeding pair so they are very valuable and because they are endangered we want to keep them as safe as possible,” said zookeeper Sara Hamlin.

When the swans return to the zoo pond after fall migration, there will only be the two.

“The baby is being sent to the Emporia zoo next week so that it could be a companion for their swan,” Hamlin said.

The zoo is also temporarily stopping the sale of the bags of feed as well. The reason for this is that it brings in the wild birds and it puts local birds and birds of the zoo at a higher risk.

GEARY COUNTY -The Junction City/Geary County Drug Operations Group is reporting that they found an abandoned clandestine methamphetamine lab in the southeastern portion of Geary County, according to a media release.

According to the report the Drug Operations Group received a tip Tuesday about a possible meth lab located on a vacant property located in the 22000 block of Humboldt Creek Rd..

“Geary County Drug Operations Group executed a search warrant that was obtained for the property, and an abandoned clandestine methamphetamine lab was located inside the barn,” said Tim Brown, Junction City Police Chief.

The Riley County Police Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team responded and assisted with evidence collection and the cleanup of the lab. Materials used in the making of methamphetamine were collected and disposed of.

“It appeared to be abandoned for a while, but it was in the middle of a cooking process when it was abandoned.”

Anyone with information in reference to this incident can contact the Junction City Police Department at (785) 762-5912 or the Junction City/Geary County Crimestoppers Hotline at (785) 762 TIPS.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka couple has donated $1 million to Washburn University.

The school says the gift comes from businessman Mike McPherson and his wife, Belinda. The money is being used to renovate Morgan Hall to create a center where students can apply for admission, meet with advisers, register for classes, pay tuition and learn about scholarships and financial aid.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Welcome Center is planned for Oct. 23.

Belinda McPherson taught and coached at Washburn in the 1970s. Her husband, Mike, and his brother, Bruce, are the founders of McPherson’s Constructors Inc., which manages construction projects in several states. The brothers also partnered with another man to form a company that develops multi-family units and retail space.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University has partnered with Westar Energy to build one of the largest enclosed flight facilities for unmanned aircraft systems in the nation.

The university said in a news release Wednesday that the UAS Pavilion on Kansas State’s campus in Salina aims to allow students to conduct flight training and research. It also gives outside industries an arena for company training.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Oct. 21 on Kansas State’s Salina campus.

Kansas State Salina was the second university in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in UAS, and has doubled its enrollment in the program every year since it began in 2011. This fall the university added a second bachelor’s degree in drone design and integration.

Westar is interested in using drones for infrastructure inspections.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY -A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. on Wednesday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Tahoe driven by Justice Rexrode, 19, Junction City, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Kansas 99.

The SUV went off the roadway to the right. The driver overcorrected and the SUV went across the highway to the left and overturned in the median.

Rexrode was transported to Geary County Hospital. He was wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA -Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins’ (KS-02) Annual Jobs Fair is scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Ag Hall at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. The jobs fair is free, open to the public, and welcomes any business currently seeking employees.

Job seekers are not required to register, but may find more information about the Jobs Fair at www.lynnjenkins.house.gov/2015-jobs-fair/.

Employers interested in having a table at the jobs fair may register online or call Melissa Underwood at (785) 234-5966.

“The jobs fair is an opportunity for our friends and neighbors who are struggling to find work or looking for a new start to connect with employers that are actually hiring,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “We already have several businesses signed up to attend and we will continue to add to this list over the next couple weeks. Last year’s event drew hundreds of Kansans and I am confident we will build on that success and help connect more hardworking folks with employers across Kansas.”

WHAT:Congresswoman Jenkins Annual Jobs Fair

WHEN:Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Topeka Expocentre, Agriculture Hall, One Expocentre Drive, Topeka, KS 66612

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka officials say the city will pay a $10,000 fine for the accidental release of 3 million gallons of raw sewage into the Kansas River earlier this year.

The $10,000 fine is part of a consent agreement reached between the city and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The city says the money will come from the city’s wastewater fund.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the agreement also requires Topeka to implement an emergency notification plan. That plan would involve warning residents of Lawrence, Olathe and Johnson County Water District No. 1 within 24 hours of finding a hazardous sewage release.

Doug Gerber, deputy city manager, says the April 17 spill was caused by an internal power failure, which has since been addressed “multiple times over.”

Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND -The Kansas Communities that Care Survey is given each year to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students throughout the state.

The survey has been a valuable source of information on factors that determine student success in schools. There was no state data to compare Great Bend to but there was data from the rest of Barton County.

USD 428 Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum John Popp says the district found out that less than 80 percent of their students speak English as their primary language at home.

“We actually have more and more of our families speaking something other than English as their primary language at home,” said Popp. “It’s not something to worry about but something to note because those kids come to school with extra challenges,” he said.

78 percent of the students in the four classes took the survey, but Popp and Superintendent Brad Reed said the most recent data was not as valuable since there was no state data.

The survey also shows nearly 80 percent of the Great Bend students surveyed mentioned they had not consumed beer, wine, or hard liquor in the past 30 days. The survey is optional and students need to have a parent’s signature to participate.