KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man considered a person of interest in his ex-girlfriend’s 2007 disappearance and now charged with burning another missing Missouri woman’s car spent time in jail for assaulting his pregnant then-girlfriend in 2011.
Police and court records show the 18-year-old woman in the 2011 incident won a protection order against Kylr Yust who was accused of drunkenly choking her. He pleaded guilty and served 120 days in jail.
Yust was arrested Sunday after Jessica Runions’ car was found burned and abandoned in Kansas City. The 21-year-old Runions was last seen Thursday.
In Belton, police say Yust is a person of interest in the 2007 disappearance of teenager Kara Kopetsky, who vanished days after seeking a protection order against him.
Runions -courtesy photo
Yust isn’t charged in either disappearance. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney, and he’s jailed in Benton County, 100 miles southeast of Kansas City.
Fort Hays State Weekly Football Press Conference
September 13, 2016
Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown along with select players met with members of the media on Tuesday afternoon at Lewis Field.
The Tigers (1-1) are coming off their first loss of the season at then No. 16 Central Missouri this past Thursday. Fort Hays State returns home this Saturday night to face Central Oklahoma. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Lewis Field.
Linda BeechA familiar sight in rural America — using the tailgate on the pickup as a serving table for meals in the farm field — is likely to be replicated in parking lots surrounding athletic fields across the country this fall.
Whether a harvest meal or pre-game feast, keeping food safe to eat need not be difficult, according to Karen Blakeslee, Kansas State University Research and Extension food scientist, who also happens to be an avid football fan and veteran tailgater.
Since September has been designated as National Food Safety Education Month, here are Blakeslee’s timely tips to keep tailgate foods safe — and guests healthy:
* Purchase and prepare enough food to feed guests, but not so much as to have leftovers that will spoil during the game and need to be discarded.
* Prepare as much food as possible at home. For example, prepare chilled foods in advance; wrap and chill well before placing the chilled food in an ice chest or cooler shortly before leaving for the party and game.
* Ask out-of-town guests to bring non-perishable foods such as beverages, chips, fruit or disposable tableware to reduce opportunities for party foods to spoil during travel.
* Keep raw foods and cooked foods in separate coolers to prevent cross-contamination, and dedicate an additional cooler for easy access to beverages without jeopardizing other cooled foods due to repeated opening and closing of the cooler.
* Wash hands before and after handling raw and cooked foods, and before and after eating, playing catch, etc. If water is not readily available, pack a jug of water, bar of soap and paper towels, single-use packaged towelettes, hand sanitizer gel, or an old terry towel cut into squares, moistened and used with a bar of soap.
* Transport food coolers in the air-conditioned passenger area, rather than a trunk or truck bed; and once you arrive at the tailgating area, cover the cooler with a blanket and place in shade, out of direct sunlight.
* Keep hot foods hot, and check recommended internal done temperatures with a food thermometer. Do not judge meat doneness by color. An internal temperature of 155 degrees F is generally considered safe for hamburgers; 165 degrees F is recommended for poultry, and all hot foods should be piping hot.
* If bringing carry-out foods such as premade hoagie sandwiches or fried chicken, keep them at appropriate temperatures for safety, as they, too, are susceptible to contamination that can cause foodborne illness.
* Use separate utensils and platters for raw and cooked foods to prevent cross contamination.
* Know the rules– if the outside temperature is 90 degrees or above, perishable foods should be discarded after sitting out for one hour; in temperatures of less than 90 degrees, the food safety window extends to two hours, unless the food has been sitting in direct sunlight or otherwise looks or smells bad.
* Make plans for protecting leftovers (wrapping and storing in an ice chest out of the sun is an example) or discard them.
* If planning a post-game meal or snack, choose non-perishable foods and pack them separately. Examples include a snack mix, fruit, cookies or dessert.
“Discard suspect foods,” said Blakeslee, who explained that foodborne illness can begin within as little as 30 minutes after eating a contaminated food, but also may not become apparent for several days or weeks, depending on the microbes involved. Most common symptoms of foodborne illness, which are often mistaken for the flu, include an upset stomach, diarrhea, chills, fever or headache. If foodborne illness is suspected, seek medical advice.
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
ROSENDALE, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say a 9-year-old girl rolled a utility vehicle, killing her 8-year-old passenger, on a rural road in western Missouri.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the crash happened Monday on a county road near Rosendale, about 75 miles north of Kansas City.
The patrol says the girl driving the Polaris Ranger UTV overcorrected, and the vehicle overturned on its side.
The patrol identified the girl who died as Alexis Walker of Leavenworth, Kansas. The young driver was rushed to a hospital in serious condition.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Last weekend’s loss to Ohio was eerily familiar to Kansas fans beaten down by years of ineptitude, but it also overshadowed something not so familiar: signs of progress.
Yes, even in a 37-21 defeat.
The Jayhawks did just about everything wrong in falling into a 25-0 first-half hole, muffing a pair of punts, getting stopped for a safety and struggling to pick up first downs. But players also believe the score could have been worse than it was had the Jayhawks not showed a little fight, with credit for the attitude change going to coach David Beaty’s system.
LaQuvionte Gonzalez returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give them some energy, but it was the way they came out of halftime that nearly turned the game. Montell Cozart hit Steven Sims Jr. with a 74-yard touchdown pass, then found him again on a 22-yard strike to get within 31-21 in the third quarter.
Kansas (1-1) is preparing for a road game at Memphis (1-0) on Saturday.
Nathan Marcucci, manager of the Hays Regional Airport, has resigned.
Assistant Hays City Manager Jacob Wood confirmed the action Tuesday afternoon.
“Nathan turned in his resignation last week. His last day will be Monday, Sept. 19,” Wood said. “He is still currently working.”
A listing on HaysHasJobs.com posted Monday afternoon shows the city of Hays seeking an Airport Manager with applications accepted until the position is filled. Initial review of applications will be on Oct. 3, according to the ad.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Women’s Soccer entered the NSCAA Division II Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history on Tuesday (Sept. 13). The Tigers debut in the poll at No. 16 after a 4-0 start to the season.
This is the first time the FHSU women have cracked the top 25 of the poll. The 2014 team received votes in the first regular season poll, but didn’t break into the top 25. That was the first time FHSU was ever referenced in the poll.
Fort Hays State currently owns the seventh-best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 4.25 goals per match. But the defense has been rock solid as well so far, allowing just a 0.24 goals-against average. The Tigers have three shutouts out of four matches already and the only goal surrendered for the season was a penalty kick. FHSU has outscored its opponents 17-1 for the season.
Fort Hays State and Central Missouri are the only MIAA teams currently referenced in the women’s poll. Central Missouri moved up to No. 3 in the nation this week after holding the No. 4 spot in the first regular season poll. FHSU did not receive any votes in the first regular season poll, but jumped all the way to No. 16 this week.
Below is the NSCAA Division II Top 25 Poll for September 13, 2016.
Rank
School
Prev.
W-L-T
1
Columbus State University
1
3-0-0
2
Grand Valley State University
2
3-0-1
3
University of Central Missouri
4
3-0-0
4
East Stroudsburg University
5
4-0-0
5
Colorado School Of Mines
6
4-0-0
6
University of California-San Diego
7
3-1-0
7
Adelphi University
11
3-0-0
8
Rollins College
16
4-0-0
9
Bellarmine University
8
4-0-0
10
University Of Bridgeport
3
2-1-0
11
Edinboro University
15
4-0-0
12
University of North Georgia
17
2-0-1
13
California State University Chico
23
4-0-1
14
Florida Tech
RV
4-0-0
15
Texas Woman’s University
25
4-0-0
16
Fort Hays State University
NR
4-0-0
17
Western Washington University
9
3-0-1
18
Texas A&M University-Commerce
14
2-2-0
19
Winona State University
13
3-1-0
20
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.)
24
2-0-0
21
Ashland University
22
3-0-1
22
Armstrong State University
RV
2-1-0
23
West Chester University
RV
4-0-0
24
Stonehill College
NR
4-0-0
25
Truman State University
RV
3-0-1
Also receiving votes: Notre Dame College (3), Nova Southeastern University (2), Carson-Newman University (2), Central Washington University (1).
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer moved up two spots in the latest NSCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday (Sept. 13). The Tigers check in at No. 18 this week after holding the No. 20 spot last week.
The most recent poll was conducted while the Tigers were still 1-1-1 overall. The Tigers moved to 2-1-1 on Monday night with a win over UC-Colorado Springs. FHSU picked up an overtime win back on Thursday night at Texas A&M-International to help improve their standing in the poll.
Fort Hays State is the only MIAA school currently in the top 25. Lindenwood is in the receiving votes section of the poll.
Below is the NSCAA Top 25 Poll for September 13, 2016.
Rank
School
Prev.
W-L-T
1
University Of Charleston
2
4-0-0
2
Lynn University
4
5-0-0
3
Rockhurst University
3
4-0-0
4
Southern New Hampshire University
5
2-0-0
5
St. Edward’s University
7
4-0-0
6
Simon Fraser University
6
3-0-0
7
Pfeiffer University
1
3-1-0
8
LIU Post
8
4-0-0
9
Saint Leo University
10
1-0-0
10
Wingate University
11
2-0-0
11
Northwood University (Mich.)
13
2-0-0
12
Regis University
NR
3-0-0
13
Barry University
16
3-0-0
14
Limestone College
19
3-0-0
15
Fresno Pacific University
14
1-1-1
16
Urbana University
12
2-1-0
17
Midwestern State University
9
2-0-1
18
Fort Hays State University
20
1-1-1
19
Tiffin University
NR
4-0-0
20
Adelphi University
NR
2-1-0
21
University Of Tampa
24
3-0-0
22
Drury University
NR
4-0-0
23
Cal Poly Pomona
NR
3-1-1
24
University of Montevallo
NR
4-0-0
25
Millersville University
18
3-1-0
Also receiving votes: Wilmington University (13), Lindenwood University (12), California State University-Los Angeles (9), Colorado Mesa University (5), California Pennsylvania (3), Saginaw Valley State University (3), Rollins College (1), Gannon University (1).
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State junior forward Thayla Dwyer was named the MIAA Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week on Tuesday (Sept. 13) for her efforts in Fort Hays State’s win over Northwestern Oklahoma State this past Sunday.
Dwyer became the first player in FHSU women’s soccer program history to record a hat trick in a 9-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State. She scored all three of her goals within a span of six minutes, between the 67:12 and 73:04 marks of the match. Her third goal pushed the lead to 7-0, which broke the program’s single-game record for goals in a game as a team. She added an assist earlier in the game, giving her seven points for the match, also a new single-game FHSU record.
Dwyer joins Jordan Woodruff of Northeastern State (Goalkeeper of the Week) and Michele Keleher of Washburn (Defender of the Week) as the weekly honorees from the MIAA.
BARTON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Barton County are investigating a shooting.
Just before 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officers from the Great Bend Police Department were dispatched to the 1200 block of 10th Street, in reference to a man who had been shot.
The caller advised that another party was driving the gunshot victim to the hospital.
Shortly thereafter, a man later identified as Austin Amos was dropped off at Great Bend Regional Hospital and ran inside exclaiming that he had been shot.
Amos suffered what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the back. He was treated and flown to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Through the course of the investigation, officers came to believe that Dallas Mills, while inside a vehicle belonging to the victim had shot Amos.
As officers were searching for Mills and the vehicle, Barton County Dispatch received information from a citizen indicating that the vehicle had been abandoned near the intersection of 5th Street and Morphy Street.
Officers established a perimeter around the area and deployed Kia, one of the Great Bend Police patrol dogs.
Kia tracked a scent from the area of the truck to an abandoned house nearby. Officers noticed that the door to the house appeared to have been kicked in, so they announced that they would send in the dog to search the house if the person inside didn’t surrender.
At that point, Mills announced that he was in the house. Mills came out of the house and surrendered. He was taken into custody without any harm or incident.
Officers are still searching for the weapon used during this incident.
“Our greatest concern right now is finding this gun before a child happens upon it and gets hurt. We’d ask that the public be on the lookout for this weapon, which was probably thrown out of the vehicle somewhere on the way to the hospital. It would likely be in a ditch or near a roadway,” according to Great Bend Police Chief Cliff Couch.
The Department asks that anyone who might see the weapon contact Barton County Dispatch at 911 and not touch it.
Lorraine Ester (Bender) Mai, 90, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 12, 2016 at the Golden Living Center in Wilson, Kansas.
Celebration of Lorraine’s Life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, September 16, 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. Burial will follow at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery of Russell. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Thursday at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Memorials have been established with St. John Lutheran Church or Russell American Legion Post 99 Ladies Auxiliary.
Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Dr. Laura Wilson, assistant professor of geosciences and the curator of paleontology at Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History, has been awarded a major National Science Foundation grant.
The $197,597 grant, “Implementation of a Relational Database for the Sternberg Museum Paleontology Collection,” began Sept. 1 and runs through Aug. 31, 2019.
“This grant is really exciting because it gives the museum an opportunity to not only improve the data associated with the paleontology collection, but to increase the significance of the collection by making it more accessible,” said Wilson.
The purpose is to digitize, image, curate and archive the more than 100-year-old paleontology specimen data collection into a centralized and publicly accessible database, a CollectiveAccess data management system.
“By digitizing our collection and storing it in a more sophisticated database, we can share the collection online and make it available to students, scientists, educators and the general public around the world,” she said.
Dr. Reese Barrick, director of Sternberg Museum of Natural History
“As the director of the Sternberg Museum, I am extremely proud of the dedicated effort Dr. Wilson has given to expanding the paleontological collections of the museum and to expanding the accessibility of the collections to everyone interested in the natural history of our world,” said Dr. Reese Barrick.
“This grant is vital because Sternberg specimens are used extensively in research and as the basis for educational programs and exhibits,” he said.
Barrick said that many specimens have been donated by local landowners and need to be fully curated and integrated into collections, including vertebrate and invertebrate holdings from the Great Plains.
“The museum provides science education for a large, yet rural region, making online access to material imperative to the educational mission of the museum,” said Barrick.
This project will employ multiple FHSU graduate and undergraduate students over the three-year period. These students will be trained in curatorial and research techniques using the specimens digitized during the course of this project.
“Overall, this project will greatly enhance the significance of the Sternberg paleontology collection by improving organization, accessibility, and research and education potential,” said Barrick.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday for a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy who died when his car was hit by a vehicle during a traffic stop.
Visitation for Master Deputy Brandon Collins will be Wednesday evening at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe.
The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the same church. He will be buried Saturday in Oilton, Oklahoma.
Collins was killed early Sunday when a truck ran into his patrol car as he was conducting a routine traffic stop.
Adrian Espinosa-Flores, of Kansas City, Kansas, is being held on $2 million bond after being charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter in Collins’ death.
A memorial fund has been setup for the Collins family at any Mainstreet Credit Union location.
Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown along with select players met with members of the media on Tuesday afternoon at Lewis Field.
