DICKINSON COUNTY – A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. on Sunday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Escape driven by Tonya S. Cruce, 41, Abilene, was southbound on Barn Road thirteen miles east of Bennington.

The driver failed to stop for the stop sign at Kansas 18.

The vehicle entered the roadway and a westbound 2000 Honda motorcycle driven by Joyce M. Morgan, 71, New Cambria, hit the Ford.

Morgan was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Danner Funeral Home.

Cruce was not injured.

Morgan was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

HARVEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities reported using a drone during a weekend emergency response.

Members of the Harvey County Emergency Response Team responded to a report of a missing child in the 14,000 block of NW 12th on Sunday.

They deployed an unmanned aircraft equipped with a forward-looking infrared radar to search the rural property for the child.

The officers looked for a heat signature around the property, and a nearby creek widening the search pattern.

Fortunately the child was found in a field approximately a mile away by a deputy on patrol.

The child is home and safe.
No additional details were released.

HUTCHINSON – Fire crews quickly put out a fire on Sunday afternoon.

Just after 1:36 p.m., The Hutchinson Fire Department responded to 500 block of Molly Mall for a structure fire, according to a social media report.

Upon arrival units found smoke showing from an attached garage. The fire was contained in less than 5 minutes.

Several people were in the home at the time of the fire with no injuries being reported.

The cause of fire was from hot items being dropped out of smoker onto contents inside the garage.

Estimated damage costs are $3,500, with damage to the contents in the garage as well as smoke damage to the walls and ceiling of the garage.

SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities and school officials in Sedgwick County are investigating after USD 259 reported they observed and received reports of several “creepy clown” messages on social media.

Several have gone so far as to reference specific schools in Wichita.

The school district has shared all messages with local law enforcement.

School officials believe the messages to be a hoax but they will be extra-vigilant on Monday as students and staff return to school.

We have received reports of several “creepy clown” messages on social media. Law enforcement is investigating.https://t.co/FDArw0EWSq

— WichitaPublicSchools (@WichitaUSD259) October 3, 2016

The district encouraged students and parents to send any posts of concern to the Wichita Public Schools (@wichitausd259), and those will be shared with law enforcement as well.

There have been similar clown reports to school districts across the country.

Last month, a suburban Cincinnati school district closed schools after a woman reported being grabbed around the neck by a male dressed as a clown who she said made a threat against students.

In Colorado, an 11-year-old boy brought a BB gun to Franklin Middle School in a backpack with an image of a clown on it. Police say the boy planned to wear clown gloves while using the weapon.

The Pennsylvania State Police and others are encouraging caution amid a rash of public complaints and social media reports in a number of states of people dressed like clowns acting suspiciously, even if they think many are knucklehead pranksters or downright bogus.

SHAWNEE COUNTY – A small plane made a rough landing just after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in a private airfield on the southwest corner of Paulen Road and SW 45th Street, approximately 2 miles east of the Topeka city limits.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2 seat, Fixed Wing, Single Engine STOL CH 701 plane piloted by James L. Long, 67, Berryton, attempted to land, west to east, when the plane came into a slight crosswind.

The pilot adjusted for the crosswind as the plane touched down
and the pilot continued to adjust for the wind instead of allowing the plane to coast in the direction it was traveling.

The plane nose gear bent and the right wing struck the ground.

Long was not injured.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Relatives of a 44-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, man who died after a traffic stop have filed federal lawsuits accusing the police of wrongdoing.

Craig J. McKinnis died in May 2014 after the car he was riding in was stopped by police, who said he tried to flee and died after a brief struggle.

Family members and his girlfriend have filed two federal separate lawsuits accusing the police of violating his civil rights. Both lawsuits, which were filed in 2015, together list several defendants, including the police department.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that a lawyer representing most of the defendants denied the claims, noting police believed their use of force to be necessary.

From 1995- 2004 McKinnis had convictions in Wyandotte County for Robbery, Theft, Burglary, Flee/attempt to elude Law Enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A former plantation near Nickerson that was once the largest shipping point for fruit between the Missouri River and California is for sale. See more on the sale here.

The 130-year-old Yaggy Plantation used to grow up to 50,000 apple trees and a million catalpa trees, which were used for fence posts and railroad ties. Up to 300 people worked there during harvest season.

Today, the land is mostly grassland and irrigated cropland, with no apple trees and few catalpas remaining.

The plantation was founded by Levi Walter Yaggy. His descendants have decided to auction off the acreage. The auction will be Oct. 5 at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson.

The family is selling about 1,260 acres, which will be offered in five tracts and combinations.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old Wichita, Kansas, man who hiked 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail through 14 states is crediting God and Dr. Seuss for giving him the inspiration.

Joshua Gribble completed the Georgia-to-Maine, 158-day trek on Sept. 15.  See his journey blog here.

On top of historic Blood Mt. 30 miles into the trail. Only have 2,170 miles to go. #AppalachianTrail #AT2016 pic.twitter.com/gsfKwuEKqR

— Josh Gribble (@JoshGribble) April 13, 2016

Gribble says the motivation came from a 2015 church service in which he heard the pastor quote Dr. Seuss, “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting! So get on your way!” Gribble says he took that as God nudging him.

Gribble says he prepped for the hike for a year before launching it on April 10. Along the way, he came across several rattlesnakes and a dozen black bears.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A new Pentagon policy brings some relief to transgender military retirees and children of active-duty service members.

Starting Monday, the military’s health insurance will cover transgender-related services that include hormone therapy and supportive counseling.

The change follows the decision in June to allow transgender members to serve in the military. Roughly 7 million retirees and children who use the same health insurance will get many of the same benefits.

The policy comes with some controversy. Transgender advocates fault it because it covers gender-reassignment surgery only for active-duty personnel, not retirees or dependents. A conservative group says the benefits are expensive and lack military purpose.

The expanded coverage helps transgender teens like Jenn Brewer of Virginia, who says she attempted suicide after being bullied this year. The change puts support for Jenn’s mental and physical wellbeing during her transition within reach.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 21-year-old University of Kansas student who won $10,000 in a half-court shot game has plans for the money: she’ll give it to her grandmother who rescued her from foster care when she was 10.

Jordan Stiers, a sophomore from Independence, Missouri, won the money Saturday when Brennan Bechard, director of Kansas basketball operations, made the half-court shot during Late Night in the Phog in Lawrence.

 

AGAIN! For the second-straight #KULateNight Brennan Bechard drains a half-court shot! @CoachBillSelf‘s $10,000 check goes to Jordan Stiers pic.twitter.com/GAC5dyP5kn

— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) October 2, 2016

 

The Wichita Eagle reports that Stiers is the first one in her family to graduate high school and also to attend college. She says her grandmother took her in and also volunteered to raise four of Stiers’ siblings in her Independence home.

Stiers said the money will help her grandmother pay bills.