HAYSVILLE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say one person has died in a crash on the Kansas Turnpike in the southern part of the state.
A vehicle and pedestrian collided early Monday.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority says the crash happened in the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 at a Haysville exit. No other information was immediately available.
HUTCHINSON— Jury selection begins on Monday in the case of a Kansas teen accused of setting a fatal fire.
Samuel Vonachen who is now 17, is accused of spreading gas through the downstairs of his family’s home, then setting it on fire on September 26, 2013.
The fire killed his mother and sister. His father was able to escape the blaze.
Jury selection was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Monday.
Opening statements could begin Tuesday morning. The trial is expected to last at least a week and a half.
Today Sunny, with a high near 88. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 11 to 17 mph.
Tuesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Breezy, with a south wind 11 to 21 mph.
Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 8 to 16 mph becoming west southwest after midnight.
WednesdayA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. North northeast wind 8 to 16 mph.
Wednesday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
ThursdayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
MIAMI COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Miami County are investigating three suspects for fishing violations.
After several tips from the public through Operation Game Thief, a Kansas Game Warden caught three suspects running illegal set lines just before midnight at Middle Creek State Fishing Lake, according to a social media report.
The warden gave each suspect a ticket.
No names were released.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Officials in southern Kansas’ Cowley County say a person has drowned while canoeing in the Arkansas River.
KAKE-TV says the victim of the accident Saturday near Arkansas City hasn’t been released.
As Arkansas City’s emergency medical services captain, Jeff Sampson says a group of at least 10 people was kayaking and canoeing when one boat overturned.
Sampson says others in the boat managed to climb onto a logjam, but the victim did not survive.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A man who committed a string of outlet store break-ins that targeted watches in Connecticut and elsewhere will have to serve time in prison.
Forty-year-old Cuban national Alionis Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in May and was sentenced Thursday to five years in federal prison.
Prosecutors say he led a group that in 2013 broke into Fossil and other outlet stores at night, stealing time pieces. They say he and his partners got away with more than $1.8 million in watches from burglaries in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida and Pennsylvania. They say the gang also broke into a store in Maine but failed to get any merchandise.
Perez also pleaded guilty to a separate conspiracy involving thefts of cash and sunglasses in 2014 from stores in Kansas and Tennessee.
A judge has ordered Perez to pay restitution.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Danny Duffy won his 10th straight decision, Eric Hosmer doubled in the go-ahead run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Sunday for their eighth consecutive win.
The Royals swept a four-game series from the Twins for the first time since 1999 and have their longest winning streak since an eight-game run Aug. 3-11, 2014.
Duffy (11-1), unbeaten since June 6, improved to 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in August. His 2.66 ERA ranks second in the American League, while his .917 winning percent tops the majors.
Duffy left after 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run and a season-high eight hits while walking two and striking out four.
He outpitched Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (6-10), who allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 10 and walking one over seven innings.
By RANDY GONZALES
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Marisol Regalado remembers what it was like to be a freshman at Fort Hays State University, and in her role as an orientation and welcome leader she is helping out this year’s new students.
Regalado, a Liberal senior majoring in organizational leadership and Spanish, was lending a hand Thursday night at Lewis Field Stadium for Playfair, which is sponsored by University Activities Board and is part of Tiger Impact Fall Orientation Weekend. Playfair is a company which provides a team-building experience that FHSU uses to help new students bond and meet each other their first day on campus.
“The whole point of this is really about connecting students socially to each other,” said Brett Bruner, director of transition and student conduct at FHSU. “We want them to not only feel at home with Fort Hays State University but also to find a new friend. They just moved in today. This is entirely designed to help them find a new friend.”
Regalado remembered the positive impact Playfair had on her as a freshman.
“I loved it,” she said. “I’ve always been an outgoing person. This was heaven to me. I got to meet all new friends the first day.”
Regalado hoped this year’s freshman and transfer students at Playfair have the same experience.
“I’m really excited for them,” she said. “I hope they take as much away from this as I did, because you really do remember these people.”
Juliana Ames, Prairie Village freshman, liked the experience.
“It was really cool,” she said. “I think it helped all of the freshman class bond together.”
Playfair facilitator Emily Andrews led the new students through a series of fun games and activities designed for them to get to know each other. By her estimation, she had already conducted Playfairs at FHSU about a half-dozen times before. It never gets old, said Andrews, who has been facilitating Playfairs for about two decades now, visiting more than a dozen college campuses each fall.
“There’s new energy, new kids coming in,” each year, Andrews said. “I get so excited for these new students coming in. For me, I want to infuse them, give them a fresh, new outlook.”
“To me, they give me their energy and I give it back,” she added. “It always feels so wonderful. I just love this.”
Jared Craig, Cheney freshman, wasn’t prepared for what happened over the course of two hours.
“I didn’t anticipate it at all,” he said. “I thought we were moving in and just were going to get acclimated to the atmosphere. I definitely talked to a bunch of people I never would have seen if I had just moved in today and stayed (in the residence hall).”
Andrews was off to Emporia State University next for a Playfair Friday night. Then she will fly to Bowling Green, Ohio, for a Playfair at Bowling Green State University. She said there are about 300 Playfairs being conducted throughout the country right now.
“I will zigzag pretty much all over the country,” said Andrews, who lives in Santa Monica, Calif. “I will do this for as long as I can. I’m having a great time with this. The universe has brought me here and it just feels wonderful.”
Andrews left FHSU’s new students with one final thought, about the importance of community.
“If you had chosen not to come here, this community would not be the same — your energy, your love,” Andrews said. “I know it’s been a crazy night. But you have built some friendships, seeking people out, finding things you have in common, and you learned to respect yourselves as well as each other.
“Remember to work hard, but above all always — always in life — play fair.”
Barbara Ann Ebbert, 83, longtime WaKeeney, Kansas resident, passed from this world on August 19, 2016 in Ponca City Oklahoma. She was born on November 5th, 1932 to Clyde and Blanche DeWitt, in WaKeeney. Barbara grew up just south of WaKeeney and attended country school through eighth grade, finishing high school in Wakeeney.
Barbara and Bernard Ebbert were married on September 7, 1952 at the First United Methodist Church in WaKeeney, and were married for 56 years upon Bernard’s death in 2009. Barbara worked for the phone company and Jamie Shaw before she took upon her life’s calling of raising their four children.
Barbara enjoyed gardening, needlework, quilting, working at the library, painting landscapes, but her favorite times were spent supporting her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. Barbara was a member of the First United Methodist Church, board member of the WaKeeney Public Libarary, and member of the Rebecca Lodge. She took great pride in seeing the public library project completed to its move to the current location and the expansion in services it provided.
Barbara is survived by her children, Leana Johnson and husband Rodney of Riley KS, Kim Ebbert and wife Monica of WaKeeney, Kerry Ebbert and wife Jolene of Ponca City OK, Daryl Ebbert and wife Peg of liberty MO; grandchildren, Kelly Ebbert of Hays, Racheal Ebbert of WaKeeney, Sara Bradley and husband Kevin of Murphy TX, Daniel Ebbert and wife Megan of Edmond OK; and numerous nieces and nephews that were important to her and her family. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; parents Clyde and Blanche DeWitt; brother Dale and wife Rose.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church, WaKeeney. Interment will follow at the city cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be at Schmitt Funeral Home from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
The family requests any memorial contributions be made to the WaKeeney Public Library. Contributions made to the library may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmittfuneral.com by signing the online guest book.
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A young Kansas man whose father was slain in 2008 is getting a help from an unusual source in paying tuition for his freshman year at a Missouri college.
Colby Leeper of Wichita has received $1,500 from an organization run by death row inmates called Compassion, which distributes funds from donations and artwork sold by the prisoners.
Leeper’s father, 33-year-old Edward “Brian” Leeper Jr., was shot and killed in November 2008 in the parking lot of the Stratford House Inn in Wichita, where he had been staying. The Joplin Globe reports Josh Matchett was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and is serving a 20-year sentence.
In addition to the Compassion scholarship, Leeper also is getting track-and-field and academic scholarships to attend Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri.
Submitted
Kansas Lions Clubs from District K held their Cabinet meeting in Hays Saturday, Aug. 20. Hays Lions Club members attending the Cabinet meeting were Les Herrman, Dee Bodine and Jim Huenergarde.
New District K Governor, Kerry Hookstra, from Downs, Kansas, chaired the meeting and planning session.
District K covers the western half of Kansas and consists of 79 Lions Clubs.
Free vision screening and eye glasses recycling are the two main Lions Club projects.
In 2015-2016, District K reported 10,446 vision screenings. Nearly half–4,413–were children between six months and six years of age. Of those, 421 were referred to see their eye specialists.
Total vision screening state-wide in 2015-2016 was 45,805 Kansans.
WABAUNSEE COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 2a.m. on Sunday in Wabaunsee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1984 Chevy pickup driven by Christopher W. Frank, 33, McFarland, was eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 at Spring Creek Road.
The pickup struck a semi head-on.
Frank was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to First Call.
The semi driver Delphia S. Baynes. 45, Statesville, North Carolina, was transported to the hospital in Topeka.
Frank was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Submitted
The Hays Lions Club participated in the annual Kid Fest Saturday provided by Hays Academy of Hair Design and Celebration Community Church.
Ten Hays Lions club members provided free vision screening for children and adults.
According to member Jim Huenergarde, Hays Lions president and Vision Screening Chair, 72 children were screened and seven were referred to see an eye specialist. Eleven adults were screened with one referral.
The Hays Lions Club provides free vision screening to public and private schools, day care centers, and pre-schools.
