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Kansas Game Wardens recognized for exemplary service

ks game warden badgeKDWPT

PRATT – The Law Enforcement Division of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism recognized officers and other individuals for work and services performed above and beyond the call of duty. The annual awards are presented in several categories, including Meritorious Work, Lifesaving, Natural Resource Education, Boating Safety Enforcement, Investigations, Cooperative Projects and Officer of the Year.

The Merit Award was presented to Capt. Dan Melson for his work in developing and maintaining the Game Wardens’ Facebook page and an application allowing the Law Enforcement Division to more efficiently record violations.

Game warden Jonathan Rather was awarded the Natural Resource Education Advancement Award for his work in implementing hunter education programs in the area school systems.

The Boating Officer of the Year Award was presented to game warden Jeff Clouser for his extensive work in the area of boating safety enforcement, including dealing with stranded boaters, investigating boating accidents and enforcing boating under the influence laws.

Game warden Hal Kaina received the Lifesaving Award for his efforts in two incidents where individuals were facing life-threatening circumstances. In one incident, officer Kaina rescued a hunter who had broken through the ice. In another incident, officer Kaina aided in the rescue of four individuals, including children, after their boat had sunk in the middle of the reservoir. Game warden Cody Morris was awarded the Lifesaving Award for his assistance in rescuing a family adrift on a boat with a motor that would not start.

Lt. Rick Campbell and game wardens Jesse Gehrt and Travis Schulte received Lifesaving Awards for rescues they performed on the Kansas River. In one situation Lt. Campbell and officer Gehrt rescued a man whose canoe had overturned in the river. Later in the summer, a family who were floating the Kansas River became stranded on a sandbar after getting caught in a severe thunderstorm. Officers Gehrt and Schulte, along with a local emergency medical technician, got the family, which included a 4-month-old baby, to safety.

The Richard Harrold Memorial Award for Investigations was presented to game warden Josh DeHoux for his efforts investigating big game violations in his assigned area.

The Director’s Award was presented to a large group of game wardens, department staff and a private citizen for their work in hosting the conference of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Those recognized include: Major Dan Hesket, Capt. B.J. Thurman, Lt. Eric Deneault, Lt. Dave Adams, Lt. Jeff Sutton, Lt. Mike Peterson, Lt. Scott Hanzlicek, Lt. Bob Funke, game wardens Michael McGinnis, Cody Morris, Jesse Gehrt, Tracy Cikanek, Dennis Zehr, Jim Bussone, Matt Hanvey, Jon Entwhistle, Vince Wonderlich, Scott Leamon, Jeremy Stenstrom, Ross Uhrmacher, Glenn Cannizzaro, Mike Hopper, Greg Salisbury, Landen Cleveland, Ryan Smidt, Lance Hockett, Chris Stout, Daniel Howard, Aaron Scheve, Clint Lee, Jacob Greene, Lynn Koch and Jonathan Rather; Erika Brooks and Shelby Stevens of the Education Section; Jason Deal and David Jenkins of the Public Lands Division; Tony Reitz of the Parks Division; and volunteer, Jenna Scheve.

Game warden Jesse Gehrt received the Officer of the Year Award, a joint recognition by the Law Enforcement Division and the Shikar Safari Club International. Gehrt has performed his duties above and beyond what is normally expected, and is extensively involved in all aspects of being a game warden. Apart from his daily duties, ties to his local community, and many other contributions around the state, Gehrt is also a member of the division’s Honor Guard.

Larks sweep Sox; remain unbeaten

HAYS, Kan. – The Hays Larks remained unbeaten on the 2016 season with a doubleheader sweep of the Colorado Sox Saturday night at Larks Park. Hays used a three-run first inning to take the lead for good in a 5-3 win in game one. They scored two in the third and two more in the fifth of a 6-1 win in game two.

Cole Hendrix (2-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief and picked up the win in the opener. DJ Carr allowed an unearned run in the seventh and for the save. Connor Ross hit a solo homer. Jacob Boston, Mikey Gangwish, Ty Redington and Austin Unrein all drove in runs.

Former Hays High standout Layne Downing allowed one run on two hits over two innings of relief and picked up the win in the second contest. Connor Ross had two hits, drove in a run and scored two runs/ Jacob Boston drove in two and scored a run.

The Larks close out the three-game series with a single game Sunday at 6 pm.

Lindor homers, leads Indians past Royals

By STEVE HERRICK
Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — Francisco Lindor hit one of Cleveland’s three home runs, leading the Indians into first place in the AL Central with a 7-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Lindor, whose two-run homer came in the seventh inning, became the first Indians player to record three extra-base hits in a game this season. He also started an outstanding defensive play in the ninth. Playing in a shift near second base, he made a backhand stop of Kendrys Morales’ hard-hit grounder and flipped to third baseman Jose Ramirez, who was playing behind second. Ramirez threw to first for the out.

Tyler Naquin hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Mike Napoli started the four-run inning with a solo homer.

Josh Tomlin (8-1) bounced back from his first loss of the season and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. Ian Kennedy (4-4) gave up five runs in six innings.

Kansas woman accused of stealing $25,000 from school group

Glover- photo Johnson Co.
Glover- photo Johnson Co.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman faces charges accusing her of stealing thousands of dollars from a suburban Kansas City school’s parent teacher organization.

Christine Ann Glover, Olathe, is charged in Johnson County District Court with one count of felony theft. She’s accused of stealing more than $25,000 from the parent teacher organization at Pleasant Ridge Middle School in Overland Park.

The Kansas City Star reports Glover was booked into the Johnson County jail on Friday afternoon.

It’s unclear if Glover has a lawyer.

4 dead, 2 hospitalized in Kansas head-on crash

fatalGREENWOOD COUNTY –Four people died in an accident just before 3p.m. on Saturday in Greenwood County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Lincoln MXK driven by Arden Lee White, 72, Oklahoma City, OK., was westbound on U.S 400 three miles west of Severy.

The Lincoln went left of center and struck a 2004 Ford Ranger driven by Stewart Bell, 49, Moline, Kansas, head-on and caught fire in the eastbound lane

White, a passenger in the Lincoln Sheryl Elaine White, 68, Oklahoma City, Stewart Bell and a passenger in the Ford Ann Marie Bell, 46, Moline, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Passengers in the Lincoln Elaine Snowden, 17, Manhattan, and Julia Smith, 18, Moore, OK., were transported to Wesley Medical Center.

Ann Marie Bell was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

2 Kansas men arrested with drugs, $5K in counterfeit cash

Cory Quiles
Cory Quiles

ABILENE – Law enforcement authorities in Dickinson County are investigating two suspects on drug and forgery charges.

Just after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 2nd, 2016 an Abilene Police Officer conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Northwest Fourteenth Street in Abilene, according to a media release.

During the stop, the officer learned that both the driver 33-yea- old Cory Quiles of Salina, and passenger, 19-year-old Dalton Craig of Abilene, had outstanding warrants for their arrest.

Both Quiles and Craig were taken into custody without incident.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located over $5,500 in suspected counterfeit U.S. currency along with computers, scanners and printers used to facilitate the manufacture of counterfeit U.S. currency.

Both Quiles and Craig could face charges that include multiple counts of Forgery, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, according to police.

The Abilene Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Dickinson County Drug Enforcement Unit and the U.S. Secret Service.

Kansas man killed in boating accident

fatal crash accidentBURLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 53-year-old man has died in a boating accident on the Neosho River.

The Coffey County Sheriff’s Office said 53-year-old Michael Myers of Burlington was in a small boat on the river Friday evening when the boat capsized. An officer from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks found Myers’ body early Saturday.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that another man survived the accident.

Kansas food pantry helps low-income families with allergies

MARIA SUDEKUM, Associated Press

 

photo courtesy ReNewed Health Food Pantry
photo courtesy ReNewed Health Food Pantry

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City-area food pantry seeks to help low-income people with food allergies.

The ReNewed Health Food Pantry has provided more than 12,000 pounds of allergen-free food since opening last April. Co-Founder Emily Brown says she started the pantry because of her first child’s food allergies and because the extra costs of such things as gluten-free bread and dairy-free milk pushed the family budget through the roof.

An advocacy group estimates about 15 million people in the U.S. have food allergies, and recent research from Northwestern Medical School shows that low-income families with children who have food allergies spend more than twice as much time on hospital visits.

Another similar pantry’s scheduled to open later this summer, and a gluten-free, allergen-free food pantry also opened earlier this year outside Philadelphia.

Kansas college mourns death of 19-year-old baseball player

Velazquez- photo Hesston College
Velazquez- photo Hesston College

HESSTON – The college campus community in Hesston is mourning the untimely death of 19-year-old student Justin Velazquez.

He had just finished his freshman year at Hesston and played infield for the Larks team that won the NJCAA Region VI title this spring.

According to a social media report Velazquez died Saturday morning, June 4, while playing baseball in his hometown Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.

No additional details were available on Saturday afternoon.

2 roofing firms banned from operating in Kansas

court  GavelTOPEKA – Two Nebraska roofers have been temporarily banned from doing business in Kansas, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

In a lawsuit filed in Shawnee County District Court, Schmidt accused Mark Wagner, a/k/a Mark Schneidewind, Susan Cuthill and Dollhouse, Inc., a/k/a MWR, Inc., and Midwest Restorations, of numerous violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. Dollhouse, Inc., is a Kansas Foreign For Profit Corporation organized under the laws of Nebraska. Dollhouse, Inc., is owned and operated by Wagner, a/k/a Mark Schneidewind, and Cuthill. MWR, Inc., is a fictitious company and not registered with the Kansas or Nebraska Secretary of State’s office.

The investigation found that the defendants have been doing roofing business in Kansas despite not having obtained a valid registration certificate through the attorney general’s office as required by Kansas law. Additionally, the defendants used door-to-door salesmen to solicit their roofing services and did not give consumers notice of their three day right to cancel the transaction and duplicate notice of their three day right to cancel the transaction as required by law. The defendants are also accused of misrepresenting their status to consumers by claiming their company, MWR, Inc., is a valid corporation when it is not. Many of the consumers solicited were elderly.

Shawnee County District Judge Rebecca Crotty has entered a temporary restraining order prohibiting the defendants from operating in Kansas pending the outcome of the case. The attorney general is seeking civil penalties and restitution for Kansas consumers.

Bosselman Energy begins offering diesel to customers

Submitted

bosselmanBosselman Energy, Inc., formerly Schreiner’s Inc., announced today that they are now able to offer diesel fuel to their customers. The company stopped offering diesel in 2008 and focused only on propane.

“So many of our customers wanted us to help them with diesel fuel and gasoline, and we finally were able to get set up to do so,” said Bryce Woodall, manager of Bosselman Energy, WaKeeney.

Bosselman Energy installed three 12,000 gallon tanks at their location on Hwy 40 and will be able to supply farm and commercial diesel fuel, along with gasoline. The setup and installation of the tank took approximately six months and is now fully operational. 

Bosselman Energy offers spot loads and forward contracts and proudly supplies the agriculture, oilfield, commercial and municipal customers.

“We are very excited to be able to add the diesel and gasoline to our line of products. We feel like with the addition of these services, along with the new bulk oil warehouse that was completed last year, we will be able to offer a wide variety of services to a wide range of customers, providing them with a new way to save money and streamline their business.” Woodall said.

About the Company

The Bosselman Energy Companies market and deliver petroleum products, offer fuel transportation and logistics services as well as tank and trailer sales and service. To learn more visit their website at www.bosselmanenergy.com.

Exhibit features Ford-Dole visit to Russell 40 years ago

Gerald Ford and Bob Dole campaigning in Russell for 1976 election. (Photo courtesy Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University)
Gerald Ford and Bob Dole campaigning in Russell during the 1976 election. (Photo courtesy Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University)

SUBMITTED

RUSSELL–The Russell County Historical Society has announced the opening of a special exhibit titled, “The 40th Anniversary of the Ford-Dole Visit to Russell, Kansas.” The exhibit is open now at the Fossil Station Museum, 331 Kansas Street, with daily viewing hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The exhibit will revisit President Gerald Ford and Senator Bob Dole’s 1976 visit to Russell after claiming the party nomination at the Republican National Convention in Kansas City. Following Dole’s selection as Ford’s running mate, the campaign boarded Air Force One for a trip to Dole’s hometown of Russell.

It was an emotional homecoming for Dole, who had recovered in Russell after returning from service in World War II with severe injuries. The citizens of Russell, led by the VFW Chapter 6240, rallied for Dole and raised over $1,800 to help with his medical expenses.

The exhibit will be accompanied by a community event in late summer from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Russell County Courthouse lawn.

The mission of the Russell County Historical Society is one of education through safeguarding and preserving county social and economic history. The Historical Society collects artifacts for preservation and display and collects materials and information representing the development and growth of the county.

For more information, visit www.russellkshistory.com.

GOP anger stalls response to court ruling on Kansas schools

Sen. Melcher
Sen. Melcher

JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Many Republican legislators in Kansas are angry with the state Supreme Court’s latest order on education funding.

They question the justices’ motives and doubt the court will accept any further fixes from GOP lawmakers.

Their views prompted Republican legislative leaders to abandon a push to pass further education funding changes Wednesday before lawmakers formally adjourned their annual session.

GOP Gov. Sam Brownback hasn’t said whether he’ll call a special session. That’s despite the court’s warning that public schools won’t be able to open after June 30 if legislators don’t increase aid to poor districts by then.

Some Republican legislators advocated defying the court. They argued that complying with its order would encourage what Sen. Jeff Melcher, of Leawood, called “bad behavior” by the justices.

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