WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man who pretended to be a veterinarian and stole thousands of dollars in fraud schemes was sentenced to five years’ probation.
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office announced Monday that 49-year-old Danny Thomas also was ordered to pay $6,559 to his victims and $29,347 to the Kansas Department of Labor for unemployment benefits he should not have received.
Prosecutors say Thomas said he was Chase McKnight and passed forged checks to buy equipment for a pet-care facility that didn’t exist.
Thomas pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery, three counts of identity theft, one count of felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor theft. In exchange for his plea, the district attorney agreed not to file fraud charges for the stolen unemployment benefits.
In the early morning hours Sunday as the Hays area received a high volume of much-needed rain, Big Creek Crossing experienced a roof collapse over the Payless Shoe Source space. In turn, the falling material severed a fire sprinkler line which lead to significant water damage within the mall. Mall staff responded immediately and all utilities to the center were shut off to prevent further damage. No word has yet been provided to mall staff regarding the cause of the incident.
Staff members, led by Mall Manager Katie Dorzweiler, have been working since the early morning hours of Sunday with roof, sprinkler and general contractors on-site to stabilize the affected areas and clean up the surrounding bays. While Payless, Vanity, Bling and Imperial Garden suffered the most damage, the remaining stores are being dried out and should be open soon. Please direct any questions to Mall Marketing Director James Younger, who will issue a statement as more information becomes available.
Although this incident is unfortunate, Big Creek Crossing is poised to receive much positive news. Architectural work for the new mall fascia, which is to be funded by the CID, is underway and construction is projected to begin this summer. In addition, mall ownership signed a letter of intent last week with a coveted national brand retailer and is in final negotiations on another. Although these discussions are sensitive and details cannot yet be shared, mall ownership feels the roof situation should not diminish this positive momentum and are excited to bring new retail to Hays.
GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating two suspects in connection with burglaries and assault.
Police received information that two suspects wanted in reference to an aggravated assault in Topeka and may be located at 917 Dreiling Apt. C-1, in Junction City.
It was also learned that one of the suspects was wanted for questioning in reference to several burglaries that had taken place in Riley County.
Just after 10 a.m. on Sunday members of the Junction City Police Department began to conduct surveillance on the location and a short time later spotted one of the wanted suspects, according to a media release.
Olberg
The suspect attempted to flee on foot from the officers on scene. With assistance from the Geary County Sheriff’s, and members of the Drug Operations Group the suspect was located and arrested.
A second suspect was located at 917 Dreiling Apt. C-1 and taken into custody.
Arrested on local charges for Felony Possession of Stolen Property and Felony Obstruction was Paul L. Olberg, 50, homeless; and on Felony Possession of Stolen Property was Mary A. Olberg, 47, homeless.
They were booked into the Geary County Detention Center on a no bond status.
Junior javelin thrower Madison Wolf has been named the MIAA Women’s Field Athlete of the Week on Monday following her performance at the KT Woodman Classic. She set a new FHSU record and moved to second on the national performance list with her winning throw of 170 feet, 10 inches.
Though she has been right behind senior Estefania Lopez in all previous meets this season, Wolf took home her first meet victory of the season in record fashion. She topped Lopez’s school record in the event by two inches. Lopez threw 170 feet, 8 inches at the NCAA Division II Championships last year to finish second nationally. Wolf had never thrown further than 162 feet, 6 inches (which she threw at the NCAA Division II Championships last year) until Friday. Wolf’s throw also set a new collegiate meet record at Wichita State, breaking the old mark of 169 feet, 10 inches.
Wolf joins Lincoln’s Venicha Baker as the weekly conference honorees in women’s track and field. Baker was named the MIAA Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.
HAYS, Kan. – With all the school options over multiple sports that Hays High senior Keith Dryden had to choose from, he made his decision to run track for the Fort Hays State University Tigers. Monday at Hays High, he signed is national letter of intent to make it official.
Keith Dryden
The multi-sport athlete was a receiver and defensive back in football, starting guard in basketball and this spring is excelling in sprinting events for coach Randall Rath’s Indians. Rath believes despite having the top 4A times in the 100 meters and 400 meters and being one of the four legs on the 4×100 meter relay, the 200 meters might be his best event. It is a race that he hasn’t run much yet this season, but will start doing so in meets starting this week.
Coach Randall Rath
Dryden stated two big reasons for his choosing FHSU. The first reason is the love that he has for his family. Dryden’s older sister Ashli competed for the Tiger’s track team, with Keith saying he has always looked up to his sister and watching her compete for FHSU helped sway his decision. The second reason allowed him to stay in the city of Hays, a place that he likes and wanted to remain so he could be close to his family.
Dryden has run some of the top times in the state this season with a 100 meters time of 10.49 seconds, 22.23 seconds in the 200 meters and 50.89 seconds in the 400 meters.
Ed Cross, KIOGA
By EDWARD CROSS Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association President
The drastic drop in crude oil prices in 2015 and 2016 have had a significant impact on the small businesses that make up the Kansas oil and natural gas industry. But low crude oil prices are not the long-term story or trend.
Many oil and gas companies in Kansas and elsewhere cut capital expenditures by 75%- 80% in 2015. Some oil and gas service companies have layed off as much as 50% or more of their workforce and some producers have layed off as much as 20%-25% of their workforce. The oil and gas industry makes significant investments in developing human resources and agonize over workforce loses.
Oil production in Kansas fell by 5.5% in 2015, but a much larger decline can be expected in 2016 if oil prices stay low. Oil production decline generally lags oil price collapse as producers work to maintain production and improve operating efficiencies.
As a result of low oil prices, the industry experienced a 70% drop in drilling rig count and a 68% drop in drilling permits issued in 2015. In addition, oil and gas severance tax collections by the State of Kansas and property tax collections by counties dropped dramatically.
The economic effects are everywhere. Oil and natural gas play an integral role in nearly every aspect of our lives. With over 6,000 products produced from petroleum, much of our high standard of living can be traced to the use of petroleum. Nearly every person uses some product from petroleum in their daily lives.
If you think about all the associated service and supply companies that support the oil and gas industry combined with the consumer spending impacts of oil and gas industry payrolls, you begin to get a picture of the enormous impact of the oil and gas industry.
The longer oil prices remain low, the oil and gas industry will continue to constrict. In turn, considering the economic impact of the oil and gas industry, that would be detrimental for the economy as a whole. While we may enjoy lower gasoline prices, lower gasoline prices do not compensate for collapsing capex and rising unemployment in the U.S. economy.
Production rollover could be sooner and more severe than anticipated. Production decline rates accelerate when capital is taken away. Low oil prices have accelerated production declines and a supply/demand could be reached, perhaps later this year.
Low crude oil prices are not the long-term story or trend. The price of crude oil will recover in the future and the oil producing characteristics of Kansas uniquely positions the State for a bright energy future. Over the last decade, market forces have spurred massive amounts of new oil and natural gas production. Oil and natural gas supply 63% of U.S. energy consumption today.
President Obama’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that 25 years from now fossil fuels will account for nearly 80% of our country’s energy consumption. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that by 2040, world energy demand will increase by 45% and nearly 60% of that demand will be supplied by oil and natural gas. Oil is expected to remain the number one source through 2040 followed by natural gas and coal.
The men and women of the oil and natural gas industry reject the stale mindset of last century’s thinking peddled by some that oil and natural gas production and environmental stewardship are not compatible. From 2000-2012, the oil and natural gas industry spent more on low and zero carbon technologies than the federal government and nearly as much as all other industries combined. According to the EPA, methane emissions from the oil and gas sector have fallen by 38% since 2005 including a 73% drop in methane emissions from wells since 2011. Our nation’s carbon dioxide emissions are at 20-year lows.
Affordable, reliable energy is essential to our economy because energy powers everything that makes modern life possible. We need smart energy policies that promote our nation’s energy position as a leader in energy production. We need tax reform solutions that don’t compromise our ability to grow the economy. We need a regulatory approach that invites input from industry and bases rulemakings on sound science, legitimate cost/benefit analyses, and economic impact. We must abandon policies driven by a zero-sum game philosophy for energy that says we must have less oil and natural gas so that we can have more of something else.
The American public and future generations deserve better.
Harlan Swartzendruber- photo Arkansas State Police
Y CITY, Ark. (AP) — Police say a 93-year-old Wichita, Kansas, man who was traveling to Oklahoma, but disappeared after leaving Hot Springs, Arkansas, has been found dead inside his crashed vehicle.
Hot Springs police say the body of Harlan Swartzendruber was found inside his upside down vehicle that was submerged in a creek near the intersection of Highways 270 and 71 in Y City — about 70 miles west of Hot Springs.
Police Cpl. Kirk Zaner said in a news release that the vehicle could not be seen from the road and was spotted about 7 p.m. Saturday by someone who had stopped to take a photograph.
Swartzendruber was last seen in Hot Springs and was traveling to Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was reported missing last Monday.
UPDATE at 2:45 p.m.: K-25 from Colby to Atwood has been reopened.
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UPDATE at 1:55 p.m.–The truck and propane tank are being removed. The highway is expected to open soon, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
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Kansas 25 at Colby north to Atwood will temporarily close at approximately 9:30 a.m. CDT. The closure is necessary for recovery of an overturned truck along the roadway.
Motorists should plan alternate routes if traveling in the area. The road is expected to be reopened later today.
Rebecca Rae “Becky” Alstrom was born June 26, 1956, in Oberlin, Kansas, to Maynard and Ruby (Guy) Wennihan. She passed away April 15, 2016, at Decatur Health Systems in Oberlin, Kansas, at the age of 59.
While growing up, Becky’s family lived on a farm near Kanona, and she attended Kanona Grade School through the 6th grade. After her family moved to Oberlin, she finished her education at Decatur Community High School, graduating with the Class of 1974. Becky then attended Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas, receiving her Licensed Practical Nursing degree in 1976.
On September 18, 1976, Becky was united in marriage to Gary Alstrom at the United Methodist Church in Oberlin, where they lived most of their married life. Two children were born to their union, and they were also blessed with four grandchildren. Her family was very important to Becky and she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family.
Becky worked as an LPN for the Decatur County Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin for 37 years. She was a kind, compassionate and caring person who loved her residents and those she worked with over the years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Maynard and Ruby; sister, Regina Hendrickson; and niece, Beth Moran.
Becky is survived by her husband, Gary; two children, Casey and Melissa Alstrom of Oberlin and Nikki and John Amlong of Palco; brother-in-law, Wallace Henrickson of Adrian, MO; four grandchildren, Wyatt Amlong, Owen Amlong, Gavon Uehlin and Allason Alstrom; nephew, Michael Henrickson of Lexington, SC; great nephew, James Moran of Kansas City, MO; in-laws, Kieth and Dorothy Alstrom of Oberlin; in addition to other family members and friends.
Funeral Service: Tuesday, April 19th at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home in Oberlin with Pastor Gordon Pettibone officiating
Burial: Oberlin Cemetery
Memorial Fund: Good Samaritan Society-Decatur County
Visitation: Monday, April 18th from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Tuesday after 8:00 a.m.
Delela Christean “Christie” Coen Kee, age 41, of Elkhart, Kansas passed away Thursday, April 14, 2016, at her home. Christie was born March 31, 1975, in Hays, Kansas. She is the daughter of Donald E. Coen and Norma Jean (Lackey) Coen.
She married Darrin Kee on May 3, 2008, in Elkhart, Kansas. Christie’s family and friends were the most important part of her life. She enjoyed watching NASCAR, her dogs, and activities with her children. Christie was overjoyed with the birth of her new granddaughter, Lily and looked forward to spending time with her. Thank you so much to all the family and friends bringing in food and supplies, the family is greatly appreciative.
Survivors include her husband, Darrin of Elkhart Kansas; daughters, Brittany Coen of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Breanna Taylor and husband Michael of Gastonia North Carolina; son, Douglas Kee of Elkhart, Kansas; granddaughter, Lily’Ann Taylor; father, Donald Coen and wife Kay of Elkhart, Kansas; mother, Norma “Jean” Coen of Elkhart, Kansas: sisters, Debra Disch and husband Greg of Fort Smith Arkansas, Donna Renz and husband Steve of Lakin, Kansas, Barbara Luck and husband Jeff of Elkhart, Kansas; brother, Donald “Alan” Coen of Elkhart, Kansas; aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and many other family and friends.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at the viewing on Monday April 18, 2016, from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart, Kansas. A memorial graveside service will be held at the Rolla Cemetery in Rolla, Kansas at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 21, 2016. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Christie Kee Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.
During the Hays USD 489 Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Rockwell Administration Center, the board is set to vote on increasing internet speeds across the district.
The district’s internet service is provided by Eagle Communications, the parent company of Hays Post.
“Since we’re hitting our cap of 200Mbps this year, we’ve looked at adding additional bandwidth to avoid bottlenecks and continue to allow the technology integration of the classrooms to grow,” according to tonight’s agenda.
The board will vote on doubling internet speeds with a connection up to 400Mbps.
Doubling the speed would increase the cost to the district by $14,400 for the 2016-17 school year, with a total cost of $36,720 for the year.
That price, however, is a fraction of the total cost, as the district utilizes the E-Rate program, facilitated by the Universal Service Administration Company and funded through the FCC.
The E-Rate pays for 70 percent of the district’s internet cost.
The E-Rate would absorb $85,680 of the $122,400 total yearly cost if the speed is increased. The E-Rate currently covers $52,080 of the $74,400 yearly total.
Anticipating the need for the increase, Scott Summers, director of technology, told the board during its last work session he had already applied for the increase in order to receive the E-Rate.
“With the addition of 1:1 technology across the district this year, we experience daily hitting our cap of 200Mbps. This happens sometimes multiple times daily and sometimes for extended time periods of 30 minutes or more,” according to the agenda.
Summers said frequently hitting the peak causes frustration in the classrooms.
The board will also vote on student fees for the 2016-17 school year.
The administration has proposed keeping fees the same as this year, with the addition of a $25 Hays Middle School technology fee and a small meal cost increase.
Additional maintenance is expected if middle school students are allowed to take district-issued tablets home next year.
The fee would bring in approximately $15,075 for the district.
Lunch prices across the district would also increase by $.10. That increase is dictated by the state, according to Superintendent Dean Katt.
TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas man has been killed in a southeast Nebraska collision.
The accident occurred Sunday evening near Tecumseh, about a half-mile north of the intersection of Nebraska Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 136.
Deputy County Attorney Benjamin Beethe of Johnson County says it appears so far that a northbound car crossed the Highway 50 median and rammed into a southbound pickup, killing the car driver. He was identified as 77-year-old Gary Barton, of Haddam, Kansas.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says the pickup driver, Clark Gartner, of Tecumseh, was not injured.
Rebecca Rae “Becky” Alstrom was born June 26, 1956, in Oberlin, Kansas, to Maynard and Ruby (Guy) Wennihan. She passed away April 15, 2016, at Decatur Health Systems in Oberlin, Kansas, at the age of 59.
Delela Christean “Christie” Coen Kee, age 41, of Elkhart, Kansas passed away Thursday, April 14, 2016, at her home. Christie was born March 31, 1975, in Hays, Kansas. She is the daughter of Donald E. Coen and Norma Jean (Lackey) Coen.
