NESS COUNTY — Fire officials are working to determine the cause of a house fire on Friday morning in Ness County.
Just after 3 a.m. Friday, emergency crews responded to the fire at a home on Kansas 96 just west of Ness City, according to Deputy Brandon Mitchell with the Ness County Sheriff’s Department.
A man and woman at the home were transported to Ness County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The home was fully destroyed by the fire, according to Mitchell.
The Kansas State Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigation.
Kobach dismisses voter fraud charge against Olathe woman
TOPEKA (AP) — One of the first voter fraud cases Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach filed after being given prosecutorial authority has been dismissed days before it was scheduled to go to trial.
The Kansas City Star reports the charge against Olathe resident Betty Gaedtke was dropped on Friday. A jury trial was slated to begin Monday.
Gaedtke and her husband, Steven, who are in their 60s, were accused of casting 2010 general election ballots in both Kansas and Arkansas. Some of the counts involved advance voting ballots.
Steven Gaedtke pleaded guilty in December to one misdemeanor count and paid the maximum $500 fine. Two other counts were dismissed.
Kobach says Steven Gaedtke signed the couple’s absentee ballots, but his wife had not.
Join the Hays Public Library’s children’s department on Monday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. for a mermaid movie sing-along.
Children will be able to watch the movie, sing along with the songs and enjoy snacks. Children are encouraged to dress up in their best “under the sea” attire.
For more information, contact the library at (785) 625-9014.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City, Missouri, law firm says Kansas’ U.S. attorney will join its national team specializing in government investigations and compliance.
Polsinelli announced its addition of Barry Grissom on Friday, Grissom’s last day as Kansas’ top federal prosecutor. Grissom announced his resignation from the federal post Monday.
Sixty-two-year-old Grissom says in a statement that he’s “particularly excited by Polsinelli’s national footprint, which will enable me to deploy my skillset nationwide.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Beall will serve as acting U.S. attorney for Kansas.
Grissom was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2010 and made civil rights enforcement and community outreach top priorities during his tenure.
FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Officials at Kansas’ Fort Riley are publicly identifying a soldier chaplain they say died suddenly last week in Manhattan.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the cause of 45-year-old Capt. Yohan Lee’s death April 9 remains undetermined.
Lee was a chaplain assigned to the Third Assault Helicopter Battalion, First Aviation Regiment, First Combat Aviation Brigade, First Infantry Division.
He arrived at Fort Riley in January 2014 from Virginia.
Col. John Cyrulik says Lee “gave so much of himself to the Soldiers and families of this brigade,” and that “Our hearts are heavy” because of his death.
Lincoln 2nd grader Delia Dixon is congratulated by Hays Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil for winning first place.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
It was standing-room only in the Hays city commission chambers Thursday night for the first agenda item.
No controversy to debate.
Instead, the room was filled with the excited winners of the city’s second annual student poster contest promoting water quality and water conservation. The event is organized in partnership with Kansas State University Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds.
“Under the requirements of the city of Hays’ Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, the city must provide public education and outreach on the value of improving water quality,” explained Stormwater Specialist Steven Walters.
He acknowledged the teachers’ supporting role in promoting the water awareness activity.
“Anytime we can get in the schools and work with young people and bring some of the issues that we face and they will continue to face as they get older and become adults, I think is very important,” Walters said.
Sydney Walker (L) and Calista Isbell (R), Hays Middle School 7th graders, accept their respective 3rd and 2nd place awards.
Hays students in grades Pre-K through 2nd and 6th through 8th made posters themed “What’s In Your Water?” Students in grades five through eight used the theme “Be Water Wi$e!” High school and Fort Hays State University students could select either topic.
According to KSU Watershed Specialist Stacie Minson, WaKeeney, the contest received 255 entries, up from 159 entries last year–a 60 percent increase.
First through third places in each grade were decided by a panel of local judges who either work within water issues or teach about them.
The winners pose for a group picture with city commissioners and contest organizers.
One by one, Minson called the winners to the podium with a round of applause from the audience. The students received their awards from Jason Riegel, Water Conservation Specialist, in the form of Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Checks and a hearty congratulations and handshake from each of the city commissioners. Then the entire group posed as proud family and friends held up their phones, cameras and iPads for pictures to mark the moment.
The first-place winners will also get to host a food party for their respective classes.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A trial has been ordered for a 32-year-old man accused of recklessly killing a man by hitting him in the neck with a pool cue at a bar in Johnson County, Kansas.
The Kansas City Star reports a judge on Thursday ordered the trial for Gregory B. David Cooper on charges of second-degree murder. He’s also charged with attempted aggravated battery for allegedly trying to hit another man with the cue.
Pleas of not guilty were entered on Cooper’s behalf.
Authorities allege Cooper killed 23-year-old Tyler Knudsen in December at the Boxcar Bar & Grill in Edgerton.
Cooper’s attorney argues his client was leaving the bar as another man was challenging him to fight when he felt someone “contact” his back. That’s when he swung the cue, striking Knudsen.
HOUSTON (AP) — Ian Kennedy threw seven strong innings, Eric Hosmer hit a two-run double during a five-run sixth and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Thursday night.
Kennedy (2-0) started with five hitless innings and retired 14 straight before Carlos Gomez’s leadoff single to center in the sixth. Kennedy struck out seven and allowed a run on two hits and two walks.
Mike Moustakas hit a solo homer in the first and went 2 for 4 with a walk.
Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two hits and the Royals set a season high with 13 hits. The defending World Series champs are 7-2 after winning the final three games of the four-game set with the Astros.
Doug Fister (1-1) pitched well until the sixth. He allowed six runs over 5 2/3 innings.
HAYS, Kan. – Missouri Western raced out to an early 6-0 lead then held on the rest of the night as they defeat the Fort Hays State Tigers 16-7 Thursday night in the opening game of their three game series at Larks Park. The Griffons, who average over nine runs per game, used three, four-run innings to move to 19-3 on the road and 26-11 overall. The Tigers have now dropped five of their last six and are 17-20 overall and 11-15 in the MIAA.
Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Kyle Vogt (4-6) allowed 11 runs on 13 hits over 5 1/3 innings and takes the loss. Vogt, who struck out two and walked none, stuggled to get out of innigs, allowing three early runs with two outs.
Griffon starter Weston Caindel allowed five runs, two earned, on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings for his second straight win.
Alex Weiss had three hits and drove in three while Connor Ross had two hits including a home run and also knocked in three.
The series resumes Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 3 pm. You can hear both games on Tiger Radio Mix-103.
Scattered thunderstorms, some severe, are possible west of Dodge City Friday afternoon and evening.
Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Windy, with a south wind 20 to 28 mph.
Friday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Very windy, with a south southeast wind 22 to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
SaturdayShowers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday NightShowers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 52. Windy, with a southeast wind 21 to 26 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
SundayRain and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 62. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Sunday NightRain and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
MondayA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man who shot and killed one person and injured four others at an after-hours warehouse party in Wichita was sentenced to life plus 21½ years in prison.
Marquel Dean was sentenced Thursday in Sedgwick County for first-degree premeditated murder and five other counts for the shooting that killed James Gray in July 2013. Police say the shooting occurred after a long-running gang feud.
The Wichita Eagle reports Dean cannot begin serving the 21½ year sentence until he is paroled on the life sentence. He’ll serve at least 46½ years in prison.
A co-defendant in the case, Shane Landrum, is awaiting trial for first-degree premeditated murder and eight other crimes. He is being held in Sedgwick County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police are warning people to ignore emails that claim the motorists were ticketed after being caught speeding by a red light camera.
Police say it’s likely the emails are part of a scam targeting motorists whose GPS information has been leaked.
The department no longer issues tickets from red light cameras. The city suspended its red light camera program in November 2013 after several court cases against them were filed.
The department also notes the city’s Municipal Court doesn’t send emails about citations or court dates. The court responds to emails only if they are initiated by citizens.
The Missouri Supreme Court issued new guidelines to re-establish the red-light camera programs but Kansas City has not yet done so.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two people have been injured in a fire in a downtown Wichita apartment building, including a 72-year-old man who is in critical condition.
A Sedgwick County emergency dispatcher says the fire started late Wednesday at the Shirkmere Apartments. Wichita fire Capt. Kelly Zane said that the fire started on the second floor when the man, who was on oxygen, tried to light a cigarette and tubing leading from the oxygen tank to him caught fire. Zane said that the flames spread to furniture and the wall.
According to Zane, the man suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns to his face and was transported to the burn unit at Via Christi Hospital St. Francis, where his condition deteriorated overnight. A second person in the apartment was treated at the scene, but was not taken to the hospital.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two people have been injured in a fire in a downtown Wichita apartment building.
A Sedgwick County emergency dispatcher says the fire started late Wednesday at the Shirkmere Apartments. The Wichita Eagle reports that two people were taken to a hospital burn unit.
