OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A birder has reported a rare Kansas sighting of a small, bright red bird known as the vermilion flycatcher.

The Kansas City Star reports that Rex Miller spotted the bird Monday at the Olathe park where he works. He then alerted other bird watchers who took photos to verify the sighting.

Johnson County Park and Recreation District field biologist Matt Garrett says the bird is “way out of his range,” which includes Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Birder Mary Nemecek likened the sighting to observing a monkey on the streets of Kansas City. Nemecek is a board member at the Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City.

Since birders started keeping track decades ago, the species has been sighted in Kansas and Missouri only 26 times.

HUTCHINSON — A Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate’s efforts to stay in Kansas failed on Wednesday after a hearing in Reno County Court.

Robert Lee Oatis, 49, is wanted in Virginia for a charge of aggravated sexual battery.

He argued a Habeas Corpus motion where he claimed unlawful arrest or detention.

The claim was denied by Judge Tim Chambers, who indicated that everything in the Governor’s warrant from Virginia was in place.

Oatis is serving time in Kansas for attempted rape, attempted burglary and aiding a felon in 1990 in Douglas County.

He is not eligible for parole in Kansas until 2019.

With Wednesday ruling, authorities from are able take Oatis back to Virginia.

HARVEY COUNTY – Three people were injured in an accident just before 6 p.m. on Thursday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Ford passenger car driven by Joshua S. Gaboian, 20, Wichita, was southbound on Kansas Road six miles south of Newton.

The driver attempted to make a right turn, lost control and struck a tree.

Gaboian, and passengers Alicia M. Perez, 16, and a 1-year-old both of Sedgwick were transported to the hospital in Newton.

All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

STAFFORD, Kan. (AP) — A group of high school students in Stafford has been training service and therapy dogs to donate to a person who could use the animals’ help.

The Hutchinson News  reports that Stafford High School teacher Mike Cargill started the “Training to Lead” program four years ago to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries or mobility issues.

Each student in the program fosters and trains a dog. Senior Brooke McNickle says that letting go of her dog, Ellie, will be hard, but that she’s comforted knowing she’ll go to a good cause.

The program gives the dogs free of charge to the recipients, who get training on how to handle their new companion.

The program is funded by donations and fundraisers. It spends about $1,000 on each dog.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in northeast Kansas are investigating a suspect in connection with theft of heavy equipment from a business in Wamego.

A skid loader and trailer reported stolen on Monday from Reed company was recovered in Topeka on Wednesday, according to a media release.

A Topeka business located the skid loader and trailer, and contacted the owner.

Sheriff Detectives processed the found equipment for evidence and spoke to person at the business where it was located.

A suspect was developed from security video at the Topeka business.

Detective Tyler Garver of the Sheriff’s Office believed the individual to be Francis Haggerty of Leavenworth.

Haggerty was located at the Pottawatomie County Jail. He had been taken into custody on a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant just after 11:30 p.m. Monday.

The felony theft case has been forwarded to the Pottawatomie County Attorney.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police say an officer who was assaulted by a driver during a traffic stop shot and wounded the motorist after that person tried to flee.

Authorities say the shooting happened shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday. The driver fled the scene but was later arrested.

Police Lt. Chris Heaven tells the Topeka Capital-Journal that the female officer may have been dragged as the driver attempted to flee. Police Lt. Colleen Stuart says the officer fired once, wounding the driver.

The officer sustained injuries to a hand and arm.

The officer and the driver were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries police said were not life-threatening.

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — A western Kansas attorney has been charged with sexual battery against a client.

The misdemeanor charge was filed this week in Ford County against Daniel Arkell-Roca.

The Dodge City attorney said in an email to The Associated Press that he is “innocent” and that his wife and 10 children are “confident” that he will be vindicated. He blamed politics and said the alleged victim is a former client who was charged in a drive by gang-related shooting.

The Ford County attorney’s office said in a Facebook post that Arkell-Roca would appear in court on the charge later this month. A secretary in the prosecutor’s office said there would be no further comment.

The charge carries a possible penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500.

MCPHERSON COUNTY -Multiple law enforcement agencies, including troopers from th Kansas Highway Patrol, are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting in McPherson County near the intersection of 19th Avenue and Highway 56.

The McPherson County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the shooting involved a McPherson County Sheriff’s deputy.

The shooting happened at around 3 p.m.

No further details were immediately available.

GRAY COUNTY –Four people were injured in an accident just after 11:30 a.m. on Thursday in Gray County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Matungulu Nsegiyumva Bavuna, 47, Wichita, was stopped at stop sign on Kansas 23 and U.S. 56 six miles east of Montezuma.

The van failed to yield to on coming traffic and struck a 2015 Chevy Impala driven by Harry Steven Turner, Jr., 40, Cimarron, which was west bound on U.S. 56.

Bavuna, Turner and passengers in the van Nzitukuze Bigigi, 38, and Derifina Uwinama, 36, both of Wichita, were transported to Western Plains Regional Medical Center.

All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY- Fire officials have completed an investigation
of Tuesday’s fire at the Bluffs Apartment complex, 1810 Caroline Ave. Building F in Junction City.

The origin of the fire has been determined to have started on an outside deck which spread rapidly to other exposed areas above, eventually spreading to the attic area which ultimately involved the entire roof area, resulting in structural collapse of the roof and involving the entire third floor, according to acting Junction City Fire Chief Rick Rook.

The cause of the fire has been ruled undetermined. A dollar loss amount is also unknown at this time as it will be some time before a complete evaluation of the structure can be made as well as the total loss of all the occupants can be determined.
No foul play is suspected, according to Rook.

This was a 28 unit complex with 26 units occupied and displaced a total of 51 people. There were no injuries to either occupants or firefighters.

Members of the community have been donating a steady stream of supplies for the victims of the fire

Many of the items have been deposited in a second floor room at the Bluffs Clubhouse where the fire victims can pick them up.

Fire Investigators with the Junction City Fire Department, Kansas State Fire Marshalls Office, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Fort Riley Fire Department and Geary County Rural Fire Department all assisted in investigating this fire.