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Federal grand jury investigates Chipotle norovirus outbreak

NEW YORK (AP) — Chipotle says it has been served with a federal grand jury subpoena as part of a criminal investigation tied to a norovirus outbreak this summer at one of its restaurants in California.

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday.

Chipotle Mexican Grill says the subpoena requires it to produce a “broad range” of documents.

 

 

 

 

The Denver company has been reeling since an E. coli outbreak linked to its restaurants, which was followed up by a separate norovirus outbreak in Boston. Chipotle says it expects sales for the fourth quarter to be down 14.6 percent.

Hays USD 489 to consider asking for city sales tax

sales tax cash registerBy BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays USD 489 will ask the city of Hays for possible approval of a sales tax ballot to supplement a $94 million bond issue for planned facility improvements. Superintendent Dean Katt and Dustin Avey of Piper Jaffray, the school district’s financial advisor, are scheduled to meet with the city commission during their Jan. 7 work session.

As Assistant City Manager Jacob Woods explained, Kansas school districts do not have the legal authority to place sales tax questions on local ballots, and therefore need a city or county to facilitate the process.

“There are two ways to do that,” he said. “One way is the city passes an ordinance that puts the question on the ballot and then the people vote. The other way is to get signatures on a petition of ten percent of the registered voters which the county clerk would make sure it’s valid and certified, and then the vote would go on.”

There are also two types of sales taxes that could be utilized, according to Woods.

“The city is authorized to do two different kinds,” he said. “One is a general purpose tax and one is a special sales tax. The general purpose tax can go on for longer periods of time. A special sales tax is for a specific project and that can go on for a maximum of ten years.”

In a memo to commissioners, City Manager Toby Dougherty listed the pros and cons of a new sales tax in Hays.

If voters were to approve a proposed sales tax on behalf of USD 489, it can help keep property taxes lower in Hays, according to Dougherty, and also allow the USD 489 debt to be paid off faster. However, it could also limit the city’s future ability to utilize a special sales tax.

“At this time, city staff does not have plans to recommend any sort of special purpose sales tax to the city commission,” Dougherty wrote, “but the planning horizon is relatively short, and most likely shorter than the period the USD 489’s special purpose tax would be in place.”

Dougherty also suggested that language be inserted in any sort of a sales tax question that ties the enactment of a sales tax to the property tax question, meaning the sales tax could only be imposed if the property tax question is passed by voters.

The USD 489 financing information and facility improvement plan can be seen here.

 

Kansas man formally charged in Christmas Eve standoff

Mendenhall III
Mendenhall III

HUTCHINSON -The man arrested after a domestic incident and nearly six-hour standoff with Hutchinson Police on Christmas Eve was back in court Tuesday for the formal reading of charges.

Charles Mendenhall III, 34, is charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal threat and two counts of aggravated endangerment of a child, including a 15-year-old and a 9-year-old.

Mendenhall was taken into custody without incident after the standoff. The alleged woman victim inside the residence at 707 Pierce was released unharmed.

The children were in the home when it started around 6:30 that morning, but they apparently left the home and the 15-year-old daughter reported what was going on to police.

She told police that she was awakened by the sound of dishes breaking and then saw the defendant pointing a gun to her mother’s head and, at some point, threatened to blow her mother’s brains out.

In court, Mendenhall was told to have no contact with the victims, but the main victim was in the courtroom and asked that the order not be put in place.

Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen denied the request, saying it would be in place, at least for now.

Mendenhall is free on bond and his case will now move to a waiver-status docket on January 27.

Report: Gordon re-signing with the Royals

Several media outlets are reporting that Alex Gordon is re-signing with the Kansas City Royals after testing the free agent market.

The Royals have not confirmed the report, but an official announcement could come as early as Wednesday.

ESPN’s Buster Olney confirmed what was first reported from MLB.com Jeffrey Flannagan.

Olney says the deal is worth $72 million over four years, making it the richest in franchise history. The previous high was $55 million over five years for Gil Meche and Mike Sweeney.

 

 

Suspect in Kansas armed robbery arrested in Montana

photo Garden City police
photo Garden City police

GARDEN CITY – Law enforcement authorities in Finney County are investigating a suspect in connection with an April robbery of a liquor store in Garden City, according to a media release from police.

During the course of the investigation physical evidence was submitted to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations for forensic testing.

As a result of the testing a suspect was identified as Lance Tyler, 40, Billings, Mont.

Further investigation revealed that Tyler was wanted in West Virginia for an armed robbery that occurred two days prior to the Garden City robbery.

Following the issuance of a warrant from the Finney County District Court the Garden City Police Department worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States
Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force to locate the suspect.

Tyler was arrested in Billings by the Task Force, where he was found to be in possession of a firearm.

On January 5, 2016 Tyler was extradited to the Finney County jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery.

Just after 11 a.m. on April 1, the Garden City Police Department was dispatched to Chappel Liquor, 1715 E. Business 50, for a reported robbery. The investigation revealed that a black male in his mid- to late 30s entered the business armed with a firearm and took and undisclosed amount of money from the business. He then fled the area northeast on foot.

Schools in the area were notified of the incident. No employees were injured during the robbery.

James (Jim) W. Woodall

James (Jim) W. Woodall, 89, of Colby, died Sunday, January 3, 2016, at the Prairie Senior Living Complex in Colby, KS.

He was born November 1, 1926, in Hutchinson, KS, the son of A.W. and Ruth(Beech) Woodall.  He graduated from Colby High School in 1944.

He was united in Marriage to Loretta H. Kruse on April 17, 1950 in Leoville, KS

He was retired from Colby Middle School.

Preceding Jim in death were his parents, his wife Loretta and a sister Zella Mae Crane.

Survivors include 4 daughters, Marilyn Siruta; Midland, TX, Yvonne Rightmire (Bob); Topeka, KS, Jolene Sumner (Ray); Abilene, KS and Mindy Curry (Shawn); Colby, KS.  Also Surviving are 7 sons, Jim; Oakley, KS Chris; Oakley, KS, Gary; Colby, KS, Rick; Colby, KS, Kevin; Topeka, KS, Ron; Rocklin, CA, and Mike; Rocklin, CA.  And 2 sister Betty Howard; Oakley, KS and Donna Purdum; Simi Valley, CA.; 27 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren also numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service: Thursday January 7, 2016, 10:30 a.m. at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel. Visitation: 4pm – 8pm, Wed., Jan 6th at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel. Rosary/Vigil Service 7pm, Wed., Jan. 6th at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel

Martha Beer

Martha Beer, age 84, of WaKeeney, passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Kansas Medical Center, Wichita.

Schmitt Funeral Home of WaKeeney is handling arrangements.

Charlotte Snyder

Charlotte Snyder of Quinter passed away Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015.

Services are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.

AG: Why are Kan. concealed carry permits no longer honored in Virginia?

concealed and carry 2TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prosecutor wants to know why the state’s concealed carry firearm licenses aren’t being honored in Virginia.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt requested an explanation Tuesday of Virginia’s legal reasoning.

Last month, Virginia announced it was dropped reciprocity agreements with 25 states, including Kansas. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, said the concealed weapons laws in the dropped states don’t meet Virginia’s standards.

Schmidt said in a news release that Virginia’s decision was a “surprise and a tremendous disappointment to many law-abiding Kansans who hold concealed carry licenses.”

Schmidt says Virginia first recognized Kansas licenses in February 2014 after six years of periodic discussions between the two states. He says he is unaware of any changes in Virginia law since then that would have explained the reconsideration.

Ruth Marie (Suppes) Engel

Ruth Engel - paper picture

Ruth Marie (Suppes) Engel, age 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Center of Hays.

She was born on February 18, 1930, on the family farm near Loretto, Kansas, to Adam Suppes Jr. III and Mary (Herrman).

Coming from a family of German immigrants, Ruth learned English as a second language before entering school. She loved the outdoors, animals and spending time with her older sister and six brothers.

Ruth married Edwin A. Engel on October 17,1949, in Loretto, Kansas. They lived in the Loretto area, where their five girls were born and raised.

She was a Mother, housewife, farmer, seamstress, owner of Loretto Grocery Store and specialized in the best homemade German noodles in the county.  Ruth enjoyed riding horses, dancing, playing cards and dominoes, pool, and attending her children’s activities.  Her favorite activity was being with her family.  She was a faithful servant of the Lord and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Loretto and St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Hays and St. Fidelis Daughters of Isabella, Victoria.

Survivors include five daughters, Donna Woolen and husband, Doral, Coupeville, WA; Sandra Caballero and husband, Philip, Encounter Bay, Australia; Paula Robben and husband, Bill, Walker, KS; and a set of twins, Joan Ice and husband, Andrew, Johnson City, TN; Joyce Thompson and husband Kirk, Lancaster, KS.

Three brothers, a set of twins, Julius Suppes and wife, Elsie, Otis, KS; Eugene Suppes and wife, Alma, Great Bend, KS; Clarence Suppes and wife, Mary Louise, Otis, KS.

11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, Dr. Heather Robben and husband, John Benkelman; Russell Robben and wife, Rachel and children, Walker and Carter; Colleen Quick and husband, Preston and children Atticus, Scarlett and Lincoln; James Ice and wife, Alissa and child, Genevieve; Danielle Woolen; Matthew Robben and wife, Brianna and children, Rylie and Brinley; Jessica Hurley and husband, Adam and child, Harper; Ryan Ice and wife, Michelle and children, Tesla, Jackson and Charles; Cassondra and husband, Matthew Scheipeter; Korie Thompson; and Colin Ice.

Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edwin A. Engel passed away on September 29, 2011; parents; one great grandson, Oliver Adam Hurley; three brothers, Primus  Suppes  and wife, Delores; Tony Suppes and wife, Agnes; Reinhold Suppes and wife, Ruby; and one sister, Helen Schuckman and husband, Herb.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, January 8, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Loretto, Kansas.  Burial in St Mary’s Cemetery in Loretto, Kansas.

A Daughters of Isabella rosary is at 6:30 P.M. Thursday, followed by a vigil service at 7:00 P.M. Thursday both at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Thursday at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Loretto, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Mary’s Catholic Church Shrine of Loretto, Kansas.

Mitchell L. ‘Mitch’ Homburg

Mitchell L. “Mitch” Homburg, age 61, of Fort Worth, TX formerly of Ellis, passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Downtown Health and Rehab Center in Fort Worth.

Memorial services will be 11 AM Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601

Private family inurnment will be at a later date in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ellis.

A complete obituary is pending.

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