SHERMAN COUNTY – One person was injured in an accident just before 7p.m. Monday in Sherman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by Samantha L. Cruts, 18, Aurora, CO., was east bound on Interstate 70 just east of Kansas 253 approximately 14 miles east of Goodland.
The hit vehicle him the guard rail on the north side at mile post 30. Vehicle 1 continued to travel until coming to rest on the south shoulder.
Cruts was transported to the hospital in Goodland. A 19-year-old passenger was not injured. Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas men have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to their scheme to pilfer items from Wichita mailboxes.
Thirty-eight-year-old Shalan Hiatt of Wichita pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of mail theft and possession of a counterfeit mailbox master key. Thirty-three-year-old Jason Farner of Leavenworth pleaded guilty to two counts of mail theft.
Authorities say Hiatt and Farner admitted they were members of a group of people in Wichita who used counterfeited mailbox keys to steal mail containing checks and forms of identification.
Sentencing for both men is scheduled for Oct. 19. Hiatt has previous convictions for theft and criminal damage, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
FINNEY COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on alleged DUI charges after a crash.
Just before 9a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a one car injury accident in the 400 block of W. Fulton Street in Garden City involving a Silver 2011 Chevy Cobalt and a utility pole.
When Officers arrived on the scene, they identified the driver of the vehicle as Justin Cruz, 26, Broomfield Colorado. Cruz was uninjured and exhibiting signs of impaired driving.
The investigation revealed Cruz was traveling west on Fulton St. when he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole on the on the northeast corner of 11th and Fulton Street.
After police arrested Cruz and took him to the Finney County Jail, he complained of injury. Finney County EMS treated him and released jail.
He could face the possible charges of Driving Under the Influence and No valid Driver’s License.
Due to the damage to the utility pole, traffic was re-routed for approximately three hours so City electric crews could replace the pole. Damage to the utility pole was estimated at $ 4,500.
Officials on the scene of the weekend accident -photo KDWP&T Game Wardens
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY- A man is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident on the Kansas River in Pottawatomie County over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon Game Wardens were dispatched to a report of a man with a possible broken leg on the River. Wardens along with a paramedic, launched a department rescue airboat and located the group between Wamego and St George, according to a social media report.
Upon arrival, it was learned that the man’s injuries were worse than reported. Authorities administering an IV, paramedic and wardens loaded the victim on a spine board and he was transported by airboat back to the Wamego boat ramp where EMS took over.
Officials released no additional details on the accident.
Dusta Kimzey competes at the 2015 Phillipsburg rodeo. The Strong City, Okla. cowgirl and her brothers Sage and Trey will be at Kansas Biggest Rodeo this weekend, just like they have for years, first with their dad, and now as contestants. Photo by JJJ Photo.
Sage Kimzey rides at the 2014 Phillipsburg Rodeo. The three-time world champion returns to Phillipsburg this week, along with his older sister and younger brother, who will also compete. Photo by JJJ Photo.
PHILLIPSBURG — It’ll be like a mini-family reunion for the Kimzeys this week.
When Kansas Biggest Rodeo rolls into town on August 3-4-5, the three Kimzey siblings: Dusta, Sage and Trey, will be in town to compete.
The children of Ted Kimzey and Jennifer Kimzey, they have grown up not only in rodeo, but at the Phillipsburg rodeo.
The eldest of the three, Dusta, will barrel race in Phillipsburg on August 3. She’s been a member of the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association since 2013, and since then, “I’ve never missed (competing at) Phillipsburg,” she said.
When they were kids, the three of them traveled with their dad, bullfighter turned barrelman, and Phillipsburg was special to them. Dusta remembers hanging out with the Rumohr family: Greg, Donna and daughters Railey and Ruby, while Greg, who passed away in 2015, worked as a bullfighter in Phillipsburg. “We have a lot of family history in Phillipsburg,” she said. “It’s a really fun rodeo for us. They make you feel like home.”
Dusta and Trey trick ride together, as an act called Tricked Out. Sage was part of it for a while, but when he started riding bulls fulltime, it was the two others. Dusta will trick ride as part of the entertainment at the Hill City rodeo before she heads to Phillipsburg.
The trick riding is in high demand, Dusta said, as a specialty act. “I’ve only had one weekend off since May, and I ran barrels that weekend. It’s been a really, really good year for it.” At this point, she is trick riding nearly full time and working at a pharmacy part time. The trick riding is “a dream, and a life goal for me, more than pharmacy” work. “I’ll go home in September and work part time, but I haven’t taken a full time job as a pharmacist and have no intentions of it, at least for a while. That way I can rodeo full time if I want.”
Middle child Sage, a three-time world champion bull rider, is also the 2016 Phillipsburg rodeo champion. The 25 year old cowboy is the PRCA’s youngest millionaire and is currently ranked first in the world standings, with a $40,000 lead over the number two man, Garrett Smith.
Younger brother Trey could some day be nipping at his heels.
The eighteen-year-old just graduated from high school this spring and got his PRCA permit in January. He’s hitting the rodeo road hard, and seeing his brother have success has shown Trey that success in bull riding is attainable. “You just gotta go get it instead of waiting for it to happen.”
Trey, who will be a freshman at Southwestern Oklahoma State this fall, plans on continuing on his PRCA permit card this year. Next year will be his rookie year, and he’d like to reach two goals in 2018: win rookie of the year and qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
When he is announced at rodeos, announcers mention his older brother and Sage’s three world titles, and it never gets old to Trey. “I’m proud of what he’s done. I’m trying to follow in his footsteps.”
Sage rides Thursday night; Trey rides Saturday night. There is a chance, due to injury or travel difficulties, they will “turn out” – not compete in Phillipsburg.
Four of the current PRCA world champions will be in Phillipsburg to compete: Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil (all-around); Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa (bareback riding), Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. (steer wrestling), and Kimzey (bull riding).
Slack, the extra competition that doesn’t fit into the performances, will be at 7 pm on August 1-2. It is open to the public.
Performances are August 3-4-5 and begin at 8 pm each night.
Associate memberships are available for sale. They are $150 and include a rib dinner at the rodeo grounds during slack on Wed., August 2, preferred parking, and raffle tickets for a 2017 John Deere Gator and two trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. They can be purchased from Heritage Insurance in Phillipsburg, First National Bank, Matteson Motors, Cliff’s Welding, and rodeo committee members.
For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at KansasBiggestRodeo.com or call 785.543.2448.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on sexual assault charges.
A 29-year-old woman told police she met 30-year-old Kyle Baxter Saturday evening at the Paramount Bar, 219 North Santa Fe in Salina.
She was there with friends and went with Baxter to the basement to look at some bar equipment for sale, according to Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester.
The woman accused Baxter of not allowing her to leave and sexual assault while they were in the basement.
Late Saturday, Police arrested Baxter at his residence requested charges of rape and and criminal restraint.
New numbers from Topeka last week show a dip in oil production in Kansas in April. The Kansas Geological Survey reports Kansas operators produced 2.97 million barrels of crude oil in April, down about 100,000 barrels from the March production total of 3.07 million barrels.
So far this year, through April, we’ve pulled just over 11.9 million barrels of crude from the ground statewide. Barton County produced 137,000 barrels in April, for a total through April of 560,000 barrels. Ellis County’s total was 856,000 barrels, after producing 210,000 barrels in April. Russell County produced 134,000 barrels for a total of 527,000 through April. Stafford County produced 86 thousand barrels, for a total through April of 346,000 barrels.
Baker Hughes reports 958 active rigs nationwide, an increase of two oil and six gas rigs. Canada has 220 active rigs this week, up 14. Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 13 active rigs in eastern Kansas, down one, and 23 west of Wichita, also down one. In Barton County they’re prepping to spud at one site and moving in completions tools at two more. Ellis County producers are moving in rotary tools at one site, and moving in completion tools at another.
Two years ago at this time, operators had filed 1,410 new drilling permits across Kansas. Then prices plunged, and last year by the end of July there were only 521 new permits. We’re doing slightly better this year at 799 permits year to date. There were 17 permits filed last week for drilling at new locations, five east of Wichita, and 12 in western Kansas including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County.
Independent Oil and Gas reported just one new well completion across Kansas last week, a wildcat play that produced a dry hole in Logan County. Producers have completed 741 wells so far this year. That’s better than last year’s 655, but well below the 2,655 well completions by the time in 2015.
The Bureau of Land Management is moving ahead with efforts to rescind an Obama-era rule regulating hydraulic fracturing on federal and tribal lands. In its formal notice, the Interior Department said the Bureau is proposing to rescind the 2015 rule because they believe it is unnecessarily duplicative of state and tribal regulations, and imposes reporting requirements it called “burdensome,” and other costs on the oil and gas industry, which the bureau labeled “unjustified.”
Fuel exports from the United States are on track to hit another record this year. Last year, we sent a net 2.5 million barrels of petroleum products to foreign markets. Reuters reports that shale producers here have provided refiners with abundant and cheap domestic crude, giving them the raw material they need to produce internationally competitive fuel. Last year, the U.S. became the world’s top net exporter of fuel, a fundamental shift from the traditional U.S. role as a top importer and consumer.
Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian said delays in Senate confirmation have left the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission without a quorum. The state’s top energy regulator says the commission cannot approve or deny pipelines, and that, he says, is holding up jobs. Billions of dollars in new infrastructure are on the drawing board to tap growing production in West Texas and elsewhere. According to reporting by Houston Public Media, there are more than 40 pipeline plans that lack FERC approval, with some waiting for two years or more. Christian wrote to the state’s two senators telling them it’s “crucial” two nominees get confirmed before the August recess.
The Houston Chronicle is documenting a recurring problem in boom times. Drillers of all sizes have poured billions of dollars into the Permian Basin this year, rebuilding operations after a two-year bust. But for all the economic benefits of the industry’s high-paying jobs, the oil rush also is bankrolling an expanding market for illegal drugs. The spikes in drug seizures by the Texas Department of Public Safety are shown in the newspaper’s graphic to correlate directly with increases in the rig count in west Texas.
Voters in Spokane, Washington will decide in November whether the city should fine railroad operators for certain coal and crude oil rail shipments through its downtown core. The Spokane City Council voted Monday night to put the citizens’ initiative to voters rather than passing it. The city sees up to 19 oil trains a week. If approved by voters, the measure would make rail shipments of uncovered coal or highly flammable crude oil a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $261 per rail car.
Chevron Corp. agreed to pay a $1 million fine and to make about $20 million worth of safety improvements at a refinery in Richmond, California, settling a long-running dispute with regulators over penalties levied following a 2012 fire. The company agreed to go beyond state safety requirements. They agreed to replace all carbon-steel piping used to transport corrosive liquids with chrome-alloy piping, which is more corrosion-resistant. They also agreed to set up some innovative new procedures to monitor equipment and alert operators when piping should be replaced. The fire in 2012, which triggered a widespread shelter-in-place order, injured three Chevron employees and caused hundreds of residents to complain of respiratory problems.
Phillipsburg resident Ethel Ann Bretton passed away Sunday, July 30, 2017 at the Phillips County Hospital, Phillipsburg, at the age of 95.
She was born November 7, 1921 in Kirwin, KS the daughter of Martin Ralph & Mary Viola (Wisehart) Smith.
She was united in marriage to Mavor Orlin Bretton on October 7, 1939 in Agra, KS. He preceded her in death on Jan. 28, 1989.
Survivors include 2 sons, Ralph Bretton of McCook, NE & Rex C. Bretton of Phillipsburg; daughter, Luella Snyder of Ness City, KS; 12 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; 7 great great grandchildren; a brother, Ronald Smith of Warsaw, MO; and 2 sisters, Delpha Jennings of Phillipsburg & Vannetta Woodard of Mound City, KS.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 3, 2017 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.
Mrs. Bretton will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday & 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Ethel Bretton Memorial Fund.
Arrangements by Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661. Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Goldie June (Wolf) Thomas, age 94, a resident of Brookdale of Hays, Kansas passed away Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society, Hays. She was born May 14, 1923 in Smith County, Kansas to Conrad and Emma (Donberger) Wolf. She married Alfred Thomas on March 29, 1942 in Phillipsburg, Kansas. He preceded her in death on May 27, 2012.
Goldie was the manager at Four Seasons Dress Shop for many years. She was a member of the Gold Circle and the VFW ladies Auxiliary.
She is survived by her son, Tom Thomas and wife Deanna of Hays; a sister, Kathryn Miller of Hays; two grandchildren, Troy Thomas, and Misty Rockenfield both Seattle Washington; 3 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Sylvester Wolf and two sisters, Mabel Bateman and Irene Dannenberg.
Graveside services will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at the Gaylord Cemetery, Gaylord, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to donor’s choice in her memory and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 vine Hays, KS 67601.
Condolences may be left for the family by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas-based chemical company has agreed to pay a $950,000 penalty to the federal government for allegations that it violated the Clean Air Act.
The settlement announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency also requires Harcros Chemicals of Kansas City, Kansas, to make sure that its accident prevention program complies with federal requirements.
Harcros operates 31 facilities in 19 states and two in Kansas. The firm manufacture, blend, repackage and distribute chemicals.
The settlement calls for the company to audit 28 of its facilities to identify and correct potential sources of Clean Air Act violations, and to effectively react to accidents when they occur. It also requires installation of foam-based sprinkler systems at eight Harcros facilities.
A phone message left with Harcros Chemicals was not immediately returned.
Fatal crash Sunday night in Wichita- photo courtesy KAKE
SEDGWICK COUNTY-Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident.
Just after 11p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of an injury accident the 1700 Block of West Kellogg in Wichita. A 2006 Chevy Impala driven by a 38-year-old man was traveling on the ramp from Interstate 135 to Westbound Kellogg, according to Officer Charley Davidson.
The driver lost control of the vehicle. It hit a concrete barrier and rolled. First responders pronounced a 44-year old passenger dead at the scene.
The driver and three additional occupants including a 29-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and a 31-year-old woman were transported to a local hospital in serious and or critical condition, according to Davidson.
