SALINE COUNTY — While deputies were working a rollover accident that shut down portions of Interstate70 for about five hours on Thursday, a wanted man narrowly missed hitting ohttps://managewp.com/wp-admin/#add_postsne of the deputies on the scene, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Just after 9p.m., a 1996 Lexus driven by Jerry Hassler, 31, Salina, was westbound on Interstate 70 when he swerved around the patrol vehicle blocking the road near an overturned tanker carrying anhydrous ammonia, according to Soldan

Hassler then drove into the median and back off of the interstate. Deputies pursued Hassler to Diamond Drive where he ditched the vehicle. Ten minute later a deputy saw Hassler walk into a fast-food restaurant near the interstate and they arrested him.
.
Hassler had an outstanding warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections and a habitual violator who is no allowed to drive, according to Soldan.
Deputies booked Hassler into the Saline County Jail for reckless driving, failing to obey a lawful order, driving while a habitual violator and improper crossing on a laned roadway.
He has previous convictions for theft and drugs in McPherson and Saline County.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Four people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection to a drive-by shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl in eastern Kansas.

Two of suspects are jailed in Wyandotte County Detention Center. The district attorney’s office says another suspect is hospitalized and one suspect isn’t in custody.

Investigators say the girl, Machole Stewart, was killed in October 2014 when bullets from a passing vehicle ripped into a home she was visiting for a family gathering. Family members say Machole jumped up and ran because she was scared.

No one else was injured. Police say the intended target was a 19-year-old relative.

MARION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas high school student who fought to keep his rainbow-painted parking spot found it vandalized this week.

Marion High School senior Logan Waner decorated his parking spot with an LGBT pride design. It was covered in black paint or tar Thursday.

Seniors at the school are allowed to paint their parking spots, as long as the designs are approved by administrators. Students and administrators helped Waner clean up his parking spot.

Waner’s parking spot initially drew attention after he was told he had to paint over the design on Wednesday. The school reversed the decision that afternoon.

Principal Tod Gordon says he initially approved the design, but later met with Waner to discuss possible modifications to make sure there weren’t any issues.

HUTCHINSON — The Kansas State Fair didn’t break attendance records this year, but it did implement a new ticketing system that provides the most accurate attendance counts ever. A new partnership with web-based, ticketing-service provider Etix introduced a ticket-scanning system that digitally tracks fairgoer traffic.

This year, 322,278 people were counted through the gates to the State Fairgrounds. According to Fair organizers, attendance recorded this year showed about a 10 percent difference compared to the previously “weighed” and audited accounting for attendance last year, and in previous years. Saturday attendance typically reaches more than 60,000 people. This year, the actual scans accounted for 50,491 and 48,755 on each respective Saturday.

“It’s hard to set records year after year,” Susan Sankey, Kansas State Fair general manager, said. “The new ticketing system brought more confidence in tracking the attendance. Electronic ticketing has allowed for more efficiency and the data from the system will help to make improvements, assist with better planning, and sets a new standard for tracking attendance.”

While the fair wraps up for 2017, Sankey notes that overall feedback about the Fair has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve had many comments about how smoothly things went this year. We thank everyone who came out to enjoy the Fair – our sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, volunteers, students and every guest. “

Fair officials are still finalizing revenue numbers and preparing the budget for next year. There were some hot, windy and humid days, but the event was free of any major safety or weather problems. Recent amusement ride accidents, including on the opening day at the Ohio State Fair just weeks before the Kansas State Fair likely caused heightened sensitivity about the carnival rides, resulting in some lesser revenues. Also, the concert was delayed Saturday evening and the midway rides were temporarily shut down due to a passing storm.

North American Midway Entertainment, the contracted midway provider at the Kansas State Fair, followed its standard protocols, making safety a high, ongoing priority. Sankey says that led to a smooth transition to comply with new amusement ride regulations in Kansas.

“Rides are just one component of the wide range of activities we have happening every day at the Fair,” Sankey said. “For example, youth livestock shows represented record turnouts this year, filling the barns to capacity. Ours is a traditional Fair with a diversity true to agriculture and commerce. It celebrates everything Kansas every day.”

The Kansas State Fair has been held annually in Hutchinson since 1913. Plans are already underway for next year’s Fair, set for Sept. 7-16, 2018.

OSAGE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office have requested the public’s assistance in identifying the remains of a woman found Aug. 25 at Melvern Lake. It is believed the woman was the victim of a homicide, according to a media release.

Forensic anthropology experts from the Washburn University Anthropology Department assisted law enforcement in studying the remains. They reported that the deceased individual is female, and likely Hispanic, however, White cannot be ruled out. They provided a likely age range between 35 and 50 years of age, but also offered a broader range of 30 to 65 years of age. She was believed to have been 5-foot-2 inches to 5-foot-8 inches, but could potentially also be between 5-foot-1 inches to 5-foot-9 inches. The report suggested that she was killed and has been at the scene since sometime between late Fall 2016 and July 2017, with a narrower estimate of April 2017 to July 2017.

KBI agents and Osage County Sheriff’s deputies are also releasing information about the woman’s clothing and jewelry to hopefully aid in identifying the victim. Her shirt size was small, and the brand “No Boundaries.” Her pants size was 32×30, and the brand “Helix.” Her bra size was 44 and the brand “Fruit of the Loom.” She was wearing several items of jewelry which include: a silver ring that spells “love” in cursive writing, a gold or bronze ring with a red stone, a silver bangle bracelet, and gold or bronze framed eyeglasses. Photos of the jewelry can be seen here.