RICE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after the discovery of a body of a man in a wooded area near Sterling on Friday, according to Rice County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities have not released the man’s identity or cause of death.
Wardens with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are assisting with the investigation.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A New Jersey man will be sentenced next month for choking a 4-month-old child at a Walmart in Overland Park.
Fifty-four-year-old Oleh Zhownirovych , of Clifton, New Jersey, pleaded no contest Thursday to aggravated battery and intentional harm and battery. An aggravated kidnapping charge was dropped.
In October, authorities said Zhownirovych walked up to Monquisha Hill in a checkout line and started choking her daughter, who was in the shopping cart.
He stopped when the mother started screaming. People in the store came to help and held him until police arrived.
Hill didn’t know the man and a motive for his actions was unclear.
The baby wasn’t injured.
Zhownirovych was the pastor of a Ukrainian Orthodox church in Clifton but left the position last year.
RILEY COUNTY — The head football coach at Manhattan High School Joe Schwartz will not face charges of endangering a child in connection with the October 26, battery incident involving members of the football team, according to a media release from County Attorney Barry Wilkerson.
Riley County Police reported multiple teenage suspects kicked and hit two victims, a 15-year-old and 16-year-old boys.
In addition, two employees of the Riley County Attorney’s office have a child or relative who are members of the football team. The Riley County Attorney’s office has a conflict of interest which prohibits the office from determining what if any charges against the players. The Lyon County Attorney’s office has agreed to appoint a special prosecutor to determine possible charges in the case, according to the media release.
PAWNEE COUNTY — Sentencing is scheduled next month for a Kansas man for child sex crimes.
On Thursday, James Thomas, 59, Hutchinson, entered a no contest plea in the Pawnee County District Court to one count of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a minor 14 years of age, to wit: lewd fondling, a severity level 6 person felony, according to a media release from the Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett.
Had the matter proceeded to trial the State would have presented testimony that on the night of November 27, 2013, Thomas entered the room of a 14 year child that was staying at the defendant’s home in Larned for the night and placed his hands inside the child’s pajamas without consent, according to McNett.
After hearing the proffer of evidence and reviewing the defendant’s understanding of the consequences of his plea, District Judge Bruce Gatterman accepted the plea and found Thomas guilty of the amended charge. Sentencing is scheduled for January 18, 2018.
As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to waive his right to appeal the conviction and will be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.
Thomas was arrested by the US Marshall Service at his home in Hutchinson on March 30, 2017, without incident. He later posted a $35,000 cash/surety bond and was ordered by the Court to report regularly to Court Services, surrender his passport, not leave the State without Court Service’s permission and have no contact, directly or indirectly, with endorsed witnesses. He has been reporting as required since his release.
PHILLIPS COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 10:30 Friday in Phillips County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Hyundai Elantra driven by Jolene Wennekamp Nikl, 61, Ankeny, IA., was eastbound on U.S. 183 seven miles south of Alma, Nebraska.
The driver pulled onto the right shoulder to do a U-turn. A semi struck the Hyundai on the driver side.
Nikl was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Olliff-Boeve Funeral Chapel in Phillipsburg.
One passenger in the Hyundai Larry Douglas Nikl, 69, Ankeny, IA., was transported to CHI Health Good Samaritan. Another passenger in the Hyundai Kristina Kikl, 26, Ankeny, IA., and a passenger in the semi Aymara Rodriguez, 35, Houston, TX., were transported to the Harlan County Hospital.
The semi driver was not injured. All five were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Some older residents of Hays got an early taste of the holidays this week thanks to some students at Roosevelt Elementary School.
The 5th grade students in Suzanne Leikam’s class made holiday mints Wednesday morning to be included with Thursday’s home-delivered meals for participants in the Homestead Nutrition Program in Hays.
Some of the winter white mints were decorated with red or green sprinkles.
The Hays program, one of 28 sites served by the Homestead Nutrition Project, serves approximately 150 meals each day to seniors aged 60 and older.
“Home-delivered recipients are considered homebound and often have no family. This is a way for the kids of the community to really brighten their day and give back to the community,” said Kristen Schmidt, Nutrition Director for the Homestead Nutrition Project with the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging.
“The same class also did something similar for the Thanksgiving holiday,” Schmidt added. “They sent treats, a bag full of “smores,” to the Hays homebound recipients at that time. The seniors were thankful and some even sent thank-you cards as a token of appreciation.”
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas State worker says in a federal lawsuit that the university didn’t adequately respond to her complaints of sexual harassment by a co-worker.
In a lawsuit filed this week, Paulette Arnold says she was harassed for nearly three years while working in the Information Systems Office. She says the systems coordinator, Kevin Yaussi, sent sexually explicit emails, inappropriately touched her and left her inappropriate gifts.
Arnold says she and another worker reported Yaussi’s behavior to their supervisor.
The Kansas City Star reports the university determined Yaussi had harassed Arnold but only ordered him not to interact with her except for work. He was given a written warning and a recommendation to complete training on sexual harassment and workplace professionalism.
A Kansas State University spokesperson said the university doesn’t discuss pending litigation.
Music of Christmas – Trego Community Schools 2017
Helen R. Dickey, age 81, passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on January 1, 1936 in Emporia, Kansas, the daughter of Roy & Margaret Heaney Parker. She moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1968 where she worked for Saunders & Associates as a Food Broker and Secretary until 1992 when she moved back to Healy, Kansas.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Healy, Kansas. She was a member and officer of the National Organization of Women in Memphis, Tenn, a CASA volunteer, Healy UMW and an election volunteer.
On June 11, 1953 she married Elliott D. Dickey in Kansas City. He passed away on February 21, 2012 in Scott City, Kansas.
Survivors include her Three Daughters – Donna McLelland of Healy, Kansas, Lisa Schneider & Rick Davis of Memphis, Tennessee, Rita & Scott Burch of Atlanta, Georgia, One Brother – Don & Gerri Parker of Conception, Missouri, Two Brother In Laws – Harold Dickey of Dighton, Kansas, Keith Dickey of Healy, Kansas, Six Grandchildren and Ten Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her Parents & Husband.
Memorial Services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Healy, Kansas at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 30, 2017, with the Rev. Robert Nuckolls presiding.
Memorials may be given to the Healy United Methodist Church or Lane County Library % Price & Sons Funeral Home.
Interment will be in the Healy Cemetery in Healy, Kansas.
There will be no calling times.
DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler is recalling nearly 1.8 million Ram trucks because they can be shifted out of park without the driver’s foot on the brake.
The recall is mainly in North America and covers trucks with steering-column shifters. It includes certain 2010 through 2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and 2011 through 2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs. Also covered are 2016 and 2017 Ram 3500 chassis cabs under 10,000 pounds. Some 2009 through 2017 Ram 1500 pickups also are included.
Fiat Chrysler says the brake-transmission shift interlock can fail due to long-term heat exposure. That can let the shifter move from park even without a key in the ignition, increasing the risk the trucks rolling away.
FCA reported seven injuries. Owners will be notified when to schedule service.
USD 489
The USD 489 Hope Pantry was able to fill 55 boxes of food and hygiene items for district families for the winter break.
Arnett Chiropractic and Cornerstone Orthodontics both had food and supply drives this month to benefit the district’s pantry.
The generosity of outside organizations and a grant received by the Heartland Community Foundation will allow the pantry to fill boxes for families in need during spring break as well.
“Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help package the food boxes and deliver them to the schools,” the district said in a news release.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners are enthused about a proposed new hotel and convention center to be built west of Walmart.
The developer, Raju Sheth of Wichita, is requesting tax increment financing (TIF) on a pay-as-you-go basis for 20 years; a community improvement district (CID) of 2.0% CID sales tax reimbursed on a pay-as-you-go basis for 22 years; and a rebate of the city’s five percent transient guest tax (TGT) generated by the project for an initial term of 20 years, subject to early termination if the developer defaults under the related development agreements.
Commissioners heard from Kevin Wempe of Gilmore & Bell, the city’s bond counsel, Thursday night about the developer’s request for financial incentives. They asked about the city’s liability.
“Part of mitigating the city’s risk would be hammered out in the development agreement. You set forth terms and conditions under which the project’s built,” Wempe explained. “You can set milestones that have certain clawbacks or conditions to the eventual rebate of these incentives.
“The rebates of these incentives won’t be turned on until the project goes live and it’s fully built out. The developer will submit a statement of completion to the city saying ‘we’re done and in service’. At that point, they’ll start proving up costs and collecting.
“Another aspect is the ‘pay-go’ aspect. The city is not actually fronting money,” Wempe emphasized, “so any reimbursement is based on collections at the site.”
This would be the first time the city extends a rebate of the transient guest tax, the extra tax paid by people staying in Hays motels. It’s normally collected to fund the Convention and Visitors Bureau for marketing and promotion of Hays.
“They’re only going to collect what they’re able to generate themselves,” pointed out Vice-Mayor James Meier, “and same goes for the CID, so we’re not losing out here.
“This is really a best-case scenario for the city where we get a great facility the city doesn’t have to maintain. All we have to do is give up the transient guest tax for it, so it’s really the best of all worlds, I think.”
“I think it’s important to emphasize we still will capture the transient guest tax at other hotels,” Commissioner Lance Jones added.
Mayor Shaun Musil said other hotel operators are excited about the new development.
“I’ve talked to some managers of competing hotels out there and they think it will bring more people to Hays. They’re smart enough to know this is not only good for these guys but also for the surrounding hotels. I think it’s good for Hays.”
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs was pleased with the detailed information in the developer’s application for economic incentives and a supplemental questionnaire, along with related project and financial breakdowns.
“It was easy to read and easy to understand. I appreciate the work done by everyone, including staff,” she said. “This is really a significant investment in our community.”
Hays Hotel and Mitra Developers intend to build a new 500-seat, 8,400-square-foot conference center and hotel west of the Hays Walmart, which would necessitate extension of 43rd Street to the west.
The Hilton Garden Inn will have 100 beds and contain a small restaurant and bar. It would employ the equivalent of about 35 full-time employees.
Ground could be broken as soon as April on the new $12 million to $14 million facility with the center opening in 12 to 14 months, according to Sheth.
A possible second phase of the project includes construction of a new restaurant and/or other commercial retail. The financial incentive application information is available here.
Commissioners will vote on resolutions during their Dec. 28 meeting that would move the project forward.
Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from last night’s work session.
RILEY COUNTY— A Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper was injured during a chase Thursday evening in Manhattan.
Just before 8:30 p.m., a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper stopped to check on an abandoned vehicle near 3rd and Poyntz in Manhattan, according to Lt. Adam Winters of the Kansas Highway Patrol.
A woman approached the trooper and he returned to his vehicle to check her identification. The trooper was unable to get the information he needed and returned to the woman who was now in the vehicle. She drove away with the trooper hanging onto the front of the vehicle, according to Winters. The trooper eventually was able to return to his vehicle and started a chase that continued down Kansas 177 to Interstate 70. The chase ended at Wabaunsee Road.
The Trooper arrested Micheale Ketra Bennett, 36, Raytown, Mo., for alleged aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer; Fleeing and Attempt to Elude Law enforcement in commission of a felony. She is being held on a $20,000 bond, according to the Riley County Police arrest report.
The trooper was transported to a Topeka hospital for treatment of an injury to his arm, according to Winters. He was released a short time later.
Bennett has a previous conviction for receiving stolen property, according to the Missouri Department of Corrections.
She has a conviction in Johnson County Kansas for theft in 2007, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
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RILEY COUNTY-Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on felony charges.
Just before 8:30p.m. Thursday police arrested Micheale Ketra Bennett, 36, Raytown, MO., near Humboldt and 4th Street in Manhattan for alleged aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer; Fleeing and Attempt to Elude Law enforcement in commission of a felony. She is being held on a $20,000 bond, according to the Riley County Police arrest report. The Kansas Highway Patrol made the arrest.
Bennett has a previous conviction for receiving stolen property, according to the Missouri Department of Corrections.
She has a conviction in Johnson County Kansas for theft in 2007, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Authorities did not release additional details on her arrest early Friday.
