HKHR Hospitality Corp. of Hays announced Friday afternoon it will build a new urban design La Quinta Inns & Suites four-story, 81-room hotel immediately west of the Golden Corral restaurant (soon to be remodeled as an Old Chicago pizza restaurant and taproom).
Partners Srujan Vusi, Oklahoma City, and Raj Sharma, Hays, said their group has also purchased the Hays Motel 6, which will be renovated and become the independent Hays Tiger Inn.
Check Hays Post for more on the story.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man and woman were found dead inside a Kansas townhome after a standoff that lasted nearly 16 hours.
Police say a man barricaded himself inside the home in Topeka and fired at first responders throughout the standoff, which began about 10 p.m. Thursday. The standoff ended around 1:30 p.m. on Friday.
Police spokeswoman Coleen Stuart says officers found the bodies when they entered the home after chemicals were sent into the apartment.
Another woman in the home was able to escape. She was treated for injuries from the chemicals. The names of the women and the two people found dead haven’t been released.
Stuart says the man sporadically shot at first responders through the night and Friday morning. No officers were injured during the incident.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are on the scene of a standoff that continued early Friday.
On Thursday night, police responded to a report of a possible gunshot heard at a townhome in the 3500 Block SE 7th Street in Topeka, according to Lt. Colleen Stuart.
The Caller reported hearing what was possibly a gunshot and then a female yelling.
Officers arrived and were able to observe an individual down inside but were unable to gain entry or to determine the extent of the individuals injuries due gunshots being fired from inside the residence toward responding officers.
TPD, Shawnee Sheriff, Shawnee County Park Police, Lawrence Police and Kansas Highway Patrol and other Law Enforcement Agencies came into the area and set a perimeter. TPD Crisis Negotiators and Response Team were called in to stabilize the incident.
Neighboring affected residences have been evacuated and the Red Cross has been called to assist residents and first responders.
Negotiators attempted to make contact and briefly spoke with the subject inside who threatened to fire at any first responders.
The individual continues to shoot out towards first responders sporadically through this incident timeframe.
Identification on the individual armed inside the residence is yet to be determined, according to Stuart.
The area of Rice Road between 6th and 8th in Topeka has been closed for an undetermined amount of time. The situation is still active, and very dangerous. Police advise residents to avoid the area.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a man is barricaded in a Topeka apartment after wounding another person and firing shots at officers.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the standoff started after someone was shot about 9:50 p.m. Thursday. Police Lt. Steve Roth says the wounded person’s condition isn’t known because officers haven’t been able to reach the person.
It’s not clear what triggered the shooting. A SWAT unit and mobile command center were on the scene Friday morning as the standoff continued.
GRAHAM COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Graham County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the murders of two individuals which occurred yesterday in Graham County, Kan.
According to a media release from the KBI, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Thursday, a 911 call was made to the Graham County Sheriff’s Office. When first responders arrived at 2756 170th Ave., Penokee, Kan., a Hispanic male and a white female were found deceased. The names of the deceased will be released after positive identifications are made and all next of kin are notified.
As a result of the initial investigation, a subject of interest was identified as 29-year-old Efren Mascarenas, Jr. After a search by area law enforcement, Mascarenas was located deceased Thursday night in northeast Graham County.
There is no longer any threat to the public related to this incident.
The Hill City Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and several other area law enforcement agencies have assisted in this case.
Rosaline “Rosie” Burgardt, 86, Hays, died Friday, January 5, 2018 at Via Christi Village.
She was born July 9, 1931 in Hays the daughter of William and Mary (Quint) Hoff. She was a 1949 graduate of Hays High School and on August 16, 1950 she was united in marriage to Fredoline P. “Fritz” Burgardt in Emmeram, Kansas. They were married for over 50 years before he preceded her in death on November 21, 2000. She was a nurse’s aide and ward clerk at St. Anthony Hospital and Hays Medical Center for 32 years and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and vegetable and flower gardening. She also enjoyed watching wrestling on television, polka music, animals and walking her dog, and going to garage sales, always finding a use for things that others discarded.
Survivors include two sons; Alfred Burgardt and wife Kathy of Hays, and Larry Burgardt and wife Zoni of Moore, Oklahoma, two daughters; Mary Leer and husband Mike of Manhattan and Brenda Burgardt of Hays, three grandchildren; Randy Leer and wife Sandy of California, Amanda Reilly and husband Joe of Nebraska, and Joe Burgardt of Oklahoma, four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Fritz.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, January 8, 2018 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, with Fr. Leo Blasi officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church or to masses, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com
Judy Ann (Blackburn) Phillips, age 68, of WaKeeney, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2018, at her home in WaKeeney.
Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney is assisting with arrangements.
3:30 p.m. UPDATE: RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have resolved the domestic disturbance at a home in the 3700 Block of Hawthorne Woods Circle in Manhattan, according to RCPD Director. One suspect is in custody. Schoen did not release his name or possible charges.
The investigation of the officer-involved shooting will take time, according to Schoen. One RCPD officer was wounded and transported for treatment of not-life threatening injuries.
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RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are working an officer-involved shooting at a home in Manhattan.
Just after 12:30 PM Friday, officers with the Riley County Police Department responded the report of a domestic situation at a home in the 3700 block of Hawthorne Woods Circle, according to RCPD Director Brad Schoen.
When officers arrived on scene, there was an active shooter situation and one officer received a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The officer is currently being treated at a local hospital.
Additional officers responded to the scene for a barricaded subject. This is still an active situation.
Police advised that those who live in this area stay sheltered until further notice.
RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting near the 3700 block of Hawthorne Woods Circle northwest of the Kansas State campus in Manhattan.
One officer was shot and suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound, according to the Riley County Police Department. Residents who live in the area are advised to stay indoors until further notice.
Police released no additional details.
WINNESHIEK COUNTY, Iowa – A Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) investigation has led to the arrest of a former Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy.
According to a media release, on Thursday, Jan. 4 at approximately 1:30 p.m., David Huggins, 45, of La Cygne was arrested with the assistance of the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office in Decorah, Iowa, for aggravated indecent liberties with a minor and sexual exploitation of a child.
On Oct. 30, 2017 Linn County Sheriff Paul Filla requested KBI assistance when information was brought forward by Pleasanton School District Superintendent Travis Laver. Huggins had been assigned as a school resource officer.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office and school district cooperated fully in the investigation. Huggins was removed from his role at the school on Oct. 20, was placed on administrative leave on Nov. 29, and was terminated from the Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 3.
Following his arrest, Huggins was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail. Extradition to Kansas will be pursued. Special prosecutor Jerry Merrill is expected to prosecute the case.
SALINE COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Friday in Saline County.
The Saline County Sheriff’s office reported a 2006 Honda driven by Daniel Westcott, 33, Salina, was traveling on Interstate 70 three miles east of Ohio Street.
The vehicle left the road and rolled.
Westcott was transported by emergency medical services to Salina Regional Health Center and then transferred to Wesley Medical Center for a possible back injury, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.
The passenger, Jase Martinez, 32, of Salina, was also transported to Salina Regional Health Center with non-life threatening injuries.
According to Soldan, the passenger distracting the driver caused the crash.
The monthly Hays Community Acoustic Jam session will be held Saturday, January 6th, from 2:00-4:00 p.m at the Hays Arts Center Annex, 1010 Main in Downtown Hays. The sessions are held on the first Saturday of each month.
The local acoustic jam is a fun place for people of all skill levels to play acoustical instruments (guitars, banjos, fiddles, harmonicas, bass guitars, etc.) and to invite friends to enjoy music, whether you’re playing, singing, or listening.
All are welcome to listen or participate as little or much as you’d like!
For inquiries, please contact [email protected].
KS JUDICIAL CENTER
TOPEKA — District Magistrate Judge James Kepple of Riley County was appointed to the District Magistrate Judges Certification Committee.
Chief Justice Lawton Nuss of the Kansas Supreme Court appointed him to fill a term ending June 30, 2020, that was vacated by District Magistrate Judge Sheila Hochhauser, also of Riley County, who retired in 2017.
Kepple serves in the 21st Judicial District, which includes Riley and Clay counties. He previously was a district magistrate judge in Ness County.
The committee, composed of district magistrates, oversees the certification of magistrate judges. Magistrates who are not licensed attorneys must complete a certification program overseen by the Supreme Court.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri man has been charged in a crash that killed two girls after a toxicology report found high levels of the psychoactive component in marijuana in his system.
Fifty-one-year-old Terry Gray, of Independence, is charged with two counts of DWI resulting in death or, in the alternative, two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Bond is set at $75,000. It’s not clear if he has an attorney.
Court records show Gray was speeding in his pickup truck in September as he exited Interstate 435 and slammed into a stopped sport utility vehicle. The impact forced the SUV into an intersection, where it struck a car.
The crash killed 16-year-old Emely Samantha “Sammi” Raudales, of Shawnee, Kansas, who was in the SUV, and 3-year-old Ryan Hampel, of Independence, who was in the car.
KDWPT
PRATT – It’s been several years since Kansas has experienced prolonged deep-freeze weather, and you can bet anglers who love to icefish are anxious to give it a try. However, anyone planning to venture out on a frozen lake should refresh themselves with ice safety rules.
The first rule is to wait for at least 4 inches of clear, hard ice before walking on any ice-covered waterbody, and 5-7 inches of ice is necessary to support a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle (ATV). It usually takes several days of calm weather with single-digit temperatures to make safe ice, and the only way to measure ice thickness is to make test holes as you go.
The appearance of the ice can give clues to its integrity. New, clear ice is the strongest. White ice may only be about half as strong. Warm, sunny days can melt the surface and “honeycomb” the ice, which will weaken it, as well. Also be aware that temperature, snow cover, currents, springs and even roosting geese can affect the strength and safety of ice. Never take ice strength and thickness for granted. Continually check the ice when moving to new areas.
Other safety considerations include fishing with friends, and packing a rope, ice handpicks, and a throwable floatation device with your gear. And ice cleats make walking on smooth ice easy and much safer. It’s best to use an auger to cut holes, which in Kansas must be no more than 12 inches in diameter.
Motorized electric or gasoline-powered ATVs, work-site utility vehicles, golf carts and snowmobiles may be operated on ice-covered department waters only for the purpose of icefishing from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Vehicles shall enter onto the ice only from boat ramps and points of entry established by posted notice.
No ice is l00 percent safe, and anglers must be always be aware of their surroundings. Great icefishing for white bass, wipers and crappie on Kansas lakes can tempt anglers to take chances or forget caution. Falling into frigid water can be a deadly mistake as hypothermia can overcome an angler within minutes. Follow these basic rules to ensure your icefishing trips are safe and enjoyable.
Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its meeting from noon to 1 p.m. February 14 at the Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall), One Tiger Place. Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m.
The program for the February meeting will be “Human Capital Strategy: Controlling Conflict,” presented by Ruth Bealer, Midwest Energy. The program will be submitted for HRCI and SHRM continuing education credits.
If interested in attending as a guest, RSVP to wkhrma.shrm.org no later than noon on February 9.
WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management. For more information on WKHRMA, visit wkhrma.shrm.org.
