MANHATTAN– First responders were on the scene of a drowning again Sunday.
Just after 3p.m. Saturday, the Riley County Police Department was called to Tuttle Creek Lake for the report of an apparent drowning, according to a media release.
Officers with RCPD responded to the scene along with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, Manhattan Fire Department, Riley County EMS, Riley County Emergency Management, Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
The subject, identified as Anthony Berg, 21, of Stillwell, Kansas, has not yet been recovered. Recovery efforts were to continue Sunday.
Kansas regulators have found that more than one thousand applications for new wastewater disposal wells failed to give the required 30-day public notice period.
Since October 2008, applicants hoping to get approval to begin operating wastewater disposal wells have been required to alert the public about a 30-day protest period.
Instead, regulators found that 1,007 applications connected to more than 2,000 wells came with public notices alerting people to just 15-day periods.
A saltwater injection well in Oklahoma. Applications for similar wells in Kansas listed 15-day protest periods when they should have allowed the public 30 days to object. FILE PHOTO / Kansas News Service
That means almost a quarter of the applications received during that time led people to believe they had half the alloted time to register their objections.
Kansas has more than 16,000 wastewater injection wells. The wells are used to dispose of what’s left over from extracting oil and gas. It’s mostly saltwater, but it can also contain chemicals.
Matfield Green resident Cindy Hoedel was the first to suggest to the Kansas Corporation Commission that there was a problem. She discovered the issue when preparing to protest against a well, and at first, didn’t realize anything was wrong about a 15-day period. The list she used, which only went back about four months, only had about 25 incorrect notices. She says she never expected the total to be so high.
She also says all those well owners should be forced to give people another chance to protest.
“The applications did not comply with the regulations that are on the books,” she said. “And they should be shut down and they should have to reapply.”
The KCC is considering what action to take in wake of the investigation.
Since 2002, only contested wastewater injection well applications got a formal hearing. All others were either approved or denied by KCC staff.
Only three of the applications on the incorrect notice list received a hearing.
Brian Grimmett is a reporter focusing on the environment and energy for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett.
Today
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 79. Very windy, with a south wind 21 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Windy, with a south wind 24 to 29 mph becoming west northwest after midnight.
Monday
Patchy blowing dust after noon. Sunny, with a high near 54. Very windy, with a northwest wind 24 to 29 mph increasing to 31 to 36 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Windy, with a west northwest wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 24 to 29 mph increasing to 33 to 38 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 48 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Very windy.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 50.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 22.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — The search for a missing Kansas boy is moving into a third week. On Saturday, members of a volunteer horse mounted search and recovery team from Texas will joined the search for 5-year-old Lucas Hernandez.
Texas EquuSearch reported on their web site that members left Friday to help with the search for the boy.
Lucas Hernandez
He was last seen in Wichita, on February 17th 2018. Lucas was wearing a gray t-shirt with a bear on it, black sweat pants and socks. Lucas is missing his top / front teeth, and he has silver caps on his remaining teeth. He also has a small scar on his upper / left abdomen from a prior medical procedure. If you have seen Lucas Hernandez since his disappearance, if you know of his current whereabouts or if you have any information whatsoever concerning his disappearance; please call the Wichita, Kansas Police Department at (316) 268-4111
According to their web site, Texas EquuSearch started in August 2000 with the purpose to provide Volunteer Horse Mounted Search and Recovery for Lost and Missing persons. The Team was started in the North Galveston County area because of the high incidence of missing persons in the largely undeveloped area of South Harris and North Galveston Counties. With this in mind, the team’s existence and purpose is dedicated to the memory of Laura Miller, the daughter of our founding director, Tim Miller. Laura was abducted and murdered in north Galveston County in 1984. Our team is composed of volunteers of various experiences, with many being experienced horse owners.
TOPEKA—The Department of Revenue is launching a new marketing campaign designed to educate Kansans about how to get a Real ID before the October 1, 2020 federal implementation date.
The campaign, which started Wednesday, will focus on reaching Kansans through social media advertising to spread awareness of the option of obtaining a Real ID.
“We want to put this in front of people so that when they get the postcard in the mail reminding them to renew, they’ll be prepared with all the documents they need when they go in to the office,” Director of Vehicles David Harper said. “Our goal is for everyone who comes into our office to have a smooth and efficient experience.”
Real ID is a federal law designed to establish minimum security standards for state-issued IDs. State-issued identification used to board a plane or enter a federal facility on October 1, 2020 will have to be compliant with Real ID standards.
Kansans who want a Real ID should bring in proof of social security, such as an unlaminated social security card, or a paystub or W-2 with the full social security number displayed. In addition, an original birth certificate or valid U.S. passport is required.
Anyone whose name is not the same on all of their documents will need to bring in proof of the name change, such as a marriage or adoption certificate.
“We understand the frustration of some who’ve come in the last months and want a Real ID but don’t have the needed documents with them,” Harper said. “We’re working to ease the transition into the new federal law and help people have the best experience possible when they come into the office.”
The Department of Revenue partnered with Trozzolo Communications Group to create and purchase social media advertising. Further efforts will place information about Real ID in libraries and other community locations, to reach a cross-section of people. Other avenues to spread awareness are also in the works.
“Our highest priority is quality service whenever anyone interacts with the Division of Vehicles, so we are always open to new ideas to make that happen,” Harper said.
Real ID is an option. Anyone who prefers not to obtain a Real ID still has the option of receiving a credential that states it is “Not for Federal ID,” though still usable as an ID in the state of Kansas.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State saw its 2017-18 season come to a close on Saturday (Mar. 3) as it fell in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals to Washburn 77-53. The Tigers finished with a record of 19-12, the 12th time in Mark Johnson’s 17 years as head coach that FHSU finished with at least 19 wins in a season. Washburn, now 22-8, moves on to the finals to play either Northwest Missouri State or Central Oklahoma.
FHSU Postgame Press Conference
Game Highlights
Fort Hays State’s only lead occurred on the first bucket of the game, a Hadley Gillum layup 40 seconds into the action. From that point it was all Washburn. The Ichabods went on a 14-2 run to take a 10-point lead and FHSU pulled the lead back to five twice. However, the lead grew to 21 by halftime, 41-20, when Washburn ended the half on a 22-6 run. The Tigers cut the lead inside 20 just once early in the second half and Washburn’s largest lead was 29 at the 14:27 mark.
Washburn hit 50.9 percent of its field goal attempts and limited the Tigers to just 30.6 percent shooting for the game. The Ichabods controlled the paint, outscoring the Tigers in low 46-10. The tough defense of the Ichabods forced the Tigers to shoot several long-range jump shots and they didn’t convert enough before the game got away quickly. Washburn outrebounded the Tigers 38-26.
Brady Skeens dominated the game in low for the Ichabods, going a perfect 9-of-9 from the field with 24 points and nine rebounds. He was 6-of-10 at the free-throw line. David Salach also played well in low, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and a 3-of-3 effort at the charity stripe. Javion Blake added 13 points, while Tyas Martin finished with 12.
In the final game of his career, Gillum finished with 10 points, matching teammate Brady Werth for the team’s high-point honors for the game. Gillum ended his career with 1,079 points and 511 rebounds, the ninth player in program history to record at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career. He finished 17th on the career scoring list at FHSU. He became the program’s 20th 1,000-point scorer back on February 20 in a game at Nebraska-Kearney.
Besides the 10 points scored by Gillum and Werth, four Tigers finished with six points each. That group included Aaron Nicholson, Kyler Kinnamon, Trey O’Neil, and Jared Vitztum.
Fort Hays State reached the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament for the seventh time in the school’s 12-year membership with the conference (began in 2006-07).
MINNEAPOLIS, Kan.-Defense was the name of the game in the first half of Friday night’s 3A Sub-State Championship game in Minneapolis between TMP and Russell. The Lady Monarchs led 14-10 after the first quarter and trailed only once at 6-5. In the second quarter the two teams played even in the second quarter scoring 8 points each. TMP led 22-18 at the halftime break.
The Lady Monarchs would build their lead as high as seven points in the third quarter but that would be as high as it would get. Russell would score the next nine points capped off by a Tiffany Dortland three pointer to take only their second lead of the game, and their last. TMP answered by scoring the next six points of the third quarter to lead 31-27 after Emily Schippers used her shooter’s touch on a last second three pointer to end the quarter.
TMP would make it an 8-0 run with the first two points of the fourth quarter to go up six points and that’s when things got interesting. Russell scored the next five points to get to within one point at 33-32. A Savannah Yost bucket would give TMP a three point advantage with just over two minutes to play. TMP led 38-36 with just over two seconds remaining and would steal a Russell pass and pick up the win.
Jaclyn Schulte led Russell with 15 points. Sam Leiker added 12 for the Lady Broncos who finish their season at 19-4. Yost led TMP with 9 points on the night. The Lady Monarchs improve to 20-2 on the season and will go to their third consecutive 3A State Tournament next week in Hutchinson.
ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Boys: TMP 58, Ellsworth 55
MINNEAPOLIS, Kan.-The TMP Monarchs never trailed in their 3A Sub-State Championshipo victory over Ellsworth on Saturday night in Minneapolis. TMP led by 10 points midway through the first quarter but the Bearcats had an answer. Ellsworth cut the TMP lead to 18-12 at the end of the first quarter thanks to a couple of long three pointers from Remington Cravens.
TMP would light up the second quarter on both ends of the floor. Thanks to 17 first half points from Michael Lager the Monarchs led 35-20 at halftime. Trenton Mayo also chipped in with 10 points in the half.
The Monarchs built their lead to 17 points early in the third quarter on another Lager bucket. The Bearcats scored the next eight points to cut the TMP lead to nine. The Monarchs built their lead back to 17 after an 8-0 run of their own that was started by a Mayo steal and layup. TMP’s lead was 49-34 after the third quarter.
Things looked to be in cruise control for the Monarchs as their lead was 15 with seven minutes to play. Ellsworth would not back down. The Bearcats went on a 17-3 run to cut the TMP led to 54-53 with a minute and a half to play. Lager would knock down a couple of free throws to make it a 56-53 game and Ellsworth would answer right back to make it another one point game. After a couple of Mayo free throws and a three point miss TMP came out on top.
Cravens led Ellsworth with 21 points. Jordan Base added 15 for the Bearcats who finish their season at 16-7. Lager led TMP with 23 and Mayo 14 for the now 17-5 Monarchs. TMP will play in the 3A State Tournament in Hutchinson next week.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Officials say a prisoner has died after being found unresponsive in her cell at the Johnson County Detention Center in Olathe.
Kendrick-photo Johnson Co.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that 59-year-old Wanda Denise Kendrick was found unconscious in her cell Friday morning while jail staff were conducting a welfare check. Staff attempted to resuscitate her, and she was taken to a nearby hospital. She was declared dead later that afternoon.
Officials say Kendrick was alone in the cell. She had been jailed since Feb. 23 on two counts of misdemeanor theft and one count of obstructing legal process.
Officials say they don’t know how she died, and an investigation is being conducted.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man already charged with killing three people in the Kansas City area was indicted Friday in the deaths of three more men, all of whom were shot in apparently unprovoked attacks along or near hiking trails, Jackson County prosecutors said.
Scott -photo Jackson Co.
The suspect, Frederick Demond Scott, a 23-year-old black man, once threatened to “kill all white people.” All the victims were white, but investigators and prosecutors have not discussed a motive for the killings.
After the indictments, Scott faces six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of armed criminal action in a string of killings that began in August 2016. The last killing currently linked to Scott occurred Aug. 13, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty in the previous three cases.
Scott’s mother previously told authorities and The Kansas City Star that her son is schizophrenic.
All five of the male victims were shot as they walked on or near the trails or, in one case, walked home after getting off a bus. The female victim was homeless and her decomposing body was found in a tent in woods in Grandview. She also was shot, police said.
Kansas City Police spokesman Lionel Colon said he has “no information that suggests the investigation” into other potential victims is ongoing.
Scott made his comment about wanting to kill people while he was a student in January 2014 at an alternative school near Kansas City, according to a municipal citation for harassment regarding the case. His mother said she did odd jobs for white people and she wasn’t aware he had any problems with them.
Scott was indicted Friday in the deaths of David Lenox, 67, Timothy Rice, 57, and Michael Darby, 61.
The first victim was John Palmer, 54, who was shot Aug. 19, 2016. His body was dragged off the Indian Creek Trail and was found in nearby woods. The last victim, Steven Gibbons, 57, died Aug. 13, 2017, after he got off a bus in south Kansas City. The woman, 64-year-old Karen Harmeyer, was found in her tent by friends.
Lenox was killed Feb. 27, 2017, as he was returning home from walking his two dogs. His daughter, Mindy Lenox of San Francisco, told The Star that she and her family appreciated the efforts of investigators and prosecutors to provide a charge in her father’s death.
“We’re thankful that he is off the street and hopefully he’ll be held accountable for what he has done,” Lenox said. “I don’t know for me personally that there is any closure. Nothing can bring my dad back and nothing can take that pain away, but at least knowing that the person responsible will be held accountable, it will certainly be helpful.”
Rice, of Excelsior Springs, was found dead from multiple gunshots on April 4, 2017, inside a shelter at a park where he was camping, his family said.
Darby’s son, Brian Darby, said Friday he appreciated the work of police and prosecutors. “I feel like we are one step closer to where we need to be,” he said.
Scott was arrested after Gibbons’ killing, when surveillance video showed Scott following Gibbons, according to court records. Detectives later linked Scott to the scene with DNA from an iced tea bottle and a cigarette butt. He was linked to the Palmer killing with DNA from a T-shirt left at that scene.
Dr. Hendratta Ali, associate professor of geosciences at Fort Hays State University, recently published a chapter in the Springer Handbook of Petroleum Technology.
The chapter, “Part B – Exploration and Production: Fundamentals of Petroleum Geology,” focuses on petroleum history, accumulation, concentration and location as well as the petroleum cycle and the future of the petroleum industry.
Ali has earned numerous awards and recognitions during her time in the Department of Geosciences, including a 2017 American Association of Petroleum Geologists Inspirational Geoscience Educator Award and the 2017 FHSU John Heinrichs Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award.
SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to identify a suspect.
Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KAKE
Just before 6p.m. Friday, police responded to a highway robbery call in the 2600 block of south Dalton in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A 19-year-old male and a 16-year-old female at the scene reported being in the parking lot of Po’Boy Pizza in the 5900 block of east Lincoln in the man’s 2000 gold Buick Century.
An unknown suspect entered the rear seat of the vehicle, brandished a firearm, and demanded property.
The suspect took money, property and medications and fled on foot. The suspect is described as an unknown black, male, 5-foot-9, and a heavy build.
There were no injuries. If anyone has any additional information on this case please call Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407.
The following students for successfully auditioning for the All-State Honor Choir: Eric Adams, Tenor 1; Brett Bowles, Bass 1; Adam Klausmeyer, Bass 2; Shelby Knoll, Alto 1; Nathan Leiker, Bass 1; Hannah McGuire, Soprano 2; Erin Muirhead, Alto 1; Levi Smith, Bass 2; Cade Swayne, Tenor 2; and Ryan Will, Tenor 2.
These students performed Feb. 23 at Century II in Wichita.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police say charges are pending against a person identified as a first responder who allegedly spit on and called a child by a racial slur in a suburban Kansas City restaurant.
Scene of the alleged incident-photo courtesy KCTV
The incident happened Monday night at a Hooters restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas.
Police Sgt. John Lacy said that the suspect is a first responder, but didn’t say for which agency. Lacy says the person doesn’t work in Kansas.
Police told KCTV that possible charges could include battery and making a criminal threat. Police haven’t released the person’s name.
Witnesses and family members of the child told police the suspect called the child, who is black, a slur while saying someone should get the child “up off the floor.”
Police say the boy’s family was at the restaurant celebrating a birthday.
Today
