Today Sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 7 to 11 mph.
Tonight Clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east southeast in the evening.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 72. East northeast wind 8 to 14 mph.
Saturday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. East southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
SundayPartly sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy.
Sunday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Breezy.
HAYS – The Hays High softball team put an end to a four-game losing streak Thursday with wins over Sacred Heart and TMP in a triangular at Hays High. While the Monarchs finished 1-1 with their win coming against Sacred Heart.
Game 1: TMP 13, Sacred Heart 0
In game one the Monarchs Baliey Lacy allowed just one hit over five shutout innings and Lexi Gottschalk was three-for-three with three RBI’s and three runs scored in a 13-0 TMP win in five innings.
Game 2: Sacred Heart 3, Hays 4
In game two the Indians Macee Altman delivered an RBI double to center field that gave the Indians a 4-3 walk-off win in eight innings over Sacred Heart. Kaitlyn Brown earned the win allowing just three runs, none earned over eight innings.
Game 3: TMP 1, Hays High 2
In the final game between TMP and Hays High Madelyn Waddell double in a pair runs in the third inning giving Hays a 2-0 lead. The Monarchs rallied for one run in the seventh inning but grounded out with the tying run at third base.
Hays High Jaysa Wichers earned the win allowing just one run over seven innings while striking out five. TMP’s Bailey Lacey had her string of 28 scoreless innings snapped in the second inning.
The Indians improve to 7-9 on the season and they travel to Liberal on Tuesday.
TMP is 12-4 on the season and returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Plainville.
SUMNER COUNTY—A pair of earthquakes shook portions of Kansas on Thursday. Just after 2p.m., a quake that measured a magnitude 2.9 was centered 11 miles southwest of Caldwell, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Image Kansas Geological Survey
At 5:30p.m., the USGS reported a 2.8 magnitude quake 5 miles southwest of Conway Springs.
On Wednesday, the USGS reported aa 2.9 magnitude quake just across the Kansas, Oklahoma state line in Grant County, approximately eight miles south of Caldwell.
There are no reports of damage or injury from Thursday’s quakes.
The Hays High Indian baseball team split a pair of conference games on the road in Liberal on Thursday.
Game 1: Hays 5, Liberal 4
In game one the Indians jumped out to an early five run lead through the first six innings and held on for the 5-4 win.
All but two Indians picked up a hit and Trey VanPelt was two-for-three with two RBI’s in the win.
Cole Murphy earned the win. He allowed just one run on three hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out four, allowed three hits and walked one.
Game 2: Hays 0, Liberal 1
In game two Liberal took advantage of a throwing error in the second inning in a 1-0 win.
After a lead-off walk in the top of the second, an error by the Hays High catcher allowed the run to get into scoring position and four batters later Liberal got a run-scoring single that would give them the lead on their way to the win.
The Indians were held to just three hits in the game and starter Trey Riggs suffered the loss. He allowed just the one unearned run in 4.2 innings.
The loss snaps the Indians seven-game win streak as they fall to 7-1 on the season.
Hays hosts Great Bend for a makeup doubleheader on Monday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Matt Davidson is disproving the notion power hitters don’t like Kauffman Stadium.
Davidson hit two of Chicago’s five home runs, leading the White Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.
Davidson, who drove in three runs, has seven home runs this season — five against the Royals in Kansas City. He hit three out in the season opener March 29. In this game, he homered in the fourth and then hit a two-run shot in the sixth that went 450 feet to left-center.
“It’s something about the Kansas City barbecue has gotten him going,” said White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito (1-3). “I come in after an inning, and guys are hitting home runs left and right and it makes me feel good. I’m ready to get back out there and put another zero on the board.”
Davidson is 6 for 10 with five home runs in three games this season at the Royals’ ballpark.
“I do love barbecue in general,” Davidson said. “It’s one of those things. It’s not like when I come here, ‘like man, I can’t wait to get here.’ It’s kind of a big park and the green backdrop. You see the ball well here.
“It’s pretty cool hitting here. It’s not necessarily a hitter’s park, but it’s gone pretty well so far. We’ve won every day we’ve been here. So let’s keep it going.”
Yoan Moncada homered to open the first inning for Chicago for the second straight game, and Yolmer Sanchez and Trayce Thompson also went deep against Jakob Junis (3-2), who became the third pitcher in franchise history to allow five homers in a game. The others were Chris Young, May 9, 2016 at the New York Yankees, and Sean O’Sullivan, May, 28, 2011 at Texas.
Junis gave up six runs and six hits with two walks over 5 2/3 innings.
“A few of them were up and out over the plate and they took advantage of them,” Junis said. “Pretty rare to give up five homers on six hits in a game. That’s never really happened to me. When you give up six, you’re not really getting it done.”
The Royals went 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.
“We’re getting guys on,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We’re getting opportunities. We’re just struggling to get that big base hit.”
Giolito allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. His only hiccup was a Jorge Soler home run with Mike Moustakas aboard in the fourth.
The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the eighth and managed to score a run on Alcides Escobar’s two-out single. Joakim Soria worked a scoreless ninth for his third save in four chances.
The White Sox picked up just their second victory in 11 games. The Royals dropped to a major league-worst 1-10 at home.
ROSTER MOVES
The White Sox sent 1B Casey Gillaspie outright off the 40-man roster. Gillaspie, a 2014 first-round pick of the Rays, was hitting .214 with 29 strikeouts in 76 at-bats with Triple-A Charlotte. … The White Sox acquired OF Todd Cunningham from the Pirates for future considerations. He has spent parts of three seasons in the majors with the Braves and Angels.
FARQUHAR UPDATE
White Sox manager Rick Renteria said RHP Danny Farquhar has been able to go on light walks with his wife as he continues to improve. He remains in stable condition in intensive care after suffering a brain aneurysm Saturday and collapsing in the dugout.
RENTERIA’S MOTHER DIES
Renteria’s mother, Angela, 91, died Wednesday. Renteria will miss the White Sox games Friday and Saturday to attend services in Austin, Texas.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: 1B Jose Abreu was not in the lineup with flu-like symptoms, which caused him to exit in the fourth inning Wednesday. … LF Nicky Delmonico was scratched with a stiff neck. Traycie Thompson replaced him in the lineup.
Royals: RHP Nathan Karns, who is on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation, threw a 25-pitch one inning simulated game. … RHP Ian Kennedy has the clearance to start Sunday after leaving his Tuesday start with a bruised toe.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Reynaldo Lopez has not allowed more than four hits or two runs in any of his four starts.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy was pulled after 4 2/3 innings in his previous start, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks at Detroit.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State had four players named to the All-MIAA Softball Team for the 2018 season on Thursday (Apr. 26). Sara Breckbill headlines the four selections, earning a first-team selection at utility/non-pitcher, while Candace Bollig, Bailey Boxberger, and Grace Philop earned honorable mention selections at their primary positions.
Breckbill qualified for the utility/non-pitcher slot on the All-MIAA ballot, voted on by head coaches of all 14 MIAA teams. Players must play in at least 33% of their games at a secondary position, so Breckbill qualified by making 31 starts at first base and 19 at catcher. She started all 50 games for FHSU this season and hit .315 with five home runs, eight doubles, 22 RBI, and 18 runs scored. She committed just two errors at each position for a total of four on the season, putting together a fielding percentage of .984 on a team-high 251 chances. She ranked second on the team in batting average and doubles, and tied for the team lead in home runs.
Bollig grabs and All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection at third base for the second straight year. The senior led the team in runs scored (28) and stolen bases (13), while hitting .286 for the season and starting every game. She added 10 extra-base hits and 20 RBI for the season.
Boxberger earns the first all-conference selection of her career, receiving an honorable mention nod at designated player. Boxberger made 30 starts as the team’s DP, while also getting 16 starts at first base. For the season, Boxberger hit .305 with a team-best 14 extra-base hits. She tied Breckbill for the team lead in home runs and led the team in RBI (27) and slugging percentage (.482).
Philop gives FHSU a pair of freshmen named to the all-conference team. She earned an honorable mention selection in the outfield by leading FHSU in batting average (.333) and hits (57), while starting every game. She had 20 RBI and 19 runs scored, along with eight doubles and one home run. She had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 57 chances for the season, while also recording two assists from the outfield.
Below is the 2018 All-MIAA Softball Team.
2018 All-MIAA Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year- Brenda Holaday, Washburn
Player of the Year- Carrie Abrams, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher of the Year-Megan Deiter, Washburn
Defensive Player of the Year- Shelby Uhl, Missouri Western
Freshman of the Year- Bri Francis, Washburn
2018 All-MIAA First Team
Pitcher- Megan Deiter, Washburn
Pitcher- Claire Miller, Southwest Baptist
Catcher-Kala Holder, Pittsburg State
First Base-Hannah Porter, Lindenwood
Second Base-Kaitlyn Weis, Northwest Missouri
Shortstop- Morgan Heard, Central Oklahoma
Third Base-Savannah Moore, Washburn
Outfield-Carrie Abrams, Central Oklahoma
Outfield-Abi Corbett, Missouri Southern
Outfield-Samantha Stallbaumer, Washburn
Designated Player-Jessica Schuler, Northeastern State
*Utility/Non-Pitcher-Taylor Dames, Central Missouri *Utility/Non-Pitcher-Sara Breckbill, Fort Hays State
Utility/Pitcher-Stormee Galka, Lindenwood
*denotes tie in voting
2018 All-MIAA Second Team
Pitcher-Jayden Chestnut, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher-Rachel Smith, Northwest Missouri
Catcher-Bri Francis, Washburn
First Base-Danielle Sprinkle, Emporia State
Second Base-Annelise Rockley, Emporia State
Shortstop-Austine Pauley, Lindenwood
Third Base-JoBi Heath, Central Oklahoma
Outfield-Lauryn Deer, Central Missouri
Outfield-Shelby Uhl, Missouri Western
Outfield-Emilee Baker, Washburn
Designated Player-Karli Allen, Northwest Missouri
Utility/Non-Pitcher-Taylor Kirk, Washburn
Utility/Pitcher-Destiny Ojigoh, Emporia State
2018 All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Central Missouri- Alexa Bradley-Pitcher, Katie Giacone-Pitcher, Allie Dishinger-Catcher, Hailey Crabtree-First Base, Alexis Koop-Second Base, Kaitlyn Markin-Shortstop, Emily King-Third Base, Payton Summers-Designated Player
Central Oklahoma-Halley Randolph-Catcher, Carli Jones-First Base, Bailey Thompson-Outfield, Allie Eicher-Designated Player
Emporia State-Kenzie Garvin-Outfield Fort Hays State – Candace Bollig, Third Base, Grace Philop, Outfield, Bailey Boxberger, Designated Player
Lincoln-Jordan Lawson-Outfield
Lindenwood-Megan Clark-Second Base
Missouri Southern- Natalie Hamm-Pitcher, Erika Lutgen – First Base, Shelby Friend-Shortstop
Missouri Western-Kenzie Hilzer-Pitcher, Bekah Mueller-Catcher, Shellby Atwell-First Base
Nebraska Kearney -Sara Sempek-First Base, Cheyenne Hamilton-Third Base, Lex Ray-Outfield, Alexis Howe-Utility/Non-Pitcher, Meg Householder- Utility/Pitcher
Northeastern State – Gail Young-Pitcher, Kyla Ibarra-Catcher, Paige Gann-First Base, Kaleigh Hinkle-Second Base, Kelsey Harmon-Shortstop, Haley Acrey-Third Base, Jessica Boone-Outfield, Sierra Crick-Outfield
Northwest Missouri-Rebecca Maher-Shortstop, Erin Keeney-Third Base, Jaedra Moses-Outfield, Abbi Gilson-Utility/Non-Pitcher
Pittsburg State-Kristen Van Hoosen
Southwest Baptist-Megan Schellert-Second Base, Jaidyn Mawhinney
Washburn – Kelsee Henry-Pitcher, Alyssa Carney-Designated Player
KANSAS CITY – The Fort Hays State women’s tennis team earned a mention on the All-MIAA Team as the No. 3 doubles duo of Nicole Lubbers and Laura Jimenez-Lendinez received honorable mention status released Thursday (April 26) from the conference office. This is the second-straight year the two have earned a nod on the list.
In the No. 3 position on the season, Lubbers and Jimenez-Lendinez achieved a 7-5 overall record when competing with each other. The two were a part of a Tiger team that went 6-10 overall and 1-8 in conference.
In 2017, Jimenez-Lendinez earned the Co-Sportmanship award while Lubbers earned honorable mention at the No. 5 singles position.
Below is the 2018 All-MIAA Women’s Tennis Team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tatjana Stoll, Northeastern State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Laetitia Charbonnet, Central Oklahoma
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jon Parker, Northeastern State
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Jonna Abreu Roman, Missouri Western
Emma Neil, Nebraska-Kearney
Alexis Czapinski, Washburn
*Tie in voting
FIRST TEAM
1S: Tatjana Stoll, Northeastern State
2S: Mayra Jovic, Northeastern State
3S: Kirtana Bhat, Central Oklahoma
4S: Paola Landin, Central Oklahoma
5S: Betka Gombarova, Northeastern State
6S: Karla Tomaic, Northeastern State
1D: Alexis Czapinski/Logan Morrissey, Washburn
2D: Paola Landin/Alli Hodges, Central Oklahoma
3D: Alix Williams/Sarah Van Eeckhoudt, Central Oklahoma
SECOND TEAM
1S: Jill Van den Dungen, Southwest Baptist
2S: Laetitia Charbonnet, Central Oklahoma
3S: Molly Worden, Northeastern State
4S: Chantal Nosievici, Northeastern State
5S: Sarah Van Eeckhoudt, Central Oklahoma
6S: Alix Williams, Central Oklahoma
1D: Jill Van den Dungen/Klara Vickov, Southwest Baptist
2D: Molly Worden/Chantal Nosievici, Northeastern State
3D: Tatjana Stoll/Easton Parker, Northeastern State
Honorable Mention
1S: Karolina Strom, Missouri Western
2S: Irene Recuenco, Northwest Missouri
2S: Klara Vickov, Southwest Baptist
3S: Amanda Alvarez, Nebraska-Kearney
3S: Marta Ferrando, Northwest Missouri
3S: Jacqueline Engelbrecht, Washburn
4S: Emma Neil, Central Oklahoma
4S: Constanca Crespo, Southwest Baptist
5S: Sarah Brown, Southwest Baptist
6S: Sara Grozdanovich, Northwest Missouri
1D: Mayra Jovic/Karla Tomaic,Northeastern State
1D: Irene Recuenco/Tania Teruel, Northwest Missouri
2D: Sara Grozdanovic/Luiza Souza, Northwest Missouri
2D: Lucia Diaz/Constanca Crespo, Southwest Baptist
3D: Nicole Lubbers/Laura Jimenez-Lendinez, Fort Hays State
3D: Sherry Sun/Claire Neil, Nebraska-Kearney
3D: Beatrix Federer/Sarah Brown, Southwest Baptist
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Johnson County authorities charged a 26-year-old Kansas City, Kansas man with capital murder in the deaths of a woman who was pregnant with his son.
Wash photo Johnson Co.
Devonte Dominique Wash will face the death penalty if he is convicted in the January death of 23-year-old Ashley Harlan of Olathe.
She was found shot to death at her home. Harlan was about 20 weeks pregnant when she died.
Kansas allows seeking a capital murder charge if the defendant knowingly or purposely killed or created a great risk of death to more than one person.
Friends told the Star that Harlan moved from Manhattan to Olathe in early January to be nearer to Wash. She was living with her grandfather when she was killed.
HAYS, Kan.-Hays High held TMP scoreless in 80 minutes worth of action on the pitch Thursday afternoon, picking up a 2-0 victory over the visitors from across town. Both teams had to deal with a strong Northerly wind which caused both teams issues when they played with it at their back (HHS first half, TMP second half). The Lady Monarchs struggled to put shots on goal in the first half while the Lady Indians were able to get a few shots without any results as the game was scoreless after the first half of play.
The game remained scoreless through the first 12 minutes of the second half and that’s when Hays High struck for two quick goals. The first was a floater off the foot of Cori Isbell that just crawled just under the cross bar to give Hays the 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute on the assist from Savannah Schneider. Four minutes later Schneider struck again, after receiving a pass from Kallie Leiker, she pulled the goalie off the line and punched a shot past her that just crawled inside the right post to give the Lady Indians the final score of the game.
TMP drops to 7-3 on the season. They will travel to the Bishop Miege Tournament this weekend. Hays High improves to 8-3-1 on the season and will travel to Garden City on Monday to face the Lady Buffaloes.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and looking for two juvenile suspects.
Just after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a gas station in the 1300 Block of North Oliver in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.
An employee told police two unknown suspects entered the business. One pointed a handgun at the employee and demanded money, according to Cruz. They took money and fled on foot. There were no injuries.
According to Cruz the 15-year-old was about 5-feet-2, 120 pounds and wearing a black hoodie with tan pants. The 12-year-old suspect was about 5-feet, 120 pounds and was wearing a black hoodie and grey sweatpants.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Pompeo took over as America’s top diplomat Thursday after being confirmed by the Senate and sworn in across the street minutes later. The new secretary of state immediately dashed off to Europe in an energetic start befitting the high-stakes issues awaiting him from Iran to North Korea.
JUST RELEASED: Photos of Secretary of State Pompeo in North Korea. Secretary Pompeo will do an excellent job helping President Trump lead our efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. pic.twitter.com/pQ0P8hbMTN
The hard-charging former CIA director was confirmed on a 57-42 vote — one of the slimmest margins for the job in recent history. Every past nominee to get a roll call vote since at least the Carter administration received 85 or more yes votes in the Senate, with the exception of Trump’s first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who got 56.
Michael Richard Pompeo was just sworn in as the 70th Secretary of State from the West Conference Room at The Supreme Court of the United States by Associate Justice Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. pic.twitter.com/RH95jrt8vk
He was sworn in at the Supreme Court by Justice Samuel Alito, a fellow Italian-American, who said he was “proud” to officiate for the occasion. Pompeo, in a statement relayed by the State Department, said he was “delighted” to serve as America’s top diplomat.
“I am completely humbled by the responsibility and looking forward to serving the American people and getting to work right away,” Pompeo said.
Then it was off to Andrews Air Force Base, where a government aircraft was waiting to ferry him to Brussels for meetings at NATO headquarters. State Department staffers, demoralized after a tumultuous first year of President Donald Trump’s administration, gave a round of applause to Pompeo, who responded as he boarded the aircraft with a casual, “Hi, I’m Mike.”
Pompeo, a former Republican congressman from Kansas, is expected to guide Trump’s foreign policy farther to the right than Tillerson, the former Exxon Mobil CEO fired by Trump on Twitter last month. He inherits a State Department that has lost relevance under Trump and a diplomatic corps deeply dispirited by the tenure of Tillerson, who pushed budget and staff cuts and eschewed public appearances while leaving key diplomatic positions unfilled.
His confirmation creates a vacancy atop the CIA that will be filled, at least for now, by Gina Haspel, the intelligence agency’s No. 2 official. Trump has nominated Haspel to replace Pompeo, but she faces a rocky road to confirmation. The CIA said she took over Thursday as acting director while the Senate weighs whether to make it permanent.
For Pompeo, a long list of pressing issues awaits, including a decision on the Iran nuclear deal, Trump’s upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and ongoing disagreements in the White House about the future U.S. role in Syria.
Trump said he was pleased by Pompeo’s confirmation, calling him a “patriot” with “immense talent, energy and intellect.”
“He will always put the interests of America first,” Trump said in a statement. “He has my trust. He has my support.”
Yet the Senate vote followed an uneasy confirmation process for Pompeo that underscored Trump’s growing difficulties in getting nominees in place for top positions. On Monday, it appeared Pompeo would fail a vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but the panel ultimately cleared him after last-minute support from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Previously confirmed for the CIA job, Pompeo was supported Thursday by all the Republican senators and by six Democrats, including several up for re-election in conservative-leaning states. GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who is being treated for cancer, was absent.
In the run-up to Pompeo’s confirmation, his backers emphasized his resume as a West Point and Harvard Law School graduate and former congressman who enjoys a close relationship with Trump. Pompeo traveled to Pyongyang over Easter after being nominated for secretary of state and met with Kim ahead of the planned summit with Trump, expected in late May or June.
“He’s the perfect person to come in at this time and lead those efforts,” Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who chairs the foreign relations panel, said on the Senate floor moments before Pompeo was confirmed.
Yet his opponents warned that his hawkish foreign policy views and negative comments about gay marriage and Muslims made him ill-equipped to serve as a diplomat or to represent the U.S. on the world stage. Pompeo used his confirmation hearing to try to soften that image, edging away from past comments about regime change in North Korea.
Pompeo takes the helm ahead of Trump’s expected decision about whether to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal by a May 12 deadline and reimpose sanctions on Tehran. A staunch Iran critic, Pompeo has long deplored the 2015 nuclear accord but has supported Trump’s efforts to get European allies to strengthen restrictions on Iran.
“If there’s no chance that we can fix it, I will recommend to the president that we work with our allies to achieve a better outcome and to achieve a better deal,” Pompeo said in his confirmation hearing.
The State Department said no secretary of state had ever traveled abroad so soon after being confirmed. Originally, Deputy Secretary John Sullivan, who had been filling in as secretary since Tillerson departed, had planned to make the trip. With Pompeo’s confirmation imminent, the plane was held on the tarmac until Pompeo could arrive and swap in.
In Brussels, Pompeo will attend a NATO foreign ministers summit and meet with the top diplomats from Turkey and Italy. Pompeo planned to keep up pressure on NATO’s European members, particularly Germany, to live up to their past pledges to boost their defense spending.
From there, the State Department said Pompeo planned to fly to the Middle East for stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan, where the future of the Iran deal and the conflict in Syria will be significant agenda items. Pompeo will arrive in the region ahead of a series of events that could potentially plunge it into deeper disarray, including the Iran deal decision and the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Outgoing CIA Director Mike Pompeo has cleared the final hurdle to become secretary of state.
Action on the Senate floor Thursday during Pompeo’s confirmation vote
The Senate voted 57-42 Thursday to confirm the former Kansas Congressman’s nomination.
Pompeo’s confirmation narrowly made it out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday after last-minute support from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. He’s expected to have an easier time in the full Senate, though the tally will still likely be close.
Pompeo will replace Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon Mobil CEO fired by President Donald Trump on Twitter last month.
Pompeo is expected to be sworn in almost immediately. A long list of pressing issues awaits him including a decision on the Iran nuclear deal and Trump’s upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Pompeo was first elected to serve Kansas fourth congressional district in 2010.
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A state board has suspended the license of a former Kansas pharmacy manager after she admitted to creating fraudulent prescriptions.
27-year-old Kirsty Hartley’s license to practice was suspended last fall under an emergency order. The Board of Pharmacy hasn’t scheduled a hearing to take final action.
The emergency order said that after CVS officials confronted her in July, she signed a statement admitting to creating fake prescriptions to obtain thousands of tablets of the narcotic hydrocodone and the sedatives alprazolam and zolpidem.
The order also said that she admitted to personally using some of the hydrocodone, but said most of the drugs were given to another person, whom she said was both selling and using the drugs. There’s no record of charges against Hartley.
GREAT BEND — Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir appeared in Barton County District Court on Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing regarding a Class-A misdemeanor charge filed against him. The hearing, which lasted just under an hour, sorted through information that might be allowed or disclosed and whether the prosecutor’s selection was improper.
Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir (right) with attorney Jess Hoeme during the preliminary hearing Thursday.
On Nov. 1, Bellendir was issued a summons to appear in court following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Bellendir was accused of “ill-treating a man in handcuffs by speaking to him in a vulgar, insulting, rude or angry manner” while serving an arrest warrant on Aug. 10 to Nathan Manley of Ellinwood.
Bellendir has since pleaded not guilty and declined a plea agreement offered by the Barton County Attorney’s Office.
The primary issued discussed Thursday morning was whether prosecuting attorney William Halvorsen’s appointment to handle the case was improper.
According to records, Halvorsen filed the complaint against Bellendir at 3:13 p.m. on Oct. 31. At 4:25 p.m. the same day, Barton County Attorney Amy Mellor recused herself from the case to avoid a conflict of interest, but recruited Chase County Attorney Halvorsen to handle the prosecution. At 4:27 p.m., Judge Mike Keeley appointed Halvorsen as special prosecutor.
Bellendir’s attorney, Jess Hoeme, said there was discussion via email between Mellor and Halvorsen prior to the complaint being made, and that Mellor recruited Halvorsen, a like-minded attorney, for her side.
Hoeme said Mellor knew about her ethical disqualification but stayed involved in the investigation, prepared the case for charging, and sought out Halvorsen for assistance. Hoeme felt that Mellor “hoodwinked” or deceived Judge Keeley in appointing Halvorsen special prosecutor without knowing about Mellor’s disqualification.
Hoeme noted if Mellor recused herself from the case, the recommendation should have come from the Barton County Commission.
The charge against Bellendir puts his certification as a Kansas law enforcement officer in jeopardy. The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, or CPOST as it is referred to, reviews the certification. Mellor is a member of the 12-person board and would be a voting member of CPOST.
Hoeme also questioned why Halvorsen filed the complaint in the first place, being from Chase County, for an incident that happened in Great Bend.
The judge allowed Barton County to search emails between Mellor and Halvorsen between the dates of Aug. 10 and Nov. 20.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 5 at 9 a.m.
