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Royals beat Twins 2-1 in 14 innings on Escobar’s homer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Alcides Escobar was one of the least likely Kansas City Royals to belt a home run in extra innings.

The light-hitting shortstop had not gone deep in 140 at-bats, and his only long ball this season came on April 17.

Escobar, however, sent a drive to left field with two outs in the 14th inning Tuesday night to give the Royals a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

He connected on a 3-1 pitch from Taylor Rogers (1-2), ending a game that took 4 hours, 12 minutes. Rain also delayed the start by 24 minutes.

“I knew right away,” Escobar said. “When I hit the ball, I said, ‘Game over.’ Of all my home runs, this is the best one because this is my first walk-off homer.”

Scott Barlow (1-0) worked four hitless innings, striking out five straight batters during one stretch, to earn his first major league win.

“My phone has been blowing up saying congrats,” Barlow said. “It’s certainly one I’ll remember forever.”

The Twins have eight walk-off losses, four in extra innings.

“We’re getting practice,” manager Paul Molitor said. “It’s hard to explain. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many in a relatively short span. We kind of put ourselves in that situation by not scoring once again. Having all those opportunities and I don’t know how many innings we went hitless there.”

Matt McGill, the fourth Minnesota pitcher, tossed 3 1/3 hitless innings before Rogers was brought in with one out in the 14th.

“You hate to have it come down to one pitch on a homer like that,” Molitor said. “It’s the way you lost, but there were certainly a lot of things up to that point we could have done better to give ourselves a better chance.”

The Royals tied it in the eighth when Addison Reed walked Jorge Soler with the bases loaded to score Jon Jay, who led off the inning with a single.

The Twins loaded the bases in the 10th against rookie Jason Adam, but came away empty. Adam hit Miguel Sano with a pitch and walked Max Kepler and Robbie Grossman. Byron Buxton flied out after Adam had thrown nine straight balls.

Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson, who hasn’t won since March 31, pitched seven scoreless innings. The 2009 first-round draft pick out of Missouri gave up five hits, walked one and struck out eight.

Gibson worked out of jams in the third, fifth and sixth as the Royals went 0 for 9 with runners in position and stranded 10 overall.

In the third, Jay had a bunt single, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, and stopped at second on Whit Merrifield’s single, but Gibson struck out Mike Moustakas to end the inning.

Alex Gordon singled and moved to second on Escobar’s groundout in the fifth. Jay walked with two outs before Gibson struck out Merrifield.

Moustakas led off the sixth with a double and went to third on a passed ball with one out, but Gibson struck out Soler and retired Hunter Dozier.

Royals left-hander Danny Duffy yielded one run and four hits with four walks over six innings.

Sano, who has a hit in 16 consecutive games against the Royals, had a broken-bat single to left field with the bases loaded in the third to score Ehire Adrianza. Sano has 27 RBIs in those 16 games.

Brian Dozier attempted to score from second, but Gordon threw him out at home for his 84th career outfield assist.

ROSTER MOVE

The Twins sent RHP Myles Jaye to the Indians for cash. Jaye was 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Rochester. He went 1-2 with a 12.08 ERA in five games last year for Detroit. The last time the two teams made a trade was August 2011 and it involved Jim Thome.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: RHP Ervin Santana (finger surgery in February) pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run and two hits, in his second minor league rehab start with Class A Fort Myers at Clearwater. He threw 59 pitches, 33 for strikes. He walked one, struck out three, hit a batter and had a wild pitch. … RHP Michael Pineda (elbow surgery) threw a bullpen at Target Field. … 1B Joe Mauer (neck strain) stood in to track some pitches with Pineda on the mound. “We’ve been pleased on almost a daily basis that his activity has increased, including more intensified baseball work,” Molitor said of Mauer. “Today the reports were good. He hit, he took grounders, he ran.”

Royals: RHP Nathan Karns (right elbow inflammation) is on a throwing program at the club’s complex in Arizona.

UP NEXT

Twins: Rookie RHP Fernando Romero is coming off his first career loss, 2-1 at Seattle. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings.

Royals: Rule 5 draft pick Brad Keller will make his first career start after going 1-1 with a 2.01 ERA in 21 relief appearances.

Family-owned Chestnut Loft offers cozy downtown stay

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Leiker family has turned a backyard into two money-making businesses.

James Leiker wanted to build a new garage for his business, Handyman for Hire, on the lot of their home at 106 W. 17th in Hays.

However, his wife, Taryn, wanted to maintain a little bit more financial security.

Taryn Leiker, owner, shows off one of the Chestnut Loft bedrooms.

The couple purchased a strip of land to add on to their lot from the former owners of Pools Plus. The couple agreed to build a loft above the garage, which they now book for short-term or extended stays through VRBO, HomeAway and Airbnb.

The Leikers opened the loft in November, but had to delay the open house until this month because it has been consistently booked.

Extending into the new business has allowed Taryn to work from home and home-school her children. The space, which they call the Chestnut Loft, pays their house payment.

The Leikers like to travel, so they incorporated many of the amenities they miss when they are away from home into the loft.

The 992-square-foot loft has a full kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. Tucked into a corner of the bathroom is a full-size washer and dryer.

The loft has two bedrooms and will comfortably sleep four. One has a Murphy bed. For a business traveler, that bedroom could be used for office space. For families, the bed can be stored away for a play space for the children during the day.

The other bed, which James built himself from repurposed corrals, is equipped with underneath storage to give visitors more space.

“There were so many times when we were traveling, but there was no storage, and we didn’t like living out of a suitcase,” Taryn said. “So we built in all this storage, but it is repurposing something that is already going to be there.”

The 992-square-foot-loft can be reserved through several booking sites, including VRBO, HomeAway and Airbnb.

James also made other items for the home, including the Murphy bed, bathroom mirror frame and light fixture and reclaimed wood barn-door shades for the living room windows. The couple also used reclaimed wood to decorate the stairwell wall.

The couple custom designed the kitchen around a set of kitchen cabinets they bought from a family in Hays. The owners had just purchased a new home, which had a newly remodeled kitchen. The new owners didn’t like the cabinets, so the Leikers bought the kitchen at a deep discount.

Local artist Curly Leiker made several piece of metal sculpture that are displayed in the loft, including a small bison made of wrenches and spare implement parts.

The loft offers free wi-fi, but no TV.

“Our goal is not for people to stay here,” Taryn said. “It is to get them downtown and for them to go and experience the shops … to go and visit the restaurants and really see the people of the community. That is what people have done.”

Some downtown businesses have partnered with the Leikers to offer Chestnut Loft guests discounts for local goods and services. Munsch Fitness is offering free workouts for Chestnut guests.

In addition to overnight visitors, Leiker said she also wants to offer a place for new arrivals to test out the community.

“If people are experiencing a new community, this is their testing ground where they can really be here and experience it,” she said. “We have a family coming in a couple of weeks that will be here for five weeks.”

Daily cleaning is not included in the price of the stay, but it can be arranged. Towels, shampoo, soap and conditioner are provided.

The loft kitchen is equipped with a full-size refrigerator, stove and dish washer.

The loft has a separate private entrance with a key code and off-street parking. The Leikers insulated the floor to reduce noise from the shop and installed a separate ventilation system for the shop to reduce any fumes that might be created from work downstairs.

Taryn said she would recommend the rental concept to other families.

“I think it is phenomenal. It has taken the weight off our shoulders financially,” she said. “We have several different businesses. It has been something for us that the more income that it produced, it takes more weight off. People are so pressured financially. It is so paycheck-to-paycheck. If they have the space to do something like this … to be producing an income, why not?

Local artist Curly Leiker made several piece of metal sculpture that are displayed in the loft, including a small bison made of wrenches and spare implement parts.

“Five years ago we were really paycheck-to-paycheck. What really helped us was finding a business and then reinvesting those funds into other businesses. This alone pays more than I used to make in a year.”

The loft rents for $150 per night. You can book it at vrbo.com/1269004, homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p1269004vb or airbnb.com/rooms/24094068. Also follow the Chestnut Loft on Facebook.

The Leikers have considered opening up the space for other uses when it is not booked for overnight visitors, including wedding or baby showers, cooking classes or meetings. The space will fit about 30 people for gatherings.

Police ask for help to ID body found in Junction City

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a death after finding a body in Junction City.

Police reported discovering the a body of a white female Monday afternoon in between two buildings in the area of 140 East 2nd Street in Junction City, according to Police Captain Trish Giordano.

Photo Junction City Police

The woman was between 5-foot-8 or 9 inches tall, according to Giordano.

The body was transported to the Shawnee County Coroner’s Office in Topeka.

Police have not determined the cause or time of death and there is no estimate as to the age of the deceased.

She was wearing shorts that were dark in color and “Pali Hawaii” flip flops identical photo.

At this time police are still unable to positively identify this subject and are asking for the public’s assistance.

If anyone has information on the identity of this female contact the JCPD at 785-762-5912, their TIPS line at 785-762-8477 or leave a webtip at Gearycrimestoppers.com. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Partly sunny, warm Wednesday

Today Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 86. Light west wind becoming west northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Thursday A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.

Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 8 mph.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 96. Southeast wind 7 to 16 mph.

Man dies after truck hits downed power lines on closed Kan. road

HASKELL COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3p.m. Tuesday in Haskell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 International Truck and trailer driven by Louis James Torres, 42, Midland, TX, was eastbound on Road 50 that was temporarily closed at the time. The truck hit power lines that were down.

Torres was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Swaims Funeral Home. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Three Monarchs, two Indians named KABC All-State

TMP-Marian placed three players on the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches 3A All-State team. Cole Zimmerman, who went 8-1 with a 1.46 ERA in 48 innings, was named to the first team as a pitcher while Chase Werth and Tate Garcia are on the second team. Werth as a closer and Garcia at second base. All three helped the Monarchs to a 24-2 record and runner-up finish at last weekend’s 3A State Tournament.

Zimmerman has also been selected to play in the KABC All-Star Game at Hogland Park on the Univeristy of Kansas campus next week in Lawrence.

Ellis designated hitter Junior Hernandez has also been picked to play in the All-Star game.

Hays High placed two players on the 4A Division I All-State team. Outfielder Trey Riggs and third baseman Palmer Hutchison were both named honorable mention.

Sheriff: K-9s find two Kan. suspects hiding in home’s attic

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a Memorial Day standoff.

Atwood-photo Shawnee Co.

Just after 2:30p.m. Monday, authorities were notified that Justin Atwood, a known felon, with active warrants was located at 12346 Gookins Road., in rural Wabaunsee County, according to the Sheriff Rob Hoskins.

Atwood is also a known burglar and car thief and had previously been reported to be in possession of firearms, according to the sheriff’s department.

Wabaunsee County Deputies responded to residence, secured the area and requested the assistance from Kansas Highway Patrol Emergency Services Unit.

Kaberline-photo Shawnee Co.

Negotiations were begun and the individuals inside the residence were not responding to any attempts at communication.

A warrant was secured to search the residence, entry was made and after a complete search of residence using the resources available from the assisting team, K-9s found two subjects in the attic portion of the house and taken into custody. Justin Atwood, 24, Topeka, was jailed without bond on a Lyon County Warrant for Possession of Stolen Property; Possession of Methamphetamine; Possession of Marijuana; and a Wabaunsee County Warrant for Failure to Appear,  Four Counts of Burglary.

Kelsey Nicholle Kaberline,24, Topeka, is being held without bond on a Shawnee County Warrants for Probation Violation, Distribute Heroin/Stimulants, Flee or Attempt to Elude, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, No Liability Insurance, Defective Headlamps on Motor Vehicle, Distribute Heroin/Stimulants, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

 

 

 

Lawsuit: Kan. prison officials’ negligence caused loss of colon

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas inmate alleges in a lawsuit that most of her colon had to be removed because prison officials ignored her requests for medication.

Cook had two previous convictions involving drugs and taxes, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

Sarah Loretta Cook, who is 68, filed the lawsuit this month against the Kansas Department of Corrections and its health care provider, Corizon Health. She says she asked for months for her needed medication but Corizon employees ignored evidence of her profuse bleeding and deteriorating medical condition.

Cook has had gastrointestinal conditions for decades. She says condition flared up while she was in the Topeka Correctional but she didn’t receive the medication until days before her release. Her condition eventually required surgeons to remove most of her colon.

The corrections department and Corizon declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Kan. man critically burned running from house fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY‑ One person was injured in a weekend house fire in Sedgwick County.

Weekend house fire in Wichita-photo courtesy KWCH

Just before 10p.m. Saturday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 1300 Block of North Wilbur in Wichita, according to Lt. Jose Ocadiz.

As crews arrived they found heavy fire and smoke from an attached garage. They were able to quickly control the fire from spreading. Investigators determined the origin of the fire was inside the garage and was caused by misuse of a heat gun or wood burning tool, according to Ocadiz.

The homeowner did suffer second degree burns to his face and upper extramities, according to Ocadiz. The fire was so hot, the homeowner suffered burns as he exited the residence.

He was transported to the burn unit at St. Francis Medical Center code red.  He remained hospitalized in stable condition Tuesday, according to Ocadiz.

The fire caused $35,000 to the residence and $20,000 to the contents.  Officials did not release the victim’s name.

Marrow for Marty poker run set for Saturday

Hays Post

The Marrow for Marty Benefit Poker Run will be Saturday and will start from and end at TK’s Smokehaus in Hays.

Pre-registration will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at TK’s Smokehaus, and registration starts at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Doughnuts and coffee will be provided. The run starts at 10 a.m. The last vehicle in will be at 6 p.m.

The first hand will be $25. The second hand will be $15 or three for $50.

The first 75 participants get a T-shirt.

First place wins $2,000, second $1,000, third $500, worst hand $500.

There will be a Delete Blood Cancer cash drawing for $150 at every stop.

Stops will be at Doerflers in Hays, Lady Luck in Osborne, Paden’s Place in Ellsworth, Bookies in Great Bend and Stone Post Bar & Grill in LaCrosse.

Cars and trucks are welcome on the run.

Partial proceeds will go to ACS Hope Lodge in Kansas City and expenses for aplastic anemia patients in Kansas.

For more information, call 785-259-8236 or email [email protected].

 

 

Chiefs lineman Duvernay-Tardif graduates from med school

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif can finally put away the medical books for a while and spend all his free time studying up his playbook.

Duvernay-Tardif graduated from McGill University’s medical school on Tuesday.
The Chiefs picked Duvernay-Tardif in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, but despite playing at a smaller Canadian school, he quickly earned a starting job. But he never gave up his pursuit of medicine, spending time each offseason doing school work and hospital rotations.

Duvernay-Tardif posted a photo of himself on social media after commencement wearing a lab coat with “Dr. Duvernay-Tardif” across the back and his No. 76 in Chiefs colors. “This is it!” he said. “Today I become a doctor! It also marks the beginning of a great new adventure.”

Duvernay-Tardif plans to begin his medical career after his playing days are over. He signed a $41.25 million, five-year contract to remain with the Chiefs last offseason.

Missouri Governor to resign amid scandals investigation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a sometimes brash outsider whose unconventional resume as a Rhodes Scholar and Navy SEAL officer made him a rising star in Republican politics, abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday after a scandal involving an affair with his former hairdresser led to a broader investigation by prosecutors and state legislators.

Gov. Greitens booking photo courtesy St. Louis Police Department

The 44-year-old governor made the announcement nearly 17 months after taking the oath as Missouri’s chief executive with a pledge to root out “corrupt career politicians.” The investigations of him widened to include questions about whether he had violated the law in financing the campaign.

Greitens said his resignation would take effect Friday.

A St. Louis grand jury indicted Greitens on Feb. 22 on one felony count of invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a photo of the woman without her consent at his home in 2015, before he was elected governor. The charge was dismissed during jury selection, but a special prosecutor was considering whether to refile charges.

In April, the local St. Louis prosecutor’s office charged Greitens with another felony, alleging that he improperly used the donor list for a charity that he’d founded to raise money for his 2016 campaign.

Less than two weeks ago, the Missouri Legislature began meeting in special session to consider whether to pursue impeachment proceedings to try to oust Greitens from office.

A special House investigatory committee had subpoenaed Greitens to testify next Monday.

Greitens’ brashness alienated some GOP legislators even before his affair became public in January.

The woman’s then-husband released a secretly recorded conversation in which she described the alleged incident. The woman later told a Missouri House investigative committee that Greitens restrained, slapped, shoved and threatened her during a series of sexual encounters that at times left her crying and afraid.

Greitens said the allegations amounted to a “political witch hunt,” and vowed to stay in office. But the report’s release created a firestorm, with both Republicans and Democrats calling for his resignation.

His departure elevates fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Parson to the governor’s office.

Greitens’ administration was thrown into chaos the night of Jan. 10, when a St. Louis TV station aired a report about Greitens allegedly taking the compromising photo and threatening to blackmail the woman if she ever spoke of their encounter. The report aired shortly after Greitens delivered his State of the State address to lawmakers.

Greitens admitted to having an affair but denied any criminal wrongdoing. He said the criminal case was politically motivated and called St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, a “reckless liberal prosecutor.”

Lawmakers from both parties immediately began questioning whether Greitens could continue to lead the state in the wake of the scandal. The House authorized the legislative investigation a week after the indictment.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley also launched an inquiry into a veterans charity Greitens founded. Federal law bars 501(c)(3) charities such as The Mission Continues from intervening in political campaigns on behalf of candidates.

The Associated Press first reported in October 2016 that Greitens’ campaign had obtained a list of individuals, corporations and other nonprofits that had given at least $1,000 to The Mission Continues. The AP reported that Greitens raised about $2 million from those who had previously given significant amounts to the charity.

Hawley, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, turned evidence over to Gardner, saying April 17 that he believed Greitens had broken the law. Her office charged him with tampering with computer data for allegedly disclosing the donor list without the charity’s permission.

A May 2 report from a special House investigatory committee indicated that Greitens himself received the donor list and later directed aides to work off it to raise money for his gubernatorial campaign. A former campaign aide testified that he was duped into taking the fall when the campaign tried to explain how it had gotten the list.

The invasion-of-privacy indictment stated that on March 21, 2015, Greitens photographed the woman and transmitted the photo “in a manner that allowed access to that image via a computer.”

During her testimony to the House investigative committee, the woman said Greitens invited her to his home and offered to show her “how to do a proper pull-up.” The woman said she initially thought “this is going to be some sort of sexy workout.” But once in his basement, Greitens taped her hands to pull-up rings, blindfolded her, and started kissing and disrobing her without her consent, according to her testimony.

Then she saw a flash and heard a click, like a cellphone picture, she said. The woman testified that Greitens told her: “Don’t even mention my name to anybody at all, because if you do, I’m going to take these pictures, and I’m going to put them everywhere I can. They are going to be everywhere, and then everyone will know what a little whore you are.”

Greitens, a married father of two young boys, repeatedly denied blackmailing the woman. He declined to say whether he took a photo.

Greitens, who had also served as a White House fellow and written a best-selling book, entered the 2016 gubernatorial race as a brash outsider. He won an expensive Republican primary, then defeated Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in the general election to give Republicans control of the governor’s mansion for the first time in eight years. Some considered him a potential future presidential contender.

Republicans also controlled the Missouri House and Senate, but there were frequent clashes between lawmakers and Greitens, who compared them to third-graders and labeled them “career politicians.”

He confronted criticism from some educators and lawmakers for working to pack the State Board of Education with members who would fire the education commissioner. Greitens’ use of a secretive app that deletes messages after they’re read also sparked a review by Hawley.

___

Kansas sees dozens of births by jailed women in past 4 years

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas jails are facing a rising likelihood of births behind bars amid a nationwide increase in women’s incarceration.

Women’s prison in Topeka-photo courtesy Kan. Dept. of Corrections

The Kansas Department of Corrections saw more than 45 babies delivered by women in its custody in the past four years. That comes as the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports the number of incarcerated women in the U.S. has been increasing at a rate 50 percent higher than men since 1980.

Eight states have nursery programs allowing new mothers to raise children while serving time. Columbia University researchers found mothers participating in such programs had lower recidivism rates.

But in Kansas, new mothers behind bars must give up their babies to the Department of Children and Families and can only see them on visitation days. The agency has recently been scrutinized for missing children.

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