RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges and giving a deputy a lot of credit.
Photo courtesy Reno Co. Sheriff
Just before 3p.m. Saturday, Reno County Deputy Eric DeLaCruz stopped to assist a motorist on U.S. 50 and Dean Road, according to a social media report.
The driver, J.T. Lewis Rowe, Culhaun, CO., told deputies he had a flat tire and was waiting for assistance.
While speaking with the driver on the passenger side of his vehicle, Deputy DeLaCruz detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
After searching the vehicle, he found a one gallon size clear bag with a colored glass pipe with marijuana residue, two small silicon containers with marijuana residue and an additional one gallon size clear bag with marijuana.
The clear bag with marijuana weighted a total of 91.34 grams.
Rowe was arrested for Poss of Marijuana, Poss of Para and Violation of a Protection Order.
Since the vehicle broke down, the deputy took the girlfriend and kids to a local restaurant down the highway. “Deputy DeLacruz left his debit card with the restaurant and told the employees to give the lady and the kids whatever they asked for. When he went back he left a ten dollar tip because he felt the rambunctious kids were a lot for staff to deal with.”
This all took place after Dep DeLaCruz was seen earlier in the morning purchasing a glass of lemonade at a stand two small kids had set up in Hutchinson.
The sheriff’s department then asked “Guardian? Warrior? Or both?How many likes can Deputy DeLaCruz get?”
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Officials say a child is dead and at least three other people are critically injured after an apartment fire in Kansas City, Kansas.
Fire Battalion Chief Morris Letcher says two children and two adults were taken to hospitals in critical condition following the blaze late Saturday morning, and that one child later died. Letcher says officials are not yet releasing the names or ages of the victims.
Witnesses said the fire began with an explosion that shook nearby buildings.
Fire officials say the cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
Crews remained late Saturday afternoon on the scene of the fire, which had been extinguished hours earlier. Members of the American Red Cross are also helping those affected by the fire.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man killed by western Kansas police earlier this week was wanted for murder in Missouri.
Webb-photo courtesy Columbia police
Charles Webb, 43, was wanted in the May 3 shooting death of 43-year-old Robert Eugene Jennings, of Columbia, Missouri. Police in Columbia said a warrant had been issued for Webb charging his with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in that shooting.
Authorities say Webb was shot to death early Friday during a confrontation with police at an apartment complex in Overland Park, Kansas.
Police were called to the apartment for reports of a man and woman arguing and shots fired. Police say Webb fired several shots at arriving officers, and two officers fired back, hitting him. Webb died later at a hospital.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A bicyclist who was hit on a western Kansas highway last month while competing in a cross country race has died in a Wichita hospital.
John Egbers, 64, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, died Thursday. He was hit by a car from behind June 14 while he was riding eastbound on Kansas Highway 96 west of Scott City.
Egbers suffered multiple broken bones, a collapsed lung and other injuries.
Egbers was competing in the Trans Am Bike Race at the time of the crash. The event is a 4,300-mile bicycle race from Oregon to Virginia that passes through 10 states, including Kansas. Cyclists enter the state near Tribune, riding east to Pittsburg.
No charges had been reported by Saturday in the crash.
If you are a Kansas homeowner or a Kansas renter, can you answer basic questions about your insurance?
Whether you are a renter or a homeowner, you should consider an annual review of your homeowners or renters insurance policy, a review strongly recommended by our staff at the Kansas Insurance Department (KID). Reviewing your coverages lets you evaluate whether the coverage is still adequate (or too much) for your current situation. When you (and your local insurance agent) review your policy, be sure to find the answers to the following three questions.
What does my homeowners or renters policy cover?
A homeowners insurance policy covers the structure, belongings and legal obligations if someone is injured at your home. A renters policy does not insure the structure, but otherwise provides similar coverage.
Check the type of replacement value provided in the policy. Actual cash value (ACV) is the amount it would take to repair damage to a home or to replace its contents, after allowing for depreciation. Replacement cost is the amount it would take to rebuild or replace a home or its contents with similar quality materials or goods. Understand, however, that in order to receive the full replacement cost, most companies require you to show proof of replacement or repair before issuing the total amount. This also requires you to submit the proof within a certain time specified by your policy.
Liability insurance protects you from legal obligations arising from accidents involving visiting non-residents. With a few exceptions, such as auto or boating accidents, all-purpose liability coverage follows wherever you go. An umbrella policy can extend the liability limits of a homeowners or renters policy if the policy limit is insufficient.
Homeowners and renters policies typically include limited medical expense payments for injuries occurring on your premises to visiting non-residents.
How much coverage do I need?
Making a home inventory is the best way to determine the appropriate level of coverage needed for contents. An inventory is also a useful tool to have in case of a loss. When compiling the inventory, make sure to include as much detail as possible about the items.
Homeowners do not need to insure the value of the land a home sits on, but coverage should include any outdoor structures on the property.
What are my deductibles and discounts?
Deductibles and discounts are generally the easiest places to save money. Most companies offer discounts for people who have more than one type of insurance policy with them, and for people who have had few claims or are long-term customers.
When it comes to the deductible — which is the amount you have to pay if there is a loss — usually the higher it is, the lower the premium. It’s normal to consider raising a deductible to save on your premium, but remember, your share of the bill will be that much more following a claim.
After reviewing the policy, you might also ask these questions:
Are there any losses – like flood or earthquake – I need to worry about that are not covered in my current policy? Neither flood nor earthquake is covered by a standard homeowners or renters policy. There are optional insurance policies or riders for both disasters.
Has anything changed in my coverage in the last year? When talking with an agent, ask if there are any anticipated changes when the policy renews.
More Information
For more general information about homeowners or renters insurance and the basic coverages in a policy, go to www.ksinsurance.org and read or download our publication “Homeowners and Renters Insurance.” You can download our Personal Inventory publication there as well.
For specific questions about coverages or about an insurance company or agent, use the KID online chat feature on the home page of our website, or call the KID Consumer Assistance Hotline (in Kansas) at 800-432-2484.
Ken Selzer, CPA, is the Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.
MANHATTAN—Federal, state and local prosecutors are sponsoring a two-day conference on human trafficking next week in northeast Kansas.
According to a media release, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister for the district of Kansas will open the Conference at 8a.m. Tuesday at the Manhattan Conference Center, 410 S. 3rd Street in Manhattan, to begin the two-day event.
About 200 victim service providers, prosecutors, healthcare professionals, educators and law enforcement officers from across the state are registered to attend.
The U.S. Attorney’s office is co-sponsoring the event with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, the Riley County Attorney’s Office, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and the Wichita State Midwest Criminal Justice Institute.
“What we all have in common is our desire to prevent human trafficking, to prosecute traffickers and to help survivors reclaim their lives and their freedom,” McAllister said.
The keynote speaker on Tuesday morning will be Peter Qualliotine of King County, Washington, where he is director of Men’s Accountability, Organization for Prostitution Services. He will describe his work with men who buy sex in a 10-week sex-buyer intervention program called Stopping Sexual Exploitation: A Program for Men.
In a presentation on the federal response to human trafficking, speakers from the Human Trafficking Unit of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will discuss working with trafficking victims.
Listen to Mike Cooper interviewing Dr. Timothy Wright, MD, from the Orthopedic Institute at HaysMed; by clicking the link above and then clicking the play button
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chris Sale struck out 12 in six innings, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts homered, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 10-5 on Friday night.
Sale’s 16-inning scoreless streak was snapped by Alcides Escobar’s two-out RBI single in the second, but that was it for the skidding Royals against the ace left-hander. Sale (9-4) has allowed one run and 10 hits over 20 innings in his past three starts.
Boston stretched its win streak to four with its ninth victory in 11 games overall. It leads the majors with 60 victories and a .674 winning percentage.
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrapped up two days of talks with senior North Korean officials on Saturday without meeting Kim Jong Un but with commitments for new discussions on denuclearization and the repatriation of the remains of American soldiers killed during the Korean War.
Before departing Pyongyang, Pompeo told reporters that his conversations with senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol had been “productive,” conducted “in good faith” and that “a great deal of progress” had been made in some areas. But he stressed that “there’s still more work to be done” in other areas, much of which would be done by working groups that the two sides have set up to deal with specific issues.
Pompeo said that a Pentagon team would be meeting with North Korean officials on or about July 12 at the border between North and South Korea to discuss the repatriation of remains and that working level talks would be held soon on the destruction of North Korea’s missile engine testing facility.
In the days following his historic June 12 summit with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, President Donald Trump had announced that the return of the remains and the destruction of the missile facility had been completed or were in progress.
Pompeo, however, said that more talks were needed on both.
“We now have a meeting set up for July 12 — it could move by one day or two — where there will be discussions between the folks responsible for the repatriation of remains. (It) will take place at the border and that process will begin to develop over the days that follow,” he said as he boarded his plane for Tokyo.
On the destruction of the missile engine plant, Pompeo said, “We talked about what the modalities would look like for the destruction of that facility as well, and some progress there as well, and then we have laid out a path for further negotiation at the working level so the two teams can get together and continue these discussions.”
Earlier, Pompeo and Kim Yong Chol both said they needed clarity on the parameters of an agreement to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula that Trump and Kim Jong Un agreed to in Singapore. The trip was Pompeo’s third to Pyongyang since April and his first since the summit.
Unlike his previous visits, which have been one-day affairs during which he has met with Kim Jong Un, Pompeo spent the night at a government guesthouse in Pyongyang and did not see the North Korean leader, although U.S. officials had suggested such a meeting was expected. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said no meeting with Kim Jong Un had been planned.
As they began their talks on Saturday, Kim Yong Chol alluded to the fact that Pompeo and his delegation had stayed overnight in Pyongyang.
“We did have very serious discussions on very important matters yesterday,” Kim said. “So, thinking about those discussions you might have not slept well last night.”
Pompeo, who spoke with Trump, national security adviser John Bolton and White House chief of staff John Kelly by secure phone before starting Saturday’s session, replied that he “slept just fine.” He added that the Trump administration was committed to reaching a deal under which North Korea would denuclearize and realize economic benefits in return.
Kim later said that “there are things that I have to clarify” to which Pompeo responded that “there are things that I have to clarify as well.”
There was no immediate explanation of what needed to be clarified, but the two sides have been struggling to specify what exactly “denuclearization” would entail and how it could be verified to the satisfaction of the United States.
Pompeo and Kim met for nearly three hours Friday and then had dinner amid growing skepticism over how serious Kim Jong Un is about giving up his nuclear arsenal and translating the upbeat rhetoric following his summit with Trump into concrete action.
On his flight to Pyongyang, Pompeo said both sides made commitments at the Singapore summit on the complete denuclearization of North Korea and on what a transformed relationship between their two countries might look like.
One hoped-for breakthrough on this trip would have been the return of the remains of U.S. troops killed during the 1950-53 Korean War. North Korea committed at last month’s summit to the “immediate repatriation” of remains already identified, but that hasn’t happened yet.
After finding the Veterans Health Administration liable earlier this year for the suicide of an Iraq war veteran, a federal judge has awarded more than $480,000 to his father and two children.
Cpl. William Draughon in his Marine Corps Blue Dress uniform. DONALD AND LAURIE DRAUGHON
In what was thought to be one of the few verdicts of its kind, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled in February that the negligence of the VA directly contributed to the death of Cpl. William Draughon of Kansas City.
Draughon was a squad leader and gunner in Iraq for seven months in 2004 before he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps.
After he returned to the Kansas City area, he began drinking heavily and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. During one of several hospitalizations at the Kansas City VA, he’d been flagged as being at high risk for suicide. Although no risk assessment was done, a suicide prevention coordinator at the hospital removed the high-risk flag from his electronic medical records 90 days later.
On St. Patrick’s Day, 2010, after arguing with his girlfriend, Draughon shot and killed himself in front of his girlfriend and brother. He was 28 years old.
His family, believing the VA had been negligent in its care of Draughon, sued the agency. Robinson’s order finding it liable is thought to be one of the few instances anywhere in the country where the VA has been held directly responsible for a veteran’s suicide.
William Draughon and his parents at his North Kansas City High School graduation ceremony. CREDIT WILLIAM AND LAURIE DRAUGHON
In her ruling Monday, she awarded noneconomic damages – for pain and suffering and loss of companionship – of $125,000 to each of Draughon’s two young children, $75,000 to Draughon’s father and $1,000 to his biological mother. She also divided up another $154,608 in economic damages between the children and Draughon’s father.
“I think it’s notable that she didn’t decrease the award at all for what we call comparative fault or comparative negligence. The government had alleged that some of the fault should rest with Cpl. Draughon as well, and she didn’t decrease the award at all on that basis,” said Michael Raupp, an attorney at the Husch Blackwell firm who represented the Draughons.
Larry McMullen, another Husch Blackwell lawyer involved in the case, said they were hoping for a larger award, but the court was constrained by the cap Missouri imposes on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. The cap used to be $350,000 but was increased by the Legislature several years ago to $700,000.
“We would have preferred she split the money three (equal) ways,” McMullen said. “But she said, no, these kids are going to live a whole lot longer than his dad and therefore will be deprived of his comfort and support for a lot longer than him and therefore I’m going to give them a little bit more.”
The VA has 60 days to appeal Robinson’s finding of liability and award of damages. A spokesman for the agency did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor in conjunction with the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies
Sometimes, telling a story can save a person’s life. That’s what motivates internationally known speaker and mental health advocate Kevin Hines to tour the nation, telling audiences of the bleak day in September of 2000 when he catapulted himself over the side of the Golden Gate Bridge in an attempted suicide.
He describes the “instant regret” he immediately felt, and how in the seconds as he was free-falling, all he wanted to do was live. Hines brings a message of healing and hope to his audiences, and soon will be sharing his story with northwest Kansas.
Hines will speak at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at Hays Middle School, 201 W. 29th, in Hays. The event is free and open to the public; no need to obtain tickets or RSVP. A book signing of Hines’ personal memoir, “Cracked, Not Broken,” will follow the presentation. Books will be available to purchase on-site.
The event is sponsored by High Plains Mental Health Center and Heartland Community Foundation, with sup- port from Hays USD 489, Fort Hays State University’s Kelly Center, NAMI Hays, The Center for Life Experiences and Breathe Coffee House.
“Suicide prevention is a critically important topic, and these are the kinds of conversations our communities need to begin having. Kevin will address this difficult subject in a way that sheds light on the struggles of mental illness but also brings hope to those who need it,” said Walt Hill, executive director of High Plains Mental Health Center. “We are thrilled to bring Kevin to northwest Kansas. We believe his story will benefit people in all walks of life and encourage you all to join us for this exciting opportunity.”
This presentation is timely and relevant, given Kansas’ suicide rate is up 45 percent since 1999 — one of the high- est increases nationwide. Rural Kansas has been particularly affected, with the least populated counties having the highest rates of suicide deaths in 2016. Data indicates agricultural workers are particularly at risk for mental illness, perhaps partly due to high stress and economic difficulties.
One of only 34 people to survive a jump off the iconic bridge, Hines is the only one who regained full physical mo- bility. Hines, diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teenager, will share his remarkable story of survival and recovery.
Today, Kevin dedicates his life to saving others by spreading his message of hope and sharing his journey toward mental wellness. Thousands of people have told him his story helped save their lives.
Hines is one of the most respected and admired voices of lived experience. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder for us to love the life we have. His personal mantra is, “Life is a gift, that is why they call it the present. Cherish it always.”
Hines also is a filmmaker and is featured in a full-length documentary produced this year, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect.”
He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council of Behavioral Health. Kevin also has been awarded by SAMSHA as a Voice Awards Fellow and Award Winner, an Achievement Winner by the U.S. Veterans Affairs and is a recipient of several military medals.
The event is intended to help break the stigma surrounding mental illness and to provide hope for those who might currently be struggling. Hines’ presentation also can offer hope and help for family members and friends to help iden- tify and support loved ones experiencing mental illness.
High Plains Mental Health Center is a licensed community mental health center dedicated to the aggressive pursuit of providing a comprehensive mental health program to residents of northwest Kansas. Embodied in this pursuit are fundamental principles of establishing quality services as close to home as possible, at an affordable fee and delivered in the least disruptive manner available. High Plains offers 24/7 emergency services to all residents within 20 north- west Kansas counties. Call toll free anytime at (800) 432-0333 for crisis support or to schedule an appointment with a qualified mental health professional.
The main office is located at 208 E. Seventh in Hays, with branch offices in Colby, Goodland, Norton, Osborne and Phillipsburg. Community outreach services are available in Atwood, Hoxie, Oberlin, Quinter, Russell, Smith Center, WaKeeney, Hill City, Plainville, La Crosse, St. Francis, Sharon Springs and Oakley.
On the map: U.S. Highway 36 Norton to St. Francis Distance from Hays: 189 miles Drive time: 3 hours
I can’t really call my latest adventure in northwest Kansas a Day Trip.
My nephew and I were on our way to Denver for the an extended weekend and decided to take the scenic route. However, you could complete our U.S. Highway 36 odyssey from Hays to St. Francis in a day if you wished. Diverting from the usual route to Denver, we turned off Interstate 70 at WaKeeney and headed north on U.S. 283.
Norton
Although you pass through Hill City and very close to Nicodemus, which is just west of Hill City on U.S. Highway 24, our first stop was in Norton.
Norton Theater
For such a small community, Norton has done much to preserve its historic architecture. Forty-four properties in the downtown are part of the Norton Downtown Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Three gas stations from the 1920s and 1930s have been restored in downtown Norton. All three are on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1934 Kent Filling Station was donated to Norton County and houses the Norton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Norton City/County Economic Development and Norton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Norton County Courthouse
We stopped into the office and someone from economic development loaded us up with information on history, attractions and businesses in the county and all along the U.S. 36 corridor. The Underwood Conoco Station, Main and First, circa 1928, is still used as a garage by a local classic car enthusiast, and the Sinclair Station, circa 1925, Washington and First, is used as an office building. The Norton County Courthouse, built in 1929, is also on the NRHP.
The historic Heaton Building, built in 1906, 112 S. Kansas, was recently restored. It houses retail businesses and a coffee shop on its lower floor and offices upstairs. It has beautiful skylights on the second floor. Also in the historic district is the Norton Theatre, built in 1906. The stucco building still has its original green marquee. Today it is run by volunteers.
Destination Kitchen, 115 Main, is filled with kitchen gadgets and premium cookware. They serve lunch in the back, which includes sandwiches, soups and brick oven pizza. The city of Norton was under a boil water advisory during our visit, so we decided to press on to Oberlin for lunch.
“They Also Ran” Gallery
A couple of doors down from the Destination Kitchen is “They Also Ran” Gallery. If you don’t pay attention, you will miss it because it is located on the upper floor of First State Bank. The gallery includes photos and information on all the major candidates who ran and lost their bids for U.S. President. You will likely recognize many names on the walls as people who at some time later won a bid for the country’s highest office.
However, there are also those who tried, tried again, tried yet again and still never had political success, such as Henry Clay who ran repeatedly from 1924 to 1948 for president and was never elected. Two native sons of Kansas are among the also ran. Republican Sen. Bob Dole lost to Bill Clinton in 1996 and Republican and former Kansas Gov. Alf Landon lost to Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 in a landslide. Landon won only two states and neither was his home state of Kansas. Admission is free. Donations are accepted.
Frederic Remington sculpture in lobby of First State Bank in Norton.
The bank also has a number of Frederic Remington sculptures, among them a cowboy on horseback in the main lobby. Remington was noted for his vivid bronze depictions of life in the Wild West.
The Pike’s Peak Express stagecoach once stopped in what is today Norton on its run from Leavenworth to Denver. A replica of Station 15 on the line offers a self-guided tour to see what the station would have looked like circa 1859. William Russell, partner in the Pike’s Peak Express, later was a partner in the Pony Express. According to information on Station 15, William Bonney Sr. was a station manager on the line and William Bonney Jr. AKA “Billy the Kid” was born in one of the line’s stations.
Prairie Dog State Park
Prairie Dog State Park is four miles west of Norton on U.S. 36. Just inside the park entrance is a prairie dog town. You can pull off and take pictures or just observe in a shaded picnic area. Prairie dogs have been historically thought of as vermin by farmers and ranchers, but biologists believe the animals are essential to the prairie ecosystem, turning soil with their burrows and channeling water into the water table. I think they have a high cuteness factor. My nephew was excited to have the opportunity to see the animals for the first time in the wild. A set of binoculars or a telephoto lens will help you get a better look.
Keith Sebelius Reservoir at the park also offers fishing, walk-in hunting, nature trails, water recreation and camping. You will need a state park permit to enter the park. Day permits run $5 per vehicle.
U.S. 36 runs from Indianapolis to Denver, including the entire length of Kansas. We did not stop there, but there is a U.S. Highway 36 Museum in Norcatur, 15 miles west of Norton. The museum is in a former bank and seeks to preserve the history of the highway and the U.S. 36 Association, which was formed in 1913. The association sponsors an annual garage sale during the third week of September that runs 400 miles from border to border. This year it will be Sept. 14-16.
Oberlin
Hungry, we were looking for an interesting place to eat in Oberlin, and we found it. We stopped at the Teller Room Restaurant/ Landmark Inn, 189 S. Penn. The 1886 brick bank, which is on the NRHP, serves lunch during the week and dinner on the weekends on the ground floor and has suites on the second floor. The menu changes daily. My nephew and I enjoyed quiche with fresh fruit and toast. The formal setting of the restored bank building had my 13-year-old nephew displaying high manners, including a napkin in his lap.
Stroll under the covered canopies downtown to explore a variety of shops and antique stores. As you drive through the community note the barn quilts in residents’ yards. A tour list is available at area business. The Teller Room had information the day we were there.
Oberlin pioneer family sculpture by Hays’ Pete Felten.
The Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum is an extensive network of historic buildings chuck full of artifacts from the community. The name pays homage to the last known Native American raid in the area in 1878. Cheyenne Chiefs Dull Knife and Little Wolf were fleeing their Oklahoma reservations, seeking to return to the Black Hills. The raid left 19 settlers dead. A monument to those settlers who died in the raid is at the Oberlin Cemetery just off U.S. 36. Admission to the museum is through donation.
If you are in Oberlin during the first week of August, you can attend the longest-running home-owned carnival in Kansas. The carnival has a Ferris wheel and other spinning rides.
A nice photo op is the pioneer sculpture in the middle of Penn St. It was created in 1971 by Hays native Pete Felten.
St. Francis
My brother-in-law has been a long-time Harley owner, so my nephew deemed a stop at the St. Francis Motorcycle Museum, 110 E. Washington, a must. The museum houses more than 115 motorcycles, including rare early Harleys and Indians.
The museum exhibits one of only two known 1902 Orient motorcycles—the earliest manufacturer to use the term “motorcycle.” The museum also houses 30 motorcycles older than 1929 (several of which only five or fewer are known to exist), according to its website. The museum is open seven days a week. Admission is a $7 suggested donation.
Parched from the road, we stopped in Fresh Seven Coffee at Union Square, 312 W. Washington. This coffee house started as a food truck and now is in an enclosed space that is reminiscent of a backyard patio with graffiti art on the concrete ways and brick pavers on the floor. Fresh Seven serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as cocktails. Find more on this quirky little coffee shop on the High Plains on Facebook.
Other stops of note in St. Francis are Sawhill Park, which contains a band shell that was constructed by the WPA. It is on the National Register of Historic Paces. The Cheyenne County Courthouse, 212 Washington, is also on the NRHP. The Quincy Gallery and Cheyenne Center for Creativity, 109 N. Quincy, features local and regional artists.
Philip and I’s original intent was to travel up to the Arikaree Breaks, which run north of St. Francis into Nebraska. However, we were tired and decided to press on to Denver. The breaks are sometimes referred to as Kansas’s grand canyon. You will encounter dry-weather roads. Maps are available at the Cheyenne County Museum in St Francis.
West from St. Francis on U.S. 36 a mile and a half and then north on U.S. Highway 27 is the Cherry Creek Encampment. The site was a place of assembly for Native Americans after a massacre of Cheyenne at Sand Creek on Nov. 29, 1864. Members of the Cheyenne, Sioux, and Northern Arapahoes gathered and formed an estimated group of 1,000 warriors to attack Julesburg on the South Platte River in retaliation. They attacked the stage station there on Jan. 7, 1865, and returned to Cherry Creek with plundered supplies to celebrate their victory. Today metal sculptures by Tobe Zweygardt mark the spot.
My next trip will be to Wilson Lake and the City of Wilson to explore Czech heritage in Kansas. See you on the road!
Other links to check out while you are planning your trip:
GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported vehicle theft and have a suspect in custody.
Kimbrough -photo Geary Co.
Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, deputies had responded to the 1700 Block of West Ash Street in Junction City after a victim reported that a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was stolen from that area.
A Geary County Sheriff’s Deputy saw the vehicle within a few minutes and attempted a traffic stop. The driver later identified as Terrell Kimbrough, 28, Junction City, fled and led deputies onto the Interstate 70 eastbound.
The chase ended at McDowell Creek Road at the end of what Sheriff’s Department Captain Brian Hornaday termed a “low-speed pursuit.”
Authorities used stop sticks to deflate the tires of the vehicle.
A Geary County Sheriff’s Office K-9 was also used to assist in the apprehension and Interstate 70 was closed briefly during the arrest.
Kimbrough is being held for aggravated robbery and aggravated battery, according to the sheriff’s department.
Listen to Mike Cooper interviewing Dr. Timothy Wright, MD, from the Orthopedic Institute at HaysMed; by clicking the link above and then clicking the play button
