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Month: January 2019

Kan. man with a dozen convictions caught driving stolen car

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges.

Sanderford-photo Sedgwick Co.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Dec. 27, police stopped a Chevrolet Cruze in the area of 2300 E. Harry in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

The vehicle was reported stolen . Upon stopping the vehicle, officers contacted the driver 38-year-old James Sanderford who was taken into custody without incident.

Police also discovered a knife and handgun in the vehicle. A 20-year-old female was also contacted during the vehicle stop.

Sanderford is being held on requested charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, auto theft and aggravated weapons violation, according to Davidson.

Investigators will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Sanderford has more than a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, forgery, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and for drugs.  He had been out of prison since October 2017.

 

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Kansas man held on $110K bond after alleged attack on girlfriend

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man in connection with a domestic case.

Williams -photo Reno Co.

Dammion R.  Williams, 24, Hutchinson, is accused of choking and pushing his girlfriend because she wanted to leave the home on West 9th Street in Hutchinson. Police say she had bruising on her neck and cheek and some abrasions on her face.

It appeaes that she tried to leave the home, but was pulled back in by Williams.

Police arrested him just after 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He was  jailed on requested charges of aggravated battery and kidnapping. He was also wanted for failing to appear in another case and a violation of the conditions of parole. He was paroled for a conviction of aggravated burglary in May of last year.

His bond is set at $110,000 and he’ll be back in court next week.

 

Kan. freshman congressman not accepting salary during shutdown

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins is not accepting his congressional salary until the federal government fully reopens.

Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins-courtesy image

Watkins spokesman Jim Joice said Monday that the freshman Republican congressman began refusing his salary when he was sworn into office last week. Watkins and most members of Congress are paid $174,000 a year.

Parts of the federal government have been shut down since Dec. 22 because of a dispute over President Donald Trump’s demand for funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Watkins tweeted a 16-second video Friday showing him in the U.S. Capitol, saying he’s bothered by the shutdown because federal employees in Kansas aren’t getting paid. Watkins represents the 2nd District of eastern Kansas.

At the end of the video, Watkins declares, “If you don’t get paid, I don’t.”

AAA: Lagging demand for fuel pushing pump prices even lower

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Average Kansas gas price now $1.93, 18 cents lower than last month

AAA
WICHITA – Further falling prices at the gas pumps mean Kansas motorists continue to get good news when they fill up their tanks. At $1.93/gallon, the Sunflower State’s average gas price is now 31 cents lower than the national average and ninth cheapest in America. Kansas’ average gas price, which has fallen steadily for about the past three months, is now 15 percent lower than this time last year.
“Despite the recent busy holiday travel period, gasoline demand has remained low, while supply is still plentiful in the market,” said AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward. “The result is great news for motorists, who get to enjoy the cheap prices at the pumps.”
Steward noted that two Kansas metro areas are among the Top 50 cheapest gas prices in America this week. Wichita, at $1.85/gallon, checked in with the 34th lowest gas prices among larger metro areas. Kansas City, Kan. ($1.88) is 44th lowest.
Of the 10 Kansas cities regularly highlighted by AAA Kansas (see chart below), seven registered average prices under $2/gallon. All except Salina, which rose two cents, experienced price declines in the past week. The largest price drops were seen in Garden City (-8 cents), Hays (-6) and Emporia (-5).
According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Elkhart (Morton County) – $2.50
LOW: Galena (Cherokee County) – $1.72
National Perspective
The latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data registers gasoline demand at 8.6 million b/d for the week ending December 28 – the lowest level on record since February 2017. Despite record motor vehicle travel for the holiday, demand was down nearly 900,000 bbl, suggesting that demand this winter could be lower than expected.
Today’s national gas price average is $2.24 and has declined for 12 weeks in a row. The national average is three-cents cheaper on the week, 20-cents cheaper than last month and 25-cents cheaper year-over-year.
“As the global crude market continues to be oversupplied, oil prices are dropping, continuing last week’s trend,” said AAA Kansas’ Steward. “This is good news for motorists filling up at the pump.”
Quick Stats
The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets are: Missouri ($1.82), Oklahoma ($1.90), Arkansas ($1.91), Texas ($1.91), Alabama ($1.91), South Carolina ($1.91), Mississippi ($1.91), Louisiana ($1.93), Kansas ($1.93), and Ohio ($1.95).
The nation’s top 10 yearly decreases are: Michigan (-55 cents), Illinois (-49 cents), Ohio (-47 cents), Indiana (-47 cents), Iowa (-47 cents), Wisconsin (-46 cents), Nebraska (-41 cents), Missouri (-41 cents), Kentucky (-39 cents), and Delaware (-36 cents).
Today’s national gas price extremes:
High: California – $3.32
Low: Missouri – $1.82

Everett G. ‘Ed’ Stegman

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Everett G. “Ed” Stegman, 93, La Crosse, Kansas, died Friday, January 4, 2019, at his home.

Mr. Stegman was born May 28, 1925, on the family farm near Loretto, Kansas, the son of Andrew J. and Lucy E. (Sulzman) Stegman. He attended St. Mary’s Grade School, Loretto, Kansas, and was a 1943 graduate of Otis High School, Otis, Kansas. Upon his graduation, he managed the family farm until 1951 when he was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany until his discharge in 1953. He was an automobile mechanic in Kansas City, Missouri, for 34 years before moving to La Crosse, Kansas, in 2006.

Survivors include: two brothers, LeRoy Stegman (Bernadette), Grand Island, Nebraska, and Harold Stegman, Loretto, Kansas; and two sisters, Evelyn Alexander (James) Wichita, Kansas, and Bernice Wiewel, Russell, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Gerald Stegman, Raymond Stegman, Melvin Stegman, and Donald Stegman.

Visitation will be Friday, January 11, 2019, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas. A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M.

Memorial mass will be Saturday, January 12, 2019, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Father Eric Gyamfi officiating.

Inurnment will be Saturday, January 12, 2019, at 2:00 P.M. in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Loretto, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family request memorials for masses.

Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.charterfunerals.com/locations/janousek-lacrosse.php.

Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

News From the Oil Patch, Jan. 7

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By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson ended the year 2018 at $36.75 a barrel. That price was down six dollars from December 1st, and was fifteen dollars less than a year earlier. The average price in December was $50.75 per barrel.

The government reports a slight drop in U.S. crude oil production last week to 11.695 million barrels per day. Inventories remained virtually unchanged for the second straight week.

The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes reported a drop of eight oil rigs nationwide over the last week. Two of those were offshore rigs. California’s count dropped five rigs, Louisiana was down two and New Mexico dropped by one.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reports a slight increase in its weekly drilling rig count in Kansas. There were ten active rigs in eastern Kansas, down one, and 27 out west, up three. Operators are preparing to spud two new wells in Stafford County.

Operators filed six new drilling permits last week, including one in Barton County and one in Russell County. Independent Oil & Gas Service says there were 43 wells completed last week across Kansas, including one in Stafford County. There were 17 new completions in Western Kansas, of which four were dry holes.

The Kansas Geological Survey reported statewide crude-oil production figures for September were slightly lower than the month before at 2.77 million barrels. Cumulative statewide production through the third quarter of 2018 was just over 23.4 million barrels, about three million barrels less than last year, which was the worst year for Kansas production in a decade.

KGS said Barton County produced more than 136-thousand barrels in September, Ellis County added nearly 213-thousand. Russell County reported production of 122-thousand barrels, and Stafford County chipped in 78-thousand.

For the first time in recent memory, Barton County led the state in the number of intent-to-drill notices filed last year. A search the Kansas Corporation Commission Web site shows 61 intents filed in Barton County for the year, 58 in Ellis County, 17 in Russell County and 40 in Stafford County. Regulators approved 102 intents across the state last month, bringing the year-end total to 1,903. That’s nearly 400 more than last year, and nearly 800 more than the year before, but down more than five-thousand intents from the boom year of 2014.

Triple-A reports at least nine states, including Kansas, have average gasoline prices below two dollars a gallon. The average in the Sunflower State Monday was just over $1.93 per gallon. You can find regular gasoline as cheap as $1.87 in Great Bend, and $1.98 in Hays. Your 15-gallon fill-up will cost you about a dollar less than last week, and nearly four dollars cheaper than a month ago. The auto club says the national average Monday was $2.237, down nearly 20 cents from a month ago and 38 cents a gallon cheaper than a year ago.

The latest Energy Information Administration totals show national gasoline demand at 8.6 million barrels per day for the week ending December 28, the lowest on record since February of 2017. AAA said despite record motor vehicle travel for the holiday, demand was down nearly 900,000 barrels. Demand is expected to dwindle further during the winter months.

Output from OPEC fell by the most in almost two years in December, according to a Bloomberg survey. The half-million barrel-a-day reduction preceded a cut that was scheduled to start this month, highlighting the urgency the cartel feels to stem a market that’s been in free fall.

Frances Ann Prosser

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Frances Ann Prosser, 89, passed away January 7, 2019, at Brookdale Assisted Living, Great Bend. She was born on May 13, 1929 at Odin to John B. and Regina (Schmidt) Werner. She married Norbert J. “Bones” Prosser, September 8, 1955 at Odin. He died January 18, 2016.

A longtime Odin resident, Frances was a homemaker, farmer and rancher. She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella and Altar Society. Being a dedicated member of Holy Family Catholic Church, she devoted many hours to various activities, such as decorating the Church. She loved gardening, baking, hunting, camping and especially cherished time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include, two sons, Abe Prosser and wife Nona of Odin, KS, and Zack Prosser and wife Melissa of Beaver, KS; two daughters, Vicki Kaiser and husband Bob of Odin, KS, and Missi Prosser of Odin, KS; one brother, Tony Werner; two sisters, Loretta Rutherford and Irene Werner; eight grandchildren, Johnathon Kaiser, Emilee DeMartino and husband Victor, Joshua Kaiser, April Kaiser, Amanda Finn and husband Sean, Cameren Prosser, Isaac Prosser, and Zane Prosser; and four great-grandchildren, Victor DeMartino, Samuel DeMartino, Abigail Finn and Samantha Finn. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Norbert J. “Bones” Prosser; four brothers, John Werner, Robert Werner, Rudy Werner, and infant Raymond Werner; and four sisters, Theresa Miller, Annie Klug, Mary Gilliam and Margie Carey.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main, Hoisington, and from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, with an Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella Rosary and Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 11, 2019 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, with Father Don Bedore presiding. Interment will be in the Holy Family Cemetery, Odin. Memorials are suggested to the Holy Family Cemetery Fund, in lieu of flowers, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

Police find Kan. felon with handgun stolen from Louisiana

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SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges.

Julius Washington -photo Shawnee Co.

Just after 12:15 p.m. Sunday, police conducted an investigation on a reported suspicious vehicle parked in the Hillcrest Community Center in Topeka, according to Lt. Manual Munoz.

Officers made contact with the driver and passenger of the vehicle. Investigation revealed a small amount of narcotics.  Officers also located a stolen handgun out of Shreveport, Louisiana under the driver’s seat.

Police arrested and transported Julius Rashad Washington, 31, to Shawnee County Department of Corrections for Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of Marijuana and Criminal use of a Weapon. Washington has a previous conviction for Felon in Possession of a firearm.

Barton Co. couple wins $1M from lottery ticket sold in Great Bend

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Great Bend Post

The top prize winners of the 10th annual Holiday Millionaire Raffle wasted no time in coming to Topeka to claim their prize. The winners, who chose to remain anonymous, were at Kansas Lottery headquarters early Friday, January 4 with their lucky $1 million ticket number 086981.

“I just happened to be off work on Friday, so we decided to make the trip now instead of waiting until I had another day off,” said the winner. “Now that we’re here and everything has been validated, it’s finally starting to sink in that we won.”

It was around 5 p.m. Thursday night that the winners pulled out their phone and went to the Kansas Lottery website to check their raffle tickets.

“We had several tickets, and I can’t remember how many we checked before we got to the million dollar ticket but when I saw it, I obviously got excited. I couldn’t sit still and was moving around the house a bunch before finally calming down,” the winner said.

“Now that we’ve calmed down and the ticket has been claimed there is just such a feeling of relief,” the winner said. “We’ll be able to pay off the house and all of our debts. This will be a nice boost to our retirement and will help us with our kids and family as well. It’s such a relieving feeling to have.”

“Plus, we’ve always wanted to go to Las Vegas,” the couple said with a smile. “Maybe now we can finally take a trip, something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

The winning ticket was sold at Dillons 51 at 4107 10th Street in Great Bend. For selling the ticket, the store is eligible for a $1,000 selling bonus. Other Holiday Millionaire Raffle winners have 365 days from January 3, 2019 to claim their prizes.

Irvin Lee Vinzant

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Irvin Lee Vinzant passed away December 24, 2018 in Englewood, Colorado at the age of 83. He was born July 23, 1935.

Irvin is survived by his wife Barbara Alice; children Tab William (Henrietta Hubenka), Todd Brian (Nicole Musmanno Vinzant); granddaughter Kimberly Anne (Tom) Macleod; great grandchildren Michael & Joseph Macleod; brother Herbert Patrick (Leona) Vinzant; three nieces; and one nephew.

Graveside services are 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 11, 2018, at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Plainville. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com.

Jarrod Shane Taylor

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Jarrod Shane Taylor, 39, of Colby, KS, passed away Dec. 30, 2018, in rural Thomas County, KS, as a result of a vehicle accident.

Jarrod was born April 21, 1979, in Wellington, KS, to Rodney and Judith (Sutton) Taylor. Jarrod graduated from Colby High School in 1997. He attended NW Kansas Technical School and North Central Kansas Technical School.

Jarrod was a ‘big teddy bear’ as the ones closest would describe him. He was always looking to help anyone and everyone that he met. He always wore his heart on his sleeve, and you rarely wondered what was on his mind. He was an avid outdoorsman that loved hunting, fishing, and spending time in nature. He enjoyed heavy metal music and celebrating life with his friends and family. He was always good for a laugh and some humor when it was needed. He loved animals especially his dogs, Jasmine and Leta.

Jarrod is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Forest and Dorothy Taylor, his maternal grandparents Carl Sutton and Georgia {Trumbull) Sutton, his Uncle Steve Sutton, Uncle Ray Sutton, and Uncle Barry Taylor.

Survivors include his parents Rodney and Judith Taylor, sister Regina Suter and her husband Brett of Colby. His Uncle’s Bill and wife Gayla Sutton, Bob and Leah Sutton, Jim and Judy Lee Sutton, Aunt’s Karen Sutton, Cheryl Cooper, Candy and husband Alan Baird, Regina Rydquist and many cousins and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, January 12th, at City Limits Convention Center, Colby, KS, at 11:00 AM. Jarrod had a passion for the Wounded Warriors Project. The family has set up a memorial to the Wounded Warrior Project and for funeral expenses under Jarrod’s name.

HOOPS HIGHLIGHTS: FHSU women/TMP girls off to hot start

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By C.D. DESALVO
Hays Post

Fort Hays State women continue strong start
The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State University women won their program record 13th straight game to open the season Saturday on the road against Southwest Baptist 92-67. The Tigers outscored the Bearcats 54-21 in the second and third quarters and scored 38 points off of turnovers to remain at the top of the MIAA conference. For more on the game, click here.

Tony Hobson the winningest coach in FHSU history
With the victory, FHSU women’s head coach Tony Hobson becomes the winningest coach in program history with 218. Hobson is now 631-198 in his 27 years as a collegiate head coach.

TMP girls go 2-0 over the weekend
The TMP girls, who were 2-3 early in the season, have improved to 5-3 after winning three in a row. TMP played back-to-back games over the weekend beating Ellis on Friday night 63-38 and Sacred Heat of Salina on Saturday 73-51. Adell Riedel scored 30 points over the two games with 13 against Ellis and 17 on Saturday against Sacred Heart. You can read more about Saturday’s game including highlights and interviews here.

Hays High’s Tradgon McCrae scores 20 for third straight game
The Hays High Indians opened the 2019 year and WAC play on the road in Liberal with a 68-56 win Friday night. Senior Tradgon McCrae has now scored 62 points in the last three games with 22 against Colby, 20 against Pratt and 20 Friday night. Hays High is now 4-2 on the year and 1-0 in the WAC. You can hear highlights and coach reactions here.

OVERTIME

Central Plains continues success
Central Plains’ junior Emily Ryan’s unprecedented high school career saw another milestone Friday night. Ryan scored 41 points in three quarters in a 98-25 win over Macksville.

Central Plains girls head coach Pat Stiles’ 92 consecutive wins is nearing the record of 107 set by Shelly Hoyt at Hoxie. Stiles is 157-4 since taking over as the head coach of the Oiler girls and has won five straight state titles.

Courtesy of Ben Mitchum.

Have highlights you want to share for next week’s Hoops Highlights? Email them to C.D. DeSalvo. Photos are encouraged!

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