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Probation for Kan. man who impersonated an FBI Agent to get out of ticket

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday to serve a year on probation and pay a $1,000 fine for trying to get out of a traffic ticket by pretending to be an FBI agent, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Andra photo Sumner Co.

Jarrod M. Andra, 36, Milan, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of impersonating an agent.

In his plea, he admitted that on Nov. 30, 2018, he was stopped for speeding in Sumner County by a Sumner County Sheriff’s Deputy. Andra claimed he was a special agent for the FBI and presented what appeared to be an FBI identification card with his photo.

 

Kansas man shot by police is charged with making threat

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old man shot by Wichita police in July is charged with making a criminal threat.

Suspect Christian Joel Washington during the incident image courtesy Wichita Police

Christian Joel Washington was charged last week with criminal threat and violating a protection order.

Police have said Washington displayed “aggressiveness” toward an officer before he was shot on July 14. They say the officer thought Washington had a gun but it was later determined that he was holding a pouch with a metal piece.

The confrontation occurred when officers responded to a woman’s call saying her son was causing a domestic disturbance.

Christian Joel Washington photo Sedgwick Co.

Washington was shot once in the abdomen and was hospitalized before he was booked into jail.

In court documents, Washington said he was homeless and unemployed. He is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail.

Galvis, Bichette lead Blue Jays over Royals 4-1 for sweep

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Freddy Galvis and rookie Bo Bichette hit solo home runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over the Kansas City Royals 4-1 Wednesday for a three-game sweep.

Bichette hit his first career homer to open the eighth inning against Royals starter Jakob Junis, a drive to left field. Galvis cleared the center field wall with his 16th to open the seventh.

Cavan Biggio followed Bichette’s homer with a double, ending Junis’ outing. Reliever Kevin McCarthy surrendered a run-scoring double to Teoscar Hernandez.

Rookie Jacob Waguespack (2-1) went six innings for his second win in his fourth big-league start. He held the Royals to three hits and one run. Cam Gallagher barely cleared the left-field bullpen fence for his second homer, drilling a 2-2 pitch from Waguespack to open the third inning.

Junis (6-10) was cruising for much of the game, retiring the side on eight pitches each in the second, third and fourth innings. But the Jays got even 1-1 in the sixth as Biggio walked, stole second and scored on Justin Smoak’s single.

Waguespack got exceptional defensive help early. Deep outfield catches by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left and Randal Grichuk in center prevented extra-base hits by Jorge Soler in the first inning and Hunter Dozier in the third. Smoak speared Ryan O’Hearn’s hot shot to start a double play in the fourth and Gurriel charged in for a shoetop grab of Nicky Lopez’s weak liner to end the inning.

Right after that play, however, Gurriel left the game with a sore right knee.

Rookie right-hander Justin Shafer worked a perfect ninth for his first career save.

JAYS ROOKIES CAN LEAD

With the Blue Jays shedding veterans, they have the second youngest team in the majors and manager Charlie Montoyo is encouraging the kids, including Biggio and Bichette, to take leadership roles.

“What I’ve been telling Biggio and Bo when they got here: ‘This is your clubhouse, here we go. You guys were leaders in the minor leagues, it’s the same thing here. Just because you’re a rookie, don’t (avoid being) a leader in the big leagues. Go ahead and start now,”‘ Montoyo said. “And they have been doing that.”

BORUCKI GOES ON IL

Toronto placed LHP Ryan Borucki (0-1, 10.80 ERA) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with inflammation of the left elbow. His roster spot was filled by LHP Buddy Boshers, called up from Triple-A Buffalo (0-2, five saves, 2.78 ERA). Boshers has big league experience with the Angels and Twins.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: Toronto travels to Baltimore where RHP Trent Thornton (3-7, 5.45 ERA) will come off the injured list to start Thursday night. The Orioles will start RHP Asher Wojciechowski (2-3, 3.60 ERA).

Royals: After an open date Thursday, Kansas City will open a 10-game trip at Minnesota on Friday night. RHP Glenn Sparkman (3-7, 5.25 ERA) will be opposed by Twins LHP Martin Perez (8-4, 4.38 ERA).

Police: Claim Kan. man shot his wife investigated as swatting call

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating another case of possible swatting in Kansas.

Just after  1am Tuesday, officers from the Lawrence Police Department responded to the 2400 block of Cedarwood Ave, on what was initially called a domestic disturbance with weapons, according to a media release.

An as of yet unidentified man called dispatch claiming to have shot his wife.

After arriving at the scene, officers learned the call was a probable attempt at swatting, stemming from a disagreement in an online video game chat room. Police have not released the caller’s name or additional details.

In December 2017 two online gamers whose alleged dispute over a $1.50 Call of Duty WWII video game bet ultimately led police to fatally shoot a Wichita man not involved in the argument in a case of “swatting” that received national attention.

Wichita State settles with pregnant professor over job offer

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An Ohio woman who said she lost a job offer at Wichita State University after she revealed she was pregnant has reached a $50,000 settlement with the university.

Evangeline Heiliger photo courtesy Oberlin College

Evangeline Heiliger sued Wichita State in December because she said the school withdrew a job offer for an assistant professor of women’s studies a day after she told Center of Women’s Studies director Chinyere Okafor that she was expecting a baby and asked about child care options on campus.

Heiliger was a visiting assistant professor of gender, sexuality and feminist studies at Ohio’s Oberlin College when she applied for the Wichita State job in 2017. She said she was offered the position after interviewing in February 2018.

A day after she told Okafor in March of that year about her pregnancy, then-department head Ron Matson told her in an email that she had been removed from consideration and also ignored a follow-up email saying she was eager to begin the job, according to her lawsuit.

Court records show that Heiliger and Wichita State agreed to settle the lawsuit following a seven-hour mediation session in May.

Wichita State spokesman Joe Kleinsasser said Wednesday that school would not comment on the settlement. The university’s general counsel, David Moses, said previously that an administrative agency investigation found the university didn’t violate any laws and that the school “remains committed to creating a fair and equitable workplace.”

As part of the settlement, Heiliger agreed to dismiss her lawsuit and never again apply for employment with Wichita State, according to a settlement agreement released by the university last week. The agreement also bars her from discussing or commenting on the settlement or her pregnancy discrimination claims.

Dr. Travis Pfannenstiel

Dr. Travis Pfannenstiel, 43, a Ft. Myers, FL resident since 2015, passed away in his wife’s arms on Saturday, July 27, 2019 after a 20 month battle with brain cancer. He was born February 1, 1976 in Salina, KS.

Dr. Pfannenstiel was active duty in the United States Army for 13 years. He was a parishioner of St. Columbkille Catholic Church, Ft. Myers, FL. Dr. Pfannenstiel was an ear doctor here in Fort Myers. He completed his Neurotology fellowship at Michigan Ear Institue, Farmington Hills, MI. His Otolaryngology residency was at Brooke Army Hospital, San Antonio, TX. He attended Loyola Medical School, Chicago IL, and Regis University in Denver, CO. Back at home in Hays, KS he attended Marian High School, and Thomas More Prep. “27 years of school” he explained to his kids.

Travis’ favorite things to do were: surgery, watch Kansas City Chiefs and Royals games, coach his sons’ little league baseball, spend time with friends and family fishing, and be in nature. He especially loved trees, even though, as he joked, he was allergic to most of them.

He is survived by his loving wife of 13 years, Terri Pfannenstiel of Ft. Myers, FL, formerly of Boston, MA; four adored children, John, Ryan, Hannah (triplets age 11) and Ellen (age 9) all of Ft. Myers, FL; his parents, Floyd and Sheila Pfannenstiel of Hays, KS; as well as many extended family members and friends.

A visitation will be held 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 12171 Iona Road, Ft. Myers, FL 33908. A Memorial Mass Memorial will be held 1:00 PM, Thursday, August 1, 2019 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. Interment will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, August 1, 2019 at Sarasota National Cemetery, State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241.

In lieu of flowers a GoFundMe account has been set up, to donate please visit https://www.gofundme.com/fund-4-travis-terri-pfannenstiel in loving memory of Travis Pfannenstiel.

Arrangements for final care have been entrusted to Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555. To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer a condolence at this difficult time please visit www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign the guestbook.

Indictment: Man arrested in Logan Co. with 5 pounds of heroin

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A man from Mexico was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of heroin trafficking, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release Wednesday.

Orlando Alexis Gaxiola-Guevara Wyandotte Co.

Orlando Alexis Gaxiola-Guevara, 23, a citizen of Mexico, has been charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. On June 26, the defendant was a passenger in a 2008 Ford Fusion eastbound on Interstate 70 when a deputy with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office stopped the car. According to court documents, investigators found approximately five pounds of black tar heroin and brown powder heroin hidden in the quarter panels of the car.

If convicted, the defendant faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Logan County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McFarlane is prosecuting.

Police: 47-year-old Kansas man hospitalized after shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and looking for suspects.

Police on the scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy KWCH

Just before 11:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to report of a shooting near the intersection of 17th and Poplar in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

A 47-year-old man at the scene told police he was walking in the area when an unknown suspect fired multiple shots that wounded him.

EMS transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Davidson.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact police.

UPDATE: Juvenile reported missing in Phillips County found safe

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

KIRWIN — The 12-year-old boy missing from Kirwin Wednesday has been located and is safe according to the Phillips Country Sheriff’s office.

The search began after AJ Jensen was last seen between 6 p.m. and sunset Tuesday, according to the department.

Around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday the department said a subject matching Jensen’s description was seen walking on K9 west of Kirwin around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

  • The Kirwin Fire Department, REACT and Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft assisted in the search.

The department said it is believed that Jensen was a runaway.

The original release from the department can be seen below.

New search for girls missing since 1999; suspect arrested in Kansas

WELCH, Okla. (AP) — Authorities in Oklahoma are starting a new search for two 16-year-old girls missing and presumed dead for nearly 20 years.

Busick -photo Harvey County

Craig County District Attorney’s spokeswoman Michelle Lowry said the search for Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible began Tuesday near the Picher area, about 85 miles northeast of Tulsa and where authorities have said the girls’ bodies are believed to have been dumped.

The girls disappeared Dec. 30, 1999, from Freeman’s home in nearby Welch. Freeman’s parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were found fatally shot in the burned home.

In April 2018, authorities charged 68-year-old Ronnie Dean Busick with four counts of first-degree murder in the case and said two other suspects are dead.

Busick has denied involvement in the case and is undergoing a mental competency evaluation.

Busick had multiple Kansas drug convictions, and was imprisoned off-and-on in the state starting in the 1980s, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

UPDATE: Search resumes for 26-year-old missing after kayak overturns at Wilson Lake

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Emergency responders have resumed their search this morning near the middle ramp of the Minooka campground at Wilson Lake for a person reported missing late Tuesday afternoon.

According to Russell County Sheriff Fred Whitman, a 25-year-old man was reported missing about 4:34 p.m. Tuesday. A companion said he had not been seen for an hour at the time of the report.

He was kayaking on the north end of Lake Wilson. His kayak was found overturned.

Keith Haberer, Russell County emergency management coordinator, said emergency responders are gathering to assist in the search, and asked the public to avoid the area.

Around 10:30 p.m. the missing person was identified by the Russell County’s Sheriff’s office as Engel Rosario, 26, Lindsborg.

The area has suffered from flooding in recent months, but campsites near the ramp are set to open this week, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Kansas Highway Patrol plane was called in to aid in the search. According to a Hays Post reporter on scene, multiple law enforcement and fire department agencies were assisting in the search. Authorities from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Tourism and Parks, KHP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as Russell city and county law enforcement and fire are all aiding in the search.

No additional search personnel are needed at this time, Whitman said. Wilson Lake remains open to the public.

If the missing person is not located by nightfall, a law enforcement presence will remain in the area into the evening.

Law enforcement is searching on land and water via boat, ATV, foot and horseback, in addition to the KHP plane.

On July 31 last year, a Great Bend man died at the reservoir while trying to swim to a boat that floated away.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Hays Post reporter James Bell contributed to this report.

Fort Hays State football players and coach Chris Brown at MIAA Media Day

KANSAS CITY – Fort Hays State Coach Chris Brown and wide reciever Layne Bieberle and linebacker Kolt Trachsel addressed the media Wednesday in Kansas City for the annual MIAA Media Day.

 

Chris Brown

Kolt Trachsel

Layne Bieberle

City of Ellis opts to permanently close city pool

ELLIS — The city of Ellis announced in a news release Wednesday that, effective immediately, the Ellis Municipal Pool will be permanently closed.

“At the last Council meeting, it was reported that the pool is losing almost 30,000 gallons of water every 2-3 days. After further evaluation, the City reluctantly made the difficult decision to close,” the city said in a news release. “We apologize for the inconvenience. Our Splash Bash on Aug. 17 will go on as planned but our itinerary will be modified accordingly. Watch for our new flyer!”

Ellis is among three northwest Kansas communities that recently were awarded $1 million grants to construct a new public pool.

Check Hays Post for a more as details become available.

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