TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Norton located in Norton County.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on July 30 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
PAWNEE COUNTY – A Kansas man made a first appearance in the Pawnee County District Court on Tuesday morning on two counts of felony burglary and two counts of misdemeanor theft, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.
The defendant Thomas L. Robison, 20 of Larned, has been charged with the July 20 burglary of the State Theater in Larned, including theft of currency and gift certificates totaling $1,074. He is also charged in the July 25 burglary of a Subway restaurant in Larned and the theft of $405 in cash.
If convicted, the defendant faces a prison sentence between 11 months and 34 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections, depending on his criminal history, according to McNett.
Robison was arrested by the Larned Police Department at his home on July 26 without incident and is being held in the Pawnee County jail in lieu of $15,000 bond.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security issued a security alert Tuesday for small planes, warning that modern flight systems are vulnerable to hacking if someone manages to gain physical access to the aircraft.
photo courtesy Hutchinson Regional Airport
An alert from the DHS critical infrastructure computer emergency response team recommends that plane owners ensure they restrict unauthorized physical access to their aircraft until the industry develops safeguards to address the issue, which was discovered by a Boston-based cybersecurity company and reported to the federal government.
Most airports have security in place to restrict unauthorized access and there is no evidence that anyone has exploited the vulnerability. But a DHS official told The Associated Press that the agency independently confirmed the security flaw with outside partners and a national research laboratory, and decided it was necessary to issue the warning.
The cybersecurity firm, Rapid7, found that an attacker could potentially disrupt electronic messages transmitted across a small plane’s network, for example by attaching a small device to its wiring, that would affect aircraft systems.
Engine readings, compass data, altitude and other readings “could all be manipulated to provide false measurements to the pilot,” according to the DHS alert.
The warning reflects the fact that aircraft systems are increasingly reliant on networked communications systems, much like modern cars. The auto industry has already taken steps to address similar concerns after researchers exposed vulnerabilities.
The Rapid7 report focused only on small aircraft because their systems are easier for researchers to acquire. Large aircraft frequently use more complex systems and must meet additional security requirements. The DHS alert does not apply to older small planes with mechanical control systems.
But Patrick Kiley, Rapid7’s lead researcher on the issue, said an attacker could exploit the vulnerability with access to a plane or by bypassing airport security.
“Someone with five minutes and a set of lock picks can gain access (or) there’s easily access through the engine compartment,” Kiley said.
Jeffrey Troy, president of the Aviation Information Sharing and Analysis Center, an industry organization for cybersecurity information, said there is a need to improve the security in networked operating systems but emphasized that the hack depends on bypassing physical security controls mandated by law.
With access, “you have hundreds of possibilities to disrupt any system or part of an aircraft,” Troy said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that a scenario where someone has unrestricted physical access is unlikely, but the report is also “an important reminder to remain vigilant” about physical and cybersecurity aircraft procedures.
Aviation cybersecurity has been an issue of growing concern around the world.
In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s inspector general found that the FAA had “not completed a comprehensive, strategy policy framework to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks.” The FAA agreed and said it would look to have a plan in place by the end of September.
The UN’s body for aviation proposed its first strategy for securing civil aviation from hackers that’s expected to go before the General Assembly in September, said Pete Cooper, an ex-Royal Air Force fast jet pilot and cyber operations officer who advises the aviation industry.
The vulnerability disclosure report is the product of nearly two years of work by Rapid7. After their researchers assessed the flaw, the company alerted DHS. Tuesday’s DHS alert recommends manufacturers review how they implement these open electronics systems known as “the CAN bus” to limit a hacker’s ability to perform such an attack.
The CAN bus functions like a small plane’s central nervous system. Targeting it could allow an attacker to stealthily hijack a pilot’s instrument readings or even take control of the plane, according to the Rapid7 report obtained by The AP.
“CAN bus is completely insecure,” said Chris King, a cybersecurity expert who has worked on vulnerability analysis of large-scale systems. “It was never designed to be in an adversarial environment, (so there’s) no validation” that what the system is being told to do is coming from a legitimate source.
Only a few years ago, most auto manufacturers used the open CAN bus system in their cars. But after researchers publicly demonstrated how they could be hacked, auto manufacturers added on layers of security, like putting critical functions on separate networks that are harder to access externally.
The disclosure highlights issues in the automotive and aviation industries about whether a software vulnerability should be treated like a safety defect — with its potential for costly manufacturer recalls and implied liability — and what responsibility manufacturers should have in ensuring their products are hardened against such attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the reality that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate cybersecurity from security overall.
“A lot of aviation folks don’t see the overlap between information security, cybersecurity, of an aircraft, and safety,” said Beau Woods, a cyber safety innovation fellow with the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank. “They see them as distinct things.”
The CAN bus networking scheme was developed in the 1980s and is extremely popular for use in boats, drones, spacecraft, planes and cars — all areas where there’s more noise interference and it’s advantageous to have less wiring. It’s actually increasingly used in airplanes today due to the ease and cost of implementation, Kiley said.
Given that airplanes have a longer manufacturing cycle, “what we’re trying to do is get out ahead of this.”
The report didn’t name the vendors Rapid7 tested, but the company alerted them over a year ago, the report states.
James W. Betts, 81, Topeka, formerly of Russell, passed away Thursday, July 25, 2019.
Jim was born May 20, 1938 in Kansas City, MO, and was adopted by George and F. Nadine (Howard) Betts. The family moved to Geneso and lived there through Jim’s high school years. He graduated from Geneso High School in 1956 and attended Sterling College.
He served in the medical corps in the U.S. Navy.
Jim married Carolyn Joan Hartman on November 3, 1963. They moved to Wichita in 1964, where they both worked in the Wichita Clinic. They moved to Russell in 1966 and Jim took the position as the Chief Radiological Tech at the Russell Regional Hospital, retiring after 34 years of service.
Carolyn, his wife of 46 years, died May 26, 2000. Survivors include daughters, Jonette (Jeff) Penton, Topeka, Paula (Aaron) Marshall, Elkhorn, NE; grandchildren Connor and Lizzie Penton, Matthew and Caroline Marshall; and life partner, Peggy Hammerschmidt and family of Overland Park. He was also preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Judy Voeltz.
Cremation has taken place and a Graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at the Russell City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Russell Regional Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.
Dove Southwest Chapel is assisting with the Topeka arrangements. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.DoveTopeka.com
Sharon Kay (Minor) Noel, of Quinter, whose ever-present humor brightened the universe for all who knew and loved her, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, July 7th, 2019 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas.
Sharon was born on July 29th, 1941, in Lindsay, California, to Doyle and Velma (Haney) Minor. She was a 1959 graduate of Taft Union High School. She also pursued her interest in the medical field by attending classes at Taft Community College in 1960.
Upon graduating high school, Sharon spent the summer in Kansas visiting family, which is where she met and fell in love with her husband, Jerry Ivan Noel. They married on March 29th, 1962. During their marriage, they had two sons, Vincent and Jay.
Though their relationship turned out to be less permanent than either of them expected, in 1984, Sharon traveled back to the west coast to help out her mother, Velma Minor. Because of her love for Kansas, she moved back in 2000 upon her mother’s passing. While second chances in love rarely happen, it did for Sharon and Jerry, and in 2001 they rekindled their marriage.
Between the time she spent on the west coast and the plains of Kansas, Sharon became well-known in the Gove County community for her bright smile and helping hand. She was a scout leader, teacher’s aide, and fulfilled her interests in the medical field by working and volunteering at the Gove County Medical Center Hospital and Auxiliary.
Some of Sharon’s favorite pastimes were playing bingo, crocheting beautiful hats, scarves, and blankets for her beloved family, competing on the ladies bowling team and indulging in Hallmark movies.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry; brother Jim Minor and sister Doylene Doughty.
She is survived by sister, Janis Stevens (Beaumont, CA); sons, Vincent & Tracy Noel (Gove, KS), Jay & Michelle Noel (SanTan Valley, AZ); Stepsons Jeremy & Karen Noel (Wichita, KS), John Noel (San Diego, CA); and 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 am, Saturday, August 10th, 2019 at the United Methodist Church of Quinter.
Memorials can be made to the Gove County Medical Center Auxiliary or the United Methodist Church of Quinter, and are in the care of Schmitt Funeral Home 901 S. Main Quinter, KS 67752.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a cold-case murder in Saline County.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Roger Soldan and Lt. Mike Smith shared an update on what has been known as the “Miss Molly” murder case. The body of the unidentified woman was exhumed Monday morning from her grave in Gypsum Hill Cemetery in Salina and the FBI collected DNA evidence before she was reburied .
The woman was found dead in January of 1986 underneath the Mulberry Creek bridge on I-70 west of Salina. Sheriff Soldan said earlier this year the FBI was contacted by Interpol to see if DNA evidence could connect the woman back to a missing person report that had been considered earlier.
Soldan said it will be 6 to 8 months before results of the test will determine if she is the missing woman from Europe.
PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is seeking input from individuals who hunt waterfowl in Kansas through a series of public information meetings. KDWPT staff wish to reexamine current waterfowl regulations – including season dates and duck zone boundaries – utilizing the critical input waterfowl hunters have to share.
Public information meetings will be held in Hays (Aug. 5), Great Bend (Aug. 6), Wichita (Aug. 7), Manhattan (Aug. 12), Pittsburg (Aug. 13), and Kansas City (Aug. 14). Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., and all are welcome to attend. See below for meeting locations.
Should proposed changes arise as a result of the public meetings, staff will make a formal presentation to the KDWPT Commission for final action, beginning in November. All proposed changes that are voted on and approved by the Commission will then go into effect for the 2021-2022 waterfowl seasons.
Meeting locations are as follows:
August 5 – Hays
Ellis County Fairgrounds
1344 Fairground Rd
Hays, KS 67601
August 6 – Great Bend
Kansas Wetland Education Center
592 NE K-156 Hwy
Great Bend, KS 67530
August 7 – Wichita
Great Plains Nature Center
6232 E 29th St N
Wichita, KS 67220
August 12 – Manhattan
K-State Alumni Center
100 Alumni Center
1720 Anderson Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66506
August 13 – Pittsburg
Lamplighter Inn
4020 Parkview Dr
Pittsburg, KS 66762
August 14 – Kansas City
Cabela’s
10300 Cabela Drive
Kansas City, KS 66111
For more information, or to provide comments outside of the scheduled meeting times, contact KDWPT migratory game bird program manager Tom Bidrowski at (620) 566-1465 or [email protected].
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are conducting an ongoing drug investigation in Barton County and have made another arrest.
Morgan Krankenberg photo Barton Co.
Just before 10:30a.m. Monday, deputies executed a search warrant at 1217 Polk Street in Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
Upon entry into the residence officers discovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and prescription medication. They also arrested 20-year-old Morgan Krankenberg, of Great Bend on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine within intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful sale of prescription drugs.
She is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond, according to Bellendir.
Fort Hays State University’s Athletic Department is warning of a potential scam.
Assistant Athletic Director Matt Cook reported that FHSU supporters have been contacted and asked for donations.
“Please note the only person who would ask for donations from the FHSU Athletic Department is Matt,” the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce noted in a warning sent to members Tuesday morning. “If you are not not sure a caller is legitimate, please contact the FHSU Athletic office directly to verify.”
Police say officers responded around 2:30 p.m. Monday and found the body in a wooded area.
Police provided no information about the identity of the man. Police say his was severely decomposed so an autopsy will be needed to determine a cause of death.
KDHE
