SALINE COUNTY —A small earthquake shook portions of central Kansas Tuesday morning. The quake just before 4:30a.m. measured a magnitude 3.1 and was centered approximately 5 miles west of Solomon.
The quake was felt over a wide area. The Saline County Sheriff’s office said they received several calls about the quake. There were no reports of damage or injury.
LINN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Linn County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Edward W. Lewis, 56, Blue Mound, was eastbound on Kansas 31 Highway two miles west of Blue Mound.
The motorcycle crested a hill and rear-ended a 1999 Ford pickup driven by Jacob R. Robinson, 17, Mound City.
Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Schneider Funeral Home.
Robinson was not injured. Lewis was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.
ELLSWORTH COUNTY —Emergency responders are currently searching near the middle ramp of the Minooka campground at Wilson Lake for a person reported missing just before 5 p.m. Tuesday.
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.
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.
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.
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A third Kansas man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the death of a Joplin, Missouri, man during a robbery.
Twenty-one-year-old Azaiah Forester, of Columbus, Kansas, was sentenced Monday in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Taven Williams in January 2017.
Williams was killed when the three suspects and a fourth unidentified person went to the Joplin home of Paul Haney to rob Haney of marijuana. Williams was shot when he tried to help Haney, who survived a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
Two other defendants from Columbus, 21-year-old Brock Robinson and 24-year-old Erik Jones, were each sentenced previously to 15 years in prison.
Robinson claimed it was Jones who shot and killed Williams.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Max Falkenstien, the affable and silver-tongued “Voice of the Jayhawks” who brought Kansas football and basketball into the homes of fans for six decades, died Monday. He was 95.
The school announced his death in a statement. No cause was given.
Falkenstien did his first broadcast of a Kansas basketball game during the 1946 NCAA Tournament in Kansas City, where the Jayhawks played Oklahoma A&M. He took over as the play-by-play voice the following spring, and would hold the job for 39 years before switching to the commentator’s role in 1984.
He retired from Jayhawk Radio Network broadcasts after the 2005-06 basketball season.
“I’ve known Max since 1985, and back then, even being young in the profession, I quickly realized that Max was as big a part of the great history of KU basketball and football as the players and coaches were,” Jayhawks basketball coach Bill Self said. “He was an absolute joy to be around, and he will be remembered as an absolute treasure. He was loved by everyone.”
Falkenstien was a banker by trade, retiring from the Douglas County Bank in Lawrence in 1994. But his passion was broadcasting the Jayhawks, and fans across the country simply adored him.
He’s the only non-player to have a jersey — No. 60 — hanging in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse.
“He was one of a kind,” former basketball coach Larry Brown, who guided the Jayhawks to the 1988 national title. “When I got the job at Kansas, coach (Dean) Smith told me about all the great people at KU, the love they had for the school and for basketball. When you talk about those great people, and everyone connected with all that tradition, Max is one of the first people you think about.”
Falkenstien, whose father worked for Kansas Athletics for 33 years, was born and raised in Lawrence and enlisted in the Army Air Corps after high school. He earned a mathematics degree from Kansas in 1948, a full two years after he was on the microphone for his first basketball game.
Falkenstien also did TV play-by-play commentary for the Big Eight’s basketball game of the week in the 1960s and ’70s, and for three decades he hosted football and basketball coaches’ shows for everyone from Pepper Rodgers and Mike Gottfried to Ted Owens and Roy Williams.
“Just the mention of his name will always make me smile,” Williams said.
His last football broadcast came in 2005, the Jayhawks’ win over Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl, and his final basketball broadcast came on March 17, 2006, when Bradley upset Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Over those 60 years, Falkenstien’s downhome voice broadcast games featuring the likes of Gale Sayers and John Riggins, Wilt Chamberlain and Danny Manning.
Falkenstien continued to sit courtside for home basketball games for many more years.
“His personal touch made every fan, player, coach and administrator feel like they were part of the KU family,” Self said. “I hope Max realized the positive impact he had on KU and everyone connected with it. He’ll be missed but his legacy will never be forgotten.”
Falkenstien is survived by his wife of 70 years, Isobel. The couple had two children, Kurt and Jane, along with three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have three suspects in custody.
Just after 2 a.m. Monday police responded to report of a shooting in the 2400 Block of East Shadybrook in Wichita, according to office Charley Davidson. Upon arrival police found a 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his foot. EMS transported him to a local hospital for treatment.
Investigators learned a disturbance occurred outside a home in the 2400 Block of East Shadybrook between the victim and Broderick Lloyd when a gun was fired. Lloyd left the scene in a grey Pontiac. A short time later, officer located and stopped the vehicle in the area of 17th and Hillside, according to Davidson.
During the traffic stop, officer contacted two 18-year-old females in the front and suspects Lloyd, 18-year-old Adonis Dailey, 18, and 19-year-old Deandre Greenley in the back. Officers also found drugs and a gun in the vehicle.
Police arrested Dailey on requested charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, Greenley of Shawnee, OK., on requested charges of possession of marijuana and Lloyd, 19, on a requested charge of aggravated battery, according to Davidson.
Police do not know if the incident is gang related. The two teenage women were not arrested, according to Davidson.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The former leader of a national disability rights group has become the first Republican candidate seeking to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas.
Sara Hart Weir kicked off her campaign Monday in the 3rd Congressional District in the Kansas City area. She served more than four years as president and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society before stepping down earlier this year.
The 37-year-old Weir touted her work on legislation in 2014 to create savings accounts with tax advantages for the disabled and their families.
Davids is the only Kansas Democrat in Congress. She ousted Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder last year and gained national attention as a Native American and LGBTQ lawmaker.
Former Kansas Republican Party Chairwoman Amanda Adkins also is considering running for the seat.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent two teenage brothers to the hospital.
Just after 8p.m. Sunday, police responded to a walk-in shooting call at Via Christi St. Francis, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Investigators have learned that two brothers ages 17 and 19 were outside their residence in the 2300 Block of North Mascot in Wichita. A white Chrysler 300 occupied by four individuals approached the residence. One suspect exited the car and fired shots. The 17-year-old was wounded in the abdomen and the 19-year-old in his foot, according to Davidson.
They have been treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police don’t believe the shooting was a random incident and are asking the public to help with additional information that could lead to an arrest. Police did not release any suspect information Monday.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Keith Reaser, who emerged as one of the stars of the brief Alliance of American Football, hurt his Achilles tendon during practice Monday and could miss the season.
Reaser was fourth on the depth chart behind Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland and Charvarius Ward, but the cousin of late Redskins defensive back Sean Taylor was likely to make the team.
In other injury news from the Chiefs’ first padded practice, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz left early when his back locked up and wide receiver Gehrig Dieter departed practice with back spasms.
Running back Damien Williams and safety Jordan Lucas remained sidelined by hamstring injuries, while Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Breeland could return soon after having stitches for a lacerated thumb.
The Chiefs practice again Tuesday and Wednesday before getting their first day off Thursday.
HUTCHINSON — Residents in the Hutchinson area affected by flooding will not receive financial relief from the damage caused.
According to Adam Weishaar with Reno County Emergency Management, the area did not sustain enough damage to qualify for FEMA individual assistance or low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration.
Weishaar says the area and the state fell well short of FEMA help although the area easily hit the needed threshold for public assistance, which is used by governments to repair infrastructure.
Weishaar also tried to secure the low-interest loans from the SBA, but most homes didn’t qualify. To be eligible, a home or business must have suffered damage totaling 40% of its value. Fewer than 25 properties in the area hit that mark.
LIMA, Peru – Former Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball standout Dominique Jones and Team USA teammates Jon Octeus, Kareem Maddox, and Sheldon Jeter stood victorious atop the medal podium for 3×3 Basketball on Monday (July 29) at the Pan American games. The USA defeated Brazil 21-13 in the semifinals and defeated Puerto Rico 21-19 in the finals to earn the gold medal. The United States swept gold in 3×3 basketball overall as the women’s squad defeated Argentina in the finals.
Jones led Team USA in overall scoring for the tournament with 50 points. His two highest scoring efforts of 12 points each occurred against Venezuela and Argentina in the preliminary round. He scored at least five points in six contests and led the team in scoring in five of the seven games Team USA played throughout the Pan American Games. 3×3 basketball is played on a half court with a 10-minute clock, and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation. This was the first year for the sport at the Pan American Games and it will be a sport at the Olympics in 2020.
Team USA bounced back on Monday after taking three tough losses in the preliminary round by two points or less. They avenged preliminary round losses to both Brazil and Puerto Rico in bracket play that determine medals.
Jones has enjoyed a tremendous professional career on the FIBA 3×3 Basketball World Tour. He is currently holds a No. 2 national ranking in the FIBA points system for players from the United States on the World Tour, and sits among the top 30 players in the world. Jones has helped his 3×3 team from New York/Harlem to over 10 team titles in FIBA World Tour tournaments over the past five years. Jones can now add a gold medal for representing the United States to his tremendous list of accomplishments during his basketball career.
Jones was a two-year standout player at Fort Hays State from 2009-2011, helping the Tigers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances as the team’s point guard. He nearly scored 1,000 points in his two years, finishing with 983. He also averaged 5.1 assists per game in his career, good for fifth-best in program history with a total of 324. Tiger fans also remember him for his unique one-handed free-throw shooting style, as he shot 80 percent at the line in his career at FHSU. He shot 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point line, draining 132 shots from long range.
Jones was an NABC All-America selection as a senior at FHSU in 2010-11 with 592 points and 207 assists for the season (17.9 ppg, 6.3 apg). He was a two-time All-MIAA First Team selection and helped guide the Tigers to an MIAA Tournament Championship in 2011. He helped the team to a record of 49-14 over the two years, reaching No. 3 in the NABC national rankings both seasons. He is one of four players to earn All-America honors under current FHSU head coach Mark Johnson.
Ivan Leon Mettscher, The Family Barber, joined his Savior in heaven on July 26, 2019 at the University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus at the grand age of 91. Ivan was born on April 1, 1928 in Hudson Kansas. He was the son of Henry (Hank) George and Pearl (Clark) Mettscher. Ivan’s life professions included working for Hudson Dealer and Rivers Shoe Store in Larned. In 1951 he moved to Great Bend and worked for 10 years as a driller on oil rigs for several major oil companies.
With the desire to spend more time with his family he entered and graduated from Barber School in Wichita, Kansas. After working for the Uptown Barber Shop behind the Ralph Wallace Café for several weeks he was recruited by Clem Lang to work in the Family Barber Shop on North Washington. After three years Ivan purchased the shop and continued for 52 years as a Barber Stylist cutting and styling the hair of 3 and sometimes 4 generations of families. He loved people and used his time cutting their hair to get to know them. He never met a stranger and was always there when help was needed.
In 1964 he joined the Noon Lions Club and was involved in establishing the first student scholarship at Barton Community College given by the club. He served on the Lions board and as Scoutmaster of Troop 150 sponsored by the Lions Club. His son Randall received his Eagle and Order of the Arrow awards while Ivan was Scoutmaster. Along with other scoutmasters and district scout executive Charles Gunn, Ivan helped establish the Cheyenne Scoutland south of Great Bend on the Arkansas River as the area Boy Scout campground and Camp Aldrich for the Girl Scouts from funding willed for the scouts in the Aldrich estate. Later Ivan was leader of only the second Boy Scout Explorer Post in Motorcycling in the USA.
Ivan served as President of Barton Lake and President of the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corp Booster Club. Ivan loved his church family and spent many years serving his church, The First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend, as Sunday school teacher, board member, and as an usher until 2017.
After retirement Ivan spent 17 summers in their fifth wheel in the South Fork Colorado Fun Valley Campground making friends from all over the USA. During this time he started wood burning and making canes and walking sticks from Aspen trees grown in the high country. Soon his canes were scattered across the nation and he took great joy in making canes for local friends.
Ivan dearly loved his family. They always came first. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, taking many road trips, including his longest trip to Jasper, Canada. He loved his Honda Gold Wing and never gave up sharing his joy of the road. He was a big fan of KU Basketball and the KC Royals and enjoyed watching their games on TV and in person. He enjoyed cars and working on them to keep them in top running order. In later years he became a great story teller sharing all his escapades in life.
Ivan spent his last 4 and a half years living with his daughter Vicky and son-in-law Norman on their wooded acreage working outside, enjoying the deer and the turkey that visited their pond by the house.
Ivan is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha, brother Marvin Mettscher of Hutchinson, daughter, Vicky Dayton and husband Norman Dayton of rural Ellinwood, Grandson Ryan Dayton of Great Bend, Grandson Eric Dayton, his wife Nikki, Great grandson Liam Ivan Dayton and Great Granddaughter Loryn Linn Dayton all of Lawrence, Kansas, daughter in law Lisa Mettscher of Montrose, Colorado and granddaughter Randi Mettscher of Balmorhea, Texas. Ivan was preceded in death by his parents and son Randall.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for 1 PM, Friday, August 2nd, 2019, at the Great Bend First Church of the Nazarene, 4811 Broadway with Pastor Josh Foster officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be given to the Nazarene Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
By DAVE RIGGERT
St. Joseph Post
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their third practice of training camp Monday morning at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. It was their first practice in full pads and head coach Andy Reid, wide receiver Sammy Watkins and defensive end Frank Clark spoke to the media afterwards.
