Three-day weather outlook
Month: July 2019
Lakes in Rooks, Norton counties remain in warning status for algae
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), continues to issue public health warnings for six lakes due to blue-green algae and four lakes currently are on watch status. One new lake was added to the watch list today, Rock Garden Pond, located in Shawnee County.
Current Warnings:
Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (unchanged)
Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County (unchanged)
Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Norton County (unchanged)
Marion Reservoir, Marion County (unchanged)
Gathering Pond near Milford (Hatchery Supply Pond), Geary County (unchanged)
Webster Lake (Webster Reservoir), Rooks County (unchanged)
When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
- Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
- Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
- Water contact should be avoided.
- Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
- Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
- If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
- Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.
Current Watches:
Rock Garden Pond, Shawnee County (NEW 7/3/19)
Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County (unchanged)
Marion County Lake, Marion County (unchanged)
Strowbridge (Carbondale East), Osage County (unchanged)
A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.
During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
- Signage will be posted at all public access locations
- Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
- Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
- Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms
- Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
- Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.
KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.
Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.
For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.
Zebra mussels found in Lyon State Fishing Lake
KDWPT
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has confirmed the presence of invasive zebra mussels in Lyon State Fishing Lake in Lyon County. Routine samples collected by KDWPT Aquatic Nuisance Species staff to detect zebra mussels were found to contain zebra mussel larvae (also called veligers). Upon finding the veligers, staff returned to the lake and located an established population of adult zebra mussels. Similar sampling is conducted by KDWPT at more than 100 waterbodies across the state.
The 135-acre lake is located 12 miles north and two miles east of Emporia on Rd 270. Lyon State Fishing Lake is owned and operated by KDWPT. The lake and surrounding wildlife area are popular destinations for fishing, hunting, hiking, and a variety of other outdoor-related activities.
While the zebra mussel population is currently small, there is no known method to completely rid a lake of this invasive species. The zebra mussels were likely introduced by “hitchhiking” with un-suspecting lake-goers. Adults are able to attach to boats or other equipment and the microscopic zebra mussel veligers may be present in any water originating from an infested lake or stream. Densities as high as 1,000 veligers per gallon have been recorded in Kansas waters.
“This is the first new population of zebra mussels found in the state in 18 months, which is the longest period of time between new lake infestations since 2006. While it is unfortunate that zebra mussels have been spread to a new lake, I remain hopeful that these occurrences will be less frequent as more people have become aware of zebra mussels, their impacts, and how to prevent moving them,” said Chris Steffen, aquatic nuisance species coordinator for KDWPT.
Lyon State Fishing Lake will be added to the list of ANS-designated waters in Kansas, and notices will be posted at various locations around the waterbody. Live fish may not be transported from ANS-designated waters. The sharp-shelled zebra mussels attach to solid objects, so lake-goers should be careful when handling mussel-encrusted objects and when grabbing an underwater object when they can’t see what their hands may be grasping. Visitors should protect their feet when walking on underwater or shoreline rocks.
Zebra mussels are just one of the non-native aquatic species that threaten our waters and native wildlife. After using any body of water, people must remember to follow regulations and precautions that will prevent their spread:
- Clean, drain and dry boats and equipment between uses
- Use wild-caught bait only in the lake or pool where it was caught
- Do not move live fish from waters infested with zebra mussels or other aquatic nuisance species
- Drain livewells and bilges and remove drain plugs from all vessels prior to transport from any Kansas water on a public highway.
For more information about aquatic nuisance species in Kansas, report a possible ANS, or see a list of ANS-designated waters, visit ProtectKSWaters.org.
ABOUT ZEBRA MUSSELS
Zebra mussels are dime-sized mollusks with striped, sharp-edged, two-part shells. They can produce huge populations in a short time and do not require a host fish to reproduce. A large female zebra mussel can produce 1 million eggs, and then fertilized eggs develop into microscopic veligers that are invisible to the naked eye. Veligers drift in the water for at least two weeks before they settle out as young mussels which quickly grow to adult size and reproduce within a few months.
After settling, zebra mussels develop byssal threads that attach their shells to submerged hard surfaces such as rocks, piers, and flooded timber. They also attach to pipes, water intake structures, boat hulls, propellers, and submerged parts of outboard motors. As populations increase, they can clog intake pipes and prevent water treatment and electrical generating plants from drawing water. In 2012, two Kansas communities, Council Grove and Osage City, experienced temporary water shortages from zebra mussel infestations before water intake structures could be cleaned up. Removing large numbers of zebra mussels to ensure adequate water flow can be labor-intensive and costly.
Zebra mussels are native to the Black and Caspian seas of western Asia and eastern Europe and were spread around the world in the ballast water of cargo ships. They were discovered in Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River in 1988 and quickly spread throughout the Great Lakes and other rivers including the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas and Hudson. They were first discovered in Kansas in 2003 at El Dorado Reservoir. Despite public education efforts to alert boaters about the dangers of zebra mussels and how to prevent spreading them, the species continues to show up in new lakes every year. Moving water in boats and bait buckets has been identified as a likely vector.
The Post Podcast: Regular visits to an optometrist vital to vision health
Kan. teenager killed in early morning accident in Butler County
BUTLER COUNTY — A Greenwood County teenager was killed early Wednesday morning in a two-vehicle accident.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Toyota Corolla driven by Matthew C. Crouch, 19, Climax, was westbound on U.S. 400 when the car crossed the centerline.
The Toyota struck a 2015 Ford F450 driven by Steven K. Simpson, Cottonwood Falls. The KHP said weather conditions might have contributed to the accident.
Crouch was transported to a local funeral home. Simpson was not hospitalized, but the KHP reported a suspected minor injury.
Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.
Suspect in Ellis stolen vehicle case wanted on nationwide warrant
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
ELLIS – A vehicle reported stolen from a residence in Ellis on Tuesday has been recovered, and the suspect has been caught after being identified while walking near a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in Logan County.
The suspect, Cruz Morrell, was found to be wanted on a nationwide search warrant from South Dakota, according to Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates.
Somewhere between 11:30 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday, a 2001 Buick was stolen from a driveway in a neighborhood on the south side of Ellis, Yates said. The vehicle was unlocked with the keys inside the center console.
“How this vehicle was chosen, I have no idea,” Yates said. Where Morrell was located prior to the theft and what his intentions were are also unknown at this time.
After taking the vehicle, Morrell drove west on U.S. 40 out of Ellis, stopping at a Winona gas station where he allegedly stole fuel.
He then turned around and headed back east on U.S. 40, ultimately ending up getting the car stuck on a county road, Yates said.
Morrell then abandoned the vehicle and began walking in Logan County.
While walking, he passed near a state trooper who recognized him from footage from the gas station and was arrested, Yates said.
The Ellis Police Department was following the reports from Logan County after a partial match had been made on the license plate number from the vehicle at the gas station.
Once a positive identification was made, Yates took custody of Morrell from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.
“We later found through interview and investigation … he had a nationwide warrant out of South Dakota,” Yates said.
The warrant has been served, and Morrell is currently in the Ellis County jail on felony vehicle theft charges. Yates said he will be extradited, but he did not know when that may occur.
Morrell is listed as an absconder from parole on the South Dakota Department of Corrections website.
In August 2016, he was sentenced to four years and three3 months for fourth-offense driving under the influence. In October 2017, he was also convicted of receiving and/or transporting a stolen vehicle.
Two years of his sentence was suspended, and Morrell was released on parole in April of last year. His suspended sentence release date was scheduled for Aug. 17.
R.H. ‘Dick’ Taggart
R.H. “Dick” Taggart, age 95, formerly of Hays, Kansas passed away Monday, July 1, 2019 at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, KS.
Dick was born on a farm near Olpe, Kansas to Logan Coyd and Dessie Almira (Oakley) Taggart on April 7, 1924. The family moved to Wichita, KS in 1935 where he attended public schools. He served three years in WWII as a Radar Technician with the 310th Bomb Group 57th Wing 12th Air Force of the United States Army Air Corps in Europe.
He obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering after attending WSU and K-State and moved to Hays, KS in 1950 to work for the Central Kansas Power Company until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Hays Masonic Lodge #195 A.F. and A.M., the United Methodist Church and was a charter member of the Hays Optimist Club. He was active in community programs for the Boy Scouts of America, youth baseball, and softball. His hobbies were golfing, fishing, hunting and woodworking.
He married Margaret Louise Parham on December 27, 1946. They later divorced. Together they had four children. He later married Esther Jane Owen on November 22, 1967, with four children.
Dick is survived by four sons: Thomas (Janet) Taggart, Bunker Hill, KS; R. Bruce (Germaine) Taggart, Hays, KS; Lonnie R. (Annie) Hill, Kipp, KS; William P. Hill, Tallahassee, FL; four daughters: Connie S. Taggart, Shawnee Mission, KS; Phyllis L. (Steve) Shipley, Gladstone, MO; Tamara K. (Joseph) Vega, Pueblo, CO; and Theresa F. Hill (Ty Rupp), Ellis, KS. Fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Esther, and brothers: D. Coyd, Dale L. and William A. Taggart.
Memorial services will be 10 AM on Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment with Military Honors provided by Hays VFW Post No.: 9076 will follow the services in the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens, Hays, KS.
Memorials are suggested to the Hays Community Assistance Center.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Norton native named assistant secretary of Kan. Department of Agriculture
MANHATTAN — Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam announced this week that Kelsey Olson has been named Assistant Secretary of Agriculture at the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Olson began serving in the new role on July 1.
“I’m excited to add Kelsey to the team,” said Secretary Beam. “Her knowledge of the diverse agriculture sectors in Kansas, experiences with constituent services, and passion for rural Kansas makes her a perfect fit at the Kansas Department of Agriculture.”
Olson will assist in leading the agency by serving as a liaison between the agency and industry stakeholders, assisting the Secretary with attendance and participation to meeting/event invitations, participating in regulatory and legislative policy deliberations, and coordinating special projects and initiatives of KDA.
Olson has been with Syngenta in Junction City since 2010, specializing in portfolio management, trend analysis, investing and sales within the agriculture industry. She also worked in the office of U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran as a district agricultural representative.
Olson grew up in Norton, Kansas, then attended Kansas State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in international agribusiness and master’s degree in agricultural economics. She resides in Manhattan with her husband, Casey, and their two children.
Bertha May Yvonne ‘Snooky’ Rorick
Bertha May Yvonne “Snooky” Rorick, 96, died Monday, July 1, 2019 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. She was born February 3, 1923 in Garfield, Kansas the daughter of Glenwood Y. & Edith (Mohn) York.
On March 16, 1941, Snooky married Guy Wesley Rorick. That Sunday afternoon, they went to the home of the Justice of the Peace, and then were married at the Stanton County Courthouse in Johnson, Kansas. This union lasted seventy two years. Throughout their marriage they lived primarily in southwest Kansas and Colorado. Snooky has been a resident of Garden City since 2015. A homemaker, she enjoyed music and reading.
Survivors include four children Marsha Jacquart of LaJunta, Colorado, Sally (Larry) Martin of Garden City, Kansas, Shawn (John) Brack of McCracken, Kansas, and Shane (Audra) Rorick of Ellinwood, Kansas; a sister Pat Wise of Russell, Kansas; nineteen grandchildren; thirty eight great-grandchildren; and ten great great-grandchildren. Snooky is preceded in death by her husband, Guy who died on March 6, 2013. She is also preceded in death by her parents; a son Gary Don Rorick; a brother Gale York; granddaughter Lana Melane Rorick; and son-in-law Robin Jacquart.
A private family service will take place at a later date. There will be no calling hours. The family suggests memorials given to the American Diabetes Association or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation both in care of Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lockwood
Gerald “Jerry” Lockwood passed away on July 1, 2019 at the age of 84. He was born at King Hill, Idaho on February 23, 1935 to George and Ruth (Dobbins) Lockwood.
Jerry was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the cold war (1956 – 1958). He was assigned to both the 3rd and then the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiments.
He was united in marriage to Joan Heskett on December 16, 1960. To this union was born two sons, Kevin and Kenton Lockwood. The couple moved to Wichita, Kansas where Jerry was employed by Motive Parts Warehouse as district manager of sales for most of western Kansas. The family then moved to Great Bend, Kansas in 1971 where Jerry became an owner of Parts, Inc.
Jerry suffered a stroke on May 4, 2006, just a few months before he planned to retire. He loved the outdoors, hunting, photography, and vacationing in the Rockies. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and a founding member of the Kiowa Gun Club of Great Bend.
Survivors include his wife Joan; sons, Kevin and wife Wendy Lockwood, and Kenton and wife Cynthia Lockwood, all of Great Bend; grandchildren whom he loved very much, Thomas and wife Brittany Lockwood, Ashley Lockwood, SPC Ethan Lockwood U.S. Army, Joanna Lockwood; one brother, Robert and wife Joan Lockwood of Denver, Colorado.
Celebration of Life Services will be 2 p.m., Friday July 12, 2019 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, Hoisington, with Rev. Don Fisher presiding. Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
Police find wanted Kan. man hiding under comforter
SALINA — A Salina man wanted on several district court warrants was located by police hiding under a comforter in a bedroom in the north part of town.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said Wednesday that officers were dispatched to the 600 block of North 13th after police received a call that Ernest Outland, Jr., 30, was sitting in a driveway in that block. When police got there, Outland was not in sight, but after making contact with the resident at the address where he was seen, police obtained permission to search the residence, Forrester said. It was then that Outland was found hiding under a comforter in a bedroom of the residence, Forrester added. Additionally, Outland was found to be in possession of a small amount of cocaine, Forrester noted.
Forrester said that in addition to the active warrants — one for probation violation-aggravated battery and two violation of protection orders out of Saline County District Court — Outland was arrested on suspicion of the following.
- Possession of a stimulant
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Felony interference with a law enforcement officer
Hot dog champ Joey Chestnut: I’ll ‘do what it takes’ to win
Eleven-time champion Joey Chestnut says he expects this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest to be ‘a battle’
NEW YORK (AP) – Eleven-time champion Joey Chestnut says he expects this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest to be “a battle.”
But the 35-year-old Chestnut said Wednesday that he’ll “find a rhythm and do what it takes” to win the Fourth of July eat-off in Brooklyn’s beachside Coney Island neighborhood.
Chestnut joined other competitors at the Empire State Building for the weigh-in for Thursday’s contest.
Chestnut weighed in at 216.5 pounds (98 kilos), while defending women’s champion Miki Sudo weighed 114 pounds (52 kilos).
Chestnut ate 74 wieners and buns to claim the 2018 title. Sudo ate 37 to triumph on the women’s side.
Thursday’s top five winners of each gender will split $40,000. The two first-place winners will each earn $10,000.
UPDATE: Pair of Hays teens reported as missing located
UPDATE: As of approximately 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, the juveniles had been located. No other information is known at this time.
A pair of Hays teenagers have been reported missing after running away together.
“We know they took off together between 1 and 5 (a.m.) last night,” said Ariel’s mother, Ashley Neuburger.
Family members reported to Hays Post that the vehicle Ariel Neuburger, 13, and Lyndon Huxman, 16, were traveling in was found around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in Orchard Park in Hutchinson.
Amy Huxman, Lydon’s mother, said the vehicle was equipped with OnStar and was located in Hays at 1:30 a.m. and was in Hutchinson by 4:30 a.m.
The vehicle was reportedly taken from Huxman’s grandmother and was impounded by Hutchinson Police, according to Neuburger.
Clothes were found in the car, along with guns that were allegedly taken by Huxman from his parents, Neuburger said.
“I think they had every intention to go back to the vehicle,” Huxman said noting it was locked when it was found.
Law enforcement from Ellis County and Hutchinson are currently working to locate the pair.
Family members are sharing posters of the children and Neuburger said the Center for Missing and Exploited Children are also making flyers to help in the search.
Neuburger said she did not know why the pair would be in Hutchinson.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
Hays Post will update the story as more information becomes available.