Nearly $100K seized after Ellis County stop

WICHITA (AP) — Federal prosecutors have filed four cases seeking to keep more than $358,000 in suspected drug money recovered by Kansas officers in separate traffic stops on Interstate 70 in August and September.

The U.S. Attorney’s office filed the four cases involving traffic stops in Ellis, Ellsworth, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties.

In the most recent case filed Wednesday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper reportedly found $98,600 during a stop in Ellis County. The money was wrapped in rubber bands inside vacuum-sealed plastic bags hidden in a quarter panel.

Federal prosecutors filed four similar cases in June in Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Ellsworth and Chase counties.

The eight cases filed since June total about $884,000 in suspected drug money seized by law enforcement officers on interstate highways in Kansas.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

RUSSELL — At approximately 10:40 a.m. Thursday, Russell Fire and EMS were dispatched to 815 N. Main in Russell in response to reports of a structure fire.

“When crews arrived on scene, heavy smoke was coming from Northwest of the main entrance to The Mecca Plaza,” said Fire Chief Dylan Riedel. “Fire crews made entry into the structure and determined that the fire was burning in the underground tunnels that run below the sidewalk, in front of the businesses on Main Street.”

At 10:50 a.m., firefighters entered the basement with fire extinguishers and found heavy smoke in the tunnel.

By 10:56 a.m., a hose line was called in as the fire was reported as mostly out. It was reported as completely out by 11:10 a.m.

The cause of the fire is undetermined, Riedel said, noting the fire did not spread to any other area of the building outside the basement. Damage is estimated at $500. No injuries were reported.

“The City of Russell Fire Department would like to thank The Russell Police Department, Russell Grant Fire Department, Russell County EMS, Russell Electric Department, and Kansas Gas Service for their quick response,” Riedel said.

Did you know with any 8th Street Liquor purchase you can get your game day cups for tailgating?

Fort Hays State takes on Missouri Western on Sept. 12 and then Missouri Southern on Sept. 28 and we want to see photos of your 8th Street Liquor Cups out supporting your Tigers.

Take your best tailgate photo at the game or in the comfort of your home with your 8th street cup and upload here for your chance to win this Coors Ultimate Tailgate Grill!

Entries will be accepted through Sept. 29. Then we’ll let the community vote on their favorite tailgate photo Sept. 30 to Oct. 6!

Click HERE to enter your photo for a chance to win.

ELLIS — The Ellis Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament will be rescheduled to a later date, according to chamber representative Glen Keller.

The four-person scramble was scheduled for Friday at the Ellis Country Club.

 

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Girl Scouts will be taking over Big Creek Crossing the night of Saturday, Sept. 28, for its “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” night at the mall.

The event will include a visit from the Cosmosphere and the FHSU Maker’s Van. Girls of all ages and levels will be able to earn credit toward badges.

Girls will enjoy snacks, games, crafts, a movie and be able to lip synch with a live D.J. The night will be capped off with popcorn and a slumber party.

Check in for the event will be 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the event goes to 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Breakfast is provided.

You don’t have to be from Hays to participate, but you do have to be a registered Girl Scout. You can still register as a Girl Scout to attend the event. That can be done at www.girlscouts.org. The cost to register as a Girl Scout is $25. Scholarships are available and can be requested during registration.

If you are a registered Girl Scout, you can register on Ultracamp. Click here for a link and instructions on using the site. Deadline to register is Monday, Sept. 16.

Cost for the mall event is $25 for girls and $5 for adults. Daisy (kindergarten and first graders) and Brownies (second and third graders) are required to be accompanied by an adult chaperone at the event or attend with a troop that has an appropriate number of adult chaperones. Parent or guardian chaperones don’t have to be registered Girl Scout volunteers, but they need to registered for the event.

The mall will be open regular hours until 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, during the event.

If you have questions about this event or Scouts, you can call  1-888-686-6468 or visit the Hays office at 2707 Vine, Ste. 8 (behind Cervs). The Hays office is open from noon to 6 p.m. Mondays, noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays. You can also contact Monica Legleiter [email protected]g or through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GirlScoutMonica.

The event is sponsored by Girl Scout Service Unit 74, which includes Ellis, Trego, Ness, Russell and Gove counties.

PLAINVILLE — Following the homicide reported Tuesday in rural Rooks County, the Plainville Police Department announced this week it would be increasing patrols in residential areas of the community.

“As members of this community as well as being sworn to protect our citizens, we will do our best to make sure everyone here remains safe and protected,” the department said in a social media release.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) KS-CRIME or the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office at (785) 425-6312.

The KBIs’ investigation of the crime is ongoing.