We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Year: 2019

Grand opening for Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery will be Saturday

Posted on

WILSON — The past several months have seen a flurry of activity at Kansas Originals Market as the Post Rock Opportunities Foundation continues to make improvements that will attract more visitors to the Wilson location.

On Saturday, June 22, a grand opening will be held for Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery, which will be providing wine tasting and sales from a location inside of Kansas Originals.

“Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery is classified as a Kansas Farm Winery offering a local artisan product, said Brock Ebert, co-owner. “The grapes are grown in Kansas and all of the wine is made at the Salina Winery facility. That makes us a good fit for Kansas Originals. … There are approximately 13,000 vehicles a day that travel on I-70 past Wilson. We are going to offer them another reason to stop.”

The grand opening will also feature Wickedly Good baked items from the new Coffee Shop that is being developed as part of Kansas Originals. Among the specialty items offered so far are Breakfast Burritos by Juanita Rodrigez, Cherry Danish by Charlett Bruce, and Cream Puffs and Kolaches by Carolyn Herber.

The Post Rock Opportunities Foundation continually works to fulfill their mission to promote Kansas Artists, Craftsmen and food producers as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary since becoming incorporated and recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.

“Wilson has so many great businesses and attractions including the fabulous World’s Largest Czech Egg, the restored Midland Railroad Hotel, specialty meats at Wilson Foods, a working soda fountain at Grandma’s Soda Shop, great art at the Wilson Mercantile, outstanding pies at Made From Scratch, and a step into the 1950’s hamburger joint at the Snack Shack,” said Margery Lawson, a founder and CEO of the foundation. “When we get travelers to stop, we then send them throughout the area by giving them the information they need to go into Wilson, Lucas, visit the lake and stay in the area.”

Kansas Originals is a state sanctioned Tourist Information Center for the area offering over 100 tourism related brochures, pamphlets and magazines.

“When you think about it, the interstate is full of travelers and many of them are looking for something to do, they don’t have a clue what they are missing if we don’t get them off the highway so we can give them the information they need to start traveling in Post Rock Country,” Lawson said. “They don’t know what they are missing until we tell them.”

The Foundation will be hosting more events to celebrate its 30th year including an Artist’s Extravaganza and Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

— Submitted

Man ‘mad as hell’ after state shuts down ‘moving while black’ bias case

Posted on

By ROXANA HEGEMAN Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A black man who was detained by police while moving into his home said Wednesday that Kansas regulators investigated his racial bias complaint and closed the case with no further action.

Police body camera image of the incident courtesy Tonganoxie Police

“I’m mad as hell,” Karle Robinson told The Associated Press of the letter that he shared with the news organization.

Robinson was held at gunpoint and handcuffed in August 2018 as he was carrying a television out of a rented moving van in the middle of the night into the home he had bought a month earlier in Tonganoxie, about 30 miles west of Kansas City. Robinson also alleged police harassed him for weeks after the incident, and that the police chief blocked him from filing a racial bias complaint with the department.

Police video shows Robinson told the officer who handcuffed him and held him at gunpoint that he had paperwork inside that would prove he owned the home. Later, a second responding officer entered the home, brought out the paperwork and took the handcuffs off. The officers helped Robinson carry the TV inside the house after he asked them to help.

Police told Robinson there had been a string of burglaries in the area. An officer can be heard on the body camera video apologizing to Robinson and saying, “If you look at the situation, I think, I think you get it.” The officers thanked Robinson for his cooperation, the video shows.

The 61-year-old Marine veteran received a brief letter last week from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training. The Kansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union — which has called the incident a case of “moving while black” — initially filed the complaint on Robinson’s behalf with the Kansas attorney general’s office, and they in turn referred it to the commission.

Their three-sentence-long letter, dated June 4 and signed by investigator Michael Oliver, informed Robinson that the agency’s investigative committee met on May 29 to consider the policing complaint and that, after careful review, the case was closed with no further action.

Robinson said he expected that result because “this is just a bunch of white men in a room, a bunch of former cops.”

Tonganoxie Police Chief Greg Lawson did not immediately return a message for comment, but he issued a statement in March saying the safety of people who live in the town and those visiting it is important to the department, and the officers and other staff have all “pledged to serve the community with honor and the highest degree of professionalism.”

The Kansas police commission’s executive director, Gary Steed, cited a Kansas statute that prohibits him from discussing confidential investigations or even confirming their existence. If they take action on a complaint, those are posted on their website.

The Kansas attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The town of 5,400 in northeastern Kansas is 97 percent white, census figures show.

The incident involving Robinson is one of the latest examples of situations in which law enforcement officers have had encounters or confrontations with African-Americans over their own belongings. In the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, city officials approved a $1.25 million settlement with a black man who sued after police tackled him and arrested him for stealing a car that turned out to be his own.

After receiving the letter from the policing commission, Robinson told AP he plans to meet later this week with Lauren Bonds, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas, to discuss possible litigation.

“I am not letting this go,” he said.

Hutchinson Zoo director details damages from flooding

Posted on

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Hutchinson Zoo director Ryan VanZant says flooding in May covered more than one-third of the zoo.

Flooding at the zoo in Hutchinson

The zoo — except for the gift shop and train — has been closed since May 21 after consecutive storms caused water to rise at the zoo.

VanZant said in a Facebook post Wednesday that five buildings and two playgrounds were affected by flood waters. He said staff moved animals to safety ahead of the rising water and built temporary housing where the animals are being kept while waiting for the water to recede and the cleanup to begin.

A Facebook fundraiser has been started to help cleanup costs.

The Hutchinson Friends of the Zoo says the goal is to raise $10,000 before Family Fun Day on Aug. 17.

Kansas Regents vote to keep tuition flat at Kansas universities

Posted on

Resident undergraduate tuition to remain flat at the six state universities in 2020

Kansas Board of Regents

(Topeka, Kan.) – The Kansas Board of Regents voted today to keep undergraduate tuition at the six state universities flat for Kansas residents in Fiscal Year 2020.

“The Board believes that keeping tuition flat was incredibly important for Kansas families,” said KBOR Chair Dennis Mullin. “Education beyond high school offers students the best chance at building successful and fulfilling careers. This vote will help keep our state universities affordable and accessible.”

For Fiscal Year 2020, KBOR requested $50 million in restored funding for state universities, which had experienced multiple state funding cuts during the past decade. The Legislature added $34 million to state universities this year, but the universities remain $31 million below the 2009 level of state funding.

“We are very thankful to the Governor and Legislature for the partial restoration of funding, but it’s important to remember that this was only a first step,” said Regent Mullin. “State universities are having to find efficiencies and make difficult decisions next year to keep their tuition flat. I believe that these tough decisions will be worth it to keep our universities affordable for Kansas families, but continued investment by the Legislature will be critical in the coming years.”

One of the primary responsibilities of the Board of Regents, as defined in state law, is to set tuition and fees at state universities. The full tuition and fee rates for Fiscal Year 2020 are available here.

 

Kansas woman admits recruiting, advertising teen for sex

Posted on
Knighton-Harris photo Sedgwick County

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas  woman was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison for sex trafficking of a 16-year-old girl, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Brittany D. Knighton-Harris, 31, Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking. In her plea, Knighton-Harris admitted she recruited the girl and made arrangements for her to perform sex acts for money in Wichita and later in Topeka. The defendant posted notices on an adult web site advertising the girl’s services.

Police: 2 trapped in vehicle after Kansas crash

Posted on

RILEY COUNTY —Five people were involved in a single vehicle accident just before 7p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.

Wednesday evening crash in Riley County photo courtesy RCPD

The Riley County Police Department reported the vehicle was leaving the area near Pillsbury Crossing on Deep Creek Road when it left the roadway, crashed and two of 5 passengers were trapped inside.

Thanks to an observant citizen also driving in the area, emergency help was able to get to the scene quickly. Working hand-in-hand with first responders from Riley County EMS, Rural Fire, Manhattan Fire and LifeStar, the people were freed from the vehicle and transported to the hospital.

Authorities released no additional details Wednesday evening.

Affidavit: Meth-filled revenge plot led to deadly Kansas stabbing

Posted on

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Court records say a man charged with helping his girlfriend fatally stab her ex-stepfather told Wichita police that the couple was seeking revenge because of past sexual abuse.

Micaela Spencer photo Sedgwick Co.
Royce Thomas has previous convictions for violation of offender registration from a previous sex crime in Colorado, according to the KBI offender registry

An affidavit was unsealed Tuesday in the case against 24-year-old Micaela Spencer and 25-year-old Royce Thomas. They are charged with first-degree-murder and several other felonies in last month’s meth-fueled killing of 50-year-old William Callison.

Police began investigating after Callison’s boss, who owns an auto-dealership, saw the couple driving Callison’s truck out of a storage facility. It was pulling the boss’ trailer and was loaded with a $150,000 classic car.

Police tracked the truck to a camper, where they eventually found Callison’s body. Spencer said the plan initially was to get money from Callison in exchange for sex.

McDonald’s Kansas City burger starts barbecue feud

Posted on

KANSAS CITY (AP) — McDonald’s has started a transatlantic barbecue feud with the introduction of a Kansas City-themed hamburger in the U.K.

Outgoing Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James said Tuesday that the fast-food chain should “stay in your lane” in a tweet that included a picture of what he says a “real” burger looks like. Kansas City is known for its style of dry-rubbed, slow-cooked meats drizzled in tomato-molasses sauce.

He responded after McDonald’s proclaimed “Yeehaw” as it introduce d its “Kansas City Stack” in a tweet. Other twitter users rushed to join the mocking. Barbecue powerhouse Q39 kidded “Yeehaw, mate!” while Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que retweeted a scathing critique of the burger and added a laughing tears and thinking faces emoji.

Suspects identified in string of Russell vehicle burglaries

Posted on

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

The Russell Police Department announced Wednesday that two suspects in a string of vehicle burglaries earlier this month have been identified.

“Those suspects, who are juveniles, have been taken into custody and were transported to juvenile detention,” according to the announcement. “Offense reports have been forwarded to the Russell County Attorney.”

The department said the names of the suspects would not be released.

In the annoucement, the department thanked Russell citizens for their assistance with the investigation and reminded residents to keep their vehicles, residences and outbuildings locked.

 

State universities won’t hike tuition for Kansas undergrads

Posted on

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State universities will not be increasing tuition this fall for undergraduate students from Kansas.

But the state Board of Regents on Wednesday approved tuition increases for some Kansas graduate students and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students.

The regents considered tuition proposals after the Legislature increased state funding for their operations by $38 million for the 2019-20 school year, or nearly 6.5%. Some lawmakers said they expected the universities not to increase tuition in return.

Board of Regents members said they focused on helping undergraduates from Kansas the most and believe that they sent a clear message to lawmakers that they’re holding the line on tuition.

All graduate students at the University of Kansas will see their tuition rise by 2.5% and at Kansas State University, by 1.5%.

Ellis Railroad Museum vandalized overnight; police searching for suspect

Posted on

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

ELLIS — The Ellis Police Department is seeking information related to damage that occurred overnight Tuesday at the Ellis Railroad Museum.

“Sometime during the night, an unknown individual or individuals broke more than a dozen windows at the City of Ellis Railroad Museum,” Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates said.

The damage was caused by rocks and other found objects.

No damage was discovered inside the building, according to Yates.

The museum houses a variety of railroad memorabilia and historical artifacts from the history of Ellis.

“The museum is a part of the history of the City of Ellis and the County of Ellis,” Yates said.

“This act is very disheartening to the Railroad Museum and the community,” the department posted on their Facebook page Wednesday afternoon.

“We would like to reach out to anyone that has any information that could assist in finding the person or persons that did this criminal damage,” he said. “We would greatly appreciate it.”

The Ellis Police Department can be reached at (785) 726-4462.

He also said any information collected would be kept confidential.

The director of the museum declined to comment.

Police: Number of victims in fraudulent use of Sunflower Bank accounts case rises to 124

Posted on

Salina Post

SALINA — The number of victims in the fraudulent use of Sunflower Bank accounts case has risen to 124, Salina Police Detective Sergeant David Villanueva said Wednesday.

Villanueva also confirmed that police now do not believe the malware message shared with local media on Tuesday is responsible for the loss of funds from the Sunflower customers’ accounts. He explained that the message, which apparently appears on computers that have a specific software plug-in, was seen by two Salina Police Department employees only and that none of the 124 victims had seen or clicked on the message.

Sunflower Bank issued the following statement on Tuesday, “We take our security, and the security of our customers very seriously. Upon learning of these reports, we immediately reviewed our security protocols to confirm the issue was not present in our environment. We actively monitor our environment 24/7 to ensure security protocols remain effective. The message that was shared appears to be from pdfmaker-live and is not associated with Sunflower Bank or its websites.”

Villanueva said that as of yet, there does not appear to be a common point of compromise on the accounts. He explained that the victims were asked where they last used their cards before the breach. Some had used ATMs while others had not, he said. ATMs that were used were all over the city and were not just those belonging to Sunflower, Villanueva said.

According to Villanueva, the majority of fraudulent transactions appears to be for cash. He said that locations where fraudulent transactions occurred include the following cities along or near Interstate 135 and Interstate 35.

  • Newton
  • Burrton
  • Wichita
  • Andover
  • Norman, Okla
  • Springer, Okla.
  • Ardmore, Okla.
  • Denton, Texas
  • Houston, Texas

Additionally, several transactions have occurred in the Kansas City area, Villanueva said.

Villanueva encouraged people to regularly check their accounts for improper charges. If suspicious activity is detected or if people have information about this case, they are encouraged to contact Tim Brown, who is the Salina Police Department’s lead detective on the case.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File