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Year: 2019

Police: Kansas felon a suspect in 2 Salina robberies

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SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities  are investigating two robbery cases that occurred Saturday morning and looking for a suspect who is considered armed and dangerous.

Just before 1:30a.m.  Saturday,  deputies were called to the Shady Lady Gentlemen’s Club, 1540 W. Old 40 at approximately 1:17 a.m. Saturday for the report of a stolen wallet. Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander said Monday that Melvin Suchy, 57, of Tryon, Neb., had been in the Shady Lady, but had gone outside to get some additional cash when someone grabbed his wallet out of his back pocket and jumped into a nearby dark-colored vehicle.

Person of interest Dustin Bilbrey. Photo courtesy Salina Police Department

Suchy reached into the car and grabbed onto the steering wheel in an attempt to keep the thieves from leaving when one of the occupants of the vehicle pulled out a handgun and threatened to kill him if he didn’t let go of the steering wheel, Melander said. The thieves, who Suchy reported might be two Hispanic males, fled with his wallet, which included $20 in cash, Melander added.

At approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday, Salina Police were called to the Pilot Travel Center, 1944 N. Ninth, for the report of a truck driver being robbed. Michael Schwartz, 48, of Missouri, was walking from the Pilot store out to his tractor-trailer rig when he felt someone grab near his left rear pocket where he kept his wallet, said Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. Schwartz turned around and confronted a white male, who he described as approximately 6-foot- tall and weighing 160 pounds.

The man had a handgun and demanded money from Schwartz, who gave him $900 from his wallet. At some point a female exited a nearby vehicle and also asked Schwartz about money, he added. She and the male got into a blue 2002 Ford Taurus and left northbound on Ninth Street, according to Forrester.

The car was later found burned up in the county, Forrester said. Police contacted the registered owner in Ford County, who said he had loaned it to someone.

From that report, police were able to develop a person of interest: Dustin Bilbrey, a 36-year-old white male who is 6’3″ and 180 pounds, Forrester said. Bilbrey was last seen wearing jeans, a gray shirt, and a red ball cap, and is considered armed and dangerous, according to Forrester.

Salina Police believe the two robberies are related.

Persons with information about Bilbrey’s whereabouts are encouraged to call the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210 or call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow the Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip.

 

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Dennis Wayne VanCleave, age 76, died on Friday, May 17, 2019 at his residence in Holcomb, Kansas. He was born on December 28, 1942 the son of Arthur and Mabis Chandler VanCleave.

He was a member of the community since 1977 having moved from Gove County. Dennis was a retired truck driver.

On October 11, 1968 he married Sandra Wilson in Leoti, Kansas. She survives.

Other survivors include:

Two children Todd VanCleave (Shelly) of Tonganoxie, Kansas
Larae Eckhardt (Kevin) of Henderson, Nevada

Six Grandchildren Conner VanCleave of Tonganoxie, Kansas
Wren VanCleave of Tonganoxie, Kansas
Kaila Eckhardt of Henderson, Nevada
Tatum Eckhardt of Henderson, Nevada
Ian Eckhardt of Henderson, Nevada
Evan Eckhardt of Henderson, Nevada

One Brother Bill (Sharon) VanCleave of Bloomfield, Iowa

Two Sisters Shirley Hoksbergen (Kenny) of Grinnell, Iowa
Sandra (Mike) Little of Barnes City, Iowa

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, SharonHendricks; Two brothers, Dwayne VanCleave, Mike VanCleave; one son, WadeVanCleave.

Private family interment will be held at the Beulah Cemetery, Leoti, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to Dennis VanCleave Memorial Fund in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, 620 N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.

Morris F. Leech Jr.

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Morris F. Leech Jr., 81, passed away May 20, 2019, at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, Great Bend. He was born March 3, 1938, at Plainville to Morris & Naomi (Cooper) Leech, Sr.

A long time Great Bend resident, Morris was a driller in the oilfield. He like to play dominos, fish and race motorcycles. He loved having family and friend get togethers and BBQ’s.

Survivors include, his former wife, Reva Leech; two sons, Tyler Leech and Todd Leech, both of Great Bend; two daughters, Connie Daniels of Fruita, CO, and Christy Leech of Great Bend; one sister, Kay Seeman of Smith Center; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Terry Leech and Toby Leech; two daughters, Cindy Leech and Carla Leech; and one brother, Dale Leech.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Morris Leech, Jr. Funeral Expense Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

News From the Oil Patch, May 20

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By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Officials blamed severe weather for a pair of oil tank fires over the weekend. The weather also forced delays in putting them out. There were no injuries reported in either incident. Officials in Herington say they were forced to put out two burning oil tanks during a severe thunderstorm Saturday morning. A lightning strike is believed to have sparked the fire. Officials said access to the site was made difficult by flooding that washed out roads.

In Barton County, a tank battery caught fire Saturday night in Ellinwood, near the intersection of South East 90 Avenue and South East 50 Road. The Ellinwood Fire Department and Barton County Sheriff’s Office responded. Sheriff Brian Bellendir said lightning sparked this fire as well. The Sheriff said at least two production tanks and a gun barrel were a total loss. The fire was a quarter mile away from the nearest road.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports crude-oil inventories increased by 5.4 million barrels to 472-million barrels for the week ending May 10. Stockpiles are now about two percent above the five-year seasonal average.

The government reported a slight drop in U.S. crude oil production. EIA said U.S. operators produced 12.081 million barrels per day for the week ending May 10. That’s a drop of about 95-thousand barrels per day from the week before but more than 1.3 million barrels per day more than the same week last year.

EIA reported an increase in U.S. crude oil imports of 919-thousand barrels per day to an average of 7.6 million barrels per day. The four-week average if about 9.6% less than the same period a year ago.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 26 active drilling rigs in Western Kansas for the week, an increase of two rigs. East of Wichita, there was just one active rig, which is down three from a week ago. An operator is about two spud one new well in Russell County. Last week’s Rotary Rig Count report from Baker Hughes showed a drop of three oil rigs and a gain of two rigs seeking natural gas. Texas and Pennsylvania each reported a drop of three rigs, while Oklahoma and Alaska were each down two. Those losses were offset by a gain of four rigs in Ohio, three rigs in Wyoming, two in Louisiana and one in New Mexico. The report noted a drop of six horizontal drilling rigs last week. The count in Canada was unchanged at 63.

Kansas regulators approved 21 new permits for drilling at new locations over the last week, five in eastern Kansas and 16 west of Wichita, including one in Russell County. There are 339 new drilling permits across the state so far this year.

Independent Oil and Gas Service reported 29 newly-completed wells across the state, 591 so far this year. There were two new completions east of Wichita, and 27 in Western Kansas, including one in Barton County.

The latest numbers from the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources show operators there set a record for the amount of natural gas captured from oil wells, an ongoing issue in the state, which lacks adequate pipeline infrastructure to move that gas to market. The department measures that statistic in MCF, or thousand cubic feet. In March, operators captured 2.24 million MCF per day. That’s still just 80% of the gas produced, meaning 20% of the natural gas coming out of oil wells in North Dakota is being burned off at the well head.

The Houston Ship Channel reopened last weekend as cleanup continued in the wake of a collision and gasoline spill. According to the Houston Chronicle, an estimated 9,000 barrels of gasoline poured into the busy waterway. Deep-draft ships were allowed to enter and exit the channel under tow, so as to minimize their wakes. The channel was closed after a tanker collided with a tug boat pushing two barges. One of the barges leaked a gasoline product called reformate. The Chronicle reported that the man-made 50-mile channel is one of the busiest ports in the world, and said even short closures carry hefty price tags for companies that have to delay or re-route shipments.

For the week ending May 11, oil-by-rail traffic was up to more than 13-thousand rail cars, a gain of 28.6% compared to the same week last year. The year-to-date total is up more than 24% year-on-year. Canada figures gained 39.1%.

Play suspended at state golf tournaments

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Mother nature was the big winner at the state golf tournaments around Kansas with play suspended yesterday at every location.

At the 3A state tournament at the Emporia Municipal Club in Emporia, where the TMP golf team is, play is scheduled to resume on Wednesday morning at 11 am. The Monarchs Cameron Rozean sits in seventh place at 5-over through 11 holes. Trevor Wilson of Caney Valley and Tyler Martin of Phillipsburg share the lead at 3-over when play resumes.

Play will also resume at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Hesston at the Hesston Golf Park at the 2A state tournament. Plainville’s Tanner Copeland sits two back of the lead at 1-over-par through six holes. Teammate Parker Krob is 2-over through eight. Carter Minson of Trego is also 2-over through three and Ellis’ Brady Frickey 3-over through six.

In Salina, at the Salina Municipal Golf Course, the 1A tournament will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. Stockton’s Brady Beougher sits at 1-over-par through five holes and is one shot off the lead. Central Plains Alex Hickel and Osborne’s Lathe Watkins are both 2-over through five.

Hays High is at 5A tournament is Dodge City, at Mariah Hills Golf Course and that is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

The sand green tournament has been moved to Wednesday in LaCrosse.

Update: Police arrest suspect, identify victim in fatal Kansas shooting

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Kanyizere photo Sedgwick County

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim.

Just before 4:30p.m. Friday, police responded to report of a shooting at a residence in the 1500 Block of South Parkwood in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred. Upon arrival officers located 20-year-old Dieuvent Mpirwa of Wichita with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation revealed the victim and the suspect identified as 24-year-old Noah Kanyizere had a disagreement. The suspect pulled out a handgun and shot the victim. Police believe both the suspect and the victim knew each other.

On Saturday, police arrested Kanyizere in the 400 Block of Main in Wichita, according to Allred. He is being held on a $100,000 Bond, according to online booking records.
Police don’t know the nature of their dispute. It was not gang related and police don’t believe drugs were involved. Police ask that anyone who may have been at the residence or who may have details to contact CrimeStoppers.

Police will present their findings to the district attorney’s office.

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SEDGWICK — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.. 

Just before 4:30 p.m. Friday police responded to the report of the shooting and found one person dead.

On On Saturday, police arrested 24-year-old Noah Kanyizere in the 400 Block of Main in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.

He is being held on a requested charge of first- degree murder with a bond of $100,000, according to online jail records.

Police have not named the victim or additional details in the case.

Fredrick E. ‘Fred’ Robinson

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Phillipsburg resident Fredrick E. “Fred” Robinson passed away Sunday, May 19, 2019 at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, NE at the age of 80.

He was born May 22, 1938 in Phillips County, KS the son of Sidney H. and Mildred G. (Drake) Robinson.

He was united in marriage to A. Marie Hedrick on April 2, 1960 in Colville, WA. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include his son, Jerol Robinson of Phillipsburg, KS; two daughters, Teresa Robinson of Eugene, OR and Kristine Nash of Phillipsburg, KS; 4 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.

Cremation was planned. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2019 in the First Christian Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor LeRoy Herder officiating. Inurnment with Masonic Rights and Military Honors will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. that evening.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church or Phillipsburg Aquatic Center.

Jolene Marie (Smith) Mitchell

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Jolene Marie (Smith) Mitchell, 65, died Saturday, May 18, 2019, at the Logan Manor, Logan, Kansas.

She was born in Hill City, Kansas, to Irwin Lee and Joan Mable Hugley) Smith, January 2, 1954. She attended schools in Hill City and later earned an Associates Degree. She worked as a Certified Nurses’ Aide.

She was preceded in death by her mother and one brother.

Jolene is survived by: her father, Irwin Smith of Hill City, Kansas; one daughter, April Stropes of LaCrosse, Kansas; one brother, Wayne Vest of Lenora, Kansas; one brother Dwayne Smith of Montrose, Colorado; one sister Troy Kennington of Texarkana, Arkansas; seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Click HERE for service details.

Wayne Lee Baalman

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Former Goodland, KS resident Wayne Lee Baalman, 59, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at his home in Sparks, Nevada.

Wayne was born in Newton, Kansas on June 21, 1959 to LeRoy C. and Margaret Ann (Cress) Baalman. The family moved to Goodland that same year. On August 22, 1960, his brother Gerald Lyn Baalman was born at the Boothroy Memorial Hospital in Goodland.

Wayne graduated from Sherman County High School in 1977. Following his high school graduation, Wayne went to NWKTC in the Comtech Department and got his first job in Ft. Bridger, WY.

He married Lynn Kay in 1980 and moved to Salt Lake City, UT. To this union, three children were born; Melissa, Robby and Joshua. He had two other children; Dixie and Davie.

Preceding him in death was his father LeRoy, his brother Gerald, his grandmother Dorothy Cress Sheldon, step grandfather Raymond Sheldon, his grandfather Carl W. Cress and grandparents Fred and Clementine Baalman. He was also preceded in death by 4 uncles; Joe Cress, Larry Baalman, Lyle Baalman, and Larry Laursen; 2 aunts, Ida Baalman Cooper and Nancy Baalman Cooper, as well as one cousin Heather Cress Tilford.

He is survived by his 3 children Melissa Baalman, Robby Baalman and Joshua Baalman all of Salt Lake City, UT; his mother Margaret Baalman of Goodland, KS; 3 grandchildren Sierra, Kalissa and Trestton; aunt Carolyn Laursen of Amarillo, TX, uncle Fred and Karen Cress of Liberal, KS, cousin Melodie J. Cress and daughter Makela of Alba, TX, uncle George Cooper and cousin Stanley and Jolene Cooper of Hays, KS, cousin Richard Desbein of Rockford, IL, cousin Lisa and Charles Altman and sons Alex, and Samie of Broursard, LA, cousin Wade and Malissa Lucas and Emily Laursen of Austin, TX, cousin Terry Cooper and daughter Carol of Grapevine, TX, cousin Randy Copper of Washington, D.C., cousin Sherry Cooper and Ernie Pfifer and family of Ellis, KS, and aunt Nancy Baalman and cousins Dr. Jonathon Baalman and Jennifer Baalman and Casey Stormet and family, all of Wichita, KS, cousin Robert and Marissa Baalman of Pennsylvania, cousin Michelle and Jerrod Tipton and their daughter Khloe, cousin Nicole Baalman, cousin Timothy Baalman all of Stillwater, OK, cousin Tina Baalman of Wisconsin, cousin Cory Baalman and his wife of Missouri, and cousins Jody, Christy and Joel Cress of Rogers, AR.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 10:00 AM MT at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland with Father Joseph Asirvatham officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Goodland Cemetery. A Vigil and Rosary service will be held on Friday, May 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Memorials may be designated to the Wayne Baalman Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Update: Child hospitalized after falling into a pool in Kansas has died

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SHAWNEE COUNTY— The child involved in an accident at a swimming Sunday has died.

Just after 4:30p.m., the  Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Mission Fire Department responded to a residence in the 2700 block of SW Stutley Road for a medical call involving a 2-year-old boy who had fallen into a pool, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

Resuscitation efforts were performed at the residence and the boy was transported to a Topeka hospital where he died.

Stallbaumer released no additional details Monday afternoon.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities responded to a report of  an accident involving a child and a swimming pool.

Just after 4:30p.m. Sunday,  the  Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Mission Fire Department responded to a residence in the 2700 block of SW Stutley Road for a medical call involving a minor, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

AMR transported the child to a local hospital.  Authorities released no additional details late Sunday or early Monday morning.

 

Edwin A. Pfannenstiel

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Edwin A. Pfannenstiel, 91, Hays, died on Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hays Medical Center.

He was born on August 21, 1927 in Munjor, Kansas one of eleven children to Nick J. and Anna (Wasinger) Pfannenstiel. He was a graduate of Hays High School and attended the University of Denver. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean conflict. He retired from the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Post Office. He married Isabel J. Kuhl on July 17, 1950 in Wilmont, Minnesota. He was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, was active in the Volga German Men’s Choir, and was a cantor at the church for many years.

Survivors include his wife, of the home, two sons; Dave Pfannenstiel of Hays and Paul Pfannenstiel and wife Tally of Kansas City, MO, two daughters; Loraine Pfannenstiel and Mary Poulson and husband Tom, all of Lakewood, CO, daughter-in-law; Gayle Pfannenstiel of Wakeeney, KS, a sister; Sr. Loraine Pfannenstiel, CSA, Fon du Lac, WI, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Mark; five brothers, Alphonse, Albinus, Aloys, Alfred, and Celestine, and four sisters, Adelina Pfannenstiel, Susan Rohr, Mary Rohr, and Bertha Binder.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays, with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A parish vigil service and rosary will begin at 6:30 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for masses or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences and memories of Ed may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

USD 489 board to hear report on Oak Park, vote on capital projects

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board will hear an update tonight on the $1.76 million renovation to the Oak Park Medical Complex.

The complex is being renovated for use by Early Childhood Connections.

The school district purchased the complex for $2 million, which will be paid for through a lease agreement out of capital outlay funds. The district received a $1.47 million federal grant and a $500,000 donation from HaysMed, the primary owner of the complex before it was sold, for the renovations.

The district hopes to have the facility open sometime this fall.

The board also is set to vote on two other capital projects on which work would be done this summer.

Members are expected to vote on a re-keying all the doors at Hays High School, Hays Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary and the new Early Childhood Connections building.

The district has received at $57,000 matching grant to replace interior door locks. The district’s match for the project will be $53,000.

Rusty Lindsay, buildings and grounds director, said the current lock system is no longer secure because keys can be easily duplicated.

The other project is to replace concrete in the Hays High School Parking lot. The district is scheduled to do a portion of the parking lot each year until all of the concrete has been replaced. This year’s low bid was for $96,600 from Brian’s Concrete Services of Hays.

In other business, the board will

• Hear a Lincoln Elementary School Site Council presentation
• Vote on revisions to the Classified Handbook
• Vote on board policy revisions
• Vote on the 2019-20 board meeting calendar
• Hear a report on workers compensation and cyber liability insurance
• Hear a report on property and casualty insurance
• Chris Hipp, director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, will present the district assessment recommendation

Dean: Planned, private medical school may overwhelm Kansas

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The dean of the University of Kansas’ School of Medicine in Wichita says a private medical school proposed in the city could overburden the state’s health care system and its capacity to train medical students.

Dean Garrold Minns photo University of Kansas

Dean Garrold Minns say that the planned Kansas Health Science Center would mean more hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices would need to handle the increase in students doing rotations.

City spokeswoman Elyse Mohler says Wichita can’t speculate how a new facility might impact clinical training rotations.

Many Wichita leaders say the private school of osteopathic medicine could boost economic development.

The City Council approved a nonbinding development agreement last week and hopes to finalize plans in the coming months. A memorandum of understanding says the new school could open by August 2022.

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