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Author: Hays Post

Kansas serial burglary suspect in custody

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of home burglaries and have a suspect in custody.

Soto -photo Shawnee County

Just before 12:30a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to the 5500 and 5600 block of SW 17th Terrace in Topeka after numerous reports of cars and homes being burglarized.

Witnesses reported seeing three suspects walking eastbound on 17th Terrace.

As officers searched the area, an officer saw two subjects near SW 17th Terr. and Kent Place that were possibly involved.

Once the suspects saw the officer, the pair fled on foot, running through backyards.

Police were able to capture Anthony Soto, 20, of Topeka and recover personal property from a burglary. Soto was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for aggravated burglary.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Topeka Police Department at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

UPDATE: Kan. man jailed for murder after calling 911 to report harming girlfriend

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have made an arrest.

Barber-photo KDOC

Just before 2a.m. Tuesday, police responded to an apartment complex in the 1900 Block of North Amidon after a 25-year-old man called 911 to report harming his 22-year-old girlfriend, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located the caller. He was armed with a knife and taken into custody.

He has been identified as Dylan Leigh Barber, according to Sedgwick County Booking records. He is being held on requested charges of First-Degree murder, according to Davidson.

Officers also located the victim inside the apartment. She had multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Davidson.

The incident marks the third domestic violence homicide in Wichita this year. There were eight reported in 2018, according to Davidson.

Barber has a previous burglary conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Virginia Cox Phelps

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Former Sharon Springs resident Virginia Cox Phelps, 84, passed away on Monday, June 18, 2018 at the Avantara Crown Point Nursing Home in Parker, Colorado.

Virginia was born on November 9, 1933 in Skidmore, TX to Jasper and Marie (Natho) Curbello. She was the eighth child of ten born to this union. She grew up and attended school in Skidmore, Texas and graduated from Skidmore-Tynan High School in 1952.

Shortly thereafter Virginia attained certification as a nurse’s aide and worked at the Bee County Hospital in Beeville, TX. While working there, she met and married Marine Corps Lieutenant Frank Rinne who subsequently died while on a training mission 8 weeks later. Not long after, Virginia was hired by Ralph Cox to care for his terminally ill wife Joan and their daughter, Terry. Joan soon passed away and the situation provided for a caring friendship that would eventually develop into courtship and marriage to Ralph. Born to Ralph and Virginia were two boys, Gary and James. From Texas, the family moved to North Carolina for a short period of time, eventually landing in Northern California. Ralph met an untimely death in 1970 and not long after she moved herself and the boys nearer to Ralph’s family roots in Wallace County. Before meeting and marrying Ludia Phelps of Corpus Christi TX., Virginia was married to Everett Linton of Sharon Springs and Glen Elder, KS.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Jasper and Marie Curbello, three husbands, Frank Rinne, Ralph Cox and Ludia Phelps, her son Gary Cox, seven siblings and one grandson Billy Wininger.

She is survived by her son James (Cynthia) Cox of Parker, Colorado, daughter Terry (Michael) Wininger of Depoe Bay, Oregon, daughter-in-law Belinda Cox of Wallace, Kansas, one brother Ross (Shirley) Curbello of Three Rivers, Texas and one sister Nancy (Hal) Toomey of Corpus Christi, Texas. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Virginia liked to garden and crochet. She made beautiful afghans for many family members.

Memorial services for Virginia will be held on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Weskan Bible Church(formerly Weskan Methodist Church) in Weskan, KS with Reverend Paul McNall officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Weskan Cemetery.

Memorials may be designated to the Weskan Township Board for the Weskan Cemetery restoration and may be left at the service 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 are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, KS.

Immigrant child removed from mural near Kan. historic site

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A last-minute addition of an immigrant child clinging to her mother has been removed from a mural near the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site in Topeka.

Image courtesy ARTSConnect Topeka

The image was painted over Monday on a 130-foot wide, 30-foot tall mural across from the former all-black school that tells the story of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ended segregated education.

Artist bj McBride says she “couldn’t help” adding the child Friday in response to the separation of parents and children at the U.S. border, but said later she thinks it was “distracting.”

The Topeka nonprofit ArtsConnect worked with another nonprofit and raised $100,000 for the project. The group’s executive director, Sarah Fizell, says the image didn’t fit with the mural’s mission.

Ramona Theresa (Ohmes) Kippes

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Ramona Theresa (Ohmes) Kippes, 74, Victoria, passed away on June 26, 2018, at her home. 

A selfless and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many, she lived her life putting the needs of others before her own. She was a compassionate, giving person who was an avid reader and who enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She will be remembered for her delicious home cooking and her knack for home decorating. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.

Ramona was born on May 8th, 1944, in Garden City, KS, to Joseph and Josephine (Ohnsat) Ohmes. She grew up in a large family outside of Garden City, KS, with 7 brothers and 6 sisters.  Ramona was a 1962 graduate of Garden City High School attended Garden City Junior College and graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and a Master’s Degree in Library Science.

She married Norman Kippes of Victoria on October 18th, 1968. She was co-founder and co-owner of Kippes Insurance Agency since 1988. He preceded her in death on March 10, 2004.

She was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis and a volunteer on the St. Fidelis Funeral Committee.
She leaves behind two daughters, Tammi Sauer and her husband Ron of Edmond, OK, and Kathy Ricke and her husband Mike of Valparaiso, IN; and a son, Jason Kippes and his wife Bridgett of Victoria, KS; seven grandchildren, Julia Sauer, Mason Sauer, Madison Ricke, Bryant Ricke, Sierra Ricke, Adalie Kippes, and Pierce Kippes; four sisters, Rosalia Hoffmann and husband Michael, Milwaukee, WI, Vivian Wnuczek and husband Ed, Milwaukee, WI, Gladys Piche and husband Joel, Franklin, WI, and Cacelia Sarnowski and her deceased husband Jerry, Vulcan, MI; three brothers Al Ohmes and wife Pat, Garden City, KS, Frank Ohmes and wife Barbara, Hutchinson, KS, and George Ohmes and wife Lori, Pierceville, KS; sisters-in-law by marriage Jeanette Dreiling, Victoria, KS, Eileen Wilcox, Littleton, CO, and Gladys Brungardt and husband Jim, Victoria, KS, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Kippes; her parents Joseph and Josephine Ohmes; four brothers, Lawrence Ohmes, Joseph J. Ohmes, Sylvester Ohmes, and Anthony Robert Ohmes; and two sisters, Bernadine Herbert and Loretta Page.

Services will be held on Saturday at11:00 A.M. June 30, 2018, at the Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria; burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria.

Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Friday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday, at the Basilica of St. Fidelis.

A vigil service will be at 6:45 P.M. Friday followed by a parish rosary at 7:00 P.M all at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested in Ramona’s memory to Hospice of Hays Medical Center or The Basilica of St. Fidelis.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.

Condolences can be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Pamela J. (Nelson) Harter

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Pamela J. (Nelson) Harter, of Hays, Kansas, age 60, died Friday, June 22, 2018, at her home in Hays, Kansas.

She was born April 5, 1958, in Salina Kansas, to Maynard E. and Barbara (Hamilton) Nelson.

She was a Sales Associate for Target and also worked for Dollar General. She grew up in Salina, Kansas and was a 1976 graduate of Salina High School. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Kansas Wesleyan University at Salina, Kansas. She moved to Hays in 2008. She enjoyed her cats, doing crafts, watching T V soap operas, her trips to Colorado and Utah, and her family.

Survivors include two son, Ryan Harter and wife, Allison, Aurora, CO; Nicholas Harter and wife, Kylie, Eagle Mountain, UT; her companion, Robert Windholz, of the home; three brothers, Rick Nelson, FL; Steve Nelson and wife, Ruth, KY; Mike Nelson and wife, Gypsy, Salina, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 30, 2018, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

The family suggest memorial to the Humane Society of the High Plains.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Kansas man dies in pickup rollover crash

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MEADE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 6a.m. Tuesday in Meade County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge Dakota driven by Nicholas A. Finke, 21, Fowler, was traveling on 15 Road eleven miles south of Meade.

The driver lost control of the truck as it traveled around a corner at an excessive speed. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle entered the east ditch. The driver corrected again and the truck’s wheels caught in the dirt and it one rolled.

Finke was pronounced dead at the scene and transported Fidler – Orme – Bachman Mortuary.  He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Water ride shut down after woman flung from tube

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EUREKA, Mo. (AP) — A water ride at Six Flags in suburban St. Louis has been closed after a woman said she was flung from a tube and suffered whiplash.

Image courtesy Six Flags

Sondra Thornhill, of the Missouri town of Lebanon, told KMOV-TV that the accident happened Saturday on the Typhoon Twister at Hurricane Harbor in Eureka. She was taken to a hospital, where she underwent a CAT scan and X-ray.

“Only my hands were on the handles. My whole body went off the raft and of course, when it went back down, my hands were still on it and it threw it me so far forward and back so fast, all I heard was my neck pop,” Thornhill said. “I thought I broke it at first then it was just a little sore and I stopped panicking. I’ll be alright.”

Six Flags said in a statement that it’s investigating but released no information how long the ride will be closed.

“The well-being of our guests is always our priority,” the statement said. “As standard protocol, we have closed the ride while we look into the circumstances surrounding a guest coming out of their tube.”

The park hasn’t returned phone or email messages Tuesday from The Associated Press.

In neighboring Kansas, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was decapitated in August 2016 while riding the 17-story Verruckt waterslide at the Schlitterbahn water park. Two other women riding with Caleb also were injured when their raft went airborne. Two Schlitterbahn maintenance workers, the park’s co-owner and the designer of the ride have been indicted in Caleb’s death. The Verruckt never reopened afterward and plans call for it to be demolished.

Shelley Rene Casper

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Shelley Rene Casper, 55, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, June 24, 2018, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Shelley was born on April 19, 1963, in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Gary Meis and Gracia Lee (Ostrom) Meis. She grew up in Denver the first few years of her life before moving to Russell, Kansas. She graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1981. She was married to Jack Casper and from this union they were blessed with two children Treysa & Cody. She lived in Russell most of her life and worked as a cook and caregiver. She enjoyed riding motorcycles, being at the lake, cooking, dancing and celebrating the 4th of July. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Surviving family include her father Gary Meis of Russell, Kansas; daughter Treysa Casper of Lawrence, Kansas; son Cody Casper of Russell, Kansas; brother Rick Meis (Kay Sellers) of Russell, Kansas; sister Tessa Meis (Joe Ernst) of Wilson, Kansas and granddaughter Jozie Ludy and grandson Jaxton Casper as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother Gracia L. Rassette, infant daughter Randi Rene Casper and brother Randy Meis.

A celebration of Shelley’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, June 28, 2018, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler of Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Michael Eurit officiating. Burial will follow at the Dorrance City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at the mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Russell County Food Bank and sent to the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Mid-Kansas Electric Company energizes 138 kV line

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Transmission project located in Kingman, Harper and Sumner counties

Mid-Kansas Electric Company Inc. placed the Harper-to-Milan Transmission Project in service on May 25. The project, located in Kingman, Harper and Sumner counties, enhances electric reliability and will support economic development in the area.

Mid-Kansas provides wholesale generation and transmission services to its six member-owners, one of which is Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc., the electric distribution cooperative that serves the area. Operated on the cooperative business model, the mission of Mid-Kansas is to provide reliable service to its member-owners at the lowest possible cost.

“When Wheatland acquired this service territory in 2007, we quickly learned that additional infrastructure was needed to better serve our members,” said Bruce W. Mueller, CEO of Wheatland. “This large project not only improves electric service to our current members, but it is also robust enough to handle considerable future growth of industry in our south central service territory.”

The 138 kV line includes 58.9 miles of new line from Harper to Milan, 12.6 miles of new line from Harper to Rago, 5.8 miles of rebuilt line between Milan and the Viola tie, and the new connection to Westar’s Viola Substation. The $65 million project also includes the new Bluff Creek Substation and modifications to the Harper and Milan substations. Public meetings to determine the route were held in 2015 with the final route determined in early 2016. POWER Engineers Inc. provided technical services, including routing, siting and permitting support and engineering for the transmission lines and substations. POWER also provided material procurement, construction contracting, and construction management of the project. As part of POWER’s team, Land Services Inc. performed the right-of-way acquisition for the project.

“Mid-Kansas is proud to have partnered with POWER and Land Services on the Harper-to-Milan Project, one of our largest transmission projects to date,” said Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Mid-Kansas. “The new line provides a large conductor, looped transmission configuration to the region that provides greater capability and improved reliability to this part of the service territory.”
The Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization to which Mid-Kansas belongs, identified a need for the project to support growing demands on the transmission grid, both locally and regionally.

“While this project has far-reaching benefits, it’s Wheatland’s local members and other area residents who can take great pride in their cooperation and efforts in seeing this project to fruition,” Mueller said. “It’s an effort that will benefit many generations.”

About Mid-Kansas Electric Company, Inc.—Mid-Kansas Electric Company Inc. is a coalition of five rural electric cooperatives and one wholly owned subsidiary that serve approximately 200,000 Kansans throughout 33 counties. Mid-Kansas’ members include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative Inc., Dighton; Prairie Land Electric Cooperative Inc., Norton; Southern Pioneer Electric Company, Ulysses; The Victory Electric Cooperative Association Inc., Dodge City; Western Cooperative Electric Association Inc., WaKeeney; and Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc., Scott City, Kansas. For more information, please visit the Mid-Kansas website at www.midkansaselectric.net.

— Submitted

Know your voting rights training June 28 in Hays

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KS ACLU

Kansas has become the national epicenter for voter suppression. In the last election, thousands of people were denied access to the polls and were willfully misled about their voter status. This election, we’re not going to let that happen again!

Join the ACLU of Kansas for an in-depth conversation and action night to make sure Kansas voters know their rights! We will cover everything from ID requirements to what to do if you encounter an issue at the polls. RSVP HERE: https://go.peoplepower.org/event/action_attend/14289

As Kansans go to the polls in the August Primary and November General Elections, voters will encounter a patchwork of different laws and policies about voting. Come hear from ACLU staff exactly what the laws are for voting in the upcoming elections!

These events are FREE and open to the public.

Know Your Voting Rights Training will be held in Hays Thursday, June 28, 6 p.m., at the Hays Recreation Commission, 1105 Canterbury Dr. in the large meeting room.

Supreme Court upholds Trump travel ban

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries, rejecting a challenge that it discriminated against Muslims or exceeded his authority.

The 5-4 decision Tuesday is the court’s first substantive ruling on a Trump administration policy.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by his four conservative colleagues.

Roberts wrote that presidents have substantial power to regulate immigration.

Nations on the travel ban list include North Korea, Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Venezuela.

The court may have signaled its eventual approval in December, when the justices allowed the policy to take full effect even as the court fight continued and lower courts had ruled it out of bounds.

Kansas man captured with $67K in backpack sentenced

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KANSAS CITY. – A Kansas man who was arrested with methamphetamine, heroin and $67,000 in cash was sentenced Monday to 164 months in federal prison for drug trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Lopez -photo Wyandotte Co.

Juan Lopez, 23, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, he admitted he drove away from a residence on the 3400 block of Georgia Avenue when the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department came to serve a search warrant there. He abandoned his car near West 42nd Avenue and Thompson Street and he ran into a wooded residential area carrying two bags.

Police recovered one of the bags with more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine and more than half a pound of heroin.

When residents of the 4100 block of Lloyd Street reported a prowler in their garage, police found Lopez hiding there with the second backpack, which contained $67,000 in cash. When police searched the residence on Georgia Avenue, they found firearms, including three assault rifles, a pistol grip shotgun, a Mac-10 and two bulletproof vests.

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