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Police issue nearly 500 citations during Kan. celebration

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Riley County Police Department

MANHATTAN – During the 2018 celebration of “Fake Patty’s Day” on Friday, March 9, 2018 at 7:00 PM to Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 6:00 AM, law enforcement responded to 287 calls for service (generated by citizen complaints and not including officer-initiated calls for service). These complaints consisted of, but are not limited to, parking problems (32), welfare checks (30), disturbing the peace (27), and reckless driving (18).

During this time period, officers took (2) reports of violent crimes and filed 122 reports, not including alcohol related crime.

Police officers physically arrested 47 subjects. Crimes that caused arrests included, but are not limited to DUI (13), disorderly conduct (10), unlawful possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor (7), and possession of marijuana (2).

Police issued 494 citations for offenses that included, but are not limited to, possession of an open container of alcohol (208), possession of alcohol by a minor (54), parking issues (156), and minor obtain or purchase alcohol (33).

Kan. farmers to benefit from $1.5B settlement on GMO corn seed

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Swiss agribusiness giant has agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement in a lawsuit over genetically modified corn seed variety.

Officials for Syngenta and attorneys for thousands of farmers, ethanol plants and other grain handlers announced the settlement Monday of a class action lawsuit.

The lawsuits were filed after Syngenta introduced its Viptera seed strain to the U.S. market before it was approved by China for imports. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that Syngenta’s decision cost U.S. corn producers and handlers access to the Chinese corn market for years.

Syngenta began selling Viptera in the U.S. for the 2011 growing season but China didn’t approve it until 2014.

The settlement covers all U.S. producers who sold corn priced after September 2013.

A federal judge still must approve the settlement.

Principal charged in drug theft from school nurse

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LIVINGS TON COUNTY, MO. — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drug theft from a Missouri high school and have made an arrest.

Calhoun-photo Livingston Co.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) had been investigating a reported theft of controlled substance, prescription medications (Percocet and Adderall) from a locked medicine cabinet. The prescriptions were being properly monitored by the school nurse and was promptly reported when some of the pills turned up missing, according to a media release.

Additional investigation and assistance from school officials resulted in the arrest of  school principal Christopher Scott Calhoun, 44, Chillicothe, for 2 counts of the alleged theft.

Calhoun has since been charged in Livingston County Associate Circuit Court with the alleged 2 counts of class D felony Stealing with bond initially set at $10,000 cash.

 

 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 28.

 

News From the Oil Patch, March 12

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By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Total domestic crude production hit a fresh weekly record 0f 10.369 million barrels a day last week, according to report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A report from the International Energy Agency notes that over the next three years, the U.S. will cover 80 percent of the growth in oil demand worldwide. Canada, Brazil and Norway will cover the remainder, which, according to the report, leaves no room for more OPEC supply. OPEC and other nations led by Russia agreed to production cuts last year in hopes of drawing down inventories and pumping up prices. According to S&P Global Platts, the cartel as a whole is currently well below their self-imposed production ceiling of 32.73 million barrels per day.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reported an increase in the Kansas rig counts for the week, while the national oil rig count went down. There were nine active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, up two, and 27 in the western part of the state, up five. Drilling will commence soon on two leases in Barton County and one in Stafford County. Operators are moving in completion tools at three sites in Ellis County, one in Russell County and one in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 984 active drilling rigs nationwide, a drop of four oil rigs but an increase of seven exploring for natural gas. Canada reported 273 active rigs, a seasonal drop of 29 rigs.

Kansas operators filed 31 permits to drill at new locations last week, 12 in eastern Kansas and 19 west of Wichita, including two in Barton County. There have been 283 drilling permits filed in Kansas so far this year. Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 26 well completions for the week, 13 east of Wichita, 13 west, with one in Barton County and one in Russell County. So far this year, operators have completed 310 wells.

The Nebraska Supreme Court says TransCanada will not have to pay $354,000 in attorney fees for Nebraska landowners who fought eminent domain efforts to make way for the Keystone XL pipeline. The company ultimately dismissed its condemnation petitions in 2015, opting instead to pursue approval of a pipeline route by the Public Service Commission. In the formal opinion, the court held that the landowners did not offer sufficient proof they were entitled to an award of attorney costs and fees.

An Alaska regulator has asked the Legislature to require oil companies clean up old wells, even they’ve been sold to different companies. Cathy Foerster of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission says she’s concerned that if a big oil field is sold to a smaller company that goes bankrupt, cleanups could cost the state billions. Foerster says it’s becoming more common for smaller companies to operate in the state, and she says some of those companies may be more financially unstable.

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister hinted the initial public stock offering of the state oil company Aramco could be delayed until 2019, pushing back a central plank of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to modernize the economy. In an interview with Bloomberg, Khalid Al-Falih also said the IPO, potentially the largest ever, would be “anchored” by a listing on Saudi Arabia’s local exchange and any international listing would be announced in due course, if at all.

The Trump Administration may offer incentives to oil and gas producers to help reduce the practice of flaring natural gas produced at oil wells. During an energy conference in Houston last week, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke raised the possibility of reducing royalties collected for production on public lands to help pay for the missing infrastructure. Zinke also said the government could speed up the permitting times for pipelines to move that gas to the marketplace. The ideas surfaced as the administration also moves to repeal the Obama-era flaring ban on oil and gas leases on federal land.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke postponed a federal oil and gas lease sale planned for March, less than a week after the sale was announced, in response to local opposition to the possibility of drilling near national parks and monuments. Zinke said the Bureau of Land Management will remove 17,300 acres near Livingston, Montana, which is a gateway to the Yellowstone National Park. Zinke said the area deserves more study. The remaining 83 parcels, which cover over 46,000 acres, will be offered for lease via an online auction as planned.

There could another attempt to take oil companies to court over global warming, and this time it’s not just infrastructure they’re worried about. The news comes from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who says he is meeting with law firms to file suit against the industry “…for knowingly killing people all over the world.” The former California governor and global environmental activist claims oil companies have known since 1959 that there would be global warming caused by fossil fuels, and that it would kill people. Schwarzenegger made that pronouncement Sunday during recording of a podcast for Politico Magazine. In January the City of New York joined several municipalities in California in announcing they would sue the major oil companies over the environmental costs associated with climate change.

University of Kansas freezes activities for 24 fraternities

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Interfraternity Council at the University of Kansas is voluntarily imposing a temporary freeze on activities at the 24 fraternities it oversees.

Monday’s announcement comes after at least three Kansas fraternities were disciplined because of violations of university codes. Few details about the violations have been made public.

The council says it will work with university officials to improve oversight and address “systemic behavioral issues.” During the freeze, the council plans to develop a plan that will include higher standards in several areas.

During the freeze, fraternities will be allowed to have only chapter meetings, philanthropic events and service events. Fraternity members will be able to continue living in the houses.

The length of the freeze and conditions for having it lifted has not been determined.

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A fraternity at the University of Kansas has been closed because of several health and safety violations and a failure to meet its national organization’s guidelines.

The national Sigma Alpha Epsilon organization announced Thursday that the Kansas chapter will close after 115 years at the university. The national organization didn’t elaborate on what led to the closing. All Kansas members have been suspended indefinitely.

The chapter will remain closed for no less than four years or until the last current members have graduated or left the university.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the university had placed the fraternity on probation for two years after violations of the students’ code of conduct.

Two other Kansas fraternities, Delta Upsilon and Sigma Phi Epsilon, have been suspended this year.

Terry William Backhaus

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Terry William Backhaus, age 72, died at his home in Ness City, Kansas, on Friday, March 9, 2018. He was born on January 2, 1946 in Garritson, South Dakota, the son of William George and Orpha Marion (Henjum) Backhaus.

Always a lover of the sport of bowling, Terry was the owner and operator of Tumbleweed Lanes Bowling Alley in Ness City since 2003. Prior to that, he owned and operated Rawhide Lanes in Lusk, Wyoming, for 7 years. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served as a medic in Vietnam and at Fort Hood, Texas.

On May 11, 1985 he married Billie (Janssen) Reed in Berthoud, Colorado. She survives.

Other survivors include two brothers, David Backhaus of Arcadia, California and Bob Backhaus and his wife, Dede, of Wilmot, South Dakota; two sons, Tony Reed and his wife, Jeannine, of Firestone, Colorado and Tyler Reed and his wife, Leslee, of Milliken, Colorado; two daughters, Tammy Zayas and her husband, Joe, of Loveland, Colorado and Tonya Sykes and her husband, Bill, of Loveland, Colorado; 12 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; 2 nephews and 2 nieces.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents.

Although a quiet man, Terry had a wonderful, dry sense of humor and was an unrivaled jokester who loved to give his friends and family a good laugh. He had a great appreciation of classic cars and was a connoisseur of blues music. One of his favorite pastimes was camping and 4 wheeling in “Nelly”, his beloved 1970 Toyota Land Cruiser.

Above all, Terry loved his family deeply and was happiest when he was spending time with any or all of them. He will be forever loved and missed.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Memorial contributions in memory of Terry may be given to the William F. Janssen Memorial Scholarship Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Vietnam Veterans of America.

Student arrested for bringing Airsoft gun to Kan. middle school

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GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a student for alleged criminal threat.

Just before 10a.m. Monday, the School Resource Officer at the Junction City Middle School was notified that a student possibly had a weapon, according to the Junction City Police Department.

The Officer along with school staff quickly located the 12-year-old and located an airsoft pistol on his person.

The student had showed the airsoft pistol to another student which alarmed her and immediately notified a staff member.
The 12-year-old was arrested for Criminal Threat for actions done in a reckless disregard of the risk of causing fear, evacuation or disruption in regular ongoing activities.

Police transported the student to the Juvenile Detention Center.

Police discontinue tip line for missing Kansas boy

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SEDGWICK COUNTY Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of a 5-year-old Kansas boy. Police in Wichita are also working with Texas EquuSearch. The volunteer organization returned to Kansas Monday to assist in the search for Lucas Hernandez, according to the organization’s web site.

Lucas Hernandez

Police still need the public’s help, according to officer Charley Davidson. However, instead of calling the tip line, anyone with information is encouraged to call detectives at (316)268-4407 at Crimestoppers (316) 267-2111

Davidson confirmed that they are receiving fewer tips at the number originally used that is also a number for the Emergency Operations Center.  Police decided to discontinue the tip line. That number will no longer be monitored, according to Davidson.

Sheriff identifies Kan. man who died in tractor accident

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have identified the Kansas man who died in an accident Saturday morning in Shawnee County.

Just before 10:30 a.m., the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Soldier Township Fire and AMR responded to the scene of a farm implement accident at 1800 block of NW 38th Street, according to Sheriff Herman Jones.

Upon arrival a farm tractor was discovered to be on fire.

The operator of the tractor identified as Neal Tyler, 80, of Topeka. was pronounced dead at the scene.  The accident remains under investigation.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident Saturday morning in Shawnee County.

Just before 10:30 a.m., the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Soldier Township Fire and AMR responded to the scene of a farm implement related accident at 1800 block of NW 38th Street, according to Sheriff Herman Jones. Upon arrival a farm tractor was discovered to be on fire.

The operator of the tractor was deceased upon arrival of emergency personal.  The Sheriff did not release the name of the victim.

The incident remains under investigation.

New Boss Promising Kan. Child Protection Agency Will Change For The Better

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By JIM MCLEAN

The new head of Kansas’ troubled child welfare agency got a unanimous vote of confidence from a legislative committee Friday.

Almost no one doubts Gina Meier-Hummel will be confirmed as head of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, or that she’s got a tough job in reforming the agency.
JIM MCLEAN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Even the agency’s staunchest critics think Gina Meier-Hummel will sail through a confirmation vote from the full Senate to head the Department for Children and Families.

The agency that Meier-Hummel inherited from Gilmore in December had lost the trust of lawmakers over its handling of high-profile child-abuse death cases and a series of breakdowns in the foster care system. The problems generated headlines about missing children and kids sleeping on office couches while awaiting placement.

Lawmakers credit Meier-Hummel, a social worker, for pressing on multiple fronts to reform the agency’s internal processes, its culture and its public image.

“You name it, we’re working on it,” Meier-Hummel told members of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee before they voted to recommend her confirmation.

Some in the legislature want her to push even more aggressively and say a bill backed by DCF that would make its actions more transparent doesn’t go far enough. Yet, most lawmakers see progress.

“If anybody can reform DCF and put it back on the right track Secretary Meier-Hummel is the person,” Kelly said. “This agency has nowhere to go but up.”

With backing from Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer, Meier-Hummel has asked lawmakers to increase the agency’s budget by $16.5 million over the next two years. The money is needed, she said, to beef up the agency’s family preservation and child-abuse prevention programs.

The 2017 case of a 3-year-old Wichita boy found dead and encased in concreate in the home his mother shared with her live-in boyfriend illustrates both the challenges Meier-Hummel confronts and the reform steps she is taking.

Records recently released to news organizations, months after they were requested, showed that multiple calls were made to an abuse hotline before the boy died. They also revealed that DCF staff altered documents to conceal that information from at least one of those hotline calls wasn’t relayed to the social worker on the case.

In response to that case and others, Meier-Hummel is urging lawmakers to pass a bill that would require DCF to make some information public when a child dies from abuse or neglect. Among other things, the agency would have to disclose whether it received reports of abuse and what it did in response.

Testifying this week to the House Judiciary Committee, which is working on the bill, Meier-Hummel promised there will be no more altering and destruction of documents.

“We will not tolerate anything that is dishonest in any way,” she said, indicating that her investigation into the practice had led to the dismissal of some top staff.

Rep. Blaine Finch, an Ottawa Republican and chair of the committee, said he expects the panel to send some version of the bill to the full House late next week.

“This is a step in the right direction,” Finch said. “There are many more to take.”

Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks. 

Illegal immigrant in deadly I-70 crash not detained despite ICE request

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DENVER (AP) — The Denver Sheriff’s Department is investigating why immigration authorities were not notified of the release of a jail inmate until about an hour after he had already left.

Ivan Zamarripa-Castaneda-photo Denver Sheriff’s Dept.

Ivan Zamarripa-Castaneda of Mexico is charged with vehicular homicide in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 70 near Brighton that killed a truck driver.

The 26-year-old was released from Denver’s jail Saturday after posting bond.

The sheriff’s department says the delay was “unacceptable” and that the sheriff has ordered an immediate internal review.

The release comes after Denver’s jail was criticized for giving immigration officials about a half-hour’s notice before releasing an auto theft suspect, Ever Valles, they had expressed an interest in. He was later involved in a fatal robbery.

Denver does not hold inmates for immigration officials unless they have a warrant but does provide notice of releases.

UPDATE: Victim in fatal Salina home explosion, fire identified

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SALINA — Authorities in Salina are investigating an explosion and fire that killed a man.

Fatal fire at a home in the 300 block of East Bond Street- photo courtesy KWCH

The explosion happened around 4 a.m. Sunday at a home. By the time firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames, but they were able to keep it from spreading.

The victim has been identified as Justin R. Rogers, 42, Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.  The cause of the explosion and fire is still under investigation. Authorities do not suspect foul play.

 

NWKS farmers elected to Kansas Commodity Commissions

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KDA

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture Friday announced the results of the elections held for the state’s five grain commodity commissions — corn, grain sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat — in districts One, Two and Three in the western region of the state. Commissioners serve three-year terms and the terms will commence on April 1, 2018.

Kansas Corn Commission

District One: Brian Baalman is a corn farmer from Sheridan County. He is a current member of the Kansas Corn Commission, as well as an active member of the Kansas Corn Growers Association. Baalman is involved in the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation and was instrumental in the start of Western Plains Energy in Oakley, Kansas.

District Two: Dennis McNinch is a fourth-generation corn farmer from Ness County, currently serving as the chairman of the Kansas Corn Commission. McNinch is a member of the Kansas Corn Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, and Utica United Methodist Church. He graduated from Southwestern College with a bachelor’s in business administration.

District Three: Steve Rome is a corn farmer from Stevens County. Rome is a member of the Kansas Corn Commission, currently serving as secretary. He is a member of the Kansas Corn Growers Association, Stevens County Extension Board, State Extension Advisory Board, and Kansas Farm Bureau. Additionally, he has served on the Ogallala Task Force and helped start nonprofit gas utilities for irrigation in southwest Kansas. Rome received his bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University.

Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission

No candidates ran for commissioner in Districts One, Two or Three. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission will appoint these positions.

Kansas Soybean Commission

District One/Two/Three: Kurt Maurath grows soybeans in Logan County. Maurath is a member of the Kansas Soybean Commission, currently acting as the chairman. He is a current or past member of several commodity and community organizations, including Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Soybean Association, Kansas Corn Association, Kansas Wheat Association, and the Golden Prairie District Extension Advisory Board. Maurath graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Kansas State University.

Kansas Sunflower Commission

No candidates ran for commissioner in Districts One, Two or Three. The Kansas Sunflower Commission will appoint these positions.

Kansas Wheat Commission

District One: Brian Linin grows wheat in Sherman County. He is a member of the Kansas Wheat Commission, currently acting as chairman. Linin is a current or past member of several community organizations, including the Goodland City Commission, Goodland Area Chamber of Commerce, and multiple area civic and advisory boards. Linin is a graduate of Kansas State University with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and of Oklahoma State University with an MBA.

District Two: Ron Suppes is a wheat and sorghum farmer from Lane County. He is actively involved in several associations and is a current member of the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, and National Association of Wheat Growers. Suppes currently serves in leadership roles for U.S. Wheat Associates, Farmer Direct Foods, and U.S. Department of Agriculture/U.S. Trade Representative. Suppes graduated from Fort Hays State University with a B.S. in art and an M.S. in secondary school administration.

District Three: Gary Millershaski grows wheat in Kearny County. He is active in several associations, including the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, and National Association of Wheat Growers. He has also served as a member of the James Draw Watershed Board and the Lakin Board of Zoning Appeals and is involved with local 4-H, Research and Extension, and church activities. Millershaski is a graduate of Garden City Community College.

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