KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Tuesday to 210 months in federal prison for selling drugs and guns to undercover officers, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Heriberto Armendariz-Garcia, 39, Wellsville, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. In his plea, he admitted he met multiple times with undercover officers, selling them cocaine, methamphetamine and firearms.

During the course of the investigation he sold or arranged for the sale of nine kilograms of cocaine, 4.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 16 firearms and 232 rounds of ammunition.

During one meeting with undercover officers, Armendariz-Garcia told them someone had stolen four kilograms of cocaine from him and when “the people down south” found out he might lose his house.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — The Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about a hit-and-run accident that left a man dead.

Undersheriff Jim Sherley says 34-year-old Emanuel Ross, of Lawrence, was found dead early Monday west of Lansing.

The Leavenworth Times reports authorities believe Ross was hit at least once by an unidentified motorist, who then drove away from the scene. Investigators believe Ross was struck early Monday.

Sherley said the incident occurred near the Suncatcher Lake RV Park.

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on  charges after a weekend drug bust.

Following an investigation, police served a drug search warrant just after 9p.m. Saturday at a home in the 800 Block of South C Street in Arkansas City. Evidence collected at the residence led to the arrest of  four individuals including Heather Elizabeth Duncan, 35, of Arkansas City, on suspicion of three felony counts of possession of a depressant and one felony count of possession of methamphetamine, as well as one misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Johnny Lee Knight, 60, also of Arkansas City, was arrested on suspicion of three felony counts of possession of a depressant, as well as one misdemeanor count each of possession of drug
paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Duncan and Knight were transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in lieu of $11,000
bond through Cowley County District Court in Arkansas City. Both have posted bond and been released.

Gregory Dean May II, 39, and Christina Mae Wendt, 36, both of Arkansas City, were arrested on
suspicion of one felony count each of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a depressant,
as well as one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

May and Wendt were transported to and booked into the county jail in lieu of $6,000 bond through
Arkansas City district court. Both are still in custody.

 

HARVEY COUNTY —The final results for USD 373 Newton Bond election results are in and neither question passed.

According to the Harvey County Election office the votes for Question 1 = 3,359 Yes, 4,040 No.

The votes for Question 2 = 2,388 Yes, 4,986 No.

The two questions were to help prepare USD 373 for the future.

The first question ($61,320,000):was an update to Newton High School that included
Safety and security upgrades
A science wing addition
A remodel of the auditorium and district kitchen
A new storm shelter/gym
Remodel of classrooms
Safety and security at Chisholm Middle School and Santa Fe 5/6 Center
Safety and security at the elementary schools
Santa Fe and Chisholm deferred maintenance
Deferred maintenance at all elementary schools

The second question ($24,420,000) was for a new school south of town and would be a kindergarten through sixth-grade building. The building will have three sections so there is room for growth.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A government snapshot of crop conditions shows the harvest of corn is now under way in Kansas.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Tuesday that 1% of the corn in the state has been harvested, near the 4% average at this point in the growing season.

The agency rates half of the corn out in fields in good to excellent condition, with 34% of the crop in fair shape. About 16% is in poor to very poor condition.

Other crops are also making progress.

About 83% of the soybeans in Kansas are setting pods, with 3% of soybean crops already dropping leaves. About 1% of the Kansas sorghum crop has now matured.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have released additional details involving a fatal weekend motorcycle crash in Kansas.

Just before 7p.m. Friday, police responded to report of an injury accident in the 1500 Block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to office Charley Davidson.

A 2004 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle driven by David Nguyen, 22, Wichita, was westbound on Pawnee at a high rate of speed, according to Davidson.

The motorcycle struck a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer driven by a 45-year-old man who had pulled out of a private drive to travel eastbound on Pawnee.

Nguyen was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet, according to Davidson.

The accident remains under investigation. It is the 19th fatality accident in Wichita in 2019 and the third motorcycle fatality accident, according to Davidson.

TOPEKA – The state’s August collections are slightly above estimates with total tax collections at $497.2 million; $2.9 million or 0.59% more than the estimate, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue. Those collections are also $2.8 million more than the same month in Fiscal Year 2019.

Retail sales tax collections were $205.3 million; up 3.67% from the $198.0 million estimate. Compensating use tax collections came in at $32.6 million; $2.4 million below the estimate.

Individual income tax collections were $231.3 million. This is $6.3 million, or 2.78%, more than the estimate and $10.5 million more than August 2018. Corporate income tax collections were $6.6 million; $5.4 million below the estimate.

“We continue to hold steady with the estimates,” Secretary Mark Burghart said. “I’m encouraged by both the improved sales tax collections and the stability of individual tax collections as we have now finished the second month of the fiscal year.”