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Jury convicts man of murder in grisly death of Nebraska woman

WILBER, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man was convicted Wednesday of killing a 24-year-old Lincoln woman and could now face the death penalty.

A jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon and in less than three hours agreed to convict 52-year-old Aubrey Trail of first-degree murder in the 2017 death of Sidney Loofe. Trail also was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to commit murder.

Trail and his girlfriend, Bailey Boswell, were both charged with first-degree murder. Loofe’s body parts were found in 14 pieces in ditches along a state highway, weeks after her November 2017 disappearance.

Trail had maintained Loofe’s death happened accidentally during rough sex. Trail said he made up stories, including one about killing 14 other people, to throw investigators off track.

On Thursday, a second phase of the trial will begin to determine if Trail’s action qualify for the death penalty.

Boswell is awaiting trial.

Trail missed much of his own trial after slashing his neck in the courtroom on June 24. Trail yelled “Bailey is innocent, and I curse you all” before he swiped something across his neck that day. Deputies rushed to help as Trail lay bleeding.

Trail opted to skip the trial after that until he returned earlier this week to testify in his defense.

Prosecutors said Trail and Boswell planned to kill someone before Boswell met Loofe on the dating app Tinder.

Boswell solicited young women through social media sites, and she and her boyfriend together picked out a victim.

Trail said he and Boswell actually met Loofe several months earlier, but she didn’t want to participate in their other crimes. He said they rekindled a relationship in November 2017 through Tinder.

Prosecutors said Trail repeatedly changed his story during the investigation and trial.

Authorities said Trail and Boswell were captured on video at a Home Depot in Lincoln on Nov. 15, 2017, buying tools used to dismember Loofe, hours before Loofe’s death and while she was still at work.

Algae warning for Rooks Co. lake lifted, downgraded in Norton Co.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, has issued public health advisories for Kansas lakes.

Warnings:

Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (unchanged)

Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County (unchanged)

Marion County Lake, Marion County (upgraded from watch 7/11)

Gathering Pond near Milford (Hatchery Supply Pond), Geary County (unchanged)

Hiawatha City Lake, Brown County (new 7/11)

Lovewell Reservoir, Jewell County (new 7/11)

Warning for Webster Lake (Webster Reservoir) in Rooks County has been lifted.

 

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

  • Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
  • Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
  • Water contact should be avoided.
  • Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
  • Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
  • If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
  • Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.

 

Watches:

Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County (unchanged)

Marion Reservoir, Marion County (downgraded from warning 7/11)

Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Norton County (downgraded from warning 7/11)

Rock Garden Pond (Gage Park), Shawnee County (unchanged)

A watch for Strowbridge (Carbondale East), Osage County, has been lifted.

A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop.  People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.

During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

  • Signage will be posted at all public access locations
  • Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
  • Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
  • Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms
  • Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
  • Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.

KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.

Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.

Carol ‘LaVon’ Glenn

Carol “LaVon” Glenn, 78, died July 11, 2019, at her home in Ellinwood. She was born June 24, 1941, in St. John, Kansas.

On August 11, 1958, she married John O. Glenn, in Ellinwood. He survives.

A longtime Ellinwood resident, LaVon was a LPN working for both Home Health and Woodhaven Care Center.

LaVon was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Ellinwood.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, John O. Glenn, of the home; and children, Kirk Glenn and wife Debbie of Sterling, Rena Mooney and husband Mike of Bushton, Ruth Kaiser and husband Jon of Ellinwood, John Otis Glenn III of Great Bend, and Crystal Glenn of Macksville; 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold & Ida Walters, daughter, Michelle Bigger and two brothers, Jerry and Wayne Smith.

Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Kindred Hospice or the Ellinwood EMS in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Buhler teen escapes serious injury after rollover accident

BUHLER — A 17-year-old from Buhler escaped serious injury after he rolled his vehicle just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The teen was driving south on Buhler Road when he crossed the center line, over-corrected, left the road on the right side and rolled his vehicle.

He was treated by EMS on scene and was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center by his mother with non-life threatening injuries.

He was wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident.

UPDATE: Salina gas stations seized by state for nonpayment of taxes

Rod’s 1 at 1401 S. Santa Fe. Salina Post photo

UPDATE: 3:30 p.m. Thursday

TOPEKA – Agents from the Kansas Department of Revenue accompanied by the Saline Sheriff Department executed tax warrants and closed Rod’s Convenience Stores for nonpayment of Retailers Sales Tax totaling $49,540.23.

The warrants were filed in Saline County. The businesses affected are located at 1717 W Crawford St, 1401 S Santa Fe Ave, 1339 N 9th, 220 W Magnolia Rd, 1619 W Magnolia Rd, 2140 W Crawford St, 680 S Phillips Ave, Salina KS.

The owner of the business has until Monday, July 15th to enter into a mutual arrangement otherwise the businesses will be closed permanently.

It is KDOR’s policy and practice to work with taxpayers in delinquent status to voluntarily enter into repayment agreements. It is only after these efforts and multiple failed collection attempts that the Department is forced to execute a tax warrant, utilizing such actions as bank levies, till taps, and ultimately asset seizure to ensure compliance with the law.

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SALINA — Rod’s locations in Salina have been seized by the State of Kansas for nonpayment of taxes, according to signs from the Kansas Department of Revenue that were taped on doors and gas pumps.

Rattlesnake, uranium, whiskey found during Okla. traffic stop

GUTHRIE, Okla. (AP) — Police in Oklahoma say they found a rattlesnake, a canister of radioactive powdered uranium and an open bottle of Kentucky Deluxe whiskey during a traffic stop of a vehicle that had been reported stolen.

The traffic stop happened June 26 in Guthrie, about 30 miles north of Oklahoma City. Guthrie police Sgt. Anthony Gibbs told Oklahoma City TV station KFOR that police don’t know why the uranium was in the vehicle or how it was obtained, though uranium ore can be bought on Amazon.

Gibbs says police also found a gun in the console and a terrarium in the backseat containing a pet timber rattlesnake.

Gibbs says the driver, Stephen Jennings, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, transporting an open container of liquor and driving with a suspended license.

Jennings remains jailed in Logan County.

Tyler James Kuhn

Tyler James Kuhn was born November 9, 1996, to his loving parents, Toby and Marla (VanDerVeen) Kuhn, in Hays, Kansas. He passed away July 9, 2019, in Norton County, Kansas, at the age of 22.

Tyler grew up in Norton where he attended the Norton schools graduating with the NCHS class of 2015. He also attended Kansas State University for one year. He moved to Colorado and had recently returned to Norton, where he was working as an IT technician and farming with his VanDerVeen family.

Tyler loved spending time in the outdoors hunting, fishing, farming and he enjoyed restoring firearms. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his family, especially watching his sister play basketball and spending special time with his grandparents.

Survivors include his parents, Toby and Marla, and his sister, Taryn Kuhn, of Norton; his paternal grandmother, Nettie Kuhn-Verdi, Norton; his paternal grandfather, Alphonse “Ollie” Kuhn, Victoria, Kansas; his maternal grandmother, Wauneta VanDerVeen, Prairie View, Kansas; his uncle and aunt, Curtis and Tiffany VanDerVeen, Phillipsburg, Kansas; his cousins, Michael and Chloe VanDerVeen, Phillipsburg; and Cheyenne Todd, Omaha, Nebraska; other relatives and friends.

Tyler was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Marvin VanDerVeen, his paternal step-grandfather, Jerry Verdi, his uncle, Tim Kuhn, and his special great-aunt, Henrietta Kuhn.

FUNERAL SERVICE – Saturday, July 13, 2019 – 10:30 a.m.
PLACE – First United Methodist Church – Norton, KS
INTERMENT – Luctor Cemetery – Prairie View, KS
VISITATION – Friday, July 12, 2019 – 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – 215 W. Main – Norton, KS
MEMORIAL – OK Kids Day at the Prairie Dog State Park

Betty Ann Weigel

Betty Ann Weigel, 83 of Westminster, Colo., died Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at North Suburban Medical Center.

She was born on May 29, 1936 in Ellis, Kansas, to Wendelin Anton Engel and Rose Celcilia Phillipp.

Betty graduated from Ft Hays State University in 1959 and spent the next 34 years doing what she loved by becoming a teacher.

She married Milton Weigel in June 11, 1960. He preceded her in death.

She was a founding member of St. Marks Catholic Church, where she selflessly served. She was a reader, eucharistic minister, weekly reading coordinator and was the leader of the grief ministry program

Survivors include one son, Wendell (Rebekah) Weigel of Palmer, AK, daughter Rachel (Fred) Louisville, Kentucky. Grandchildren: Harley and Sydney Gilman and Juliann and Michael Weigel. Siblings: LeRoy Engel, Edna Lowman, Ellen Farrell and Joseph Engel. Betty will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, friends and her church family.

Click HERE for service details.

Big rig spills pig intestines on Kansas City highway

MODOT photo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A tractor-trailer hauling pig intestine has dumped its load across a downtown highway in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Transportation tweeted that at least three lanes of westbound Interstate 670 were closed Thursday because of the spill, and that an emergency response truck with a snow plow blade was sent to the scene to help clean up the mess.

Transportation officials urged drivers to, “Find an alternate snout. Sorry, alternate route.”

Salina man leads police on chase into Ottawa County, back to Salina

Lance Smith. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff’s Office

Salina Post

SALINA — A Salina man wanted on active warrants out of Saline and Kiowa counties led law enforcement personnel on a chase Wednesday from Salina into Ottawa County before turning around and finally stopping near where the chase began.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said Thursday that at 10:52 a.m. Wednesday, a deputy was at the Red Carpet Inn, 222 E. Diamond Drive, to serve a warrant when he observed Lance Smith, 33, of Salina. Knowing that Smith had an active warrant from Saline County District Court for failure to appear, the deputy attempted to apprehend Smith, however, Smith took off in a 2010 Ford F150, Soldan said.

Smith then led the deputy and other law enforcement personnel on a chase along the following route, Soldan said.

  • West on Diamond Drive, where he ran the stop sign at Ninth Street
  • North on Ninth Street and continuing north when Ninth Street turns into Old 81 Highway, sometimes at speeds up to 100 mph
  • East on Kansas Highway 18
  • North through Bennington and continuing north
  • West on Kansas Highway 106
  • Back south on Old 81 Highway toward Salina

Soldan said Salina Police personnel set up spikes near the Saline River bridge, which took out the pickup’s tires. Smith continued south, finally coming to a stop in the middle turn lane of the 2400 block of North Ninth Street, which is just north of the Interstate 70 interchange, Soldan said.

After coming to a stop, Smith jumped out of the pickup and ran a short distance into a ditch, where he tripped and was apprehended, Soldan said.

In addition to the Saline County warrant and the warrant out of Kiowa County for probation violation, Soldan said Smith was arrested on suspicion of the following.

  • Speeding
  • Failure to stop at a stop sign
  • Obstruction
  • Flee and elude
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