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Sunny, mild Thursday

Today Sunny, with a high near 76. West northwest wind 9 to 15 mph.

Tonight Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable.

Friday A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South southwest wind 5 to 11 mph.

Friday Night A slight chance of rain and thunderstorms before 8pm, then isolated showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon.

Saturday NightIsolated showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Kansas man captured after running from reported stolen car

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect  on numerous charges after a brief chase in a reported stolen vehicle.

Paul Corby photo Sedgwick Co.

Just after 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, a police officer was on routine patrol observed a black Honda that had been reported stolen in the 500 block of south Edwards in Wichita, according to a media release.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle when the driver later identified as 38-year-old Paul Corby refused to stop, accelerated and fled from police.

A very short police pursuit ensued to the alley in the 700 block of south Edwards and Corby fled from the vehicle on foot.

The officer located Corby in the 600 block of south Edwards and he was arrested without further incident. Corby was booked into jail on requested charges that include possession of cocaine, evade and elude, hit and run, possession of stolen property, traffic violations and outstanding warrants.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Kansas Senate confirms Kelly nominee to Court of Appeals

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has confirmed Gov. Laura Kelly’s nomination of a Kansas City-area attorney to the state’s second-highest court.

Sarah Warner courtesy photo

The vote Wednesday was 37-1 for Sarah Warner of Lenexa to be Court of Appeals judge.

The Democratic governor submitted Warner’s name to the Republican-controlled Senate after it rejected Labette County District Judge Jeffry Jack’s nomination over his political tweets in 2017.

Kelly tried to withdraw Jack’s nomination in March and touched off a legal battle. The Kansas Supreme Court ruledKelly could not legally withdraw the nomination.

Warner is a partner in a Lawrence law firm that has defended state abortion restrictions. Kelly supports abortion rights.

The only no vote came from independent Sen. John Doll of Garden City. He has been protesting a lack of appointees from western Kansas.

Kansas City zoo quietly resolves problem with wayward elephant

KANSAS CITY —Officials with the Kansas City Zoo reported a problem with an elephant on Wednesday.

Not the elephant in Wednesday’s incident-photo courtesy Kansas City Zoo

Just after 3p.m., the zoo reported on social media, “We are currently in an active code red situation with an elephant in an area it should not be. No one is any immediate danger and we are taking all needed steps to bring this situation to a safe resolution. We will update you as information becomes available.”

Less than hour later the zoo reported “We are all clear. The elephant has returned safely, without incident to his barn.”

Authorities have not released details on exactly what happened. They have not reported any injuries and the normal operations continued Wednesday evening.

Ellis has four named to the KABC All-State baseball team

The Ellis Railroaders had four players named to the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches 2-1A All-State team.

Sophomore Tegan Cain was a first team selection as a pitcher. Senior Talon Torline was a second team selection as a designated hitter and junior Carter Bollig was named to the second team as a third baseman. Freshman Tyson Jimenez was named to the honorable mention team.

Cain finished the season 8-1 with a 1.98 earned run average with 53 strikeouts and 11 walks in 28.1 innings. He allowed just eight earned runs (11 total) on 16 hits.

He also led the Railers in almost all offensive categories, including batting average (.508), hits (33), triples (6), homeruns (3) and RBI’s (31).

Torline and Bollig led Ellis in doubles (6). Torline hit .407 on the season with one home run, 15 RBI’s and 22 runs scored. Bollig batted .379 with 20 RBI’s and 28 runs scored.

Jimenez finished the season with a .379 batting average and tied for a team-high with 34 runs scored.

Ellis finished the season 15-4 and loss to Sedgwick in the regional championship game.

NWS: Russell County tornado rated EF-2

Storm damage photo in central Kansas photo National Weather Service

RUSSELL COUNTY —An EF-2 tornado moved across Russell, Osborne, and Mitchell Counties Tuesday, according to a preliminary estimate from the National Weather Service. The tornado at 5:20p.m. touched down just south west of Waldo and stayed on the ground for 24 miles lifting near Tipton.

The tornado was 0.5 miles wide at its maximum. There were no reported injuries.

Janice Ilo Baczkowski

Janice Ilo Baczkowski, 65, passed away on May 28, 2019 at her home in Dighton, Kansas. She was born on January 26, 1954 in Ransom, Kansas the daughter of Michael and Margaret (Paul) Curtis.

Parish Vigil will be on Friday, May 31, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home at 7:00 P.M. Funeral service will be on Saturday, June 1, at 10:30 A.M., at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, in Ness City. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. on Friday.

Memorial contributions may be given to the St. Catherine’s Hospice.

A full obituary is pending with Fitzgerald Funeral Home.

Hays man pleads no contest to sex-related charges

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

A Hays man pleaded no contest to three sex-related crimes Wednesday and is expected to be sentenced to more than two and a half years in prison.

Hunter Gonzales entered the no contest pleas to two counts of reckless aggravated battery, a level five person felony, and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery in Ellis County District Court.

As a result of the pleas and evidence presented by the Ellis County Attorney, District Judge Glenn Braun found Gonzales guilty.

Gonzales originally was charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy after a Hays woman said Gonzales forced himself on her in November 2017.

Under the agreement, Gonzales is expected to be sentenced to 32 months in prison for one count of reckless aggravated battery. Once he has served out his sentence, he will be placed on probation for five years.

Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees said if Gonzales violates his probation, he could face an additional 32 months in prison for the second reckless aggravated battery charge and 12 months for the misdemeanor sexual battery.

The 32-month sentence is contingent on a pre-sentence investigation.

He will also have to register as a sex offender for 15 years.

Gonzales is scheduled to be sentenced July 1.

NWS: Tuesday’s tornado near Lawrence rated EF-4

The track of Tuesday’s Douglas County tornado -NWS image- click to expand

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Authorities have completed the damage survey of Tuesday’s Lawrence, Douglas County storm and determined the tornado had a preliminary rating of an EF4 with winds estimated as high as 170mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado at 6:05 p.m. had a maximum width of one mile and was on the ground for over 31 miles and eventually lifted in southern Leavenworth County.

There were 18 reported injuries and no deaths.

Pictures taken by Kansas Geological Survey staff member Elson Core of Tuesday evening’s tornado that went south of Lawrence and the KU campus

Early Wednesday afternoon,  approximately 160 houses, buildings and other structures in Douglas County have been searched and cleared by emergency personnel, according to Douglas County Emergency Management. An estimated 40 of the structures had sustained heavy damage and around 25 had sustained moderate damage.

Daryl E. Klepper

Daryl E. Klepper, 65, passed away May 28, 2019, at his home in Great Bend. He was born March 6, 1954 at Ellinwood, to Clifford & Virginia (Dressler) Klepper. He married Janice Huslig on April 5, 1975, at Odin. She survives.

Coming from Ellinwood in 1980, Daryl was the plant supervisor at Doonan Trailer for 39 years. He was on the board at the Lake Barton Golf Club and Ducks Unlimited. He liked participating in pitch tournaments, golfing, hunting, fishing, woodworking and welding.

Survivors include, his wife, Janice Klepper of the home; two sons, Brett Klepper and wife Julianna of Auburn, NE, and Brad Klepper and wife Caitlin of Leavenworth; two daughters, Stacie Eckels and husband Mike of Ft. Collins, CO, and Deena Plymell and husband Matthew of Lee’s Summitt, MO; his mother, Virginia Klepper ; two brothers, Terry Klepper and wife Mary of Salina, and Brian Klepper of Overland Park; four sisters, Janice Rielly and husband Ron of St. Clairsville, OH, Cheryl Philippi and husband Mike of Manhattan, Michelle Shaheen and husband Mike of Derby, and Lynnette Bernasconi and husband Dave of Hays; and two grandchildren, Luka Klepper and Hannah Klepper. He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford Klepper; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Otto and Mary Huslig.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, June 2, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 3, 2019, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin, with Father Ted Stoecklein presiding. Interment will be in the Holy Family Cemetery, Odin.

Memorials are suggested to the Daryl E. Klepper Scholarship, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Lovetta Wood

Phillipsburg resident Lovetta Wood passed away May 26, 2019 at her home in Phillipsburg at the age of 85. She was born Dec. 16, 1933 in Chattanooga, OK, the daughter of F.B. & CleOra (Ridgeway) Vice.

Survivors include her son, Robert of Lubbock, TX; her daughters. Sharlene Keesee and Brenda Chanley of Phillipsburg & Kimberly McCormack of Oklahoma City, OK; her brother, Bob Vice of Fallbrook, CA; her sisters, Kay Seaman of Las Vegas, NV & Lynn Vice of Mannasses, VA; 11 grandchildren & 25 great grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen: A Memorial Service will be held Sat. June 1 at 10:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Tony Keesee officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Logan.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 9:00 Friday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Christ or Hospice Services

Sheriff: Kansas teen learns importance of ‘turn around don’t drown’

TURON— A 18-year-old who didn’t realize how deep the water was Tuesday on a township road in southwest Reno County learned a valuable lesson.

Photo courtesy of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.

Reno County Sheriff Sgt. Travis Vogt says this is a case where the road was not barricaded.

“As far as the township knew, the road was still considered open and I don’t think they knew the extent of the damage,” Vogt said.

“The driver was westbound on Silver Lake, there was water over the road and he committed to go westbound because that was a shorter distance. Once he got into the murky water, he realized that the hole was bigger than what he thought.”

The teen was able to get out of the truck, crawl on the top of the cab, then step on some dry land.

If you come to a road with high water — even if it’s not barricaded — your best bet is to turn around and find another route.

Kan. felon faces murder, robbery charges after weekend shooting

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Kristoffer Klesath photo Shawnee Co.

Just before 9:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to 1235 SW Huntoon in Topeka for a report of a shooting, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.

Bystanders were attempting to treat a single shooting victim identified as 34-year-old Darton A. Fields II of Topeka.

EMS transported Fields to a local hospital where he died, according to Jones.

Just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, police arrested Kristoffer Lee Klesath, 29, of Topeka for the homicide. Klesath was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, according to Manuel Munoz.

Klesath has previous convictions for robbery, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

 

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