Monday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Windy, with a north wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 14 to 19 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.
Monday Night Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Northeast wind 11 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
TuesdayShowers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then scattered showers after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday NightIsolated showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North northeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
WednesdayIsolated showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday NightScattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Sunday in Chautauqua County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Ranger driven by Terence EugeneLeiker, 57, Eureka Springs, AR., was southbound on Kansas 99 seven miles north of Sedan.
The pickup traveled off the roadway to the right, slid across the road to the left and rolled into the east ditch.
EMS transported Leiker to the hospital in Sedan where he died. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue the investigation of a fatal shooting that took the life of a Washburn University football player and injured a teammate.
Just before 1a.m. Sunday, police responded to 1400 SW 13th Street in Topeka in reference to a disturbance with gunshots in the area, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim identified as 23-year-old Dwane Simmons. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another victim from the same incident identified as 23-year-old Corey Ballentine arrived at an area hospital by private vehicle with a non- life-threatening gunshot wound.
Simmons was a junior mass media major from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, according to his Washburn University bio.
A preliminary investigation has determined that this incident occurred during a social gathering outside of a residence, according to a media release.
There were dozens present at the social gathering and police are currently working to gather evidence and statements from witnesses. Police need those who were present to let them know what they saw.
They encourage anyone who saw suspicious activity to report it to police or Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007.
In a media relase from Washburn, head football coach Crag Schurig said,” Heartbreaking news about Dwane Simmons. He was one of the most energetic and well-liked players I have ever coached at Washburn. Dwane’s infectious smile and love for football and his teammates was truly inspirational. Our prayers of healing go out to his family, his parents Navarro and Yasmine Simmons and Chaquilla Williams.”
On Saturday, the New York Giants selected Ballentine in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
Stacking the secondary! Here’s five things to know about CB Corey Ballentine.
The New York Giants issued a statement Sunday afternoon, “We are aware of the tragic situation and continue to gather information. We have spoken to Corey, and he is recovering in the hospital. Our thoughts are with Dwane Simmons’ family, friends and teammates and the rest of the Washburn community.”
Police have not reported an arrest in the case.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that took the life of a Washburn University football player and injured a teammate.
Just before 1a.m. Sunday, police responded to 1400 SW 13th Street in Topeka in reference to a disturbance with gunshots in the area, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim identified as 23-year-old Dwane Simmons. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another victim from the same incident identified as 23-year-old Corey Ballentine arrived at an area hospital by private vehicle with a non- life-threatening gunshot wound.
Simmons was a junior mass media major from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, according to his Washburn University bio.
In a media relase from Washburn, head football coach Crag Schurig said,” Heartbreaking news about Dwane Simmons. He was one of the most energetic and well-liked players I have ever coached at Washburn. Dwane’s infectious smile and love for football and his teammates was truly inspirational. Our prayers of healing go out to his family, his parents Navarro and Yasmine Simmons and Chaquilla Williams.”
On Saturday, the New York Giants selected Ballentine in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
Stacking the secondary! Here’s five things to know about CB Corey Ballentine.
The New York Giants issued a statement Sunday afternoon, “We are aware of the tragic situation and continue to gather information. We have spoken to Corey, and he is recovering in the hospital. Our thoughts are with Dwane Simmons’ family, friends and teammates and the rest of the Washburn community.”
WILSON COUNTY —Kansas Game Warden Ross Uhrmacher received a call Friday from a county road worker in southeast Kansas concerning a Bald Eagle that was out in a field with its wing out, according to a social media report from the Kansas Deparment of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.
Game Warden Ross Uhrmacher with the injured eagle -photo courtesy KDWP&T Game Wardens
Uhrmacher and Wildlife Biologist Kelly Newman responded to the reported location. The eagle was not able to fly, but it could run and swim.
Uhrmacher and Newman worked together and were able to catch the wounded eagle. The eagle was relayed to Game Warden McGinnis who then transported it to Operation Wildlife in Linwood.
Uhrmaher has a long history of assisting wild birds. In April 2015, he was called to rescue a barn Owl in Wilson County. In January 2017 Uhrmacher rescued a Bald Eagle that was struck by a vehicle on a Kansas highway.
The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Mon., April 29, 2019 in the area of Vine St. to Thunderbird between 27th St. and 41st St. and Enersys. This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.
TOPEKA —An investigation by the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) has led to criminal charges in Shawnee County against a former Topeka Correctional Facility dental instructor for inappropriate conduct involving female inmates.
Tomas Co -photo Oklahoma Co. Sheriff
Tomas Co, 73, was returned from Oklahoma to Kansas Friday and charged by the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office with seven counts of unlawful sexual relations, according to a media release from the KDOC.
He has bonded out of the Shawnee County Jail, according to online jail records.
A KDOC employee since 2013, Co was responsible for the inmate training and employment program designed to teach inmates to produce dental prosthetics. He had supervised up to 16 inmates assigned to the program. He was released from employment at the Topeka Correctional Facility in December 2018.
Following the department’s investigation by its Enforcement, Apprehension and Investigation Unit, the investigation report was forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office.
“We will cooperate fully with the prosecution of this case,” said Corrections Secretary Roger Werholtz.
Topeka Correctional Facility, the state’s only correctional facility for women, has a population of 955.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has received a nearly $12 million federal grant to research challenges connected with rural drug abuse in the Midwest.
Kirk Dombrowski, professor of sociology at Nebraska, will lead the university’s new Rural Drug Addiction Research Center.
The five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health will fund a research initiative called the Rural Drug Addiction Center. Researchers will track 600 rural drug users in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.
Nebraska has seen a drastic jump in its drug overdose rate in recent years. The issue is complicated by a trend among the state’s drug users who are often addicted to a combination of substances. It’s an understudied phenomenon that’s been seen in other Midwestern states.
The program’s leader, Kirk Dombrowski, says current drug addiction treatment focuses on brain chemistry, but understanding social patterns of abuse can lead to new treatments.
COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of thefts and burglaries and have a suspect in custody.
Trevor Scott Brown-photo Cowley County
Police began taking burglary and theft reports on April 11 mainly in an area extending eastward from the East Chestnut Avenue bridge over the Walnut River. The reports ranged from the theft of golf carts and all-terrain vehicles to vehicle burglaries, according to a media release.
ACPD immediately identified the spike in crime in this area due, in part, to crime tracking software.
Patrol shifts began tackling the problem with increased physical presence and door-to-door crime prevention education. Bicycle officers also were deployed to the area as part of this increased presence.
ACPD’s investigations division began looking at the area and quickly identified a person of interest.
Trevor Scott Brown, 23, of Arkansas City, was arrested for a revoked bond. He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield with no bond through Cowley County District Court in Arkansas City.
Brown, had been arrested in January for similar crimes that occurred between October 2018 to January 2019 in the west part of Arkansas City. Brown was arrested Monday on an unrelated charge. At the time of his arrest, information was gathered that helped with this ongoing investigation.
Investigators later interviewed Brown at the county jail. At that time, detectives were able to gather direct information about all of the crimes in that area and locations to check for property that was stolen.
A majority of the stolen property since has been recovered.
During the course of the ACPD investigation, information surfaced connecting Brown to other crimes in Cowley County. Investigators worked closely with the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office to assist it in the investigation of those crimes.
The cases, which involved 12 residential victims and one business owner was forwarded to the Cowley County Attorney’s Office for consideration of additional burglary and theft charges.
Kaytee Wisley, a junior in Fort Hays State University’s Honors College, was recently selected as a Truman Scholarship finalist.
Wisley, majoring in political science, is originally from Wichita, where she went to high school at Wichita Southeast High School.
The Truman scholarship, recognized as the most prestigious nationally competitive scholarship in the United States for those seeking a career in public service, awards $30,000 to just 60 students every year.
“Only about 25 percent of the 900 applicants are selected as finalists, putting Kaytee in a very elite group,” said Dr. Lexey Bartlett, associate professor of English and Nationally Competitive Scholarships coach for FHSU.
“I was truly honored to represent FHSU in this highly competitive process, and I am really thankful for the support across campus that I received to become a finalist,” said Wisley.
“Dr. Bartlett mentored me throughout the entire process from writing my essays to organizing mock interviews, and I could not be more thankful for her help and the time she invested in me,” she said.
“The application process is rigorous and intensive. Truman finalists often go on to distinguished careers in public service due to the prestige of the scholarship’s name,” said Bartlett. “This is a huge honor for FHSU and demonstrates that Honors College students can be competitive at a national level with the best and brightest students across the country.”
“The opportunity encouraged me to think very critically about what my future career goals are and how pursuing graduate school would help me reach those goals. It also gave me the opportunity to meet an amazing group of fellow finalists who inspired me with the work they had done in their communities,” said Wisley.
“Though the interview process was extremely scary, I think it prepared me well for future interviews for graduate school, internships and job opportunities.”
Wisley plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy. After obtaining her master’s, she would then like to work in a local government advocating for better distribution of community services like mental health care and other social support services.
Dorothy Viola Sekavec, age 93, passed away on April 26, 2019 at Cedar Village in Ness City, Kansas. She was born on May 5, 1925 in Bazine, Kansas the daughter of Alex and Elizabeth Stieben Ehrlich.
On July 10, 1943 she married Harvey Sekavec in Bazine. To this union, four sons were born. Dorothy was a faithful and lifelong member of St. Paul’s Congregational Church of Bazine, where she sang in the choir and worked with the Ladies Aid. Dorothy was a homemaker and always ready to lend a helping hand and she enjoyed doing things for her family and others.
Her parents preceded her in death as did her husband, Harvey on June 6, 2002. She is survived by her sons, Dale and his wife, Brenda, of Garden City, Ron and his wife, Linda, of Ness City, Marvin and his wife, Twylia, of Brownell, and Gerald and his wife, Judy, of Hays; six grandsons, Matthew, Daniel, Caleb, Michael, Jeremy, and Christopher and 13 great grandchildren, Kaden, Macon, Onna, Valerie, Brendon, Christian, Taylor, Riley, Ellie, Brynlie, Jace, Noah, and Aubrey.
Funeral service will be on Friday, May 3, 2019, 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Congregational Church, Bazine. Burial in the Bazine Cemetery. Viewing will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul’s Congregational Church, Bazine.
Surrounded by loving family and friends, Donna Lee Stanton passed away peacefully into the open arms of Jesus on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. She was born November 5, 1932, in Ransom, Kansas, the daughter of Mike W. and Betty (Herren) Tuggle.
Donna moved to Stanton County when she was five years old. She married Lyndell Stanton on November 8, 1949, in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Donna was a farm wife, baker and dispatcher. She worked alongside her husband on the farm for many years. She had a huge garden and spent many hours canning; sharing her good fortune with friends and family. Donna was a baker in the Johnson Co-op bakery, and served as a dispatcher for the Stanton County Sheriff Department. However; music was Donna’s passion. She played for many school music contests, weddings, funerals, graduations, and for many other functions. She was always ready to play the organ. Donna played the organ almost every Sunday at the Methodist Church in Manter where she was a longtime member. Donna was a past member of Eastern Star.
She is survived by her son, Greg Stanton and wife Mary of Dayton, Ohio; daughter, Pam Caldwell and husband Skip of Scott City; brothers, Tom Tuggle and wife Barb of Green Valley, Arizona, and John Tuggle and wife Jaime of Corpus Christi, Texas; nine grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Donna is preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Ruby Tuggle; husband, Lyndell; sons, Rodney, Tommy and Bryce; and grandson, Diren Hill.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 6, 2019, at the United Methodist Church in Manter, Kansas, with Pastor Mary Courtney officiating. Interment will follow at the Stanton County Cemetery in Johnson, Kansas. Friends may call from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at Garnand Funeral Home in Johnson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Donna Stanton Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, Kansas 67855.
Laura Lorraine Moreland, daughter of Guy and Jessie (Eatherton) Jackson, was born March 3, 1944, and passed away at the Harlan County Hospital in Alma, Nebraska, on April 26, 2019, at the age of 75.
Laura grew up in Almena, Kansas. On July 1, 1961, she married Russell “Salty” Moreland in Norton, Kansas. They made their home in Oxford, Wood River and Orleans, Nebraska where they raised their family. Laura served as the Executive Director for the Orleans Housing Authority. Her husband, Salty, passed away October 15, 2007.
Laura dearly loved her family, especially her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed her work at the housing authority and helping the patrons with their activities.
Survivors include: three daughters, Becky, and her husband, Greg Goedert, Orleans; Barb, and her husband, Dennis Gardner, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Brenda Kuhl, Orleans; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three brothers and three sisters.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE AND INTERMENT – Monday, April 29, 2019—2:00 p.m.
PLACE – Mt. Hope Cemetery – Almena, KS
MEMORIAL – Laura Moreland Memorial Fund
Darrel J. Ruzicka, 61, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Darrell was born to George and Willa (Snider) Ruzicka on August 14, 1957 in Oberlin, Kansas. He attended the Oberlin Schools graduating from Decatur Community High School with the class of 1975.
Darrel worked at Raye’s Grocery Store for fourteen years. He loved to travel and traveled all over the United States. He rode his bicycle from Oberlin to the East Coast. While living on the East Coast, Darrel had a job planting trees. He saw and did many interesting things during his travels.
Darrel is survived by his parents, George and Willa Ruzicka of Oberlin, Kansas; daughter, Patricia Chitwood of Onalaska, Wisconsin; Grandson, Xavier Chitwood of Onalaska, Wisconsin; niece, Lacey Johnson of Tok, Alaska; nephews, Zeke Ruzicka of Oberlin, Kansas, Zach Ruzicka of Oberlin, Kansas, Derek Morel of LasVegas, Nevada, Levi Johnson of Valdez, Alaska, Wade Johnson of Tok, Alaska; Christopher Ruzicka of Hastings, Nebraska, and Scotty B. Ruzicka of San Clemente, California; three Great-Nieces and four Great-Nephews.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Doyle Ruzicka and Dennis Ruzicka; sister, Georganne Johnson; and grandparents, Gerald and Christina Snider, and Joseph and Emma Ruzicka.
A Graveside Service for family and friends is being planned for a later date at the Big Timber Cemetery, Jennings, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the Darrel J. Ruzicka Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, Kansas 67749. Online condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
