WICHITA, KAN. – A California man was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison Monday for smuggling more than 23 pounds of methamphetamine to Kansas, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Juan Beltran, 28, Bell Gardens, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In his plea, he admitted that the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped him on I-70 in Russell County, Kan. Troopers found the drugs in the trunk of his car.
KU NEWS SERVICE
LAWRENCE — Groundwater levels during 2018, on average, rose slightly or remained about even throughout most of western and central Kansas, according to preliminary data compiled by the Kansas Geological Survey.
“By and large, 2018 was a good year for groundwater levels,” said Brownie Wilson, KGS water-data manager. “Virtually all levels in south-central Kansas wells were up along with a good portion of those in northwest Kansas, and although southwest Kansas saw a few decline areas in the usual spots, they were not as great as in years past.”
The KGS, based at the University of Kansas, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) measure more than 1,400 water wells in Kansas annually. Most of the wells are drilled into the High Plains aquifer, a network of water-bearing rocks underlying parts of eight states and the state’s most valuable groundwater resource.
Ninety percent of the collected data comes from wells tapping the aquifer. The other wells are drilled into other aquifers underlying the High Plains aquifer and shallow aquifers adjacent to surface-water sources, such as the Arkansas River. Most of the 1,400 wells have been measured for decades.
In Kansas, the High Plains aquifer comprises three individual aquifers—the widespread Ogallala aquifer that underlies most of the western third of Kansas, the Equus Beds around Wichita and Hutchinson, and the Great Bend Prairie aquifer around Pratt and Great Bend.
Water levels in the Ogallala aquifer are influenced mainly by the amount of water withdrawn each year, which in turn is affected by the rate and timing of precipitation. Recharge, or water seeping down from the surface, adds little groundwater to the Ogallala. In central Kansas, however, recharge has more of an impact because the Equus Beds and Great Bend Prairie aquifer are shallower and average precipitation in that part of the state is higher.
Most of the wells in the network monitored by the KGS and DWR are within the boundaries of the state’s five Groundwater Management Districts (GMDs), which are organized and governed by area landowners and local water users to address water-resource issues.
In Southwest Kansas GMD 3, average levels dropped .39 feet. Although down, the change was less than in 17 of the last 20 years when levels fell between .5 and 3.5 feet annually. A rise of .05 feet in 2017 was the only positive movement during that time.
For the second summer in a row, water flowed for a time from the Colorado state line to Garden City. The river, which interacts with its adjacent shallow alluvial aquifer, has been mainly dry in western Kansas for decades.
Wells monitored in GMD 3 are drilled into the Ogallala aquifer except in a few areas where they draw from the deeper Dakota aquifer. The district includes all or part of Grant, Haskell, Gray, Finney, Stanton, Ford, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Hamilton, Kearny and Meade counties.
Western Kansas GMD 1 experienced a slight drop of .18 feet following a slight gain of .07 feet in 2017. The GMD includes portions of Wallace, Greeley, Wichita, Scott, and Lane counties, where the majority of wells are drilled into the Ogallala aquifer.
“West central was basically unchanged as a whole but the average is bookended by declines in Wallace County and rises in Scott County,” Wilson said.
Northwest Kansas GMD 4 had an average increase in water levels of .26 feet following a rise of .38 feet in 2017. GMD 4 covers Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan and parts of Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Graham, Wallace, Logan and Gove counties. Groundwater there is pumped almost exclusively from the Ogallala aquifer and shallow alluvial sources associated with streams. Besides being influenced by precipitation, water-level results in part of GMD 4 were tied to crop loss.
“Some producers south of the Goodland to Colby area got hailed out early in the 2018 growing season,” Wilson said. “With hail damaged crops and higher precipitation rates in the eastern portion of GMD 4, wells there had less declines or even slight recoveries.”
Big Bend GMD 5 had an average increase of 1.21 feet following an increase of .30 feet in 2017. The GMD is centered on the Great Bend Prairie aquifer underlying Stafford and Pratt counties and parts of Barton, Pawnee, Edwards, Kiowa, Reno and Rice counties.
Equus Beds GMD 2, a major source of water for Wichita, Hutchinson and surrounding towns, experienced a gain of 1.35 following a 1.93-foot decline in 2017. The GMD covers portions of Reno, Sedgwick, Harvey and McPherson counties.
The KGS measured 581 wells in western Kansas and DWR staff from field offices in Stockton, Garden City and Stafford measured 223, 260 and 357 wells in western and central Kansas, respectively. Measurements are taken annually, primarily in January when water levels are least likely to fluctuate due to irrigation.
The results are provisional and subject to revision based on additional analysis. Data by well is available at https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Magellan/WaterLevels/index.html.
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty Monday to trying to keep Wichita police from investigating illegal poker games, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Brock Wedman, 50, St. Marys, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of concealing a felony. In his plea, he admitted he helped organize and recruit players for illegal poker games in Wichita.
On Feb. 12, 2014, Wedman was present at a poker game held at 922 1/2 E. Douglas in Wichita. Wedman did not know it, but a man he invited to play was a Wichita Police Department officer working undercover to investigate organized gambling. When Wedman became suspicious, he found the undercover officer’s car and took down the license plate and VIN numbers. Wedman gave the information to a friend who was a Wichita police officer and asked him to confirm the undercover officer’s identity.
Sentencing is set for Aug. 1.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have three teen suspects in custody.
Just after 12:30 a.m. Friday, police responded to report of shots fired at a restaurant in the 300 Block of West 29th Street North in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. The building and five vehicles in the parking area had been struck by bullets.
While officers investigated at the scene, other officers located the vehicle believed to have been involved with the shooting. Police detained the occupants of the vehicle and seized three handguns including one that was reported stolen, according to Cruz.
Three juveniles ages 17, 16 and 15 were arrested and booked into juvenile detention for aggravated battery, destruction to auto by firearms and juvenile in possession of a firearm. An 18-year-old boy in the vehicle was also cited for marijuana possession.
At approximately 4.am. a 21-year-old arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his hip area. He was originally at the scene of the shooting, according to Cruz. He was treated and released.
Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 75. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Isolated showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. East southeast wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
WednesdayA chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. West southwest wind 9 to 16 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday NightA slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a slight chance of showers between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 62. Breezy.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 40. Breezy.
FridaySunny, with a high near 71.
By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post
GARDEN CITY, Kan.-The two teams sitting atop the the soccer standings of the Western Athletic Conference battled in Garden City on Monday night and the match lived up to the hype going in. Both Hays High and Garden City entered into the match with identical 6-1-1 records but with Garden holding the upper hand in the WAC standings at 3-0 and Hays High at 2-0-1.
It was all defense early with both teams going scoreless in the first half. It took just over 20 minutes into the second half before the Lady Indians would light up the scoreboard on a shot from Taleia McCrae in the game’s 61st minute. McCrae was able to find the back of the net after the ball pin-balled around in front of the Lady Buffalo goal. McCrae rocketed the ball off the goalie’s hands for a 1-0 Hays High lead.
Garden City would answer with the equalizer in the 72nd minute. The Lady Buffaloes were able to get free on the backside of the Hays High defense and scored only the fifth goal of the season against the Lady Indians. The two teams continued to battle throughout regulation and two 10 minute overtime periods but neither team scored again and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Hays High moves to 6-1-2 on the season and 2-0-2 in the WAC. The Lady Indians have another long road trip on Thursday when they travel to Liberal.
SILAS HIBBS INTERVIEW
RENO COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities and school officials are investigating vandalism at Pretty Prairie High School.
Just after 9:00a.m. Saturday, deputies were dispatched to Pretty Prairie High School for a criminal damage to property case, according to a media release.
Deputies met with Principal Kevin Hedrick who said he was giving a tour of the school to the up-coming freshman class when he noticed the band room had been vandalized. It appears that the school was entered between the hours of 1:00am – 3:00a.m. Saturday.
The entire band room received severe damage. Several different colors of paint were thrown across the floor, walls and over equipment. The majority of the drums, if not all, had holes punched in them. Some of the drum heads had painted hand prints left on them. Several different musical instruments were completely destroyed.
Fire extinguishers were discharged on the building and inside of a recently purchased Van that belonged to the school. Both in the band room and in the van, items within had been thrown around. Although it is going to take a bit to see what if anything has been stolen, we believe items have been taken.
The school gave a rough estimate of damage to be between $50,000 and $75,000 and could be more.
If anyone has information regarding this case please contact the Reno County Sheriff’s Office at 620-694-2735 or Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Detectives are continuing to investigate this case.
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RENO COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities and school officials are investigating vandalism at Pretty Prairie High School.
Many instruments were damaged or destroyed in the school’s music room over the weekend, according to the school’s social media page.
Vandals threw paint on pianos and destroyed music instruments along with causing extensive damage to that area of the building.
“We just got permission from the sheriff’s department and from our insurance agency to start the cleanup process and then start the inventory of what’s broken, what’s not, what can be repaired, what can’t,” USD 311 Superintendent Randy Hendrickson said. “Hopefully our goal by the end of the day is to have a list of what we need to get back into the kids hands so we can get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
While the music room was off limits, music classes were moved to the school’s auditorium. Area schools have sent emails and calls of support in an effort to help including Burrton USD 369 who was working to provide students in Pretty Prairie with replacement instruments. They have also volunteered to help restore the school’s music room.
If you would like to help the Pretty Prairie music department you can do so by calling Pretty Prairie High School at 620-459-6313 or the USD 311 offices at 620-459-6241.
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Monday for sex trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Johnell Carter, 23, Wichita, pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking. In his plea, he admitted he used physical force including punching and biting to make an 18-year-old woman have sex for money at Wichita hotels. He advertised her services online.
In the second count, Carter admitted recruiting a 15-year-old to perform commercial sex acts at Wichita hotels. He advertised her services online.
PAWNEE COUNTY—On Monday, Russell McFarland, age 65, previously of Wichita, appeared in the Pawnee County District for sentencing. The defendant was convicted on January 30, 2019 by jury of Aggravated Sexual Battery, according to a media release.
Testimony was presented at trial that on May 3, 2018, McFarland followed a 19-year old female staff member into a staff-only area of Larned State Hospital, forced her into a corner and tried to kiss her on the lips. The staff member was able to get free once another patient on the unit intervened. At the time, the defendant was a patient in the sexual predator treatment program. Additional testimony was presented that other patients on the unit were aware of McFarland’s intense infatuation of the staff member and were keeping an eye out for her once they saw her on the unit that day.
At Sentencing, Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett requested the Court find McFarland a persistent sex offender based on his criminal history and double the presumptive prison sentence of 120 months. Court appointed counsel Charles Pike of Great Bend argued the degree of harm caused in the case was less than normally seen for this type of conviction and requested the Court reduce the presumptive sentence.
Following arguments of counsel, District Judge Bruce Gatterman found the defendant to be a persistent sex offender and sentenced the defendant to 200 months with the Department of Corrections. Gatterman further advised the defendant he will now be subject to the Kansas Offender Registration Act for a period of 25 years.
The defendant was returned to the custody of the Sexual Predator Treatment Program at Larned State Hospital pending transfer to the Department of Corrections.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will be taking steps toward allowing farmers to grow hemp for industrial use under a measure Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law Monday.
The new law taking effect later this month replaces a state program only for researching hemp and its potential uses with a program for commercial production. Lawmakers authorized the research program last year after federal farm legislation allowed commercial hemp production.
The new law requires the Kansas Department of Agriculture to submit a plan to the federal government for regulating commercial hemp production. The department is required to confer with the governor’s and attorney general’s offices before submitting the plan.
Kelly said in a statement that the new law will help the state’s agricultural economy by giving farmers another crop to grow.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Russia is demanding that the U.S. release a Russian citizen who was convicted of kidnapping for moving her children from the U.S. to Russia amid a divorce.
Bogdana Alexandrovna Osipova, who is referred to by her married name of Mobley in court documents, was convicted in Kansas last month of one count of international parental kidnapping and two counts of attempting to extort money. Ospivoa, 38, faces up to 20 years in prison on each extortion count and up to three years on the kidnapping count at her May 20 sentencing hearing.
We demand that the #US authorities stop their lawless behaviour and release the Russian citizen Bogdana Osipova, thus returning the mother to her children
➡️ https://t.co/W53H4laSzg 👈@RepRonEstes @Rep_Watkins pic.twitter.com/Nef1xN8BJB— Russia in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) April 12, 2019
The Russian Embassy said in a tweet Friday that U.S. authorities should “stop their lawless behaviour and release the Russian citizen Bogdana Osipova, thus returning the mother to her children.” Her attorney, Craig Divine, didn’t immediately return a phone message. A Russian court has found that the children should remain in Russia.
U.S. prosecutors said Osipova, who has dual Russian and U.S. citizenship, left Wichita, Kansas, in April 2014 with one child from her first marriage and another child from a second marriage to Brian Mobley, an Air Force recruiter. She gave birth to a third child soon after returning to Russia. She was arrested in September 2017 after returning to the U.S. without her children to change child support arrangements.
Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov previously rejected a plea from Kansas Republican Rep. Ron Estes that the younger children — ages 6 and 4 — be reunited with their father. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a briefing that the children are living with relatives in Kaliningrad, The Wichita Eagle reported. Osipova’s oldest child is 16, and her first husband isn’t seeking custody of him.
Antonov told Estes that Osipova has been a victim of “discrimination and psychological pressure” in the U.S. criminal case.
“We’ve attempted to work with Russian authorities to find a diplomatic solution to this situation on behalf of a constituent, but clearly Russia is not interested in adhering to court rulings or acting in good faith,” Estes said Friday in a tweet. “I once again call on Russia to reunite this father with his children and will work with the State Department in solving this case.”
The U.S. State Department didn’t immediately return an email from The Associated Press seeking comment Monday.
Weeks before Osipova left for Russia, Mobley filed for divorce and was granted joint custody. The Russian court system granted the couple a divorce in July 2014. That December, a Kansas judge also granted the couple a divorce and ordered her to return the two youngest children. The Kansas judge awarded sole custody to her ex-husband because Osipova had left the U.S. without court approval or Mobley’s knowledge.
According to the U.S. criminal complaint, Mobley hasn’t been able to see his children. His ex-wife in January 2015 showed up to a meeting in Poland without the children. She allowed him to talk to the children on the phone and on Skype until November 2016, when she said he needed to send money to communicate with them, the complaint said.
Zakharova said the Russian court sees the situation differently.
“Her claim to her ex-husband for alimony, which was supported by a Russian court, was qualified there as extortion,” Zakharova said in the ministry’s translation of a briefing.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Russian Embassy is demanding the release of a citizen convicted of taking her children from the U.S. to Russia amid a divorce.
Thirty-eight-year-old Bogdana Alexandrovna Osipova was convicted last month of one count of international parental kidnapping and two counts of attempting to extort money. She is referred to by her married name of Mobley in court documents.
The Russian Embassy said Friday in a tweet that Osipova should be returned to her children and described the behavior of U.S. authorities as “lawless.” Prosecutors said she left Wichita, Kansas, in April 2014 with one child from her first marriage and another child from a second marriage to Brian Mobley. She gave birth to a third child soon after returning to Russia.
The children are thought to still be in Russia.
OFFICE OF LT. GOV.
TOPEKA – Kansas Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers will continue his tour of rural health care facilities in the state with a stop in Goodland Tuesday, April 16.
Rogers is scheduled to tour Goodland Regional Medical Center at 9 a.m. (CST). Later that day at 12 p.m., he will tour St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City.
Rogers toured HaysMed and talked with employees and local legislators April 2.
