ELLIS — The Ellis Police Department is seeking information about a vehicle stolen from a residence late Monday or early Tuesday.
The white 2001 Buick LeSabre with KS tag 476KWG was taken from a home at 19th and Walnut between 11:30 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday, according to Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates.
Anyone with information is asked to call (785) 726-4141.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
PLAINVILLE — The Plainville Livestock Commission property in Plainville sold to Flatland Holding LLC for $850,000 during an auction Thursday.
The real and personal property was sold at a bankruptcy auction.
Plainville Livestock Commission declared bankruptcy on March 1. Tyler Gillum, 47, and his wife, Camden Gillum, 50, owners of the Plainville Livestock Commission were federally indicted on a check-kiting scheme on May 29.
According to a report from the court trustee filed Friday, the total gross from the auction of the personal property and equipment from the bankruptcy auction was $405,682.
Almena Bank has the first lien on the real property, and second lien on the personal property and equipment.
TBK Bank has first lien on the personal property and equipment with the exception of four trucks and a skid loader, which had secured loans through other creditors. According to court records, TBK Bank is owed $227,238.
In court records, Almena Bank indicated Plainville Livestock Commission had defaulted on three loans with its bank totaling more than $3.49 million.
Almena Bank is currently under a consent order with the FDIC to make major corrective action in its banking practices. Neither the consent order nor the bank board chairman indicated if the Plainville Livestock Commission case had anything to do with the FDIC consent order.
According to court documents, Plainville Livestock Commission debt is almost $14.5 million of which $3.7 million is secured debt. Landmark Bank of Manhattan is listed as an unsecured creditor with the commission owing $8 million.
Dozens of cattle producers were caught up in the Gillums’ alleged scheme after money that was supposed to be set aside to pay cattle sellers was transferred from a custodial account to the Plainville Livestock Auction’s operating account. The Almena Bank froze both accounts, which resulted in bounced checks amounting to tens of thousands of dollars per producer.
The court is holding about $900,000 from the frozen accounts at Almena Bank. The cattlemen’s case is moving through the bankruptcy court separately from the main bankruptcy. The next hearing on the cattlemen’s case is set for 10:30 a.m. July 11.
RELATED: Ranchers express frustration as Plainville Livestock funds remain in court’s hands
RELATED: Producers try to recoup losses after Plainville Livestock Commission drains account
RELATED: Plainville economy trying to recover after two bankruptcies in a month
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a meet-and-greet for incoming President/CEO Sarah Wasinger.
The come-and-go event will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Welcome Center, 2700 Vine. Light refreshments will be provided.
Submitted
Christopher Lyon, the Trego County Attorney and Hays municipal prosecutor, has announced his candidacy for the Ellis County Attorney’s Office.
Lyon served as Assistant Ellis County Attorney from 2014 to 2018 and Trego County Attorney from 2017 to present. He is also the WaKeeney municipal prosecutor.
Lyon has been the Hays municipal prosecutor since 2016, a position appointed by the Hays city attorney. He is the past president of the Ellis County Bar Association and currently also works as the staff attorney for the Kansas Sentencing Commission.
He served as an adviser to the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit from 2014 to 2018 and is certified by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance for Adult Drug Court Planning. He has been a special prosecutor in Rush, Sheridan and Ness counties.
Lyon received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Dallas. He then served in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed at Fort Riley, and served two tours of duty in Iraq, the first in Baghdad (2008-09) with the First Infantry Division, and the second in Mosul (2010-11), with the First Cavalry Division.
He received numerous medals and accolades, including two Army Commendation Medals and five Army Achievement Medals. Using the G.I. Bill, Lyon left the Army in 2011 to study law at Washburn University in Topeka.
Lyon and his wife, Emily, are members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays, and have four children: Peter, Helen, Esther and Thomas. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club, the VFW and the Knights of Columbus.
Current Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees, a Democrat, was first elected to the position in 1997.
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
A Hays man was sentenced to nearly three years in prison Monday in Ellis County District Court after being found guilty in May of three sex-related crimes.
Hunter Gonzales was sentenced to 32 months in prison aggravated battery after he pleaded no contest and was found guilty of aggravated battery, reckless aggravated battery and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery.
Gonzales was originally charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy after a woman he had a relationship with said he forced himself on her in November 2017.
At Monday’s sentencing, the victim addressed the court and, in front of about two dozen people, urged Chief Judge Glenn Braun to take the sentencing seriously.
She said Gonzales “put me through a living hell” and tearfully added that he “took a part of my life I will never get back.”
Gonzales also addressed the court and apologized and thanked his family and friends. He said he believed at the time, and still today, that the encounter was consensual.
Braun said these types of cases are extremely difficult and that he never takes them lightly.
He said to Gonzales that, while he and his family has been victimized by the situation, it was not as bad as what the victim has went through.
Braun added, “imagine the trauma she has incurred.”
He also said because the victim was made aware and was understanding of the plea agreement, he would accept the plea agreement.
But, he added, “this affects her more than any person in this room.”
Under the agreement, Gonzales will spend 32 month in prison with the Department of Corrections.
After finishing he prison sentence, he will be on probation for five years. If he violates his probation, he could face an additional 32 months in prison for the reckless aggravated battery charge.
Gonzales must also pay restitution for counseling the victim has received and pay other fines and fees associated with the investigation.
He will also have to register as a sex offender for 15 years.
Hays Post
The Hays City Commission will meet this week on Tuesday, rather than Thursday, July 4.
The sole agenda item for the work session is presentation of the draft 2020 budget by City Manager Toby Dougherty.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
SHERMAN COUNTY — A Goodland man was injured Tuesday evening in when his motorcycle crashed.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Matthew L. Pelkey, 34, was traveling north at 8:45 p.m. on Cherry Street in Goodland when his 1994 Suzuki struck a curb and rolled onto its side.
Pelkey was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center for treatment of a suspected minor injury.
The KHP reported he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
OFFICE OF CONG. MARSHALL
WASHINGTON, D.C. – I had the opportunity to lead another group of Kansans on a night tour of the Capitol building last week and among the group was the winner of our annual high school art competition, Ethan Beckman, and his family.
The theme for the first district this year was “I Like Ike” with participants submitting art centered around our 34th President and legendary Kansan General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ethan is a student at Wheatland High School in Grainfield, Kansas and his submission, titled “American Hero,” shows Eisenhower as a soldier standing in front of an American flag.
DALLAS — Ellis native Cornell Kinderknecht has just launched his fourth solo album. Entitled “Into Stillness: Piano and Keyboard Improvisations for Heart and Mind,” Kinderknecht’s new album was released in CD, digital and streaming format this week under the Little Greyhound Music label.
In a departure from his most recent albums, which featured Kinderknecht on flute and reed instruments, this latest release boasts 12 original compositions performed on solo piano or keyboard. Flowing and melodic, this instrumental collection emerged from a nightly improvisational series that Kinderknecht broadcasted live on Facebook earlier this year.
An award-winning, Grammy nominated musician and composer currently based out of Dallas, Texas Kinderknecht performs and conducts workshops nationally. His recordings which typically chart under such genres as New Age, World, Zone, Easy Listening, Contemporary Instrumental or Relaxation/Meditation receive airplay by a variety of US and international terrestrial and internet radio stations and television music channels. Kinderknecht is also a featured musician in numerous collaborations with other artists across multiple genres.
“Into Stillness: Piano and Keyboard Improvisations for Heart and Mind” is available at Amazon, Apple Music, iTunes, CD Baby and other online CD sales, digital music and streaming outlets, as well as through www.cornellk.com where you can also read more about Kinderknecht’s music and calendar.
— Submitted
Kansas Department of Commerce
TOPEKA – Secretary of Commerce David Toland has announced the award of a special series of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to support 11 rural communities across Kansas.
These grants are specifically designed to aid communities in constructing or reconstructing community swimming pools. Improvements to recreational assets will enhance the quality of life in each community, a key strategy in economic development.
“Community quality of life projects like these are a strategic use of the CDBG program,” Toland said. “These projects will help provide fun, relaxing summer destinations for these towns located within their own communities, which in turn makes the communities more attractive to current and prospective residents. The development and prosperity of Kansas communities–particularly those in rural areas–is a priority for this Department and for the Kelly Administration, and we are proud to partner with these forward-thinking local leaders to make real improvements to their towns’ quality of life.”
Each city awarded CDBG funding is also providing matching funds toward the project, as detailed below.
Grants have been awarded to the following communities:
About CDBG:
The CDBG program is one of the Department of Commerce’s main tools in assisting communities by distributing federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their community.
To receive funds, a project must meet at least one of the following federally mandated criteria:
UPDATE, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday: A teenager reported missing from Russell since June 30 has been found, according to Great Bend Post.
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RUSSELL — According to Kansas Missing & Unsolved, police are seeking information on the whereabouts of a missing 15-year-old from Russell.
Conor Weihe has been missing since June 30. He is described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 135 pounds with dirty-blond hair and blue eyes.
He was last known to be wearing a white Champion shirt, black shorts and black shoes, according to KM&U.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Russell County Sheriff’s Office at (785) 483-2151.
Click the image for more fromKansas Missing & Unsolved.
