CLAY COUNTY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 8 a.m. on Thursday in Clay County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Buick passenger car driven by Lisa Lynn Struber, 45, Linn, was south bound on Kansas 15 ten miles north of Clay Center.
The car left the roadway, entered the west ditch, struck a private drive and overturned.
Struber was transported to Clay County Medical Center.
She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
ABILENE, Kan. (AP) — Baseball players will don uniforms from the 1860s and use equipment from the era during a game next week in Abilene.
The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home is sponsoring the Aug. 6 game. It will be played at Eisenhower Park, during the Central Kansas Free Fair, with rules from the Victorian era.
The rules are different from today’s game. For example, outfielders can catch the ball on one bounce for an out and base stealing and sliding are prohibited.
On the field will be the “Abilene Iron Cutters” and the “Wichita Bull Stockings” of the Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club.
“This is a fun event, recreating the game from a bygone era,” said Tim Rives, Acting Director, Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. “We encourage individuals and families to take advantage of this great ‘Americana’ experience.”
TOWANDA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man killed in a south-central Kansas house fire.
Butler County Undersheriff Tony Wilhite says 56-year-old Steven Hulse was killed last week when the fire broke out in the living room of his Towanda house. The Wichita Eagle reports that he was found next to his bed in the living room.
Hulse’s 16-year-old son had gone to a friend’s house earlier in the evening. When he returned, he went inside, but intense heat and soot forced him back outdoors.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Children who fled from their mother several months after they were taken to sing for occupiers during the armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge will remain in the custody of Kansas child welfare officials.
The Kansas City Star reports that a judge cited abuse in ruling Wednesday that Odalis Sharp couldn’t get her children back. Sharp has 10 children, but several are over 18. The younger children were ordered to remain in state custody. Watch the children sing here.
Several of the children testified that their mother hit them with rods. They said she yelled and screamed Bible verses during the punishment.
Sharp, of Auburn, Kansas, said she was a woman of God and loved her children. Sharp has 30 days to appeal but said she hasn’t decided if she will do so.
SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Salina are investigating business burglaries on July 9, at Eyecare Associates, 900 Westchester and on July 24 at Vanderbilt’s, 3005 Enterprise.
It appears these burglaries were committed by the same two individuals, according to police. They released photographs from security cameras.
Thieves took nearly $20,000 dollars worth of designer sunglasses from Eyecare Associates and thousands of dollars in merchandise, including Stryker crossbows, binoculars and Montana Silversmith Jewelry from Vanderbilt’s.
If you can identify any of the subjects, please contact Crime Stoppers or the Salina Police Department.
KEARNY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in western Kansas are investigating a new twist on a scam.
The victim received a call from someone saying that they were from the Social Security Administration and that the victim was eligible for an increase in benefits, according to the Kearny County Sheriff’s Department.
In order to receive the increase, the caller needed to confirm personal information.
The caller then began giving out information about the victim such as immediate family names, making the victim think it was a legitimate call.
Information likely came from an obituary that was posted on-line, according to the sheriff’s department.
The caller then obtained banking information from the victim. After the call the victim’s information with the Social Security Administration was changed so that the benefit check was routed from the victim’s bank to a bank out of state.
The victim’s bank noticed the change and notified the victim and the Social Security Administration to stop payment to the alternate bank.
Authorities reminded not give out your financial information unless you are absolutely sure of the caller.
SEWARD COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Seward County are searching for a suspect in connection with kidnapping and aggravated sexual battery.
Police in Liberal issued an arrest warrant for Marco Maldonado, according to a social media report. No additional details were available early Thursday.
He was convicted of drug possession charges in Ford County in 2012, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Authorities asked that anyone with information contact Liberal Police Dept. 620-626-0151 or the anonymous hotline 624-4000, or social media including the MYPD app.
JACKSON COUNTY – A Kansas firefighter died in an accident just before 5p.m. on Wednesday in Jackson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Peterbilt tanker truck from the Hoyt Fire Department traveling to the Jackson County Fair and driven by Michael L. Schultz, 47, Hoyt, was northbound on U.S.75 just south of 174th Road.
The truck blew a tire, left the roadway to the left and crossed the median, traveled across the southbound lanes of traffic, struck the embankment and overturned.
Schultz and a passenger Randy Rae Smith, 36, Mayetta, were transported to Stormont Vail where Schultz died.
They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
TROY, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas man faces more than 30 years in prison after being convicted of sex crimes against children.
The state attorney general’s office said in a release Wednesday that 42-year-old Heath Umphenour was found guilty in May in Doniphan County court of charges including aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy and sexual exploitation of a child.
The office says the crimes occurred between April 2011 and November 2012.
The attorney general’s office says Umphenour was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without a chance for parole for more than 30 years.
HUTCHINSON — An August 15, preliminary hearing date is scheduled for a Kansas Department of Corrections inmate accused of battering a corrections officer.
Eddie Nunez, 28, is accused of battering and causing injury to a female officer at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility on January 13.
The crime is a level five-person felony with a maximum sentence of over 11 years in prison.
Nunez is currently serving time for second-degree murder for a case in Seward County in 2005.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – In response to the United States Olympic Committee this week announcing the completed list of athletes who will compete for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement:
“Congratulations to all the outstanding Kansas athletes who qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team. Kansas has a long history of athletic excellence, and I look forward to cheering on these men and women as they continue that legacy next month in Brazil. These athletes have put in countless hours of training and preparation, and now they have the chance to display their talents in front of the entire nation and the world. Best of luck each of them in their respective events. Go Team USA!”
Kansas’ Team USA Athletes:
Amy Cragg, Track and Field
Leavenworth
Nico Hernandez, Boxing
Wichita
Lydia Paterson, Shooting
Kansas City
Jack Sock, Tennis
Kansas City
Kyle Clemons, Track and Field
University of Kansas
Mason Finley, Track and Field
University of Kansas
Tyson Gay, Track and Field
Barton County Community College
Andrea Geubelle, Track and Field
University of Kansas
Erik Kynard, Track and Field
Kansas State University
WASHINGTON, D.C.– A former physician assistant, Mark Wisner, at the Leavenworth VA Medical Center had a police record prior to his hire date yet he passed his initial background check and was not given any subsequent background checks.
In response, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and Congressman Kevin Yoder (KS-03) sent a letter to Deputy Inspector General Linda Halliday at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to request more information on the initial background check and the VA’s screening process.
“The fact that a physician assistant, who takes care of our veterans on a personal level, had a police record of this nature and still passed the initial background check is astounding,” said Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins.
“Whether this is a lapse in leadership or negligence, we need to do more to ensure those with disturbing police records are not employed by the VA. Our veterans deserve the best quality healthcare.”
“This can never happen again, period,” said Congressman Kevin Yoder. “Our veterans sacrifice so much to defend our freedoms, and in return we must defend them from ever having to face abuse like this when they come home seeking care. I look forward to the VA’s response to our request and their thorough explanation of who will be held accountable and what specific steps can be taken to ensure no veteran will ever be subjected to this kind of pain again.”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top social services official says Kansas expects to ask the federal government soon to partially recertify its state mental hospital in Osawatomie.
Interim Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Tim Keck said Wednesday that the agency will seek recertification of 60 of Osawatomie State Hospital’s 146 beds.
Federal officials decertified Osawatomie in December over an employee’s rape and other safety issues. A legislative committee reviewed an audit that said the state is losing about $1 million a month in federal funds.
Keck said renovation on a 60-bed unit is almost complete and staffing at the hospital has improved. He would not say exactly when his department would apply for recertification.
Auditors said the state still would continue to lose some federal funds even with 60 beds certified.
