HUTCHINSON — Motorists who have purchased gas at one of three Kwik Shops in Hutchinson have had their cars stop unexpectedly for what is apparently contaminated gasoline.
Several area car dealerships have reported numerous customers bringing in vehicles after purchasing gas this week.
According to service managers at both Midwest Superstore and Midway Motors, the gas has been contaminated with diesel fuel.
Alan Samuels Motors is also reporting both diesel and regular gas-powered vehicles having similar problems. Efforts to contact Kwik Shop were unsuccessful.
The three stores known to have sold the fuel are at 4th and K-61, 43rd and Plum and 17th and Lorraine.
There is no word about what is being done at this time to prevent any further damage to vehicles.
OTTAWA COUNTY, OK—Law enforcement authorities are investigating and have arrested two people on suspicion of counterfeiting thousands of dollars.
Joan Smith -photo Ottawa Co. SheriffScott Lowe-photo Ottawa Co. Sheriff
On Monday, police arrested 44-year-old Scott Lowe and 39-year-old Joan Smith in a hotel room in Miami, according to a media release.
Officers also found $3,000 in counterfeit $50 bills in the room and printing equipment during the arrest.
Officers also located numerous new consumer goods that were recently purchased by the pair.
The release says it appears the two printed and spent about $30,000 during the past month in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Kansas, including more than $4,000 in bogus money during the weekend in Springfield, Missouri.
The U.S. secret service has been contacted about the case.
TOPEKA, KAN. – Two Kansas companies were indicted Wednesday on federal charges of safety violations that caused a greenish-yellow toxic chlorine gas cloud to form over the city of Atchinson in October 2016, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Huge Chemical plume over Aitchison Kansas in October 2016-photo courtesy Corie Dunn
A web page, a phone line and an email address have been set up for victims to provide and receive information on the case.
The indictment alleges more than 140 people sought medical attention after 4,000 gallons of sulfuric acid combined with 5,800 gallons of sodium hypochlorite to form a toxic cloud that covered the city for 45 minutes until emergency personnel arrived to turn off the flow.
Midwest Grain Products, Inc., of Atchison, Kan., and Harcros Chemicals, Inc., of Kansas City, Kan., are charged with Clean Air Act violations that put the public in danger.
The indictment alleges that on Oct. 21, 2016, a driver for Harcros pulled a truck into Midwest Grain’s facility in Atchison to deliver sulfuric acid. An operator for Midwest Grain helped the driver access the transfer equipment. When the driver mistakenly connected the sulfuric acid line to the sodium hypochlorite line, toxic gas began to form. The indictment alleges both men violated safety rules by failing to verify that the connection was correct and failing to monitor the transfer.
Victims can get more information on US v. Midwest Grain Products, Inc., by visitinghttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/victim-witness and filling out a victim questionnaire, leaving a message on a designated phone line at 913-551-6543 or emailing questions to [email protected] .
If convicted, the defendant companies face the following penalties: Count one, violation of general duty clause: A fine up to $500,000. Count two, knowingly releasing a hazardous pollutant: A fine up to $1 million. Count three (alternate to count two), negligently releasing a hazardous pollutant: A fine up to $200,000.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Three people died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Wednesday in Sedgwick County.
Fatal crash scene in Sedgwick County -photo courtesy KWCH
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by Brandon M. Collier, 45, Wichita, was northbound Greenwich Road one mile east of Webb Road in Wichita.
A 2017 Ford Fusion driven by Terry L. Wehry, 41, El Dorado, was westbound on Kansas 254. The vehicles collided at the intersection.
Wehry and two passengers Renata A. Wehry, 44, and Lonnie W. Jesser, 68, both of El Dorado were pronounced dead at the scene. Both vehicles went into a ditch and caught fire.
Collier was not injured. The KHP did have seat belt information on the occupants of the Ford.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say three people have been killed in a fiery wreck in northeast Wichita.
The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on Kansas 254. Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Crittenden says a northbound box truck collided with a westbound car while crossing Kansas 254. Both vehicles went into a ditch and caught fire.
Crittenden said the three people in the car died at the scene. The patrol is working to identify them.
The truck driver was hospitalized with what are believed to be minor injuries. Crittenden says it appears that the driver didn’t yield before crossing the highway.
RILEY COUNTY —In the past week the Riley County Police Department has responded to three reports of apparent drug overdoses.
fentanyl -photo DEA
According to a media release from the RCPD, the investigations suggest that some of these incidents may have been related to the use of heroin containing fentanyl, an extremely strong synthetic opioid. One of these incidents involved a fatality and two other persons were hospitalized.
The use of illegal narcotics regularly produces negative consequences, but in the case of heroin containing fentanyl, the consequences can be deadly. The Riley County Police Department believes that the aforementioned incidents represent a significant public health risk to some members of the community and requests the public’s assistance in responding to this risk. For these reasons the RCPD is issuing this public safety announcement.
If you have any information about the sale, possession, or use of these dangerous drugs please call the Riley County Police Department at 785-537-2112 or in an emergency 911. You can also anonymously provide information through the Manhattan-Riley County Crime Stoppers program at www.p3tips/353 or 785-539-7777.
TOPEKA (AP) — A judge has ordered Kansas to pay $48 million to settle a long-running legal fight with former pizza magnate Gene Bicknell.
Bicknell once owned the most Pizza Hut franchises in the nation. His legal fight with Kansas centered on whether the Pittsburg native lived in Kansas or in Florida when he sold his company, NPC International, in 2006.
Kansas’ revenue department issued a $42.5 million income tax assessment against him, saying he lived in the state. Bicknell paid the assessment, but he argued his official home was in Florida and sued the state of Kansas.
On Tuesday, District Court Senior Judge Richard Smith ordered Kansas to return $48 million to Bicknell.
A spokeswoman for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says her administration is reviewing the decision.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported aggravated assault with a gun asking the public for help to identify a suspect.
Image courtesy Wichita Police
Just after 2:30p.m. February 14, a suspect approached a man working on a vehicle in his driveway in the 800 Block of North Chautauqua in Wichita, according officer Kevin Wheeler.
The suspect sneaked up from behind and grabbed the victim’s 9mm handgun from the holster on his waist. Security camera images show the suspect point the gun at the victim and telling him to back away.
The suspect ran south through the alley between Chautauqua and Erie and fired a single shot at the victim who chased him. The victim was not injured.
Police searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect who is described as a 17-year-old black male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black sweat pants.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police.
HARVEY COUNTY — Authorities were busy Wednesday morning working to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a building that housed two businesses in Hesston
Crews on the scene of Tuesday’s fire in Hesston -photo courtesy Harvey Co. Emergency Management
Just after 1:40p.m. Tuesday, fire crews responded to the fire in the 500 Block of North Lancaster in Hesston, according to Hesston Fire Chief Russ Buller.
First arriving crews found heavy smoke and fire on the west side of the building that houses Dreier Landscape. The east side is home to Paul’s Incorporated, a plumbing business, according to Buller.
Fire crews could not gain entry to the building initially due to a partial roof collapse and later a wall collapse. Crews had to fight the fire from the exterior and finally brought the blaze under control about 5p.m.
Fire crews remained on the scene through the night. Authorities were conducting interviews Wednesday morning to determine the possible cause. There were no injuries, according to Buller.
Newton and Moundridge fire departments assisted as well as the Hesston Police Department and Harvey County Sheriff’s Office.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) — Dollar Tree is closing up to 390 Family Dollar stores this year and rebranding about 200 others under the Dollar Tree name.
The company closed 84 Family Dollar stores in the fourth quarter, 37 more than originally planned. The company has said that it will renovate at least 1,000 stores this year.
The nearest Family Dollar store is in Great Bend. A Dollar Tree opened at Big Creek Crossing in Hays in August. A list of store closures has yet to be released.
Dollar Tree Inc., based in Chesapeake, Virginia, acquired Family Dollar in 2015 for almost $9 billion.
The company said Wednesday that it’s seeking rent concessions from landlords at the 84 stores closed late last year and if it doesn’t get them, it’ll speed up the pace of store closings to as many as 390 locations. Dollar Tree closes about 75 stores annually.
The company had 15,237 stores in 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of Feb. 2.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A civil rights group says it has struck a settlement deal with the Shawnee Mission School District in a federal lawsuit alleging violations of the free speech and press rights of students.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas announced Tuesday in a news release that the school district will adopt new policies to ensure future students will not have their free speech rights violated at school.
Shawnee Mission North junior Grace Altenhofen says she saw an associate principal take a camera from a student’s hand at their walkout. Altenhofen and others are at the center of an ACLU lawsuit against the district. photo by ANDREA TUDHOPE
It says the parties have agreed not to release settlement details until after the court approves it.
The legal dispute stems from a nationwide walkout last year protesting gun violence. The lawsuit accuses the school district of suppressing students’ political speech.
It alleged administrators ended student anti-gun violence rallies, confiscated the cameras of student journalists covering it, and punished some participating students.
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ByANDREA TUDHOPE
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is suing the Shawnee Mission School District for allegedly violating students’ free speech rights.
Students complained in April after administrators in several schools allegedly censored students during the nationwide walkouts protesting gun violence. Among other incidents, students said a Hocker Grove principal pushed a student for mentioning school shootings in a speech and an administrator at Shawnee Mission North confiscated a student journalist’s camera.
At a SMSD board meeting in May, interim Superintendent Kenny Southwick provided an update on his investigation into the matter. He said he’d been conducting one-on-one interviews with students and parents and promised to bring First Amendment training to the summer administrator retreat.
“Our understanding was that their investigation would lead to a corrective action plan, an acknowledgement that rights were violated, and, if appropriate, discipline for certain staff and employees,” said Lauren Bonds, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas.
Bonds said what happened instead is concerning. According to her clients, she said Southwick has used one-on-one meetings to “retroactively justify some of the actions and conduct at the walkout.”
Furthermore, Bonds said, Southwick has allegedly taken a position on behalf of the district that students’ rights under the First Amendment and the Kansas Student Publications Act were not violated.
“I don’t see a lot of value in administrator training if they’re going to say everything they did was in accord with the constitution,” Bonds said.
Bonds said she’s not surprised by how the matter has been handled.
“We have raised a number of First Amendment concerns — whether on behalf of employees, parents — with the district that have been largely ignored or dismissed,” Bonds told KCUR.
The lawsuit filed Thursday aims to ensure that in the future, students will be allowed their rights to free speech and free press without risk of retaliation or discipline. It also seeks money damages from the district.
In a written statement, district spokesperson Shawna Samuel said though the district cannot comment on pending legal matters, SMSD “has been and continues to be in communication with the ACLU, who is representing the three students, about its concerns regarding student speech.” And, that it has “successfully resolved most parent and student concerns.”
Andrea Tudhope is a reporter for KCUR in conjunction with the Kansas News Service. Follow her on Twitter @_tudhope.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — One of three Kansas men charged in a triple homicide in Lawrence is free after pleading to a misdemeanor.
Dominque McMillon from an earlier arrest in Shawnee Co.
Defense attorney J.C. Gilroy said 20-year-old Dominque McMillon pleaded no contest Tuesday to misdemeanor battery. He was freed from jail because he was sentenced to less time than he’s already served in the case. A felony charge of aggravated assault was dropped as part of the plea deal.
McMillon started a fistfight that escalated into gunfire in downtown Lawrence in October 2017, killing three and injuring two.
Douglas County District Attorney said in a news release that resolving Gilroy’s case allows the state to concentrate on the two remaining and more serious cases.
The two other suspects are jailed on $1 million bond each while awaiting trial.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY – A Kansas sheriff is under investigation in connection with a DUI arrest.
Sheriff Dierks -photo courtesy Montgomery Co.
According to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, on March 1, Montgomery County Sheriff Robert W. Dierks, 55, was served a summons to appear in Montgomery County District Court following an investigation by KBI agents.
Dierks is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, March 6, on one count of Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer; Obstruction, or in the alternative, Attempted Obstruction; and one count of Intimidation of a Witness; Attempt to Prevent or Dissuade. According to the summons, the alleged crimes occurred on Jan. 27, 2018, in Montgomery County related to a DUI arrest.
The Fourteenth Judicial District entered an order appointing Todd Hiatt, an attorney from Shawnee County, to serve as special assistant county attorney for the case.
RENO COUNTY—An attempt to thaw frozen water pipes led to a second Kansas house fire this week in Hutchinson.
Crews on the scene of Tuesday’s fire in Hutchinson
Just after 10a.m. Tuesday, fire crews were dispatched to 222 East Avenue G in Hutchinson, according to Fire Battalion Chief Wiliam Lang.
Initial arriving crews found smoke showing from the attic and crawl space of a two-story residential home. Crews made an interior attack and controlled the fire within minutes of arrival. The fire was located in the crawl space of the structure. There is minor smoke damage to the main floor of the house and moderate damage to the crawl space.
The home was occupied at the time of call. The home owner advised that he was attempting to thaw frozen pipes in the crawl space with a heat source. The occupant exited the building but did suffer minor smoke inhalation. Reno County EMS examined him on scene, but he refused to be transported to the hospital.
This is the second fire in two days in which someone has attempted to thaw their frozen pipes. The Hutchinson Fire Department reminded residents to never use an open flame or high heat source (blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove) to thaw frozen pipes. If using an electric hair dryer or portable space heater to thaw pipes, keep away from flammable materials and never leave space heaters unattended. If you are unable to thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
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RENO COUNTY — An attempt to thaw frozen water pipes led to a Kansas house fire.
photo Hutchinson fire department
Just before 5p.m. Monday, fire crews were dispatched to a home in the 1500 Block of East 4th Street in Hutchinson for a structure fire, according to Battalion Chief Jeremy Unruh.
Initial arriving crews found heavy smoke showing from the attic of a single-story residential home. Crews made an aggressive interior attack and controlled the fire within minutes of arrival. The fire was located in a bathroom and had traveled to the attic. There was significant damage to both the bathroom and attic.
The home was occupied at the time of call. Maintenance personnel advised that they were thawing frozen pipes in the bathroom with a heat gun when items in their work area ignited. The occupants exited the building without injury.
Parts of East 4th Street were blocked for approximately 2 hours.
Hutchinson Fire would like to remind residents to never use an open flame or high heat source (blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove) to thaw frozen pipes.
If using an electric hair dryer or portable space heater to thaw pipes, keep away from flammable materials and never leave space heaters unattended. If you are unable to thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
