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Brownback issues Exec. Order to aid in Hurricane Harvey relief; KNG on standby

Sam Brownback (R) Kansas Governor

OFFICE OF GOV.

TOPEKA—Governor Sam Brownback on Wednesday issued an executive order that will lift regulations on motor carriers traveling through Kansas en route to aid in recovery from widespread damage left by Hurricane Harvey.

Executive Order 17-03 applies to commercial vehicles directly participating in relief and restoration of areas in Texas recovering from the destruction of the hurricane and resulting floods. Under the order, certain motor carrier fees and regulations will be waived.

“There’s no doubt the people of Houston and the surrounding communities are facing historic devastation,” Governor Brownback said. “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Texas. Their neighbors here in Kansas are ready to assist.”

Separately, the Kansas National Guard is on standby to deploy to the areas impacted when called by disaster operations command. Resources such as high-water vehicles, communications teams, and Guardsmen, among others, are available when called upon to relieve troops currently in the area.

Kansas is also the coordinating state for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), in charge of coordinating relief efforts with other states.

“The stories coming out of the hurricane zone prove the power of what happens when neighbors work together,” said Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer. “We will continue working together to help the victims long after the floodwaters recede.”

The executive order is in immediate effect.  Read the full text of the EO 17-03 document.

Kansas woman admits embezzlement of $200K from bank

WICHITA — A Kansas woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal charge of embezzling more than $213,000 from the bank where she worked, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Debra J. Nading, 59, Oswego, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft by a bank employee. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred while she worked as an assistant cashier and bookkeeping supervisor for the Labette Bank in Parsons, Kan.

She used her access to the bank’s credit card accounts to make false entries to cover up the theft.

 

Suspect charged in 2 deaths on Kansas City area walking, biking trails

Scott -photo Jackson Co.

KANSAS CITY  (AP) — Jackson County officials charged a 22-year-old man in the shooting deaths of two men and say he is suspected in three other killings along south Kansas City trails.

Fredrick Demond Scott was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action in the deaths of 57-year-old Steven Gibbons and 54-year-old John Palmer. Prosecutors said DNA evidence connected him to the victims.

Gibbons was shot and killed August. Prosecutors say police found surveillance video showing Scott follow Gibbons off a Kansas City trail. Palmer was found dead Aug. 19, 2016 in a wooded area near the Indian Creek Trail.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Scott is also a suspect in three other killings along the Indian Creek and Blue River trail systems.

Kansas animal group helping rescue pets from storm in Texas

Mel Hambelton Ford provided a large transit vans for the trip to Houston

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Beauties and Beasts, Inc., a state-licensed 501c3 volunteer animal rescue group located in Wichita is leaving for Houston Friday to deliver supplies and bring animals home from the overflowing shelters in the Texas flood, according to the firm’s social media page.

The organization reported they need many foster families for animals. Boarding dogs need to be relocated to make room for the intake and distribution of incoming Harvey dogs. Harvey Dogs and cats will need placement with approved fosters on arrival.

You will need to be an approved dedicated Foster to help, please Submit an application ASAP www.beautiesandbeasts.org

Rescues or Shelters that can intake some of the incoming animals and help make room for more.

SUPPLIES: Kennels, Plastic & Wire of all sizes, Blankets, small throw type, Food (Dog & Cat) Can & Dry, Gallon Jugs of Water, Cat Litter, Bleach/Disinfectant, Paper Towels

Items can be Dropped off items through Thursday at Beauties & Beasts Building, 136 S Pattie, Wichita Ks 67211

 

 

Television station sued over report about KC women duped into sex

Antoine- Mo. Dept. of Corrections

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri couple is suing a television station over its coverage of a man charged with duping dozens of women into having sex with him on camera by telling them they were rehearsing for roles in pornographic movies.

The Kansas City Star reports that the lawsuit filed Monday says KSHB-TV used archive footage of Chyleina and Cory Herron when Mario Ambrose Antoine was charged last year in the porn fraud case. They had been interviewed in 2012 about a financial fraud case involving Antoine.

The suit says the old footage falsely made it appear they were involved in the porn fraud case, which culminated in Antoine pleading guilty to wire fraud.

David Giles, an attorney for KSHB-TV parent company E.W. Scripps, says the company doesn’t comment on ongoing litigation.

Kansas man jailed for alleged knife attack

McCray, Lee Roy –

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged aggravated assault.

Just after 1 a.m. on August 23, Lee Roy McCray, 55, allegedly assaulted a 44-year-old Salina man with a knife at the Budget King Motel, 809 North Broadway in Salina, according to Police Capt. Paul Forrester

The victim was staying at the motel with a female acquaintance when he was attacked. McCray fled after leaving a six-inch cut on the left forearm of the victim.

Emergency medical services transported the victim to the hospital and police issued a warrant for McCray’s arrest.

Police arrested him his place of employment Monday and booked him into the Saline County Jail for aggravated assault, criminal threat, aggravated battery and battery.

Kansas toddler’s bag of special medical equipment stolen

Rachel Butler and Ava courtesy photo

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita mother is hoping someone will return a bag with medical equipment designed especially for her toddler daughter.

Rachel Butler says someone broke into her car this weekend while it was parked near Old Towne and took the vital equipment. Butler’s 2-year-old daughter, Ava, has Moebius Syndrome, which causes her facial muscles to freeze. KAKE-TV reports that requires her to eat special food, usually with a tube. She also has a deformed foot, which requires a special shoe for her to walk.

All that equipment was in the bag stolen from Butler’s car.

Butler says there were no signs of the bag in the area and surveillance cameras weren’t aimed at her vehicle.

She’s working with insurance companies to determine how to replace the equipment.

KNG on standby for deployment to Hurricane Harvey; cash donations best

KDEM

TOPEKA – The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is urging Kansans who wish to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey on the Gulf Coast, to donate money to a reputable volunteer, charitable or faith-based organization rather than sending food, clothing or other goods.

“Too often, well-meaning people send clothing, diapers, and other items to disaster stricken areas, but their donations end up unused or even discarded,” said Angee Morgan, deputy KDEM director. “The reason is that these goods must be sorted, packaged and stored until they can be distributed, which diverts manpower from other tasks and requires a place to warehouse the items. In some areas, there may not be any place available to do this. Also, there is often a surplus of one thing and not enough of another.”

Transporting and distributing the goods also requires manpower that can be better used in other capacities. Food must also be stored until used. If there is no refrigeration available, perishable foods may become unusable before they can be distributed. Even nonperishable goods can be a problem; one can only use so many cans of green beans.

Donating money allows human services agencies to purchase exactly what is needed when it is needed and does not waste resources. It also puts money back into the local economy, helping local businesses recover faster.

KDEM also urges volunteers not to self-deploy. You may be heading to areas that are not safe. If you become injured because you lack proper training and safety equipment, you have only added to the problem. Too much manpower in a given area can be as much of a problem as too little because volunteers must be fed and sheltered, taking away resources from the disaster victims.

It is better to register with a reputable volunteer organization, outlining the skills and/or equipment you have available. If those skills and equipment are needed in a particular area, you will be contacted.

Hurricane Harvey is still an active storm and response measures require skilled, trained personnel. Currently, the Kansas National Guard has a number of Soldiers and Airmen on standby, ready to deploy if they are requested.

The recovery process in these hurricane-stricken states will be long and slow; volunteers are going to be needed for months, if not years. It is better to donate money now and volunteer your time and energy later when the situation is not as dangerous and the needs have been properly assessed.

UPDATE: Police identify suspect in fatal Kansas officer involved shooting

MCPHERSON COUNTY—  The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is in charge of investigating a Monday night fatal officer involved shooting in McPherson County. On Tuesday, police identified the man who died as 24-year-old William Matt Holmes, 24, Newton.  A passenger in the vehicle was arrested at the scene.

Just after 10:30p.m. Monday, Newton Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle reported to have been involved with a car burglary. The vehicle fled the scene and led officers on a high-speed chase north on Interstate 135. Speeds during the chase reached over 100-mles per hour, according to police.

After running over stop sticks, the vehicle came to a stop in the median near mile marker 51.

The occupants of the vehicle refused to exit for several minutes, and then when the driver came out, he became combative.

Officers expended every less lethal option, trying bean bag rounds, a Taser, and even a K-9, but those efforts were unsuccessful. When the driver tried to harm the K-9, an officer attempted to physically subdue him.

During the altercation, the driver got ahold of the officer’s gun and tried to pull it away from the officer. The Newton officer told other officers and asked for help. A McPherson County Deputy saw the driver trying to take the gun and felt compelled to use lethal force to protect our officer’s life.

First aid was immediately rendered and the Holmes was transported to a hospital where he died.

Both officers involved were treated for injuries sustained and are in good condition.

————

MCPHERSON COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is in charge of investigating a Monday night officer involved shooting in McPherson County.

Just after 10:30 p.m. Monday, Newton Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle reported to have been involved in a car burglary. The vehicle fled the scene and led officers on a high-speed chase north on Interstate-135, according to a social media report.

After running over stop sticks, the vehicle came to a stop in the median just north of Moundridge.
The occupants of the vehicle refused to exit for several minutes, and then when the driver came out, he became combative. Officers expended every less lethal option, trying bean bag rounds, a Taser, and even a K-9, but those efforts were unsuccessful. When the driver tried to harm the K-9, an officer attempted to physically subdue him.

During the altercation, the driver got ahold of the officer’s gun and tried to pull it away from the officer. The Newton officer told other officers and asked for help. A McPherson County Deputy saw the driver trying to take the gun and felt compelled to use lethal force to protect the officer’s life.

First aid was immediately rendered and the driver was transported to a hospital where he died.

Both officers involved were treated for injuries sustained and are in good condition. Police did not release the name of the driver.

30-year-old inmate dead after fight at Kansas county jail

MEADE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a Sedgwick County jail inmate at the Meade County Jail.

Preliminary reports indicate the inmate died just before 7:30p.m. Monday following a fight with another inmate, according to Lt. Lin Dehning with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department.

After lifesaving measures were attempted by paramedics the inmate was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inmate, a 30-year-old man from Wichita, was being held on misdemeanor charges and had been in custody for almost a month, according to Dehning.  His family has been notified and his identity is being withheld at their request.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office currently has 43 inmates housed in the Meade County Jail.
The KBI is in charge of the death investigation.

Kan. woman flown to hospital after apparent accident shooting

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an apparent accidental shooting.

Just before 10:30p.m. Monday police responded to residence in the 100 Block of West Cedar Avenue in Arkansas City, according to a social media report.

They found a 25-year-old woman sitting on the floor of the home with gunshot wound to her upper left let.

After further investigation, officers learned that another person inside the residence was attempting to a clear a .22-caliber rifle when it accidentally discharged and hit the woman.

She was transported to South Central Kansas Medical Center for treatment and later was airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for further treatment.

No arrests have been made. Police did not release the name of the victim.

Royals pitcher Danny Duffy cited for DUI in Kansas

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say Royals pitcher Danny Duffy has been cited for driving under the influence.

The Kansas City Star reports that the infraction happened Sunday night in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park. Police spokesman Brian Payne said he could not release further details until the police report is completed, probably sometime Tuesday afternoon. Payne didn’t immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.

The Royals did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Royals’ No. 1 starter, Duffy has been on the disabled list since Saturday because of a sore left elbow. An MRI exam revealed no structural damage and the Royals hope to have him back this season.

Military vehicle from Kansas going to help flood victims in Texas

Photo courtesy of Dawson’s GoFundMe page

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Rescuing people from flooding is becoming routine for two men at a Missouri landscaping business.

The Kansas City Star reports that Spencer Sherf and Cyrus Dawson took off Monday for the Gulf Coast in a military surplus Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. They plan to coordinate their efforts with authorities in Texas.

They got their first taste at rescue work last week when they drove the 20-ton vehicle to Overland Park, Kansas, with the intent of saving a family of seven trapped on the roof of their flooded home. But by the time they got there, the family had climbed down.

When the military vehicle isn’t rescuing people, it’s used by Dawson’s Stonehenge Landscape & Exteriors in Blue Springs to deliver materials for new swimming pools, landscaping and masonry jobs.

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