GREENWOOD COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug and gun charges.

Over the weekend, a deputy with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle on US 400 for a traffic violation.

During the course of the traffic stop, the deputy observed indicators of possible drug activity and requested the Greenwood County K-9 unit to respond to the scene.

The K-9 arrived and conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle at which time the K-9 indicated the presence of an illegal substance within the vehicle.

Based on this alert, deputies conducted a vehicle search and recovered a significant quantity of methamphetamine as well as drug paraphernalia. Further searching uncovered a loaded handgun and the precursors for a clandestine methamphetamine lab including anhydrous ammonia.

The chemicals present in the vehicle are extremely hazardous and as a result of the discovery, KBI’s clandestine lab response team was contacted and requested to come to the scene to safely remove the chemicals.

Deputies arrested the two occupants of the vehicle were arrested. Both were charged with distribution of methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of anhydrous in an unapproved container.

One of the occupants was also charged with criminal possession of a firearm. Both occupants are being held on $250,000 bond, however due to ongoing investigation their names were not released.

CLOUD COUNTY – The Cloud County Sheriff’s Department and two game wardens rescued three people reported missing after seen tubing down the Republican River, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.

Authorities located the individuals on land as the wardens reached the area where they exited the river.

Since there are no improved access points Wardens Todd Robinson and Lt. Mike Peterson had to be creative to launch their airboat, knowingly getting their own truck struck in the fine river sand. Afterwards they used a couple shovels, a winch and their second patrol truck to “self-rescue.”

No injuries were reported.

ATCHISON COUNTY -— Authorities are investigating the crash of a P-51 Mustang that killed two people.

The Kansas City Star reports the plane crashed around 10:30 a.m. Sunday about 60 miles northwest of Kansas City in Atchison County, Kansas.

The pilot identified as Vlado Lenoch, 64, Burr Ridge, IL., and a passenger Bethany L. Root, 34, Atchison, both died in the crash. Root was the manager of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport in Atchison, which is about 45 miles northwest of Kansas City.

Lt. Bryce Whelply of the Kansas High Patrol says the cause of the crash wasn’t immediately clear. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration were on their way to the site Sunday.

The World War II-era P-51 Mustang fighter crashed one day after it flew in a festival that celebrates famed aviator Amelia Earhart in her Kansas hometown.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the crash of a P-51 Mustang that killed two people.

The Kansas City Star reports the plane crashed around 10:30 a.m. Sunday about 60 miles northwest of Kansas City in Atchison County, Kansas.

The pilot and a passenger both died in the crash. Authorities did not immediately identify them.

Lt. Bryce Whelply of the Kansas High Patrol says the cause of the crash wasn’t immediately clear. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration were on their way to the site Sunday.

The World War II era plane may have flown in the Amelia Earhart Festival on Saturday, one day before the crash. The plane crashed about nine miles away from the Amelia Earhart Airport in Atchison.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been ordered to spend more than 15 years in prison for abandoning his infant stepdaughter in an apartment complex trash compactor.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 28-year-old Marquis Young was sentenced Friday in Douglas County. That’s where he pleaded no contest in May to reduced charges of aggravated battery and child abuse.

He initially was charged with attempted first-degree murder after the baby was found in July 2016 in the trash bin. The then-9-month-old suffered two skull fractures but has recovered.

Young’s wife has testified she went to spend the night with friends after an argument and left the baby with her husband. He’d been drinking and told investigators he couldn’t remember what happened during the night.

Blood on his shirt matched the infant’s DNA.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Longtime Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder is planning to write a children’s book.

The Wichita Eagle reports that publisher Kraken Books says the 77-year-old Snyder is writing a children’s book called “Take it from Me.”

Few other details about the book were released immediately.

Snyder is preparing to coach his 26th season at Kansas State this fall. His teams have won 202 games and two Big 12 championships during his career.

CLAY COUNTY- A Kansas man died in an accident just after 3 a.m. Sunday in Clay County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Impala driven by James R. Jenkins, 29, was eastbound on Kansas 82 at the west end of the causeway at Milford Lake.

The vehicle traveled off the north edge of the roadway and rolled down the embankment.

Jenkins was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

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CLAY COUNTY- The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred just after 3a.m. Sunday. A vehicle was traveling eastbound on Kansas 82 at the west end of the causeway at Milford Lake.

It traveled off the north edge of the roadway and rolled down the embankment, according to the KHP.

No additional details were available early Sunday. Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.

RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man accused of setting fire to his home on July 4, appeared via video from the Reno County Correctional Facility Friday for the formal reading of charges.

Kerry Getz, 64, rural Reno County, now faces two cases, including one where he’s charged with arson for setting fire to his home in the 5000 block of Nickerson Boulevard.

He’s also charged with interference with law enforcement for blocking access to the property. Fire crews had trouble reaching the home at the time of the call because his truck was parked in the way.

When law enforcement made contact with Getz, he appeared intoxicated and smelled of gasoline.

In a separate case, he’s charged with three counts of criminal threat, including two against his ex-wife. In one case, he apparently threatened to shoot her in the head. That was on May 22, according to court testimony.

In another threat, he told another person that he would “gut her like a pig because she didn’t keep her vows.” He also threatened to go to church and slit the throat of a Hutchinson man. Both of those threats occurred on July 8.

In court, his wife told Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen she’s afraid of him because of his erratic behavior. She says he had threatened in the past to burn the house down and finally did.

The state asked that the bonds in both cases be raised, calling him a danger to the community. Judge Allen agreed to double the total bonds from $15,000 to $30,000.

In July of 2016, Getz entered a plea to a single count of making a criminal threat and was granted one year of probation after he chased a sub-contracted employee of Westar Energy who was at the home replacing an electrical meter.

Getz had been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing reckless bodily harm and criminal damage to property. However, as part of a plea agreement, the state dropped all the other charges.

SEDGWICK COUNTY -The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Sedgwick County Division of Health reports a confirmed case of measles in a Sedgwick County resident.

According to a media release from Sedgwick County, there is concern that a number of people in the general population may have potentially been exposed to the person with measles in Sedgwick County while contagious.

To prevent further spread of the disease, KDHE is asking anyone that visited the following locations to please call us at the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 1-877-427-7317 for further evaluation.

· Monday, July 10, 2017, between 6:45 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Lamar’s Donuts located at 10051 West 21st Street
· Monday, July 10, 2017, between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Pathway Church located at 2001 North Maize Road
· Tuesday, July 11, 2017, between 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Walmart located at 21st and Maize
· Tuesday, July 11, 2017, between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Kwik Shop located at 37th and Maize
· Tuesday, July 11, 2017, between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Jason’s Deli located at 21st and Ridge
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Jiffy Lube located at 21st and Ridge
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Academy Sports located at 2710 North Maize Road
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Michael’s located at 2441 North Maize Road
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Family Video located at 29th and Tyler
· Thursday July 13, 2017, between 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Moxley and Wagle Periodontics located at 825 South Hillside
· Thursday July 13, 2017, between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Vermillion Elementary located at 501 South James Avenue.
If you visited one or more of these locations during the times listed above, please call the hotline 1-877-427-7317. We will ask you about the time that you spent in each of the locations listed above. If we determine that you were potentially exposed to measles, we will ask about immunization status, any signs or symptoms of measles, and will ask questions to assess whether you are at risk for developing measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines individuals at high risk as infants aged less than 12 months, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
To report visiting any of the locations mentioned above during the date and times listed above, please call the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 1-877-427-7317. Healthcare providers that have questions should also call the Epidemiology Hotline.
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The signs and symptoms of measles typically begin one to two weeks after someone is exposed to an infected person. Symptoms include:
· Fever
· Blotchy rash on the skin, which spreads from the head to the trunk then to the lower extremities (measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears)
· Cough
· Runny nose
· Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
· Feeling run down, achy
· Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
KDHE and the Sedgwick County Division of Health recommend that contacts stay home if they have a fever, except to see a healthcare provider. Before visiting a healthcare provider or the Emergency Room, call ahead so that the provider can take measures to protect other patients and staff. For general questions regarding measles, please dial the United Way at 211.
For more information about measles, please visit here.

GALENA, Kan. (AP) — A restored viaduct along the historic Route 66 will be dedicated next week near the southeast Kansas town of Galena.

The Joplin Globe reports that the bridge serves as a gateway to Galena’s historic district and the famous “Cars on the Route” stop. That’s the old Kan-O-Tex Station that’s home to the truck “Tow Tater,” which served as the inspiration for Tow Mater in the Pixar movie “Cars.”

The mayor of 3,000-resident Galena, Dale Oglesby, calls the restoration “the best project since we did downtown.”

Kansas has the shortest segment of Route 66 — 13.2 miles — of any state that the highway crossed.

The viaduct will be dedicated during a ceremony next Saturday.

GREELEY COUNTY- A woman died in an accident just before 1p.m. Saturday in Greeley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Subaru 4-door driven by Gayla Fae Rutledge, 56, Laramie, WY, was westbound on Kansas 96 six miles east of Kansas 25.

The vehicle traveled onto the right shoulder. The driver over corrected and the vehicle traveled into the left ditch and rolled.

Rutledge was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Price & Sons Funeral Home. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) — A Washington attorney chosen to serve as President Donald Trump’s special counsel to handle the White House’s response to the Russia probes hails from Kansas.

The White House announced Great Bend native Ty Cobb’s hiring on Saturday. The move reflects the president’s growing acceptance that the Russia probes will linger over his tenure for months or even years.

Cobb is a Georgetown University law school alumnus and former prosecutor who lately has been working as a defense lawyer and partner at the Washington law firm Hogan Lovells.

Trump’s hiring of Cobb comes amid heightened questions about whether Trump’s associates coordinated with Russia to meddle in the presidential election to help him and thwart Hillary Clinton. Federal and congressional investigators are probing possible connections between the campaign and Moscow.