MARION COUNTY  – Two people died in an accident just after 11p.m. on Monday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford F350 driven by Jason T. Johnson, 51, Lincolnville, was southbound on U.S. 56 two miles south of Lincolnville.

The pickup crossed the center line and collided with a 2000 Ford Expedition driven by Jayme R. Beldzig, 33, Junction City head-on.

Johnson and Beldzig were pronounce dead at the scene and transported to Zeiner Funeral Home.

 

———

MARION COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Marion County are investigating a fatal crash just after 11 p.m. on Monday 7 miles north of Marion.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a vehicle southbound on U.S. 56 and Vehicle 2 crossed the centerline and stuck another head-on.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

ST. JOHN, Kan. (AP) — The Sunflower Foundation has approved a statewide pilot program to help fund community-based strategies for addressing food access in rural Kansas.

The $120,000 pilot project called Project HERO — Healthy Eating: Rural Opportunities is planning to initially fund efforts in eight communities.

The 12-month pilot is allowing St. John to receive a $60,000 Sunflower grant to open a grocery store in the town of less than 1,300 people. Stafford County Economic Development Executive Director Carolyn Dunn says that after the town’s only grocery store closed almost one year ago, residents have had to drive 12 miles into Stafford to find the closest grocery.

GROW Hodgeman and the Harvey County Food and Farm Council are also receiving HERO grants.

OSAGE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Osage County are investigating two suspects on burglary charges.

Just after 11:30 pm Sunday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a resident in the 3000 block of East 137th Street reporting a burglary in progress at his home, according to a media release.

The victim arrived home to find two women inside of his residence attempting to remove property. As the suspects fled, the victim provided descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle to dispatchers.

Within four minutes of the 911 call, an Osage County Sheriff’s deputy spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s and conducted a car stop at 137th Street and south California Road.

Deputies took the two suspects into custody. They were identified as Jaime Lee Cowan, 36, Topeka, and Laura Ann Barnhart, 31, Hiawatha.

They were booked into the Osage County Jail on charges of aggravated burglary. Barnhart was also charged with interference with law enforcement after giving a false name.

Cowan was released on a $10,000 bond. Barnhart remains in custody.
.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A lieutenant colonel in Kansas’ Civil Air Patrol said in a Facebook post that a state lawmaker should “swing from a tree” for introducing a bill that would undo a law allowing concealed weapons on college campuses starting in July.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Jonathan Holder affirmed he was the person who posted the message earlier this month. Holder said in the initial post that he was offended that Republican Rep. Stephanie Clayton, of Overland Park, proposed legislation that would undermine his constitutional rights.

Kansas Adjutant General’s Department spokeswoman Katie Horner said the agency “does not condone the statements.” The department oversees the Air Patrol’s budget but not its operations.

Overland Park Police Officer John Lacy says the case remains under investigation. No charges have been filed.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man accused of plotting to attack Somali immigrants has asked a judge to free him pending trial.

A defense motion filed Tuesday asks U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren to review the detention order for Patrick Stein, whom prosecutors say was the leader of a militia group called “The Crusaders.”

In October, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne Birzer had ordered Stein held in jail until his trial, finding he poses “a grave danger” to the community.

Prosecutors say Stein along with co-defendants Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen conspired to detonate truck bombs at an apartment complex where 120 Somali immigrants live in the meatpacking town of Garden City. One unit is used as a mosque.

They have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A ferret is recovering at home after receiving a heart pacemaker during a rare surgery at Kansas State University.

The ferret, named Zelda, is owned by Carl Hobi of Olathe, who took her to the Veterinary Health Center in Manhattan after Christmas because she was diagnosed with a third-degree block in her heart, which caused a low heart beat and a lack of energy.

The university says in a news release that tests determined Zelda was a good candidate for a pacemaker, although it had to be special ordered because of the small size of her veins.

The university says Zelda was released two days after the surgery and should enjoy a normal ferret lifespan.

It was the first time the Kansas State center implanted a pacemaker in a ferret.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill that would exempt Kansas colleges from a mandate that they allow concealed carry of handguns is stuck in committee after failing to win approval Tuesday.

In an unrecorded voice vote, the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee opted not to advance a bill from Wichita Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau. The bill provides a permanent exemption for public colleges and several types of medical facilities from a 2013 law that requires public buildings to either allow concealed weapons or provide security measures, like guards and metal detectors. Campuses had until July 1, 2017, to comply.

Faust-Goudeau says she might introduce legislation that would require gun owners to get a license and training before carrying a concealed weapon.

CLAY COUNTY – A small plane made an emergency landing just after 8:30a.m. on Tuesday in Clay County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1976 Cessna Fixed Wing Single-Engine aircraft piloted by Jeffrey M. Clarke, 35, Fort Myers, FL., was having engine trouble, and made an emergency landing at the airport with no landing gear.

Despite the belly landing, Clarke and a passenger Dane M. Messex, 36, Harvest, AL., were not injured.

The incident remains under investigation.

PRATT COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Pratt County are investigating a suspect in connection with a Monday night arrest.

Just after 8p.m., police in Pratt arrested 28-year-old Ryan Dean Crag on requested charges of domestic battery; knowing reckless bodily harm and failure to appear. His bond was set at $3500.

On Tuesday morning, police would not release details on the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Craig has previous convictions for drugs, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property in 2012, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

WASHINGTON – Kansas legislative offices in Washington and across the state are overwhelmed with the number of phone calls following President’s Trump’s Executive Order on immigration.

Senator Pat Roberts thanked everyone who has called his office to express their opinions. “Our Washington and Kansas offices are experiencing an extremely high volume of calls, but the phones are open. I always appreciate hearing the thoughts and concerns of Kansans. If you are unable to get through, you can also reach me on social media or send an email.

Roberts said he agreed with the President. “We need a major overhaul of our immigration system and a better vetting process for those entering our nation. One attack on our shores like those in Paris and Brussels is one too many. We have also seen too many crimes committed by illegal immigrants that should never have been in our country in the first place. However, we need to strike a balance that protects the rights of Americans and those permitted to enter the country legally. The president needs to work with Congress to ensure every aspect of a major policy change such as this is taken into consideration.”

Kansas Junior Senator Jerry Moran said in media release keeping Americans safe should be our federal government’s top priority.

“Strengthening our immigration system is critical to that end, and it’s common sense to have appropriate vetting procedures in place for individuals wishing to travel to our country. While I support thorough vetting, I do not support restricting the rights of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Furthermore, far-reaching national security policy should always be devised in consultation with Congress and relevant government agencies.”

TOPEKA -A Kansas man has been sentenced to 52 months in prison for his role in a scheme involving the illegal export of firearms from the United States using a hidden online marketplace, according to Acting Assistant General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.

Michael Andrew Ryan, also known as Brad Jones and GunRunner, 36, Manhattan, previously had pleaded guilty to six counts of exporting and attempting to export firearms illegally from the United States to individuals located in other countries on June 6, 2016, and was remanded into custody on October 6, 2016.

In addition to imposing the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree of the District of Kansas ordered Ryan to forfeit all firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement during the investigation.

In connection with his plea Ryan admitted that he used the hidden internet marketplace Black Market Reloaded, a website hosted on the Tor network where users can traffic anonymously in illegal drugs and other illegal drugs to unlawfully export or attempt to export firearms from the United States to Cork, Ireland; Mallo, Ireland; Pinner, England; Edinburgh, Scotland and  Victoria, Australia.

Those goods included dozens of firearms, including pistols, revolvers, UZIs and Glocks, some from which the manufacturer’s serial numbers had been removed, altered or obliterated, as well as magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

BARTON COUNTY –Sunflower Diversified Services, the non-profit organization that serves infants, toddlers and adults with developmental disabilities in central Kansas is looking for a new executive director.

Debbie Reynolds, hired in November to replace Jim Johnson as executive director is no longer on the staff, according to Sunflower Board of Directors President Travis Thompson.
Decky Makings, Chief Operations Officer will take over as interim executive director.

Jim Johnson who retired in November will also act as advisor until a permanent replace is found, according to Thompson.

Reynolds was the general manager of the Golf Club at Southwind in Garden City before coming to Great Bend.

She spent 13 years as the executive director of Mosaic in Garden City, a similar non-profit agency supporting individuals with disabilities.