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Category: State

Bomb Arson Tracking System Now In Kansas

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AFTS BATS LOGOThursday at the 125th annual meeting of the Kansas Fire Fighters Association, State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen announced his office will begin using the federal Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) effective July 1, 2013, and all local fire departments with Certified Fire Investigators will transition to this system.

“BATS is an invaluable tool to aid fire departments and fire marshals in their efforts to track arson incidents, manage investigation data, and apprehend arsonists,” says Jorgensen.

After researching various report programs for bomb and arson incidents, to include the current state reporting system and input from other investigators, the Office of the State Fire Marshal made the decision to switch to BATS.

Developed by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), BATS is a web-based system which enables public safety agencies to share information locally and nationally. The Office of the State Fire Marshal has been entering data into the BATS system for several years now as a secondary system.  Starting in July 2013 all of the state’s report information will be entered into this national database.

A key advantage of switching to BATS is that it is incredibly easy to use by local fire departments and will give investigators the ability to search a nationwide database of fire-related incidents – either by type of fire or by suspect. With this data in hand, investigators will be better equipped to identify trends and potentially identify cases involving serial arsonists.

“Currently fire investigators are only able to search through data that’s currently in our database, which isn’t a complete picture because not all agencies have complied with reporting details on fires in Kansas,” says Jorgensen. “Switching to BATS will make it easier for local fire departments to report fires and arsons which, as a result, will provide us with much better and more comprehensive data for reducing fires and prosecuting arsonists.”

BATS operates on many levels to support both local investigative needs and national collaboration and trend spotting. For example, investigators will be able to use BATS to find similarities in motives, device components, suspects and crime methodologies for possible investigative leads. Images of arson scenes, improvised explosive devices and crime scenes can also be shared through the BATS secure Web connection.

Further, investigators will be able to capture details of bomb and arson cases, casualties, dollar losses, fire descriptors, collateral crimes and device components. BATS also allows investigators to use the program as a case management system, enabling them to build their investigations in BATS while maintaining operational security.

There are currently more than 7,000 authorized BATS users from more than 1,500 local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies across the United States.

The system, https://www.atf.gov/, is free to use by local fire departments and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Kansas Libertarian Party Elects New Officers

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libertarian party logoThe Libertarian Party of Kansas (LPKS) held the state party’s convention, April 20, on the campus of Emporia State University. Party members from around the Sunflower State gathered to discuss business, recent election result trends, legislative initiatives, future strategy, and the accelerating growth of the party, says LPKS chairman Al Terwelp.

Business included electing executive committee officers to two-year terms. The newly elected LPKS officers are: Chairman- Al Terwelp of Overbrook, Vice-Chairman- Rob Hodgkinson, Stilwell;  Treasurer-Michael Ogle, Topeka; Secretary-Mike Kerner, Lenexa; and four Kansas District Coordinators; District 1-Barry Albin, Council Grove; District 2-Robert Garrard, Edgerton; District 3-Jeff Caldwell, Overland Park; and District 4-Steve Rosile, Wichita.

Awards for volunteers were also given. Receiving awards for Most Impactful volunteers (the Seth and Maike Warren Awards) were Earl McIntosh and Sharon DuBois of Topeka.  The Light of Liberty award for most substantial non-member partner in the work of liberty was given to attorney Lucas Thompson also of Topeka.

According to Terwelp, the LPKS   (www.lpks.org) headquartered in Wichita, has experienced seven consecutive years of registered voter growth including approximately 13% growth in the last 18 months.  Additionally, 2012 saw record high Libertarian vote totals, says Terwelp, and many new county groups forming across the state.

 

Ramp Closure at Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area

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Cedar Bluff 001Silting has forced the closure of one of the boating ramps at the Wildlife Area at Cedar Bluff. According to Kent Hensley with the state Wildlife and Parks the boating ramp at cove three will be closed for about three weeks while they work to remove silt that has built up at the ramp.

Hensley said this is a common process that happens when water washes sand onto the ramps. He estimated that about a foot to 18 inches of sand had washed up on the ramp at cove three.

While this ramp is in the wildlife area there are still two usable ramps at the state park one on the north shore and one on the south sore.

Wichita State Player Under Investigation for Rape

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ShockersWichita police are investigating a woman’s allegation that she was sexually assaulted by a member of this year’s Wichita State men’s basketball team.

Police Lt. Doug Nolte said Thursday the player has not been arrested or charged. Nolte did not name the player but said he has no eligibility remaining, meaning he’s technically a former player.

The incident allegedly occurred over the weekend at the home of another Shocker basketball player. Police said the 20-year-old woman – who is not a Wichita State student – called 911 to report she woke up Sunday morning while the suspect was raping her.

Wichita State athletics director Eric Sexton issued a statement saying the university has been informed of the investigation. Sexton says the school and the athletic department are cooperating with police.

Help Build the World’s Largest Baseball

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Muscotah ballThe Kansas Sampler Foundation plans a work weekend in Muscotah  May 17-19 to build a rural baseball museum within the World’s Largest Baseball.

Muscotah, a town of 200 in western Atchison County, is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Famer, Joe Tinker.

It made sense to Jeff Hanson, 70, to capitalize on the town’s connection to Tinker by building an unusual baseball museum out of a 20-foot in diameter water tower tank. A mini-infield with an old-fashioned outfield fence and iron cut-outs of Tinker and his famous double-play teammates, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance, will be located behind the ball. A mural of Tinker to Evers to Chance will be painted on the concrete concession stand.

Muscotah joe tinkerHanson said, “Maybe we can even help “reverse the curse” for the Chicago Cubs by drawing attention to Joe Tinker.”  The Cubs haven’t won the World Series since 1908 when Tinker was the shortstop.

With help from local people and support of area businesses, Hanson has placed red rebar on the round tank to provide the look of baseball seams.

Marci Penner, director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, said, “Sometime volunteer-led towns need some outside support with ambitious projects. We’re asking for baseball fans, or anyone connected to Kansas or concerned about rural America to respond with donations or to volunteer. We have a form that outlines all that is needed.”

Bob Topping, Lawrence, is the project coordinator and has listed each task and all materials needed on the sign-up form at kansassampler.org.

Obese with Hypertension: 1 in 3 Kansans

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brfss_logoThe Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has released results from the 2011 Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

BRFSS is the world’s largest, annual population–based telephone survey system, tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the U.S. It is coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is conducted in every state and several territories.

The following are some of the Kansas 2011 BRFSS data highlights for adults 18 years old and older:

  • 80.6% of Kansas adults use safety belts
  • 36.3% of Kansas adults do not have dental insurance
  • 30.8% of Kansas adults have hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • 29.6% of Kansas adults are obese
  • 22% of Kansas adults smoke cigarettes
  • 9.5% of Kansas adults have diabetes

The CDC made major methodological changes to the way the data were collected and analyzed for the 2011 BRFSS.  The new methodology adjusts for changes in the use of cell phone service in Kansas and thereby provides prevalence estimates more representative of the Kansas adult population, especially in risk behaviors common to younger adults and to certain racial or ethnic minority groups.

To view the 2011 Kansas BRFSS report visit www.kdheks.gov/brfss/publications.html.

Kansas Jobless Rate Rose Slightly in March

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kansas.jpgUnemployment rose slightly in Kansas in March despite a drop of more than 1,300 applications for initial unemployment benefit claims.

The Kansas Department of Labor reported late Thursday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent in February to 5.6 percent in March. The rate was 5.8 percent in March 2012.

A labor economist says Kansas didn’t add as many jobs that it typically does in March, suggesting a slowdown in economic momentum. The private sector added 3,100 jobs, primarily in construction and leisure and hospitality professions.

Initial claims for jobless benefits fell from 16,388 in February to 15,069 in March. The figure was also below the 17,997 initial claims filed in March 2012. There were some 128,000 people still receiving continued jobless benefits.

Gun Permits Slow in Coming

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concealed carryGun rights advocates say the Kansas attorney general’s office is struggling to process a record number of applications for concealed carry permits on time.

Edwardsville resident John Altevogt said Thursday that Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office told him last week it would be lucky to process applications in 120 days. Kansas law says applications must be reviewed in 90 days.

Altevogt applied for a permit in February. On Wednesday, he filed a professional ethics complaint against Schmidt and members of his staff.

Kansas State Rifle Association president Patricia Stoneking said her group has received dozens of complaints in recent weeks.

Schmidt’s office received nearly 11,000 concealed-carry applications in January, February and March. He and his spokesman didn’t immediately respond to telephone and email messages seeking comment Thursday.

Strong Farm Income Boosts Index

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money-stacks-2-238x300A monthly survey of bankers says that strong farm income continues to boost the economy in rural areas of 10 Midwest and Plains states.

The overall economic index for the region grew to 58.3 in April from March’s 56.9.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. He says agricultural businesses and energy-producing firms continue to thrive in the region.

But the continued growth in farmland price index that hit 66.9 in April remains a concern for smaller farmers.

The index ranges from 0 to 100, with 50 representing growth neutral. Any score above 50 suggests economic growth in the months ahead.

The index is based on a survey of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

WaKeeney City Council Agenda for Tuesday

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wakeeney city logoGoverning Body Agenda

City of WaKeeney

408 Russell Ave., WaKeeney KS 67672

Regular Meeting 4/16/13 at 7:00 PM

 

ROLL CALL

  • Approval of minutes of last meeting
  • Petitions, requests, complaints, guests, etc.
  • Report of City Officers/Department Head
  • Chief of Police

Monthly departmental report

  • City Administrator

Merit pay plan for 2013

  • Letter from Gwen Richeson concerning zoning at former Assembly of God church
  • Quote from Utility Service Company for 250K water tower inspection
  • WaKeeney Water Park daily passes for hospital employees – 200 total
  • Mayor

Update on city and community events

  • Old Business
  • Executive Session for non-elected personnel
  • Adjournment

Topeka Correctional Facility Gets Audit Results

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topeka correctional facilityAn audit of the Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) performed last November by the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) states that the facility is ensuring the safety and security of staff and residents.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons withdrew all female inmates serving federal sentences at state-operated Topeka Correctional Facility last October in the wake of an investigation into sexual abuse among inmates and the staff.

Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Ray Roberts requested the audit.

“There were serious concerns surrounding the safety and well-being of the inmates held at the Topeka Correctional Facility when my administration took office, but as this independent audit found, solid progress has been made during the past two years,” Brownback said upon receiving the audit.  “I have a ‘zero tolerance policy’ toward sexual abuse in all state correctional facilities.  The Kansas Department of Corrections has worked diligently to ensure a safe, secure environment for the inmates, as well as for the people who work there.”

Warden Hope Cooper, who assumed leadership of the facility in August of 2011, was commended by the panel for her efforts.

Prisons nationwide are instituting widespread changes in response to recent federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) laws. Many new policies instituted by TCF in the past six months were reviewed by the panel. The audit commended the facility for:

  • Informing inmates of sexual abuse and misconduct policies and preventatives
  • Instituting a confidential phone hotline within the facility to report staff and inmate misconduct
  • Changing to strictly same-gender pat searches, which were found to be performed appropriately
  • Enhancing policy and procedures for reporting sexual misconduct
  • Ensuring adequate staff training
  • Greatly increasing the number of surveillance cameras and the use of video surveillance to ensure a safe and secure environment

The audit identified a few areas needing improvement, particularly the process by which inmates file grievances. Staff expressed a concern for inmate “idleness,” and the inmates themselves requested more of the programs they found favorable – mental health and religious services, and educational and mentoring programs.

The recruitment of more female staff is essential to meet TCF’s goals. At present, just over half of the corrections officer I staff is female.

 

It’s Absolutely Free! Really!!!

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ks mapThere’s no place like Kansas as the new 2013-14 Official State Transportation Map illustrates by highlighting things to see and places of interest that are unique to the state.

From the Kansas Cosmosphere to the Flint Hills Discovery Center, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and all the landscapes featured along the Kansas Byways, the map showcases many places of interest the state has for its citizens and visitors.

In addition to the basic state map on one side and city insets on the other are listings of recreation areas, museums, cities and counties. There is also information about accessing road conditions, visitor resources, a distance map and other helpful phone numbers and websites.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) works with several state agencies to create the map. About 800,000 copies of the maps will be distributed in Kansas and across the United States in the next two years.

Maps are available free of charge at Kansas Travel Centers, at KDOT Headquarters and District offices and at various hotels, attractions and other locations across the state.

Scabies Closes School until Tuesday UPDATE

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NWKTC2

1P.M. Update

The Sherman County Health Department, Goodland Family Health Center, Sherman County EMS, and Sherman County Emergency Management are collaborating with Northwest Tech to effectively address a public health concern today. The Northwest Tech campus is closed until Tuesday, April 16. Faculty and staff will return Monday, April 15.

On Tuesday afternoon, a student reported a case of scabies to Northwest Tech administration and additional cases were reported at 1 p.m. MT on Wednesday. Northwest Tech administration met immediately with the Sherman County Health Department to develop a plan of action for addressing the scabies concern and preventing further cases.

The Sherman County Health Department and Northwest Tech engaged additional resources from Goodland Family Health Center, Sherman County EMS, and regional Emergency Management. All students, faculty, and staff are being checked for scabies and educated on the condition this morning in a clinic set up in the Medical Assistant building on campus.

According to the Sherman County Health Department, scabies is a contagious skin rash caused by a parasite human itch mite.

“Scabies is not a result of being unclean, everyone is equally susceptible,” explained Donna Terry, Sherman County Health Department Administrator, “Center for Disease Control does not consider scabies as a reportable disease.”

The life span of scabies mites is 48 to 72 hours without a human host; therefore, by treating those with scabies as soon as possible and closing the college for four days should prevent the mites from spreading further.

Patients can obtain treatment at either the County Health Department or the Goodland Family Health Center; however fee and financial responsibility will differ at each facility.

Symptoms can include a rash area with dry or flaking edges, which might first appear as a small blister along with extreme itching. Typically symptoms will occur one week after exposure; however may not appear for up to 21 days. Symptoms may occur between fingers, at wrist, elbow, and shoulders, between shoulder blades, around breasts, at waistline and in genital areas, at knees, ankles and feet.

Treatment is a prescription cream that is applied from head to toe after showering, left on for eight to 14 hours and then rinsed off. All clothing, bedding and other cloth surfaces such as mattresses and seats should be washed and dried at hot temperatures or vacuumed. Hard surfaces can be wiped cleaned with disinfectant wipes

12: 45 p.m. Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland is closed to students until Tuesday, April 16th because of public health concern.

The college sent out an email and posted a public notice on the school’s website and their Facebook page due to public health concerns the campus is closed until Tuesday.

According to the school they are collaborating with the Sherman County Health Department, Goodland Family Health Center, Sherman County EMS, and Regional Emergency Management to address the issue.

A student told Hays Post that they were told to check in at the school today, get a health checkup and they were to leave until the campus opened to students again on Tuesday.

Faculty and Staff will return on Monday April 15th, according to the school’s website.

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