Salina Public entities, made up of the City of Salina, Salina Airport Authority, USD 305 and Kansas State University, held a press conference today announcing their boards will be considering a Consent Decree with the United States of America settling claims associated with environmental contamination at the former Schilling Air Force Base.

According to the settlement, the Federal Government will pay an estimated $8.4 million and the city of Salina would pay approximately $936,300.

The Consent Degree is a voluntary agreement between the Salina Public Entities and the United States of America. The terms and conditions of the decree were negotiated as the result of U.S. District Court ordered mediation. The settlement provides for the first steps towards a comprehensive environmental cleanup for the former Schilling AFB in accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, also known as CERCLA.

During mediation the Salina Public Entities and the United States agreed to the scope of the work and cost for the first of many tasks necessary to complete a CERCLA complaint cleanup of the AFB property. The initial tasks to be completed are a Remedial Investigation, a Feasabilitiy Study, and an issuance of a Corrective Action Decision by the Kansas Department of Health Environment.

The estimated cost to complete the RI/FS/CAD scope of work is $9,363,000. By the terms of the Consent Decree the United States of America will pay 90% of the costs ($8,426,700), and the Salina Public Entities are obligated to pay 10 percent of the costs ($936,300).

Regulatory oversight will be provided by the KDHE as detailed in the Consent Agreement and Final ORder that is attached to the Consent Decree as Exhibit A.

The Interlocal Agreement details how the Salina Public Entities intend to implement the requirements of the Consent Decree and CAFO. The scope of work defined by the Consent Decree and CAFO will be collectively administered by the chief executive officer of each of the Public Entities. The Salina Public Entities will contact and hire an environmental consulting and engineering firm (and other specialized firms) to accomplish the RI/FS/CAD scope of work.

It is anticipated that the Dragun Corporation will be the consulting and engineering first that will be hired by the Salina Public Entities. Dragun Corporation was selected in 2005 as the Public Entities technical consultant for the Former Schilling AFB site from among a number of highly qualified candidate firms through a competitive, qualification, and interview based selection process.

The terms of the Consent Decree and CAFO require the Salina Public Entities to name a consultant with expertise in environmental site investigation and remediation within 30 days of Consent Decree and CAFO approval.

The governing boards of the City of Salina, the Salina Airport Authority, USD 305, and Kansas State University are scheduled to consider the Consent Decree with the United States of America at a board meeting scheduled for the week of December 17. In addition to the proposed Consent Decree, the governing boards will consider adoption of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement among the Salina Public Entities.

The City of Salina board of City Commissioners will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at a meeting scheduled for Monday, December 17. In addition to the Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement, the City of Salina will consider an environmental consulting and services agreement with the Dragun Corporation, Farmington Hills, Michigan.

The USD 305 board of education will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 18.

The Salina Airport Authority board of directors will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at a board of directors meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 19.

The Kansas Board of Regents will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at its meeting scheduled for December 19 and 20 in Topeka, Kansas.

After approval by the Salina Public Entities, the Consent Decree and CAFO will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice for final signature by the United State of America. Following DOJ approval, the Consent Decree and CAFO will be submitted to United States District Judge, Carlos Murguia for the Court’s approval and entry of final judgement.

The project will have its own website for the benefit of interested citizens and area residents.

The CERCLA process and KDHE oversight includes regular public meetings and opportunities for public comment.

The cleanup process is likely to take 5 years for completion and could begin as early as Spring 2013.

By Dewey Terrill ~ Junction City Post

A tractor rollover accident has claimed the life of an 80-year-old Geary County resident.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has identified the victim as Clayton Moon.

Emergency personnel were called to a 3200 block location just north of Junction City just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon where a tractor had rolled over, pinning Moon. Authorities confirmed he was dead at the scene.

Officials confirm Moon had been moving a bale of hay at the time of the accident. A family member who was present called 911 for assistance.

Wichita police say a man died and a woman is in critical condition after a shooting in Wichita.

Wichita police Lt. Chris Halloran says officers went to a home in southeast Wichita Wednesday evening after a man said his daughter had called and said she shot her husband.

When officers arrived at the home, they heard another gunshot.

Halloran says both people suffered gunshot wounds. The man was dead at the scene.

Halloran says the couple was alone in the house and police do not believe a third party was involved.

Two Kansas agencies are teaming up to make it easier to buy annual permits for visits to state parks.

The joint initiative of the Revenue Department and the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will let residents buy annual park permits when they register vehicles in 2013. Previously, buying the permit and registering a vehicle were two separate transactions.

The parks department also says a Kansas State Parks Passport will cost about $15 when bought during the vehicle registration process. The regular price is $25.

The parks agency sought the new arrangement in the 2012 legislative session as a way to attract more park visitors. Funding for state parks has dwindled in recent years, resulting in challenges for operations and maintenance.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt says the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board awarded more than $243,000 to victims of violent crimes at its December meeting.

Schmidt said Wednesday the board approved cash payments in 60 new cases and 37 that were submitted earlier.

The Kansas program was created in 1978 to help victims of violent crime pay for unexpected expenses, including medical treatment, mental health counseling, lost wages and funerals.

Awards are capped at $25,000, with limits of $5,000 for funerals, $3,500 for outpatient mental health counseling and $10,000 for inpatient mental health treatment. Families of homicide victims may also receive up to $1,000 for grief counseling.

The compensation is funded through court costs, fines, inmate wages, parole fees and restitution paid by offenders.

A Kansas man has been convicted on two counts of attempting to recruit and entice teenage girls to work as prostitutes, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

A jury in U.S. District Court in Wichita found Brandon W. Dennis, 26, Wichita, guilty on two counts of attempting to recruit teenagers to perform commercial sex acts.

In the first count the victim was a 17-year-old Wichita girl identified in court records as “Jane Doe.” In the other count the victim was identified as “Rissa,” a name used by a detective with the Wichita Police Deparatment who was working undercover.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the 17-year-old victim met Dennis in the summer of 2011 at a party. They became friends on Facebook. On Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, 2011, she received several messages on Facebook from Dennis. He told her she could make up to $800 a day working as a prostitute.

One message from Dennis read: “become a hoe n get paid n get rich.”

When she declined his offer, he threatened her and sent her a message that said: “u jus nothing but a dog that needs the rite trainin n life.”

On Oct. 24, 2011, a police detective accessed the victim’s Facebook account and found a phone number for Dennis. Posing as a 15-year-old named “Rissa,” the detective text messaged Dennis. Via text and phone conversations, Dennis offered “Rissa” the opportunity to work as a prostitute. In one message he said: “we can make this happn n get this money nation wide girl.”

Dennis arranged to meet “Rissa” at the Drury Inn, 400 W. Douglas in Wichita. He was arrested when he arrived there.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 27. He faces a minimum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

Two people have pleaded guilty to transporting a woman from Independence, Mo., to Prairie Village, Kan., for the purpose of prostitution, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Danyelle N. Putman, 21, Independence, Mo., and Tony A. Rogers, 25, Kansas City, Mo., each pleaded guilty to one count of transporting a woman between states for the purpose of prostitution. In their pleas, they admitted that on Aug. 9, 2012, Putman responded to call from an officer working undercover. The officer, who was with the Special Investigations Unit of the Prairie Village, Kan., Police Department, called a number on an Internet site advertising prostitution services.

Putman quoted the officer a price and told him she was traveling from Independence, Mo., to a location in Prairie Village. Putman and Rogers delivered a woman identified as “K.C.”, to Prairie Village. Putman and Rogers, who drove away when K.C. went inside, were stopped and arrested.

Sentencing is set for April 8. They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Prairie Village, Kan., Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.

A Shawnee County District Court judge says a juror who posted comments on a newspaper website during a murder trial committed misconduct.

The ruling issued Monday requires the Shawnee County district attorney to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the misconduct did not affect the trial against Anceo D. Stovall.

The juror posted a comment on a Topeka Capital-Journal story about the trial while the jury was recessed.

Stovall was one of nine suspects in the July 2011 killing of Natalie Gibson and the wounding of her life partner, Lori Allison. His trial ended in a hung jury on nine counts, an acquittal on one count and a conviction on another count.

The Capital-Journal reports that Stovall is seeking a new trial based on juror misconduct.

A 7-month-old girl was a bit of a medical mystery after being admitted to a Hutchinson hospital Saturday when an area of her jaw swelled up larger than a golf ball.

Luckily, a doctor at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center discovered the problem when she pulled a 2-inch black feather out of young Mya Whittington’s neck area.

The girl at some point likely swallowed or inhaled the feather, which then pierced the inside of her cheek or throat. The feather was trying to force its way out of her body, which caused the swelling.

Doctors say the girl probably had been in a lot of pain for quite awhile. But her mother, Emma Whittington, says her daughter cried only when nurses poked her.

The Kansas Senate’s new budget committee chairman filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and listed nearly $885,000 in unsecured debts in a federal court filing.

But other incoming Senate leaders defended Andover Republican Ty Masterson after his selection Tuesday as Ways and Means Committee chairman. They said colleagues respect him.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Masterson said he’s working with creditors to pay off debts that were discharged this year.

A GOP leadership panel picked Masterson. He and other incoming Senate leaders will begin their jobs when legislators convene their 2013 session in mid-January.

Masterson said he understands that some might question his appointment with the bankruptcy in his background. But he said it gives him a personal perspective on the tough economic times many people are facing.

Dodge City police say the western Kansas city is seeing a big increase in burglaries.

Police responded to 52 burglaries at homes, businesses and vehicles in November. That’s a 60 percent increase over November of last year.

Police Chief Craig Mellecker says the crimes are happening across the city. He says it’s not clear what is prompting the increase but he added that such crimes increase around the holidays.

The Dodge City Daily Globe reports that Mellecker also says drugs often play a part in property crimes.

A new industry snapshot suggests this year’s drought has had little effect on sales of farm machinery around the country.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers said Tuesday that sales of farm tractors were up 10.5 percent in November from the same month a year ago. Retailers reported selling 10,352 tractors nationwide.

Sales of combines were down 1.3 percent with 517 sold in November.

So far this year, sales of farm tractors have been up 10 percent over the first 11 months of last year with slightly more than 167,000 tractors sold. Sales of combines dipped a fraction of a percent, with nearly 8,900 sold.

The new speaker of the Kansas House is retaining the chairmen of the chamber’s powerful Appropriations, Taxation and Judiciary committees.

Incoming House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, announced committee leadership appointments late Tuesday. Members of the chamber’s GOP majority chose Merrick as speaker last week.

Merrick kept Lance Kinzer, of Olathe, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Kinzer had run against Merrick for speaker.

Marc Rhoades of Newton is remaining as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and Richard Carlson of St. Marys will continue to head the Taxation Committee.

All House committee chairmen and chairwomen are Republicans, in line with the GOP’s 92-33 majority. They’ll take over when lawmakers convene their 2013 session in mid-January.