We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Kansas woman pleads in attack on pregnant woman

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) – One of two Dodge City women accused of attacking a pregnant woman in an effort to kill the unborn child reached a plea deal in the case.

Eighteen-year-old Kaila Vargas pleaded no contest Tuesday to intentional aggravated battery and criminal threat. In exchange for the plea, an attempted murder charge was dropped.

Assistant Ford County Attorney Scott James says Vargas and Mary Gobin attacked the woman, who was seven to eight months pregnant, at her home last June. They allegedly threw her to the ground and punched her stomach several times.

The Dodge City Daily Globe reports the attack apparently happened because the victim’s boyfriend had talked to police about a separate case.

Gobin pleaded no contest to aggravated battery and criminal threat on Feb. 10.

Kan. researcher who faked data faces sentencing

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – A federal judge has granted a sentencing delay for a Kansas researcher who admitted falsifying data in a 2010 clinical trial of an allergy pill on human subjects.

Lisa Sharp, a nurse from Olathe, had been scheduled for sentencing March 5, but a judge on Wednesday moved the proceeding to March 23. Sharp’s co-defendant, Topeka physician Wayne Spencer, will still be sentenced March 5.

Both defendants worked for Lee Research Institute, which was paid by Schering-Plough to conduct the clinical trial on the allergy medication. Spencer was the principal investigator and Sharp was the lead research coordinator.

They pleaded to conspiracy to defraud and failing to maintain records in a clinical trial as required by the Food and Drug Administration.

Kan. House to consider repeals of outdated laws

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas House members will consider a series of bills recommended by the Office of the Repealer that identify laws, rules or regulations that are deemed no longer necessary.

The bills on Thursday’s debate calendar were advocated by secretary of administration Dennis Taylor, who was designated by Gov. Sam Brownback as the state’s official repealer.

Brownback asked Taylor last year to gather suggestions throughout Kansas of laws and regulations that are burdensome to government, businesses or residents.

Many of the statutes relate to special funds for fees that are no longer collected. Others spell out duties of county officials that were adopted in the early 1900s.

In all, more than 50 items were identified for repeal and are in various stages of the legislative process.

Kansas House to vote on tax check-off for arts

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A bill that would let Kansas residents contribute to arts programs when they pay their income taxes is facing a final vote in the state House.

The measure creates a new income tax check-off for the Kansas Arts Commission. Thursday’s vote will determine whether the bill moves to the Senate.

The proposal, sponsored by 40 Republicans, is in line with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s push to have arts programs rely more heavily on private funds.

Last year, Brownback vetoed the Arts Commission’s entire $689,000 budget, making Kansas the first state in the nation to eliminate its arts funding. This year, he’s proposing $200,000 for a new Creative Industries Commission.

Supporters don’t know how much a new check-off would generate. Critics say it wouldn’t provide adequate funding.

No. 4 Kansas beats Texas A&M 66-58

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) – Elijah Johnson scored 21 points and Tyshawn Taylor made key plays down the stretch to help No. 4 Kansas fight off a late run by Texas A&M for a 66-58 victory Wednesday night.

Kansas (23-5, 13-2 Big 12) led by as many as 21 points in the second half before a big run by the Aggies got them within striking distance.

A 3-pointer by Dash Harris cut the Kansas lead to four points, but Taylor made the first of two free throws to leave Kansas up 61-56 with about a minute remaining.

Johnson added a free throw before Thomas Robinson fouled out on a technical he received during a scuffle between players when they were trying to secure a loose ball.

Elston Turner made both free throws to make it 62-58 with 40 seconds left, but Jeff Withey scored four points after that to guarantee the win.

Khris Middleton led Texas A&M (13-14, 4-11) with 23 points.

No. 9 Wichita State beats Illinois State 68-55 No.19 Wichita State beats Illinois State 68-55

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) – Joe Ragland scored 14 points to lead No. 19 Wichita State to a 68-55 victory over Illinois State on Wednesday night to clinch the Missouri Valley Conference championship.

Ragland had four 3-pointers for the Shockers, who made 10 of 23 from beyond the arc.

Wichita State (25-4, 15-2), which has won seven straight games and 15 of 16, won its seventh Missouri Valley title and first since 2006. The 15 conference wins are the most for the Shockers since they went 17-1 in winning the MVC in 1982-83.

Garrett Stutz had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Shockers, while Ben Smith and Demetric Williams added 11 points apiece. Williams did all his scoring in the first half.

Bryant Allen scored 17 points for Illinois State (17-12, 8-9).

Lillian I. Hoffhaus

Name of Deceased: Lillian Irene Hoffhaus                                      Age: 91

Date of Death: February 20, 2012

Place of Death: Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital, Yukon, Oklahoma

Date of Birth: October 4, 1920 at Albert, Kansas

Parents Name: Garrett & Mary Katherine (Wagner) Arnold

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

 

Married John Frank Hoffhaus April 21, 1946 at Albert, Kansas.  He died April 9, 1991.

She was shoe department manager for Sears, retiring in 1980.

Mrs. Hoffhaus was a Yukon, Oklahoma resident since September 2011 coming from Great Bend, where she had resided since 1934, coming from Albert.

She was a member of Community Christian Church, Great Bend.

Mrs. Hoffhaus was strong in her faith and cherished her relationship with Jesus Christ. She loved to play cards, cook, host family dinners, read, and listen to country classics on her TV, especially Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.  She was deeply devoted to her family.

 

SURVIVORS

 

One Daughter: Karen Cartlidge and her husband Mike of Yukon, OK

Three Grandchildren: John Cartlidge and his wife Kayla of Winfield, KS

                                         Jennifer Cartlidge of Overland Park, KS

                                         Matthew Cartlidge and his wife Stacia of Lincoln, NE

Two Great-grandchildren: Aubrey Cartlidge and Alivia Cartlidge

Nieces and Nephews:  Steve and Don Walts and their families, Kathleen Walts and daughter, Delaney of Manassas, VA

                                         Anita Walts, Angela and Michael Walts of Odessa, TX

                                         Donie Walts of Dallas, TX

                                         Joann Yarbrough of Muskogee, OK

 

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Arnold and Merrill Arnold; and one sister, Pauline Walts.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

 

Funeral Service: Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Time of Service: 10:00 a.m.

Place of Service: Bryant Funeral Home

Officiant: Pastor Jack Sweany

Interment: Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kansas

Visitation:  The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Bryant Funeral Home

                       Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2012 at Bryant Funeral Home

Memorial Fund: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Lillian Hoffhaus Memorial Fund in care of Bryant Funeral Home

 

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                      Arrangements by    Bryant Funeral Home         1425 Patton Road       Great Bend, Kansas                      67530


Garden City approves support of Amtrak route

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) – Garden City commissioners approved resolutions offering symbolic and financial support to an Amtrak route through southwest Kansas.

The commission on Tuesday approved a resolution asking Amtrak to maintain the Southwest Chief’s route between Chicago and Los Angeles that goes through Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City. It also approved spending up to $20,000 to help pay for federal lobbying efforts to keep the current route.

The Garden City Telegram reports Amtrak is considering an alternative route that would run south of Newton through the Texas Panhandle to New Mexico. It cites the poor condition of rail track owned by BNSF Railway, which Amtrak uses for its service.

The $20,000 is for a coalition of Dodge City, Liberal and Garden City officials to lobby for the current route.

Kansas students create art for Dream Rocket Project

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Art created by Kansas students will be among those wrapped around a 365-foot replica of the Saturn V rocket at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.

A visiting assistant professor at Washburn University helped elementary students from Rossville and St. Mary create 550 pieces of artwork for the Dream Rocket Project.

A news release from the Topeka university says the Saturn V rocket will be wrapped with more than 8,000 pieces of art in 2014.

Beforehand, all submissions are being displayed in venues such as libraries, schools and museums. A show is planned at the Wamego Public Library in April.

The young artists submitting their work come from hundreds of cities across the United States and other countries.

Kan. House rejects bill to allow higher boat fees

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas House members don’t think much of giving a state official the power to double the fee for registering a boat to use at state parks.

The House voted 82-29 on Tuesday against giving first-round approval to a bill allow the secretary of wildlife, parks and tourism the authority to increase the boating fee to $60 from $30.

Boat owners pay the fee once every three years. Supporters of the bill said that even if the fee is doubled, it will still be competitive with the fees charged in other states. They said the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism can use more budget flexibility.

But critics worried about increasing fees or giving too much power to an administrative agency.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File