KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Four people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection to a drive-by shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl in eastern Kansas.
Two of suspects are jailed in Wyandotte County Detention Center. The district attorney’s office says another suspect is hospitalized and one suspect isn’t in custody.
Investigators say the girl, Machole Stewart, was killed in October 2014 when bullets from a passing vehicle ripped into a home she was visiting for a family gathering. Family members say Machole jumped up and ran because she was scared.
No one else was injured. Police say the intended target was a 19-year-old relative.
MARION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas high school student who fought to keep his rainbow-painted parking spot found it vandalized this week.
Marion High School senior Logan Waner decorated his parking spot with an LGBT pride design. It was covered in black paint or tar Thursday.
Seniors at the school are allowed to paint their parking spots, as long as the designs are approved by administrators. Students and administrators helped Waner clean up his parking spot.
Waner’s parking spot initially drew attention after he was told he had to paint over the design on Wednesday. The school reversed the decision that afternoon.
Principal Tod Gordon says he initially approved the design, but later met with Waner to discuss possible modifications to make sure there weren’t any issues.
Crowds enjoyed a concert on Sept. 10 at the fair- photo courtesy Kansas State Fair
HUTCHINSON — The Kansas State Fair didn’t break attendance records this year, but it did implement a new ticketing system that provides the most accurate attendance counts ever. A new partnership with web-based, ticketing-service provider Etix introduced a ticket-scanning system that digitally tracks fairgoer traffic.
This year, 322,278 people were counted through the gates to the State Fairgrounds. According to Fair organizers, attendance recorded this year showed about a 10 percent difference compared to the previously “weighed” and audited accounting for attendance last year, and in previous years. Saturday attendance typically reaches more than 60,000 people. This year, the actual scans accounted for 50,491 and 48,755 on each respective Saturday.
“It’s hard to set records year after year,” Susan Sankey, Kansas State Fair general manager, said. “The new ticketing system brought more confidence in tracking the attendance. Electronic ticketing has allowed for more efficiency and the data from the system will help to make improvements, assist with better planning, and sets a new standard for tracking attendance.”
While the fair wraps up for 2017, Sankey notes that overall feedback about the Fair has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve had many comments about how smoothly things went this year. We thank everyone who came out to enjoy the Fair – our sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, volunteers, students and every guest. “
Fair officials are still finalizing revenue numbers and preparing the budget for next year. There were some hot, windy and humid days, but the event was free of any major safety or weather problems. Recent amusement ride accidents, including on the opening day at the Ohio State Fair just weeks before the Kansas State Fair likely caused heightened sensitivity about the carnival rides, resulting in some lesser revenues. Also, the concert was delayed Saturday evening and the midway rides were temporarily shut down due to a passing storm.
North American Midway Entertainment, the contracted midway provider at the Kansas State Fair, followed its standard protocols, making safety a high, ongoing priority. Sankey says that led to a smooth transition to comply with new amusement ride regulations in Kansas.
“Rides are just one component of the wide range of activities we have happening every day at the Fair,” Sankey said. “For example, youth livestock shows represented record turnouts this year, filling the barns to capacity. Ours is a traditional Fair with a diversity true to agriculture and commerce. It celebrates everything Kansas every day.”
The Kansas State Fair has been held annually in Hutchinson since 1913. Plans are already underway for next year’s Fair, set for Sept. 7-16, 2018.
OSAGE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office have requested the public’s assistance in identifying the remains of a woman found Aug. 25 at Melvern Lake. It is believed the woman was the victim of a homicide, according to a media release.
Forensic anthropology experts from the Washburn University Anthropology Department assisted law enforcement in studying the remains. They reported that the deceased individual is female, and likely Hispanic, however, White cannot be ruled out. They provided a likely age range between 35 and 50 years of age, but also offered a broader range of 30 to 65 years of age. She was believed to have been 5-foot-2 inches to 5-foot-8 inches, but could potentially also be between 5-foot-1 inches to 5-foot-9 inches. The report suggested that she was killed and has been at the scene since sometime between late Fall 2016 and July 2017, with a narrower estimate of April 2017 to July 2017.
KBI agents and Osage County Sheriff’s deputies are also releasing information about the woman’s clothing and jewelry to hopefully aid in identifying the victim. Her shirt size was small, and the brand “No Boundaries.” Her pants size was 32×30, and the brand “Helix.” Her bra size was 44 and the brand “Fruit of the Loom.” She was wearing several items of jewelry which include: a silver ring that spells “love” in cursive writing, a gold or bronze ring with a red stone, a silver bangle bracelet, and gold or bronze framed eyeglasses. Photos of the jewelry can be seen here.
Barton Community College will offer citizenship classes beginning Nov. 7 at the Center for Adult Education, 1025 Main St. in Great Bend. A prerequisite Registration and Orientation session is November 7.
The 10-week session meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and 7-9 p.m. The classes are free, but the required book and supply fee is $65.
The citizenship classes are designed to assist any person eligible for naturalization. This includes all permanent residents who have possessed a green card for five years or are married to a US citizen and have had a green card for three years.
Those who are 55 years of age or older and have possessed a green card for 15 years or more, the test is available Spanish. To aid the Spanish speakers who qualify, the evening session will be translated into Spanish as needed.
Classes cover all necessary elements of the naturalization process, including:
Filling out the N-400 USCIS form.
Gathering and copying all necessary documents.
Practicing writing and reading skills.
Learning the history and civics information for the 100 questions.
Improving spoken English and practicing for the interview.
The majority of students who have completed these classes have achieved naturalization at ceremonies in Wichita.
Anyone eligible for citizenship is welcome to attend the classes.
Those interested in increasing their listening English and wishing to learn about American history, geography and civics are also encouraged to attend.
For more information, call the Adult Education Center at (620) 786-7565 or (620) 791-7314.
Law enforcement on the scene of Thursday afternoon fatal shooting -photo courtesy WIBW TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas shooting between two family members and have identified the victims as brothers Shawn Paul Jacobs, 29, and Robert Raymond Jacobs Jr, 36, both of Topeka.
Just before 230p.m. Thursday police received a call of a possible shooting on the north side of the Kansas river near the northwest 14th and Gage area in Topeka, according to media release.
After walking the area, officers located a possible crime scene. Upon further investigation two persons were located with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
Police determined the incident was the result of a family dispute, according to Topeka Police Lt. Jennifer Cross.
Police released no additional details on Friday afternoon.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas shooting.
Just before 230p.m. Thursday police received a call of a possible shooting on the north side of the Kansas river near the northwest 14th and Gage area in Topeka, according to media release.
After walking the area, officers located a possible crime scene. Upon further investigation two persons were located with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
No identifications of the deceased have been made as of yet for next of kin to be notified.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A woman who reported being punched and shoved by a former University of Kansas basketball player has pleaded guilty to battering him.
Nineteen-year-old Saleeha Soofi alleged in December 2016 that former player Carlton Bragg hit her while they were at a party. Bragg was charged with misdemeanor battery but the charges were dropped when surveillance video show Soofi was the aggressor.
Soofi was granted diversion in June, which included abstaining from alcohol and recreational drugs. But she was charged later in the summer with driving under the influence, possessing a controlled substance and refusing a preliminary breath test.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports Soofi pleaded guilty last week to the original battery charge. She was sentenced to six months of probation.
Bragg transferred this summer to Arizona State University.
Chet Kuplen with Sports In Kansas talks with Cole about Friday’s match-up between Hoisington and Pratt and also discusses the new classifications in football next year.
Sunflower Diversified Services Executive Director Jon Prescott presents Alma Flick with a prize at the non-profit agency’s annual pancake dinner fundraiser.
The Sunflower Diversified Services pancake feed has long been a popular annual event. But this year it set a record with 611 people served at the all-you-can-eat, pancake and sausage dinner. There were 575 participants served last year.
“This year’s record-setting turnout is so gratifying to the people we serve and to our staff,” said Connie Oetken, director of development. “It demonstrates strong community commitment to people who need a helping hand from their neighbors.”
Sunflower, a non-profit agency, serves infants, toddlers and adults with developmental disabilities and delays in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.
“We raised some much-needed funds for programs and equipment that are not financed by tax dollars,” Oetken said. “All proceeds remain in the five counties we serve in central Kansas to directly help children and adults who need Sunflower.
“Equally important,” Oetken continued, “our Chris Cakes pancake dinner is a great way to raise even more awareness about the needs of people with disabilities and delays.”
Friday morning crash in Shawnee County-photo courtesy WIBW-TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Shawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by Oswalt, Lynn Marie Oswalt, 28, Topeka was southbound on the ramp to from Kansas 4 to U.S. Highway 24 in Topeka.
The van left the roadway and overturned. Oswalt was transported to Stormont Vail. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
