February 2018 – Page 39 – Great Bend Post Archive

Cause of Pratt fire that killed mother, 4 kids officially undetermined

Posted on February 12, 2018February 13, 2018

TOPEKA– The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Investigation Division has closed its investigation of the fatal fire on Jan. 25, 2018, at 211 Austin, in Pratt, KS.

The fire, which resulted in the deaths of 23-year-old Charee Eggleson and her 4 children has been officially classified as undetermined, according to a media release.

Eggleson suffered burns and was flown from Pratt to St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. She died January 27.

Her four children, the youngest a baby, died after being trapped in the home’s basement. Several other adults survived the fire.

The OSFM investigative team, which consisted of five certified fire investigators, worked closely with the Pratt Fire Department and detectives from the Pratt Police Department, as well as a certified fire investigator, an electrical engineer and a fire protection engineer from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Investigators spent three days on scene, interviewing witnesses, examining the scene, sifting debris and examining evidence. After being unable to eliminate careless smoking or a child playing with a lighter as the cause of the fire, the investigative team classified it as undetermined. The origin of the fire was in the basement of the residence in the central living area of the basement. There were no smoke alarms found in the residence.

Feds charge Kan. man with operating gambling businesses

Posted on February 12, 2018February 13, 2018

WICHITA– A Kansas man was charged Monday in federal court with operating illegal gambling businesses, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Jack Oxler, 41, Wichita, was charged with one count of operating an illegal poker gambling business and one count of operating an illegal sports betting business.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI, the Wichita Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst are prosecuting.

Kansas woman faces arson, animal endangerment charges

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspicions house fire and have made an arrest.

Location of Sunday morning fire-photo courtesy KAKE

Just after 10a.m. Sunday, fire crews and police responded to 2152 South Saint Francis in Wichita for report of a fire and standoff at the residence, according to Lt. Jose Ocadiz.

Fire crews waited for police to secure the scene then proceeded to attack the fire. The homeowner evacuated safely. Fire investigators interviewed neighbors and other to determine the blaze was intentionally set by the homeowner, according to Ocadiz. She is facing charges of arson and animal endangerment.

Fire crews found numerous cats inside the residence. They were rescued and taken to the animal shelter. Officials estimated $40,000 damage to the home. Ocadiz did not release the suspect’s name.

Some Kansas residents upset with new ID requirements

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas residents are expressing frustration over the state’s strict requirements for a new form of driver’s license.

The licenses adopted by the state last year are intended to comply with the federal “Real ID” law. The law requires state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards to meet specific standards in order to be used for conducting official business with the government.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 78-year-old Gretchen Underwood said Friday she hasn’t been able to get her Real ID license because none of her documents meet the new requirements.

The Kansas Department of Revenue says people must show a valid passport or birth certificate, either an official non-laminated card or a recent pay stub or tax document bearing the person’s full Social Security number, and proof of Kansas residency.

Man convicted of attempted murder in Pratt to face Mississippi charges

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

BRANDON, Miss. (AP) — A man convicted in Kansas now faces trial in Mississippi over a series of shootings and killings.

Scene of Deaton’s crash in Ellsworth Co.-photo courtesy KHP

Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest said Monday that authorities have returned Alex Deaton to Mississippi and aim for a summer trial on murder, drive-by shooting and motor vehicle theft indictments.

Deaton is accused of strangling his girlfriend, stealing her SUV, and shooting a jogger in 2017. He’s also indicted for killing a woman near Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Police say Deaton then carjacked a New Mexico couple, fled to Kansas, shot a store clerk and stole the clerk’s car.

Deaton pleaded guilty in July in Kansas to attempted first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. He was sentenced there in October to nearly 13 years in prison.

He faces a possible life sentence if convicted in Mississippi.

Virginia atop AP men’s hoops poll for first time since 1982

Posted on February 12, 2018

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – A loss didn’t prevent Virginia from climbing to No. 1 in AP men’s basketball poll for the first time in more than 35 years after all.

The Cavaliers rose a slot to sit atop Monday’s AP Top 25 despite an overtime home loss Saturday to Virginia Tech, part of an upset-filled week that allowed for plenty of uncertainty in the poll. The Cavaliers (23-2, 12-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) earned 30 of 65 first-place votes to outdistance No. 2 Michigan State and rise above the turmoil that included last week’s top three teams all losing.

Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers had been at No. 2 before this season, but this is the first time the program has reached No. 1 since December 1982 – the senior season of 7-foot-4 great Ralph Sampson – back when the poll ranked only 20 teams. And that team fell out of that spot after its improbable upset loss to Chaminade in Hawaii, regarded by many as the biggest upset in the history of college sports.

Virginia looked set to reach the No. 1 spot after Villanova’s home loss to St. John’s before losing to the Hokies . Still, the Cavaliers ended up there a day after the NCAA selection committee had them as the No. 1 overall seed in its reveal of the top 16 seeds to date.

The Cavaliers – whose 12 previous weeks at No. 1 all came during the Sampson era – play with the top ranking for the first time since the Chaminade loss on Tuesday at Miami.

“I do not get too carried away with where we are,” Bennett said after the loss to the Hokies. “I always say ‘thus far,’ and now we have to prove it again. … Now we are going to get a chance to do it again and we are going to have to fight like crazy every game. Everybody is capable of beating everybody in this league and that is reality. If you are little off it is not enough.”

TOP-5 CHANGES

Michigan State (24-3, 12-2 Big Ten) climbed two spots after a weekend win against Purdue in a top-5 matchup. The Spartans, who reached No. 1 for a week in January, earned 21 first-place votes.

Next came Villanova (23-2, 10-2 Big East), who fell to third after a five-week stay at No. 1 and earned nine first-place votes. Xavier (23-3, 11-2 Big East) inched up a spot to fourth and earned five first-place votes, followed by Cincinnati (23-2, 12-0 American Athletic Conference) at No. 5.

This is Xavier’s highest ranking in its history, while Cincinnati is in the top 5 for the first time since spending a good chunk of the 2001-02 season there.

PURDUE’S SLIDE

Purdue (23-4, 12-2 Big East) fell from third to sixth after losing to Ohio State and Michigan State last week. Those losses snapped the nation’s longest winning streak at 19 games, marking Purdue’s first losses since falling to Tennessee and Western Kentucky on consecutive November days in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.

Texas Tech was next at No. 7, followed by Ohio State, Gonzaga and Auburn to round out the top 10.

TOP RISERS

Rivalry wins against Duke and North Carolina State helped North Carolina climb seven spots to No. 14 for the week’s biggest jump. It continued the Tar Heels’ wild swings in poll positioning, including a nine-slot drop last month and two other slides of eight slots.

Ohio State rose six spots to No. 8 after the Purdue win, while No. 11 Clemson was up five spots.

LONGEST SLIDES

Oklahoma and freshman star Trae Young had the biggest fall of the week, down six spots to No. 23. The Sooners have lost three straight and six of eight after Saturday’s loss at Iowa State .

St. Mary’s (15th) and Arizona (17th) both fell four spots.

NEWCOMERS

The newcomers aren’t entirely new this week. Both No. 21 Texas A&M and No. 25 Arizona State have been ranked multiple weeks this season and appeared in the top 10, with the Sun Devils reaching No. 3 on Christmas Day.

SLIDING OUT

Kentucky fell out of the rankings for the second time this season – It hadn’t happened since March 2014 before this year – from No. 24 after three straight losses. Miami fell out from No. 25 after losing at Boston College.

GBRC February Schools Out Programs

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

BUSINESS NEWS

The Great Bend Recreation Commission has a couple of great programs for your child when school is out. School’s out early on Thursday, February 15, so get registered for the Half Day of Winter Crafts. During this program students will spend the afternoon at the Activity Center doing crafts, enjoying yummy snacks and some other fun activities. For lunch we’ll have pizza. This program is open to children ages 6 – 12 and will be held from Noon to 5:00 pm.

Then on Friday, February 16 join us for Birdy Builders Kids Day Out. In the morning we’ll head out to the KWEC for a morning of avian engineering! Staff from the KWEC will teach students about how birds build their nests, find food and move around. Then around noon we will head back to the Activity Center for some pizza. The rest of the day will be spent at the Activity Center playing games and doing other organized activities. This program is open to children ages 6 – 12 and will be held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Students will be bused to and from the KWEC by USD 428.

Please drop off and pick up your children at the Activity Center (2715 18^th St.) for both programs. The registration deadline for these activities is Tuesday, February 13. For more information about other exciting programs or to register for these programs, contact the Recreation Commission office at 793-3755 ext 2, stop by the office located at 1214 Stone Street, or e-mail recreation@gbrec.net.

Audio from Monday’s Barton County Commission Meeting

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

Barton County Commissioner’s Monday were asked to begin an investigation of the Barton County Attorney’s Office, County Attorney Amy Mellor and Assistant County Attorney Doug Matthews.

The request came from Denise Rankin and her attorney Stacia Boden in response to the way they felt a child molestation case involving Rankin’s ex-husband Jeffrey Allen Rankin was handled.

Rankin had originally faced 31 criminal charges that included rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child, but as part of a plea agreement between Rankin’s attorney and Assistant County Attorney Doug Matthews, other charges in the case were dismissed.

The audio link below is the discussion that took place in Commission chambers. You will hear from Denise Ranking, Stacia Boden, George Rayl and Barton County Assistant Attorney Doug Matthews.

UPDATE: 1 in custody after 18-year-old killed in shooting at Kansas home

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

Police on the scene of the fatal shooting-photo courtesy KWCH

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.

Just before 9p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting call in the 900 Block of South Pine Ridge in Wichita, according to Lt. Todd Ojile. Upon arrival, first responders found an 18-year-old inside a residence with multiple gunshot wounds.

He was transported to a local hospital where he died, according to Ojile.

Investigators learned that the 18-year-old was at the residence of a woman and two children, accompanied by three other men. While there, unknown suspects arrived at the residence and were armed with a handgun.

The victim and one of the suspects got into a physical confrontation and shots were fired that hit the victim, according to Ojile.

Early Monday, investigators arrested a 17-year-old suspect in the area of Lincoln and Rock Road in Wichita. The teen is being held in juvenile detention on requested murder charges, according to Ojile. Investigators are still working to identify the other suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

———

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say an 18-year-old man has been killed in a Wichita shooting.

Police say the man wasn’t breathing when officers responded Sunday night to a home in the southern part of the city.

He was rushed to a hospital where he died. The victim’s name wasn’t immediately released and no arrests have been made. Officers are investigating.

Panthers compete at bowling tournament in Andover

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

**Front row:** Bryce Moore, Jordan Black, Dalton Murphy.
**Back row:** AJ Roberts, Kameron Keener, Dalton Dicks

The Great Bend High School bowling teams competed at the Andover Tournament this past Saturday.

The girls rolled their season high and finished in 5th place. Jordan Vsetescka, Sarah Mehlhaff, Zeus Garcia, Nichole Griffin, Brynn Boxberger all set new season high series. Vsetescka finished in 5th place with a series total of 625.

The Panther boys qualified in second place. Great Bend won every baker game to claim the title for the second year in a row. Jordan Black finished in 2nd place with a 704 series and Bryce Moore earned 7th place with a 640 series.

Next action for the both Panthers teams will be Thursday, February 15 when they host the WAC Tournament at Walnut Bowl.