SEDGWICK COUNTY — Officials at the Sedgwick County Zoo are sharing an inside look of the special delivery on September 7, when two Kansas OB-GYNs assisted with the birth of a baby orangutan.

According to the zoo’s social media page, “When Daisy the orangutan began to show signs of labor, everything was progressing normally, until it wasn’t

Contractions had stopped and zoo staff began to notice too much blood.

Daisy had experienced a placental abruption and zoo staff called local OB-GYNs Laura Whisler and Janna Chibry to help.

There were a couple of very scary hours when we weren’t sure if either Daisy or her baby would survive. The emergency C-section saved both of their lives. Two-and-a-half weeks later, both Daisy and Lily are doing very well. Daisy is still healing and keepers are caring for Lily until Daisy is physically ready to take over.”

Whisler and Chibry are University of Kansas trained and providers at College Hill OBGYN in Wichita.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of business burglaries and have a suspect in custody.

On Monday, police arrested a person of interest in at least 15 business burglaries that occurred throughout the Topeka community that spanned several months, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

Police booked Eric Darnell Swopes, 44, Topeka, into the Shawnee Co Department of Corrections on requested charges of burglary, theft and criminal damage of property (x15).

BROWN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Monday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Cavalier driven by Ronnie D. Myers, 47, Hiawatha, was eastbound at 783 U.S. 36.  The vehicle rear-ended a semi that was turning into a private drive.

Myers was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

The semi driver Martin E. Lawrence, 53, Wetmore, was possibly injured, according to the KHP report.  Myers was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

CLARK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are alerting citizens in southwest Kansas of a scam involving checks that arrived in the mail.

A citizen in Clark County received two checks in separate envelopes and one required a signature.  They came from the same sender address, had the same check paper but with different company and account information.

Fortunately, they were not cashed at local banks, according to a social media report from the Clark County Sheriff.

The sheriff reminded residents “Pay attention. If you are not expecting a check or refund from a company that you deal with, use extra caution. The citizen who received the checks wanted to share this information to help keep others safe. The sheriff’s office removed their information prior to sharing.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of animal cruelty and have increased a  reward from $500 to $1000 for information leading to those responsible for cutting a month-old puppy’s ear off  with a sharp object, according to Beauties and Beasts Animal Rescue in Wichita.

Doctors at Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital of Wichita performed surgery on the puppy named Brooks after the animal rescue organization rapidly received donations to cover costs of the care. 

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Wichita Police animal cruelty investigator hfraizer@wichita.gov or you can send a message to Beauties and Beasts Animal Rescue.