OKARK COUNTY, MO. — A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday in Ozark County, Missouri.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Focus driven by Walter A. Wilder, 37, Garfield, Kansas, was southbound on Highway 5 five miles north of Gainsville.
The vehicle traveled off the road, struck a rock bluff and overturned. Wilder was transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He was wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County district judge says a Kansas man convicted of second-degree murder should get a new trial.
William Spangler, 27, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of 22-year-old Faustino Martinez II, of Wichita.
Spangler, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail, filed a petition in October 2015 that questioned the effectiveness of his attorneys.
Spangler was robbed and beaten a few weeks before Martinez was shot.
District Judge Mark Braun ruled Tuesday that Spangler’s defense attorney did not consider how Spangler’s beating might have affected his mental health.
Spangler said if he hadn’t been robbed or beaten, he wouldn’t have bought any weapons or reacted aggressively to being threatened in his apartment.
A new trial date hasn’t been set.
SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — An infestation of bedbugs has closed a Kansas City suburb library until further notice.
Johnson County Library Director Sean Casserley says the Shawnee branch library on Johnson Drive will be closed at least until Wednesday so the building can be treated to get rid of the infestation.
Updates on the state of the branch will be posted on the library’s website and social media accounts.
Casserley says library staff spotted the pests in a book turned in Thursday. Dogs trained to detect the pests were brought in, and officials learned Friday that the pests had spread to furniture in the building.
Bed bugs have recently been discovered in other public places in the Kansas City area, including in a Kansas City International Airport terminal.
Acting enthusiasts are welcome to audition for the upcoming Barton Theatre student production of “Drugs Are Bad” by Jonathan Rand. Auditions are scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. October 9 and 10 in the Barton Fine Arts Auditorium in the Fine Arts Building. The play requires two male actors and one female.
Barton freshman Megan Rimmel said the main character is Brad, who comes home from school one day to find his parents waiting for him, deeply concerned. They have found a secret that Brad stashed away in his underwear drawer: an algebra book, instead of following his parents’ strict insistence on sex, drugs, and rock and roll. What unfolds is a parody of all those insufferable after school specials that made us who we are today.
No preparations are necessary. Contact Dr. Rick Abel for more information at abelr@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9333.
BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in northeastern Kansas are investigating the discovery of a body on a railcar in Bonner Springs.
The body was found early Friday morning. Officials say they don’t yet know the name, age or even the gender of the person.
Police say the railcar had been parked at the Bonner Springs location since Sept. 19. Before then, police say, the railcar had been in Illinois and southeastern Missouri.
A police spokeswoman says the body was discovered by workers unloading a car containing a dry cement mix.
The FBI is helping in the investigation, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation says its crime scene response team was dispatched to help police.
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BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body on a railroad car in Bonner Springs.
Police say employees at a quarry Friday as they unloaded a rail car, which is used to haul dry cement mix.
Bonner Springs police said the death is being investigated as a homicide.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s crime scene response team helped with the investigation.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Uber will pay Kansas more than $730,000 after hackers obtained names and driver’s license information of some Uber drivers.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed a lawsuit against the ride-hailing company. A consent judgment was entered Thursday in Shawnee County District Court.
In 2016, hackers obtained the names and driver’s license information from about 600,000 of its drivers, but didn’t immediately reveal the breach. Schmidt argued the lack of transparency violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. He also said Uber didn’t maintain reasonable security measures.
Uber’s attorney, Tony West, said the company has reached agreements with the attorney generals of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. According to the consent judgment, Uber will pay a total of $148 million.
A pending decision regarding the method of providing additional water to Quivira National Wildlife Refuge has irrigators along with economic development officials on edge. The refuge which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, filed a claim in 2013 to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources, that the water flowing into the Refuge from Rattlesnake Creek has been negatively been impacted by irrigation. It was determined by the Chief Engineer of the KDWR, that indeed the water flow has been impaired. By Kansas law,
the Service’s surface water right is senior to the ground water rights of most irrigators. Therefore, more surface water must be provided to the refuge which could affect the amount of water irrigators would be able to use for their crops. Carolyn Dunn is the Economic Development Director for Stafford County.
Carolyn Dunn Audio
The issue now being deliberated is how much water must be provided and how that will be accomplished. The Chief Engineer has determined that augmentation, which would involve drilling new wells to provide additional water, is an acceptable method for providing the additional water the Service is entitled to under his ruling. The question is how that augmentation will occur, where the wells will be drilled, where the water is delivered, and if additional reductions in irrigation will also be required.
Carolyn Dunn Audio
In a letter to Secretary Ryan Zinke with the Department of Interior, a letter that has been signed off on by Stafford County Commissioners, the USD 350 Board of Education and Stafford County Economic Development, officials urge the secretary to seek a balanced approach to managing wildlife and private property concerns.
There is no time line for a decision to be made.
Even though Stafford County is in the center of the debate, irrigators in Barton, Edwards, Pratt, Rice, Kiowa, Reno and Pawnee Counties will also be affected by the final ruling.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigating an alleged attempted abduction and are asking the public for help with additional information.
Just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a residence in the 1500 block of north Chautauqua in Wichita in reference to a possible attempted abduction, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A 13-year-old girl told police that while she was walking home from school a newer black 4-door sedan (Chevy Impala or Audi A6) pulled up beside her at the intersection of 14th and Erie. An unknown suspect threatened her if she did not get into the car. The girl then ran home and called police.
The suspect is described as a light skinned black male, in his 50s, thin build, thin framed glasses, wearing a green flat billed baseball cap, according to Davidson.
Anyone with additional information on this case is encouraged to call Wichita Police or Crime Stoppers at 267-2111
After Frank Riedl graduated from Fort Hays State University during the Vietnam War there were limited jobs available. Riedl says he took the only job opening he could find as a bookkeeper at a local co-op and spent 11 years with the company in the Russell and Gorham area. Following that job, Riedl came to Great Bend to become CFO at the Great Bend Cooperative Association. That position lasted eight years and the last 21 years have been spent as General Manager.
Riedl retired Friday, September 28 and reflected on his time as General Manager.
Frank Riedl Audio
The Great Bend Co-Op was named the “Business of the Year” in 2014 by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Riedl joked that he knew it was the right time to retire after celebrating a birthday and realizing he was four years past retirement age.
Frank Riedl Audio
Minnesota native Duane Anderson will assume the General Manager and CEO position of the Great Bend Co-Op October 1.
BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
October 1, 2018 – 9:00 a.m. until Close
I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Consider Minutes of the September 24, 2018, Regular Meeting.
E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be
recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state
their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited
to five minutes.
F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media and law
enforcement, should be shut off.
II. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of September
17, 2018, and ending October 1, 2018.
III. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be
heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.
IV. NEW BUSINESS – All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at
this time.
A. PROCLAMATION 2018-14: Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October, 2018:
-Given the number of victims touched by domestic violence, the importance of working with
survivors and the need to hold perpetrators accountable, the Commission will be asked by Becky
Davis, Domestic and Sexual Violence Program Director, Family Crisis Center, to recognize
October, 2018, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
B. RESOLUTION 2018-17: Golden Belt Community Foundation, Talent Retention Reverse
Scholarship Fund:
-Under the proposed Resolution, Barton County would join the Golden Belt Community
Foundation and other partners in the administration of the “Talent Retention Reverse
Scholarship” program. This effort is designed to lessen the burdens of government by improving
income levels, decreasing unemployment rates, increasing household incomes and increasing the
percentage of residents with college degrees living and working within a prescribed area. There
is no cost to taxpayers. Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, will present details.
C. GOLDEN BELT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: Fund Agreement, ‘Come Home’
Reverse Scholarship Fund:
-Should the Commission adopt Resolution 2018-17, the Fund Agreement would be considered
next. The intent of these scholarships is to support the local economic development efforts to
recruit and attract more residents with secondary education degrees and/or backgrounds in
skilled trades to live and work in a prescribed area. Specifically, qualified recipients would be
eligible to receive up to $10,000 through the ‘Come Home’ Reverse Scholarship Fund. Again,
there is no cost to taxpayers. Mr. Hathcock will provide details.
D. CENTRAL KANSAS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: Fiscal Year 2018 Year End
Outcomes:
-The Kansas Community Corrections Act provides grants to Kansas Counties to develop and
maintain a range of programs for adult offenders assigned to Community Corrections agencies.
A Comprehensive Plan (grant application) was submitted that set the goals for FY2018. The
Year End Outcomes then sets out the results at the close of the year and require the review and
approval of the Barton County Commissioners, as the Administrative County for the District to
which the plan pertains. Amy Boxberger, CKCC Director, will present details.
E. EMERGENCY RISK MANAGEMENT: Fiscal Year 2018 Emergency Management
Performance Grant Program:
-The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is accepting applications for the FY 2018
Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program. The EMPG Program provides
funding to assist states and local governments in developing and carrying out emergency
management programs. Amy Miller, Emergency Management Director, will provide details on
the grant application.
F. REVISION OF THE 2018 / 2019 AUTHORIZED POSITIONS LISTING:
-The Schedule of Authorized Positions for 2019 was adopted on July 30, 2018. The proposed
Lifting Young Families Toward Excellence (LYFET) program at the Health Department will add
one part-time position beginning in 2018. Both the 2018 and 2019 Authorized Positions will
require an update. Mr. Hathcock will provide details.
V. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items,
including announcements, will be heard.
A. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of
personnel changes, sign any documentation approved during the agenda meeting or sign any
other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action may take place
throughout the day.
B. APPOINTMENTS: -Subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
OCTOBER 1, 2018
10:00 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Department Head Meeting with the
Commissioners. Department Head meetings are held in the Courthouse Conference Room,
Room 101. After the Department Head meeting is closed, the Commission will return to their
Chambers.
11:00 a.m. – Program Update – Barry McManaman, County Engineer
11:15 a.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, and Donna
Zimmerman, County Clerk
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Sheriff Brian Bellendir
scheduled for October 4, 2018.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Discussion Items.
B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration.
C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Mondays during regular business
hours.
D. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County
business at their discretion.
E. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Monday, October 8, 2018.
VII. ADJOURN.
