Hoisington 28 Nickerson 14
Month: September 2018
Kan. mother, son will stand trial after deputies seize 189 animals
SALINE COUNTY —An animal cruelty case involving a large number of animals is headed to trial.
Saline County District Judge Rene Young dismissed all motions filed on behalf of Beverly Fullen, 66, and Matthew Fullen, 40, both of Salina.
In April, after a report from a concerned citizen, sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant for a pasture near Woodward Road and Lapsley Road and an adjacent home in the 5000 Block of Country Club Drive southeast of Salina, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.
Deputies found neglected cattle and horses on the property. There were 30 horses and 96 cows reported in poor health, according to Soldan. Some had died.
In addition to the animals in the pasture, deputies seized 24 dogs, cats and rabbits and 39 additional animals from the residential property, according to Soldan.
They also arrested the mother and her son on requested felony charges of cruelty to animals and 165 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
The Salina Animal Shelter and the Saline County Sheriffs Mounted Patrol and Rescue Squad helped round up and place the animals with ranchers in the area who could help, according to Soldan.
Matthew Fullen’s trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on October 15, 2018, and Beverly Fullen’s trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on November 14, 2018, Young said.
Kansas dad who left gun out enters plea in child’s death
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 33-year-old man who left a loaded semi-automatic handgun within reach of toddlers pleaded no contest to charge resulting from his daughter’s death.
In exchange for the plea to two counts of aggravated child endangerment, prosecutors dropped an involuntary manslaughter charge Friday against Chance Smith, of Lawrence. He will be sentenced Nov. 7.
Smith’s 1-year-old daughter, Autumn Grace Smith, was hit by a bullet and died in September 2017 at the family’s home.
Smith told police that he was outside for five or 10 minutes and didn’t hear a gunshot. When he came back in he found a 2-year-old boy crying and Autumn upstairs, shot.
Smith’s attorney said he’s expected to be placed on probation and ordered not to own any guns.
Police: Kansas shooting call was likely ‘swatting’
LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — Lenexa police say a call to a crisis line reporting that someone had shot one of his parents apparently was a swatting call.
Police spokesman Danny Chavez says police were notified Thursday by a suicide crisis line from New York that someone was sending texts saying he had shot one of his parents, was suicidal and would kill anyone who came in.
Chavez said that police had contact only with the crisis line and never contacted the supposed shooter.
Police say investigators who went to the home found no evidence of a crime. Chavez says the two people inside the home were cooperating with the investigation and are not believed to be involved with the false report.
Kan. woman, 3 others hospitalized after tram crash at Branson outdoor theater
TANEY COUNTY, MO— Four women including one from Kansas were hurt after a passenger tram hit a tree at an entertainment venue just after 9:30p.m. Thursday at the Shepard of the Hills outdoor theater in the tourist community of Branson.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the tram was traveling downhill on a private path when the brakes locked up. The tram started skidding and ran off the roadway, struck a wooden fence and a tree.
Four woman including Sallie K. Redd, 72, Lenexa, were transported to a local hospital.
The patrol says the tram can carry up to 24 passengers.
GBCF establishes Steve and Mildred Reif Memorial Scholarship Fund for Hoisington students
Steve Reif, 90, sat down in his recliner one evening and read about a number of scholarships in the Great Bend Tribune. He noticed the phone number for more information and made the call.
The result is the Steve and Mildred Reif Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was established at the Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF) for Hoisington High School (HHS) seniors and graduates. Reif funded the scholarship in his name and in memory of his wife, Mildred, who passed away on March 10, 2018.
“After I read that story in the paper, I knew I wanted to inquire about it,” Reif said.
“Mildred was a wonderful woman who could do anything. She came from a farming background too and we were married for more than 67 years.
“We wanted to support education for Hoisington graduates,” Reif continued. “Mildred would be tickled about this scholarship; she would be all for something like this.
“Both of us knew the importance of education. It can help you in everything you do. Members of my family received scholarships, and all my grandchildren have graduated from college and have good jobs.”
Even though Reif is retired, he still lives on his farm near Odin. The Reifs had four children: their sons Melvin and Raymond graduated from the former Odin High School, while their daughters, Janet and Theresa, graduated from HHS.
Criteria for the Reif fund also include: financial need; at least a 3.0 grade point average; and attendance at a trade or vocational school, or a two-year or four-year college or university. This includes in-state and out-of-state accredited institutions. It’s a one-time award but students may re-apply.
“The Golden Belt Community Foundation will answer all your questions and set up a scholarship for you,” Reif said. “Sue Cooper was very helpful getting this started. If you are thinking about a scholarship, the Foundation has lots of information.”
Amanda Brack, HHS student advisor in the Guidance Department, said she is excited to start spreading the word about this new scholarship.
“We have a lot of deserving students that can benefit from scholarships,” Brack said. “Some don’t apply because they assume only top-of-the-class students will be in the running.
“But in this case, Mr. Reif is looking for a well-rounded student who has a need for financial help. Many HHS students will be excited to hear about this opportunity. We can’t thank Mr. Reif enough for his generosity.”
GBCF will begin accepting scholarship applications for all funds on Dec. 1; deadlines vary. Students can apply online by visiting www.goldenbeltcf.org/scholarships.
For more information, contact Sue Cooper, program officer, by calling 620-792-3000. HHS students may contact Brack anytime.
UPDATE: Ex-Cowboys running back facing Kan. rape charge, held on $500K Bond
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Former Dallas Cowboy and Wichita native is back in jail accused of rape. Joseph Randle is being held on a $500.000.00 Bond, according to Sedgwick County jail records.
Just after 3:30 a.m. Friday, Randle was booked into Sedgwick County Jail.
In February 2015, Randle was involved in domestic disturbance that included the mother of his child at a hotel in Wichita. The Sedgwick County District Attorney said there was not sufficient evidence to bring felony charges against him in the case.
In July 2015, Randle was put on six months of probation for stealing $123 worth of cologne and underwear from a Texas mall.
Randle was arrested in November of 2015 after an altercation at a Kansas casino. In June of 2016 he was charged with threatening a jail deputy.
Randle was sentenced in June to probation for charges involving burglary, battery, criminal threat and marijuana possession, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County Attorney’s office.
He was waiting for sentencing on charges involving the altercation at the jail.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Troubled former Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been arrested in Kansas on a suspicion of rape charge.
Records show that Randle was booked into Sedgwick County Jail at around 3:40 a.m. Friday. Spokesmen for the police and prosecutor’s office and Randle’s attorney in previous cases didn’t immediately reply to phone messages seeking details about his latest arrest.
Randle was released on probation in June under a plea deal that allows prosecutors to seek to have him put in prison if he gets into trouble again. He spent most of the past two years in jail, with occasional stints in a state mental hospital, on an array of charges. Several of them were related to Randle hitting three people with a car after an argument at a housewarming party.
Listen to Friday’s Sports Day show (9/7)
Plenty to talk about on a Friday with Chet Kuplen from Sports In Kansas and John Baetz from Kansas Pregame Magazine with high school football ready for week two. Also, K-State unveils a $230 million plan of improvements for their athletic department.
K-State Athletics Announces New Facility Master Plan
kstatesports.com – MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State Athletics Director Gene Taylor unveiled today a new facility master plan that proposes $210 million of new construction and enhancements that will benefit all 16 Wildcat athletic programs.
This 10 to 15-year facilities vision will be completed in a fashion that is fiscally responsible, and similar to the approach on previous facility projects such as the Ice Basketball Center, West Stadium Center, Vanier Family Football Complex, and others, more details on individual projects will be announced later this year during fundraising campaigns.
“With the assistance of architect consultant HOK, our staff has been working on this plan for quite for some time and we are pleased to share our vision for the future of K-State Athletics and our facility infrastructure,” Taylor said. “With the assistance of Tom Waggoner and Ron Ganz from HOK and Senior Associate AD Jeremy Niederwerder, who helped lead this process, we interviewed every sport’s coaching staff and all department support units to determine our facility needs that will benefit all of our programs. Our goal is to provide our teams the best facilities they need to compete for championships while doing so in a manner that makes sense for K-State, both financially and practically.”
In addition to the $20 million baseball/soccer project and the $4 million overhaul of the RV Christian Track, which are all currently in progress and increases the total in enhancements to $230 million, the new master plan includes the following future projects:South Endzone project at Bill Snyder Family Stadium ($29 million).
New volleyball arena ($17.5 million).
New Olympic Performance Training Facility ($13 million).
New Football Indoor Facility and Outdoor Practice Field ($24.5 million).
Bramlage Coliseum renovation ($85 million).
New Indoor Track and Field Facility ($12 million).
Brandeberry Indoor Complex Renovation ($4.5 million).
Men’s and Women’s Golf Complex at Colbert Hills ($4.5 million).
New Indoor Tennis Facility ($14.5 million).
New Soccer Practice Pavilion ($5.5 million).
The south endzone project at Bill Snyder Family Stadium will include a new club/suite premium seating area, expanded Legends Room event space, upgraded restrooms and concessions and new video boards in the southeast and southwest corners of the stadium.
The new volleyball competition arena will have retractable seating for up to 3,500 fans and also house new locker rooms, staff offices, training spaces and a team theatre. Adjacent to this facility would be the new Olympic Performance Training Facility which would house spaces for a strength and conditioning center, sports medicine, locker rooms, team rooms, equipment and nutrition areas and storage for Olympic sport teams.
On the east side of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the new indoor football practice facility would include a 200′ x 400′ practice field with 65′ roof clearance and accessibility to the Vanier Complex and football stadium. Additional features would include a limestone exterior to match stadium and campus architecture, an enhanced east concourse as well as a new outdoor practice field.
With the addition of the new football indoor facility, the location of the current indoor would be renovated as a practice and competition facility for indoor track and field, including a new track surface, enhanced lobby and team spaces and an upgraded exterior façade.
The Bramlage Coliseum enhancements would see a new grand west-side entry plaza to the arena, as well as a mid-level concourse and sideline club area with tiered chairback seating. New amenities would also include a potential hall of fame and expanded team store, while additional department office space could be added to the configuration.
Other facility additions include a potential new golf clubhouse to house locker rooms, coaches offices and multiple hitting bays. The indoor tennis center would have six playing courts with spectator seating and locker rooms and offices, while the potential for a new soccer practice pavilion would provide a covered practice facility for women’s soccer and other sports.
“We are excited about the future of K-State Athletics and anxious to begin meeting with prospective donors to determine our next steps. Once that has been determined, we will move forward with announcing and providing more details on our first priority of this master plan.”
New Stadium for Triple-A Baseball in Wichita
By TOM SHINE
Top-level minor league baseball likely will return to Wichita in 2020.
CITY OF WICHITA
Mayor Jeff Longwell said Thursday that the New Orleans Baby Cakes of the Pacific Coast League have filed an application to relocate to Wichita. The application must be approved by Minor League Baseball and the Pacific Coast League. It also must be reviewed by Major League Baseball.
City officials expect a decision later this year. The Baby Cakes are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins.
Wichita has been without an affiliated baseball team since 2007 when the Wichita Wranglers — the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals at the time — left for a new stadium built for them in Springdale, Arkansas.
It has not had a Triple-A team since 1984, when the Wichita Aeros left for Buffalo, New York. Triple-A is the highest level of minor league baseball.
“Triple-A baseball is coming to Wichita because of who we are today and because of who we aspire to be tomorrow,” Longwell said Thursday during a news conference at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Gov. Jeff Colyer was among those attending the event.
“We’ve worked tirelessly on this deal,” Longwell said. “It’s not just about another great quality of life amenity, or baseball. This is about investing in our city and continuing to make Wichita a regional destination.”
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, built in 1934, will be torn down later this year. The new stadium complex is expected to cost between $60 million and $73 million. It will have 7,000 fixed seats and a total capacity of about 10,000.
City officials have said they hope it can be used for concerts, festivals and other events.
CREDIT NADYA FAULX -Kansas News Service
Longwell said the stadium will be paid for through state-approved STAR bonds and a local Tax Increment Finance district; both funding sources will capture added tax revenue brought in by development in the area. City officials hope it will revitalize the Arkansas River corridor and connect the stadium to the Delano neighborhood.
Longwell identified affiliated baseball as a critical component to improve the quality of life in Wichita. It is part of the city’s effort to retain existing employees and attract new ones, he said.
The Pacific Coast League has 16 teams. Other teams in the region include Oklahoma City, Omaha and Des Moines. New Orleans currently plays in a division with Memphis, Nashville and Round Rock, Texas.
CREDIT NADYA FAULX photo Kansas News Service
City officials said they expect the Baby Cakes to get a new nickname when the team arrives in Wichita.
The NBC World Series, played in Wichita since 1935, will move to Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium next summer.
The Wichita Wingnuts, an unaffiliated team that began play in 2008 at Lawrence-Dumont, has not announced its future plans.
Tom Shine is director of news and public affairs at KMUW in conjunction with the Kansas News Service. Follow him in Twitter@thomaspshine.