PAWNEE COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Thursday in Pawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Peterbilt semi driven by Lester J. Littlefield, 32, Loup City, NE., was southbound on U.S. 183 one mile south of Kansas 156.
As the driver was turning westbound onto M Road, the trailer dropped off a culvert and the semi’s trailer rolled onto the passenger side.
Littlefield was transported to the hospital in Larned. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Starting next week, the Barton County Health Department will again be bringing flu shot vaccinations to the smaller communities in the county. On Tuesday, department staff will be in Galatia, Olmitz, Albert and Pawnee Rock offering vaccinations before heading to Susank, Beaver, Odin and Claflin on October 3rd. Health Director Shelly Schneider says it’s an effort to offer health care services to county residents who usually have to make the drive into the city to receive their vaccinations.
Shelly Schneider Audio
The outreach program has expanded this year. In addition to flu shots, residents will also be able to get needed blood work done.
Shelly Schneider Audio
The department will also have information and applications to sign up for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for Seniors.
Flu Shot and Lab Outreach Clinic Schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 25
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Galatia Fire Station
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Olmitz-That New Place
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Albert City Building
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pawnee Rock City Hall
Wednesday, Oct. 3
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Susank Elevator
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Beaver Fire Station
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Odin Store
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Claflin Fire Station
This year’s Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony will have a Barton County flavor as the two inductees into this year’s class grew up in central Kansas.
Phil Grossardt and Lance Saylor will be inducted into the Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame during the annual convention in Wichita on October 14. Grossardt, a current employee with Eagle Communications in Great Bend, says he is humbled by his induction.
Phil Grossardt Audio
Grossardt is happy that he gets to enter the Hall of Fame will Saylor, who began working at KCKT TV in Great Bend in 1974.
Phil Grossardt Audio
Grossardt, who received the Sonny Slater Award for Service to Station and Community in 2007 from the KAB, currently is an account executive and afternoon drive host on KHOK.
KAB Bio’s
Phil Grossardt
Grossardt began his broadcasting career in 1973 at Barton County Community College and student-operated, KBJC-FM. While at Barton, he worked part-time at KCKT-TV (now KSNC-TV). Grossardt transferred to Kansas State University where he was public service and program director for KSDB-FM, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Radio-TV in 1977. In 1978, he joined the staff of KSAL-AM in Salina as music director and mid-afternoon air personality. In 1979, Grossardt returned to Barton County for a short stint as program director and morning show host at KHOK-FM and was hired by Barton Community College as director of college communications. In 1984, he returned to KSNC-TV as a commercial production voice and in 1999, he left Barton and was hired by Eagle Communications in Great Bend. From 2001 through 2012, Grossardt was station manager of Hull Broadcasting’s KBGL-FM. He re-joined Eagle in 2013 and today is an account executive and afternoon drive host on KHOK. He received the Sonny Slater Award for Service to Station and Community in 2007.
Lance Sayler
After graduating from Kansas State University in 1974, Sayler went to work for KCKT TV in Great Bend, where he worked in sales, production and news. After a stint at Lisec Advertising in Kansas City, he returned to Great Bend in 1977 to sell advertising for KVGB Radio. In 1985, he put KZXL FM on the air in Great Bend. He owned and managed the station until he sold it in 1990. Lance moved to Pittsburg, Kan., becoming Managing Partner in 1991 of KKOW AM/FM and KBZI FM over the next 12 years.
In 2003, he formed a radio group and became Managing Partner of Southeast Kansas broadcasting which owned, KSNP FM Burlington, KKOY AM/FM, Chanute, KWXD/KHST FM Pittsburg, and KEKS FM, Emporia. Following his entrepreneurial spirit in 2007, Sayler started and managed two radio stations in La Crosse until 2011 when he founded Arrowhead Outdoor LLC where he serves as president. Sayler served as KAB Board Chairman in 1999 and in 2007 received the Mike Oatman Award for Sales Excellence
Distracted driving is a national epidemic with nearly one in 10 drivers calling it a habit. Join The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus for their first Community Conversations Forum, Distracted Driving.
According to TeenSafe, distracted driving accounts for approximately 25 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities and driver distraction is reported to be responsible for more than 58 percent of teen crashes.
Community Conversations will include a current topic that the hospital’s Foundation hopes sparks a conversation in the community. Amy Schmitt will be one of the guest speakers. Schmitt’s daughter was killed in 2009 in an accident in which her daughter was texting and driving.
Amy Schmitt Audio
The forum is September 27 at the Larned Community Center Auditorium, 1500 Toles Avenue in Larned. The morning will include the guest speakers’ presentations to high school students in Pawnee County and activities that highlight the difficulties of distracted driving.
Jacque Tierce’s daughter was killed this past May after getting into a crash while texting and driving.
Jacque Tierce Audio
The presentation will also be available free to the public in the evening at 6:30 p.m.
STAFFORD COUNTY — Students on the way to school avoided injury just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Stafford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a USD 350 St. John-Hudson 2013 Chevy Suburban driven by Jonelle J. Hudson, 42, St. John, was north bound on U.S. 281 seven miles south of St. John. The SUV struck a deer in the west bound lanes.
Hudson and 8 student passengers on board, some in booster seats were all wearing seatbelts and not injured.
BOOKED: Elizabeth Meeks of Great Bend on GBMC for criminal trespass, bond is set at $500 C/S or a 48-hour OR bond.
BOOKED: Zachariah Dittrick of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for aggravated arson, bond set at $100,000 C/S.
BOOKED: Bobby Heinz of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for criminal damage to property, bond set at $1,000 C/S. BTDC warrant for possession of stolen property, bond set at $2,500 C/S.
BOOKED: Kenneth Dale Reed on Kansas State Arrest & Detain, no bond.
RELEASED: Spencer Wolfkill of Hoisington on GBMC serve sentence after serving his sentence in full.
RELEASED: Cecil Petrie to Harvey County Sheriff’s Office for their warrant.
RELEASED: Elizabeth L. Meeks on GBMC case with a $500 surety bond through Dynomite Bail Bonds.
Wednesday morning accident scene in Pratt County -photo courtesy KWCH
PRATT COUNTY —A Kansas man injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Wednesday in Pratt County has died.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Darrell L. Brant, 74, Isabel, was northbound on northeast 100th Avenue just south of Cairo. The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. The Silverado drove into the driver’s side of a westbound 2015 Ford pickup driven by Dan Charles Hoepner, 72, Livingston, Texas.
Brant was transported to Pratt Health Center where he died. Hoepner and a passenger were not injured. Brant was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
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PRATT COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Wednesday in Pratt County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Darrell L. Brant, 74, Isabel, was northbound on northeast 100th Avenue just south of Cairo. The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. The Silverado drove into the driver’s side of a westbound 2015 Ford pickup driven by Dan Charles Hoepner, 72, Livingston, Texas.
Brant was transported to Pratt Health Center. Hoepner and a passenger were not injured. Brant was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
NESS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Ness County.
Google map
Just before 8:30am. Wednesday, deputies responded to 911 call in the 400 Block of South Iowa in Ness City, according to a media release.
First responders found a man identified as 26-year-old Tevin “TJ” Freel with an apparent gunshot wound. Freel was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.
There is no threat to the public, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Starting next week, the Barton County Health Department will again be bringing flu shot vaccinations to the smaller communities in the county. On Tuesday, department staff will be in Galatia, Olmitz, Albert and Pawnee Rock offering vaccinations before heading to Susank, Beaver, Odin and Claflin on October 3rd. Health Director Shelly Schneider says it’s an effort to offer health care services to county residents who usually have to make the drive into the city to receive their vaccinations.
