TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a Topeka man charged with driving drunk and killing a woman is being sued.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the wrongful death lawsuit against 33-year-old Jason Patterson alleges negligence.
Patterson is charged with involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol. He also could face an alternative charge of reckless second-degree murder in the Fourth of July death of 60-year-old Tara French. Shawnee County District Court records show the victim’s widower, Rodney French, is seeking more than $75,000.
Patterson is accused of hitting French with a pickup truck as she crossed a street after arguing with another woman over fireworks that had been shot off near Topeka’s Lake Shawnee.
Patterson denied drinking, but police say his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.
ASHLAND, Kan. (AP) — Relief efforts on behalf of Kansas and Oklahoma property owners affected by recent wildfires are getting a lift from country music star and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
The Wichita Eagle reports Keith has partnered with the Ashland Community Foundation in southern Kansas’ Clark County to record a 50-second public service video asking for a “helping hand” through donations.
The grass fires in early March charred more than 1,000 square miles in Oklahoma and Kansas, destroying miles of fencing on ranches and farms.
The foundation’s board president, Bill Shawn, says Keith’s video plea for donations was posted Monday on the nonprofit’s website and Facebook page.
In his video spot, Keith says, “if you know anything about the people from around here, we don’t stay down.”
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University is preparing to dedicate its first residence hall to be built in more than 50 years.
The university says in a news release that the public ceremony is planned for Saturday for Wefald Hall. The coeducational residence hall can house up to 540 students and features its own coffee shop.
The building’s one- and two-person rooms feature walk-in closets. There also are study spaces, kitchenettes and lobbies available on each floor. The eight-story residence hall is in the same area as Goodnow and Marlatt halls on the west side of campus.
The hall was named for former Kansas State President Jon Wefald, who served from 1986-2009. Wefald will speak at the ceremony. Other speakers will include U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and football coach Bill Snyder.
STEVENS COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Stevens County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Venture driven by James B. Farnham, 28, Johnson, Vehicle 1 was traveling westbound on Stevens County Road Y.
The driver failed to stop at stop sign at the intersection of Kansas 25. The van crashed into the trailer of a southbound semi and caught on fire.
Farnham was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Paul’s Mortuary.
The semi driver William D. Parks, 46, Garden City and a teen passenger were not injured.
The occupants of the semi were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
HUTCHINSON– Two Kansas men arrested a high-speed chase involving a reported stolen vehicle have been formally charged.
Bryson Allen, 22, Hutchinson, is charged with felony flee and elude, possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine.
Corey Drake, 37, is charged with felony interference and possession of marijuana.
Just after 2:30 p.m. March 18, a Reno County Sheriff Deputy patrolling near Haven spotted a Jeep reported stolen earlier in the day from Hutchinson.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop, but the Jeep sped up and a chase began.
Other deputies laid stop sticks at Yoder and Trailswest Roads. The driver went around the stop sticks but drove
Allen-photo Reno Co.
through the ditch and went airborne.
The vehicle continued southwest through a field before it became disabled.
The driver, identified as Allen and his passenger Drake both fled on foot.
They were both quickly apprehended and then complained of minor injuries. They were transported by EMS to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released to deputies who transported them to the Reno County Correctional Facility.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating an armed robbery and asking the public for help to find a suspect.
Just after 10a.m., Monday, an employee of a grocery store La Tienda Del Ahorro in the 1700 Block of North Broadway in Wichita went to her car to take a business deposit to the bank, according to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Tuesday’s online media briefing.
An armed suspect approached the woman and demanded the bank bag. It contained over $20,000in cash, according to store manager Vicky Guijosa.
The suspect got into a 2000 Chevy Impala and left the scene. He is described as a white male in his 30s wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, jeans and a black bandanna.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call police.
LYON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in southeast Kansas are looking for a suspect after a homeowner was injured during a confrontation in their garage.
Just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday, a resident in the 200 block of East K99 in Olpe discovered a person inside his garage and confronted the suspect, according to a social media report.
The suspect was armed with a knife and the victim was cut on the hand.
The suspect fled the scene in a mid-sized dark colored pickup with the tailgate down.
The suspect is described as a white male in his mid-to-late twenties around 5 foot 9 inches to 5 foot 11 inches tall.
The victim was treated at a hospital and released.
The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.
SEDGWICK COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating the case of missing 5-year-old.
Just after 3:20 p.m. Monday a woman called 911 to report she had found a 5-year-old boy in a parking lot in 1500 Block of South Oliver, according to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during the online media briefing.
Police took the child into protective custody after they were unable to locate parents or an address for the child.
Just before 6:30 p.m., another woman called to report her 5-year-old son was missing. It was the same child found in the parking lot, according to Woodrow.
The mother told police she was cleaning the house and didn’t realize the boy was missing. Police also took a 13-month-old child at the residence into protective custody.
SHERMAN COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in NW Kansas are investigating 3 suspects after a chase and crash in reported stolen vehicles.
Just before 11:30 Monday, Kansas troopers located two stolen vehicles, a blue 2002 GMC Sierra with California plates and a red 2001 GMC Sierra with Colorado plates in the eastbound rest area just east of Kanordo on I-70 in Sherman County, according to a media release from the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Troopers and Sherman County Deputies arrived and shut down the rest area, but before they could make an approach, both vehicles left and drove east on I-70.
Just after 1:15 p.m., Troopers attempted to stop the vehicles but they fled, took the exit and County Road 11 and drove north to Old Hwy 24, then west towards the town of Kanorado.
The driver of the Yukon then started driving head-on into oncoming traffic and running other vehicles off the road.
Fearing for the safety of the public, the troopers on scene decided to force the Yukon off the road. When the driver of the Yukon lost control, it made contact with the Sierra and both vehicles crashed in the south ditch.
The driver of the Yukon identified as Kevin Maudlin, 39, Colorado, fled on foot and ran south into a pasture where he was placed under arrest without further incident.
Two women in the Sierra Lacy Fischer, 32, and Melissa Blumenshine, 30, both of Colorado and were immediately taken into custody.
Blumenshine was transported to a hospital in Denver. Fisher was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center, treated and released. Both Maudlin and Fisher remain in the Sherman County jail. All three face charges of Possession of Stolen Vehicle, Felony Flee and Attempt to Elude Law Enforcement, Theft, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Felony Warrants.
SALINE COUNTY -Following a public vote, the Rolling Hills Zoo announce Tuesday the name of their new baby giraffe is Jojo. The name was submitted by the Home Schoolers Association. More than 5,000 zoo guests voted.
According to Linda Henderson, development and marketing director, this is the first giraffe born at the Rolling Hills Zoo.
Jojo was born on November 27, 2016, weighing 117 pounds and standing six-feet-tall. Saline County elementary schools; public, private and the Home Schoolers Association submitted the 12 names. Zoo guests voted on them March 1-26.
The ballots were tabulated Monday and the zoo announced ‘Jojo’ as the winner Tuesday Jojo received 729 of the total 5,393 votes.
Results: Bubbles, submitted by Schilling Elementary. 679 votes Jojo, submitted by Home Schoolers Association. 729 votes Elliott, submitted by Heusner Elementary. 497 votes Gizmo, submitted by Stewart Elementary. 628 votes Curry, submitted by Ell-Saline Elementary. 298 votes Zeke, submitted by Meadowlark Elementary. 480 votes Louie, submitted by Southeast of Saline. 276 votes Zeus, submitted by Coronado Elementary. 449 votes Pikachu, submitted by Cottonwood Elementary. 638 votes Jordan, submitted by Oakdale Elementary. 229 votes Bambi, submitted by Sunset Elementary. 277 votes Bellus Stella (Latin for “beautiful one to the stars”), submitted by Cornerstone Classical School. 213 votes.
