INMAN–Co-authors Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe spent four years traveling to every one of the 626 incorporated cities in Kansas in addition to visiting several hundred spots in the country. The result is The Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers, a project of the Inman-based Kansas Sampler Foundation.

The 480-page, coil-bound book weighs over two pounds and is chock full of information that will keep Kansas road trip enthusiasts busy for quite a long time. Along with 4,500 entries that provide descriptions, directions, hours, and contact information, there are also more than 1,600 color pictures. Rowe says, “Many people will be interested in the 843 restaurants, cafes, drive-ins, and soda fountains.”

The book is designed to help achieve the mission of the Kansas Sampler Foundation which is to preserve and sustain rural culture. Penner says, “Though the book reads like a travel guide, it’s intended to help people get to know the state and learn about towns of every size.” Among the diverse entries, guidebook users will find historic bridges, beautiful statues, specialty shops, quirky sites, little known points-of-interest, cemetery finds, and back road scenic drives statewide. Rowe said, “There really is something for everyone whether you are looking for outdoor sites or ways to get to know a town. The more a person interacts with the locals the more special a road trip can become.”

To find retail stores that carry the book or to order online, go to kansassampler.org.

JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child endangerment and other charges.

Just after 10p.m. Tuesday, police captured Michael Dorsch, 31, Horton, in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota Walmart store where he was hiding, according to a media release.

Dorsch is wanted on an outstanding Jackson County Kansas warrant for aggravated battery and child endangerment in connection with the alleged battery of a woman on the evening of May 4th, 2017 near Mayetta.

A manhunt ensued for Dorsch that evening.
Dorsch is believed to have been living in the Sisseton, South Dakota area some 160 miles north of Sioux Falls.

The arrest was a cooperative effort between the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office and the Topeka Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

By SAM ZEFF

After 10 hours of debate, a dozen amendments and a timeout to talk taxes, the Kansas Senate early Wednesday advanced a school finance plan. A final vote is expected sometime later Wednesday.

Once they finished debate, senators ended where they began: an additional $234 million over two years for K-12 education. That is $50 million less than the House plan that the Kansas State Department of Education now says would add $284 million in new money over two years and then increase funding according to the rate of inflation.

But some senators who voted for the plan, like their House colleagues, believe neither bill has enough funding to satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court, which ruled earlier this year that the current amount is inadequate.

Even Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican who carried the bill, is prepared for an adverse ruling from the high court.

“We’ll come back for a special session and sort it out,” he said during a GOP caucus before the debate.

While the funding formula is similar in both bills, the Senate bill includes an amendment that would phase out some of the money the state pays for out-of-state students to attend Kansas schools. The Kansas State Department of Education says about 625 students cross the state line into Kansas for school. That costs up to $6 million a year.

The amendment would not ban out-of-state students but would cut state aid for them to 75 percent next year and 50 percent after that.

During debate, Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka attempted to add $419 million to the plan. “I think that both the House and Senate bills are inadequate,” he said.

His amendment failed on a 16-23 vote.

Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, proposed an amendment to remove funding for all-day kindergarten. He said that would save $63 million a year. Senators also rejected that amendment.

The two bills now move to a conference committee to negotiate differences, but most lawmakers expect that to be a smooth process.

Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR.org and the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff. 

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on kidnapping and other charges.

Just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, the Wamego Police Department received a report of shots fired in the 300 block of Chestnut Street, according to a media release.

Officers and Deputies arrived in the area and located a residence which had been struck by gun fire. Officers checked the occupants of the residence and found no one was injured.

Investigators from the KBI, KHP, Wamego Police and Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department went to a residence in the 1800 block of Marsha Lane in Wamego and took David Rojas, 31, into custody.

He faces charges including aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary. Investigators believe this to be an isolated incident.

RENO COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating a reported theft and asking the public for assistance.

Between May 12 and16, a 2006 Beige Ford F-350 dually, license plate 753EAU pulling a 24′ black flatbed PJ Trailer with fenders was stolen from a location southwest of Arlington, according to the Reno County Sheriff’s Department.

On the trailer was a 2012 Takeuchi TL250 Track Loader with pallet fork attachment. The Takeuchi has about 350 hours.

Authorities asked anyone with information to please call (620) 694-2735 and speak with Detective Post or remain anonymous by calling Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).
Case number 2017-5088.

FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Members of America’s first brigade are returning to Fort Riley this month as the brigade celebrates its 100th birthday.

About 200 soldiers in the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley returned to the fort Saturday night. The rest of the 3,700 will return during the next few months.

The brigade was organized in May 1917 and has participated in nearly every campaign since World War I. Its nickname is the Devil Brigade.

The brigade is beginning to return from its current mission in South Korea.

DICKINSON COUNTY- A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 7p.m. Tuesday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Infinity QX driven by Ron R. Larsen II, 32, Enid, OK., was southbound on U.S. 77.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 56 and collided with a westbound 2001 Buick Century driven by Ellen F. Granzow, 54, Herington, that was just entering the intersection.

The collision caused the Buick to enter a private yard.

The Infinity continued southbound and collided head-on with a 2011 Nissan Murano driven by Lori L. Fruechting, 55. Marion, which was stopped at a stop sign.

Granzow and Larsen were transported to the hospital in Herrington where she died.

Fruechting was not injured. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with an alleged arson a Kansas apartment building.

Just before 4p.m. Tuesday, the Topeka Fire Department Responded to a structure fire located at 618 SW 8th Avenue in Topeka, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, fire crews discovered smoke coming from apartment 3 of the two-story wood framed multi family dwelling.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, keeping it confined to the structure of fire origin. Firefighters performed a search of the apartment of fire origin and confirmed all occupants were out. No injuries were reported at this incident. Preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be intentionally set.

With the assistance of the Topeka Police Department, Investigators were able to identify a suspect related to this incident. 50-year-old Donald R. Davis was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for aggravated arson.
Estimated dollar loss – $2,000.00 (Two Thousand Dollars); $1,000.00 (One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars) structural loss and $200.00 (Two Hundred Dollars) contents loss.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An autopsy report concludes that a toddler fatally injured at a carnival in Wichita, Kansas, died after grabbing an electrically charged fence.

The report says 15-month-old Pressley Bartonek of Conway Springs was diagnosed as being brain dead five days after being shocked May 12.

According to the report, the toddler was at a small carnival on a parking lot when she grabbed metal fencing and became unresponsive by the time her father freed her hands.

The report says that a test by an electrical company showed about 300 volts coming from the fence.

The carnival operator, Evans United Shows based in Plattsburg, Mo., has not publicly commented about the matter.

Wichita police are investigating.

SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for a weekend assault.

A 39-year-old Salina man was arrested after he allegedly threatened a neighbor before hitting another with a metal baseball bat, according to Police Capt. Paul Forrester.

Just after 7p.m. Sunday, Latishia Ford, 29, and Nicholas Albany, 38, both of Salina, were sitting on a porch at a home in the 400 block of Baker in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.

A neighbor, George Wagner, came out of his house with what appeared to be a black handgun and allegedly threatened Ford before going back inside his home.

Albany went to confront Wagner and knocked on his door. Wagner answered the door swinging a metal baseball bat and allegedly hit Albany in the face, according to Forrester.

Police arrested Wagner and booked him into the Saline County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated battery. Authorities also found a black BB gun and two metal bats in his residence, according to Forrester.