News news 2008-08-05 Andanh.com

Police and fire calls Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:35:00 EST
Police calls

Pets Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
The following animals have been brought to the Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 N.W. Rochester Road. The telephone number is 233-7325.

Births Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:00 EST
Births

Lake levels Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:00 EST
Date — Aug. 4

Pollen count Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
Amaranth weeds 121

Health care issue will be on the 'front burner' Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:35:00 EST
LAWRENCE — Former Sen. Bob Dole believes one of the first issues Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama will have to address after a fleeting honeymoon as president will be the nation's health care system.

Nader petitions for ballot in Kansas Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:00 EST
Ralph Nader's volunteers submitted more than 10,000 petition signatures Monday in an effort to secure a spot for the consumer advocate on the November presidential ballot in Kansas.

Man sought in Lawrence assault case Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
Lawrence police announced Monday they were seeking Emmanuel Rashad Walker, 21, in reference to an aggravated assault that occurred June 7 in Lawrence.

Two teens injured in Coffey County accident Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:36:00 EST
HOLMSTEAD — Two teenagers were injured just before 11 p.m. Sunday when the vehicle they were in overturned on a Coffey County road just east of Holmstead.

Probe continues in hit-and-run fatality Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:00 EST
The Kansas Highway Patrol continued to investigate but had made no arrests Monday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred late Saturday in St. George in Pottawatomie County.

Three injured in two Anderson County accidents Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:37:00 EST
Three people were injured in separate accidents within two minutes of each other Sunday afternoon in Anderson County.

Weather heats up in Topeka Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
Topekans sweltered Monday through the city's hottest day in nearly a year.

Council at odds over ballot question Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:36:00 EST
Topeka City Council members failed for the second time in a week to reach agreement on a ballot question authorizing a sales tax increase.

Harsh winter, cool spring have kept bugs at bay Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:00 EST
In the wake of a frigid winter and a cool spring, fewer than usual insects are appearing in Kansas this summer.

Tight primaries expected to increase voter turnout Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
Voter turnout is expected to be low today in most of Kansas, but not here.

Bomb unit called in to investigate package Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
The Topeka Police Department's bomb unit rendered a suspicious package safe Monday afternoon after a call from Cargill administrative offices, 3940 N.W. Lower Silver Lake.

County commissioners hire new IT director Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:00 EST
Eric Theel is the new Shawnee County Information Technology director.

KATS names interim director Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
Joseph W. Emmons has been named interim director of Kaw Area Technical School, Washburn University president Jerry Farley said.

Arrest made in house burglary Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:35:00 EST
A Topeka man was arrested Monday morning in connection with the burglary of a house in east Topeka.

Shawnee Heights board approves increased budget Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:36:00 EST
Shirley Martin can give several reasons why property taxes are going up in Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450.

Auburn-Washburn proposes increase in mill levy Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:36:00 EST
Pushed by a new bond issue and lower than expected tax growth, Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 is looking at a tax increase.

Arrest made in child sex case Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
Topeka police said they arrested a man Sunday in connection with the sexual assault of a boy who is less than 10 years old.

Man sentenced for trying to distribute drugs at Wakarusa Festival Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
A St. Louis man was sentenced Monday in Topeka to 55 months in federal prison for trying to peddle LSD, psychedelic mushrooms and other illegal drugs at the Wakarusa Fest in 2005 at Clinton State Park near Lawrence.

Officer uses taser to subdue attackers Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
Two men were arrested after a disturbance in North Topeka early Monday in which a police officer was attacked before using his Taser to avoid further harm, police said.

Briefly Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:00 EST
PUBLIC LIBRARY

K-State may face former Wildcat Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:36:00 EST
Kansas State basketball fans could see a familiar face on the opposing bench in future seasons.

Dorsey, Albert both will miss some time Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:36:00 EST
The Kansas City Chiefs say rookie defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey should miss about a week after spraining his left knee in practice during the weekend.

Meche, bullpen hold off Red Sox Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:37:00 EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gil Meche didn't exactly follow the script, but the Royals got the ending they wanted anyway.

New addition knocks Washburn down ranks Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:34:00 EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A predicted fourth-place finish in the MIAA football race sounded logical to Washburn linebacker Michael Wilhoite.

Victim testifies in first day of trial
A 16-year-old Salina girl told a Saline County District Court jury Tuesday that she responded to a text message from her mother about whether she needed to buy bread while an adult male acquaintance was raping her.The girl testified in the trial of Jerry D. Sellers, 37, for two counts of rape or aggravated indecent liberties, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy or attempted criminal sodomy, aggravated sodomy and two counts of indecent liberties. Testimony will resume today.The girl — who was the first and only witness to appear on the first day of the trial — described two incidents between her and Sellers, both occurring in her home during the summer of 2007. Her testimony was frequently interrupted with tears as she recalled two separate times that she said Sellers pulled down her shorts and had sexual relations with her.

Chapman fundraiser meets $50,000 goal
The fundraising goal of $50,000 to help aid victims of the June 11 tornado in Chapman has been met, a spokesman for the Salina Community Matching-Funds Fundraiser Campaign said Tuesday. That means that with the matching funds, $100,000 will be on its way to aid the city of Chapman and the Chapman School District. Fundraiser organizers plan to release details, including exactly how much was raised by the event, no later than Thursday, said Green Lantern spokesman Bud DeArvil.Green Lantern, Great Plains Manufacturing, Solomon Corporation, Salina Vortex, Pepsi Bottling of Salina and an anonymous donor agreed to match donations to the campaign up to $50,000. The finale of the campaign was from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.“It was a fantastic last two or three days,” DeArvil said Tuesday. A presentation to city and school officials of Chapman is scheduled for Aug. 18.

Striking Hawker Beechcraft picketers ticketed
When Heidi Chrisman dropped her son, Seth Robb, off at work Monday morning at the Hawker Beechcraft assembly facility and Salina division offices at 2656 Scanlan, some of the striking union workers manning the picket line were slapping at her car and calling her names, she said.Her son, who isn’t a union member, has worked for the company, primarily as a machinist, for less than a year. Chrisman dropped Seth, 22, off on her way to work, because her son’s vehicle was in the shop.“I had to nudge them (picketers) with my bumper. I understand standing up for what you want, but it was a little bit over the edge, I thought,” Chrisman said.Deputy Police Chief Carson Mansfield said Tuesday that tickets were issued Monday to two people at that location for interfering with vehicle traffic at the facility.Aircraft workers went on strike just after midnight Monday at the Hawker Beechcraft facilities in Salina and Wichita to protest the contract the company offered the workers.The police department is stepping up patrols in the area and monitoring the strike sites, at both the company’s Salina office and at the assembly hanger located at 2044 Scanlan, Mansfield said.

Saline County Jail inmate information to go online
Starting Wednesday, more information about inmates housed in the Saline County Jail will be available through the Saline County Sheriff’s Office Web site at www.salinesheriff.org.Sheriff Glen Kochanowski and Capt. Rick Hansmann on Tuesday reviewed the updated Web site with reporters.In the navigation column on the left side of the home screen, links have been added for online searches. The search tabs enable users to search the jail population for inmates, the charges pending against them, their personal information, such as birth date and address and photos. There also is a tab to search for people with warrants for their arrest.A booking activity tab maintains a list of everyone booked into jail during the last 24 hours. “We wanted to try and alleviate some of the phone calls that come in and tie staff up,” Kochanowski said. “People ... can check for active warrants, people who are housed as inmates, or they can look for booking activity. Some people are booked and get out immediately on bond. These are things that are to help the community, and, I hope, help our staff.”

Body of missing man, 20, found at Wilson Lake
WILSON LAKE — The body of missing 20-year-old Colby Callahan was recovered from Wilson Lake about 6:30 p.m. Monday.His body surfaced about 100 yards southeast of where family members Saturday evening located the personal watercraft Callahan was riding, beached on some rocks in Lucas Park. The body was spotted by a local fishing guide who was also searching the lake. The guide called the Russell County Sheriff’s Office.There will be an autopsy to determine the cause of death, Sheriff John Fletcher said.Callahan was attending a family reunion at the lake with members of his family from Larned. He was last seen preparing to ride the watercraft to the marina to get gas, about 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Chapman residents can rebuild with basements
CHAPMAN — Chapman residents who need to rebuild their homes after the June 11 tornado will be allowed to rebuild with basements, according to a press release issued Tuesday morning by the office of Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.There had been some question whether residents would be allowed to rebuild with basements, because many of the homes and were in the floodplain. According to the release from Brownback's office, FEMA regulations prohibit rebuilding houses with basements in floodplains, and 95 percent of Chapman is in a floodplain.FEMA officials worked with state officials last week to evaluate the flooding characteristics of the city and concluded that the city qualifies for a basement exception under the National Flood Insurance Program regulations for areas with flood depths of 3 feet or less on the FEMA flood maps. Preliminary analysis indicates that the vast majority of the city has flood depths of 3 feet or less, including all areas where houses were severely damaged by the tornado.Both FEMA and the Kansas NFIP state coordinator will have personnel in Chapman this week to assist the community in the application process for a basement exception. FEMA will also be on hand to explain the regulatory requirements for allowing basements in flood hazard areas. The tornado caused $70 million in damage and killed one woman.

Inmate, warrant information available on Internet
Starting Wednesday, more information about inmates housed in the Saline County Jail will be available through the Saline County Sheriff’s Department Web site at www.salinesheriff.org.Sheriff Glen Kochanowski and Captain Rick Hansmann reviewed the site updates with reporters Tuesday.In the navigation column on the left side of the home screen, links have been added for online searches. The search tabs enable users to search the jail population for inmates, the charges pending against them, their personal information, such as birth date and address and photos. There also is a tab to search for people with warrants for their arrest.A booking activity tab maintains a list of everyone booked into jail during the last 24 hours. “We wanted to try and alleviate some of the phone calls that come in and tie staff up,” Kochanowski said. “People ... can check for active warrants, people who are housed as inmates, or they can look for booking activity. Some people are booked and get out immediately on bond. These are things that are to help the community, and, I hope, help our staff.”

Two Bird City residents injured in crash
WHEELER — Two Bird City residents were taken to the hospital Monday morning after their vehicle collided head-on with another at the intersection of U.S. Highway 36 and Kansas Highway 27.According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2006 Mercury driven by Willard Moore, 82, Bird City, was westbound on U.S.-36 when he turned onto K-27 and into the path of a 2007 Dodge driven by Walter Wells, 66, Beatrice, Neb. Wells, and a passenger in his vehicle, Amelia Nicks, 90, also of Beatrice, were not injured; both were wearing their seat belts.The Moores, who also were wearing their seat belts, were taken to Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis; their conditions were not available Monday evening.

Sheriff's candidate takes long view of race
GOODLAND — Being nearly 7,000 miles from home, Frank Tabor hasn’t shaken many hands or knocked on doors in his campaign for Sherman County Sheriff.His only public speech, at a forum late last month, was presented by proxy.Tabor, 32, has answered a few e-mails from Tikrit, Iraq, where he works for DynCorp, a company that contracts with the federal government to train Iraqi police.He’s hopeful that family and friends have hung enough posters, passed out enough brochures in Sherman County and spread the word that he’ll prevail in today’s Republican primary against incumbent Kevin Butts.Through his campaigners, which include wife, Misty, and brother-inlaw Jimmy Gillespie, a Goodland police officer, Frank Tabor is promising to improve relations with the city police and extend the sheriff’s department’s coverage of the county. “Everybody knows they don’t work after 2 a.m. That’s when I’m going to commit a crime, if I’m going to commit one,” Tabor said Monday afternoon in a phone interview (12:30 a.m. in Tikrit).“The citizens deserve a better form of representation in that county than what they’re currently getting,” Frank Tabor said.

Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.

Wahoo! Made in the shade at 80 degrees
Hot enough for ya’?If not, well, life is full of disappointments: It’s going to be cooling down in the next couple of days, just in time for people to come out for the Tri-Rivers Fair.The fair kicks off Wednesday, with the parade in downtown Salina at 5:30 p.m., and the first day of rodeo events is at 8 p.m.Sure, temps have been in the 104 and 105 range for the past few days, with heat indexes a spot or two above that.But by Thursday, the mercury should be showing temperatures more fit for both man and beast.In fact, cooler temperatures should start with today, said Rob Cox, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita.“There’s a cold front that’s right on your doorstep, it’s between you and Russell right now,” Cox said Monday afternoon. He predicted the cooler weather — relatively speaking — would be here by today, bringing highs in the 90s.

Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by e-mail at mstrand@salina.com.

Chimp leader at Rolling Hills dies from infection
Cocoa, chimpanzee and popular attraction for the last 12 years at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, died Saturday after a brief illness.He was 37 years old.Cocoa was the alpha male, or the leader, of a group of three other male chimpanzees living at the zoo, located six miles west of Salina. It is believed Cocoa developed an infection from a wound he received from one of the other chimps a few weeks ago, said Kathy Tolbert, director of Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, 625 N. Hedville.“Chimps are volatile animals, and sometimes they have spats,” she said. “The infection stemmed from an older bite wound.”

Reporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

Backers of 50-meter pool seek city support
Donning a blue T-shirt with the words “We need your help — please ask for a 50-meter pool,” 9-year-old Kodi Simmons addressed the Salina City Commission Monday afternoon.“It’s really hot inside (during practice) and more kids would swim if we had outdoor swimming,” she said. “It’s fun.”Simmons was one of four who addressed commissioners during the meeting Monday, requesting the commission consider a 50-meter pool as a part of the proposed Salina aquatic park. Commissioners took no action Monday.“The design phase is now and we want to ask you to support a 50-meter pool,” Mike Mattek said.Thursday marked the end of surveys to collect public opinion about features to be included in the proposed aquatic park.Reporter Karen Mikols can be reached at 822-1416 or by e-mail at kmikols@salina.com.

Area Primary Election Results
Abbreviations:R – RepublicanD – DemocratL – LibertarianRfm – Reform PartyInd – IndependentWI – Write-In(I) – Incumbent

City OKs purchase of zodiac rescue boat
The floods in May of 2007 prompted the Salina Fire Department to re-evaluate its ability to conduct water rescues.Salina City commissioners on Monday took a step toward aiding the fire department to being better prepared for water rescue by voting 4-1 to purchase a zodiac rescue boat, motor and trailer for $22,135. Commissioner Abner Perney voted against the measure.“You don’t get floods every day,” City Manager Jason Gage said. “It doesn’t happen very often, but if we have it, how important is it to be able to respond?“We don’t have the equipment for rapid water rescue.”The zodiac boat commissioners agreed to purchase is a 151/2-feet model powered by a 50-horsepower motor.Reporter Karen Mikols can be reached at 822-1416 or by e-mail at kmikols@salina.com.

K-State starts football practice
By ARNE GREEN

Commissioners look at increasing some fees

City to purchase boat for rescues

California woman injured in crash near Goodland

Candidate takes long view of sheriff's race

Supporters of 50-meter pool address city commissioners

It might not be 'cool,' but the mercury is forecast to drop this week

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