Kansas Klips

Logan woman killed in single-vehicle rollover

PHILLIPSBURG — A Logan woman was killed in a single-vehicle accident Thursday morning in Phillips County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford Escape driven by Hollie L. Kendall, 49, moved to the right shoulder as she met a pickup traveling south on Phillips County Rd 1000, one mile north and 10 miles west of Phillipsburg. The vehicle began to skid on the gravel, slid across the road to the left shoulder and then back onto the road before it overturned. Kendall was ejected as the vehicle continued to travel into the east ditch and came to rest on its right side, facing south. The KHP reported Kendall was not wearing a seatbelt. (HaysPost.com)

Unusual birth in Ness County

NESS COUNTY — A very unusual conjoined calf was recently birthed in Nyle Henderson’s herd. Henderson noticed that one of his cows was calving and saw the front feet but no head. He loaded it up to take it to his calving barn, but then decided to take it to the veterinarian since it appeared the calf was in a bad birthing position. When they got to the vet, the discovered not one, but two heads, and only one body. The vet did a C-section to remove the calf which was still-born. Henderson took it to a taxidermist who dissected the calf. They discovered the calf had one big heart, two spines, two sets of ribs, one developed liver and one underdeveloped liver. The body was fully developed with two heads and two tails. Its lungs were also under-developed and the cause of its death. The taxidermist discovered that he could get forms for two-headed calves, so it’s not all that unusual. Henderson is looking forward to having the calf mounted. (The Ness County News)

Students soar through new obstacle course at Inman Elementary

INMAN — This spring, the dream of a new “ninja warrior” style obstacle course became a reality. Five years ago, the sixth-grade student government organization at Inman Elementary School proposed getting playground equipment similar to the television show “American Ninja Warrior.” Fundraisers, such as the school’s field day and color run, were held for years to raise the funds to purchase the equipment. After $84,000 was collected, the school started making plans. The goal was to have the equipment ready for use right after this year’s spring break in March. Battling rain, sleet, snow and high winds, parents and school officials met on several weekends before and after spring break to construct the Fitcore Extreme Obstacle Course by Landscape Structures, Inc. The course is made up of ten stations: quintuple steps, wheel bridge, high step, peg bridge, vertical cargo net, ledge hanger, angled balance beam, unstable bridge, spider walk and rope climb. After drilling 81 holes in the ground for the course, filling them with concrete and leveling the support pieces, the volunteers completed most of the installation so students would have it when they returned from spring break. Principal Jo McFadden says it is amazing. During lunch recess, the students are directed to go through the course from start to finish. A ribbon-cutting was held Thursday, April 7. (The Hutchinson News)

Astronaut tells students to reach for the stars at Cosmosphere event

HUTCHINSON — NASA shuttle astronaut Dr. Janet Kavandi was in Hutchinson to talk to students about STEM research and how time in the classroom can lead to a better future. Kavandi was part of a presentation to students from the Magnet School at Allen and McCandless Elementary at the Cosmosphere on Thursday. Kavandi wants kids to understand that they have many opportunities in their future if they stay focused in school and set high goals for themselves. She also encouraged students to study the sciences and engineering as there are so many careers that could open up for them. The space race is still growing within the United States as commercial space flight is becoming more common. She urges parents to ensure that their kids know that they have many opportunities. (HutchPost.com)

Entertainer back in town for concert

OBERLIN — It was homecoming for Donna Kump Tucker as the 1969 Decatur Community High graduate brought her family, friends and music to The Gateway on Friday, April 8th. Ms. Tucker and her son Jordan took the stage first, greeting friends and wishing a happy 93rd birthday to one lady in the crowd. Tucker said she practiced piano a lot as she was growing up, while her mother, Jean Ann, listened. If she made a mistake, her mother would tell her to do the piece again. But if her father was there, he would say no one wanted to hear the same thing over and over. She also remembered playing the organ at the United Methodist Church and having her father wave to her to go faster so he could make it home for brunch. At the end of the performance Friday evening, Ms. Tucker’s husband, Dr. Jim Allen, presented her with a bouquet of flowers. She told the audience he’d done the same thing when he’d hired her years ago to do a birthday concert for him, then later proposed. (The Oberlin Herald)