Kansas Klips
Aviation legend, former Cessna CEO, has died
SEDGWICK COUNTY—The Textron Aviation team is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Russell W. 'Russ' Meyer, Jr., the longtime chairman and CEO, and Chairman Emeritus of Cessna Aircraft Company. Mr. Meyer was an aviation legend, leading Cessna for nearly 30 years and overseeing the development and launch of Citation business jets. He played a key role in stabilizing the industry through the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994. He earned top aviation awards, including two Collier Trophies, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, and induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. He believed in using aviation to help others, founding the Special Olympics Airlift—which trains and transports athletes to the Games for forty years—and supporting workforce development by starting Wichita's 21st Street Training Program to create career opportunities for underserved residents. His passion for youth development extended to many important charitable organizations and causes. (Hays Post)
Two child victims report sex abuse involving a Kansas jail deputy
KIOWA COUNTY—The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Kiowa County Sheriff's Office detention officer on March 2nd for child sex crimes. On Monday, KBI agents arrested Dustin Dean Chartier, 36, of Greensburg, at the Kiowa County Courthouse, according to a media release from the KBI. Chartier was arrested on requested charges of rape, aggravated sexual battery, indecent liberties with a child, lewd and lascivious behavior, and two counts of indecent solicitation of a child. In December 2025, the Kiowa County Sheriff's Office requested the KBI investigate allegations of sex abuse of a minor by a detention officer in 2021. Chartier was placed on administrative leave during the KBI investigation. While investigating the initial allegation, a second victim disclosed another sex abuse incident, prompting the KBI to open an additional investigation. The Kiowa County Sheriff's Office was fully cooperative with the investigation. Following his arrest, Cartier was booked into the Reno County Correctional Facility. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KSCRIME. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www. kbi.ks.gov/sar. (Hays Post)
Measles reported in Kansas City
The Kansas City Missouri Health Department and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported on Tuesday, March 3rd, a confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated adult, according to a statement from the department. There has not been a case of measles in the Kansas City area since 2018. (Hays Post)
Kansas driver arrested after he left a crash and fire
ELLSWORTH COUNTY—Law enforcement is investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a crash and fire over the weekend of February 28th. According to the Ellsworth County Sheriff, the late Saturday evening call about a vehicle on fire in the 2500 Block of Avenue T resulted in the arrest of a Kansas man for leaving the scene and failing to report a motor vehicle accident. Additional charges for illegal tag, no proof of liability insurance, and Interfering/Obstructing are pending. As it turned out, the driver of the burning vehicle struck a concrete guardrail on a county bridge. The vehicle flew for quite some distance, then landed its wheels about 200 feet west of the point of impact and caught fire. There was significant damage to both the bridge and the vehicle. The driver was located about 1/2 mile west of the accident scene, watching emergency crews work to extinguish the blaze. The sheriff's office thanked the Marquette Fire and EMS crews, along with the McPherson Fire Department, which sent additional resources to the scene to help search for 'possible' injured persons from the crash. (Hays Post)
