Kansas Klips

Russell man scores with birthday luck

RUSSELL — Being born on the Fourth of July, Jeffery Flavin’s birthday has always been a bit special. But this year, the day was even more festive after the Russell man matched four numbers and the Powerball to win $50,000 from the July 3 Powerball drawing. Flavin usually purchases a single ticket every few weeks, and as he went into Casey’s to grab a slice of pizza, he decided on one line of Quick Pick Powerball numbers. At the time, he had to get back to work and forgot about the ticket. On their way home from visiting his mother after the Fourth of July holiday, Flavin had his daughter check the numbers on the Kansas Lottery website. “She told me I had most of the numbers,” Flavin said. “I thought it was maybe $2 or something small,” he said, but using the “check my numbers” tool on the Kansas Lottery website, they realized he really had won, “and that’s when I got really excited!” he said. (The Hill City Times)

Teen arrested in Newton girl’s shooting death

NEWTON — A 16-year-old boy was arrested Monday, July 12, after the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old girl at a home where several teenagers were gathered, Newton police said. The girl, whose name had not been released, was shot Sunday night, July 11th. She was from Hesston. Witnesses told police that the suspect was drunk and waving a gun around. He allegedly pointed the gun at others in the room before shooting the girl, police said. Witnesses and neighbors tried to perform CPR on the girl and called 911. The suspect was arrested Monday morning at his home, police said. (Salina Journal)

Rice County natural gas leak contained

LYONS — Officials with Northern Natural gas are investigating a gas leak in Rice County. Just after 3 p.m. last Thursday, crews were doing work at an underground storage facility southeast of Lyons when something happened with a valve that caused a release of natural gas, according to Mike Loeffler with Northern Natural Gas. The company evacuated everyone within a one-mile radius of the area and closed all access to roads. Testing determined no natural gas at the one-mile perimeter or at the city limits of Lyons, according to Loeffler. The incident forced Midwest Energy to cut power to roughly 60 homes and buildings east of Lyons, according to a social media report from the utility. On Friday morning, authorities asked Midwest Energy to be prepared to cut power to another 500 meters in Rice Co., east of Lyons. If required, this outage would come with no notice. The utility thanked residents for their understanding as they help authorities work through this situation. By Friday afternoon, Rice County Emergency Communications announced the gas leak had been contained and those displaced due to the incident were allowed to return to the area. (HaysPost.com)

Woman charged in fatal chase, crash to appear in court

WICHITA — A woman involved in a double-fatal crash during a police chase in a stolen SUV made her first court appearance Friday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. In May of 2019, police reported then 24-year-old Mia Collins led officers on a chase in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle. After about on mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection. The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children. She is Wood’s daughter and McElroy’s aunt. Collins was on probation for stealing a handgun at the time of the crash. A passenger in her car, 38-year-old Christopher English, was on parole. She is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and numerous other charges. The trial is scheduled to begin in October. (HaysPost.com)

Hays man accused of 2019 first-degree murder of wife

HAYS — A 27-year-old Hays man has been charged with killing his wife in the early morning hours of Oct. 31, 2019. According to a press release from the Ellis County Attorney’s Office, Colby Alan Trickle, 27, Hays, was charged last Wednesday with first-degree murder in the October 2019 shooting death of his wife, Kristen Trickle, 26, Hays. Colby Trickle, who was arrested Thursday, is alleged to have, “feloniously, and intentionally with premeditation” shot Kristen Trickle in the head with a revolver on Oct. 31, 2019. Premediated first-degree murder in Kansas is an off-grid person felony, and anyone convicted of first degree faces life in prison. The mandatory minimum is 25 years in prison with the possibility of post-release supervision. Colby Trickle was also charged with two counts of interference with law enforcement. Prosecutors allege Trickle reported false information to law enforcement officials on two separate occasions in an effort to obstruct an investigation. (HaysPost.com)

15-year-old drowns in pool at home

HARVEY COUNTY — Authorities in south-central Kansas say a 15-year-girl drowned in a private swimming pool over the weekend. Officials say the drowning happened Friday night at a home in Harvey County. First responders were called to the home around 9:30 p.m. Officials say the girl was swimming alone in the pool when she drowned. Others in the home found the girl in the pool and called 911. Medics who arrived on the scene performed CPR and rushed her to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The girl’s name has not been released. (The Newton Kansan)