Kansas Klips

Big Boy rolls through Hays

HAYS—Big Boy No. 4104, the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, passed through Hays in front of a crowd of hundreds on Sunday morning, October 20th. The famous 83-year-old steam engine stopped in town before leaving for Grainfield as part of its Heartland of American Tour through nine states. Big Boy announced its arrival when it tooted its whistle to many excited families who gathered to watch the train as it stopped on the tracks along Ninth and Milner Streets. The train is one of 25 Big Boy locomotives manufactured by the American Locomotive Company and Union Pacific to transport freight across the country, primarily through the Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah and the Rocky Mountain Range in Colorado. It was introduced to the railroad industry in the 1940s and is part of theUnion Pacific’s Heritage Fleet and is one of the few remaining operative steam engines in the works, making the experience unique for many of its younger spectators who are used to modern trains that run on fuel and electricity. (Hays Post)

Kansas Wildlife and Parks stops the sale of Senior Lifetime Passes

TOPEKA—The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced that it has stopped selling the ten-year combination of hunting and fishing licenses for Kansas residents aged 65 to 74. The decision follows the discovery that the statute authorizing the department to sell the licenses at a reduced rate had expired, according to a media release from the department. The licenses were commonly called a Senior Lifetime Pass because after a resident reaches age 75, they are no longer required to purchase Kansas hunting and fishing licenses. Annual senior licenses for Kansas residents ages 65 to 74 remain available at significantly discounted rates. (Hays Post)

Kansas teen hospitalized after crash with a semi

GOVE COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 12:30 p.m. onFriday, October 18th, in Gove County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Toyota Camry driven by Alexandra L. Ortiz, 18, Dodge City, was southbound on Kansas 23, one mile north of Gove County Road I. The driver fell asleep, and the Toyota crossed the centerline. A northbound 1988 Peterbilt semi driven by Ryan S. Moss, 42, Menlo, traveled into the east ditch to avoid a head-on collision. The Toyota struck the driver’s side axles #2 and #3 of the semi. EMS transported both drivers to Gove County Medical Center. They were both properly restrained, according to the KHP. (Hays Post)

Hutchinson Correctional Facility resident dies unexpectedly

HUTCHINSON—Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Kevyn Lopez, 26, died Monday, October 21st, 2024. Lopez was found unresponsive in his cell that Monday morning. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived but were unsuccessful. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy. Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, the death is under investigation by the agency and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing. Lopez was serving a 94-month sentence for convictions of voluntary manslaughter in Wyandotte County, Kansas. HCF is the state’s third-largest facility. It serves only adult males and has a capacity of 1,788 residents. (Kansas Department of Corrections)

Installation of permanent Vietnam memorial underway in Great Bend

GREAT BEND—The Wall That Heals provided a temporary memorial to Vietnam veterans as it made its way through Barton County and Great Bend last May. In December 2023, a small committee of Vietnam veterans approached the Great Bend City Council about installing a permanent memorial at Veterans Memorial Park. Over the weekend of October 19th, the first pieces of the 50-foot memorial were installed on the north side of the lake. Larry Parsons, a Vietnam veteran and member of the committee, has been pleased with the progress. “We’re really excited it’s finally here,” he said. “We’ve been working on this for a little over a year, and we’re ready to finish it. I think it’s looking pretty good and we’re probably about halfway done.” Hoisington’s B&B Metal Arts constructed the memorial with two 25-foot wings and insignia from all United States armed forces branches. The memorial carried a price tag of approximately $115,000.00, most of which has been raised. Parson said funds are still being collected for a bench and a protective fence. The City of Great Bend will provide irrigation and a sidewalk around the memorial. (Hays Post)