Kansas Klips
Dental work helped an elephant at a Kansas Zoo
SEDGWICK COUNTY—Earlier this month, one of the male African elephants, Callee, had a unique dental procedure done at the Sedgwick County Zoo. During a sparring event with Titan, the Zoo’s other male elephant, Callee broke open one of his tusks at the pulp cavity, causing bleeding that numerous visitors witnessed from the sidelines. The tusk needed to be repaired immediately to prevent further damage and infection. Tusks are similar to teeth, so the Zoo called in Dr. Winter, a boarded veterinary dentist who is certified in zoo/ wildlife dentistry, to perform a treatment much like a root canal. According to a social media report from the Zoo, the procedure went incredibly well, thanks to everyone involved. “From the elephant care team to maintenance to our veterinarian staff, it truly took a team to accomplish this. In fact, during this procedure, it was National Vet Tech Week, and we had the honor of hosting members of the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians here at SCZ for their post-conference trip. Zoo vet techs from across the nation were able to witness a part of his fascinating procedure firsthand.” (Hays Post)
Multiple unlocked vehicles burglarized in Hays
HAYS—Several unlocked vehicles were allegedly burglarized in Hays over the first weekend of the month. Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said personal items were stolen from five cars after a suspect allegedly engaged in “car surfing,” moving from car to car. The burglaries occurred on Oak Street, East 19th Street, East 17th Street, and East 16th Street between Friday, November 1st, and the early hours of Saturday, November 2nd. Personal items such as purses and credit cards were taken. Some of the objects were recovered nearby after being discarded by the suspect, who only kept desired items. Scheibler reminds residents to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving valuable items inside, especially with the upcoming holidays. If you have any information about the burglaries, please call 785-625-1011. No arrests had been made when this article was posted on November 5th. (Hays Post)
Police find illegal explosives in garage at Kansas home
HARVEY COUNTY—On Tuesday morning, November 5th, a suspect fled from a North Newton Police officer during an unrelated traffic stop, according to a media release from the City of Newton. Newton Police assisted in the chase and eventually located the suspect in a garage in the 500 block of East 11th Street in Newton. While in the garage, officers found about 60 suspicious items consisting of homemade explosives. The Wichita Bomb Squad and ATF agents examined the items and believed them to be illegal explosive materials. The items were rendered safe early in the investigation, but out of an abundance of caution, police cordoned off the area. The items were taken to a safe location and destroyed. One house resident is in custody, and police are seeking another person of interest. (Hays Post)
Ellis County Sheriff investigate death at landfill
ELLIS COUNTY—A 34-year-old Pennsylvania man shot himself in the head with a handgun on Monday morning, November 4th, just west of the front gate at the Ellis County Sanitary Landfill. At 10:32 a.m., dispatchers received a call from a male stating he was “parked at the Environment Office and was going to kill himself and to send someone to pick him up.” Officers arrived minutes later and found a body in the grassy area just west of the building. The man was transported to the ER, where he died. The investigation is continuing. (Hays Post)
Death investigation at Northeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center
GEARY COUNTY—The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating a death that occurred at the Northeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City, Kansas. The KBI was contacted on the morning of Tuesday, November 5th, to investigate the death of a 17-year-old male from Dodge City. The teen had been at the detention facility since early August as a result of a child in need of care case. KBI agents responded to the facility to investigate. By statute, the KBI investigates the deaths of prisoners in the custody of Kansas jails and prisons, and juveniles in state, county, or city custody unless the person who dies is being regularly attended by a physician or the death is ruled natural by autopsy. The investigation indicates that personnel found the 17-year-old male unresponsive around 6:50 a.m. and began life-saving measures. Geary County EMS responded and continued resuscitation efforts during the transport to a local hospital. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel around 7:40 a.m. An autopsy is scheduled, and the investigation is ongoing. (KBI Media and Releases)
