Kansas Klips
Man rescued from grain elevator
La CROSSE — According to Rush County Sheriff Ward Corsair, a 50-year-old man was found unresponsive on top of a grain elevator in Timken on July 23. Corsair said the call came in at 5:18 p.m. Rush County Sheriff’s officers assisted Rush County EMS in bringing the man down an elevator located inside the grain elevator. The man, who was not identified by Corsair, was transported by Rush County EMS to Great Bend Regional Hospital. Those assisting in the rescue include Timken Fire Department La Crosse Fire Department, Rush County EMS, and Rush County Sheriff’s Office. (Rush County News)
Newspapers late due to deer-vehicle accident
OBERLIN — Both the Oberlin Herald and The Norton Telegram were late getting to the post office and newsstands of their July 21 edition as the staffs scrambled to find transportation for them from the press to their respective towns. The papers’ driver, Derek Laughlin, who drives from Norton and Oberlin to Goodland on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays with inserts and office mail, and then drives the papers back from the press, was on his way west when he hit a deer just west of Norcatur. Coworkers came from Norton to pick him up and later to tow the vank and the crew at The Goodland Star-News made plans to get the papers to their destinations. Since out-of-area papers are mailed out of Goodland, they went on out. However, papers for the two towns and outlaying areas had to wait. Those getting their paper online didn’t notice any change, but those who expected to get their print copies at the crocery store had to wait a while. (The Oberlin Herald)
Bats were the talk of the town recently
ATWOOD — Kansas is home to 15 of the world’s 1,300 bat species. The most commonly encountered bat in Northwest Kansas is the big brown bat, a subspecies of the vesper bat. It is one of the largest bats found in the state, and is most easily identified by its color and shape of it’s ears. In Kansas, bats will eat flying insects at night—including insects that many consider pests, according to Kevin Klag, a wildlife biologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The largest colonies of big brown bats are commonly found in man-made structures, such as churches, businesses, houses, barns and under bridges. Because of their critical function in local ecologies—as both pollinators and as a means of controlling insect populations—it is recommended to attempt removal of the bats, before considering euthanization, whenever possible. “This time of year,” Klag said, “the pups are learning to fly and will get into more predicaments, like entering a home.” (Rawlins County Square Deal)
Man dies after ejected in pickup crash
SUMNER COUNTY — A Wichita man died in an accident just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday in Sumner County. According to Sumner County Undersheriff Mike Westmoreland, a 2007 Chevy pickup driven by 44-year-old Veryl DM Crittenden III of Wichita was southbound in the 400 Block of Argonia Road. The pickup left the road to the east, struck a culvert, rolled and the driver was ejected. When sheriff’s deputies arrived, Argonia Fire personnel were on scene performing CPR until Caldwell EMS arrived and pronounced Crittenden deceased, according Westmoreland. No additional details Monday morning. (HaysPost.com)
Over $200K damage in apartment building fire
GEARY COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a weekend apartment building fire in Junction City. Just after 4 p.m. Saturday, firefighters responded to a fire at an apartment building at 1521 West Ash Street in Junction City, according to a media release. When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from the front of the building, and fire on the deck and back of the building at a third floor apartment. Fire burned into the roof area of apartments five and six, and there was extensive fire, smoke and water damage to both buildings. Water damage was also reported to apartment three, below apartment six, and there was water damage to a stairway. No injuries were reported. The damage estimate was put at $205,000. The residents were offered assistance from the property management and the Red Cross. (JCPost.com)
Lawrence man sentenced after child shoots
LAWRENCE — A 28-year-old Lawrence man has been sentenced to a year of probation after a child in his home shot and critically injured a 6-year-old friend. Rashun Lewis was sentenced last week after he previously pleaded no contest to aggravated endangering a child. Lewis was accused of allowing the 5-year-old to get ahold of a gun and shoot 6-year-old Tayshawn Mack Harris in August 2020. The boy was critically injured but survived. Judge Sally Pokorny noted that Lewis had no criminal record before she agreed to the recommended sentence of a year of probation. (JCPost.com)
$400K fraud: Former manager of Tyson plant sentenced
EMPORIA — A former maintenance manager at the Tyson Foods plant in Emporia has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for defrauding the company out of more than $416,000. David John Ranger was sentenced last week. He pleaded guilty in April to one count of wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay $410,000 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release when he finishes his jail term. Prosecutors say Ranger used company cards and created a fictitious company in a scheme to pay personal expenses for nearly seven years. (JCPost.com)
