Kansas Klips

Pharmacist indicted in drug tampering case

WICHITA — Prosecutors say a Kansas City-area pharmacist took medicine from a container at a Lenexa pharmacy and replaced it with something else. The Department of Justice says that a federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging Benjamin Dandurand, 34, of Shawnee Mission, with tampering with a consumer product; possession of Tramadol by deception and subterfuge; possession of Zolpidem by deception and subterfuge; and possession of Oxycodone Hydrochloride by deception and subterfuge. Investigators allege that Dandurand used his fingerprint at a pharmacy in Lenexa to remove Oxycodone Hydrochloride from a safe. They believe he removed the controlled substance from the bottle and replaced it with an alternate liquid substance before returning the bottle to the safe. Investigators also allege that Dandurand took Tramadol, Oxycodone Hydrochloride, and Zolpidem from the pharmacy between September 2020 and October 2020. (KSNT News)

Atwood watches its Olympian

ATWOOD — Fans of Olympic skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender gathered at the high school in Atwood on Saturday, Feb. 12, to watch the four-time Olympian race one more time. She finished sixth, just two seconds off the winning time, but in skeleton, two seconds can seem like an eternity. Katie, who calls Breckenridge, Colo., Atwood and Texas home, missed a bronze medal by four-hundredths of a second against a Russian racer at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. She placed 11th in Vancouver in 2010 after bumping the track wall. Her first Olympic race in 2006 was in Torino, where she finished sixth. Katie came to Kansas as she followed her father’s footsteps. She fell in love with the rural lifestyle and helped to establish a working ranch north of McDonald. Her father, Ted Uhlaender, who had played major league baseball, died Feb. 12, 2009, and she came back to work on the ranch and deal with her sorrow. (The Oberlin Herald)

The Cozy Inn celebrates 100 years

SALINA — Traveling on I-70 anytime soon? The next time you go Salina-way, you may want to take the opportunity to stop in at the Cozy Inn, nationally recognized as “Best Burger Joint” a handful of times by many well-known publications. This locally-owned and operated business, the Cozy Inn, is a beloved staple in downtown Salina, where they are celebrating a century of cooking up their famous burgers, served slider style. Owner/Operator Steve Howard and his family are proud to share the map of the United States of America hanging on the wall, displaying the many cities and states across the U.S. that customers have come in from. (Salina Journal)

Lord’s Diner director serves 6 million meals, set to retire

WICHITA — After helping serve more than 6 million meals to Wichita’s homeless, the longtime director of the Lord’s Diner has announced her retirement. Jan Haberly joined the Diner’s staff in 2005 as the volunteer coordinator. After seven years in the position, she applied for the director position, a position at the time she wasn’t sure she was cut out for. Since assuming the role of director, Haberly has helped serve more than 6 million meals, played a key role in opening three food trucks and a snack pantry, plus helped expand the diner’s service into Pittsburg, Kan., where there was a great need. Haberly will admit running the diner and feeding more than 1,000 people each day is a challenge. However, it’s a challenge she is proud to conquer with the help of her staff and numerous volunteers. Haberly says her time with the organization has taught her a great deal about the true meaning of life. (KSN News)

Munsons acquire former Brookville Hotel restaurant

ABILENE — The owners of the former Munson’s Prime restaurant in Junction City, destroyed by fire nearly one year ago, are the new owners of the former Brookville Hotel restaurant property in Abilene. Reports surfaced online last week that Charles and Deanna Munson bid $926,000 during a bankruptcy sale to acquire the property put up for sale by Pinnacle Bank. The Munsons had the lone bid and are planning to open a new restaurant called Legacy Kansas. They say they plan to acknowledge the history of both restaurants in their new venture. That includes the traditional family-style chicken dinners the Brookville became known for as well as the Munson steaks and burgers. The Munsons hope to be open in late June. (1350kman.com)

WPD: Catalytic converter thieves caught in the act

WICHITA — Some quick action by a car dealership owner and the Wichita Police Department landed two men in jail early last Wednesday morning. The WPD said officers caught the two in the act of stealing catalytic converters. Around 4 a.m., the owner of a dealership in the 3900 block of S. Broadway reported seeing movement in the back lot of the business. He said it appeared two men were cutting catalytic converters off several vehicles. Police officers arrived and said the men were still committing the crime. They arrested 45-year-old William Preston of Wichita and 44-year-old Justin Roberts of Pratt on suspicion of criminal damage to property. Police say the tools used had also been stolen in a previous case. In addition to the criminal damage, police also booked Roberts on suspicion of a state parole violation. Police say they continue to address recent trends in catalytic converter thefts. (KSNW-TV)

Man arrested after long standoff

McPHERSON — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an overnight standoff in McPherson County. Just after 1 a.m. Sunday, sheriff’s deputies responded to an ongoing domestic situation at a rural address in McPherson County, according to Sheriff Jerry Montagne. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Justin St. John was armed with a rifle and had made threats of violence. Around 2 a.m., the McPherson County Special Response Team was asked to help resolve the situation. Negotiators reached St. John by phone and communicated with him for approximately 30 minutes. At 4:30 a.m., members of the Special Response team took St. John into custody and booked him on requested charges of aggravated assault and criminal threat. (Little Apple Post)