Kansas Klips

Norton man sentenced to 20 years on rape, escape charges

PHILLIPSBURG — A Norton man charged with raping a child and later attacking a sheriff’s deputy while in jail has been sentenced to decades in prison. According to the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, David Alexander, 19, of Norton, was sentenced to 20 years and five months in prison on charges of rape, blackmail, aggravated intimidation of a witness, aggravated escape from custody and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. On Dec. 28, Alexander accepted a plea agreement and pled guilty to charges of rape, blackmail and aggravated intimidation of a witness. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped the charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of marijuana. He was also found guilty of aggravated escape from custody and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. (NTV News)

Kansas has the cheapest gas prices in the country

WICHITA — The price of regular gasoline broke the all-time high in the United States, but the good news for Kansans is that we have the cheapest prices in the country. The previous all-time high for average gasoline prices was set on July 17, 2008, at $4.10 per gallon, but on Thursday that record was broke with prices reaching $4.318 per gallon. On Friday, March 11, the cost has increased to $4.331. Although the average price of gas in Kansas has increased from $3.681 on Monday, March 7, to $3.823 on Friday, it is the cheapest in the U.S. The most expensive gas prices in the U.S. can be found in California with an average of $5.721 per gallon, then in Nevada with an average of $4.920 per gallon. (This data comes from the AAA Gas Prices website.)

Wildfire destroys 35 homes, 110 vehicles; one person dead

HUTCHINSON — A wildfire that burned 12,000 acres in south-central Kansas has destroyed nearly three dozen homes and over a hundred vehicles. The grass fire, now referred to as the Cottonwood Complex Fire, began Saturday, March 5, and burned land east of Hutchinson in Reno and Harvey counties. Several injuries were reported in connection with the fire, and one person who had been reported missing during the fire was found dead the following morning. Preliminary damage assessments showed 35 homes, 92 outbuildings and 110 vehicles were destroyed. Two more homes and another eight outbuildings were damaged. (The Hutchinson News)

Kindergartners Zoom to learn

ATWOOD — Kindergartners in Brenda Schilde’s class at Rawlins County Elementary School stepped into a new learning world Feb. 22, 2022 when they connected via Zoom with students in Emily Blank’s science class of fifth graders in Phillipsburg. “It took some planning,” Mrs. Schilde acknowledged. The Phillipsburg class was learning to do research and picked toucans, the tropical bird. Ms. Blank and Mrs. Schilde are friends from college and recently had thought it would be fun to have the two classes communicate on the unique date of 2-22-22, with a project they named “Two-cans on Twos-day.” RCES kindergartners learned about the birds and made pictures prior to all 16 of them lining up in front of the webcam and big screen to connect with their fellow toucan students.The fifth grade students were “quizzed” about their knowledge of toucans after their research. The interaction made for a fun experience for both groups, their teachers and helpers. (Rawlins County Square Deal)

Two snow plow crashes reported in the state Thursday

SALINA — Two Kansas Department of Transportation snow plows were involved in crashes Thursday as they were clearing snow. One of the crashes occurred Thursday morning on Interstate 70 in Salina County and involved a snow plow and a 2005 Honda. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash log, the car rear-ended the snow plow. The KHP reported that the driver of the car was transported to the hospital with suspected serious injuries; the snow plow driver was not injured. The other crash occurred Thursday afternoon when a car crashed into a KDOT snow plow on K-10 at the Clinton Parkway Bridge in Douglas County. No one was injured in that crash. (Salina Journal)

11-year-old, mom killed in Lyon County crash

EMPORIA — A mother and her son were killed in a crash near Emporia that sent a third person to the hospital. Nichole Gibbons, 31, of Wichita, and her 11-year-old son, Terrell Gibbons of Topeka, were traveling east on Highway 50 in a Chevy Malibu when she crossed the center line into the westbound lane. They hit a Hyundai Palisade which, according to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, caused the car to turn sideways and collide with a Nissan Quest. The driver of the Nissan, Steven Miller, of Hutchinson, was taken to Newman Regional Hospital. Gibbons and her son, Terrell, died at the scene. James Morton, 53, and a passenger Sheree Morton, 43, both of Dodge City, were in the Palisade that was hit by the Gibbons’s car. (KSNT News)

Man arrested while visiting friend in jail

SALINA — A Salina man who went to the Saline County Jail to visit a friend last week ended up in jail. Last Thursday, Anthony Harris, of Salina, went to the Saline County Jail to visit a friend. While he was there, the corrections officers learned that Harris had an outstanding warrant. When the officers went out to the jail lobby to arrest him, Harris allegedly threw a marijuana pipe in the trash, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan. Then, when Harris was taken back to the booking area, he allegedly tossed a baggie of marijuana onto the floor. Corrections officers also allegedly found a baggie of methamphetamine among Harris’ possessions. In addition to the warrant, Harris is now being held on numerous requested drug charges. (Salina Journal)