Kansas Klips
Seven-year-old girl critically injured by falling tree branch
ST. MARYS — A 7-year-old girl from northeast Kansas remains in the hospital after a branch fractured her skill when it fell 30 feet from a tree. Mom Jenna Jones said her daughter, Quinlynn, walked to a park with her two brothers on Saturday, April 23, when strong winds knocked the branch from an elm tree. The branch hit Quinlynn’s head, fracturing her skull in two places. The second-grader is now at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Overland Park. Jones told WIBW that she doesn’t blame anyone for what happened. “This was truly a freak accident, that again, every minute detail had to be in alignment for it to occur,” said a family friend. Quinlynn might need surgery for the depression fracture on her skull, but loved ones are holding on to hope that if the swelling goes down, she would not need an operation. The family holds out hope that, with enough rest, the swelling will go down, and surgery will not be required. (WIBW)
Athletes’ water tainted
LINDSBORG — Two male juveniles have been identified as being involved in an incident involving a contaminated water cooler used by the Kansas Wesleyan University baseball team, according to the Lindsborg Police Department. After conducting more than 60 interviews, collecting multiple pieces of evidence, photographic the scene and following various leads, police have determined no one associated with KWU or Bethany College, the opponent in the double-header, April 26, were responsible for tampering with the water cooler. It was determined that the substance was line paint used on a baseball field. At least seven people drank from the contaminated water cooler, with six of them listed as employees of KWU. The investigation is ongoing. (Salina Journal)
Fire causes injuries, death on state line
NORTON COUNTY — A massive fire along the state line Friday, April 22nd, started in Norton County and quickly swept north into Nebraska, driven by south winds of 60 to 70 mph. Before the day was out, a retired Cambridge, Neb., fire chief was killed when his vehicle left the road due to poor visibility, and at least 15 firefighters from around the region were injured. Thousands of Nebraskans had to be evacuated from their homes as fires continued to spread throughout the day and into the night. On Saturday, the fire grew until areas from near Norcatur to Cambridge were threatened. Fire departments from Oberlin, Norton, Norcatur, Jennings, Almena, Lenora and about 30 departments from Nebraska were working most of the weekend. Even though some areas saw around half an inch of rain Friday night, which helped the fight, the entire region remains very dry. (The Oberlin Herald)
Couple recognized for years of dedicated service
NEW ALMELO — The Kansas Rural Water Association has recognized Alfred and Beverly Otter of New Almelo for their decades of service to Rural Water District No. 1, Norton County. A “Special Recognition” award was presented to the Otters during the Association’s recent annual conference held at the Century II Convention Center in Wichita. The Otters have been involved with the rural water district since it went into construction in 1969. The district is located in New Almelo which is located in the southwest corner of Norton County. A 70-foot standpipe, with a capacity of 14,000 gallons, serves as the district’s source of water if the water supply well fails, which it has done twice. In the winter of 1973, the standpipe froze solid three different times. An oil well company steamed it open. A circulating pump was installed and the outside was sprayed with foam insulation. Woodpeckers found the insulation to be great nesting material. The foam was repaired and the standpipe was wrapped with hail screen. But moisture got behind the foam and the standpipe was rusting. In 1999, the screen was removed, the foam was sand-blasted off and the tank was repainted. Alfred, who is 89, still works as the backup, certified operator. Beverly is the bookkeeper. Together Alfred and Beverly read the meters, collect bacteriological tests and other water quality testing. (The Norton Telegram)
Eighty years since tornado killed 15
OBERLIN — A few people still remember the night of April 29, 1942, when a giant F5 tornado hit just east of Oberlin, killing 15 people. The tornado is still ranked as one of the 12 worst tornadoes in Kansas history, and it is the only one rated F5 in northwest Kansas. According to historical data from the National Weather Service, the tornado developed eight miles south of Oberlin around 10:30 p.m. and moved almost directly north, passing just a half mile east of town. Two entire families were killed, and houses, farm buildings and equipment were completely destroyed. Several homes and farm buildings were swept completely off their foundations, along with several inches of topsoil in the affected area. The tornado was on the ground for a total of 20 miles. According to a report the following day, 11 people had died from the tornado and a few died in area hospitals. (The Oberlin Herald)
Second trooper struck on side of highway last week
SHAWNEE COUNTY — For the second time in a week, a Kansas Trooper was struck on the side of a highway, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol Facebook page. Master Trooper White had just finished assisting a motorist that had stopped on the shoulder on the Kansas Turnpike just south of Topeka. Trooper White’s vehicle was struck by a commercial motor vehicle that failed to move over. The trooper was initially trapped inside his vehicle. Earlier in the week, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper avoided serious injury after the driver of a Kenworth semi failed to move over for him while he was performing a roadside safety inspection on another semi, just before 9 a.m. last Tuesday in Ellis County. The driver failed to move left, crossed outside the fog line and struck the KHP vehicle, Trooper Shawn W. Summers, 48, Hays and a 2020 Volvo semi. The Trooper was outside his vehicle conducting an inspection of the Volvo. EMS transported Summers to Hays Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. (HaysPost.com)
