Author: KMAN Staff
Pott. County COVID-19-related hospitalization numbers About five Pottawatomie County residents were hospitalized with COVID-19 complications as of Monday’s report. However, Leslie Campbell, Pottawatomie County health director, told the Pott. County Commission on Monday that area hospitals are taking in out-of-county patients as well. The Onaga Community Healthcare System has people from Jackson, Nemaha (and) Marshall (County) all in the hospital,” Campbell said. “So there’s more people in the hospital, they’re just not all from Pottawatomie County.” She says the county’s numbers may also not be indicative of how many COVID-19-positive Pottawatomie County residents are actually in Pottawatomie County hospitals. “They’re…
Pottawatomie County will soon create a online system allowing area residents to express their interest in getting a COVID-19 vaccine. According to a Pottawatomie County release, those on the “sign-up” list will be notified when vaccine doses for which they are eligible to receive are available. Eligibility is based on a timeline set up as part of the government’s COVID-19-vaccine distribution plan. Kansas is currently in phase one, meaning only healthcare workers, residents and patients of long-term care facilities and workers “critical to pandemic response continuity” are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. People who are 65 years of age…
After a cancellation of the event in 2020 due to the pandemic, the American Legion Boys State of Kansas is now accepting registrations for 2021. Boys State of Kansas is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties, and government at all levels. It provides interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork to high school boys in Kansas. Traditionally, the event is for high school boys entering their senior year of high school, but this year the registration has expanded to include those who have completed their senior year of high school, as well as individuals who…
Six recently elected Pottawatomie County officials were sworn into office during the Pottawatomie County Commission’s on Monday. Dawn Henry, Pottawatomie County clerk, was the only official sworn in who is entering their first term. She is succeeding Nancy McCarter, who spent over 20 years with the county. Among the other officials sworn in during the meeting were Pat Weixelman, county commissioner; Betty Abitz, register of deeds; Sherri Schuck, county attorney; Shane Jager, sheriff; and Greg Riat, county commissioner.
WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita set a record for homicides last year with 59, eclipsing the city’s 1993 record of 57 homicides. Wichita joined a number of cities nationwide in setting records for homicides and violent crime during 2020. Police Chief Gordon Ramsay has said that stressed related to the coronavirus pandemic may have been factors in the increase in homicides last year. Those include record high unemployment, closed schools and businesses, increasing domestic violence and the halting of court proceedings. Throughout the year, Wichita recorded a homicide roughly once every 6 days on average.
WICHITA, Kan. — Police say a Wichita teen shot and wounded himself and a 3-year-old boy Saturday while handling a handgun. Wichita Police Officer Paul Cruz said the shooting that was reported around 7 p.m. Saturday appears to have been accidental but prosecutors will review the situation to determine whether to file charges. When officers arrived at the home where the shooting happened, the 3-year-old had already been taken to a hospital in a private vehicle. Police said the 3-year-old sustained serious injuries that aren’t considered life threatening. Cruz said the 15-year-old boy’s leg was also struck by the bullet.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Police in Topeka say a man has died in a shootout with officers following a highway chase early Monday. Topeka police say the incident began late Sunday night when a 911 caller in Shawnee County reported a domestic threat involving a Topeka man. Responding deputies later stopped a car with the suspect inside. Police say the deputies tried to negotiate with the man, later identified as 49-year-old Joseph Howell, but he displayed a gun and fired at least two shots, then fled in the car. Police say deputies forced Howell’s car off the road following a brief…
MAYFIELD, Kan. — Geological officials say a weak earthquake shook an area near Mayfield in south-central Kansas. Television station KAKE reports that the 2.8-magnitude earthquake hit just before 1 a.m. Sunday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the epicenter was just northeast of Mayfield in Sumner County. No damage was reported. Officials say the quake was just one of 40 minor earthquakes reported in Kansas and Oklahoma so far this year. Just two days before the new year, a 3.8-magnitude quake was reported in east Wichita. In December, a Kansas regulatory agency determined that the oil and gas industry wasn’t to…
Riley County swore in its elected officials on Monday. Among the new officials are two new county commissioners and a new Register of Deeds. Commissioners Greg McKinley and Kathryn Focke officially took their seats for their first commission meeting. They are succeeding Ron Wells and Marvin Rodriguez, representing the District 2 and 3 seats. Register of Deeds Amy Manges was also sworn in, succeeding Debbie Regester. Regester had been serving in the position for 20 years before deciding not to run again in 2020. Manges had been an employee in the Deeds office prior to running for the position. Along…