KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been convicted of fatally shooting a Baptist church pastor and choir director three decades ago in Kansas City, Kansas. Wyandotte County prosecutors announced Thursday that 51-year-old Melvin Shields was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the April 1988 killings of 27-year-old Jolene Jones and 33-year-old Steve Ray. The Kansas City Star reports that victims were longtime friends who had a daughter together. They had met for lunch one day before their bodies were found in a secluded area near the Kansas River. Authorities say Jones’ purse was found…
Author: KMAN Staff
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 56-year-old Lawrence man was sentenced to three years of probation for giving a teenager drugs that nearly killed him. Dana Wingert pleaded no contest Wednesday to seven charges, including two counts of endangering a child. He had previously pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to go to trial in October. The Lawrence Journal-World reports a police affidavit says the boy and his 16-year-old friend passed out from a cocktail of drugs and alcohol they took at Wingert’s home on April 21. Police were able to revive the 16-year-old but the 15-year-old was taken to a…
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Deanna Nitschke and Belinda Snyder with Katie’s Way about Hair for Hope taking place on September 28th. K-State Police Department Support Services Lieutenant Brad Millington also spoke with us about some services they offer. Deb Watkins, Shelter Director and Hanna Shoemaker from the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter joined us with a black kitten for Friday the 13th. And for our final segment we spoke with Lori Bishop, Executive Director of the Flint Hills Volunteer Center highlighting the Suicide Prevention Task Force with Chair Elaine De Smedt.
SALINA — Four Pottawatomie County Schools teachers have been nominated for the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year program. The four teachers are Shawn Hornung of Wamego High School, Kim Marquardt of Central Elementary School, Sara Miller of Rock Creek Junior-Senior High School and Wendy Willi of St. George Elementary School. Wamego USD 320 superintendent Tim Winter explains the process for how these teachers are nominated. While the program recognizes teaching excellence in Kansas, Rock Creek USD 320 superintendent Kevin Logan says it does more than that. These four teachers will be recognized at a ceremony at the Salina Hilton…
WICHITA (AP) — Federal prosecutors have filed four cases seeking to keep more than $358,000 in suspected drug money recovered by Kansas officers in separate traffic stops on Interstate 70 in August and September. The U.S. Attorney’s office filed the four cases involving traffic stops in Ellis, Ellsworth, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. In the most recent case filed Wednesday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper reportedly found $98,600 during a stop in Ellis County. The money was wrapped in rubber bands inside vacuum-sealed plastic bags hidden in a quarter panel. The Wichita Eagle reports federal prosecutors filed four similar cases in…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been accused of impersonating an immigration officer during a foiled attempt to help an inmate escape from a local jail in Kansas. A criminal complaint made public Thursday charges 41-year-old Andrew J. Pleviak with attempted aiding of escape, false impersonation, forgery, making a false information and interference with a law enforcement officer related to the escape attempt last week from the Kingman County jail. Pleviak does not yet have a defense attorney representing him. He is accused of falsely identifying himself as another man who is…
TOPEKA — The Kansas Corporation Commission has denied Westar Energy’s request to pass along the cost of purchasing 8 percent of the Jeffrey Energy Center in Pottawatomie County. The request would have seen ratepayers bearing the cost of the seven-month lease and subsequent purchase in August 2019 of an 8 percent interest in the center. Had it been approved, it would’ve cost customers an estimated $93 million over the next 15 years. The order, released Thursday said Westar doesn’t need the extra power to meet customer demand. Prior to the purchase, Westar and Kansas City Power & Light owned 92…
On Thursday’s program, Fort Riley’s Fall Apple Day Festival was previewed by spokesperson Clay Nauman and Fort Riley Museum Director Dr. Bob Smith. Manhattan Catholic Schools Principal Tim Hulshoff talked about the latest happenings in the school system.
A ceremony was held Wednesday evening at Manhattan’s Bishop Stadium to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011. The event was put on by the Flint Hills Volunteer Center, Senior Core and the Senior Core RSVP program to honor area first-responders. The Fort Riley 1st Infantry Division Band played during the ceremony and the Commanding General’s Color Guard presented the colors. K-State Police Department Chief Ronnie Grice was the master of ceremonies. He opened the event with recognition of the local emergency response workers from both Riley and Pottawatomie Counties. After this introduction,…
Manhattan is looking to demolish an apartment building that was substantially damaged in the 2018 Labor Day flood of Wildcat creek. The city opened bidding last week to demolish 1001 through 1023 Garden Way and revert it to open space on September 6 and will accept bids until the 20th. The 3-building 12-plex is not occupied and was recently purchased for demolition via a federal and state emergency management grant. Manhattan has bought out multiple properties per year through the grant program. Assistant Community Development Director and Manhattan Floodplain Manager Chad Bunger says the intent is to reduce run-off and…