TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for killing a 34-year-old man and wounding the victim’s father outside a Topeka home.

30-year-old John Towner Jr. apologized in court Thursday before he was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter and attempted second-degree murder in the January 2018 shooting.

During the trial, Towner contended he shot John Austin Jr. and John Austin Sr. in self-defense. Jurors acquitted him of attempted aggravated robbery and a more serious first-degree murder charge.

After the hearing, John Austin Sr. said he didn’t understand how Towner could get only 14 years when authorities had witness testimony, statements from Towner about his involvement in the shooting and the gun. Austin said Towner should have received a life-term.

BARTON COUNTY  — One person died in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday in Barton County.

The Barton County Sheriff reported a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Jaron Brittain, 17, Hudson, was eastbound on U.S. 56 one mile east of Great Bend when it crossed left of center. The vehicle may have been attempting to pass at the time of the collision.

A westbound 2003 Ford F250 driven by Sergio Rutiaga, Liberal, Kansas struck the Dodge broadside in the passenger door.

A passenger in the Dodge identified as Wyatt Henkel, 15 Hudson sustained fatal injuries upon impact and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Britain and Rutiaga were both transported to the hospital Great Bend, with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident is currently under investigation by the Barton County Sheriff’s Office. It does not appear alcohol was a contributing factor, according to the sheriff’s office.

By Cole Reif

Ellinwood resident Alicia Straub is set

to become the third representative for the 113^th District of the Kansas House of Representatives in a span of four years. Straub, the current Barton County Commissioner, was voted in Tuesday night at the Pratt Community Center during a special convention. Straub will take over for Greg Lewis, who resigned from office February 22 to fight a cancerous brain tum

For Barton County, that will soon leave them a commissioner short following the anticipated resignation from Straub. Barton County Clerk Donna Zimmerman says Straub is expected to attend the next Commission meeting.

Republican precinct committee members of the 113^th District met following the resignation of Lewis. Straub was one of three candidates vying to replace Lewis, and the 40-year old received 51 of the 91 votes cast. Governor Laura Kelly must officially appoint Straub to the seat.

As for Straub’s replacement on the Barton County Commission, Zimmerman noted that whoever is selected to fill Straub’s seat will serve two years of her four-year term until the 2020 election.

According to the Barton County handbook, when a Commissioner vacancy occurs before May 1 of the first even-numbered year following the beginning of a term, the position will be filled by appointment until the next election. The Barton County Republican Committee will meet shortly after Straub’s anticipated resignation next week to appoint her replacement.

Straub’s 4^th District in Barton County represents a small portion of southern Great Bend, Ellinwood, Dundee, Pawnee Rock, and the townships of Clarence, Liberty, South Bend, Comanche, Lakin, and Pawnee Rock.

As the 113^th District Representative, Straub will represent Stafford and Pratt counties, and parts of Barton, Pawnee, and Rice counties.

Lewis took over the 113^th District after being appointed to replace J. Basil Dannebohm in 2015. Dannebohm was fighting Parkinson’s disease when he chose to resign.

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in federal prison for robbing a local credit union, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Robert Charles Frazier, 63, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on Aug. 20, 2018, he robbed the Azura Credit Union at 1129 S. Kansas Avenue in Topeka.

He told a teller, “This is a robbery. Give me your twenties, fifties and hundreds.” After receiving the money, he left the building and sat down on a nearby wall. An off-duty Topeka police officer working security arrested him.

Editor’s Note: The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department incorrectly  reported an infant in the crash was in critical condition.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —  One person among 9 injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Wednesday in Sedgwick County remains hospitalized in critical condition.

A Toyota Corolla driven by a 14-year-old Morgan Tobias was southbound on 135th Street West when an eastbound Ford Expedition driven by a 21-year-old Motia Wesley on 71st Street South failed to stop at the stop sign, according to Sedgwick County Lt. Tim Myers. The Ford struck the Toyota.

In addition to the teen driver, the Toyota had 3 other occupants including a 39-year-old Kimberly Tobias a 17-year-old Didrik Ytrehus and 12-year-old Caleb Tobias.

An ambulance transported the 12-year-old to Wesley Hospital with critical injuries, according to Myers. The other occupants of the Toyota, the Wesly and passengers in the Ford including 14-year-old Alex Luben, 12-year-old Caydence Luben  a 5-year-old Emma King and a 2-year-old Calvin Hughes were transported by ambulance to St. Francis.

Caleb Tobias was still in critical condition Thursday afternoon, according to Myers.

At this time the accident is still under investigation, but preliminary results show the driver of the Ford became distracted and did not stop at the stop sign, according to Myers.

TREGO COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 7a.m. Friday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1991 Honda Accord driven by Clay Wolf, 17, Quinter, was eastbound on Old 40 near the Trego-Gove County line.
The Honda traveled left of center and struck a 1997 Chevy truck driven by Seth Wilds, 21, Collyer, head-on.
Wolf and Wilds were transported to the hospital in Quinter. Wolf was later flown to a hospital in Wichita.

Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have three suspects in custody.

Just after  1 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a check shots call in the 1700 block of south Waco in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old man and 24-year-old woman who live in the block.

Both reported hearing gunshots, finding damage to their residence and seeing a gray Chevy Silverado leaving the area.

Officers quickly responded, observed a gray Silverado in the area and stopped the truck at Harry and Mead, according to Davidson.

Police contacted 31-year-old Juan Rodriguez-Leal, 29-year-old Jairo Gonzales  and 37-year-old Daniel Flores, all of Wichita.

All three individuals were taken into custody without incident and booked into jail.

Officers located two handguns and shell casings in the vehicle. Shell casings were also located in the street on Waco.

Rodriguez-Leal was booked on charges of criminal discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm under the influence.

Gonzales was booked on charges of driving with a suspended license and criminal discharge of a firearm. Flores was booked on a charge of criminal discharge of a firearm. There were no injuries, according to Davidson.

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A government report shows Kansas winter wheat is doing well with an abundance of moisture this month.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 97 percent of the state had adequate to surplus topsoil moisture conditions. About 98 percent of the state had adequate to surplus subsoil moisture.

The agency rated the Kansas winter wheat as 9 percent poor to very poor, 40 percent as fair, and 51 percent as good to excellent.