Authorities find drugs valued at $9M in car

MAPLE HILL, Kan. (AP) — Northeast Kansas officials say they found drugs worth about $9 million after a police dog alerted them to the presence of narcotics.

The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that a driver with a suspended license was stopped Wednesday in Maple Hill.

After the K-9, named Karma, alerted to the vehicle, the driver was arrested and the vehicle was impounded.

The sheriff’s office says a search found two bags containing several hundred pills and 10 wrapped bundles. The pills are believed to be fentanyl and the bundles apparently are heroin or methamphetamine mixed with fentanyl.

The suspect’s name has not been released.

U.S. 59 work set to begin

On Monday, weather permitting, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) expects to begin a surface recycle/chip seal project on 23 miles of U.S. 59 in Allen and Anderson counties. The road work starts at the U.S. 54/U.S. 59 junction and continues north and west to the south junction of U.S. 169/U.S. 59.

The highway will receive a 1½-inch surface recycle, to be followed by a chip seal this summer. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone during daylight hours; expect delays of 15 minutes or less. The road work should be completed in one month, weather permitting.

Dustrol, Inc., of Towanda is contractor on the $1.7 million project. Drivers are reminded to watch for the signs and flaggers, and to “Give ‘Em a Brake!” at the work zone. Persons with questions may contact KDOT Construction Engineer Troy Howard at (785) 448-5446 or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.

Douglas County DA seeks to erase old arrest warrants

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office wants to purge thousands of old arrest warrants in a special sweep.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that District Attorney Charles Branson announced Wednesday that he filed a motion for a court order to erase roughly 2,430 warrants in criminal and traffic cases that are more than a decade old.

Branson says most of the offenses were misdemeanors or failure to appear cases.

He says the warrants also involve individuals who haven’t been in the criminal justice system for quite some time. Branson says the warrants might be creating barriers to employment and housing opportunities.

He says the cases “clog the criminal justice system and require valuable time and expense to maintain.” Branson says these resources can go toward more pressing investigations.

Court report

DISTRICT COURT

Judge Daniel Creitz

Civil cases filed:

Hannah R. Endicott vs. Kaleb W. Sellers, paternity

John D. Sager vs. Carol A. Sager, divorce

Marriage licenses issued:

Andrew W. Covey and Crystal K. Crays

David Sterling and Janelle M. Wessel

 

MAGISTRATE COURT

Judge Tod Davis

Convicted of no seat belt and fined $30:

Cory D. Culler, Iola

Convicted of speeding:

James B. Burton, Fulton, Mo., 83/65, $201

Brannin J. Thornton, Dennis, 87/65, $231

Tina A. Cady-Friend, Savonburg, 85/55, $303

William J. Alexander, San Antonio, 82/65, $195

Kristen L. Blase, Mount Vernon, Texas, 82/65, $220

Gerald T. Elliott, Overland Park, 75/65, $153

Timothy M. Culver, Iola, 75/65, $153

Shawn Spratley, Lenexa, 75/65, $153

Logan A. Shutlz, Broken Arrow, Okla., 75/65, $153

Heidi M. Nichols, Gardner, 75/65, $153

Brett T. Miquelon, Bartlesville, Okla., 75/65, $153

Melanie A. Walker, Bartlesville, Okla., 75/65, $153

Vicky L. Moon, Tulsa, Okla., 85/65, $213

Convicted as follows:

Jonathan Pollet, Topeka, possession of drug paraphernalia, $408

Hannah R. Herfurth, Iola, failure to yield, $183

Jesse M. Fugate, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, six months jail, $1,013

David O. Wright, LaHarpe, false impersonation, interference with law enforcement officer, six months jail suspended, 12 months probation, $816

Karmen K. Mueller, Clay Center, battery on law enforcement officer, two counts, $613

Corey R. Whitcomb, Humboldt, possession of drug paraphernalia, 30 days jail suspended, $1,013

Jose H. Robles-Vargas, Sulphur Springs, Texas, texting while driving, $168

Michael L. Williams, Kansas City, Mo., failure to yield, $183

Santiago Rocha, Kansas City, Kan., improper display of tag, $230

Keyandre S. Everett, Wichita, no insurance, $758

Garrett Ross, Humboldt, violation of restrictions on driver’s license, $308

Juan F. Robledo Valdez, Bartlesville, Okla., 81/65, no driver’s license, $309

Lesley R. Hammond, Auburndale, Fla., over weight limit on wheels and axles, $168

Cases deferred with fines assessed:

Ashleigh N. Reeves, Iola, aggravated endangering a child, $468

Natalie W. Moynihan, Leawood, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, $328

Failed to appear:

Natalie A. Fitzpatrick, North Richland Hills, Texas, 65/55, $153

Darick M. Johnson, Iola, domestic battery, $653

Criminal cases filed:

Orion C. Nicholas, LaHarpe, two counts of criminal threat, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, purchase or consumption of alcohol by a minor

Candice N. Followwell, Coffeyville, distribution of marijuana

Carl W. Seeley, Iola, mistreatment of a dependent adult

Mitchell J. Ewy, Iola, domestic battery

Darren Johnson, Iola, theft

Contract cases filed:

Allen County Hospital vs. Michael G. Cochran

Mid American Credit Union vs. Kimberly Ellis and Aaron Mann

Barclays Bank Delaware vs. Dale Hinkle

Midland Funding LLC vs. Darren Northcutt

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Amie Vannice

Newman Medical Partners LLC vs. Stephanie A. Tyner

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Jason Ellis

Reynolds & Aniker Eye Physicians & Surgeons LLC vs. Ronald and Marsha Ritz

Small Claims filed:

Richard l. And Diane Spear vs. David Wallace

Sheri A. Smith vs. Jayme Browning

 

IOLA MUNICIPAL COURT

Judge Patti Boyd

Convicted of speeding:

Jared J. Phillips, St. Louis, Mo., 53/30, $247

Convicted as follows with fines assessed:

Alexander C. Garber, Iola, transportation of alcoholic beverage, $315

Humboldt High School seniors hit it big on Awards Night

HUMBOLDT — Wednesday evening was a lucrative one for Humboldt High seniors, as post-secondary education scholarship winners were announced, and other honors bestowed.

Prior to the awards ceremony, nine students were inducted to the National Honor Society. They are Taylor Beeman, Logan Dillow, Kilea Heslop, Kaylie Hole, Drake Hottenstein, Alayna Johnson, Emma Johnson, Winter Snyder and Nichole Turner.

Scholarships and other awards:

Tri-Valley League top students: Teryn Johnson and Zoey Rinehart, bronze; Marisha Collins, silver; Ashlynn Booth, gold.

Kansas Scholars Curriculum Completers: Bo Bigelow, Ashlynn Booth, Marisha Collins, Caleb Coronado, Melanie Hallacy, Kaylie Johnson, Jacob Lee, Dawson Lohmann, Morgan Mauk, Aricah McCall, Kyle O’Neal-Wilks, Savanna Puckett, Zoey Rinehart, Allison Turner.

2019 Kansas Designated Scholar: Ashlynn Booth.

McFadden Scholarship: Ashlynn Booth, Marisha Collins, Camrie Farran, Melanie Hallacy.

R.E. French Scholarship: Marisha Collins, Teryn Johnson, Savanna Puckett, Zoey Rinehart.

Scholarships of America: Aricah McCall (Ash Grove Cement), Zoey Rinehart (Modern Woodman).

Chanute Retired School Personnel Scholarship: Camrie Farran.

Kyle Swope Memorial Scholarship: Logan Gray, Tori White.

American Red Cross Scholarship: Marisha Collins.

American Legion and Ladies Auxiliary, Moran: Joe Murrow, Kyle O’Neal-Wilks.

Community National Bank Cubs Scholarship: Teryn Johnson.

Community National Bank PSU Scholarship: Morgan Mauk.

Allen Community College: Bo Bigelow, Caleb Coronado, Hannah Krone, Aricah McCall, Tori White.

Kathleen Young Scholarship: Ashlynn Booth, Riley Brown, Marisha Collins, Camrie Farran, Dagen Goodner, Logan Gray, Teryn Johnson, Hannah Krone, Aricah McCall, Zoey Rinehart.

Lindsey Friederich Memorial Scholarship: Dagen Goodner.

John Dakota Karr Memorial Scholarship: Zoey Rinehart.

Kevin Ewing Memorial Scholarship: Melanie Hallacy.

Humboldt-NEA Education Scholarship: Camrie Farran.

Upward Bound Bridge Scholarship: Hannah Krone, David Watts.

Neosho County Community College: Sydney Barker, Maggie Johnson.

Talent Search Award: Riley Brown, Marisha Collins, Camrie Farran, Sydney Hegwald, Sadie Houk, Jake Lea, Alexandra Melendez, Kyle O’Neal, Molly Scheimann.

LaHarpe HS Alumni Scholarship: Morgan Mauk.

Max K. Rickerson Scholarship: Ashlynn Booth.

Margaret Sharp Scholarship: Morgan Mauk.

Ronald Jay Scholarship: Joe Murrow, Zoey Rinehart.

Loren and Janet Korte Scholarship: Marisha Collins, Sadie Houk.

Tinkler Family Scholarship: Riley Brown, Marisha Collins, Caleb Klauman.

Sam and Donna Lower Scholarship: Melanie Hallacy.

Lee and Leah Grennell Scholarship: Tori White.

Lance Eric Carlson Memorial Scholarship: Camrie Farran.

Bryan Dunn Memorial Scholarship: Dagen Goodner.

Tom and Jerilyn Cannon Scholarship: Zoey Rinehart.

Michelle Setter Memorial Scholarship: Sadie Houk.

Humboldt Education Foundation Scholarship: Marisha Collins, Camrie Farran, Teryn Johnson, Zoey Rinehart.

Cooks for Kids Scholarship: Melanie Hallacy, Savanna Puckett.

Ashley Clinic Life Sciences Scholarship: Marisha Collins.

Ashley Clinic Legacy Scholarship: Melanie Hallacy, Zoey Rinehart.

Johnson/Wilhite Journalism Scholarship: Alexandra Melendez, Marisha Collins.

Charles Barnett Scholarship (community college): Riley Brown, Sadie Houk.

Charles Barnett PSU Scholarship: Morgan Mauk.

Humboldt High School Alumni Scholarship: Riley Brown, Camrie Farran, Zoey Rinehart.

Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship: Sydney Barker, Noah Carson, Dagen Goodner, Sydney Hegwald.

KSHSAA Citizenship Award: Bo Bigelow, Zoey Rinehart.

Dale Dennis Excellence in Education: Ashlynn Booth.

Pratt Community College, Reid Barnett rodeo.

Kansas State University: Seth Barlow and Zoey Rinehart, academic.

Coffeyville Community College: Xavier Bauer, powerlifting, Sadie Houk, softball.

North Central Kansas Technical College: Joe Murrow.

Pittsburg State University: Moran Mauk, Ashlynn Booth, Camrie Farran, Melanie Hallacy, Kaylie Johnson, all academic.

Washburn University: Ashlynn Booth, academic.

University of Kansas: Marisha Collins and Teryn Johnson, academic.

Bethel College: Dagen Goodner, football and academic.

Ottawa University: Caleb Klauman, academic and football.

 

STUDENTS in all four grades were awarded plaques for first semester academic excellence.

Gold Awards (3.75 grade point average or higher).

Freshmen: Brooklyn Ellis, Madelynn Hodgden, Laken Hunter, Gavin Page.

Sophomores: Ashlyn Bartlett, Aidan Collins, Jailynn Goforth, Thane Meadows, Jessica Myers, Sam Nelley, Madison Riebel.

Juniors: Logan Dillow, Kilea Heslop, Drake Hottenstein, Alayna Johnson, Emma Johnson, Taylor Lassman, Winter Snyder, Nichole Turner.

Seniors: Bo Bigelow, Ashlynn Booth, Marisha Collins, Camrie Farran, Sydney Hegwald, Dawson Lohmann, Aricah McCall.

Silver Awards (GPAs of 3.5 to 3.74).

Freshmen: Kaiden Barnett, Janae Bartlett, Nautianna Goforth, Levi  McGowen.

Sophomores: Autumn Ballard, Jada Dangerfield, Trenton Heisler, Riley Schmidt, Blake Walker.

Juniors: Taylor Beeman, Heaven Isaacs, Briar Orth, Serandin Prock.

Seniors: Sydney Barker, Riley Brown, Noah Carson, Hannah Krone, 

Morgan Mauk, Joe Murrow, Savanna Puckett, Ryan Sellman.

Trump, Putin talk nukes, China

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday about nuclear weapons, the possibility of getting China into a three-party arms control pact and the ongoing crisis in Venezuela where Moscow is propping up the current government over the U.S.-backed opposition.

During their conversation, which lasted more than an hour, they also discussed North Korea, Ukraine, U.S.-Russia trade and “very, very briefly” special counsel Robert Mueller’s just completed report on Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.

“Had a long and very good conversation with President Putin of Russia,” Trump tweeted after the call. “As I have always said, long before the Witch Hunt started, getting along with Russia, China, and everyone is a good thing, not a bad thing.

“We discussed Trade, Venezuela, Ukraine, North Korea, Nuclear Arms Control and even the ‘Russian Hoax.’ Very productive talk!”

Sanders did not say which arms control agreement they discussed, but the Russian state news agency Tass reported that they talked about the New START treaty, the last major arms-control treaty remaining between the U.S. and Russia.

The treaty, which was signed in 2010 and expires in 2021, restricts both the U.S. and Russia to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads on a maximum of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.

“There was a discussion about having — extending the current nuclear agreement — as well as discussions about potentially starting a new one that could include China as well,” Sanders said.

Trump earlier pulled the plug on a decades-old nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Trump accused Moscow of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with “impunity” by deploying missiles banned by the pact. Moscow denies violating it and has accused Washington of being in non-compliance.

Trump’s decision to exit the INF treaty reflects his administration’s view that it was an unacceptable obstacle to more forcefully confronting not only Russia but also China. China’s military has grown mightily since that treaty was signed, and the pact has prevented the U.S. from deploying weapons to counter some of those being developed by Beijing.

“The world has moved on from the Cold War and its bilateral arms control treaties that cover limited types of nuclear weapons or only certain ranges of adversary missiles,” national security adviser John Bolton told The Associated Press last week. “Russia and China must be brought to the table.”

A Kremlin readout of the call said the two presidents confirmed their mutual desire “to intensify dialogue in various fields, including on issues of strategic stability,” but gave no details.

Sanders said the two leaders spoke extensively about North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia last week to meet with Putin. She said Trump said several times that it was important for Russia to continue to help put pressure on North Korea to denuclearize.

The statement released by the Kremlin after Friday’s call said Putin stressed that “Pyongyang’s conscientious fulfillment of its obligations should be accompanied by reciprocal steps to reduce sanctions pressure on North Korea.”

On Venezuela, Sanders said Trump made it clear that the United States stands with the people of the South American country and their need for food, water and medical supplies. “The president reiterated that sentiment several times throughout the call,” Sanders said.

The U.S. and about 50 other nations take the position that President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election last year was irrevocably marred by fraud and he is not the legitimate president of Venezuela. In January, the administration took the unusual step of recognizing Juan Guaido, the opposition leader of the National Assembly, as interim president. Russia is helping to support Maduro’s embattled government.

The Kremlin said that during the call, Putin stressed that only the Venezuelan people have the right to determine the future of their country. The statement said that outside interference in internal affairs and attempts at forceful regime change in Caracas undermine the prospects for a political settlement of the crisis.

Sanders said Putin and Trump talked for a short time about the Mueller report, but she dodged a question about whether they had discussed Russian election interference, instead blaming the Obama administration for not doing enough to stop it before the 2016 election.

“Very, very briefly it was discussed, essentially in the context of that it’s over and there was no collusion, which I’m pretty sure both leaders were very well aware of long before this call took place,” Sanders said.

Trump later told reporters that he and Putin did not discuss potential Russian meddling in the 2020 election.

Police report

Arrests reported

Iola police officers arrested Jacob Brown, 27, Iola, for suspicion of trespassing and disorderly conduct Thursday in the 900 block of South Washington Avenue.

Officers arrested Ashley R. Kelly Tuesday for suspicion of domestic battery in the 600 block of North Jefferson Avenue.

 

Purse stolen

Patsy Gomez told officers Tuesday somebody had stolen her purse in the 200 block of North State Street.

 

Parked car hit

Robert L. Knock, 72, was backing his pickup Monday in the 1100 block of East Broadway when he struck a parked car owned by Wanda E. Mantooth, Iola police officers reported.

 

Iola reports burglary, damage 

Eddie Radford, Iola, told Iola police officers Thursday his recreational vehicle had been burglarized and a shed damaged in the 10 block of North Third Street. Items reported missing included CB radios, wheels and tires.

Garden City CC releases review of player’s death

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas community college released a summary of its internal review into the heatstroke death last year of a football player who collapsed after the first day of practice, saying the coach reported that players were provided with water.

Braeden Bradforth, 19, of Neptune, New Jersey, was found unconscious outside his dorm room following the Aug. 1 practice. He died that night at a hospital.

Garden City Community College said in its summary that the temperature was 84 degrees at the start of practice with 10 football coaches in attendance that day. Head Trainer T.J. Horton said 60 gallons of water, 10 ice towels and an ice chest with injury ice and bags were on hand. Trainers had large Gatorade containers on the sideline and each student helper had six water bottles in their carrier, according to the summary.

But some players told public radio station KCUR that they were denied water during conditioning drills.

“When we first started, I thought they were crazy,” said Johnny Jean, a player from Florida. “I ain’t never been at practice when they said we couldn’t get water.”

Jean also told the radio station that Bradforth struggled during practice.

But the school’s internal review said neither the head trainer nor the head coach ever noticed him “drop a knee to the ground, or complain about the drills.”

The practice began at 7 p.m. with a workout that consisted of 36 50-yard sprints, with 30 seconds of rest between each sprint, according to the summary. Practice ended shortly after 9 p.m., with a team meeting immediately following in a lecture hall across from the football field.

As they were walking from the football field, coach Caleb Young noticed Bradforth stumbled a little before regaining his balance. Young told him, “Hey, you’re good. Let’s go,” according to the report. Bradforth reportedly responded back, “Yeah, I’m good. I’m good.”

Bradforth started walking toward the dorms, and shook his head when Young asked him if he was quitting. At the team meeting, Young told another coach that Bradforth had apparently quit the team and walked to the dorms.

A lawyer for Bradforth’s family, Jill Greene, said in a letter to the college’s attorney that the college’s internal report “makes a mockery of Braeden’s death.”

Marmaton Valley JH track competes at Oswego

Marmaton Valley Junior High track competed in a 19-team meet at Oswego on Thursday. The Wildcat girls took fourth overall.

For the girls, Janae Granere led the way with four top-three finishes including taking second in the 400 and first in the long jump. 

She also took first in the 4×200 relay along with Raveyn Kegler, Madi Lawson and Payton Scharff and first in the spring medley along with Kegler, Roslyn Houk and Scharff. 

Individually, Kegler took sixth in the 3200. Bailey LaRue finished sixth in the shot put. 

For the boys, Dillon Mullinex took fourth in the 1600 before joining up with Zach Allee, Dylan Drake and George Moore for a fifth-place finish in the 4×200. 

Evan Kent took fourth in the shot put. 

The Wildcats  league tournament originally scheduled for todayy has been canceled and will not be made up.

A minuet a minute

Iola middle and high school strings students presented a combined concert Wednesday at the Creitz Recital Hall at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.

The concert featured eight solo performances and one duet.  At top, the combined Iola Middle School Intermediate Strings and Iola High School Strings perform ?Music from Pirates of the Caribbean.?

 

IMS students Keira Fawson and Payton Houk perform ?The Best of Beethoven? in the intermediate division. 

 

Ta?Kaya Means plays the bass.