Kansas Klips

Sisters celebrate 100-plus birthdays together

ATWOOD — Three sisters, who gained international attention last year as they celebrated their birthdays are at it again, only now, the trio resides at Good Samaritan in Atwood. Lucy Pochop, who was 103 last June, Julia Kopriva, who celebrated her 105th birthday on Nov. 5, and Frances Kompus, just turning 101 on Nov. 11, share a table at meal time and make time to socialize with other residents and visitors. The centenarians have lived their entire lives in Rawlins County. All three married local farmers and became farm wives with all the hard work that entailed. Several of the children they raised still reside in the county, as well. (Rawlins County Square Deal)

Driver hospitalized in Hays after I-70 crash

ELLIS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30 p.m. Monday in Ellis County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported an unknown vehicle was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Yocemento exit. The driver moved the vehicle from the driving to the passing lane. The rear of the unknown vehicle’s trailer struck a 2010 Dodge Aveo driven by Austin Lee Vineyard, 26, Disputanta, Virginia, who as already in the passing lane. After impact, Vineyard lost control of the Dodge and it spun into the median. EMS transported Vineyard to Hays Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident. The KHP reported no additional details. (HaysPost.com)

Man charged for death of his 14-month-old son

WICHITA — Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a toddler have charged his father for the crime. Late last Thursday, police booked 30-year-old Jordan W. Lien into the Sedgwick County jail. He was been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated endangering a child and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. The murder charge is in connection with the death of 14-month-old Lucca Lien in July, according to the criminal complaint. Jordan Lien has previous convictions for drugs, criminal damage to property and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and is due back in court November 28. (Kansas. com)

Body found in Lake Atwood identified

ATWOOD — The body of a woman who had been reported missing on Nov. 3 was found later the same day. The woman, identified as Rachel Beavers, had been staying in theAtwood area for about a month and was camping at the lake. Her dog was found tied up on the south side of the lake. The reporting parties ultimately located Beavers in the water on the north side of the lake. She was deceased when she was pulled out of the water. The Rawlins County Sheriff’s Department said there was nothing that indicated foul play. Autopsy results indicate Beavers died as a result of accidental drowning. (Rawlins County Square Deal)

Police ID Kansas man who died in pedestrian accident

WICHITA — Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the victim as 45-year-old Kristopher Lacy of Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. last Tuesday evening, police were dispatched to the intersection of Seneca Street and Haskell Avenue in Wichita for a vehicle vs. pedestrian collision. On arrival, officers located Lacy. EMS pronounced him deceased on the scene. The investigation revealed Lacy was crossing from the east side of South Seneca to the west side on Haskell Avenue. A northbound Nissan Altima struck him. The driver of the Nissan remained at the scene, checked on the victim and waited for police and EMS, according to Rebolledo. (Kansas.com)

Refusal to remove ‘divisive’ books could be demise of NEKS library

ST. MARYS — St. Marys City Council is debating whether to renew the library’s lease with the City following the library’s refusal to accept a lease clause asking it to remove all material that could be viewed as socially, racially or sexually divisive, including all LGBTQ content. The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library has been housed in St. Marys since the 1980s, operating on an annual lease with the city. The library serves eight locations, including Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. Marys and Westmoreland, with county residents funding the library through taxes. Discussion of the removal of certain books started this summer when a local parent was upset by the contents of a book about a transgender child. Judith Cremer, the library director, said the book was added to the library after it made the William Allen White Award 2017-2018 Master List for grades 3-5. “We just are doing what public libraries do,” Cremer said. “We don’t really judge information, we are a reflection of the world and things that are in the world. We have information that has been published and mediated and checked for facts. So it’s a safe place that people can go to get access to that information. It’s not like we are handing out or advocating anything in any way. It’s just there.” No decision has been made at this point; the city council meets again this week. (Kansas Reflector)