Kansas Klips
Russell community reacts to vandalism at new park
RUSSELL—A brand new historic park, splash pad, and visitors center opened on July 8th, and by July 14th, three different instances of vandalism had already occurred. There was some damage in the restroom facilities, so they have been closed off until repairs can be made. In a Facebook post, the City of Russell responded to this vandalism, saying if it were to continue, they would have no choice but to shut down the facility until more security measures could be implemented. (KAKE)
USD 489 debuts the new Hays High School logo
HAYS—The staff from Hays High School has premiered the new school logo, which includes an H and an arrowhead. Heath Meder, HHS art teacher, developed the new logo with the help of a committee made up of teachers, administrators, and coaches. Earlier in the year, the district officials decided to keep the Native American mascot, the same school colors, but no longer use a person’s image as a logo. (Hays Post)
Straight-line winds, no tornado in Great Bend storm
BARTON COUNTY—A powerful supercell thunderstorm tracked straight south during the early evening hours on Sunday, July 16th. According to meteorologist Chance Hayes with the National Weather Service in Wichita, it produced extreme wind gusts, but no tornado. The weather service conducted a damage survey across Barton County on that following Monday and determined there were only straightline winds of 70 to 80 miles per hour. The Russell Airport reported a 77 mph wind gust. The strong winds moved into Great Bend, which resulted in widespread wind damage throughout the community. There were two pockets of extreme winds. Those included an area south to the southeast from the courthouse downtown, and another on the west side of the town. In addition to the strong winds, the storm produced wind-driven hail up to softball size. (Hays Post)
Driver clocked going 100 mph after being caught speeding in the same area the week before
PHILLIPSBURG—A sheriff’s office in northern Kansas stopped a driver for going 100 mph about a week after being caught speeding in that same area. The Phillips County Sheriff’s Office said the latest stop was Tuesday morning, July 18th, east of Phillipsburg. According to a Facebook post, the same Missouri driver was cited for 98 mph close to the same area the week before. “This Missouri driver shouldn’t have been surprised to see us east of Phillipsburg this morning,” the sheriff’s office said. (KAKE)
Woman hospitalized in Hays after medical condition led to crash
ELLIS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident on Thursday, July 20th, in Ellis County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Jeep SUV driven by Jasmine E. Dauer, 28, Fort Collins, Colorado, was eastbound on Interstate 70, three miles west of Yocemento. The vehicle left the roadway to the right. It is believed the SUV driver became incapacitated due to a medical condition just before the vehicle left the roadway. The SUV traveled through the KDOT fence and across a steep draw before resting in a pasture south of the Interstate. EMS transported Dauer to Hays Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP. (Hays Post)
Teen charged for hoax threat that shut down KC area Ford plant
KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating Tuesday’s (July 18th) hoax threat at the Ford Plant in Claycomo made an arrest, according to Clay County Sheriff Will Akin. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Zachariah A. Peterson. According to Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson, Peterson of Independence has been charged with one count of making a terroristic threat.
Just before 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a call came into Ford’s safety and risk management team from a man who claimed to be armed with explosives, a rifle, and a handgun. He said he was barricaded in the second-floor bathroom in the paint area of the plant. Ford ceased all production and evacuated 2,200 workers. They also canceled production for the night shift. The road in front of the Ford plant was also closed. The man who called said he was an employee and was disgruntled. He gave a name that is not an actual employee of the paint area. He did name his supervisor, and that was the correct name. Police pinged his phone and believed the phone number that he used might be spoofed. The Clay County Special Tactics and Response Team entered the plant to find the source of the threat. It is possible this is a swatting call, but deputies treated the threat as real. Clay County negotiators were on the scene, as well, and were unable to make contact with anyone. Law enforcement agencies finished searching the plant and did not locate anyone inside and determined the threat was not credible. Peterson is being held on a $150,000.00 bond in the Clay County Detention Center. (Hays Post)
