Kansas Klips
Kansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes names Coach of the Year
OSBORNE—The Kansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) proudly announced the selection of Kelly Armknecht of Smith Center Junior/Senior High School as FCA’s 2024 Coach of the Year. This esteemed award recognizes coaches with exceptional leadership skills, unwavering integrity consistent with their Christian faith, and significant coaching accomplishments. (The Osborne County Farmer)
Kansas wrestling coach and teacher accused of sex with students
COFFEY COUNTY—KBI agents recently arrested 31-year-old Michael Vander Linden of Burlington, Kansas, according to their media release. He was arrested on a warrant for eight counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Vander Linden is employed as a teacher and wrestling and cross-country coach at Burlington High School. In June 2022, the KBI initiated an investigation after the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office took a report from a former student of Vander Linden’s who reported a sexual relationship that took place in 2012 and 2013 when she was a sophomore and Vander Linden was a student teacher. The investigation led to a second former student who reported she also had sexual intercourse with Vander Linden on multiple occasions in 2013 when she was fifteen years old. After the arrest, Vander Linden was booked into the Coffey County Jail. (Hays Post)
Kansas burglary suspects allegedly took $1,000.00 in frozen beef and pork
SALINE COUNTY—Between February 7th and 9th, two suspects burglarized an unoccupied house in the 4700 block of North Woodward Road in rural Saline County. According to Saline County Sheriff’s Captain Jim Hughes, they stole almost more than $1,000.00 in frozen beef and pork. After the burglary, the owner installed security cameras on the property. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case over the weekend. At 5:00 a.m. on Monday, February 12th, one of the suspects visited the same house and stole another $400.00 in various household items. The suspect, 54-year-old Wallace Holmes, took down the security camera, Hughes said, but it had captured footage that led to a search warrant for a residence in central Salina. Deputies then conducted the search warrant on Monday and found items from the victim’s property in the residence in Salina where Holmes and 51-year-old Andrea Randecker live. The suspects were not present while deputies searched, but deputies found them later and arrested them for the burglaries. Holmes is being held on requested charges, including two counts of burglary, theft, property damage, and trespass. Requested charges for Randecker include one count of burglary, theft, and trespass. While arresting Randecker, she was found to have methamphetamine and personal paraphernalia, so she picked up those two additional charges. (Hays Post)
Man who stole car with six-year-old inside sentenced to prison
WICHITA—Benjamin Brady was ordered to serve nearly five years in prison for the incident in November 2022. The 35-year-old homeless man was arrested in Oklahoma after he stole an SUV in north Wichita with a six-year-old girl sleeping inside in the back seat. The girl was unharmed. Brady was initially charged with kidnapping and felony theft. He instead pled guilty to attempted kidnapping and felony theft. He was ordered to serve 51 months on the charge of attempted kidnapping and seven months for felony theft. (KSNW)
Former Kansas bank CEO accused of embezzlement
WICHITA—According to court documents, Shan Hanes, 52, of Elkhart, is charged with one count of bank embezzlement. Hanes previously served as the chief executive officer of Heartland Tri-State, based in Elkhart. Hanes is accused of intentionally defrauding the bank by willfully misapplying and embezzling approximately $47.1 million. He allegedly did this by initiating a series of wire transfers between May 2023 and July 2023 to purchase cryptocurrency for his benefit. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on February 28th. (Hays Post)
Driver was traveling 151 mph on Interstate 70
SALINE COUNTY—On Thursday, February 15th, KHP Lieutenant Craig Davis had an encounter with a 2011 BMW on Interstate 70, checking its speed at 151 mph, 76 mph over the speed limit according to a KHP social media report. As Lieutenant Davis moved to intercept the BMW it continued its high-speed journey until the Salina Police Department intervened, spotting it for going 94 mph near the city limits. Since February 8th, the KHP has recorded a number of others driving far over the speed limit. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported two traffic stops for 100-plus mph within six miles in the same afternoon, and both vehicles had children in the car. The resulting fine for Lieutenant Davis’s efforts on Thursday alone amounted to $993.00 not including the second ticket from Salina Police. (Hays Post)
