Kansas Klips
Paying it forward
SALINA — Smiles and hugs were abundant at the Dillons store on Planet Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 30, after Joyce Fell, of Minneapolis, received a new purse and $800 from a few generous community members of the Salina Police Scanners Facebook page who heard that her purse had been stolen at the grocery store earlier in the week. Fell had been shopping there on Thursday of that week, and as she got to the checkout she realized she had accidentally left her purse in the women’s bathroom. Fell was with a friend who had finished her shopping and was already in the car, so she got in a hurry and forgot about her purse. She returned to the restroom, hoping it was still there, but it was nowhere to be found. The purse contained $100, medicine, keys and other personal belongings. A member of the Facebook group heard about what had happened and posted on the Police Scanners Facebook page, saying he would donate $100 to her if he just knew who she was. Several others saw the post and also wanted to help. The Salina police officer who had filed the report of the theft got in touch with Fell and asked her to meet her at the Dillons store, that some people wanted to meet her. She was overwhelmed when five people she didn’t even know were on hand to present her a new purse, with a card and $800 inside, all donations made through some kind people who learned about the misfortune of someone stealing her purse. (Salina Journal)
KHP staff allege harassment in suit
TOPEKA — Six women, all current and former Kansas Highway Patrol employees, filed suit against top agency officials in federal court recently, alleging they discriminated against female workers and created a hostile environment in the department. The suit alleges the agency violated federal anti-discrimination law, the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, and the women’s First Amendment rights to free speech. It is the latest in a series of accusations leveled against KHP’s work climate, with two former officers also suing the agency for alleged retaliation when they attempted to help women report the behavior of top officials, including Superintendent Col. Herman Jones. (Salina Journal)
20-year-old man drowns after fall into creek
GREAT BEND — A Great Bend man died when he fell into a creek on last week in Barton County. Just after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3rd, deputies were dispatched to a location on the Wet Walnut Creek north and west of Great Bend, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. A 911 caller reported an unresponsive individual in the water at that location, and a family member had called to report they had located 20-year-old Manuel Castillo in the creek. The Great Bend Fire Department and EMS services had also arrived at the scene and began resuscitation efforts. Castillo was transported to the hospital in Great Bend where he was later pronounced deceased. A Sheriff’s Office investigation indicates Castillo was walking along the creek bank at which time he evidently fell approximately 40 feet down the embankment. Evidence of the fall was found at the scene, according to Bellendir. At that particular location, the embankment was covered with rock, metal rods and corrugated steel to prevent erosion. Castillo received numerous abrasions and lacerations during the fall. Further investigation indicates he was incapacitated by the fall and went into about 2 feet of water. Forensic examination by Dr. Lyle Norhook indicates the cause of death was drowning. (HaysPost.com)
Texas man taken to hospital after launching car
SALINA — A Texas man was sent to the hospital after he launched his vehicle at the intersection of K-143 highway and North Old 81 highway last week. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office said that at 5:40 p.m. a blue 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis was going east on K-143 when the driver, Michael Olalde, 26, of Balch Springs, Texas, failed to stop at the stop sign at Old 81. The sheriff’s office said the vehicle left the roadway and flew into the east ditch. Olalde had a large cut to his leg and complained of possible rib damage. He was taken to Salina Regional Health Center. The sheriff’s office said Olalde had been drinking that evening, and they believe alcohol was a factor in the accident. (Salina Journal)
Petition seeks to rename Newton USD 373’s Lindley Hall
NEWTON — A grassroots effort is showing support for the renaming of a building that bears the name of the principal and basketball coach that got it constructed. However, Frank Lindley—one of the most successful coaches in the history of Newton High School sports—established practices that were racist. Community members have, more than once, approached the Newton USD 373 Board of Education requesting there be a change to the name of Lindley Hall. For some of the winningest decades of basketball in the history of the school, only white people were allowed on the team. The first nonwhite person to play basketball appears in the team record books in 1952, when No. 13 Bernie Castro earned a spot on the club as a freshman under coach John Ravenscroft—for whom the current gymnasium at Newton High School is named. Newton won a state title that year. Under Frank Lindley, people of color never played basketball on the Newton High School team. People of color were part of other sports teams, most notably football, at the school. Frank Lindley was the Newton High School coach from 1914-45 and is considered one of the first coaches in the country to use the zone defense. Lindley finished his coaching career with a record of 594-118, eight state titles and eight state runner-ups. He also served as Newton High School principal from 1921-1951. (Newton Kansan)
