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Author: Hutch Post Staff

3 men to stand trial in Topeka homicide

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has found sufficient evidence for three men to stand trial in a double homicide in Topeka.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 19-year-old Matthew Hutto, 31-year-old Richard Showalter and 41-year-old Bradley Sportsman were bound over for trial Tuesday. They’re each jailed on $1 million bonds on charges that include first-degree murder in the deaths of Sportsman’s estranged wife, 28-year-old Lisa Sportsman, and her cousin, 17-year-old Jesse Polinskey.

Twenty-year-old Cole Pingel testified at the preliminary hearing that the three talked about “taking care of business” while making the two-hour drive from the small town of Greenleaf to Topeka on July 22. The victims were found stabbed and beaten to death the next day.

Pingel is charged with interference with law enforcement for allegedly making a false statement during the investigation.

Deer-vehicle accident injures 1

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SYLVIA, Kan. — An accident with a deer sent one person to the hospital Tuesday evening.

The Reno County sheriff’s department reports that 66-year-old Patricia McGaughey was going east on U.S. 50 when she hit a deer. The animal then deflected off of that vehicle and struck a westbound car driven by 20-year-old Audra Burns of Cimarron.

McGauhey was treated at the scene for a leg injury then transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for further evaluation. Burns was uninjured in the crash. The accident occurred around 6:25 p.m. just north of Sylvia.

Colder weather doesn’t stop problematic pests

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It may be colder, but that doesn’t stop pests from infiltrating your home. Even with the cold weather, fleas and spiders can still be a problem in your home.

According to Jeff Wells with Advance Pest Control, brown recluse spiders can become a problem this time of year as homeowners dig through holiday decorations:

 

 

Wells says rodents can also become a problem this time of year. Wells give some advice for dealing with spiders and rodents:

 

If you have any questions, Wells says to call a pest control dealer in your area.

Kansas prosecutor to resign

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GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor is planning to resign, saying the sheriff has been acting like a “bully” since he was acquitted of a misdemeanor for allegedly slapping a handcuffed man.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Barton County Attorney Amy Schartz Mellor said in a news release Tuesday that she plans to step down next month. The release cites a letter from Sheriff Brian Bellendir that states his intention to try to have Mellor removed from office.

After Bellendir’s acquittal last week, he called the case a “politically motivated witch hunt.”

The defense said Bellendir slapped the suspect in a propane theft on the back of the head as someone would do a child. Bellendir says that was a mistake, but didn’t rise to the level of mistreatment of a confined person.

Hutchinson man sentenced in federal court

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WICHITA, Kan. — A Hutchinson man was sentenced Tuesday to 90 months in federal prison for downloading child pornography from the internet.

The U.S. attorney’s office says 31-year-old Shane Ragsdale pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography. In his plea, he admitted he used a peer-to-peer file-sharing network to download the files. Ragsdale was arrested on a federal indictment in February of this year.

McAllister commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.

Man pleads guilty in Topeka bank robbery

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A homeless man who robbed a Topeka credit union and then waited nearby until he was arrested has entered a guilty plea.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 63-year-old Robert Charles Frazier pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of robbery. Frazier admitted through the plea that he approached a teller in August at the Azura Credit Union and said, “This is a robbery. Give me your twenties, fifties and hundreds.”

The U.S. attorney’s office says in a news release that he left the building after receiving the money and sat on a nearby wall. He then was arrested by an off-duty Topeka police officer who was working security.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 26. Both sides agreed to recommend a five-year prison term.

City Council to end evening meetings

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council reached the end of its trial period for holding a monthly meeting during the evening hours.

After some discussion and a split vote, the council has decided it will go back to holding all meetings during the normal 9 a.m. time slot.

The council decided to hold the second meeting of the month at 5:30 p.m. to accommodate city residents. But the change in time didn’t translate into any noticeable changes in attendance.

During Tuesday’s evening meeting, Councilman John Daveline wanted to address the issue. Mayor Steve Dechant didn’t want to change back to the regular schedule, saying that the six-month trial period was not long enough. However, the other four council members were all in agreement that the evening meetings should end.

Since no public hearings are scheduled for next month, the change will take place starting with the second meeting in December.

Town Club building long-term future with USD 308

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson USD 308 Superintendent Dr. Gary Price was in the Eagle Media Center Tuesday morning and took time to address the recent purchase of the old Town Club.

Price says the building will be used by HMS-7 as added learning space, but sees a future for the building that is much more than that:

 

 

The district recently announced it wanted to purchase the old Dillons store at 30th and Plum, but then decided against it because of environmental concerns. With the purchase of the Town Club and the recent renovation of Avenue A, Price says the district has most of its space needs covered.

The district purchased the building for $200,000 after the club closed at the end of October.

County approves incentives for new Hutchinson company

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission approved the incentive package for eNGines-LPG during Tuesday’s agenda session.

The small company with headquarters in Ohio recently announced it was purchasing the old Betts Bakery and turning it into a small engine assembly facility.

The incentive package is employee based and will provide $8,000 the first year if the company has 10 employees. The amount increases to $13,500 in year two if the company adds 15 employees and again in year three if it adds another 14 workers. The last year of the incentive is $17,500 if the company attains more than 50 workers with a set wage that meets the county’s criteria.

The company hopes to begin assembling engines at the facility by early next year and plans to eventually move its headquarters to Hutchinson.

Reno County Health Department asking residents to heed CDC warning regarding romaine lettuce

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County health officials are stressing the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control regarding an E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce.

The CDC announced Tuesday afternoon that all romaine lettuce should be discarded and warned the public not to purchase romaine lettuce for any reason.

Karen Smith, assistant director of clinical services, says there are some factors weighing on the outright request to dispose of all romaine lettuce:

 

This is the second such outbreak of E. coli in romaine lettuce this year. E. coli can cause nausea, vomiting and aches. In more serious cases, it can cause kidney failure and lower immunity.

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