UNDELIVERED PAPERS
Due to severe weather, some Traveler customers have not received their weekend papers. Power at the Traveler building is out and messages cannot be left, as of Saturday afternoon. We regret this disruption in service and look forward to resuming normal service when conditions improve. Thank you for your patience.
COWLEY DISASTER DECLARATION, SHELTER AVAILABLE
Emergency officials have declared Cowley County a disaster area. This opens the door to state resources, if needed, and allows utility companies to work continuously to fix power problems, said Brian Stone, emergency management coordinator for Cowley County.
Cowley is one of 62 counties declared disaster areas in Kansas by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to provide state resources to local governments, if needed. Stone said such help has not been needed at this time.
There have been reports of several accidents, but none with injuries, he said. Travel advisories remain in affect and Stone says people should stay off the roads.
Power is completely out in the towns of Atlanta and Cambridge, he said. Both fire departments can provide shelter for citizens there. In Atlanta, call (620) 229-4179 or (620) 394-2415. In Cambridge, call (620) 467-4111.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Winter storm smacks Ark City
Thousands without power; SA offers shelter
Thousands of Arkansas City area residents were without power this morning as snow and sleet continued to fall. The storm knocked out power to about 2,600 customers, a city official said.
The Traveler office is currently without power, so we are currently unable to post the Saturday online edition or post updates to our main page. Please use this page to check for updates until further notice.
Westar Energy crews had asked crews from other areas to help restore power here, said City Manager Steve Archer.
Archer said a count was being taken of people who called the Police Department at 441-4444 seeking shelter, and a shelter would be opened up.
The Salvation Army late this morning was offering a place for people to stay warm in a back room of its store at 318 N. Summit St. Videos were being shown and food was being offered, a woman at the SA said.
Bob Frazee, emergency management coordinator for the city, said the snow was to end by late this afternoon or early this evening, according to a National Weather Service forecast. Tonight’s forecast: Cold, low of 21 degrees. Sunday: Sunny, high of 40.
Frazee also said that as many as 3,500 customers were without power last night, meaning around 900 have since had power restored.
Additional Cancellations:
SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE SOCCER CLINIC SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT, BOTH SESSIONS, HAS BEEN CANCELED. MULTICULTURAL DAY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28, HAS BEEN CANCELED. COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL MASTER CLASS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28, HAS BEEN CANCELED.
Thousands of Arkansas City area residents were without power this morning as snow and sleet continued to fall. The storm knocked out power to about 2,600 customers, a city official said.
The Traveler office is currently without power, so we are currently unable to post the Saturday online edition or post updates to our main page. Please use this page to check for updates until further notice.
Westar Energy crews had asked crews from other areas to help restore power here, said City Manager Steve Archer.
Archer said a count was being taken of people who called the Police Department at 441-4444 seeking shelter, and a shelter would be opened up.
The Salvation Army late this morning was offering a place for people to stay warm in a back room of its store at 318 N. Summit St. Videos were being shown and food was being offered, a woman at the SA said.
Bob Frazee, emergency management coordinator for the city, said the snow was to end by late this afternoon or early this evening, according to a National Weather Service forecast. Tonight’s forecast: Cold, low of 21 degrees. Sunday: Sunny, high of 40.
Frazee also said that as many as 3,500 customers were without power last night, meaning around 900 have since had power restored.
Additional Cancellations:
SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE SOCCER CLINIC SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT, BOTH SESSIONS, HAS BEEN CANCELED. MULTICULTURAL DAY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28, HAS BEEN CANCELED. COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL MASTER CLASS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28, HAS BEEN CANCELED.
Monday, March 16, 2009
fire in Winfield
ONLINE UPDATE - Fire officials: Historic home 'a total loss' after fire
Fire marshal estimates loss at $350-400,000.
By TYLER GASKILL
Reporter
UPDATE-5 p.m. 3/15/09: Fire officials are calling the home at 1306 Loomis "a total loss" after an early morning fire ripped through the historic house Sunday.
Fire investigators remained on scene late Sunday afternoon, digging through the remains of the home, hoping to find clues to what started the blaze. The source of the fire has yet to be determined, Winfield Fire Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Alan Stoll said.
According to Stoll, the value of the home and contents is estimated at $350-400,000.
"The home is an antique in itself," Stoll said of the Victorian style home built in 1885.
"They also had several antiques inside the home that were destroyed by the fire."
The homeowners, Richard and Anne Rising, are returning to Winfield from Florida, where they have been vacationing since December, according to their relatives.
The Risings were delayed in their return home when they had a flat tire early on in their trip back to Winfield, according to a neighbor. They have since made it back on the road, he said.
A nearby garage fire was reported around 9 a.m. as firefighters continued to investigate the house fire. That fire, Stoll said, was determined to be set intentionally, and a suspect has been identified.
Stoll does not believe the two fires are related in any way, he said.
Fire marshal estimates loss at $350-400,000.
By TYLER GASKILL
Reporter
UPDATE-5 p.m. 3/15/09: Fire officials are calling the home at 1306 Loomis "a total loss" after an early morning fire ripped through the historic house Sunday.
Fire investigators remained on scene late Sunday afternoon, digging through the remains of the home, hoping to find clues to what started the blaze. The source of the fire has yet to be determined, Winfield Fire Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Alan Stoll said.
According to Stoll, the value of the home and contents is estimated at $350-400,000.
"The home is an antique in itself," Stoll said of the Victorian style home built in 1885.
"They also had several antiques inside the home that were destroyed by the fire."
The homeowners, Richard and Anne Rising, are returning to Winfield from Florida, where they have been vacationing since December, according to their relatives.
The Risings were delayed in their return home when they had a flat tire early on in their trip back to Winfield, according to a neighbor. They have since made it back on the road, he said.
A nearby garage fire was reported around 9 a.m. as firefighters continued to investigate the house fire. That fire, Stoll said, was determined to be set intentionally, and a suspect has been identified.
Stoll does not believe the two fires are related in any way, he said.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Body found near Winfield
ONLINE EXTRA - Name released of woman found dead
A woman's body was discovered early Saturday morning under the railroad overpass on U.S. 77 approximately one mile south of Winfield. The woman was identified as Beatriz "Betty" Halverstadt, 42, Winfield.
Halverstadt's body was found by a BNSF train crew. According to Sheriff Don Read, a call came in to the Cowley County Sheriff's Department from the train crew at 7:55.
Undersheriff Bill Mueller says investigators have narrowed down the time of Halverstadt's death to sometime between 2 a.m. and when the train crew found her.
Halverstadt's car was found along side of the road further south on U.S. 77. Halverstadt's body was removed from the scene by 11:30 a.m., but police trackers continued to look for clues as to how Halverstadt's body ended up under the bridge. They remained on the scene after 1 p.m.
When questioned about the circumstances of the death, Read said he could not speculate if it was a suicide, an accident or something else.
"We treat every death (such as this) as 'suspicious'", said Read. "What we're trying to do now is create a timeline of her last movements."
"She appeared to have gone over the edge of the bridge," Mueller said, "how, we don't yet know."
Read anticipates an autopsy will be performed on Monday.
If anyone saw a woman walking north along U.S. 77 last night or early this morning, they are urged to call the Cowley County Sheriff's Department at 221-5444 or Crimestoppers at 221-7777.
A woman's body was discovered early Saturday morning under the railroad overpass on U.S. 77 approximately one mile south of Winfield. The woman was identified as Beatriz "Betty" Halverstadt, 42, Winfield.
Halverstadt's body was found by a BNSF train crew. According to Sheriff Don Read, a call came in to the Cowley County Sheriff's Department from the train crew at 7:55.
Undersheriff Bill Mueller says investigators have narrowed down the time of Halverstadt's death to sometime between 2 a.m. and when the train crew found her.
Halverstadt's car was found along side of the road further south on U.S. 77. Halverstadt's body was removed from the scene by 11:30 a.m., but police trackers continued to look for clues as to how Halverstadt's body ended up under the bridge. They remained on the scene after 1 p.m.
When questioned about the circumstances of the death, Read said he could not speculate if it was a suicide, an accident or something else.
"We treat every death (such as this) as 'suspicious'", said Read. "What we're trying to do now is create a timeline of her last movements."
"She appeared to have gone over the edge of the bridge," Mueller said, "how, we don't yet know."
Read anticipates an autopsy will be performed on Monday.
If anyone saw a woman walking north along U.S. 77 last night or early this morning, they are urged to call the Cowley County Sheriff's Department at 221-5444 or Crimestoppers at 221-7777.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Traffic fatality
By TYLER GASKILL
Winfield Daily Courier
A Winfield man was killed and two other men were injured early Saturday morning when the vehicle they were in left the roadway and flipped northeast of Arkansas City, according to Cowley County Undersheriff Bill Mueller.
Around 3 a.m. Saturday, a Dodge van driven by Curtis L. Rowe, 49, Winfield, was traveling northbound on 85th Road, 1 and 1/10 south of 242nd, when the van left the roadway.
"The van made a slight curve to start up a hill and went off the west side of the road, striking a rock, causing (the van) to flip," Mueller said.
Rowe was partially ejected during the accident, according to Mueller, and he became trapped under the van.
"The vehicle came down on (Rowe)," Mueller said, "and he was pronounced dead on the scene."
Two passengers in the van, Ricky Lee Robinson, 25, Winfield, and Timothy L. Patton, 21, Derby, were injured in the accident. They were both transport to South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, Mueller said.
"Alcohol and excessive speed were probably factors in the accident," Mueller said, "but we won't know for sure on the alcohol until we see the results of a toxicology examination."
The accident scene was investigated by the Cowley County Sheriff's Department, with assistance from the Arkansas City Fire Department.
Winfield Daily Courier
A Winfield man was killed and two other men were injured early Saturday morning when the vehicle they were in left the roadway and flipped northeast of Arkansas City, according to Cowley County Undersheriff Bill Mueller.
Around 3 a.m. Saturday, a Dodge van driven by Curtis L. Rowe, 49, Winfield, was traveling northbound on 85th Road, 1 and 1/10 south of 242nd, when the van left the roadway.
"The van made a slight curve to start up a hill and went off the west side of the road, striking a rock, causing (the van) to flip," Mueller said.
Rowe was partially ejected during the accident, according to Mueller, and he became trapped under the van.
"The vehicle came down on (Rowe)," Mueller said, "and he was pronounced dead on the scene."
Two passengers in the van, Ricky Lee Robinson, 25, Winfield, and Timothy L. Patton, 21, Derby, were injured in the accident. They were both transport to South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, Mueller said.
"Alcohol and excessive speed were probably factors in the accident," Mueller said, "but we won't know for sure on the alcohol until we see the results of a toxicology examination."
The accident scene was investigated by the Cowley County Sheriff's Department, with assistance from the Arkansas City Fire Department.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Sexual abuse charges
Lorenzo M. Price, 26, of Arkansas City, has been taken into custody on charges of rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child and is being held on a $15,000 bond in the Cowley County Jail.
Authorities accuse Price of sexually abusing his girlfriend’s daughter, age 13, after the daughter told police he had done so over the last month and after further investigation of the matter, police said.
Authorities accuse Price of sexually abusing his girlfriend’s daughter, age 13, after the daughter told police he had done so over the last month and after further investigation of the matter, police said.
Winfield man killed in OKC shooting
Winfield man killed in OKC hotel shooting
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A Winfield man was shot and killed and another man is in custody after a shooting at an Oklahoma City hotel.
Police Lt. Chris Gayhart says police received a report of shots fired about 2:10 a.m. Sunday at the Wingate by Wyndam Hotel on south Meridian Avenue.
Burgett says officers discovered Kiyon Koroma, Winfield, dead in one of the rooms and another man injured.
Police say the injured man, George Anderson III, 22, was arrested on a first-degree murder complaint and is being held in the Oklahoma County jail.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A Winfield man was shot and killed and another man is in custody after a shooting at an Oklahoma City hotel.
Police Lt. Chris Gayhart says police received a report of shots fired about 2:10 a.m. Sunday at the Wingate by Wyndam Hotel on south Meridian Avenue.
Burgett says officers discovered Kiyon Koroma, Winfield, dead in one of the rooms and another man injured.
Police say the injured man, George Anderson III, 22, was arrested on a first-degree murder complaint and is being held in the Oklahoma County jail.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Undisclosed hearing held in Thurber case
According to Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith, a motion hearing was held before Judge Jim Pringle in the case against Justin Thurber, Friday, in the Cowley County Courthouse.
Both the prosecution and defense have agreed not to discuss the motions that were brought forward. The hearing was closed to the public.
"Another closed hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 9," said Smith. "The trial is still on track to begin as scheduled."
Closed hearings are held so as to diffuse any slip-ups or surprises this close to trial, said Smith.
"We want to do everything correctly and for everything to go as expected."
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to get underway by the end of this month.
Thurber, 25, is charged with capital murder in the death of 19-year-old Cowley College student Jodi Sanderholm, of Arkansas City.
Both the prosecution and defense have agreed not to discuss the motions that were brought forward. The hearing was closed to the public.
"Another closed hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 9," said Smith. "The trial is still on track to begin as scheduled."
Closed hearings are held so as to diffuse any slip-ups or surprises this close to trial, said Smith.
"We want to do everything correctly and for everything to go as expected."
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to get underway by the end of this month.
Thurber, 25, is charged with capital murder in the death of 19-year-old Cowley College student Jodi Sanderholm, of Arkansas City.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Belle Plain fire
Scanner reports indicated a mobile home in Belle Plaine was fully engulfed in flames around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Fire fighters from around the area, including Udall, were responding to help.
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