TOPEKA – Wildlife checkpoints will take place across the state of Kansas during the winter hunting season according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT).

On Sunday, Dec. 6 one of more joint checkpoints will be held by KDWPT game wardens and Kiowa County sheriff’s officers. Deer, upland bird, and migratory game bird seasons are underway. Checkpoints are intended to help enforce state and federal wildlife laws, as well as the state’s driver’s licensing laws.

Kiowa County deputies will operate the first stage of the checkpoints to ensure drivers are properly licensed to be driving. If a driver does not have a valid license, appropriate enforcement actions will be taken. Travelers should not expect major delays from this portion of the checkpoints.

Occupants of vehicles in the first check lane will be asked if they are hunters or are transporting wildlife. If they answer yes in either case, drivers will be directed to a nearby KDWPT check lane where Kansas game wardens will check for required licenses and permits, count the game and gather biological, harvest, and hunter success information. This portion of the checkpoints should also cause minimal delay.

The following locations may be used if weather conditions and manpower allow:

U.S. HWY 183 MILEPOST 68 – KIOWA COUNTY
U.S. HWY 400 MILEPOST 110.5 – KIOWA COUNTY
U.S HWY 400 MILEPOST 122 – KIOWA COUNTY
U.S. HWY 54 MILEPOST 97.5– KIOWA COUNTY
U.S. HWY 400 MILEPOST 106 – KIOWA COUNTY
U.S. HWY 183 MILEPOST 51.5 – KIOWA COUNTY

Additional wildlife checkpoints will occur around the state during the winter hunting seasons.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback on Friday announced the appointment of Norbert C. Marek, Jr. of Westmoreland as a District Judge for the Kansas 2nd District Court. Marek fills a vacancy created by the death of Judge Michael A. Ireland.

“I am pleased to appoint Norbert Marek to the 2nd District Court,” said Governor Brownback. “His robust legal experience makes him highly qualified to serve the citizens of the 2nd District.”

Marek currently serves as Wabaunsee County Attorney and maintains a private law practice. He also has served as City Attorney and Municipal Judge for numerous communities in North Central Kansas. He is an honors graduate of Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law.

The state’s 105 counties are organized into 31 Judicial Districts. The district courts serve as the trial courts for the state, overseeing all civil and criminal cases. The 2nd District Court includes Jackson, Jefferson, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties.

United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the Justice Department has collected a total of $23.1 billion in civil and criminal actions in fiscal 2015. Those numbers include more than $16.2 billion in payments made directly to the Justice Department, and more than $6.8 billion in indirect payments made to other federal agencies, states and other designated recipients.

In the Western District of Missouri, United States Attorney Tammy Dickinson announced collections of more than $25.5 million in criminal and civil actions during the fiscal year. Of this amount, more than $8.8 million was collected in criminal actions, more than $6 million was collected in civil actions, and more than $10.6 million was collected through the seizure of assets that were forfeited to the government from Oct. 1, 2014, to Sept. 30, 2015.

The Western District of Missouri also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $4 million in cases pursued jointly with these offices, primarily in civil actions.

“The pursuit of justice involves not only prosecuting criminals, but being diligent to collect the fines levied by the court and restitution payments on behalf of the victims of crime,” Dickinson said. “I am determined that criminals will not profit from their crimes, and that those involved in civil actions pay the government what they owe.”

In Missouri’s eastern district, United States Attorney Richard Callahan announced his office collected $11,448,830 in criminal and civil actions during the year. Of this amount, $10,113,957 was collected in criminal actions and $1,334,873 was collected in civil actions.

In addition to the above eleven million dollars, the office also assisted partner law enforcement agencies in collecting an additional $8,442,329 in asset forfeiture actions. Forfeited assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

In Kansas, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom announced they’d collected more than $9.2 million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2015. Of this amount, more than $6.2 million was collected in criminal actions and $3 million was collected in civil actions. An additional $402,000 was collected in cases pursued jointly with other agencies in Kansas. Of this amount, approximately $12,000 was collected in criminal actions and $390,000 was collected in civil actions.

U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg of the District of Nebraska says her office collected $2,133,876.67 in criminal and civil actions during Fiscal Year 2015. Of this amount, $1,931,940.95 was collected in criminal actions and $201,935.72 was collected in civil actions. Nebraska worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $267,923.76 in cases pursued jointly with these offices. Of this amount, $19,525.76 was collected in criminal actions and $248,398.00 was collected in civil actions.