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Body of teen recovered from Kansas pond UPDATE

ambulance  mhp  khp

MANHATTTAN – Riley County authorities reported in a media release today that James Michael Tolsdorf, 19, of Manhattan, fell through the ice in the River Pond area of Tuttle Creek State Park.

Bystanders collecting firewood in the area attempted to rescue Tolsdorf before emergency rescue teams could arrive. These rescue attempts were unsuccessful.

Tolsdorf’s body was recovered at approximately 7:24 p.m. An autopsy has been requested.

Police and other emergency crews responding to the River Pond area on Friday included the Riley County Police Department, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Manhattan Fire Department, Blue Township Fire Department, Riley County Fire Department, and Riley County EMS.

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MANHATTAN – Law enforcement officials in Riley County reported a man died at Tuttle Creek just before 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

First responders were dispatched to the river pond for report of a possible drowning according to Riley County Police spokesman officer Mat Droge.

Emergency personnel recovered a body from the icy pond just before 7:30 p.m. The name of the victim has not been released.

Check Salina Post for more information as it becomes available.

New Year’s resolutions – sort of

John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Before we all become buried in the new year, let’s look at this new beginning with a bit of humor.  Plenty of people trot out their lists of resolutions.  Often, such lists are as long as their arms and last as long as their pinky.

I’ve all but given up on New Year resolutions.  Seems I can’t keep them either.  But this year I’ve decided to do something different.  I’ve compiled a list of “lesser” resolutions – some things I believe I can accomplish in 2015.

Here’s what I will try to work in my new year:

• Remember that no time spent with your children is ever wasted.

• Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

• Never laugh at anyone’s dream.

• Don’t wash a car, mow a yard or select a Christmas tree after dark.

• When traveling, take two big safety pins so you can pin the motel drapes shut.

• Accept (always) a breath mint if someone offers you one.

• Keep the porch light on until the family is in for the night.

• Rehearse a joke before you tell it.

• Always try the house dressing.

• Believe in love at first sight.

• Send your mother-in-law flowers on your spouse’s birthday.

• Buy ladders, extension cords and garden hoses longer than you think you’ll need.

• Steer clear of any place with a “Ladies Welcome” sign in the window.

• Once in a while invite the person in line behind you to go ahead.

• Exercise patience when behind the wheel of your vehicle – hand gestures are out of the question.

• Own a hammock and use it.

• Never be photographed holding a cocktail glass.

• Give people more than they expect and do so cheerfully.

• Be as friendly to the janitor as you are to the board chairman.

• Overestimate travel time by 15 percent.

• Never wear a white bathing suit.

• Don’t miss a good idea simply because you don’t like the source.

• When you say, “I’m sorry,” look the person in the eye.

• Trust in God, but always lock your car.

• Have a wonderful 2015.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.

Study: Kansas among top states people are leaving

United Van Lines image
United Van Lines image

Why are so many people leaving Kansas?

United Van Lines, the nation’s largest moving company, released their annual study of moving trends on Friday.

The report shows where customers are leaving and where they are going.

Kansas ranks among the leaders on the list of states people were leaving in 2014.

The states with the highest percentages of inbound movers were Oregon, South Carolina, North Carolina, Vermont and Florida.

To see the full report click Here

Mo. woman hospitalized after Lexus hits a tree and rolls

KHPKANSAS CITY- A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 3 p.m. on Friday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Lexus driven by Teneca M. Meekus, Platte City, Mo., was southbound on Interstate 435 at Wolcott.

The driver had a medical episode. The vehicle traveled off of the roadway to the right, down an embankment, struck a tree and rolled.

Meekus was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center

The KHP reported she was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

Museum capturing Ferguson history as it happens

Ferguson protesters from India- courtesy photo
Ferguson protesters from India- courtesy photo

JIM SALTER, Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — From street-artist paintings on boards protecting store windows to signs bearing the now iconic statement, “Hands Up. Don’t Shoot,” cultural images from the Ferguson protests have become firmly established in recent Missouri history.

So much so that the Missouri History Museum is gathering images, recordings and items cataloguing the unrest that followed the August shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer.

They aren’t being collected for a specific exhibition and will mostly be used for research. The goal is to seize on history as it happens, for future generations’ use.

Chris Gordon, Library and Collections director for the museum, says it is rare to be able to document such an historic event in real time. He says the goal is to show all sides and all perspectives.

KCK police investigate New Year’s death as homicide

Police InvestigationKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a Kansas City, Kansas, man as a homicide.

Police said Friday in a news release that the victim has been identified as Michael A. Robinson. The body of the 53-year-old man was found on New Year’s Day. The release doesn’t say how he was killed or offer any other details.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Gov. makes 2 appointments to the University of Missouri Board of Curators

Missouri board of curatorsJefferson City, MO- Gov. Jay Nixon today in a media release announced two appointments to serve on the University of Missouri Board of Curators, which oversees the operation of the four-campus University of Missouri System. The Governor has appointed Maurice B. Graham (D), of Clayton and Phillip H. Snowden (D), of Kansas City to serve on the board.

“These individuals are distinguished alumni of the University of Missouri who have given great service to their state, their communities, and their alma mater for many decades,” Gov. Nixon said. “They will make outstanding curators for the University system.”

Graham will represent the Second Congressional District and Snowden the Sixth Congressional District on the Board of Curators, and will replace Don Downing and David Bradley, respectively. Their terms expired on Jan. 1, 2015. Both appointments will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

Graham is president of the law firm of Gray, Ritter & Graham and is a past president of the Missouri Bar and of the St. Louis Bar Foundation. He has served as a member and chairman of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee, which oversees attorney discipline in Missouri.

Graham obtained his bachelor’s degree from Central Methodist University and his law degree from the University of Missouri. He has received distinguished alumni awards from both universities, and is a past member of the Board of Curators for Central Methodist as well as a trustee of the philanthropic Jefferson Club at the University of Missouri. He was chairman of the University of Missouri Law School’s $17 million endowment campaign. Graham also is a member and a past chairman of the Sheldon Arts Foundation Board in St. Louis. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Jan. 1, 2021.

Beginning in 1967, Snowden represented Clay County in the Missouri General Assembly for 18 years, including 10 years in the House and eight years in the Senate. As a legislator, he sponsored and passed dozens of bills into law. For more than 50 years, Snowden has practiced law and been a real estate owner and developer of housing and office buildings in the Kansas City metropolitan area. He also was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri Charter Commission and the KC Missouri Employer Retirement Board.

Snowden holds undergraduate and law school degrees from the University of Missouri, and was the starting quarterback for the Missouri Tigers in the 1960 Orange Bowl game. He serves on the Economic Department Leaders Board for the University of Missouri, volunteering his time and talent to promote the Department of Economics, further its teaching and research missions, and assist with fundraising. The Governor has appointed Snowden for a term ending Jan. 1, 2021.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank curators Don Downing and David Bradley for their service and commitment to the people of Missouri and higher education in our state,” Gov. Nixon said.

St. Joseph man hospitalized after vehicle overturns

Missouri Highway Patrol  MHPST. JOSEPH – A St. Joseph man was injured in an accident just before 9:30 a.m. on Friday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Olds Intrigue driven by Gerald W. Ashford, 23, St. Joseph, was eastbound in a field south of Easton Saxton Road two miles southeast of St. Joseph.

The vehicle struck a ditch and overturned.

Ashford was transported to Mosaic Life Care.
The MSHP reported he was not wearing a seat belt.

3 Mo. lawmakers seek funding for levees in St. Joseph

Senators McCaskll & Blunt
Senators McCaskll & Blunt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Three Missouri lawmakers are urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to commit some recently approved funding to levee improvements in northwest Missouri.
Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, along with U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, recently wrote to the Army’s assistant secretary for civil works and chief engineer and said the state of Missouri and local sources will provide matching funds needed for levee upgrades, the St. Joseph News-Press reported.
The omnibus spending bill that cleared Congress last month provides money to the Army Corps of Engineers for new projects aimed at flood and storm damage reduction. The letter notes that billions of dollars are at risk by continued flood threats along the Missouri River in the St. Joseph region.
“More importantly, the economic growth, stability and safety of the area these levees protect depends on your thoughtful attention to the (levee system),” the letter said.
Steve Johnston, director of the Community Alliance of St. Joseph, said the need for improvements is more than two decades in the making.
“We’re 21 years into this process from the flood of 1993,” he said.
Local leaders have met several times with Corps of Engineers officials in Kansas City, and had two meetings in Washington, D.C., to discuss the levee work, which would cost an estimated $70 million.
Efforts got a boost in September when Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon released $2 million to serve as part of the money needed to match the federal cost of the project.

Crowd rallies to support police

Rally in Support of police- courtesy photo
Rally in Support of police- courtesy photo

ST. LOUIS (AP) — About 170 people have gathered at a rally in support of police officers near downtown St. Louis.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports officers shook hands and snapped photos with people during Thursday’s rally outside of city police headquarters.

Members of the crowd chanted slogans including “police lives matter.”

The phrase is similar to “black lives matter,” which has been used by protesters across the country after the fatal shooting of black 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white Ferguson police officer.

The action came a day after several protests over Brown’s and other recent police shootings led to 28 arrests. In one demonstration, a group of protesters tried to rush police headquarters for a sit-in.

No arrests were made during Thursday’s rally, which ended with the release of blue balloons.

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