Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

PRATT ­– Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism fisheries staff will be launching a new program to increase the amount of fish-attracting structures in Kansas lakes, including Cedar Bluff and Wilson.

Traditionally, biologists have used cut trees to create brush piles to attract and hold fish, providing angling hotspots. However, attaching concrete blocks to trees can be labor intensive and time consuming and the trees don’t last very long once submerged in the water.

The new specially-designed PVC structures are in the shape of a cubes three feet tall, four feet wide, and four feet deep. Cost-effective, easy to place and proven in other states, the new structures not only last more than three times longer than natural brush piles, but they also have been shown to hold as many fish as the natural counterpart without affecting water quality. Anglers can expect to see the implementation of these structures as soon as early February.

“Our goal is to produce 150-300 of these PVC cubes each year,” said Bryan Sowards, KDWPT fisheries programs specialist. “For 2015, structures will go in Milford, Wilson, Melvern, El Dorado, and Cedar Bluff, as well as a variety of other community and state fishing.” Sowards added the structures will immediately attract fish for angler harvest, but the overall goal is to accumulate enough structures to improve fish populations.

Known as “Georgia Cubes,” the structures were originally designed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Stacking more than 50 feet of corrugated pipe on the PVC frame, Georgia DNR staff have been able to create optimum surface area to attract fish while still maintaining an open design. They have also found that the structures quickly accumulate periphyton, a complex mix of algae, fungi, and bacteria, which further attracts insects and fish – an ideal result for both fisheries staff and anglers.

Thanks to the involvement and commitment of Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation (KBN) clubs, KDWPT staff will have assistance in constructing and placing these cubes in select Kansas waters.

“These cubes will not only provide habitat for adult fish of all species, but also provide critical nursery habitat.” said Jeff Nolte, Conservation Director for KBN. “We at KBN are very excited and encouraged by the fisheries staff’s commitment to improving Kansas fisheries in general. We have had a great relationship with KDWPT in the past and this cooperative effort bodes well for a continued relationship that will benefit all fisheries, not just bass.”

GRAIN VALLEY (AP) – Police in a western Missouri community said a 14-year-old bicyclist was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle.

According to the Grain Valley police chief, the boy was riding his bicycle on Monday night when he was hit by a vehicle trying to cross highway U.S. 40 at Kirby Road. He was taken by an ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Police say they’re investigating the accident, and no charges have been filed at this time.

OAKLAND (AP) – A convicted rapist from Missouri wanted for allegedly violating parole has been caught in Maine.

Lugmon Abram was apprehended early Monday in the town of Oakland.

Police Capt. Rick Stubbert said officers responding to a call for an unwanted person at an apartment saw a man jumping out a window into a snowbank wearing just a sweatshirt and sweatpants. He ran away after losing a shoe. He was found about 20 minutes later in single-digit temperatures.

The 27-year-old Abram was taken to a hospital, then jail. He is scheduled to appear in court March 3 on a fugitive charge.

According to the Missouri sex offender registry, Abram was convicted of second-degree statutory rape in 2011 in a case that involved a 15-year-old girl. He was released on parole in May.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City high school’s purchase of an estimated $47,000 grand piano is striking some sour notes among critics.

The school board approved the purchase last month for Sumner Academy. District officials say the old piano is in poor condition due to use and age. It’s at least 40 years old.

The Wichita Eagle reports some, like former state Sen. Chris Steineger, wonder whether a public high school needs such a high-end instrument.

Rep. Steve Huebert is a member of the House Education Budget Committee and says such expenditures raise questions of stewardship of the public’s money.

The district’s director of purchasing says several students are preparing for careers in music performance and need a quality piano to prepare for scholarship auditions.

FERGUSON (AP) – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has received hundreds of tips on arson fires that followed the Nov. 24 announcement that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be charged in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, but still no arrests have been made.

KMOX Radio reported the ATF is offering $10,000 for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for at least a dozen fires in Ferguson and neighboring Dellwood.

ATF spokesman John Ham said several people have been brought in for questioning, but no one has been arrested on federal arson charges.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call 888-ATF-FIRE.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A 31-year-old woman accused of threatening and kidnapping a boy involved in a doorbell prank has waived her right to a jury trial.
The Springfield News-Leader reports Ashley Crossland has instead opted for a bench trial, in which a judge will decide if she is or isn’t guilty. She’s been charged with several felonies, including kidnapping and armed criminal action.
According to police, several boys last January were running away from homes after ringing their doorbells. When Crossland came outside, the boys took off in opposite directions.
One boy says he was walking away when a van attempted to run him over. He says the driver, later identified as Crossland, demanded he get inside or she would cut him.
Authorities say Crossland later dropped the boy off at a house where he and the other boys were staying for the night.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas abortion rights activists say a proposal to ban a specific abortion procedure could end up establishing broader restrictions.

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee conducted a hearing Monday on a bill that would ban the procedure known as dilation and evacuation. Kansas already bans most abortions at or after the 22nd week of pregnancy. The new measure could prevent some pregnancies from being terminated earlier.

Kathy Ostrowski of Kansans for Life told the committee the procedure was cruel to the fetus and should be banned.

Julie Burkhart of the Trust Women Foundation said the ban would endanger women’s health and lead to additional costs due to legal challenges.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has said that he would sign the bill if it passed.

KANSAS CITY (AP) – The Princeton Review for the first time has stripped a college of its rankings after learning that the University of Missouri-Kansas City knowingly submitted false data.

The company announced Monday that it was pulling the school’s top-25 ranking for graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurship programs for 2014. The company later announced it also would strip the rankings for 2011, 2012 and 2013 at the university’s request.

Robert Franek, a senior vice president for The Princeton Review, said in a written statement that the company was “extremely disappointed” to learn about the problems.

UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton said the school has made changes and was “committed to ensuring that the academic integrity of this institution is maintained and strengthened.”

The move came after a report highlighting the problems was released Friday.

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today in response to President Barack Obama’s infrastructure plan, which was included in his FY16 budget proposal:

“I’m in discussions with my colleagues in the House and Senate to determine the best way forward to address our country’s overall infrastructure needs, as well as specific funding for a multi-year surface transportation bill, and to do so without raising gas taxes.

“Unlike the president’s proposal, my colleagues and I believe we can create a new innovative financing tool and have the resources to fund a six-year year highway bill at lower repatriation rates, which ultimately means a better deal for Americans and a better incentive to bring this money back home.”

Prior to President Obama’s State of the Union Address in January 2015, Blunt and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (Colo.) joined U.S. Representatives John Delaney (Md.) and Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.) in sending a letter to the president urging him to work with Congress in a bipartisan, bicameral way to strengthen America’s infrastructure and fix the nation’s broken international tax code.