Kansas Klips

Police in Kansas find five-month-old abducted from Minnesota

DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement in Kansas located an abducted child in Dickinson County. Just before 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18th, police in Abilene received an alert from a FLOCK license plate reader that a vehicle associated with an abducted five-month-old child from Minnesota was in Abilene, according to a media release. Officers located the vehicle and occupants in the 2100 Block of North Buckeye Avenue. Officers learned the child had been taken from Minnesota by a non-custodial parent. The child was placed in police custody without incident, and arrangements are being made for a safe return to Minnesota. (Hays Post)

Adored ostrich at Kansas zoo dies after swallowing staff member’s keys

TOPEKA—The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center announced in a social media post that the fiveyear- old ostrich Karen had reached beyond her exhibit’s fence and grabbed and swallowed the employee’s keys. Staff consulted with experts around the U. S. “to undergo surgical and non-surgical efforts to minimize the impact of the keys.” “Unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful,” the Zoo said. Karen was euthanized and passed away in staff’s hands,” Topeka Zoo Interim Director Fawn Moser said. “We are devastated by the loss of Karen,” Moser said. “She was not just an animal; she was a beloved member of our community. Our thoughts are with our dedicated animal care team, which formed deep bonds with Karen during her time with us. The adored ostrich had been at the Zoo since March 2023. She was known for her love of playing in the water and, best of all, being our dancing queen.” The Zoo said it undertook an investigation and “is taking appropriate actions regarding the team member involved.” The Zoo also said it would review and enhance animal safety protocols. The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center is home to over 300 animals exhibited throughout 35 acres. (Hays Post)

Kansas game warden’s K9 finds hidden turkey poacher

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest. Just after 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20th, a landowner reported turkeys being poached off his property in rural Miami County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens. The Miami County Sheriff’s Office responded and located the vehicle. Game Warden Falls and K9 Indy were notified and responded as well. Deputies and Game Warden Falls spoke with two individuals at the scene and worked through a language barrier. The Game Warden seized two turkeys, one tom and one hen, three .22 rifles, and an air rifle. The shooter was arrested for multiple wildlife violations. After the scene was cleared and everyone had left, Indy started into an area to search for any more evidence. Shortly after, another suspect came out of the woods with his hands up. That suspect was also arrested and taken to jail. Indy was sent back to search and located another freshly dead hen turkey in the woods. Kansas Game Wardens are thankful for the observant landowner who made the call and the quick response by the Miami County Sheriff’s Office. (Hays Post)

Train struck pickup Kansas man parked on railroad tracks

SALINE COUNTY—A Salina man allegedly parked a 1998 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck on the railroad tracks on the south side of the intersection of South Halstead Road and West Old Highway 40, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. Just before 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 18th, a westbound train struck the empty vehicle. Deputies checked the area and located the driver, identified as 25-year-old Mackenzie Lewis of Salina, more than a mile from the crash. Soldan said deputies were unable to determine why Lewis parked the vehicle on the tracks but found drug paraphernalia and some methamphetamine in the truck and on Lewis. He also had no proof of insurance. Deputies arrested Lewis on requested charges of drug possession, drug paraphernalia, parking in a prohibited place, and no proof of insurance. (Hays Post)

New Hays Fire Station has grand opening

ELLIS COUNTY—On Monday, April 22nd, the Hays Fire Department had a grand opening for Fire Station No. 3 at 1732 West 41st Street. The public was invited, and light refreshments were served. Members of the Hays Fire Department were on hand to give tours of the new facility. Fire Station No. 3 was established to ensure short emergency response times as the City continues to develop to the northwest. (Hays Post)