Red Cross needs disaster volunteers
The North Central Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for more volunteers to help with disaster response.
Vicktoria Degand, executive director, said Tuesday that about half a dozen Red Cross volunteers are preparing to leave here to assist victims of hurricane Gustav, and the chapter's emergency response vehicle was activated four days ago.
Anyone interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer may call 827-3644 or e-mail richardsonco@usa.redcross.org or stoutk@usa.redcross.org.
Monetary donations to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the North Central Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross, 145 S. Broadway, Box 1633, Salina, KS 67402, or to the American Red Cross, Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013. Internet users may make contributions online at www.redcross.org.
Westar Energy crews to assist in Gulf
TOPEKA -- Westar Energy crews will head to the Gulf Coast to assist Entergy with restoration efforts following Hurricane Gustav's blast to the region.
Approximately 35 Westar employees, including linemen, management, field supervisors, a safety coordinator, fleet support and material handlers, will head to Dallas before continuing on toward Louisiana. Westar crews are planning to meet and take off from the Belle Plaine service area on the turnpike at 10 a.m. today. Westar also released the majority of its tree trimming contract crews to be available to assist with restoration efforts.
At 5 a.m., Entergy was reporting more than 825,000 customers were without power. The company's transmission system sustained massive damage, with 191 transmission lines and 210 substations out of service.
Teens accused of stealing money
Two Salina teenagers arrested Sunday are accused of damaging and stealing money from at least a half-dozen soft drink machines in rural Saline County.
One of the pair, Marshall S. Coffman, also is linked to at least two similar vending machine break-ins in Salina, at 321 S. Broadway and 1015 W. North, Salina Police Capt. Mike Sweeney said.
Saline County sheriff's officers arrested Coffman, 19, and Darin D. Gordon, also 19, Undersheriff Dave Dunstan said. They're accused of stealing $46 in coins and cash, and causing an estimated $4,800 in damage to the machines, Dunstan said.
He said sheriff's investigators are looking into whether the men might be connected to two recent break-ins at Cargill Ag Horizons on Halstead Road, where vending machines were damaged and money was stolen.
Vehicle windows broken in east Salina
Vandals used a set of stolen women's golf clubs to break out windows of vehicles parked on streets in east Salina between Thursday and Saturday.
Police received 14 reports of shattered windows, Salina Police Capt. Mike Sweeney said Tuesday. At least some of the windows were damaged by someone using the clubs and a bag taken off a porch at 1215 Greenway, said Lt. Scott Siemsen.
Siemsen said some of the clubs were thrown onto the roof of the home, and others were found embedded in windows and windshields of vehicles nearby. Damage reports came from the 2300 block of Applewood Lane, the 2300 block of Georgetown Road and the 100 block of Overhill Road. There were other reports of damage to vehicles parked in east Salina, and it's not clear if all of those cases are connected, Siemsen said.
Corn, sorghum begins to mature
WICHITA -- Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reports that 15 percent of the Kansas corn crop is now mature as harvest nears.
In its weekly crop report, the agency rates corn condition as 9 percent excellent, 42 percent good, 36 percent fair, 9 percent poor and 4 percent very poor.
The state's sorghum is also making progress, with about 3 percent rated as mature. Its condition was pegged as 11 percent excellent, 48 percent good, 29 percent fair, 9 percent poor and 3 percent very poor.
Soybean condition was estimated as 19 percent excellent, 49 percent good, 27 percent fair, 4 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.
Stolen card used 49 times in Salina
A stolen financial card was used to make 49 purchases from several Salina businesses between Aug. 16 and Thursday.
The card, belonging to Kenneth R. Moum, Topeka, was used to rack up more than $2,000 in charges. It was used in several convenience stores, some more than once, in several areas of Salina, as well as businesses at Central Mall, grocery stores, and others that specialize in music, electronics, and health and beauty.
Salina women hurt in two-car collision
Two Salina women were injured Tuesday morning in a collision at Second and Crawford streets.
The Salina Police Department reported that Jennifer S. Gimeson, 24, 1129 Oak Circle, was southbound on Second at 9:20 a.m. She stopped at the Crawford intersection and then proceeded south, colliding with a car driven eastbound on Crawford by Shirley J. Rohloff, 70, 521 E. Wilson.
Both were taken to Salina Regional Health Center, where they were treated and then released. The police reported both women were wearing seat belts.
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