Month: November 2014

Eight Kansas hunters charged with violating migratory bird act

Eight Kansas hunters were charged in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., on Tuesday with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

A criminal complaint alleged the men violated the federal law protecting migratory birds when they participated in an annual opening weekend dove hunt in Graham County, Kan., on Sept. 1-2, 2013.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act classifies mourning doves as migratory game birds. It classifies owls as migratory non-game birds. Restrictions on hunting mourning doves include a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of twice the daily bag limit.

Charged were:

– Daniel R. Dinkel, 63, Hill City, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
– Kent A. Webber, 52, Derby, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
– Evan Webber, 25, Derby, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
– George Morgan, 52, Gordonville, Texas, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
– Kenneth R. Beran, 67, Derby, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
– Clark Law, 57, Hill City, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
– Tracy D. Higgins, 54, El Dorado, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
– John Kobler, 62, Topeka, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of six months in prison on each count and a fine up to $15,000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

Student from Bonner Springs featured at USM concert

A student from Bonner Springs will participate in the annual Founders’ Day Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Annunciation Chapel, University of Saint Mary, 4100 S. 4th St., Leavenworth.

This year’s program will feature senior contralto, Emma Vavricek, of Bonner Springs, and three student ensembles, The Bell Quartet, String Ensemble and Concert Chorale.

The repertoire for the concert includes works by Bach, Handel and Mozart as well as an assortment of religious and patriotic selections by 20th century American composers.

The Founders’ Day Concert commemorates the 1858 landing of the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Resident warns against possible fundraising scams in connection with child’s death

Tamika Pledger would like to make sure that any funds being raised for the family of Machole Stewart, a 10-year-old Kansas City, Kan., girl who was killed in a drive-by shooting, will actually get to the family.

She said today that she had heard of people raising funds on the street corner or in stores in Kansas City, Mo., for the family of Machole and another victim, and said these fundraisers may not have been authorized.

In order to prevent scams in the future, Pledger asked anyone who sees people raising funds for Machole to take a photo of them, call the police with the location of the person, and do not give cash.

Those who contribute to various legitimate fundraisers may want to write checks so they have a record of it, and make a note of it in the “memo” portion of the check, she said.

Pledger said that those who want to help the family could give a check to the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, either toward the reward fund or for the family. They should write that it is for Machole’s family or the reward fund in the “memo” portion of the check, she said. For information about the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, visit http://adhocgroupkc.com/donations.html.