An Olathe man was sentenced Monday to a year and a day in federal prison for stealing more than $275,000 in merchandise while he was working for a store that catered to runners, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said. In addition, he was ordered to pay back the full amount.
Craig W. Sullivan, 41, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea, he admitted the crime occurred while he worked for Garry Gribble’s Running Sports, which has five locations in the Kansas City area. Sullivan oversaw merchandise arriving at the main store in Overland Park. He was responsible for distributing merchandise to the other locations.
In his plea, Sullivan admitted he stole merchandise – primarily Garmin GPS devices – and sold them to a buyer in California via Craigslist. The buyer used PayPal to send Sullivan 51 payments totaling $275,780.
The crime was discovered when Garmin wrote a letter saying Gary Gribble’s Running Stores was being terminated as a retailer. Garmin said devices sent to the store had been sold on eBay for less than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
Beall commended the U.S. Postal Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Volunteers were putting the finishing touches on a new building at the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds this past weekend. The fair opens Tuesday evening, July 11, and runs through Saturday, July 15. Carnival rides are part of the Wyandotte County Fair. (File photo from 2016 by Mary Rupert)
Volunteers are busy preparing for the Wyandotte County Fair, which will open Tuesday evening, July 11, and run through Saturday, July 15.
The annual event is held at the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds at 13700 Polfer Road (east of K-7), Kansas City, Kansas, where last week volunteers were completing the roof on a new show barn, said Wanda Schmieding, a volunteer who serves on the fair board and also is acting as the secretary and fair manager during the fair.
A carnival, exhibits, a petting zoo, musical entertainment and special arena events are planned this year at the fair, including a mud run at 6 p.m. Saturday, she said. Weather-permitting, a hot air balloon will be at the fair, but it will not be operating if it is windy or if there is a storm.
Horses will be in the fair this year, she said, and will be under a tent near the arena.
Those attending on Tuesday evening will see many free events, such as a petting zoo, pig races, magic shows, a free performance by the Reyes Brothers band from 7 to 10 p.m. at the free tent, and many animals raised by 4-H members on exhibit. Those who want to feed animals at the petting zoo will pay 50 cents for feed.
Tuesday will be carnival wristband night, with a $15 charge. Camel rides will be available for a fee.
There also are many exhibits on display throughout the fair by 4-H members and also open class exhibits. There are animal shows and judging each day of the fair. The livestock buyers dinner will be Friday evening, with the bucket calf parade at 7:15 p.m., followed by the livestock auction at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The parade of champions is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Arena events are among the highlights of the fair each year. The mud run at 6 p.m. Saturday is the only one this year that has a charge. The charge is $12 for 12 and older, $5 for 6 to 11 years, and 5 and under is free.
Two other arena events include a garden tractor pull on Thursday, July 13, and go-kart races at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 14. There is no admission charge for spectators at these two events.
Schmieding said she hopes this year’s fair attracts from 40,000 to 50,000 people. She said the fair is working to grow its volunteer base and increase attendance.
Besides the new show barn just constructed, she said the fairgrounds now includes a shooting sports range that visitors will be able to see, although it will not be in use during the fair. The shooting range is expected to open later this year. The fairgrounds are used year-around for receptions, antique sales, shooting sports competition and other events, she said.
As is often the case, the weather will get hot this week during the county fair, and there is a heat advisory in the forecast for Tuesday. There is still no air-conditioning at any of the fair buildings, she said, so those attending the fair may have to find some relief from the sun inside the red barn.
“It’s like the old-time days,” Schmieding said. Volunteers will be available to assist people who may need help, she added. There also will be cold drinks for purchase at the fair.
Greek, Mexican and barbecue food will be available for purchase from vendors, she said.
Schmieding said special contests at the fair this year include a recycled material contest, Lego contest, homegrown tomatoes contest and a fruit pie contest. There is a $100 prize to the winner of the fruit pie contest, with entries accepted from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Check the website www.wycofair.com for more details about entry times.
There also are special days at the fair. Daycare Day at the fair is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, and Seniors Day at the Fair is at 11 a.m. Friday, July 14. Those attending Daycare Day must pre-register to 913-788-7898, and there is a $5 charge per child. Those interested in Seniors Day may call 913-441-1907 for reservations.
Free stage events include Back Road Express, 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Stars Fall Down, 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Big Dave, 8 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sully Brothers, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, and Alan Thorne gospel night, 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
For carnival rides, Wednesday will be a $20 wristband night; Thursday at $20 wristband night; Friday a $25 wristband night; and Saturday a $25 wristband night.
Schmieding said while admission to the fair is free, there is a $5 charge per car for parking.
Hours of the fair are listed on the website as 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
More information about the fair is available online at www.wycofair.com, or call 913-721-2333.
A showdown in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals awaits Tuesday as the winners of the previous two tournaments lock horns at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
The 2015 champion Sporting Kansas City will play host to reigning titleholder FC Dallas in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff that will stream live on SportingKC.com with local radio broadcasts on ESPN 99.3 FM (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).
Tickets for Tuesday’s quarterfinal showdown are available at SeatGeek.com as the top two teams in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference look to continue their run in the 104th edition of the United States’ oldest national soccer competition.
The reward for a 2017 Open Cup championship would be substantial, as this year’s winner will receive $250,000 in prize money and a berth in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.
Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas enter Tuesday on lengthy unbeaten runs as two of the premier sides in MLS.
Led by manager Peter Vermes, Sporting KC is 4-0-4 in its last eight games across all competitions since the start of June, while head coach Oscar Pareja has guided FC Dallas to a 4-0-2 mark over the club’s last six matches since June 14.
These streaks include a pair of Open Cup victories: Sporting KC ousted Minnesota United FC (4-0) and the Houston Dynamo (2-0) in earlier rounds just as FC Dallas defeated Tulsa Roughnecks FC (2-1) and the Colorado Rapids (3-1).
Tuesday’s opponents have met twice all-time in the U.S. Open Cup. The brief history paints a positive picture for Sporting Kansas City, which earned a 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Dallas in 2004 and a resounding 6-2 Round of 16 win in 2015 en route to winning the trophy on both occasions.
Sporting KC is a three-time Open Cup winner, having hoisted the title in 2004, 2012 and 2015, while FC Dallas was crowned champion in 1997 and 2016.
Despite going eight games without a loss, Sporting Kansas City will be hungry to return to winning ways Tuesday after drawing each of their last two MLS matches in the friendly confines of Children’s Mercy Park.
Vermes’ men settled for consecutive 1-1 draws against the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union, allowing FC Dallas to close the gap at the top of the Western Conference standings to a single point. Nevertheless, Sporting KC boasts a 7-0-4 home record with six shutouts this season in all competitions.
FC Dallas capitalized on Sporting KC’s dropped points last week with two convincing victories, defeating Toronto FC 3-1 and D.C. United 4-2.
First-year forward Roland Lamah bagged a brace in both wins, taking his goal total to eight in MLS. Prolific striker Maxi Urruti also continued his sensational run of form, extending his scoring streak to four straight league matches while moving to fourth on the MLS charts with 11 goals in 2017.
Both teams wield stout defenses that rank among the best in MLS.
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia has 11 shutouts in 22 appearances this season across all competitions, including two in the Open Cup. Domineering defender Ike Opara anchors the back line and also scored four goals during the month of June, notably netting in both Open Cup victories.
FC Dallas’s 1.00 goals against average ranks second only to Sporting KC’s 0.70. Center back Walker Zimmerman returned from injury last week and will patrol a defense that has shut out Sporting KC in both regular season meetings this season – a scoreless stalemate on March 11 at Children’s Mercy Park and a 1-0 home win on April 22 at Toyota Stadium.
The concurrence of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup means both clubs will be without key contributors on Tuesday.
Sporting Kansas City’s Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi are with the U.S. Men’s National Team, as are FC Dallas duo Kellyn Acosta and Matt Hedges. The visitors will miss Honduras defender Maynor Figueroa, who headed home the game-winner in the most recent regular season matchup between the teams.
On a historical note, the home side in this particular fixture is 8-0-4 in the last 12 meetings across all competitions. Sporting KC is 4-0-1 in its last five home games against FC Dallas across all competitions, scoring 15 goals and conceding just three.
FC Dallas won on its first visit to Children’s Mercy Park in 2011, but has gone 0-5-2 here since then.
