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Red Cross Volunteers Needed

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Shelter Support
All forecasts point to a higher-than-average hurricane and wildfire season. We need volunteers like you to ensure families don’t face tough times alone. Compassionate and committed individuals are needed to support sheltering efforts this disaster season. Shelter volunteers support the day-to-day activities within a shelter which may include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information or other vital areas within a shelter. Train now to be a Red Cross Shelter Volunteer so you can answer the call directly help those affected by disaster.

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SEK Foundation Announces New Director

Devin Gorman. Submitted photo.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is Pleased to Announce Devin Gorman as New Executive Director

Following the recent retirement of Kit Parks, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is pleased to announce the hiring of Devin Gorman as the new Executive Director, effective August 16, 2021.

Devin comes to the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK), and affiliates Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and Girard Area Community Foundation, with a wealth of experience and a unique skill set.

As a southeast Kansas native, Devin earned both Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pittsburg State University. The majority of Devin’s career has been in nonprofit work in the southeast Kansas area. Most recently he held the position of Executive Director of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Devin has shown he is engaged and committed to SEK through a variety of volunteer roles and positions locally, regionally, and at the state level. He has served as president of Pittsburg Area Young Professionals, president of the Pittsburg Public Library Board of Trustees, treasurer for the Mount Carmel Foundation, vice-president of the SEK Tourism Region, and spent six years on the Mosaic Foundation’s National Board of Directors.

When asked about his new position, Devin stated “The CFSEK has a tremendous legacy of supporting our community, and I truly appreciate the board for providing me with the opportunity to lead such a great organization and team. I am excited to build upon that legacy and to grow the resources the Community Foundation provides back to the citizens of southeast Kansas. I look forward to collaborating with so many great individuals and organizations that work each day to enhance our community.”

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is a local public charitable foundation which awarded $1.9 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2020 and has facilitated $16.9 million in grants since its inception in 2001. The Community Foundation serves the region by providing donors with a wide variety of charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving which addresses present and future needs in our area, and recently surpassed $53 million in fund assets.

Connie Kays, CFSEK Board of Trustees President, shared this statement “The Foundation Board of Directors and staff are pleased to welcome Devin Gorman to the CFSEK team. He comes to the Executive Director position with the education, experience, skills, and passion to do the work of ‘benefiting the common good and quality of life’ in SEK. We have no doubt Devin is a great fit to assist CFSEK in our mission to serve our community.”

Devin will join Community Foundation staff Kim Lynch, Office Administrator, Joshua McCloud, Donor Relations & Community Outreach, and Sherri Stephens, Program Coordinator.

Devin resides in Pittsburg with his wife Misty and son, Finn.

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SEK Library Newsletter August 2021

The SEKnFind Newsletter
August 2021

This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not!  Just place a hold on the item(s) you want.  If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.

New Fiction

The madness of crowds
by Louise Penny

When a visiting professor spreads lies so that fact and fiction are so confused it’s near impossible to tell them apart, leading to murder, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache must investigate this case as well as this extraordinary popular delusion – and the madness of crowds. 750,000 first printing.

If it rains : a novel
by Jennifer L. Wright

“A story of resilience and redemption set against one of America’s defining moments-the Dust Bowl. It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband – and her new social class – expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed.

Dark roads
by Chevy Stevens

Beth Chevalier quits school, lies to her parents and becomes addicted to pills while dealing with the murder of her sister on the notorious Cold Creek Highway in the new thriller by the author of Still Missing. 100,000 first printing.

For your own good
by Samantha Downing

Belmont Academy’s Teacher of the Year, Teddy Crutcher is frustrated by his colleagues and endlessly meddlesome parents who begin digging a bit too deeply into his affairs after the death of an Academy parent and his seemingly missing wife.

Along a storied trail
by Ann H. Gabhart

“Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn’t mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her mountain community during the Great Depression. Even the rough people-like ornery Perdita Sweet-have their charms. But can love bloom in such rockysoil?”

Pug actually
by Matt Dunn

Doug, a rescue pug, wants his owner, Julie, who is in a bad relationship, to be happy and sets in motion a chain of events that leads her to Tom, whom Doug believes is perfect for her, if only she can get over her initial animosity towards him. Original. 50,000 first printing.

The Moonshine Shack murder
by Diane Kelly

The prime suspect in a murder investigation after the body of a rival bar owner is found on her doorstep, Hattie Hayes, to clear her name, must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice. Original.

Come back to me
by Jody Hedlund

“Scientist Marian Creighton was skeptical of her father’s lifelong research of ancient holy water-until she ingests some of it and finds herself transported back to the Middle Ages. With the help of an emotionally wounded nobleman, can she make her way back home? Or will she be trapped in the past forever?”

The witness for the dead
by Katherine Addison

While serving the common people Amalo, Thara Celehar, a Witness for the Dead, finds his skills leading him out of the quiet and into a morass of treachery, murder and injustice, in this stand-alone sequel to The Goblin Emperor.

The whispering dead
by Darcy Coates

“When Keira wakes in a strange forest, she can remember only two things: she can see ghosts, and strange, mask-wearing men are hunting her. She seeks shelter at a church, and the kind pastor offers to let her stay in the groundskeeper’s cottage for a fewdays. But the cottage is situated behind the graveyard, and its spirits are only too eager to make themselves known. This sleepy, quaint town has dark secrets from the past that continue to haunt in increasingly terrifying ways. Keira’s shocked to discover her lost memories may be woven through the town’s bizarre hauntings, and soon, she’s thrown full-tilt into a race to unravel the decades-old mystery…before it’s too late”

The guide : a novel
by Peter Heller

Trying to return to normalcy after a young life filled with loss, Jack takes a job as a guide for the elite Kingfisher Lodge where he, while guiding a well-known singer, discovers that this idyllic fishing lodge may be a cover for a far more sinister operation.

Hell’s Jaw Pass
by Max O’Hara

When a railroad crew at Hell’s Jaw Pass in Wyoming Territory is slaughtered, detective Wolf Stockburn is sent in to investigate and stays at a nearby mining town where he must contend with train holdups, ranch wars, murder — and a deputy’s pretty daughter. Original.

New Nonfiction

The Storytellers : Straight Talk from the World’s Most Acclaimed Suspense and Thriller Authors
by Mark Rubinstein

Collected here are interviews with forty-seven accomplished authors, including Michael Connelly, Ken Follett, Meg Gardiner, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, and Don Winslow. These are their personal stories in their own words, much of the material never before published. How do these writers’ life experiences color their art? Find out their thoughts, their inspirations, their candid opinions. Learn more about your favorite authors, how they work and who they truly are.

The comfort book
by Matt Haig

Incorporating a wealth of sources from across history, science and his own experiences, the New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library offers reassurance and encouragement for anyone looking for a more fulfilling, more uplifting way through life.

Paradise : one town’s struggle to survive an American wildfire
by Lizzie Johnson

A San Francisco Chronicle reporter, drawing on years of on-the-ground reporting and reams of public records, provides a first-hand account of California’s Camp Fire—the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century, investigating root causes and how to avert future tragedies as the climate crisis unfolds. Maps.

How Stella learned to talk : the groundbreaking story of the world’s first talking dog
by Christina Hunger

An incredible, revolutionary true story and surprisingly simple guide to teaching your dog to talk from a speech-language pathologist who has taught her dog to communicate using simple paw-sized buttons associated with different words. 100,000 first printing.

The first survivors of Alzheimer’s : how patients recovered life and hope in their own words
by Dale E. Bredesen

Outlining revolutionary treatments, an internationally recognized expert in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases presents first-person accounts from survivors of Alzheimer’s—amazing stories of hope told in their own words. Original.

Hook, line, and supper : new techniques and master recipes for everything caught in lakes, rivers and streams, and at sea
by Hank Shaw

“So many people get all tense when faced with a piece of fish or a bag of shrimp. It’s understandable: you went through all that effort to catch it, or, if you bought it from the store, we all know that fish isn’t cheap. You don’t want to mess things up.Hook, Line and Supper aims to cure that stage fright once and for all by breaking down the essence of fish and seafood cookery, allowing you to master the methods that bring out the best in whatever you catch or bring home from the market”

The green indoors : finding the right plants for your home environment
by Maddie Bailey

“The Green Indoors is a useful guide on how to find perfect plant matches for your home environments with a sustainable and innovative approach. Focusing on working with the plants you already own, the book is divided into chapters detailing all the possible conditions: extreme sun/heat, dry air/central heating, deep shade, high humidity, draughty, cold. By matching awkward spaces in your home with environments in the natural world, this book shows you how to relocate plants to improve their growth and help them thrive. Features an extensive section with informative plant profiles that include their origin, easy-to-follow tips on feeding and watering, optimum conditions, prospective growth, and is concluded by a helpful troubleshooting chapter dealing with common problems, and what to try when all hope is lost”

The new oil painting : your essential guide to materials and safe practices
by Kimberly Brooks

“A guide to the materials and safe practices that will take your oil painting practice to new heights–whether you are just starting out, or have been painting for years”

The girls who stepped out of line : untold stories of the women who changed the course of World War II
by Mari K. Eder

Experience the untold story of 15 women who changed the course of history as part of the Greatest Generation.

The American war in Afghanistan : a history
by Carter Malkasian

“The American War in Afghanistan is a full history of the war in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2020. It covers political, cultural, strategic, and tactical aspects of the war and details the actions and decision-making of the United States, Afghan government, and Taliban. The work follows a narrative format to go through the 2001 US invasion, the state-building of 2002-2005, the Taliban offensive of 2006, the US surge of 2009-2011, the subsequent drawdown, and the peace talks of 2019-2020. The book examines the overarching questions of the war: Why did the United States fail? What opportunities existed to reach a better outcome? Why did the United States not withdraw from the war?”

Even more reading suggestions

Choose Life License Plate Available in Kansas After January 2022

Christians for Life, Inc. is pleased to announce that we no longer need to collect prepaid applications for Choose Life Plates.  We thank you for all your assistance in getting the word out to Kansans across the state.  

We have turned over the applicant’s information to KDOR and the money collected.  After January 1, 2022, KDOR Inventory Manager will send certificates to take to treasurers where applicants will receive their long awaited Choose Life license plate.  

If anyone has a question the number to call at KDOR is 785-296-2228.

Christians for Life, Inc. would like to thank Chris Martin of L&M Solutions for helping with the printing of the brochures.  Russ Amberling, National Choose Life organization based in Florida was so very helpful.  Concerned Women for America of Kansas certainly did their share in helping with the collection of funds the first year. Of course, we thank Representative Trevor Jacobs for actually getting the bill passed and getting the amount needed to print the plates reduced.

Publicity was well handled by Lee Hartman, C5 Alive and the Metro Voice.  BOTT Radio and Phil Anderson, Topeka Capital-Journal also did spots on the station and an article in the paper.  

Kansans for Life, Kansas GOP, Culture Shield and their patrons were so helpful.  We received many orders from people on your mailing lists.

We are so humbled by your responses and appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts.

 

Best Regards,

 

Barbara Saldivar, Founder & Director of Christians for Life and CFL Board Members

Gary Roten, President

Scott McBurney, Vice President

Nancy Leon, Treasurer

Eryka Benteman, Secretary

Evergy Kansas Metro solar customers will move to two-part rate design

 

TOPEKA – Residential distributed generation (DG) customers served by Evergy Kansas Metro will soon have a new monthly electric rate that does not include a demand charge. This morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) issued an order that will move DG customers from a three-part rate design to a standard two-part residential rate. In addition, customers will receive refunds within 60 days for any difference in the amounts paid between the two rates. Evergy Kansas Metro provides power to customers previously served by Kansas City Power & Light (KCPL) prior to the 2018 merger between KCPL and Westar to form Evergy Inc.

Earlier this year, the same rate design change was approved for customers in Evergy’s Kansas Central region (formerly Westar) after a Kansas Supreme Court opinion called the three-part rate design price discriminatory and sent the matter back to the KCC for further proceedings. The three-part rate design was originally implemented following separate rate cases filed by Westar and KCPL prior to the merger, but only the Westar DG rate was challenged.

Today’s order resulted from a proposal by KCC Staff, Evergy, and the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board to make the rate for DG customers consistent across both service areas.  The Commission agreed there is potential for confusion and frustration over the disparate treatment of residential DG customers between Evergy’s two Kansas service territories and that it is in the public interest to treat Evergy’s residential DG customers consistently in this regard throughout both of its service territories.

Today’s order can be viewed at:   https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/20210824102815.pdf?Id=48078ebc-832d-4c1d-8089-d2765363c076

 

Pittsburg Youth Chorale Fall Enrollment Open


Area singers in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade are invited to join Pittsburg Youth Chorale, directed by MJ Harper.

The purpose of this vocal ensemble is to further grow vocal abilities, musical knowledge, and choral repertoire.

Performers will prepare music for community events and music festivals. COVID guidelines will be observed.

Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 6-7PM at First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Pine, Pittsburg, KS and begin September 14.

There is a fee of $25 per semester (Sept-Dec/Feb-May) to cover the cost of music.

Scholarships are available.

To enroll, visit this website: https://bit.ly/3km8ErH, contact MJ Harper at 620-719-6633, or email
[email protected], deadline September 14.

KGS Days of Giveaways

Kansas Gas Service is hosting an “11 Days of
Giveaways” contest on Facebook to celebrate Safe Digging Day and promote awareness about calling 811.

Beginning Aug. 1, the company starts challenging customers’ knowledge about safe digging and natural gas safety with daily prizes.

The contest will run through Aug. 11, 811 Day.
In support of National 811 Day (Wednesday, Aug.11), Kansas Gas Service reminds customers and contractors to call 811 before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.

Digging without calling can result in damage to underground utility lines, harm to yourself and others, and unnecessary disruption of service in your neighborhood.

According to national industry statistics, every six minutes an underground line is damaged due to someone deciding to dig without calling 811 first.

“We hope that the 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a natural reminder to put safety first by using the free 811 services before digging,” said Trey Pool, manager of Public Awareness
and Damage Prevention for Kansas Gas Service. “It’s the safest way to know where utilities are buried in your area before breaking ground.”

No matter how large or small, every digging project warrants a call to 811 at least two full working days before digging begins.
Underground utility lines may be found in yards or below sidewalks, driveways or streets.

When you call before you dig, the Kansas One-Call System notifies Kansas Gas Service and other operators of underground facilities to mark their buried assets within two full working days of the request.

The lines will be marked with flags or nonpermanent spray paint to let you know to stay clear of that area when digging. It’s important to keep these markers in place until all digging is complete.

Visit BeADigHeroKansas.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.

About Kansas Gas Service

Kansas Gas Service provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 645,000 customers in Kansas and
is the largest natural gas distributor in the state, in terms of customers.
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas Gas Service is a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a 100-percent
regulated natural gas utility that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OGS.” ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.

For more information and the latest news about Kansas Gas Service, visit kansasgasservice.com and follow its social
channels: @KansasGas, Facebook, Nextdoor, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Bryce Eck: World Champion In Junior Rodeo Bareback Riding

Bryce Eck. Submitted photo.

Bryce Eck, 17, comes from a family of bucking horse riders.

“My Dad (Andy) rode bucking horses when he was younger,” Eck said. “My older brother, Colt (19 years old) rides as well.”

All that practice, and talent, paid off for Bryce when he won the 2021 World Championship Junior Rodeo in the bareback riding event, this year held in Guthrie, OK from July 29-31.

“The top eight (contenders) make it back to finals on the third day,” Eck said. “The winner rides on Thursday, Friday, Saturday at noon then that evening.”

“You have to be under 19 years old to go to this rodeo, (and) you have to make it back each round with your score and how well you rode,” he said.

“A good ride is to have the horse bucking and the rider spurring the ride,” Eck said. “You have to stay on for eight seconds.”

At home on the Eck farm, Bryce pitches in.

During the interview yesterday, he was hauling hay for his dad on their cattle farm, near Redfield.

The hay will be for winter feed for the animals on the Eck farm.

“We raise cattle and we have a colt training business,” Eck said. “We train the horses to be ridden.”

 

 

Kansas Is A Leader in Wind and Solar Energy Development

Kansas Positioned to Lead the Nation’s Renewable Energy Transition, New Report Reveals

Kansas tops national charts in renewable energy share and demonstrates 

vast economic benefits of wind and solar power.

Topeka, KS – In 2020, the renewable energy industry had a banner year, and Kansas is a leader with its success in wind and solar energy developments. The newly released Clean Power Annual from the American Clean Power Association (ACP) notes Kansas as a national leader in renewable energy, with 43.4 percent of Kansas’ electricity coming from renewable sources, ranking second in the nation. The report highlights Kansas’ ability to increase jobs and investment while maximizing energy efficiency across the state.

 

Renewable energy is powering Kansas in more ways than one; wind and solar power are economic drivers. Clean power developments have brought $12.7 billion in cumulative capital investment and support 3,096 jobs in Kansas. In 2020 alone, renewable energy projects paid out $32.3 million in land lease payments to ranchers and farmers across the state, providing a much-needed source of reliable income throughout the pandemic. ACP’s report noted that Kansas generates 7,058 MW of electricity from renewable sources – the equivalent of powering at least 2.8 million homes, which accounts for more homes than Kansas has in the state. Renewables serve as a cash crop for the state, allowing exportation and reinforcement of the regional transmission organization.

 

Across industries, more companies are looking to power their operations with renewable energy, and Kansas stands to benefit. Thanks to an abundance of wind and sunshine, Kansas renewable energy operations are attracting development from major companies like Home Depot, Target, and Amazon, bringing even more jobs to the state.

 

“As a state of the great plains, Kansas is uniquely positioned for growth in wind and solar energy,” said David Toland, Kansas Secretary of Commerce. “Our stellar record of renewable energy development has put our state on the map, attracting businesses that demand renewables as a part of their portfolio to the great state of Kansas.”

 

A recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that wind technicians rank as the first fastest-growing career for the decade while solar installers ranked third. For Kansas residents, the growth of the state’s renewable energy industry means job growth and increased revenue.

 

“Kansas has seen tremendous growth in renewable energy,” said Gary Yager, President and CEO of Vision Bank in Topeka. “I am excited to see further renewable energy development for the economic and environmental future of the state.”

 

The report notes that 19.3 million metric tons of carbon emissions were saved through renewable energy production in Kansas last year. Wind and solar power have some of the lowest environmental impacts compared to other energy sources. The clean power industry is powering the local economy while preserving the state’s natural resources, all while bringing cleaner air to communities.

 

Clean energy in the U.S. topped 170,378 MW and now has enough wind and solar energy capacity to power the equivalent of 50 million homes – more than a third of the nation’s houses. In 2020, annual land-lease payments from clean power projects totaled $800 million, providing an additional income stream to America’s ranchers and farmers. State and local tax revenue from clean power projects across the nation reached $1.7 billion last year, and more than 415,000 Americans worked in the clean power industry in 2020.

 

bipartisan infrastructure plan making its way through Congress would spur on these benefits even more. This plan would include $73 billion in funding for clean energy transmission and updated power infrastructure. Kansas is set to lead the county toward reliable, affordable, renewable energy.

 

To speak with a Boost Kansas representative or to set up an interview, please contact Maura Kennedy at [email protected] or 856-220-8172. The full report can be viewed by clicking here – if this link does not work for you, please respond to this email to be sent a copy of the report. Be sure to follow along on social media using the hashtag #CleanPowerAnnual.

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About Boost Kansas

Boost Kansas, an initiative of the American Clean Power Association, is a statewide coalition of civic and business leaders supporting innovative policies that expand renewable energy investment in the state. With commonsense federal and state policies, Kansas can continue to be a national leader in harnessing the power of renewable energy development. Learn more at BoostKansas.com. 

About the American Clean Power Association

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is the voice of companies from across the clean power sector that are providing cost-effective solutions to the climate crisis while creating jobs, spurring massive investment in the American economy and driving high tech innovation across the United States. ACP works to transform the U.S. power grid to a low-cost, reliable and renewable power system. By uniting the power of wind, solar, transmission and storage companies, along with manufacturers and construction companies, developers and owners/operators, utilities, financial firms and corporate purchasers, we are championing policies that enable the continued and aggressive growth in renewable energy in the United States. Visit ACP’s website to learn more about the enormous economic benefits renewable energy brings to America and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Kansas Inmate Captured

Minimum-custody Inmate Eljay Reinhardt Who Walk Away from Wichita Work Release Facility Apprehended

TOPEKA, Kansas. – Minimum-custody resident Eljay Allen Reinhardt #124800 has been apprehended.

Reinhardt was taken into custody Saturday evening, July 31, 2021, by officials from the Kansas Department of Corrections, Enforcement, Apprehensions & Investigations (EAI) Unit, the Wichita Police Department, and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Reinhardt had been placed on escape status after he walked away from Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF) at approximately 11:45 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2021 after he did not report for work.

At this time no other details are being released as the investigation is ongoing.

The Wichita Work Release Facility, a satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state facility with a population of 79.

Inmate Escape in Wichita

Minimum-custody Inmate Eljay Reinhardt Walked Away from Wichita Work Release Facility

TOPEKA, Kansas. – Minimum-custody inmate Eljay Reinhardt #124800 has been placed on escape status after he walked away from Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF) at approximately 11:45 p.m. Friday.

Reinhart, a 40-year-old Male, was reported missing when the offender did not report for work. Reinhart was last seen wearing blue jeans, a red shirt and a tan cap.

Reinhart is currently serving a 28-month sentence for a 2020 Sedgwick County conviction for drug possession.

Reinhardt is 5 feet 11 inches tall, 225 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information on Reinhardt can call the Wichita Work Release Facility at (316) 265-5211, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

The walk-away is currently being investigated.  New information will be released as it becomes available.

The Wichita Work Release Facility, a satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state facility with a population of 79.

Photo at Kansas Department of Corrections (ks.gov)

Bourbon County Local News