Ford County

Eyewitness News continues to ask questions about the death of Natalie Pickle.  Pickle died nearly a year ago and authorities ruled it a homicide.  Yet no charges have been filed in the case.  "This was a human being," said grandfather Gary Perry.   "She was a part of our life.  I think things should be moving forward and they're not. " Perry says as each day goes by, the family gets more frustrated.  Perry says at the beginning, they...

Local law enforcement is teaming up to combat against drunk driving this holiday season.  You'll see red ribbons tied around police cars to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. Normally the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department participate in the Holiday Drive.  But this year, 18 law enforcement agencies are teaming up with the Wichita Crime Commission and DUI Victim's Center.  The agencies include, Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Dodge City, Emporia, Haysville, Maize, Park City, Valley Center, Wellington, Ford County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, Lyon County Sheriff's Office, Emporia State University and Wichita State University police departments along with the Wichita Public Schools Safety Services Department.

by Sarah Kallail Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed the much debated Expanded Gambling Bill into law today. She visited four different cities which included Wichita and Dodge City.  If voters approve the bill, state-owned casinos will be allowed in four counties including one in Ford County and one in either Sedgwick or Sumner. The bill would also allow slot machines at the Wichita Greyhound Park. Governor Sebelius and her supporters say the bill could bring 200 million dollars to Kansas.

(WICHITA, Kan.) Competition is stiff for any available jobs in Kansas as unemployment keeps going up. The latest numbers show the state's unemployment rate is 7.7%, and there are 48,500 fewer jobs than a year ago. But despite all that, some Kansas employers still struggle to fill their payrolls. From across two conference rooms at the Wichita Hyatt, you can hear the voices in the booth. Chelsey Fisher said "They have about 20 jobs listed at a time on our website.

by Karen Graber Expanded gambling is not in the future for Sedgwick County. The legislature approved state run casinos in four counties if voters pass it. They are Wyandotte and Ford county, Cherokee or Crawford county, Sumner or Sedgwick County. Tuesday people in Sedgwick County said they don't want it. Kansas will be the first state to own its casinos. It will pick management companies to run the four casinos. More on how the selection process works in this factfinder 12 report.

Name:  Karen Jo Blankman Office Sought:  Ford Country Clerk Political Party:  Republican Website:  N/A Education:  Dodge City Senior High, Dodge City Community College with a degree in Associate of Applied Science Civic Activities:  Freshman Football mothers, Dodge City Red Demon supporter, support my children's activities, and Dodge City Ducks Unlimited Board Member Profession:  currently Administrative Assistant...

Continued hot and dry conditions prompt Dodge City officials to ban fireworks on the Fourth of July for the second year in a row. The decision on banning fireworks inside Dodge City came during a city commission meeting Monday night. Fire officials in Dodge City say the continued hot, dry weather have made the fire danger too high. Commissioners also decided to ban the community fireworks show scheduled for 10:00 p.m. On July 4. When weather improves and the contractor is available, the city will re-schedule the fireworks display.

Updated: Dodge City Police Chief Craig Mellecker says a suspect matching the description of the man wanted in robbery at the Western State Bank Tuesday has been arrested. Chief Mellecker says the suspect was taken into custody without incident in Wichita Wednesday morning. ------- The Dodge City Police Department and Ford County Sheriff's Department responded to an armed robbery late Tuesday afternoon. Surveillance images show a black man holding a gun and demanding cash at the Western State Bank located at 2121 N. 14th in Dodge City.

An Amtrak train is back in service after an early morning evacuation in Dodge City.  Ford County authorities tell us the train was stopped early this morning to investigate a possible suspicious package. Dodge City Police Chief Craig Mellecker tells Eyewitness News a passenger noticed a suspicious device on the train west of Dodge City.  That passenger alerted a conductor and Amtrak notified Dodge City police. Police stopped the train in Dodge City and evacuated the car where the device was located, and upon further investigation, decided to evacuate the entire train.

On November 19, 2008, three year-old Natalie Pickle was home in Dodge City with her mother's boyfriend. The boyfriend told investigators Natalie fell off the bed. She died the following day. Now, three years later, charges have yet to be filed in the case. The legal battle began immediately. The boyfriend's attorney hired a private pathologist who wanted to observe the autopsy. The autopsy was supposed to be done at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensics Science Center in Wichita. But the facility does not allow outside experts to observe practice and procedure.