Ford County

Emily Evans of Bucklin is Ms. Wheelchair Kansas.  She says the small Ford County town was a great place to grow up. "I swam every day in the summer and played hide and seek," Evans says.  "You just kind of learned to make your own fun. " Now at age 25, those childhood years seem like forever ago.  Bucklin says she had to grow up fast after a diving accident left her quadriplegic. "I was 19 years old when I got hurt, and I think I've really found out who I am and who I want to be. " Once a star volleyball player, Evans still finds ways to be active.  She has recently been water skiing and loves to deer hunt.  Evans says she was never interested in pageants before, but she sought the Ms. Wheelchair Kansas crown in order to encourage others.  Her platform for the competition was "Empowering Youth to Define Themselves.

One person has died after a multi-vehicle crash near Ford County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Alfredo Varela of Liberal died when the vehicle she was in failed to yield the right-of-way and was hit by a second vehicle. A third vehicle missed the crash but ended up in a ditch along U.S. 56 southwest of Dodge City. Paramedics took three other people to Western Plains Regional Medical Center with various injuries. The roadway was closed for several hours while authorities investigated the crash.

Two people are killed, including a Fort Hays State University professor, and two others injured in a car accident in rural Ford County. It happened Sunday morning 7 miles west of Dodge City. The Kansas Highway Patrol reports a vehicle traveling east on U.S. Highway 56 when it crossed the center line, hitting a car driven by Fred Ruda head on.  Ruda and his mother-in-law, Eleanor Sexson were killed.  His wife, Sherill, was rushed to the hospital for treatment. The 19 year old driver of the other vehicle only received minor injuries.

Ford County authorities are looking for a man who could be connected with a shooting in Dodge City this morning. Police are looking for Irvin McDonald as a person of interest in the case. The shooting happened around 3:00 this morning.   Police say the victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. McDonald is also wanted on a warrant from a previous incident.  If you have any information, you're asked to contact police.

Billy Joe Craig Jr. and Charles Christopher Logsdon were bound over for trial on six charges, including first degree murder and robbery in the murder of Hutchinson mother Jennifer Heckel. Reno Co. District Court Judge Joseph McCarville made the ruling after a three day preliminary hearing in which he listened to testimony from nearly two dozen witnesses. McCarville scheduled a March 5 arraignment for Logsdon and Craig. Heckel was found shot to death inside her Hutchinson home last June.

A company in Ford County wants a tax break in order to expand. Ellis James, Inc., will ask the Ford County Commission for a 10-year, prorated tax abatement for the project. The company plans to manufacture counter top surfaces. The company would go in next to the current Kitchens, Inc., building. The tax break would pay for a new showroom and fabrication shop. Under the expansion plan, Ellis James says it will hire five people in the first year and five more people over the next four years.

A Kansas City man dies after an accident Thursday in Ford County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it the collision happened just before midnight on U.S. 54 east of the K-34 junction. The KHP says 22-year-old Mat Sdit of Kansas City, MO, was driving west on U.S. 54 when he went left of center. Investigators say Sdit collided with an eastbound semi. Sdit was taken to a Dodge City hospital where he died. One person in the semi was treated for a possible injury.

A Plains man dies Sunday after a crash in west of Bucklin in Ford County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 59-year-old James L. Cox was driving his truck west on U.S. 54, two miles west of Bucklin, around 8:40 Sunday morning. The KHP says for some reason he drifted into the eastbound lanes. Investigators say an on-coming truck went onto the shoulder to avoid Cox's vehicle, but the two trucks ended up colliding. Cox was taken to an area hospital where he died. The driver of the other truck was not hurt.

A new student center that doubles as a tornado shelter could be coming to Dodge City Community College. The building would be designed as a "monolithic dome". The design is similar to a new addition built at a school in Fowler that also serves as a tornado shelter. The new activity center would be built where there are currently tennis courts on the DCCC campus. It would be strong enough to withstand tornado force winds. Inside will be space for student activities, a tornado shelter and possibly even Ford County emergency operations.

Dodge City Police say a man they were looking for in connection with a possible abduction surrendered to police in California. In a news release, the Dodge City Police Chief says Ausberto Baez-Rivera surrendered to officers in Chowchilla, California, early Tuesday morning. It's the same place where his car was found Monday outside his mother's home. Officials say the suspect is being held on a warrant out of Ford County. No word on when he will be sent back to Kansas. ------ Dodge City Police are asking for the publics help in finding a man wanted in a kidnapping.