Sumner County

The state of Kansas requires that volunteer EMS crews be available at a moment's notice. But to make sure no one is overworked, the state asks there be a minimum of 15 volunteers. In the small Sumner county town of Argonia, its EMS crew consists of 7 volunteers, one of whom is only available half the time. The city blaims the amount of time required as one of the reason so few people are volunteering. Because of this, the city is asking Sumner county and the state EMS board to consider creating a service for rural areas.

An 18-year-old Udall man is dead after a crash on K-55 Monday evening.  The crash happened around two miles west of Udall in Sumner County. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 18-year-old Devan Allen Rueger was headed west when his vehicle left the roadway, entered a ditch and rolled. Rueger was pronounced dead later that evening. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Sumner County property owners are hitting the jackpot.  County Commissioners voted unanimously this week to slash property taxes by 27%. Commissioners say the reduction was made possible because of revenue generated by The Kansas Star Casino.  "The taxes on a $100,000 home will drop by about $200 a year," said Commission Chairman Cliff Bales. Sumner County receives 1% of gaming revenue from the casino near Mulvane.  Sumner's rake for is just over $1 million. Bales said the commission was committed to making good on its promise to return casino money to the taxpayers in the form of a mill reduction.

Email Kim at: khynes@kwch.com Like Kim on Facebook: kHynes12 Follow Kim on Twitter: @Hynes12 Kim Hynes is the Digital Content Manager for KWCH.  She works with reporters, photographers and producers to post conent to kwch.com along with the KWCH Facebook and Twitter pages. Before moving to the web in October of 2011, Kim spent nine years reporting for KWCH.  She started as a bureau reporter in Hays.  After a year there, she moved to Wichita and began covering a variety of stories.  She helped cover the arrest of BTK killer Dennis Rader.

Global Gaming Solutions has announced that its proposed casino near Wellington will be named the WinSpirit Casino. The name & logo was a joint creation of the Global Gaming executive team and Armstrong-Shank Marketing of Haysville. After Wednesday's announcement, staff from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce handed out t-shirts with the name and logo. The Kansas Facility Review Board will hear presentations from two companies wanting to build a casino in Sumner County.

Peninsula Gaming is denying charges taht two of its executives made illegal campaign contributions. Peninsula Gaming is a proposed developer of the Kansas Star casino in Sumner County. Charges were filed Monday in Polk County Iowa district court, that the two executives made illegal contributions to the re-election campaign of Iowa Governor Chet Culver. In a statement Wednesday, Peninsula Gaming says it has always adhered to the highest standards of regulatory compliance and ethical business practices.

Mulvane and Sumner County public school students are reaping the benefits from the Kansas Star Casino. The casino is giving out $100 gift cards for school supplies. “I think as much money as the casino makes, I think that's pretty fair to give back to our community,” said Mulvane resident Stacy Magee. The casino has generated almost $100 million in revenue since it opened in December, according to the Kansas Lottery. These residents are pleased it's already giving back. “We got 5 gift cards for $100 each for each child that we have and it's for school supplies, enrollment, clothes, shoes, that type of thing,” said Magee.

Update: Nixa police have confirmed that the Mayes County sheriff's office in Oklahoma has found Kevin and Tessa Merritt. The Nixa PD are picking up the teens.They say they will have no further comment until the teens are back in Missouri. --------------- Original Story, October 12 Officers are on the trail of two endangered teens who many have spent some time in Sumner County.  17-year-old Kevin Merritt and his sister, 15-year-old Tessa Merritt, are from Nixa, Missouri.  Officers say the two ran-away from their father's home Sunday.  Tuesday night, Nixa police say Tessa texted her father, saying she needed help.  Officers were able to ping her phone within 10 to 30 minutes of her text.

Students from the Conway Springs High School are helping clean up -- after Saturday's tornado outbreak. The school says it normally does a community clean day this time of year. Normal tasks include painting homes or cleaning up yards. But after multiple tornadoes touched down in Sumner County -- the school thought this farm could really use help.     Help that is much appreciated, says land owner Chris Vancuren,  "They're doing a great job. We can't thank them enough.

A Wichita church is hosting a charity concert for the Choi family tonight.  Three members of the Choi familiy were killed in a wrong-way crash on the Kansas Turnpike in Sumner County earlier this year. 39-year-old Kyoung Yeaon Chae, her 9-year-old son Seo Won Choi, and 17-year-old daughter Yuna Choi were killed. Yuna's twin sister, Hanna survived the crash. Also killed in the crash was 27-year-old Gregory Davis, who was going the wrong way on the turnpike. The charity concert is tonight at 7:00 at Wichita East Heights United Methodist Church at 4407 E. Douglas Ave.