Topeka resident suspected of trying to sell stolen goods

A Topeka man was arrested Thursday afternoon after he allegedly tried to sell stolen golf clubs to a downtown Lawrence store.

Employees at Play It Again Sports, 1029 Mass., called police about 12:30 p.m. when the 32-year-old man entered the store. Police were told the suspect had sold the store another stolen set of golf clubs during a previous visit.

Police arrived and discovered that the man also was driving a rental car that had been reported stolen from a Topeka business. The car was identified as a 2000 Chevrolet from Rent-A-Wreck.

The suspect was taken to the Douglas County Jail but was released Friday. The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office can still file charges later.

Suspect charged with battery of officer, drug possession

Lawrence Police used their metal batons and pepper spray to subdue a Kansas City, Mo., man who allegedly fought with them Thursday night.

Police arrested James E. Pellis, 37, in the 1400 block of Haskell Avenue. About 10:30 p.m. an officer approached Pellis to ask about an expired tag he saw on the car Pellis was driving, police spokesman Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

Pellis allegedly began fighting with two officers, and other officers responded to assist. The suspect allegedly tried to take a pistol from one of the officers, Pattrick said. Pellis was taken to the Douglas County Jail.

Officers also found what they believed to be a small amount of crack cocaine in Pellis’ possession.

Friday afternoon Pellis was charged in Douglas County District Court with possession of crack cocaine, battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice and having an expired tag.

Pellis remained in jail on $10,000 bond. He is to appear in court again at 2 p.m. Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Severe weather may hit county later today

The Douglas County area could be in for severe weather later today, the National Weather Service in Topeka said.

Rain was expected this morning before a possible break in the clouds during mid-day, meteorologist John Woynick said.

“Then we could have some nasty weather,” Woynick said.

A small amount of rain 0.12 inches, according to WeatherData, a private forecasting service in Wichita fell in Lawrence early Friday, but the rain had stopped by 10 a.m. Clouds remained, however, and the temperature rose to only 50 degrees.

There is a 60 percent chance of rain today with a predicted high in the 70s, the weather service said. Winds will be out of the southeast at 20 to 30 mph. The winds will decrease tonight, and the low will be in the 40s.

The sun will return Sunday and the high will be in the 60s.

Thursday accident victims improving in area hospitals

Two people critically injured Thursday in a three-vehicle accident south of Lawrence had improved Friday, hospital officials said.

Rochelle M. Edwards, 21, Lyndon, a Kansas University sophomore, was upgraded to serious condition at KU Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan.

Also upgraded to serious was Wayne G. Kurtz, 83, Westphalia. He is at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Martin L. Belcher, 47, Eudora, had improved from fair to good condition Friday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, a spokeswoman said.

Ricky D. Hobbs Jr., 24, Lyndon, remained in fair condition at KU Medical Center.

A fifth person, Darwin W. Kurtz, 34, Westphalia, was reported by the Kansas Highway Patrol to have been taken to LMH. But LMH officials said there was no record of him being admitted or treated in the emergency room.

In another accident Thursday evening on U.S. Highway 40 west of Lawrence, Matthew D. Zabel, 32, Leawood, was taken by air ambulance to KU Medical Center. He remained in fair condition Friday.

Top researchers to gather for KU stroke symposium

More than 100 top stroke researchers will be at the Kansas University Medical Center this weekend for a symposium.

“The International Stroke Symposium: Translating Principles of Brain Plasticity into Clinical Interventions” will be at the Fairmont Hotel in Kansas City, Kan. The event is sponsored by the Med Center’s Center on Aging and is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health and Bank of America.

Participants include researchers from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Australia.

Barbecue benefit scheduled to aid Bert Nash clients

Clients with Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center will have a barbecue benefit May 3 to raise funds so they can attend a conference in Wichita.

Described as a community-wide barbecue, it will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the south parking lot at the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine. Food, live music, plant and art sales and drawing for prizes from merchants will be featured.

The cost of a meal will be $6. Merchants are donating services to help with the event.

Funds raised will allow Bert Nash clients to attend the Kansas Recovery Conference June 12 to June 14 in Wichita. The money will be used to pay for transportation and motel rooms.