Former governor takes over at state Wildlife and Parks
Washington His nomination to head the federal Fish and Wildlife Service remained in limbo, but Kansan Steve Williams on Wednesday resigned his state government post as secretary of Wildlife and Parks.
Williams had remained on the job in Kansas even after Graves named a successor, former Gov. Mike Hayden, and placed him on the state payroll as a liaison on the governor's staff in October.
Gov. Bill Graves said that for now, Williams is signing on as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Interior, which oversees the 7,500-employee Fish and Wildlife Service.
President Bush named Williams as director of the service last July 18, but Democratic senators stalled Williams' nomination, using it to seek concessions from the Republican White House on duck hunting regulations and restoration of Florida's Everglades.
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Law enforcement: Autopsy results awaited after discovery of bodies
Area law enforcement authorities Wednesday were awaiting the results of two autopsies performed on bodies found Tuesday in Eudora and Lawrence.
Police in both cities say no foul play is suspected. No names have been released.
A 20-year-old woman's body was found in her Lawrence apartment in the 4500 block of Wimbledon Drive. A roommate called police. A body of a woman in her 40s was found in her Eudora residence.
Autopsies were performed by Frontier Forensics, Topeka.
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Tonganoxie: City officials to address fire department conflict
Tonganoxie City Council members at their Jan. 14 meeting may discuss a possible resolution to a conflict between a group of city firefighters and their long-time chief.
Recently, 10 firefighters sent a letter to Fire Chief Charlie Conrad suggesting he resign. The letter came after the resignation of three volunteer firefighters. A copy of the letter has not been released, and no one involved would speak in specific terms about what it said.
Mayor John Franiuk said he has met with both Conrad and firefighters in an attempt to bring the two sides together. He also wants to discuss the situation with council members.
Conrad said minor misunderstandings in the department through the years have occurred but have been resolved. He emphasized that the mayor is his boss and that he has no intention of resigning.
The resignations bring the force down to 13 or 14 members, but officials say the city still is well-protected.
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Military services: State Rep. Tafanelli returns to lead National Guard unit
State Rep. Lee Tafanelli will return to Kansas from temporary duty at the Pentagon in Washington to take command of the Kansas Army National Guard's 891st Engineer Battalion.
Tafanelli, also a lieutenant colonel in the Kansas National Guard, is an Ozawkie Republican whose district includes Jefferson County and parts of northern Douglas County. He will assume command during an 11 a.m. ceremony Saturday at Allen County Community College in Iola, battalion headquarters. The battalion has 628 soldiers with subordinate units in Pittsburg, Coffeyville, Fort Scott, Chanute, Winfield and Augusta.
Tafanelli is currently serving as military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Pentagon. He joined the the national guard in 1980.
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