Cheney: Hutchinson man falls from boat, drowns

A Hutchinson man drowned Thursday in Cheney Reservoir.

Park rangers said Howard Crank was trying to load his boat onto a trailer on a boat ramp when 2-foot waves overtook his boat. He was not wearing a life jacket.

Park Ranger Ryan Stuckey said winds averaged about 20 mph on Thursday. He said that was a normal wind speed for the lake, but the boat was too small to handle the waves.

Crank’s son and some Wichita firefighters who happened to be nearby jumped in to save Crank, but could not find him under the water until it was too late.

Pittsburg: Foot found among rocks not human, police say

Police say an object found in a pile of crushed rock originally thought to resemble a human foot was not human at all.

Pittsburg Police Chief Michael O. Hall said the “foot” might belong to a bear or a large cat, but it was not human. He said he saw the foot himself, and it appeared human.

The object was sent to a forensic pathologist in Topeka. While police waited for the pathologist’s report, they had treated the case as a homicide, Hall said.

Atchison: Eight injured in fire at Atchison Casting

Eight people suffered minor injuries in a fire at Atchison Casting, authorities said.

Capt. Lee Kipple said the fire department received a call at 8:36 p.m. Thursday to provide medical assistance and the blaze was out by the time firefighters arrived.

Kipple said he thought the fire might have started in the steel-melting part of the plant.

The injuries consisted of upper respiratory problems and none were serious, said Atchison Hospital spokeswoman Sally Rains.