Education: KU track legend lends name to scholarship

A scholarship for American Indians who want to become teachers has been established in the name of Billy Mills, an Olympic gold medalist and former track standout at Kansas University.

Running Strong for American Indian Youth has pledged $25,000 to the KU Endowment Association to endow the Billy Mills Running Strong for American Indian Youth Scholarship Fund.

The fund will provide scholarships for American Indian students in the Multicultural Scholars in Education program in KU’s School of Education.

A member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) tribe, Mills graduated from KU in 1962 with a degree in physical education.

Mills, who is also an alumnus of Haskell Indian Nations University, won the gold medal in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Olympic Games. He is the national spokesman for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, based in Lorton, Va.

Highway Patrol: Accident victim released from St. Luke’s hospital

One of three people hospitalized after a fatal car accident Sunday west of Lawrence was released Monday from a Kansas City, Mo., hospital.

Trevor Niedfeldt, 19, Belvue, was released from St. Luke’s Hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said two other people injured in the accident — Louis G. Schindler, 60, Hill City, and Stacey K. Hull, 19, Wamego — were taken by helicopter ambulance to KU Med, Kansas City, Kan. Hospital officials there declined to comment Monday. A new federal law prevents hospitals from releasing information about a patient’s condition unless the patient gives permission.

Julie A. Schindler, 47, Hill City, was killed in the three-car collision just north of U.S. Highway 40. She was a passenger in the car driven by Louis Schindler that was northbound in the southbound lane of the Kansas Highway 10 bypass, according to Highway Patrol reports.

The Highway Patrol said Louis Schindler was driving northbound in the southbound lane on the two lane highway, but it hasn’t said why. A trooper declined to comment when asked if alcohol was suspected of being a factor but added that checks are always made to see if alcohol was involved.

Crime: Police file charges against robbery suspect

A 49-year-old Topeka man accused of robbing Bath and Body Works, 3102 Iowa, made a formal court appearance Monday.

Michael L. Sudduth is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping and one count of fleeing a police officer.

Prosecutors allege he approached two 20-year-old female employees Friday night behind the store, ordered them inside and took a bag with an undetermined amount of cash.

A patrol officer saw a man matching the suspect’s description driving on West Sixth Street and tried to stop him, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said. Police chased Sudduth to Topeka and stopped his car by placing spikes in the roadway.

Sudduth remains in the Douglas County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bond. His next court appearance will be Thursday.

Schools: Praeger to visit Deerfield second-graders today

Second-grade students at Deerfield School today will hear from Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger.

Praeger, a Lawrence resident and former state senator, will meet with the students at 8:05 a.m. at the school, 101 Lawrence Ave. She will talk about seat-belt safety before attending Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ signing in Topeka of a proclamation designating this week as “National Buckle Up America Week.”