Wichita: Teen, in plea agreement, admits to slaying

Joseph Watkins on Monday admitted killing Garrett Boyer last summer.

Watkins, 19, of Wichita, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for consideration of a reduced prison sentence. Before the plea, Watkins had been scheduled to stand trial for second-degree murder.

The plea included charges of criminal possession of a firearm and aggravated intimidation of a witness.

The agreement called for a recommendation of nearly nine years in prison. That’s in contrast to the 13-20 years Watkins could face under Kansas sentencing laws.

Watkins shot Boyer, 24, after a fight over a woman early on June 22, 2002, according to police reports.

Great Bend: Newspaper to publish morning editions

The Great Bend Tribune, which has published for 127 years, will become a morning newspaper, beginning March 29.

The newspaper also announced that it would publish Tuesday through Saturday, dropping its current Sunday and Monday editions.

“With today’s busy lifestyles, we have to compete for people’s time,” Tribune Publisher Judy Murphy said Tuesday. “We want to get the news to our readers earlier so that they can be as informed as they need to be.”