Wichita

Geology student dies on field trip

A Wichita State University student collapsed and died during a geology class field trip at Pueblo State Park in Colorado, the university said Thursday.

Robert Wasson, a 44-year-old senior studying geology, died Tuesday during a field course near Pueblo, Colo. Wasson’s hometown was not known Thursday.

Autopsy results are pending.

John Gries, associate professor of geology, has taught the Field Geology course each summer since 1970. This year’s class began Sunday with students traveling and becoming acclimated to the altitude and environment.

Wasson collapsed Tuesday after the seven students, on their third field stop of the day, walked about 200 yards from their vehicle and climbed about 15 feet up an outcrop, university officials said.

Collette Burke, who leads Wichita State’s geology department, described Wasson as well-liked.

“Everybody loved him,” she said. “He was always the first to volunteer and had a great sense of humor. We anticipated great things from Bob.”

Nebraska

Kansan sentenced in eagle shooting

A Kansan has been sentenced to three years’ probation and fined $5,000 for shooting a bald eagle near Red Cloud.

Bailey Jacobs, 20, of Plains, Kan., pleaded guilty and was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Lincoln to shooting the bird on Feb. 7, 2002. U.S. Magistrate David Piester said Jacobs would not be allowed to hunt or fish during his probation.

A landowner found the dead eagle. Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, acting on an anonymous tip months later, were led to Jacobs, said Mark Webb, a special investigator with the agency.

Killing a bald eagle violates three laws — the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.