Toddler found after fire was shot, police say

Topeka — A child found dead after a Rossville home was destroyed by fire was shot to death, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

The child, believed to be 3-year-old Blake Wolc, was found with his mother, Lila Wolc, 46, after Sunday afternoon’s blaze at their Rossville home. The State Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the cause of the fire.

The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that the boy, whose body has not been positively identified, died from a gunshot wound. The department said a gun was found near Lila Wolc’s body, which has been identified, but authorities have not yet determined how Wolc died.

The Sheriff’s Office said Wolc bought the gun last month, and there was no evidence that anyone else was involved in the deaths.

Authorities have said Wolc’s husband, Brian Wolc, was at work when the home caught fire.

Murder charge filed against baby’s mother

Olathe — An Olathe woman who is accused of leaving her newborn baby in a trash bin has been charged with reckless second-degree murder.

Prosecutors contend Aubrey Christine Owen, 20, abandoned the full-term newborn after the baby was born alive. Owen turned herself in to Johnson County authorities Tuesday and was later released on $100,000 bond.

A trash collector found the baby’s body in a duffel bag in a trash bin on Oct. 13. Authorities were led to Owen because materials containing her name also were found.

Authorities believe that Owen, a student at Kansas State University, gave birth at her parents’ home in Olathe.

Wichitan pleads guilty in fireworks case

Wichita — A Wichita man pleaded guilty Wednesday to selling more than 1,000 pounds of display fireworks to a Wisconsin man who did not have a license to use the explosives, U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren said.

Gerald Lee Dunnegan, owner of Advanced Imports Inc., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements and distribute explosive materials.

Melgren said Dunnegan, 58, admitted that in 1997 he conspired to sell display fireworks to Rodney Harris, of Appleton, Wis., who did not have a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Melgren said Dunnegan admitted accepting fake ATF forms required to buy display fireworks, which must be used within the same state they are purchased. Melgren also said Dunnegan admitted Harris took the more than 1,000 pounds of fireworks Dunnegan’s Sunflower Fireworks sold him to Wisconsin.

Dunnegan faces up to 10 years in prison without parole when he is sentenced. A sentencing date has not been set.

Linwood resident appears on lottery show

A Linwood woman recently won $1,000 and a trip to Las Vegas to appear on the “Powerball Instant Millionaire Game Show.”

Dora Terrell didn’t make it to the final round of the show, which was taped at Venetian Hotel & Casino. The show was broadcast Saturday.

Terrell’s daughter, Debbie Vandervoort, traveled with her.

Terrell also is a past winner of $20,000 in the lottery’s Harley-Davidson scratch game and $10,000 in the Bingo instant scratch game, the Kansas Lottery said in a news release.

Lawrence wins Habitat can challenge

The Wildcats may have defeated the Jayhawks on the football field Saturday, but Lawrence scored a victory against Manhattan.

Lawrence defeated Manhattan in the Aluminum Can Challenge, a benefit for Habitat for Humanity that began Oct. 1 and ran through 5 p.m. Monday.

Lawrence collected 5,658 pounds of cans, compared with 2,164 for Manhattan.

“We whomped them,” said Linda Klinker, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity program director. “We just blew them away.”

Klinker said the Lawrence portion of the cans would be sold for scrap and would raise about $1,400 for Habitat.

KU students to exhibit works at art conference

Nine Kansas University art students will exhibit works and make presentations at the Kansas Art Education Assn. state conference Saturday and Sunday in Salina.

This year’s theme is “First Things First: Building Foundations, Changing Lives.”

Presenters are Natalie Aillon, Lawrence graduate student; Elizabeth Rowe, Overland Park junior; Cassie Sebring, Topeka junior; Brian Pollack, Overland Park junior; Trishia Nelson, Eden Prairie, Minn., junior; Erin Scott, Roca, Neb., junior; Margaret Schramm, Merriam graduate student; Elizabeth Gamber, Olathe graduate student; and Deena Amont, Lawrence graduate student.