41 human cases of West Nile reported

Topeka — State health officials have confirmed six new human cases of West Nile virus in the past two days, bringing the total for this year to 41.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday it had confirmed cases in an 88-year-old Jackson County resident, a 74-year-old Clay County resident and a 63-year-old Wallace County resident.

On Tuesday, KDHE reported cases involving 49-year-old and 75-year-old Sedgwick County residents and a 71-year-old McPherson County resident.

All such cases involve people who develop encephalitis, a swelling of the brain, or meningitis, a swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.

Kansas keeps track of only the most severe cases of West Nile virus.

Tonganoxie thirsty for more water

Having grown weary of water rationing, irrigation bans and other conservation measures, officials are looking to pump up Tonganoxie’s water supply.

Members of the Leavenworth County Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 6 intend to discuss capacity options at 7 tonight at Tonganoxie City Hall, 321 S. Delaware St. in Tonganoxie. Several members of the Tonganoxie City Council also are expected to attend.

Tonganoxie’s 1,400 water customers use 120 million gallons of water a year. About a third comes from the district, which pumps water from Bonner Springs into Tonganoxie and rural customers north and west of town.

Last year, Tonganoxie enacted usage limits because the city didn’t have enough water to meet demand.

Engineers are developing proposals for the district to receive another 500 gallons of water per minute, twice the current capacity.

Bicycle-moped wreck injures two residents

Two people were injured Wednesday afternoon when a bicycle and a moped collided at the intersection of 23rd Street and Ridge Court, Lawrence Police said.

The bicycle rider, identified by police as John Albers, 55, Lawrence, was taken by air ambulance helicopter to University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Hospital officials could not confirm or deny Albers was there because of privacy laws. Information about his condition was unavailable.

Police said the moped rider, Joshua Duringer, 32, Lawrence, was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said

The accident occurred about 12:15 p.m. when moped was westbound on 23rd and struck the bicycle while turning south onto Ridge Court, police said. The bicycle had been traveling east on the sidewalk and was crossing Ridge Court.

Ex-Kansas Air Guard officer acquitted

Topeka — A Shawnee County jury has acquitted a former Kansas Air National Guard officer of stealing more than $4,800 from a Guard organization.

Rick Jellison, a 22-year veteran and guard major, had been the spokesman and community manager for the Guard’s Topeka-based 190th Refueling Wing.

The felony theft charge against him relates to the 2001 disappearance of $4,829 belonging to the National Guard Association of Kansas, which he had served as treasurer for about two years.

Jellison testified the money, in the form of a certificate of deposit, was mistakenly listed under his name after he moved the CD from one bank to another.

A jury deliberated less than two hours Wednesday before acquitting Jellison, who now lives in San Antonio.

University librarian receives Budig award

Richard W. Clement, special collections librarian at Kansas University, received the Gretchen and Gene A. Budig Distinguished Librarian Award for 2003.

Clement joined the KU faculty as an assistant special collections librarian in 1986. He became special collections librarian in 2001.

Former KU Chancellor Gene A. Budig and his wife, Gretchen, established the library faculty award with the Kansas University Endowment Association in 2001. The award is presented annually to a library faculty member.