Perry resident dies in auto accident

A Perry man died Monday morning after losing control of his pickup truck and hitting a creek embankment on Wellman Road southwest of McLouth, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol report.

John D. Siess, 41, was pronounced dead after being flown by air ambulance to University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan.

The wreck happened about 6:20 a.m. as he was driving south on Wellman Road at 26th Street, according to a report. The report said he was driving too fast for road conditions and lost control as he went around a curve.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the report.

Police

Topekan reports rape at Lawrence residence

A 19-year-old Topeka woman told police two acquaintances raped her early Sunday at a residence in central Lawrence.

Police have identified two suspects in the case, a 36-year-old Topeka man and 27-year-old Lawrence man. They have been interviewed but had not been arrested as of Monday.

The incident happened about 6:06 a.m. at the home of one of the men.

Crime

Hacker blackmails Hotmail e-mail user

A Lawrence man told police he’s the victim of electronic blackmail.

Starting Aug. 3, someone hijacked the 20-year-old man’s Internet-based Hotmail e-mail account, changed the password and began using it to send “rude and vulgar” messages to his acquaintances, according to a report. The man said the suspect also was demanding money from him, claimed to have his credit-card number and had posted altered pictures on a Web site claiming they were photos of the man.

Police are investigating it as a case of criminal defamation.

Farming

Generous rainfall helps sunflowers

Wichita — Sunflowers are blooming in Kansas.

Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that half of the state’s sunflower crop is now in bloom. Like other fall-harvested crops in the state, sunflowers are thriving with the generous rainfall they have received so far this summer.

KASS listed sunflower condition as 19 percent excellent, 53 percent good, 25 percent fair, 2 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.

As their crops mature, Kansas farmers this week have been taking advantage of warmer temperatures to cut alfalfa and prepare the ground for winter wheat planting this fall, the agency said.