Briefly

Pretty Prairie

Surveillance cameras offered after vandalism

The Reno County sheriff has offered this city in south Kansas several surveillance cameras left over from a local Wal-Mart after an attempted break-in at the city office and library.

Sheriff Randy Henderson said the cameras and equipment he offered to Pretty Prairie were donated from a Wal-Mart that upgraded its system.

The recent string of vandalism, including cut phone lines and an attempted break-in at the city office and library, prompted the city to discuss purchasing a hidden camera, said City Clerk Patti Brace.

The Reno County Sheriff’s Department advised the city to add a camera inside the building and put up a street light outside the back door, Brace said.

Hutchinson

Attorney withdraws subpoena on journalists

A Reno County court-appointed defense attorney has withdrawn subpoenas on a newspaper executive and three of his reporters who covered an attempted-murder case.

Timothy O’Keefe, defending Tony Ballard, who is accused of the crime, withdrew subpoenas on Hutchinson News Editor and Publisher Jim Bloom and his reporters.

None of the subpoenaed reporters witnessed the shooting that took place Sept. 24, but they wrote stories about the incident.

The defense has requested a continuance in the trial, which was to have started Jan. 12.

The subpoenas sought access to the reporters and any notes or documents related to the case. The Hutchinson Publishing Co. filed a motion to quash the subpoenas.