Sumner County mother guilty in baby’s death

Wellington — A 30-year-old Sumner County woman accused of killing her newborn baby has pleaded guilty to intentional second-degree murder, even though the baby’s body has not been found.

Rebecca Lynn Gregory, 30, is expected to be given a 12-year prison sentence, Sumner County Atty. William Mott said. Authorities believe Gregory, who lived with her parents on a farm near Geuda Springs, killed her baby last November.

According to court documents, authorities seized bone fragments from a farm burn pit and clothing with possible blood stains from Gregory’s bedroom.

Before Gregory pleaded guilty Thursday, she stipulated that she was competent to stand trial, Mott said.

He added that a psychologist’s report “indicated Ms. Gregory was competent to stand trial though she did have ‘intellectual functioning’ deficits.”

Candidate files to run for District 53 seat

A 26-year resident of the Kansas House District 53, which serves the southwest part of Douglas County, has filed to run for the seat.

Jack Woelfel, a Topeka Republican, opposes tax increases and the expansion of gambling. He supports family values and the Kansas Legislature’s bills that attempt to amend the Constitution to define marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman. He opposes abortion rights.

Woelfel served in the U.S. Navy before he began a 30-year career with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

He and his wife, Mary, are serving their second terms as Republican Precinct committee man and committee woman for their voting precinct in Topeka.

He serves on the Board of Deacons for the Topeka Bible Church.

Ottawa University taps former regents staffer

Ottawa — A former staff member at the Kansas Board of Regents has been named director of institutional analysis at Ottawa University.

Debra Smith will be in charge of directing the assessment of OU’s academic programs and directing the institutional research program, which is tied to strategic planning. She will start in her role July 1.

Smith also has served as site director of Friends University’s Topeka campus, program director at Washburn University and an adjunct faculty member and curriculum consultant at Allen County Community College, Neosho County Community College and Baker University.

Rocket club schedules spring launch Sunday

Model rockets will be soaring Sunday near Clinton Lake as part of the Cordley School Rocket Club spring launch.

The event, from noon to 5 p.m., will feature more than 100 rockets ranging from 6 inches to 6 feet in length.

The event is open to the public, though the club asks those who wish to attend to call Matt Costabile, the club’s coordinator, at 865-3648 for directions to the launch site.

Bedroom makeover on tap for blood donors

Donors this month at Community Blood Center have a chance to win a queen-size bed and carpeting.

The promotion is designed to get more people to donate blood during May, which starts the summer donation season. Summer traditionally sees fewer blood donations because of busy schedules and vacations, blood center officials said.

Those who donate at the center, 1410 Kasold Drive, can register to win the bed from Ed Marling Stores, 27th and Iowa streets, and the carpet from Carpet One, 2851 Iowa.

For information about donating blood and the promotion, you can check this Web site: www.BloodIsLife.org.