Area briefs

Kansas City, Kan.

KU Hospital program gains recertification

The University of Kansas Hospital trauma program has been recertified at Level 1 status by the American College of Surgeons.

The recertification is the first review process since the hospital was given the status in 2000.

The Level 1 designation, the highest certification given by the college, has been awarded to 95 trauma programs in the country. The KU hospital is the only facility in the Kansas City area with the Level 1 designation.

The KU hospital treats about 1,350 trauma patients each year.

Kansas City, Kan.

Flesh-eater convicted of fourth killing

A man previously convicted of killing three acquaintances, including one whose flesh he cooked and ate, was found guilty Thursday of a fourth homicide.

Marc V. Sappington, 25, was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery in the March 2001 shooting death of David Mashak, also 25, at his business, Phase One Auto Sales, in Kansas City, Kan.

Prosecutors said Mashak’s death was unrelated to the killings of three of Sappington’s acquaintances over a four-day span in April 2001 in his Kansas City, Kan., neighborhood.

Sappington was sentenced earlier this month to three consecutive life terms for the first-degree murders of Terry T. Green, 25; Michael Weaver Jr., 22; and Alton “Fred” Brown Jr., 16.

Evidence at his trial in July included a taped confession in which Sappington said he heard voices while high on a hallucinogenic drug telling him he would die unless he consumed human flesh and blood.

Kingman

Two teens killed in truck-car crash

Two teenagers died Wednesday night in a collision at an intersection about three miles northwest of Kingman.

Trevor S. Heuson, 17, of Cunningham, and Matthew O. Neal, 19, of Kingman, were killed when the car in which they were passengers was hit by a pickup truck, the Kansas Highway Patrol said. The patrol said the driver of the car failed to yield the right-of-way to the pickup.

Topeka

Doctor, wife charged with Medicaid fraud

A Leawood doctor and his wife have been charged with Medicaid fraud after billing for services their teenage daughter provided as a “personal care attendant” while she was attending college out of state.

Atty. Gen. Phill Kline’s office on Thursday charged Dr. Timothy W. Smith and Patricia A. Smith, both 55, with conspiracy to make a false claim and making a false claim to the Medicaid program.

Kline alleges the couple defrauded the Medicaid program out of more than $16,000.

Hutchinson

Fallen horse rider struck, killed by truck

A man was killed after the horse he was riding was struck by a vehicle as they attempted to cross a state highway, the Kansas Highway Patrol said.

Richard F. Brown, 70, of Hutchinson, died Wednesday night in the accident on Kansas Highway 61 in Reno County, about two miles north of Hutchinson.

The patrol said a car turning onto the highway struck the horse from behind. It said Brown fell from the horse and was run over by a pickup truck. The horse was not badly injured.

State health-plan firm sold to St. Louis firm

First Guard Health Plan, the company that administers HealthWave, the state’s health insurance program for children in low-income families, is being sold to Centene Corp., a St. Louis-based company.

Centene officials announced plans to buy the company earlier this week. The $93 million sale is subject to regulatory review and approval.

If approved, the deal will mark Centene’s entry into the Medicaid markets in Kansas and Missouri. The company is active in Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.

Currently, First Guard serves more than 94,000 children in low-income families in Kansas. Its contract with the state runs through June 30, 2006.

“We’re expecting a smooth transition,” said Mike Deines, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

American Legion to address VA benefits

Families who want to know more about their earned Veterans Affairs benefits can attend a meeting at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post 14, 3408 W. Sixth St.

The meeting is part of the Legion’s annual American Legion Veterans Affairs Tour, in which state and district officers visit more than 330 American Legion posts throughout Kansas.

Potters Guild sale slated

The Lawrence Potters Guild will have its annual sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.

Ceramic artists will sell everything from functional stoneware and earthenware to more sculptural and abstract works.

For more information, call 843-2787.

Lawrence resident on fire commission

Topeka — A Lawrence man is among a group recently appointed to the state’s Fire Service Training Commission.

James Long, vice provost for facilities planning and management at Kansas University, was selected by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to a four-year term on the commission.

“I am pleased to have such a diverse group of Kansans willing to share their knowledge and time on this commission to train firefighters,” Sebelius said.

Others appointed to the commission were Raymond Aslin of Manhattan; Lawrence Garcia of Wichita; Dan McLaughlin of Tecumseh; and Bob Renton of Lenexa. Reappointed were John Lloyd of Wellington and Jim McDiffett of Manhattan.