Basehor

City Council candidate drops out of race

Basehor City Council candidate James Washington has dropped out of the race, but not in time to have his name removed from the primary election ballot.

Earlier this week Washington tried to remove his name from the ballot, but the deadline to withdraw so that his name wouldn’t appear on the list of candidates was Jan. 25. Washington wasn’t available for comment, but his wife, Carol, said her husband’s job as a military consultant became too busy.

“He felt withdrawal was the way to go,” she said.

She also said her husband wanted to throw his support to candidate Terry Thomas because they have similar views.

According to the Leavenworth County Clerk’s Office, Washington, Robert Moore, David Povilonis, Rayburn “Keith” Sifford, and Thomas, will be on the primary ballot even though there’s no need for a primary after Washington’s withdrawal.

Washington still plans to attend a candidate forum Feb. 27 at the Community National Bank in Basehor to explain that he is no longer in the race, his wife said.

Baby chokes on straps of car safety seat

Olathe — A 14-month-old Olathe girl has died after crawling into a car safety seat and being choked by the straps after the seat tipped over.

Elizabeth S. Musyoki died at 10:53 p.m. Thursday at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Emergency workers who responded to the home shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday found the girl unresponsive, police said.

Sgt. Mike Butaud of the Olathe Police Department said the death appeared to be accidental and that police didn’t think criminal activity was involved.

He said Elizabeth was playing with three other children, all under 5, when she became entangled in the car seat’s straps. Her mother had left the house briefly that morning, Butaud said, but another woman, the mother’s roommate, found the girl and called 911. The girl’s mother arrived home a few minutes later.