The Manhattan Mercury from Manhattan, Kansas • 3

The Manhattan Mercury REGIONAL Wednesday, November 21, 1990 A3 Farmers end harvest, seeding Associated Press than usual in several southwest counties on dryland wheat." The agency noted that 52 days were suitable for field work last week, compared to only three for the previous week. Farmers finished harvesting corn sooner than any other year in the past decade. Over the past five years, an average of 85 percent of the soybean crop has been harvested by this time. "Sorghum harvest was completed ahead of last year and was considerably ahead of normal," KAS said. The agency added: "Ranges and pastures continue to provide grazing.

Movement of livestock to graze crop residues and wheat fields continues." Wheat has finished emerging in northwest Kansas and the middle third of the state. In east-central Kansas, 95 percent of the crop has emerged, the lowest percentage for any region. The crop appears to be in relatively good condition. KAS said 37 percent of it is in excellent condition and that 52 percent is in good condition. Eleven percent is in fair condition.

None of it is considered in poor or very poor condition. KAS issues a weekly report on crop conditions. "Ten percent of the acreage is being grazed, compared to 5 percent last year and the average of 10 percent," KAS said. "The Hessian fly has shown up earlier TOPEKA Mild weather last week allowed farmers to finish their seeding of wheat and their harvesting of corn, soybeans and sorghum, the state's official crop monitoring agency said Tuesday. The harvest of the three crops finished ahead of last year's harvests, Kansas Agricultural Statistic said.

The agency also said farmers finished seeding wheat faster than they have on average in the past five years KAS said 99 percent of the wheat planted has emerged. At this time last year, 96 percent of the crop had emerged, and the average over the past five years for this time is 90 percent. 4-V I I'M' if. A I 'Jii I' fx Regional Roundup Associated Press Soldier says he won't go GRAYLING, Mich. Army jury ruled Tuesday that a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was innocent of battering a man after a chase that reached speeds of 100 mph.

Randall Leiker accused Trooper Hector Sanjurjo of beating and kicking him during an Aug. 10, 1989, arrest. But the jury deliberated about 90 minutes and acquitted the trooper of a charge of misdemeanor battery. The chase through Saline and Ottawa counties ended near Minneapolis when Leiker's car ran out of fuel and overheated. Salina police Officer Don Poore, another arresting officer, is scheduled to stand trial in January on charges of battery and making a terroristic threat.

merge with Kansas Gas and Electric! KPL and Kansas Gas and Electric said they wanted the KCC to hold hearings on their request starting Jan. 28. Oklahoma case featured on show CHANDLER, Okla. Oklahoma authorities will ask a national television audience for help tonight in solving the slaying of a truck driver who was shot on the Turner Turnpike two years ago. The death of Dwayne Mc-Corkendale of Joplin, will be featured tonight on NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries." McCorken-dale was killed Nov.

12, 1988, while making a trucking run between Tulsa and Oklahoma AP Laserphoto Grissom sits in court as his attorney, Thomas Erker, argues for retrial this week. Victims' families not satisfied Associated Press June 1989. Their bodies have never been found. "We are real happy that he will not be on the street," said Miss Butler's mother, Jada Butler. OLATHE The families of three murdered women say they are haDDv that RirharH a riccnm Jr.

apparently will spend the rest "We wil1 alwavs miss the girls, of his life in nrisnn hut th But at least he won't be out of his life in prison, but aren't totally satisfied. again." Sgt. George Morse says he'd rather be behind bars than behind a machine gun in the Persian Gulf so he plans to ignore orders to report to the Middle East on Friday. "My view against war is both religious and moral. I've always been against war," Morse, 25, said Tuesday in Grayling, preparing to return to his base at Fort Riley, Kan.

after a leave. "I never killed anybody. I never wanted to kill anybody. And I never wanted to be in a situation where I would have to kill anybody," he said. Lt.

Col. Joseph Allred, a Pentagon spokesman, said anyone would have trouble qualifying for conscientious objector status. He said he was unaware of Morse's plans. Utilities ask to complete merger KANSAS CITY, Mo. KPL Gas Service and Kansas Gas and Electric Co.

have asked Kansas regulators to approve their plans to carry out a $1 billion merger. Tuesday's filing, which had been expected, indicated for the first time that the merger would result in company-wide savings of more- than $140 million over a five-year period. The two companies also asked the Kansas Corporation Commission to deny a rival, request by Kansas City Power Light Co. to against such heinous crimes?" Butler asked. "Also consider the loathsome way he disposed of the bodies so they could never be found," Butler said.

"The cowardly and premeditated crimes and the evil intent of these crimes requires that Richard Grissom be given the absolute maximum sentence that the law allows." Grissom showed no emotion when he was sentenced. Grissom was convicted on circumstantial evidence. He was driving a car rented by Miss Butler shortly after she disappeared, and a few drops of blood were found in the car. He also had credit cards and some personal belongings of all three women. In addition, he had copies of keys to their apartments and had worked as a painter at the apartment complexes where they lived.

Grissom is expected to appeal. New game to debut TOPEKA Merchants across the state will begin selling tickets for a new lottery game at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, lottery officials announced Tuesday. The game, "Holiday Bonus," features a $1 ticket with a latex patch. The top part of the patch covers six prize amounts, and a player who scratches off the patch and matches three amounts wins the prize.

The lower part of the patch features two "extra chance" boxes. Prizes for the new game range from $1 to $100. Lottery officials said a player has a better than one in five chance of winning something. "We want to draw as much attention to that program as possible," said Paul Renfrow, spokesman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. "We.

desperately need publicity on this case. "Everyone in law enforcement is really turning to these programs. They are really helpful in solving cases." Renfrow said McCorkendale was killed by a single shotgun blast in the back at 6 p.m., about one hour after he entered the turnpike in Tulsa, where he had refueled. Trooper of hook MINNEAPOLIS, Kan. A District Attorney Paul Morrison said that under the best possible circumstances, Grissom would be eligible for parole in 105 years.

District Court Judge William Gray imposed the sentences after hearing an emotional appeal from Miss Butler's father, Ralph Butler. With the families of the other victims standing behind him, Butler asked Gray to impose the maximum sentence so that Grissom would not be free to commit any more crimes. "What young woman, in the privacy and supposed safety of her locked apartment, would feel the need to protect herself "The pages aren't completely closed yet," said Harold Brown, the father of murder victim Theresa Brown. "Maybe someday he will find it in his heart to tell us what he did with the girls." Grissom, 30, was sentenced Tuesday to three life terms for the murders of Miss Brown and Christine Rusch, 22-year-old roommates from Lenexa, and Joan Marie Butler, 24, of Overland Park. He received another life sentence for an aggravated kidnapping conviction involving Miss Rusch and a minimum of 90 years and a maximum of 360 years for other crimes related to the deaths.

The sentences will run consecutively. The women all disappeared in KRYSTALLOS WhoYa Gonna S7-. QAI CI Claflin COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE Call Books Copies 20-50 Off Shop now for Christmas Open 116 118 Thurs. 1124 Moro FirstBank Center Denison Claflin NO WAITING FOR 7 November 22 10:00 AM Grace Baptist Church 2901 Dickens Avenue Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. An offering will be taken for Romanian Relief efforts.

5C 2) MANHATTAN When your TV is haunted by ghosts? Snow In or il your picture has been doing a vanishing act? TV's VCR's -Computers Call 776-6650 for fast quality repair service. All work guaranteed MIDWEST4 SERVICES A division of Midwest Appliance Hardware 106 McCall Manhattan COPIES We also do resumes and sell books and cards. 776-3771 Open Everyday PROFESSIONAL EYE CARE Congratulations! Dr. Paul Bullock Doctor of Optometry Colony Square 555 Poyntz Avenue Suite 151 (new location) (913) 776-9461 1 (800) 432-0036 Holiday Hours Manhattan Town Center will be closed Thanlcsgiving Day Thurs.f Nov. 22.

Westloop Merchants Association Congratulates Don Jones Our Open House Winner of The Westloop 500.00 Shopping Spree Thanksgiving Day Worship Service 10 a.m. Sermon: "Careful Thanksgiving" We will be open We invite you to worship with us at Nov. 23 and Sat, Nov. 24 and Noon 6:00 on Nov. 25.

5t. Luke Lutheran LHURCH At) Ak About Extended Holiday Hours? CkuAtf JCPtww awmn Shcm Rone Kaci 330 N. Sunset 539-2604 Manhattan 5W W07 B08f B' SCMXf Of 1 Piltor 3RD AND POYNTZ The Loop located at 2800 Anderson Avenue Mill.