The Manhattan Mercury from Manhattan, Kansas • 3

II A IN 1 1 A A IK! II REGIONAL I) I) A 0 0 11 II 10, 2 0 0 7 A3 IiDHE secretary: Staff recommended approval of permit has struggled since tho Nextel purchase as technical problems and sometimes unfocused marketing has allowed competitors Inc. and Verizon Wireless to snatch up customers and market share. In addition, Sprint's efforts to weed out people with low credit who are less likely to pay their billsontimehas slowed growth further and led to almost a solid year of subscriber losses. On Monday, Sprint said it expected a net third-quarter loss of about 337,000 monthly subscribers and expected it would miss previously announced targets for annual operating profits and revenues. with what they say are Sprint's biggest weaknesses a lack of distinctive brand personality in the highly competitive cell phone market and a raft of operational and marketing issues tied to the $35 billion acquisition of Nextel Communications Inc.

in 2005. "The new CEO will benefit from the completion of merger integration efforts already under way, but must grapple with the larger issue of making Sprint relevant in the marketplace," said Thomas Watts, a telecommunication analyst for Cowen and Co. Sprint, with operational headquarters in Overland Park, that we will provide an economical service." Denning got his calculation after having his Kent Brown, chief financial officer for the sheriffs office, crunch numbers. They based it on Hodge's comments to commissioners in May and took the costs for inmate transportation, medical care and food into consideration. Escaped flamingo spotted in Louisiana WICHITA After two years on the lam, a pink flamingo that escaped 'from the Sedgwick County Zoo has been spotted in Louisiana with a wild Caribbean flamingo in a ship channel1 area of southwest Louisiana.

The latest sighting three weeks ago was in the Calcasieu Ship Channel on private land accessible only by boat. Officials with the zoo in Wichita learned of the wayward flamingo's whereabouts late Friday because the birds were identified by numbers on their leg bands. The zoo's flamingo was still traveling with the same companion that was with it during an earlier sighting. The two birds were seen at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coast of Texas in December 200(1. The other bird, a rosy-red wild greater flamingo, came up from Mexico during hurricanes Ilita and Katrina.

The discovery excited bird watchers in Louisiana because it was the first documented sighting of a wild greater flamingo in the state. "We're very happy to see he's been spotted again," said zoo spokeswoman Christan Baumer, The zoo docs not plan to try to get the flamingo back. New CEO will face heavy lifting KANSAS CITY, Mo. As Sprint Nextel Corp. looks to replace ousted Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Forsee, the wireless carrier has reached another crossroads in shaping its future.

Forsee stepped down Monday after four years as head of the Iteston, Va. -based company, bowing to pressure from investors and directors unhappy with Sprint's continued weakness in attracting and retaining customers. Analysts on Tuesday weighed in with suggestions for how the company should change its direction with a new chief executive, starting Sheriff says county should house Inmates LATHE Johnson County Sheriff Frank Denning thinks it would be better if the county continued to houso its inmates instead of using a private jail firm, which he says would compromise public safety and run up costs. Denning said according to his staffs math, it would cost about $30 less a day to have the county house a medium-risk inmate. But Uay Hodge, senior director of development of the private penal firm Corrections Corp.

of America, disputed the sheriffs calculation. Hodge told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the company hasn't quoted a specific fee amount to Johnson County, because firm officials don't have enough details about the county's net'ds and what it would take to provide for its inmates. Hodge, who met with Johnson County commissioners in May to discuss jail needs, said his company will be working to come up with cost estimates related to Johnson County in the weeks ahead. "We're not trying to compete with Johnson County as far as costs," Hodge said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "Even though when it's all said and done I think it will be proven The Manhattan Mercury's Sunday Arts Leisure section fea tures weekly mini-reviews of movies currently showing locally.

Call 776-8808 to subscribe. The Pilot Club of Manhattan Presents a -Associated Press The BlaieTtop environmental regulator acknowledged Tuesday that his Staff has recommended granting an air-quality permit for two proposed coal-fired power plants in "'southwest Kansas. Hod Bremby, secretary of health and environmerft, hasn't decided whetherhewillapprovo the permit, which would allow ISunflower Electric Power Corp, to begin construction of its $3.6 jbillion project outside Ilolcomb. He has said he'll decide by the of October. Environmentalists oppose the project, and some hope Bremby 'f will deny the permit because of theplants'potentialemissionsof carbon dioxide, linked by most Scientists to global warming.

Many support the iseeing it as badly need---' ed economic development. Legislative! leaders formed a sjix- member Electric Generation Review Panel to examine the Department of Health and Environment's permitting process. Sen. Jay Emler, a Lindsborg Republican, said he had heard that department officials Who deal with air-quality permits recomniended approving Sun-, flower's. Bremby replied: "There is a recommendation to approve the permit," Ex-liusband: Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo.

A woman accused of killing an expectant mother in northwest Missouri and cutting the baby from her womb claimed to be pregnant at least five times after having her tubes tied, the woman's ex-husband testified Tuesday. CarlBowman.formerhusband of Lisa Montgomery, testified that his ex-wife was unable to i have children after undergoing a tubal ligation in 1990. Montgomery, 39, is on trial in Spaghetti Dinner SILENT AUCTION October 12, 2007 p.m. Cico Park, Pottorf Hall Adults $6.50 Children $3.00 Suspect often claimed to Supporting Emergency Shelter, Crisis Center, United Way, Sunset Zoo, Red Cross Bloodmobile, and others. A TVTl Tickets Call 323-0817 785-539-2553 ''i 12-1 August Pointe (Riley Co.

Idol 2007) 1-5 Happy Czech Band 2:00 Mutt Race ILULJJ fff Continues Saturday, October 13 in Paxico Schedule of Events 10-5 Vendor Booths Open 11:30 Tractor Cruise 10-5 Quilt Show 10-11 Happy Czech Band 11:00 Parade Kid's Games by Paxico Pride Kansas farmers harvest bountiful fall crops wanted him to pick up her and the baby at a fast-food restaurant. "I knew she didn't like hospitals and doctors," Kevin Montgomery said as he described meeting his wife and the newborn in the parking lot of a Long John Silver's in Topeka, Kan. He said his wife told him she had delivered the infant earlier in the day at a nearby birthing center. He said the couple showed off the newborn the next day at a diner, bank, courthouse and the convenience store where Lisa Montgomery worked. Bowman testified that Lisa Montgomery's doctor had recommended she undergo the tubal ligation after their fourth child was born more than two months premature.

The doctor was afraid Lisa Montgomery would not be able to carry another pregnancy to term. While Bowman was on the stand, the prosecution showed a form Lisa Montgomery signed before undergoing the surgery acknowledging she had been told the procedure was not reversible. But Montgomery claimed she was pregnant twice after undergoing the procedure and before the couple split-up, Bowman testified. She later remarried and claimed to be pregnant three other times, the last in 2004. "At that time, I told her I was going to expose her lies," Bow- Prices! be pregnant man said.

He said he had planned to take Montgomery to court and use the faked pregnancy to gain custody of two of the couple's fourchildren. Acustody hearing was set for Jan. 25, 2005. Bowman testified that in November 2004 he noticed of change of attitude in Montgomery. "She seemed more confident," he said.

He recalled receiving a phone call from her the day before the murder. "She said she was going to prove me wrong," Bowman testified. Kevin Montgomery also testified about two of Lisa Montgomery's faked pregnancies. The first time, he said, she told him she was going to New Mexico to have an abortion. The second time, she told him there was something wrong with the baby and she had donated its body to science.

Kevin Montgomery said a relative had told him Lisa Montgomery couldn't have any more children because she had undergone a tubal ligation. But he said he didn't understand what the term meant, He said he became frustrated when his wife didn't want him to go to prenatal doctor's appointments. He said she had gained weight and he had no reason to doubt she was pregnant. News Mark Scott PoliceCourts Kevin Elliott Kate Waller I 4T I I I federal court for the slaying of Bobbie Jo Stinnett, 23, and crudely cutting the baby from her womb on Dec. 16, 2004, at Stinnett's home in Skidmore.

Testimony was to continue on Wednesday. Montgomery was arrested the day after the killing in her hometown of Melvern, where she was showing off the baby as her own. On Tuesday, Montgomery's current husband, Kevin Montgomery, said he didn't think it was strange when his wife called to say she had given birth and Also in the bin is 38 percent of the soybeans. The remaining soybeans out in the field were rated as 14 percent excellent, 46 percent good, 31 percent fair, 8 percent poor, and 1 percent very poor. Sorghum harvest stands at 27 percent.

The crop still in the field was rated as 18 percent excellent, 52 percent good, 24 percent fair, 5 percent poor and 1 percent very poor. Sunflower harvest is also get-' ting under way, With 15 percent of the Crop now cut. The agency rated sunflower condition as 13 percent excellent, 39 percent good, 42 percent fair, 4 percent poor, and 2 percent very poor. DRAPERY WORLD and BLINDS a 317BPoyntz 537-4260 Efficiency meets Design. Skyline Gliding Window Panels 0B333fist Inventory Clearance! Dirt Bikes Scooters ATV's Motorcycles Up To 100 MPGH Great Associated Press WICHITA Kansas farmers have been busy planting next year's winter wheat, while harvesting bountiful fall crops, of corn, soybeans and sorghum.

About 56 percent of the state's winter wheat has been planted, Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Tuesday. That's behind the same time last year, when 71 percent had been planted. The agency also said that 23 percent of the wheat crop has now emerged. At the same time, fall harvest is in full swing: About 69 percent of the corn has been harvested. 1 matsig-CdiUs! Mileage Rides, Inc.

Softubsl I Less that lbs empty Blvd. KS 785-b39-l 1 LL I Check out our I A Pulsating Jets 240 Executive Editor Bill Felber 242 News Editor Deb Whitson 247 Lifestyle Pages, 'Clubs -Shana Janzen 247 Food Page, Design Editor Shana Janzen 252 Editorial Page Editor Walt Braun 'Folding lockable cover 246 Area News, Fort Riley Will Klusener 248 Education Lauren Epps 253 Photographers Rod Mikinski Dave Mayes rO 1 249 Business News, Church, City 243 Directory of Organizations, 251 Book Page, Notices Obits 244 Sports Josh Kinder 245 Sports Jerome Boettcher i tig ynur nee la know. Great Manhattan Music Coalition 2017 Ft. Riley Manhattan, mi ti to the and the following individuals for producing Aggiefest 2007: EvanTuttle Sarah Cunnick Time to Plant Trees Shrubs! Fall Blooming Shawn Leeth Dave Spiker Jamie Tucker Leah Cunnick Dot Tucker Become a member of Kansas Public Radio this Friday morning and your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar Call 1-88-KPR-KANU between 6:30 and 8 a.m. to double your support iiPi91-3- publicradTo KPR.KU.EDU THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Pansies, Asters, Perennials Grasses Groundcovers Autumn Pond Prep Pond Netting Plant SPRING BULBS Now is.