The Manhattan Mercury from Manhattan, Kansas • 3

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY REGIONAL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1099 A3 Autumn tornado Johnson County officials get a look at Oz proposals family back home. The technology, such as 3 digital animation, also will be useful to schools and hospitals, Mapes said. Oz Is working to form partnerships with education groups and hospitals. Oz also plans a new media center in Kansas to develop the technology and help other businesses develop cutting eduo applications. "It's going to contribute more to the community than a fun entertainment center," Mapes said.

Mapes said he liked the idea that the technology would be used for good to tell the story ofOz. Prairie Village Councilman Al Herrera laid what Oz officials had been laying ail along. "It'i a lot more sophisticated than just a theme park," Her rera said. "It goes beyond a regular theme park. I'm really impressed.

They've really done their homework," Robert Kory, the company'i founder, greeted the group and then left for Kansas City. Today he will meet with state and federal lawyers to outline his plan for the environmental cleanup of the Sunflower land. Dan Mapes. the company's chief technology officer, described how visitors would be able to interact with characters at the park and even with Aitoclated Prett Debris litttrs tha trees and roadsld thrtt miles east of Perry, Thursday evening after a tornado touched down. The tornado damaged 20-25 structures In the area, according to Noble County authorities.

Supreme Court names chief judges Hard 40 Killer gets 'Associated Press NEWTON A man twice convicted of murder will spend the rest of his life in prison after receiving a 40-year sentence for the 1994 beating death of a Kansas housewife. Chester Higgenbotham, 34, given a Hard 40 sentence Thursday for the murder of Rhonda Krehbiel. He will have ito serve 40 years before becoming eligible for parole on the murder count. He already is serving a Hard 40 for the IMS murder of a Wichita woman. According to testimony, Higgenbotham bound and gagged Krehbiel of Newton in her bedroom while her daugh Associated Pru LOS ANGELES City om-cials from Johnson County, Kansaa, got a firsthand look at the talking character and new media center being proposed for a theme park at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.

Leaders from several cities in the county are In Los Angeles this week for the National Congress of Cities. On Thursday, they visited Oz Entertainment new media lab and heard about the company's plan for the Wonderful World of Oz theme park near De Soto in Johnson County. Overland Park Mayor Ed Ell-ertsaid he had had a "baskef'of feelings about the Oz project, including lingering doubt that the project could attract the people it needed to succeed. However, the technological advances Oz plans to use and develop in Kansas make him think the project can work. "This project seems to be the hidden gem or hidden jewel that could bring benefits to Kansas and the metropolitan area that we can't even identify today," Eilert said.

"That's the kind of benefit I'm beginning to see exists." Wichitan sentenced to death Associated Press WICHITA A Wichita man has been sentenced to death for the 1998 rape and murder of a woman who lived in his duplex. A Sedgwick County jury Thursday sentenced Stanley Elms, 23, to death by lethal injection for the death of Regina Gray, 29. Elms sat erect and expressionless when District Judge Greg Waller read the verdict. The jury said that the death penalty was appropriate because of two aggravating factors in the case. Elms committed the crime in an especially heinous, atrocious or cruel manner, the jury said, and he killed Gray to avoid arrest after committing the rape.

By Waller must impose the jury's sentence unless he rules the evidence does not support it. Waller set sentencing for Jan. 13. Gray's father, Ben Gray, said after the verdict that his family felt justice had been served. "The jury made a statement to him and everyone else in this county that they are not going to take it anymore," he said.

Testimony in the five-week trial showed that before the mur-. der, Elms and Gray lived in adjacent units of a duplex. Police said that on May 4, 1998, Elms went into Gray's home, tied her up and cut her throat after raping her. Elms was on parole for theft at the time, and police arrested him after finding his semen in Gray's body. Assodated Press TOPEKA The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed the chief judge for each of the state's 31 judicial districts.

The appointments, announced Thursday, are effective for two years beginning Jan. 1. The Supreme Court oversees the administration of district courts. A chief judge assigns cases and directs the work of clerical and administrative personnel in a district. The chief judges, by district, are: 1st, David J.

King, Leavenworth; 2nd, Tracy D. Klingin-smith, Holton; 3rd, Maria Luck-ert, Topeka; 4th, James J. Smith, Garnett; 5th, Merlin G. Wheeler, Emporia; 6th, Stephen P. Hill, Paola; 7th, Michael J.

Malone, Lawrence; 8th, Michael F. Powers, Marion; 9th, Theodore B. Ice, Newton. 10th, Patrick D. McAnany, SnouMes ter, 6-year-old Kirsten, and a friend were put in a closet.

Kre-hbiel, 36, died of blunt trauma injuries. Harvey County Attorney Mary 5 another McDonald said the only sentence appropriate for Higgenbotham was life because Krehbiel's death was "especially heinous, atrocious and cruel." "We know that the first blow didn't put her out of her misery," she said. Bob Schmidt, Krehbiel's father, said that Higgenbotham had been "poison" on the family since her death fiveyears ago. He said the family was satisfied with the sentence. "I just want Chester Higgenbotham out of my life," he said.

"I hope I never have to say his name again." McDonald showed the court a video presentation that Krehbiel's family made splicing together snapshots of the woman with her children and husband. Higgenbotham quietly watched the TV screen in front of Pepper spray Melanie Coffee Associated Press OVERLAND PARK A high school was evacuated briefly and 12 students were sent to the hospital after someone ran down a hallway discharging pepper spray. A total of 19 students at Blue Valley Northwest High School which allows students to carry such chemicals complained of nausea, asthma attacks, or eye irritation, said Overland Park Police Sgt. Tom Fredrickson The school was evacuated for 15 minutes Thursday and classes were later canceled. About 1,500 students attend the school.

AH but one of the students had been released from the hospital by late afternoon, said Steve Mcllvain, the district's deputy superintendent. The unidentified person emptied a small canister of pepper spray, then threw it in a trash can, MOards Gifts Cabinet's travel tab I $66,000 Iter I elebration Associated Press SPECIAL PIECES RETIREMENT LIST NEW "TWEETY" GUEST COLLECTION Defense attorney Don Snapp said the happy family life portrayed in the video stood in stark contrast to Higgenbotham's own childhood. Holding a letter from a Maine social worker who worked with Higgenbotham as a child, Snapp said that Higgenbotham tried to commit suicide at age 8 and that his mother, an alcoholic who died when he was 13, locked him in a closet during one Christmas vacation. "What type of environment could be so horrible that an 8-year-old would want to commit suicide?" Snapp asked, later adding, "I just wonder sometimes where we go wrong." Krehbiel's family members said they were sorry Higgenbotham was raised in an environment of abuse, but they said that was no excuse for taking others' lives. clears school Fredrickson said.

No one has been arrested. The Blue Valley School District's policy that allows students to carry such chemicals stems fromataskforcethatmetoverthe summer to revise safety policies. Mcllvain said the policy revision, adopted in September, followed concerns spawned by school shootings such as those at Columbine High School in Colorado. "The school board examined the issue pretty thoroughly," Mcllvain said. "They discussed it, they looked at pros and cons of the policy and ultimately decided to move on it.

This was entirely a proactive move on part of the board to help our kids be safe." Previously, students caught with Mace or similar chemicals faced a one-year expulsion. The new policy permits a one-year expulsion for students who misuse the chemicals. in starts at 11 a.m. Center Food Court. Jims Road TOPEKA Taxpayers paid more than $66,000 in expenses for out-of-state travel by members of Gov.

Bill Graves' cabinet during "the 12 months ending June 30, documents show, jf" The documents, released Olathe; Hth Nelson E. Toburcn. Pittsburg; 12th, Thomas Tuggle, Concordia; 13th, John K. Sanders, Eureka; Hth, Jack L. Lively, Coffeyville; 15th, Jack L.

Burr, Goodland; 16th, Jay Don Reynolds, Dodge City; 17th, Charles E. Worden, Norton; 18th, Paul Buchanan, Wichita; 19th, J. Michael Smith, WinDeid; 20th, Barry A. Bennington, St. John.

21st. Paul E. Miller, Manhattan; 22nd, J.D. Euler, Hiawatha; 23rd, Edward E. Bouker, Hays; 24th, J.

Byron Meeks, Kinsley; 25th, Philip C. Vieux, Garden City; 26th, Keith Wilson, Liberal; 27th, William F. Lyle Hutchinson; 28th, Daniel L. Hebert, Salina; 29th, Philip L. Sieve, Kansas City; 30th, Larry T.

Solomon, Kingman; 31st, John W. White, 161a. Luckert in Topeka, McAnany in Olathe and Smith in WinfHfld will be serving their first terms as chief judges. The others are reappointed. Snoidohes.

"Celebrate" Aggieville 539-7654 8:30 5:30 Sun. ii fr Blanche, Diners dub Or Your Dillard's Oiargo i. HI We carry a full line of Dept. 56 Lighted Villages 704 N. Manhattan Sat.

Thursday by the Department of Administration, listed out-of-state travel expenses for cabinet secretaries and top administrators in the 11 cabinet departments. Legislative leaders sought the information after questions arose about out-of-state trips made by Aging Secretary Thelma Hunter Gordon, who resigned last month. Gordon charged the most out-of-state travel expenses to Kansas taxpayers, $18,118. Graves asked for copies of legislators' travel records, which showed they spent nearly $297,000 on out-of-state travel during the 12 months ending June Liberty Falls 13th Annual Toys for Tots Run Sponsored by: ABATE, of Kansas District 75 and the Marines Corp League Hillside Farm With Cow Barn The records released Thursday showed that top administrators in cabinet departments tharged nearly $256,000 in out-of-' state travel expenses to the state. ALL NEW FOR 1999! ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION WITH THIS WEEK'S SET 8 Rids for the a new toy or game Dec.

4 Check by Manhattan Town $ftO) SET Parade at 12:30 through downtown to toy drop site: Poker Run to follow The largest amount, more than $49,000, went to 11 administrators the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. Other cabinet secretaries receiving out-of-state travel reimbursements were: Wayne Franklin, human resources, Karla Pierce, revenue, $5,377, plus another $4,728 as head of the department's computer overhaul before her appointment as secretary; Steve Williams, wildlife and parks, "$5,230. Arso: Rochelle Chronister, SRS, Allie Devine, agriculture, Lt Gov. Gary Sherrer, and housing, 12th Annual Slim AVAILABLE TODAY! When Mr. and Mrs.

Greller retired from their pharmacy business, they built a new farm in a picturesque setting on a hill overlooking the town of Liberty Falls. Of course, it was only a short ride down to town so they could stay up on all the neighborhood happenings. Mrs. Greller loved her cozy Cottage and found that she had quite the green thumb. Mr.

Greller enjoyed planting crops and keeping a few cows and chickens. Exclusively At -I a Dan Stanley, administration, Charles Simmons, correc-I 'lions, Richard Beyer, Chili Feed and Auction for MDA Sat. Dec. 4th Location: The Cock Bull in Manhattan 776-6699 1 2413 Stagg Hill Briggs Central Chili served after the toy run Auction starts around 7 p.m. Honky Tonk Heros' to play after auction Items available at auction: Childs Electric Jeep ($300 value-Briggs) 2 Window Tints ($200 value-Rose Muffler) 2 KSU Pullover Jackets ($80 value-It's Greek to Me) KSU paperweight ($26 value-Glass Impressions) Your Choice, one load of: gravel, milling or topsoil (up to $200 value-Bayer Construction) And many more! human rpumirrps $832: Garv fmsss 1 I Mitchell, health and environment, $26.

lj Mitchell was fired by Graves in January. Mrs. Chronister retired Sept. 30, and Beyer replaced Franklin at the Department of Human Rpsnnrcps For Your Convenience We Acoept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Carte A.