Belleville Telescope (Newspaper) - March 30, 1995, Belleville, Kansas ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 20,1870 Consolidation of 14 Area ISSN 0740-0965 Serving a 10 County Area USPS No. 049-160 AREA NORTH CENTRAL 125th 28 MARCH 30,1995 18 Pages In Two Sections Plus Supplement - In a solo part during the Belleville High School Show Choir and Jazz Ensemble concert Tuesday Jeremy Snapp is accompanied by Erica Davis and Kim Svoboda while performing Bad LeRoy Snapp was also featured as a soloist during the Jazz Ensemble portion of program where he ventured wUh an unsuspecting audience The show under the direction of Carroll performed several popular numbers before a Alan Instrumental Music Director of Cloud County Community was guest soloist performing mesmerizing notes on his trumpet while performing Admitted to Prosecution Testimony Shows Jurors heard a tape recording of the quiet voice of Greg Baacke Tuesday telling a Kansas Bureau of tion Agent that he and stabbed 79- year-old Gladys Knedlik in the 1 throat and chest on September 23, 1994. The taped interview with KBI Special ' Agent William Pettijohn was presented in Republic County District Court during the second day of what is expected to be a week-long trial probing the death of Mrs. rural 19, Nebr. is one of two charged with first degree murder in Mrs. Mrs. a lifelong Republic County was found dead at her home September 24, the victim of apparent multiple stab wounds and a gunshot Prosecutors allege that Baacke and Matthew 19, also of walked to Mrs. farmstead after a vehicle they had stolen in Nebraska stuck on a muddy road about a quarter of a mile away from her Mrs. Knedlik had lived alone at the farm five miles southwest of Narka since her husband's death about five years The 10-worn two man jury listened intently to the audio which Pettijohn made during an interview with Baacke after his arrest in Sebastian Ark. asked if help us said s barely audible voice on the we were She said she had a that she could drive us into or call a tow ' The taped interview indicated that when the elderly Narka woman turned he and stabbed her numerous Defense opening statements late Monday County Moves Step Closer To Emergency Phone Service focused not on the but on childhood and parents had to get married when his 15, became pregnant with him in Blackwell just went off on Statement of murder suspect Greg Baacke to law enforcement He painted a picture of a dysfunctional with Baacke bounced from home to home after his parent's subsequent divorce and took the time to raise Greg Blackwell told the Baacke suffered from psychological disorders as a Blackwell including being unable to control his bowel movements until he was 14. Psychologists recommended long term therapy for which he never Various members of family also exhibited unusual including threats of As he grew Baacke using a variety of Blackwell including and as well as drinking his world he became very dependent on a person named Matt said Blackwell said he plans to call psychologists who will describe Baacke as with dependent personality will from expert that Greg Baacke thinks differently than the average Blackwell is because of substance because of genetic because of his own mental to be guilty of first degree or of Normal The repeatedly to describe Baacke during the opening days of with law enforcement officers from Kansas Nebraska and Arkansas describing actions as and since his ar- rest Prosecutor for Republic Attorney William had called about a dozen witnesses by the end of court Tuesday building detail by detail the discovery of Mrs. body and investigation into her Mrs. related how he was called by the Republic County Sheriffs Office in the early morning hours of September 24, and asked whether he or his mother had given anyone permission to use her said he and his drove from their Belleville home to the Knedlik Knedlik used a hidden set of keys to gain entrance to his mother's Walking through the main living Knedlik said he saw one of his old Army blankets and a white throw rug near the front thought the rugs didn't look he walked to the front could tell there was a body under the I could see a hand sticking Several members of the Knedlik family wept quietly as Republic County Sheriff Ron Blad led the jurors through a videotape tour of the Knedlik home he had taken September 24. The tape showed open closet doors and what appeared to be muddy tracks on a light colored carpet in some areas of the along with blood stains on a brick wall near the front family and letters that Mrs. Knedlik had apparently prepared to mail prior to her death were included on the Arrest In Arkansas Art Chief of Police John related in court how he discovered Baacke and Keen asleep in a 1984 white Monte Carlo in a Huntington park in the hours ofthe 24. said he questioned one whom he identified as Matt while another described as slept in the back seat of the Monte On Page 6A) Work will begin this week on an agreement between Republic County and the City of Belleville that may ultimately signal the startup of basic 911 emergency phone service in Republic Republic County in a discussion with Belleville City Manager Roger Mock expressed hope that the service may be available as soon as July 1. Mock delivered to the governing board Monday a financial proposal for the joint dispatching service that he said he believes is feasible for the tried to arrive at something fair and Mock told the Central to proposal was a reminder to the board that Belleville City contains about one-third of the county's Accident Takes Window Out At Food Mart A Narka man drove through one of the large plate windows at the Food Mart March 27 after his brakes failed as he pulled up to the store to Keith told police officer Greg Havel that his brakes failed when he pulled up to park on the north side of the front of the driving a 1981 Ford pickup struck the window and sill before coming to a stop within the store around 10:45 a.m. No one was in front of the window at the time of the accident and Thomas was An enclosure was built around the damaged area Monday afternoon to close it off and to allow repairs to be made to the sill and The building sustained major damage with no damage listed on the report to the and contributes about 17% to the county coffers through property Mock said he believes the cost of the service should be tied to and indicated the city would be willing to pay one-third of the costs of the dispatching He also noted that in a study of the dispatching log conducted by Belleville Police Chief Ray transmissions involving Belleville City officers comprise about 34% of the total calls handled by the dispatch 1994 dispatching costs were Mock A study requested by commissioners showed that a dispatching service with 911, operating as a separate entity from the sheriffs office with a paid director managing dispatchers could cost The service is now under the jurisdiction and budget of the Republic County Sheriffs to give us a if the new service costs the county then the city should pay approximately Mock told the That would come from a cash payment from the with the remaining reflected in what Belleville city residents already py in taxes that is spent towards Even with the projected costs for in 1994, Mock said believes the county will actually be paying as much as less for the service under the Since the county went to a insurance plan this actual out-of-pocket cash expenditures for employee benefits are considerably less that what was projected in the said Commissioners scheduled a special work session Wednesday March 29, at 7:30 p.m. to go over the details of Although no formal action was commissioners appeared interested Monday in approving a plan that separates dispatching from the sheriffs Policy for the service would be set by a board of directors made up mostly of emergency as well as one independent representative of each commissioner personally think should be said Commissioner Amos Blecha expressed a desire that the board of directors contain representatives of the rural areas of the In other business before commissioners Tim United First presented a bid of 856 premium for unlimited coverage for an umbrella workmen's compensation Beth Reed gave a report of the storm watchers meeting where information on Red ham radio operators and storm detection was Commissioners signed a resolution presented by Steve Pounds declaring sericea a noxious weed in Republic Ruth Register of presented a bid for computer software for her office from Computer School Board Election Offers Decision On Instant Bingo Decisions on local representatives to city councils and school and whether charitable organizations can play instant bingo will be decided in the General Election next April 4. Allowing nonprofit educational and veterans organizations to conduct games of instant bingo would require a change in the present Kansas which is why the vote is Instant a is prohibited under current Races on School Boards Hillcrest and Belleville district patrons will have a choice of candidates in several board of education Candidates for the school board positions USD 427: Position 1, Mary Position 2, Susan M. Position 3, Dennis Durflinger and Pat both of and Edwin G. USD 426: Position 1, Brad Position 2, Jane Position 3, John Ronald USD 455: Position Position 2, Arlan Benyshek and Jane both of Position 3. James Boost County Valuation Million Data H L P Mar. 2z 88 47 P Cloudy 06 42 Claar 38 P 28 88 40 Cloudy Mar. 28 88 ' 34 Cloudy 48 39 T r. 28 48 31- ' P Cloudy Mar. 28 Cloudy A boom in the real estate market in Republic County has increased the county's valuation nearly million over last 1995 county valuation is up from million last Real estate valuation is a basis for figuring property Based on the worth of Republic County school fire and cemetery and determine how much money they will need to operate government the How increase affects in- dividual property Owners will be seen this March 31, when the Republic County office mails out new property Barry Republic County said farm ground values have stayed the Agricultural land is assessed based on its use instead of market There should also be only minimal changes on farmstead Residential properties account for the Porter Republic County saw lion worth of new construction in 1995, and a total million increase on existing duty of the county Appraiser is to value property and at or near 100% fair market Porter being the value a given property would when sold op the open with rather nor seller acting under any undue Porter emphasizes that his office only values and is not responsible for Randy C. Skocny and Louis Ray both of City Elections New faces for mayor and city council will be in virtually every community in Republic Two communities will rely on write-in candidates to fill open no one filed for mayor in and Cuba has only four people filed for the five open positions on the city Narka and Munden all have races for their mayor and several communities have more than the five necessary candidates filed for city In two Belleville city council positions are being challenged this All communities except Belleville and Scandia will elect a mayor and five April 4. Belleville will elect a mayor and three and Scandia three council by city Gail Edwin Lavem Clarence Kent Terry J. Ron may on Lynn Van and Clayton D. First Douglas Second Elvin Ball and Wesley Third RCD To Review Applications For Loans The Republic County Development committee will meet April 20 to review applications for loans from the revolving loan account i- of March 24, over economic development of Republic Applications and more are available from Richard C. David A. Mark Verna B. Eugene A. Gayle A. Alma Skocny and Val D. Dave C. Robert E. Jacqueline Cecil Glen O. Strnad and Daniel J. Brad L. Henry Merlyn D. Jerry M. Ruth E. Max W. Lyle G. Renee Ferris and Steve Earl Steve Lori Alberta M. Alan K. Betty R. Michael K. Randy Randy Margarette Kent counciL Raymond Rita L. Jerry Don L. Begins Api 1 Saving Time nl 2. Be Sure our Clocks Ahead Before Going Jo Bed MM
