A Belleville man pled guilty in US District Court in Topeka Tuesday to soliciting a friend to rob a bank where he worked.
According to documents filed in US District Court, Landon Hedstrom, 19 pleaded guilty to soliciting a friend to rob a bank. Hedstrom is accused of solicitation to commit bank robbery at a branch of Citizens National Bank in Concordia.
Authorities discovered Hedstrom's plans when his friend turned him in, say court documents. The friend never attempted to commit the robbery.
In his plea, Hedstrom admitted he worked at the branch when he urged a friend to rob the bank. Hedstrom drew a map of the bank that showed where the cash would be and planned for his friend to rob it while only he and one other employee were working.
Hedstrom also planned to feign fear and take the other employee aside so that person wouldn't trip the alarm too early.
Sentencing is set for August 13. Court records indicate Hedstrom faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $125,000.
In exchange for Hedstrom's guilty plea, the plea agreement states that the government agrees not to recommend more than a year in prison, and will stand silent to a request for probation. Hedstrom also agreed to pay $2,000 restitution to the bank. The court is not bound by negotiations in the plea agreement. Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Belleville city council members got their first look at a utility rate study Monday night that may eventually affect how customers are charged for services. Phillip Euler of the consulting firm NMPP Energy, Lincoln, said if rates aren't changed in the next five years, the city will be losing money. Today, utility rates, particularly electricity, generate income that is used to support other city services. "By and large, your residential class of customers is being subsidized by other classes of service," said Euler, pointing out that nearly half of the Belleville customer base is residential users. Increasing residential rates by two percent, and lowering commercial rates by two percent in 2013, would begin to move the city "in the right direction" he said Thursday, May 17, 2012
With more than three-fourths of responses in favor of moving forward to improve USD 109 facilities, the board of education voted Monday night to move to the next step of the process in a possible bond election later this year. The board voted to have architect Keith Blackburn, who developed a facility master plan for the district to begin work to finalize specifications for the long-range goal of moving all grades to one campus at Republic County Junior/Senior High school. Following the public meeting on Thursday, May 3, of the over 100 attendees, several questionnaires were turned in and tabulated. Board member Donna Ward reported responses indicate support for moving ahead with the bond process (77%) and focusing on the long range one site plan (75%). "To me, that percentage indicates most people think we are going in the right direction," Ward says. Thursday, May 17, 2012
program volunteers The Belleville Summer Feeding program is seeking volunteers to assist with the program which starts June 4. Volunteers may choose one of three brief, 15-minute training sessions to attend to review best practices for serving and food handling. The sessions are May 24 and 25 and again on May 30 from noon to 12:15 at the Belleville Public Library. No reservations are necessary to attend the sessions. For more information, contact Melissa Martin at 527-3226 or Karla Jeardoe at 785-527-2254. Thursday, May 17, 2012
A total of $15,500 flowed into Republic County Tuesday morning for projects as varied as crisis assistance for individuals to buying baseball uniforms. But Frank Spurney, a board member of the Frank and Leva Duclos Foundation, is always sorry more organizations don't ask for assistance. Thursday, May 17, 2012
Speaker Kathryn W. Miree will present a free non-profit workshop focusing on how to strengthen your organization's future while partnering with the Republic County Community Foundation. Those attending will learn the necessary steps to build an endowment to support their organization and its mission for years to come. The program will be presented at Belleville City Hall on Thursday, May 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Tim Gottschalk by Monday, May 21 at 785- 527-5631 or t_gottschalk@ gottschalkcpas.com Thursday, May 17, 2012
Taboo Roller Derby is hosting a scrimmage on May 26 in Burr Oak. Skaters will be from the Salina Sirens, Junction City Stone Cold Foxes, Tri-City Rolling Thunder of Kearney, and Central Kansas Roller Girls of Pratt, as well as our own girls. This is what is known as a mash-up scrimmage, an unofficial bout, combining all the skaters onto mixed teams. Anybody may come watch, and entry cost is a food item that will be donated to the food bank. This is a great way for anyone who has never had the opportunity to watch a bout in person, to come see what it's about. Doors open at 6, skating starts at 7.
Okay, did these people not go to kindergarten or what? Last week's news story about the persons who broke into the Republic County High School band room and vandalized instruments left a sick feeling in my gut. Thousands of dollars worth of damage was done to private property. I don't get it. Why? Tuesday, May 15, 2012
There is one meeting Thursday, May 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Belleville City Office that I think every possible civic-minded person from every organization in every community from Narka to Norway to Cuba to Courtland and every point in between in Republic County needs to make plans to attend. The Republic County Community Foundation is bringing back consultant Kathryn W. Miree to discuss how to build endowments: for hospitals, schools, food pantries, communities, parks--you name it, there is no organization or government that could not benefit from an endowment these days. Tuesday, May 15, 2012
