Kansas

Kansas State Record Crappie Nullified after Weights Found in Fish

Published

2 years ago

February 17, 2024

Kansas State Record Crappie Nullified after Weights Found in Fish

This week more details came out about the bizarre back pedaling of a white crappie formerly accepted as the state record in April of 2023 but was later vacated in October after some details came to light that showed the catch might not be legit. And just this week we got word from Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks as to what those speculated details were.

Bobby Parkhurst caught the white crappie in March of 2023 and submitted it for state record status at 4.07 pounds. And, in April of 2023, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks accepted his application for the state record. Shortly thereafter, KDWP received an eyewitness tip that said that same fish had been weighed at a local shop at a 3.73 pounds, and they were confused as to why that fish was now being submitted as a heavier fish for the state record.

The KDWP went to Parhurst’s home and asked to examine the fish as he still had it in his feezer. The fish was voluntarily submitted and KDWP officials scanned the fish with a metal detector and got a ping. So they sent the fish off to the Topeka Zoo where it was x-rayed and found to have two large bearings in it.

“To preserve the integrity of the Kansas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (KPWD) state record program, KDWP Game Wardens met with the angler who voluntarily presented his fish for re-examination,” KDWP spokeswoman Nadia Marji said. “When staff used a handheld metal detector to scan the fish, the device detected the presence of metal.”

The KPWD nullified the angler’s catch as a state record, reinstated the previous record from 1964 that weighed 4.02 pounds and have since made the fish available for return to the angler.

They also forwarded the case to the Shawnee County District Attorney who has decided not to prosecute because the evidence is insufficient to meet their burden of proof at trial.

Parkhurst was implicated and charged with five felonies in Kansas since 2019, according to public records and was recently convicted of felony identity theft last October which he was just sentenced 18 months probation for in February.

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Kansas

LET’S TALK | KSHB coming to Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 20

Published

20 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

LET’S TALK | KSHB coming to Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 20

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The KSHB 41 News team will be landing in Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, for our latest Let’s Talk event.

We’ll be hanging out from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Peachtree Cafeteria, 2128 E. 12th Street, in Kansas City, Missouri, 64127.

Join KSHB 41’s Kevin Holmes, Wes Peery, Alyssa Jackson, Ryan Gamboa and others in person to let us know what we need to learn about the Historic Northeast, its residents, what’s going well and what opportunities are possible.

If you can’t make it in person, send us a question using the form below.

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Kansas

Kansas ag officials take comment on proposed water rules

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Kansas ag officials take comment on proposed water rules

by: Wil Day

Posted: Jan 8, 2026 / 07:19 PM CST

Updated: Jan 8, 2026 / 07:19 PM CST

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department of Agriculture held a meeting on Thursday to discuss proposed rules regarding the Kansas Water Appropriation Act.

The Division of Water Resources is proposing new regulations and changes to current regulations under the law.

The division is looking at amending or revoking regulations related to flowmeters tracking water usage.

It is also proposing changes to groundwater usage rules on how far you can move a well from its original location to prevent harming the water rights of other landowners.

Another regulation would create voluntary Water Conservation Areas, where landowners work with the division to establish water conservation plans on their properties.

Some of the concerns raised at Thursday’s meeting dealt with property rights and the transfer of land to new owners. Some expressed concern about the sale of water rights to other landowners in the area.

There is no listed timeline for when the changes could be made.

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Kansas

Rural Kansas fire department reports record number of calls in 2025

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Rural Kansas fire department reports record number of calls in 2025

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A rural Kansas fire department says it saw yet another increase in calls in 2025.

On Tuesday, Butler County Fire District #3 posted data about last year on social media.

It responded to 782 alarms in 2025, which is a new record.

The majority of the calls were for rescue and emergency medical services, followed by service calls.

Courtesy: Butler County Fire District #3

The department’s data show the number of calls has been trending upward over the last 20 years.

From 2006 to 2010, the department handled an an average of 550 calls a year. From 2021 through 2025, that average was 720, a 31% increase.

Courtesy: Butler County Fire District #3

Officials said continued growth in the community has increased the demand for emergency services.

“These numbers reinforce the importance of ongoing training, staffing, equipment planning, and community support to ensure we can continue to provide timely and effective service,” the department said on Facebook.

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