Federal Charges Filed Against Suspected Serial Robber

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Posted: 12:09 PM Oct 10, 2008
Last Updated: 10:44 PM Oct 10, 2008
Reporter: KAKE News
Email Address: news@kake.com

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McPherson County Sheriff Deputies say they have arrested 27 year-old Travis R. Klutts after a four hour standoff. They say Klutts led law enforcement on a high-speed chase after a bank robbery in Newton Friday morning.

The Maize man was indicted on one count of bank robbery in federal court.

An agent’s affidavit filed with the complaint states that on Friday Klutts
robbed First Bank, which is located inside a Dillons store at 1216 N. Main, in Newton. Klutts allegedly entered the bank about 11 a.m. and gave the teller a note saying, “Give me all the money” and threatening to shoot anyone who resisted.

According to the affidavit, Klutts is considered a suspect in three other
robberies. On Sept. 26, 2008, the Intrust Bank in the Dillons store near 135th and Maple was robbed. On Oct. 6, 2008, the Intrust Bank in the Dillons near 37th and Woodlawn was robbed. In mid-September a Walgreens near Central and Maize Road was robbed and oxycotin was stolen.

According the Kansas Department of Corrections records, Klutts was released from prison in July, after serving 17 months for burglary and theft.

Just after 4 p.m. Friday, SWAT team members used a concussion grenade, or flashbang, to disorient the suspect who was holed up in an outbuilding in McPherson County. FBI agents joined local law enforcement at the standoff after the suspect reportedly robbed a bank in Newton and then led them on a high-speed pursuit.

The chase ended in an area near 9th and Buckskin Road, southeast of Inman. The man was said to be hiding in or near several outbuildings in a pasture behind a two-story farmhouse.

Officials from the FBI negotiated with the man, who had a Colt .45 handgun. At one point, officials were seen throwing bottled water to the suspect.

If convicted, Klutts faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

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Posted by: Aisha Location: Wichita on Oct 14, 2008 at 02:03 AM
Unbelievable, maybe we should go back to the Biblical times, an "Eye for an eye, and a Tooth for a tooth", maybe if his fingers had been cut off for stealing, he wouldn't have been able to do this again and again. Where is the Justice anymore...people keep doing this because they get away with their crimes...Hmmm, something is definitely not right here...If we punish criminals accordingly for their crimes, maybe our prison system wouldn't be soo packed...most of them (in the jails across America) live better than the homeless....Let's get back to the basics and purpose in this life...God's purpose! Where are the principles??? Sorry, it just irritates me to see how repeat criminals seem to get soo much attention, because our system failed to do what it is truly supposed to do.

Posted by: CONCERNED Location: NEWTON on Oct 11, 2008 at 10:29 AM
WHY WHEN THIS MAN JUST WAS RELEASED IN JULY AFTER SERVING TIME FOR THEFT WAS HE NOT ARRESTED AFTER THE INCIDENTS IN WICHITA. THE NEWS POSTS HIS PICTURE AND ASK IF ANYONE KNOWS HIM CALL 911 WHEN THE KDC AND OTHERS SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHO HE WAS AND FRIDAYS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPEN AND PUT SO MANY PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY! WAY TO GO NEWTON AND HARVEY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Posted by: Sydni Location: McPherson on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Too many crazy happenings in Mac County lately....I think our PD dept.'s heads are spinning. The whole high-speed chase really makes me nervous as my 22 year old little brother & his boss were checkin' their oil wells & were T-boned by a cop car in this chase....so glad it was a big truck, they had on seat belts & the cop hit the bed of the truck or this could have been complete devastation for us all. What do you want to bet that this guy is an addict.....drugs are a terrible thing.

Posted by: Shawn Location: Hutchinson on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Pam, Not taking this dirtbags side by any means but KDOC is not there for rehabilition. They dont get the funding to try and change a dirtbag. They are there to house them and thats about it. And as far as I am concerned thats about right. I dont think we should pay for some dirtbag to get a free education just because he got sent to prison. 3 hots and a cot is all they need. Yes, they will still be dirtbags when they get out but oh well, its their life.

Posted by: James on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Glad to see he was captured without anyone being shot. That includes the robber. He must have known he would get caught soon after having his picture on TV and in the papers. There are now 15,000 private citizens legally carrying guns daily in Kansas in addition to the several thousand LEO in the state. This guy was lucky to be going back to jail, with nothing more than the bruises from his truck roll-over. Most armed private citizens have been trained to not interfere if they see such a robbery. But they are trained to save the lives of the innocent victims should a robber start shooting or indicate that he is about to start shooting. The money is insured, the lives of the bank clerks, the druggists and the LEO are not replaced by insurance.

Posted by: frustrated at system Location: wichita on Oct 10, 2008 at 07:11 PM
How does an ex con end up with a gun??? He has 2 prior convictions on burglary. He ws discharged in June, then had a parole violation, went back to prison and then got out in July. Obviously he didn't get sentenced long enough if he only served 2 years. Maybe he will serve the rest of his life in prison now.

Posted by: lol also too on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Mine too:))

Posted by: Pam Location: Kansas on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:25 PM
My husband is one of those 20 officers on the call. He is the one that gets sent in to get the moron that has STOLE our money ( the working peolpe). He has been out of prison for 3 months, now this is what I call rehabilitated...Thanks, DOC

Posted by: lol also on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:07 PM
he looks like my ex too...

Posted by: Pam Location: Kansas on Oct 10, 2008 at 04:49 PM
You all need to get the story, he has no money, it was in the truck that he left behind. It is the money that is in the bank I bank at, and my husband is one that is there working. So, if the moron does shoot someone other then himself, we have 6 kids with out a dad. Now remember, he has robbed what 3 banks, and we now bought him lunch and water....what is wrong with that picture!!!!!!

Posted by: concerned #2 on Oct 10, 2008 at 04:15 PM
thanks concerned @3:38. You have to understand some people will always live with the what ifs. what if he had robbed them they would probably still be saying what if. I totally agree with concern @ 3:38.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 04:03 PM
All you commenters bickering over what bank it actually is...what does that matter? The guy finally got caught after 4 robbery's now... His luck ran out..With police force and FBI etc... he will eventually give up.There is one of him and what maybe 20 plus law enforcement officers<< now who do you think will win?Seriously people.

Posted by: lol on Oct 10, 2008 at 03:38 PM
looks like my ex......

Posted by: Concerned on Oct 10, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Anonymous at 2:12, really?! you are so irrelevant.....do you know what he is capable of, or do you just like to post comments? I'm going to put it out there that if he is willing to have a standoff for several hours regarding some money.....that he is NOT stable. Let's not play the what-if game and worry about the present ummmmkay pumpkin?

Posted by: kansas on Oct 10, 2008 at 03:25 PM
trying to figure out why it matters what bank it is and who owns it??? Good grief, anyway. Two high speed chases in Newton in less than 24hrs, never even reported the first one which was at 11pm last night had to call the Salina air units because wichita was busy, or i just missed it, would be interesting to know what happened with that as well. Holy cow what is this world coming to, it is everyday someone robs a bank, stabs or kills someone.

Posted by: Annie Location: Hutchinson on Oct 10, 2008 at 03:24 PM
I think the buildings behind the farmhouse would be called outbuildings, not outhouses. LOL!

Posted by: banker Location: wichita on Oct 10, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Regardless they are both owned by the Chandler Family (First Bank of Newton and Intrust Bank).

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Pray for the safety of the officers. I have a family member who is likely one of them.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 02:12 PM
If school had been in session would the cops still have sped by at 80mph past a high school??????????????????????

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:48 PM
they changed it killer... sometimes they need a little help :)

Posted by: anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:41 PM
INTRUST was not even mentioned in this article.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:36 PM
It doesnt say its an Intrust back

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:23 PM
There isn't an INTRUST location inside that Dillons... it's a First Bank :)

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:00 PM
"Run Forest Run!"

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Posted By: bobby: not a chat room !!!!
Posted By: Anonymous: Really, Kake - Can we move on?
Posted By: : totally unreal i didnt need that i thought i cleared myself up and im not defending him in any way he sounds like and idoit
Posted By: Totally unreal: Alan doesn't need anyone to defend him, however, I'm going to step in and say this, Anon, you are clearly misinformed. Look at two of the posts by Alan below and please read them carefully. You will see that it says that his wages which were negoitated by Union paid for his house. Meaning that he worked for and earned the right to buy his home. Posted by: Alan Location: Wichita on Nov 24, 2008 at 11:45 AM I forgot to mention, my $300,000 house to which my UNION wages has paid for, is all but paid off. I am sorry, you imbeciles shooting off your mouths, where is it you said you live, Plainview or was it Oaklawn? Posted by: Alan Location: Wichita on Nov 26, 2008 at 07:42 PM The "union" did not pay for squat, I paid for my house. I do have a life, in fact, we are flying out to spend turkey day in Miami and spend some of my unemployment checks. I will drink a couple pina coladas on the beach for you though!
Posted By: : alan you said once that the union paid for your house and than you said they didnt for sure i know they didnt pay out of their own pocket thats not what i was saying like someone mis read my comment and thought but you did say that read the comments over just trying to keep you from contradicting your self
Posted By: Peg: That should have been airplane (typed too fast and didn't proof - shame on me)
Posted By: Peg: Think what Alan was really trying to say is that instead of maxing his credit cards to the limit, running up huge debts, he did what a SENSIBLE person would do. That would be live within their means; save up and pay for what they want instead of going out, getting married, buying a new house with all new furnishings, two new vehicles and then worrying about how to pay all the bills, like so many people today have done. Live within your means and wait until you can afford something before rushing out and buy it. That's what has gotten the country in the mess that they are in now. GREED.... I feel for those who are laid off at this time. Anyone who works in an airplace manufacturing company should automatically know that you have the potential for lay offs every year and that you should have 6 months of living expenses at least saved up. Same goes for a strike year!
Posted By: Alan: Anonymous, I see you still are running your mouth without your brain engaged, that is so......YOU! Do you not know how to read? If you can read, can you comprehend what you have read? Obviously not. I have never said the union paid for my house, I have said that “union negotiated” wages has paid for my house, BIG difference! And yes, I do have the right amount of zeros on my house's worth, let's see, a three with five zeros following. It is to bad that everything has to broken down so much for you to be able to understand anything being written on here. I know, you probably need pictures to go with the typed words to be able to understand. Oh, and thanks for asking, I had a great time in Miami, and the Keys.
Posted By: Nick: My comment was not about what Alan said, he commented below that the union did not, and has not bought him or anyone else anything, and never will. This is it for me, you all commenting on here are whacked.
Posted By: Anonymous: Great previous comment. What is wrong Alan, you can't even remember what you are saying. Maybe you have 1 too many zero's down for your home!
Posted By: Nick: I have to comment on this one. What in the world makes anyone believe that Local Lodge 639, which represents Spirit Aerosystems, is going to buy ANYONE a house, at ANY price? That is the most ridicules comment I have ever read! You people make comments about this Alan's IQ, then write something like this, I can't believe this person is serious because it is way to comical.
Posted By: : Alan didnt you say the union paid for your house???
Posted By: Mark: I think what Alan was talking about, was IF we get laid off from Spirit, fully laid off, the max unemployment benefit per week would be $424.00. From what I have read, he is also on a three day work week. I would say if he can live on "full" unemployment, he is pretty much debt free, and probably manages his money well. JMO.
Posted By: jeri: alen: i do not know were you work becuase it cannot be spirit or boeing becuase the people i know who are getting unemployment are only getting 67$ per day that they do not work.my husband has only gotten a few checks and still works 3 days a week.so to me u must not work eny were there are layoffs.of working less days.or you would not be going to miami and drinking eny thing.all i know is i cant pay dec.house payment i pay my bills to keep the house warm and to have lights.but this christmas will not happen.so no one can send me to collections but the house we will probably lose.and we are not living beyond our means.we are just trying to get threw this like a lot of others and we are not telling people that we are getting more money then we are.so stop.
Posted By: happy: since boeing is laying off, spirit will be next, just wait and see. so remember how many times you scrapped a part and missed work, cause seniority will not matter. if they dont need you in the dept, then you should be let go...........
Posted By: Dani: Alan you are a JERK!!!! My heart and prayers go out to all the family around the USA that are low on money this season b/c of the economy. Keep your heads held high and your hearts full of God and love. The TRUE meaning of the holidays will be remembered this season!
Posted By: Mark: Just think J, if he hits bottom, he will be on your level.
Posted By: J: Hey Alan just wanted to let you know everytime to re-ply to a comment your IQ drops a couple more and you might be one of us idoits.......Just think a few more and you won't have to lower your self anymore...
Posted By: Alan: The "union" did not pay for squat, I paid for my house. I do have a life, in fact, we are flying out to spend turkey day in Miami and spend some of my unemployment checks. I will drink a couple pina coladas on the beach for you though!
Posted By: ____: Alan I really didnt care about what you were saying about boeing all that stuff but the thing that really bugged me was how you act like your soo high class top notch with your $300,000 house and looking down on people that live in oaklawn or plainview? People like you should be ashamed of yourselves. Just because its not a house worth "300,000" that by the way the UNION paid for not YOU! atleast they have a home that they bought their own! and have a place to raise their families and have memories in.. And I agree with the person that comment "ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD WOULD NOT CHANGE WHO YOU REALLY ARE".. so let me lay this flat out. Get a life Alan go sit in your $300,000 house that you adore and go have your thanksgiving dinner with your family! And stop sitting online typing rude and unnecessary stuff. REALLY ALAN GET A LIFE!
Posted By: Elaine: A.C....sorry, my bag on the working thru the holidays.
Posted By: Bill: Boeing will survive in Kansas; the union may not. Unlike Michigan, Kansas is a right to work state and therefore, the company does not need to negotiate with the. The recent events of business collapse may be a good thing for Kansas workers and not so good for Everett, WA.
Posted By: William: Alan has finally said something that I agree with whole heartedly. After reading numerous comments from people that are cheering about people losing jobs. It sickens me. Someone below said, "They make their bed, now they have to sleep in it." How mature. I am sure that their kids will enjoy sleeping in that bed also. I honestly do not think that the strike had as much weight as people are placing on the lay offs. It is overall the economy. I feel for the families that will be suffering this year, on top of the current world market and our own now a lot of Wichita area people are being laid off. My prayers go out to you and yours and I hope that even if you are forced to have a Christmas without gifts you are able to remember and be thankful that you have your family. To Alan and others that have stated the same, I commend you for bringing up these hateful comments that people are making about those going without. Hopefully Wichita will rebound and work will be plentiful again. God Bless
Posted By: Alan: You are correct. I had to really lower myself to communicate with some on their level, about the inexcusable comments made about working people. I would suggest you do some soul searching also, before I was to call another an idiot on here, or anywhere else.
Posted By: To Alan, Again: First off, Alan, I dont make 5.50 an hour, I make almost 20 and I perform a service to the community for my wages. I do not and have never received a handout. Even when I was in the Marine Corps and didnt make enough money during the california blackouts of 99-00 to pay the electric bill I still managed without handouts. However, there are people that work and need them and accept them. They need them because they do not buy expensive things for themselves or their family. I stand up for those people because they are too busy working multiple "slop house" jobs to comment. By some of your comments you would think that you were an educated man, then you start with the excessive insults and completely remove all doubt that one might have about you being an idiot. I am done arguing with you on a news comment board. Go on with your life in your 300,000.00 house continuing to spat in the direction of those "under" you, all the money in the world would not change who you "REALLY" are.
Posted By: Alan: Anonymous, Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!! Then you and others should only comment on FACTS. People are losing there jobs, who the hell cares if it is Boeing, or Burger King? These “people” are getting laid off due to contracts being completed, not because of a past strike, you and everyone else knows it! The sick comments CHEERING that these families will suffer is ridiculous and uncalled for. Some on here sicken me. See, no insults, even though some fully deserve to be insulted. I will leave you all to waller in the demented comments that some you seem to think makes you clever, it dose not, just in reverse. No, sorry, no friends here, just sicko's.
Posted By: : AWWW...sounds to me like Alan has nothing better to do then sit around and yell on kake.com. I am gonna guess by his attitude that he has no friends so he is trying to make some here. Alan, honey, it's not workin'!
Posted By: : Alan, when you add all your insults to others and brag about how much your house is it diminishes your valid comments. If you want people to take you seriously just state the facts and leave out the insults.
Posted By: Alan: Handouts??? I don't need handouts like you obviously have collected. I have plenty to carry myself through any layoff, and then some. Go back to work, and collect your $5.50 an hour! Maybe I will tip you in the slop house you work at.
Posted By: JD: "Alan"...once again on another subject you showed your maturity......way to go buddy......when in all reality you are the one living in a trailer in plainview or oaklawn.....what a loser.....The offer to meet for Lunch still stands clown...
Posted By: To Alan - Cont: People like you make up Citibank and other companies that expect handouts when they fall on their face. No one here cares about your house. You are the type of person we could all do without.
Posted By: Alan: I forgot to mention, my $300,000 house to which my UNION wages has paid for, is all but paid off. I am sorry, you imbeciles shooting off your mouths, where is it you said you live, Plainview or was it Oaklawn?
Posted By: JD: ok "wow" they made their own bed now they have to sleep in it
Posted By: Wow: It never amazes me anymore the comments on here. People are going to go without for whatever reason and people are actually cheering. I dont like the strikes and I am not an aircraft worker, but to cheer because others will suffer is really ignorant and pathetic. I have made fun of rivit drillers in the past, but never laughed at them when they were struggling.
Posted By: Amanda: Way to go "To Alan"! WOW! I have one thing to say... Alan - you are the weekest link... Good bye!!!
Posted By: To Alan: Yes I was thinking when I submitted the quote about commercial cuts. I can even think about all sides of this issue (unlike you who have tunnel vision and are obviously incapable of seeing the other side - typical union freak if you ask me, and yes I've know several. Worked w/them for 8.5 yrs at the big "B"). So Alan, you go ahead and keep your little rose colored glasses on, continue to disregard the obvious (strike hurt them, now they'll get theirs AND have the last laugh). I hope you have the ability to get over this, as the Mexicans will soon be doing your job, just as well as you do it (or better) and be happy to make the $8 or $10 an hour they'll be paid. Mark my words Alan, on this subject - you SIR are the uninformed moron!!!
Posted By: : Perhaps you can do a better job managing Boeing, Alan? Maybe you should have put in for a promotion. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal of a manager is to make money for the shareholders, not to make disgruntled employees happy. No matter what they do, they will never be able to please everyone. Some people will never be happy. Are you one of those? You'll really be upset when they fire you for posting irate comments concerning the company on an open forum. Guess you really are the only smart person in Wichita!
Posted By: jeri: spirit employes have clock to some vac if they have it to use. get it strait before u speak. people have gone threw there savings and 401k. so to all who thinks this is funny.bevery carfull.my husband has given to local charities for the holidays. and now we are the ones whos kids will go with out.spirit did not ask for this. are u going to give my kids there help for the holidays.
Posted By: AC: Elain--yes it is 'nice' of them to give a 60 day notice, but I found it humerous that you said work 'through' the holidays. Boing / Spirit get 2 full weeks off with pay for the holidays...no wonder they are having to lay off.
Posted By: carroll: alan- ur right. dun is dun. i'm glad i'm on the west side of oliver-- best place to be right now. i'm still on 3 day weeks as a result of the strike. i'm really cramped right now, but i support the east siders 100%! i'm not clear on what current bail outs has to do with 800 being laid off or what McCain has to do with contracts that expire. now i will agree that there are boobs in management. it's that way EVERYWHERE! it's called- promote the incompetent. so they don't hose up everything on the floor. where the real work and productivity happens. a thousand managers have no job with out 10,000 to manage. i've been a manager. everyone loves to blame management for all their woes-- it's cheap and easy. not all decisions are bad even if we don't like them. not all are wise, and proven so in the long run. i've got to work. I will decide what MY approach to today will be. life sux. get over it. get on with it. it'll get better.
Posted By: Alan: Jack, I must have hit a nerve? Most managers at Boeing and Spirit are incompetent fools that could not lead a fish to swim in water. It is because of these manager/CEO morons, that these companies, banks or whatever, are in the mess they are in.
Posted By: Alan: - Contrary to what some believe, the cut backs on the military programs at Boeing, have nothing to do with Spirit. Boeing is laying off because the contracts are FINISHED, COMPLETE, DONE. Has NOTHING to do with the strike. - And to Anonymous, if Boeing "commercial" cuts back, of course it will affect Spirit, what are you thinking, or are you? - When Boeing came out in the NEWS, and said they were thinking of dropping out of the bidding process, that pretty much summed it up for me. - Yes N, they are there comments, but they are based on nothing but ignorance, none of it is based on fact.
Posted By: jack: 1. I was against the first bailout of the financial companies. 2. I am against any other bailout plan. 3. Let the auto industry file bankruptcy to negate union contracts. 4. execs of failing companies should lose jobs or at least large part of salaries. 5. I believe current layoffs are due to economy in large part, but recent strikes have impact too. 6. Union members pay attention to item 3 above or you will be next. 7. Alan shut up! the reason people get promoted is becaues they show leadership skills & qualities you obviously do not have. You Alan are one of the sheeples who blindly follow the leader. You had better hope your leader (the union) are not lemmings.
Posted By: Annoyed: Gee, this wouldn't have a thing to do with Sen. McCain wanting to open the bidding for our Military Tanker to a foreign country. Or the fact that once Boeing cried foul and got it stopped the current administration wants to wait and let the new administration handle it. Or that the CEO's and other upper crust at Boeing want their bonuses and perks. Either the brain surgeons on this site can't understand the news or read the paper.
Posted By: Response to Anon: If you look at Japan, you will see that when companies start doing poorly, the executives take a decrease in pay because they are considered the responsible party. That's not the case in the USA. They start cutting the little guys here, then reward themselves for increasing profitablity with nice fat raises. I'm not a fan of unions, but I do realize they are NOT what is bringing down our industry. It is crappy management and shoddy accounting practices.
Posted By: Just an Observation: You guys are all correct!! It's those evil UNION guys making less than 100k a year sucking all the money out of the companies. It couldn't be all the CEO's, managers, supervisors and supervisors over supervisors bonuses, could it? Profits aren't going to be what they have been, so the only way these clowns are going to get the hefty bonuses they are used to is by cutting overhead. We all know the big dogs aren't going to get rid of themselves, so they boot the workers. They get a HUGE bonus and the remaining workers get MANDATORY OVERTIME. All the while the public p*** and moan about those evil unions.
Posted By: : So, Alan the Spirit worker: does this affect the commercial side "Boeing Co. has seen its orders peak and the number of commercial planes in its backlog will probably decline going forward." I
Posted By: Curious: Alan, When did Airbus officially get the bid? I thought Boeing lodged a complaint and it was still up in the air... Just curious.
Posted By: : Look at the quote in the story: "taking steps to restructure our business in order to lower our rates and become more affordable for customers." This IS about the bottom line. The price a customer pays for a product includes labor costs. Strikes cost millions. Unless the government bails out the auto industry, (a short term fix at best) labor unions there will be gone. One of the foreign companies will buy buildings and equipment for pennies on the dollar, capturing capacity and market share. They can take all the time they need, hire anyone they want, and in the meantime car prices go up, incentives go down, and spare parts are hard to come by. They have the operating capital to do it. Why? Because their current workforce strives for continuous improvement and cost reduction, instead of whining about their pay rate and haggling over details when they are already fairly compensated. Unless drastic changes are made, aircraft will soon be circling the drain as well. Wake up people!
Posted By: Deanna: It's a good thing they striked. They would have still had the layoffs so at least you stuck up for yourselves and got a more resonable contract.
Posted By: n: Boy, Alan seems to be the smart one out of the bunch. Using words like morons, stupidity, and idiots. Hey Alan why don't you post your comment and leave the insults out. Their not stupid or idiots or morons; it's their comments.
Posted By: n: I said when you were striking that you might win in the negotiations but that you'd lose in the long run and ah...I was so right, the layoff is the payoff for your greediness, I certainly hope that those being laid off are the ones that were on the picket line in the first place and not the ones that chose to work and not be greedy and wanting more. God sure works in mysterious ways to those not content with what they have.....Guess who is getting the last word...GOD!!!!
Posted By: Elaine: Of course, this is not good news but at least you get to work thru the holidays and you get a 60 day notice instead of just a few days.
Posted By: JD: "Alan", i dont know whether to say your comments are stupid or ignorant. If you think the layoffs have nothing to do with the strike, then you are just naive. Boeing and Spirit can make you beleive whatever they want to. But look at the facts, how can it not have to do with the strike.Think about it, you guys struck for more pay and they said ok. And now they are laying off obvisously because there is not enough money to keep the workforce where it is at now. Hmm to me that sounds like because you greedy employees wanted more and now they cant afford it. Just my opinion! So how about you look at the obvious instead of looking at things through you Boeing blinders. Way to go strikers now you can explain to your families why things are tight just like the other hard workers who got laid off because of your laziness. Best wishes to those families who had nothing to do with the strike and for the ones who did....well KARMA is a wonderful thing.
Posted By: Johnny B: See what that strike got you . Next time maybe you wont be so greedy . There is no such thing as job security anymore !!!!
Posted By: PJ: I do work for Spirit in Wichita. I also used to work for Boeing. As soon as the strike ended I told my wife "Here come the layoffs". It has happened every time there has been a strike at Boeing. Spirit immune to the layoffs plauging the industry? Dont bet on it. Everyday there are more and more people losing their jobs. That translates into less money for people to take that vacation to grandmas for Christmas, that weekend trip to Vegas, that....you get the picture. Less people flying hurts everyone. Right now Spirit is over built because of the strike. How much longer will management keep people on 3 days, when it is cheaper to lay us off so as not to pay for our benefits. If you're not a little anxious over this, then you must be living in a different world then the rest of us. This country hasn't seen anything yet, if congress doesn't help out the automakers. 2,000,000 unemployed is a lot of people. I'd rather see congress bail out the A/I then the Banking and Security industries.
Posted By: dc: Too bad to to read some comments in this section. Well, we have to admit and accept the truth that in business we can't guarantee it stays strong. Sometimes it happened like this that business turn down and many of the people getting their bread & butter from it, so it is so sad and depressing, right?..but let us think of wonderful thing and start seeking another job, i think there are still jobs around there that awaits you - don't lose the hope you know and be strong enough to face crisis like this and im sure you grow as well because this is life!
Posted By: Alan: Hey K, get a clue, because you do not have one! The military cut back at Boeing is NOT affecting Spirit. I suggest you get your facts straight before aimlessly flapping your gums.
Posted By: Anon: The United Auto Workers union has bankrupted the automobile industry, and has the companies so burdened with labor costs that they cannot possibly compete with Toyota, Volvo, Nissan, etc. The aircraft industry and the IAM would be smart to apply that lesson to the aviation industry.
Posted By: John: It still proves that the amount of morons that Wichita has. The layoffs have nothing to do with the strike. But every moron that thinks it does will have something stupid to say about it
Posted By: K: Hey alan, you genius my husband works there and was told this, i am very well aware boeing is the military area in wichita but apparently that does not matter. So before you spout your crap, don't forget others are in the front line of the layoffs and may actually know what they are talking about. Talk about being uneducated and calling the kettle black!
Posted By: Alan: If some of you idiots making these stupid comments, actually find your way onto the payroll of an aircraft company, and they, the company, find out that you really are extremely stupid, that can't understand or do your job, you will probably be made a manager. Boeing has used this technique forever, and Spirit is continuing the trend. You go boy, you go girl!!
Posted By: janet: Good going union. Protect your company rights and now because of your greed your people have no...Job. When will you learn that when you get greedy you lose. For all of you who said you were on strike to protect your family, you sure did. Hope you don't lose your home and car and everything you have because now you have NO JOB. You deserve it.
Posted By: Alan: The stupidity and ignorance runs deep on this comment section of KAKE. The layoffs have nothing to do with the recent strike. It has everything to do with a few military contracts concluding. The plan was to move the employees that were working on these contracts over to the new tanker program for the United States Air Force. But since our wonderful politicians decided to spend our hard earned tax dollars to pay Airbus to build the aircraft instead, these high skilled mod mechanics are now being laid off. You morons that make these totally uninformed comments amaze me, as you probably do others that read this section also. I can't decide if the fact that you are so severely uneducated, that you can not obtain a decent job other than flipping burgers at McDonalds or you are just plan stupid, and feel the need to lash out at persons that are considered skilled labor. And to the genius that thinks a military cutback will affect Spirit, why would it? They are military, we here at Spirit, are in the most part, commercial. Can some of you not read at all? Educate yourselves prior to making a fool of yourself, like making these half witted comments. If you are that stupid, at least try and learn to appear that you know what you are talking about, so far, most on here are failing, miserably.
Posted By: Kenny: I just told my wife after the strike, I said "Just wait, now that they are going back to work, boeing will layoff!" I love being right.
Posted By: Joy: Bet your glad you striked now huh?
Posted By: q: I only read that they are laying off in wichita. Will they be laying off in Seattle or any other place?
Posted By: K: Was told out of rumor that if Boeing lays off then Spirit will lay off too, just lovely for those that are still on 3 day work weeks out there, only to possibly get laid off after the 1st of the year.
Posted By: john: Wichita is soon to be the new Detroit in Kansas. The IAM does not know about people....only about greed. I would bet the laid off workers at Beechcraft, Cessna, and Boeing would take a wage cut over layoffs and losing their jobs any day...but thanks IAM...that is not an option. If the companies go bankrupt there will be no jobs for anyone. All of the older employees (IAM members) do not care...seniority makes their jobs safe...or so they think...WAKE UP YOU ARE NEXT! History will show unions to be the demise of american industry. And to think the engineers at Boeing want a 20% pay increase in their new contract? Whatever! Pay attention to Detroit...Wichita is next and the IAM is the issue along with greedy people!
Posted By: : HaHaHa to bad,good thing ya strike...........
Posted By: : It appears the strike for job security.. didn't work out that well.
Posted By: : WAY TO GO IAM!!! Let the Union revel in their victory. Wait victory implies a win - this doesn't look like a win to me....lol...lol...lol...;-)
Posted By: : Anyone want to take a back the strike that the Union just had. Part of the reason why 800 jobs are going to be gone.

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