(KAIR)--A single vehicle Caldwell County, Missouri rollover crash sends two to the hospital, including an Atchison man.

The Missouri State Highay Patrol reports 30-year-old Casey Baker was transported for hospitalized treatment following the Tuesday morning wreck.

Baker was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 51-year-old Anthony Bish, of Helena, Missouri, who was also transported for treatment.

The Patrol describes the injuries of both men as serious.

The wreck happened around 9:20 when Bish was driving eastbound on U.S. Highway 36, a mile east of Cameron.

It was there, the Patrol reports, that the vehicle's right front tire blew out, causing the vehicle to swerve off the southside of the highway, where it overturned.

According to the Patrol's report, it remains unknown if the men were buckled up at the time of the wreck.

(KAIR)--Sharing $1 million.

That's the plan for four Atchison residents who won the Powerball cash prize.

The group, who matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball in the February 22 drawing, has chosen to remain anonymous.

According to a press release issued by the Kansas Lottery, the winning ticket was purchased at the Casey's General Store, in Atchison.

The release says the winning ticket was bought the night of the drawing, when a husband asked his wife to make the purchase. With two other family members deciding they wanted to play, she bought a Quick Pick ticket with seven plays, instead of the two she originally planned to buy.

The group learned the next morning that they had won when checking the numbers on the Kansas Lottery's website.

The group of four said they have already decided how they plan to spend their winnings, including paying off student loans, fulfilling a wish list, buying a Utility Task Vehicle, and investing for the future.

(KLZA)-- A two-vehicle wreck Monday evening in Falls City sent a Falls City woman to the hospital.

The Falls City Police Department says it happened shortly after 7:00 at the intersection of 20th and Barada Streets.

According to the Falls City Police report, 24-year-old Sarah Lunsford was westbound on 20th Street. She said she stopped at the intersection and thought the pickup that was southbound on Barada was far enough away so she proceeded into the intersection and the collision occurred. 

17-year-old Jacob Meyer said he looked down at his speedometer and when he looked up he hit the Lunsford car.

Lunsford was issued a citation for failure to yield the right-of-way.

She was transported by private vehicle to Community Medical Center in Falls City with a possible, but not visible head injury.   

Meyer was not hurt.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Southeast Community College is finding out that location matters to students, their communities and their employers. 
 
SCC currently operates campuses in Lincoln, Beatrice and Milford, with some educational offerings across the rest of its 15-county service area. 
 
Amy Chesley, SCC's dean of continuing education, tells the Lincoln Journal Star that an initiative to place learning centers in six more communities is seeing progress. 
 
Three of the new centers have opened, in York, Nebraska City and Plattsmouth. Sites in Hebron, Falls City and Wahoo are pending.
 
Chesley says the centers will offer classroom spaces with connectivity back to one of SCC's main campuses and include a mobile computer lab. The centers will also offer classes, including general education for adult learners, English as a second language, and non-credit workforce development courses.

(KAIR)--Atchison Police are investigating two separate vehicle thefts that happened over the weekend.

“The first one occurred sometime between 4:30 am and 3:00 pm on Friday,” said Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. “There was a Chevrolet pick-up truck—white in color—taken from the parking lot in the 400 block of South 4th. We're still attempting to locate that vehicle.”

The second theft occurred sometime between 9:30 Saturday night and 11:00 Sunday morning. That was a 1993 Ford Mustang taken from a parking lot in the 600 block of Main.

“That vehicle was recovered on Sunday evening in St. Joseph, Missouri,” Wilson said.

In both cases, police are still looking for suspects. He said they have no reason at this time to believe the two thefts are related.

(KLZA)- A special meeting of the Johnson-Brock School Board was held Friday evening to discuss the possible purchase of a bus to be used to transport students to activities.

Several area residents expressed opinions concerning the purchase during the meeting. Some opposed the purchase. Jim Rush suggested more restraint on spending is needed.  He went on to suggest that parents could take a more active role in transporting students to activities.

Travis Knippelmeyer favored purchasing a bus pointing out how miles put on an activity bus are miles saved from route buses.  

Superintendent Jeff Koehler explained the reason for exploring a coach-bus for activities is due to the number of drivers available to drive a route bus and take students to activities.  He suggested two buses may be needed in the coming years due to the increase in numbers and there not being enough drivers available. Koehler said a coach bus that could hall 50-55 students would only require one sub for the route and one for the activity.

Koehler said there is a 29-passenger bus on the upcoming Consignment Auction.   

The Board members went into executive session to discuss guidelines for the superintendent to purchase the bus, being sold by Peru State College. 

Following a nearly 40 minute closed session, the Board voted to give Superintendent Koehler authority to purchase a bus at auction according to negotiated guidelines established in closed session.

Voting yes were Board members Paul Moerer, Blayne Behrends, Steve Clark, and Tammy Westhart.  Nay votes were cast by  Keith Bohling and Darren Oestmann.  

(KLZA)-- AHRS Construction of Bern, Kansas has been awarded a bid for a portion of the work for the new electrical generator at the Falls City Power Plant. 

On the recommendation of the Board of Public Works, Falls City Council members have approved a bid of more than $263-thousand dollars from AHRS to do demo work and build foundations for equipment. 

Once the demolition work is completed AHRS will build the foundation to sit the dual fuel fired engine generating unit on and related equipment foundations.

During the February 20th Council meeting, City Administrator Gary Jorn said he anticipates the engine will be delivered around June 1.

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Council conducted the annual public hearing on the 1 & 6 Year Street Plan February 13th.  

Pawnee City voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase in 2016 to pay for the project, but City Clerk Tammy Stephens thinks it will be 2018 before the work begins. There is surveying to be done and lots of preliminary work to complete before moving forward on the 40-plus block project.  

Stephens said Crystal Dunekacke, with Southeast Nebraska Development District presented information to the Council about an income survey which needs to be completed so the City can apply for public works funding for the street project. 

When the last census was completed, Pawnee City did not meet the low to moderate, income threshold required to qualify for Public Works Funding.  A new income survey will be sent out to see if those figures have changed. 

If the survey comes back with different results, it would allow Pawnee City to apply for a quarter-million dollar Public Works Grant which would help pay for a significant portion of the street improvement project.  

Following the public hearing the Council did approve the 1 & 6 Year Street Plan.  

(KLZA)-- The Richardson County Courthouse will be the site of an open house Wednesday to commemorate the state of Nebraska’s 150th year of statehood. 

County officials and employees are planning the event, which will include displays of historic information and items. VIP’s from the past will also be attending the event.

Special presentations will be given in the District Courtroom on the 3rd floor. Students from Falls City Public Schools and Sacred Heart will be making presentations.  Sacred Heart at 1:15 p.m. and Falls City Public at 1:45 p.m.

Refreshments will be served and the public will be able to tour the former jail facility, which was used until this past September.  

There will be a demonstration of the recently acquired Pictometry program that officials have recently begun using to assist with accurately measuring property and road projects.  

Richardson County and Thrivent Financial is sponsoring this official event of the Nebraska Sesquicentennial, approved by the Nebraska 150 Celebration.

As part of the states birthday celebration the Richardson County Museum 
At 1401 Chase Street will have a grand re-opening and tour beginning at 9:30 Wednesday with refreshments to be served.
 

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission has approved a zoning change to allow for the establishment of a meat processing locker near Troy.

On an unanimous vote Monday, the Commission approved a request by Michael and Terri Hegarty to rezone property at 1187 Last Chance Road from agriculture to mixed use to allow for the location of the meat processing locker along with storage units on the property.

Adjoining property owner Pete Duncan voiced his opposition, citing concerns with sewage and animal waste attracting rodents and wild animals.

Commissioners Thad Geiger and Tim Collins both said that felt the meat processing locker was a much needed business in Doniphan County.  Commissioner Jerry McKernan also said he was in favor of supporting small local businesses.

Commissioners said the meat processing locker would be under the direction of the Kansas Department of Agriculture and any future issues would be addressed at the state level.

The Doniphan County Planning Commission recommended approval of the zoning change.

(KAIR)--A change of plea in an area murder case.

KQ2-TV reports that happened Monday when Amanda Bennett entered a plea of guilty in connection with the October murder of a Saint Joseph, Missouri teenager.

The 17-year-old Bennett, in December, pleaded not guilty to second degree murder in connection with the death of 17-year-old Kaytlin Root.

Bennett, during a hearing held Monday in Buchanan County, said she was encouraged to kill Root by 18-year-old co-defendant Sebastian Dowell as part of a demonic sacrifice.

Root's body was found in Saint Joseph's Krug park by a jogger on October 16.

She was apparently stabbed and beaten to death by the pair.

Dowell, in December, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of second degree murder. His trial is scheduled for March 13.

Sentencing for Bennett is tentatively set for April. She is to undergo a court-ordered mental evaluation prior to that time.

(KAIR)--Atchison County motorists may need to rethink their travel route due to a bridge replacement project starting this week.

According to County Road and Bridge Superintendent Seth Howard, Sherman Road is being closed for two weeks, due to the work, beginning this week.

Howard says the road will remain closed for the first two weeks of construction, but then reopen for the duration of the project.

The construction effort is focused on a bridge located on 266th Road.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man, arrested Sunday for driving under the influence, faces additional charges for allegedly attacking an officer while being booked into jail.

According to Atchison Police, 32-year-old Michael Newell was stopped for suspicion of DUI in the 1600 block of U.S. Highway 59.

Along with that charge, Newell was arrested for speeding, driving while suspended, no proof of insurance, transporting an open container, obstructing legal process, and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie says that while being booked into the Atchison County Jail, Newell bit a corrections officer, leading to the battery charge.

Laurie tells MSC News the officer did not require medical treatment following the alleged attack, that happened around 3:00 Sunday morning.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Library and Arts Center will be open on Friday’s beginning this week. 

Librarian Hope Schawang told the Falls City Council last week that Allison Bierman has been hired, as a part-time, children’s librarian. The added position will allow the library to now be open on Fridays.

In recent years the library closed on Fridays to allow staff to have enough hours to be open Saturday mornings.  

(KLZA)-- Nemaha County, Nebraska Commissioners conducted a public hearing on the One & Six Year Plan for highway Improvements in Nemaha County last week.  No one from the public attended the hearing.

Later the Board approved a resolution approving the plan as presented.  

Southeast Nebraska Community Action, Family Development Specialist Sasha Rightsell presented her quarterly report. She noted More than 50 families and over 100 children were presented gift cards in December. Funds for the cards came from the Nemaha County Hospital fundraiser.  
 

(KLZA)-- Johnson County Central School Board members approved pay increases for the District administrators when they met February 13th.

The Tecumseh Chieftan reports Superintendent Jack Moles contract was extended through the 2017-18 school year with a $5,000 salary increase. His compensation will be $136,500.

Board members also approved $2,500 salary increases for JCC School District principals Rick Lester, Rich Bacon and Jon Rother.  

It was also noted during the meeting that Sterling Superintendent Ryan Knippelmeyer had sent a letter to the JCC Board inquiring about whether Johnson County Central Schools would be interested in a sports co-op in the future.  There was no further discussion on the topic. 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - Hundreds of bridges in northwest Missouri and northeastern Kansas are being called "structurally deficient."
 
The St. Joseph News-Press reports that the National Bridge Inventory Database defines a structurally deficient bridge as having one or more structural defects that require attention. It doesn't mean the bridges are unsafe for driving and does not identify the severity of the deficiency.
 
Missouri Department of Transportation bridge engineer Scott Stephens says that if a bridge is deemed unsafe for driving, MoDOT will close the route to the bridge until repairs are made.
 
The 2016 report says one Missouri county alone, Nodaway County, has 60 deficient bridges, and DeKalb County has 45. In Kansas, the survey found 53 structurally deficient bridges in Atchison County and 28 in Doniphan County.

(KAIR)--One of two Atchison men, deemed armed and dangerous by Jackson County authorities during a fugitive search late last year, is back in jail, arrested on drug related charges in Atchison County Saturday.

Chad Gorrell, Junior was taken into custody on charges of driving while suspended, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie says the 23-year-old was stopped by a Deputy for a traffic violoation on River Road, in rural Atchison County.

Laurie says the drugs, including prescription medication, were discovered in the vehicle.

Gorrell was booked into the Atchison County Jail following his arrest.

In November, Gorrell, and his father, became the subjects of a Jackson County manhunt in connection with burglaries in that county.

They were arrested after they were found hiding in a Topeka residence.

(KNZA)--Former longtime Jefferson County Sheriff Roy Dunnaway is being remembered.

Dunnaway, of Perry, died Friday at a Topeka hospital at the age of 74.

He served thirty-nine years in law enforcement, including twenty-five years as Jefferson County Sheriff, before retiring in 2008.

Dunnaway also served one term as Jefferson County Commissioner and two terms as a Perry City Councilman.

Current Jefferson Co. Sheriff Jeff Herrig said Dunnaway was one of a kind.
"Roy was like a brother and then a father as he groomed me for where I'm at today," Herrig posted on Facebook. "He will be missed so much by me and all."

Jackson Co. Sheriff Tim Morse called Dunnaway a legend in law enforcement.  "So many of us owe our careers in law enforcement to him," Morse posted. "He was the sheriff I admired as I grew up and learned so much from."

Funeral services for Dunnaway will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Highland Community College Perry campus.

To allow ample time for all, family visitation will be Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 5 and Tuesday evening from 6 to 9 at the Perry American Legion, with Masonic rites at 6:00.  

The Barnett Family Funeral Home in Oskaloosa is handling arrangements.

.

(KNZA)--Former longtime Jefferson County Sheriff Roy Dunnaway is being remembered.

Dunnaway, of Perry, died Friday at a Topeka hospital at the age of 74.

He served thirty-nine years in law enforcement, including twenty-five years as Jefferson County Sheriff, before retiring in 2008.

Dunnaway also served one term as Jefferson County Commissioner and two terms as a Perry City Councilman.

Funeral services for Dunnaway will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Highland Community College Perry campus.

To allow ample time for all, family visitation will be Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 5 and Tuesday evening from 6 to 9 at the Perry American Legion, with Masonic rites at 6:00.  

The Barnett Family Funeral Home in Oskaloosa is handling arrangements.

(KLZA)-- An effort to recall a Table Rock Village Board member is underway.

According to the Pawnee Republican a petition has been filed to recall Wayne Schulenberg who was elected to the Board in 2014. 

64 valid signatures have been verified by the Pawnee County Clerk’s office. 38 signatures of registered Table Rock voters wre required to trigger the recall effort.  County Clerk Candi Nicholas will set a recall election to take place within 30 –75 days.

The recall petition alleges Schulenberg repeatedly violated the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, had taken significant actions without Board approval and mishandled personnel matters.

(KAIR)--Despite rumors that a winning Powerball ticket was purchased in Atchison, the Kansas Lottery says no one has come forward to claim the prize. “At this time, the $1million Powerball winning ticket has not been claimed,” Kansas Lottery Spokeswoman Karie Lowe tells MSC News in an email, adding that the specific location of where the ticket was sold won't be known “until the winner comes forward to claim the prize.”

The Kansas Lottery on Thursday revealed that a ticket matching the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number, was sold somewhere in northeast Kansas.

Since that time, speculation has swirled, with rumors Friday pointing to Atchison as the location where that purchase happened.

Lowe says once the winner comes forward, details regarding the purchase location will be made public.

The northeast region of Kansas includes 21 counties.

The Powerball jackpot was won in Indiana for $435.3 million.

Wednesday night’s jackpot was the first won in 2017 and the 7th largest in Powerball history.

(KAIR)--A vehicle pursuit becomes a foot pursuit, when an Atchison motorist flees from police Friday morning, crashes his pickup through a fence, then hides in the nearby wooded area. “We began the pursuit of a pickup truck, in the central part of the city,” Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News at the scene of the suspect pursuit. “That pursuit led us to south Atchison, eventually west of Atchison. Then we ended up on west 73 Highway. The truck left the roadway, went through a fence and into the edge of a woods. The driver bailed out and ran into the woods.”

Wilson tells MSC News his office was assisted at the scene, located in the wooded area behind Express Lube, by the Atchison County Sheriff's Department and a Kansas Highway Patrol K9 officer.

Taken into custody, shortly before 11:00, was 24-year-old Donald Harvey, of Atchison. “We actually thought it was a specific suspect that we had been seeking on an outstanding warrant,” Wilson said, explaining why the pursuit began. “We did get a female passenger out of the vehicle that had fled, and we now know that that driver is not the first person we thought [he was].”

Wilson says the 21-year-old female passenger faces no criminal charges. 

(KAIR)--A vehicle pursuit becomes a foot pursuit, when an Atchison motorist flees from police Friday morning, crashes his pickup through a fence, then hides in the nearby wooded area. “We began the pursuit of a pickup truck, in the central part of the city,” Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News at the scene of the suspect pursuit. “That pursuit led us to south Atchison, eventually west of Atchison. Then we ended up on west 73 Highway. The truck left the roadway, went through a fence and into the edge of a woods. The driver bailed out and ran into the woods.”

Wilson tells MSC News his office was assisted at the scene, located in the wooded area behind Express Lube, by the Atchison County Sheriff's Department and a Kansas Highway Patrol K9 officer.

Taken into custody, shortly before 11:00 was a 24-year-old man, identified publicly only as the driver of the truck. “We actually thought it was a specific suspect that we had been seeking on an outstanding warrant,” Wilson said, explaining why the pursuit began. “We did get a female passenger out of the vehicle that had fled, and we now know that that driver is not the first person we thought [he was].”

A female passenger had been arrested earlier, following the truck crash.

Their names are not immediately made public.

(KNZA)--One lucky northeast Kansas Lottery player or players will get a chance to dream big following Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing.  

The Kansas Lottery says one ticket, sold in northeast Kansas, matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number to win a $1 million cash prize!  The winning numbers for the February 22 drawing are: 10-13-28-52-61 Powerball 2.

 The northeast region of Kansas includes 21 counties---including locally Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha and Pottawatomie.

The Powerball jackpot was won in Indiana for $435.3 million.  Wednesday  night’s jackpot was the first won in 2017 and the 7th largest in Powerball history.  

The Powerball jackpot returns to $40 million, with a cash option of $24.2 million for Saturday night’s drawing.

(KNZA)--The Kickapoo Tribe has responded to the Brown County Commission’s decision not to sign a letter of support in their efforts to secure federal legislation approving a water settlement agreement between the tribe and state of Kansas.

The Commission this week reviewed letters received from Kickapoo Tribal Chairman Lester Randall along with Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey regarding the decision.

Both offered to meet with the Commission to further discuss the matter, answer questions and address their concerns.   

The Commission decided not to sign the letter of support last week after hearing concerns from a group of landowners about the tribe’s effort to revive a water reservoir project.

In his letter, Randall said the water settlement agreement approved last September only addresses the tribe’s water rights and how those rights will be administered by the state along with other water rights in the Delaware River basin.  He said there is no agreement in the water settlement to build the Plum Creek Reservoir project, which continues to be a source of concern to Brown County landowners.

In his letter, McClaskey also said the settlement agreement and congressional approval does not authorize or fund construction of a reservoir.

He said the settlement agreement is a favorable alternative for all parties involved and improves certainty of water availability to the region.

(KAIR)--Despite verbal commands given by an officer, the driver of a suspect vehicle drives in reverse, hits the patrol car, and fails to stop. Fearing for the life of a female ride-along in the patrol car, the officer shoots, and the suspect smashes into a tree, and is pronounced dead.

That's the scenario outlined in a news release issued by the Fraternal Order of Police, in Saint Joseph, following the early Monday morning incident.

The officer was attempting to make contact with the driver of the vehicle, which was registered to an individual with an active warrant connected to a domestic assault case.

Behind the wheel of that vehicle was 27-year-old Saint Joseph resident Jason Fanning.

The news release is the first time details of what happened leading up to the shooting of Fanning have been made public.

The investigation is ongoing, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol working with the Buchanan County Prosecutor's Office.

The officer, whose name is not made public, remains on administrative leave.

(KNZA)--A two-vehicle wreck Thursday morning in Atchison County sent two people to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened on U.S. 73 Highway at the intersection with 210th Road shortly after 10:30.

The Patrol says 34-year-old Leavenworth resident Carl Heugel was southbound when his car crossed the center line and struck a northbound car driven by 78-year-old Walter Koehler, of Killeen, Texas, head-on.

Heugel was transported to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph with unspecified injuries.   

Koehler was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas with unspecified injuries.

The Patrol says both drivers were buckled up when the wreck occurred.  

(KLZA)-- A planned renovation of the Pawnee City Swimming Pool is on hold.

Premier Pools submitted a bid of nearly $190,000 for the project with an original completion date prior to the beginning of the 2017 swimming season. 

City Clerk Tammy Stephens said budget constraints played into the decision as well as some issues with language in the federal grant guidelines. She said the bid included some add-ons to the original plan for the pool renovation. 

Pawnee City has been awarded a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from Nebraska Game and Parks.  Stephens says the matching grant funds are still there, but the project will now likely be started in September, following the upcoming swimming season. 

Fundraisers have been held for the project that will go toward the city’s match of $87,500. The Pawnee City Council has committed to pay the difference between the funds raised and the match limit.  

(KLZA)-- There is an opening on the Falls City, City Council in Ward IV. 

Anthony Nussbaum will be the new Executive Director of the Falls City Housing Agency.  He is already on the job and will replace Linda Ebel who is retiring after more than 32 years on the job at the end of March.  

City Administrator Gary Jorn said the vacancy will be advertised and Mayor Jerry Oliver will recommend someone to fill the position.

Anyone interested in serving in the 4th Ward City Council seat in Falls City should contact City Hall or Mayor Jerry Oliver. 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council has approved a new three-year contract with the CWA Union representing a portion of the city employees.  The contract is in effect until September 30, 2019.

Under the contract the employees will receive 2.5 percent pay raises each year.  

The City approved a new contract with the IBEW union representing city employees earlier.

The Council also approved wages and benefits for non-union employees as recommended by the Management Negotiating Committee. That increase will be 2.5-percent. 

The increase for the Management positions was approved at 2.75 percent. First Ward Councilman Don Ferguson asked why the recommendation was higher than what the union employees received.

Mayor Jerry Oliver said the proposal was based on extra duties being performed. He said it was only a recommendation and the Council could do whatever they wanted. 

The vote was five in favor, Council member Kirby Robidoux was absent and Councilman Charlie Bentley abstained.  

With the increase the wages for the City Administrator will be $73, 237; Assistant Administrator $44,760; Chief of Police $66,930 and Utility Superintendent $71,978.

(KAIR)--A Kansas City, Kansas man goes to jail after allegedly driving under the influence of meth in Atchison County.

According to Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, deputies responded to a report of a reckless driver at about 7:30 Wednesday evening on U.S. 73 Highway.

They found 19-year-old Win Htot asleep in the driver's seat of his vehicle that had left the roadway just north of Sheridan Road on South 73 Hwy.

He was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KNZA)--Hiawatha residents are being urged to pay special attention to their next water bill.

It will contain a survey to get their input on whether the downtown brick streets should be keep or not.

Residents will be asked whether they favor restoring the brick streets or replacing them entirely with concrete.  The restoration option would involve taking up the bricks, laying down six inches of concrete and putting the bricks back on top. The streets in question are those surrounding the courthouse, along with 6th and 7th streets between Oregon and Delaware.

The City Commission is hoping for a good response, as the survey will help them in making a final decision. 

City Administrator Mike Nichols says about 13-hundred survey’s will be mailed out with water bills to in-town residents only.    He said he would like to see a 30 to 33 percent return.

(KNZA)--The six cases against a Holton man accused of sex-related charges will continue to be tried separately.

The Holton Recorder reports a Jackson County judge last Friday rejected a motion by Special Prosecutor Jacqie Spradling to combine the cases against 22-year-old Jacob Ewing.

Topeka-based defense attorney Kathleen Ambrosio objected to  consolidation of the cases, saying they are separate incidents and should not be tried together.  

The judge also granted motion by Ambrosio to delay the start of the first trial to April 17th.  The trial was originally scheduled to begin on March 17th.

The judge said rescheduling the date of the first trial will “ bump” the start dates of the other five trials.

Ewing faces a total of 19 counts in the cases dating back to January 2014.

He remains in the Jackson County Jail.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau is making plans for a rare occurrence later this year—a total eclipse of the sun.

Director Deidra Leander told the Hiawatha City Commission Tuesday evening that its to happen at 1:05 the afternoon of  August 21st and will last more than 2 ½ minutes.  

It will be the first total eclipse in the United States in four decades and the First coast-to-coast eclipse in a century.

Leander said Hiawatha is one of a very few communities in Kansas that will  experience the actual total eclipse, which could bring a large number of visitors to the community.  

She says motels in Atchison and St. Joseph are already completely booked for that date.

Leander says the Chamber is making preparations for the once in a lifetime occurrence.  She said they are considering utilizing Noble Field as a centralized location, which would provide ample parking and open fields for telescope viewing areas.  Leander said Hiawatha High School also plans to have telescopes set up.  

She says the Chamber is in the process of forming committees to help in making preparations.

Leander also presented Commissioners with a copy of the new logo that’s been developed following the merger of the Chamber and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau last year, and said they on working on a new web site.

Leander said the Chamber has set a goal for 2017 to increase membership.  She said they ended last year with 76 members and currently have 68.

(AP)--Kansas legislators have failed to override Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's veto of a bill that would have increased income taxes to help balance the state budget.

The state Senate voted 24-16 Wednesday to overturn the veto. But supporters were three votes short of the two-thirds majority of 27 votes needed in the 40-member chamber.

The Senate's action came after the House voted 85-40 to override the veto. Supporters there had one vote more than necessary.

State Representative John Eplee, of Atchison, was the lone local legislator to vote in favor of overiding the veto.  Representatives Randy Garber and Francis Awerkamp along with Senator Dennis Pyle all voted against overriding the veto.

The bill would have raised more than $1 billion over two years by rolling back personal income tax cuts Brownback championed in 2012 and 2013. Lawmakers will have to draft a new budget-balancing plan.

(KAIR)--An Effingham teen is behind bars, accused of executing a fraudulent scheme at an Atchison business, where he was employed, to steal a little more than $1,200 from the business.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson says arrested is 18-year-old William Schmalstieg.

“On Tuesday evening we investigated a theft that occurred at the O'Reilly Auto Parts located at 819 Main,” Wilson said. “It was determined that between Aug. 17, 2016 Feb. 10, 2017, an 18-year-old employee had fraudulently had obtained cash from the business.”

Wilson said Schmalstieg faces charges of theft and unlawful computer acts.

“He had a fraudulent scheme ongoing between those dates and it involved fraudulently returning merchandise for cash and the utilization of the store's computer/cash register,” Wilson said. “That substantiated the charge of unlawful use of a computer.”

He said Atchison police were alerted of the case from O'Reilly Auto Parts Regional Loss Prevention Office.

Schmalstieg remains in the Atchison County jail without bond at this time.

(KAIR)--The preliminary autopsy report is released as part of the ongoing investigation into an officer-involved shooting in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

The findings come in a press release issued by Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scoggins, who confirms his office is "working closely with the Missouri State Highway Patrol" on the investigation.

27-year-old Saint Joseph resident Jason Fanning died after he was shot by an officer when police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of 20th and Charles Streets shortly after 2:30 Monday morning.

While the exact time of the fatal shooting, and specifically what led up to it, has not been made public, the press release from Scoggins states that preliminary autopsy results reveal that Fanning "was killed by a single, penetrating gunshot wound."

Scoggins says "a lot of additional work is yet to be done,” with the investigation continuing.

As part of the probe, Scoggins met for around two hours Wednesday "to review preliminary information with investigators and discuss additional steps that need to be taken" as part of the ongoing investigation.

The officer that pulled the trigger has been placed on administrative leave.

 TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas House has given final approval to a bill restoring guaranteed teacher tenure. The bill now goes to the Senate.
 
 The body passed the bill Wednesday with a 72 to 53 vote. It originally dealt with arbitration but was amended Tuesday to include the tenure measure so that a separate tenure bill wouldn't die in committee. The Education Committee Chairman had refused to hold a vote on the tenure bill, and an upcoming deadline for bills to pass their chamber of origin could have killed it.
 
 Supporters argued that the bill guaranteed due process for teachers who are fired. Opponents urged their fellow lawmakers to give local boards and districts control of tenure decisions.
 
 Lawmakers voted to remove guaranteed tenure as part of a broader bill in 2014.  

(KAIR)--Editor's note: The following is a statement released by Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter: 

Atchison County is now in a burn ban until further notice.  The National Weather Service warns ‘extremely dry surface fuels in combination with ample sunshine and low humidity will lend to elevated fire weather danger today’. 

(AP)--The Kansas House has voted to override Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's veto of a bill increasing personal income taxes to help balance the state budget.
 
 The vote Wednesday was 85-40. That's one vote more than the two-thirds majority necessary in the 125-member House.
 
 The House's action clears the way for an attempt to override in the Senate.
 
 The bill would raise more than $1 billion over two years starting in July. It would increase income tax rates and end an exemption for more than 330,000 farmers and business owners.
 
 Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since GOP lawmakers slashed income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback's urging. The bill would reverse key Brownback tax policies.

(KAIR)--United States Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins continued her Kansas listening tour this week, meeting with a small group of constituents at Highland City Hall Tuesday morning.

Concerns regarding healthcare were voiced early in the session, with questions posed by those attending regarding how a Republican overhaul of the Affordable Care Act would affect healthcare costs.

Jenkins maintained that preexisting conditions would continue to be covered under the overhaul plan, while costs would decrease due to competition, as healthcare plans would be available for purchase across state lines.

Agricultural issues also took center stage, with Jenkins saying she finds disagreement with President Donald Trump on matters of trade, which could negatively affect Kansas ag-producers, and other manufacturers. “If the Kansas economy is going to flourish, we have to have fair trade agreements, or otherwise we don't have markets for our ag products and our aircraft, and everything else that we make here in Kansas.”

The town hall session took a brief, heated turn when matters of LGBTQ issues were addressed, and the possible handling of such issues under the Trump administration. “They have legal rights, they don't need extra rights,” one constituent stated when the issue was addressed. “I couldn't get married until, like 3-years ago, in 2012, that's an extra right?” another constituent questioned.

The exchange ended when the discussion turned to the Trump administration's economic plans.

Jenkins also fielded questions regarding the difference between state and federal budgets and education funding, among other concerns.

The Kansas Congresswoman last month announced this will be her final term in office, planning to return to the public sector when her current term ends in two years.

(KAIR)--The search will soon begin to fill vacancies in the Atchison County Schools, following resignations accepted during Monday night's meeting of the Board of Education.

Among them was that of Head Football Coach Ryan Kelly.

USD 377 Superintendent Steve Wiseman told MSC News Kelly made the decision because there was no additional position available for him in the district. “We just didn't have an opening for him that met his training and his expertise in the classroom,” Wiseman told MSC news “He was offered a job in another district where they had an opening, and he had to do what was best for him and his family.”

Wiseman said the task of finding a new High School Spanish teacher will also have to happen, following the resignation of Sally Hardy. “That'll be difficult to fill,” Wiseman said. “We just know that from experience with area school districts.”

Other resignations accepted by the Board of Education Monday included Junior/Senior High Language Arts Teacher Alicia Cattrell and 3rd Grade Elementary Teacher Krisha Smith.

All of the resignations are effective at the end of the current school year.

(KAIR)--The online transportation app, Uber, is now available in Atchison.

“We find out that we're in the Lawrence area for Uber,” said Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking. “So if somebody is interested in being an Uber driver, they should sign up. Or, take an Uber here in town and talk to the driver that's doing it.”

Cocking said Atchison needs more Uber drivers to sign-up and then residents to use the app. As that happens, rides will be available more often.

To use Uber or sign-up to drive, just download the app on your Smartphone or see their webiste.

Atchison had previously been without a transportation service since 2015.

(MSC News)--With severe weather season just around the corner, the National Weather Service will be holding severe weather safety and information meetings throughout the area.

Two will be held locally this week, Tuesday evening in Jefferson County at the McLouth High School auditorium and Wednesday evening in Nemaha County at the Sabetha Community Building.

Next week, three meetings are scheduled locally.  They include Monday evening in Doniphan County at the Troy Community building, Tuesday evening in Leavenworth County at the Richard W. Warren Middle School in Leavenworth and Tuesday evening in Pottawatomie County at the Wamego Middle School.  

In addition, meetings will be held March 9th at the Horton High School Auditorium; March 15th in the basement of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office in Hiawatha and March 20th in Frankfort at the Annunciation Cigna Center.

All the meetings will begin at 7:00 in the evening and last around 90 minutes.

A meteorologist from the National Weather Service will give the presentations.  The meetings, which are open to the general public, will focus on severe storm safety, preparedness and awareness.

March 6-10th is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas.  The statewide tornado drill will take place at 10:00 the morning of March 7th, weather allowing.   

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City School Board has approved extending the contract of Principal Don Jacob’s for one year with a 4 percent salary increase. 

In other action last week the Board voted unanimously to accept with regret, the applications for early separation for math teacher William Bohling and P.E. instructor Alan Strong.

Approval was also given to authorize Superintendent Brian Rottinghaus to finalize an agreement with Midwest Tennis and Track to resurface the track, high jump pad and runways for the low bid of $142,000. 

Continued membership in the Nebraska Association of School Boards was also approved with membership renewal dues of just over $3,300.  

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas lawmakers are considering legalizing medical marijuana for certain medical conditions.
 
The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee heard the bill Monday. If it passes, Kansas would join 28 other states that have some type of medical marijuana program.
 
Supporters say medical marijuana could help patients who have exhausted available medicine options. Melissa Ragsdale, whose 7-year-old son suffers from seizures, told the committee industrial hemp cannabidiol helped her son but it only stops certain seizures and that broader access could help.
 
 Supporters also say marijuana would be better than potentially harmful prescription narcotics.
 
Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Lobbyist Ed Klumpp argues marijuana should go through a vetting process like other prescription drugs. He says legalizing usage for some people makes stopping illegal marijuana use more difficult.

(KAIR)--An area roadway reopens, following its forced closure after a semi knocked down power lines Monday morning.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, it happened on Leavenworth County's K-192, in Easton, after the power lines fell across the roadway when the semi's high load struck them.

Westar Energy was called to the scene and made the necessary repairs.

KDOT reported the incident around 10:30. The road was reopened by 11:15.

(KAIR)--A semi knocks down power lines, forcing the closure of a Leavenworth County road Monday morning.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, K-192, in Easton, is closed to all traffic, as the power lines remain across the roadway. Traffic is being detoured through the use of local streets.

The agency, as of 10:30 Monday morning, said the road would likely remain closed for up to two hours.

Westar Energy is working to make the necessary repairs.

The semi was transporting a high load through the affected travel route which knocked the lines to the ground.

(KLZA)-- A new elementary school principal and assessment director has been hired for the 2017-18 school year at Falls City North Elementary School. 

Superintendent Tim Heckenlively has announced that Shelly Leyden who currently serves as Curriculum Director and Middle School Girls Basketball Coach has been hired for the position. 

Leyden completed the Doane College Educational Leadership Program for her Master’s Degree in K-12 Administration and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Nebraska in Secondary Education. 

She brings a background in curriculum and instruction, AdvancedED School Improvement and instructional leadership to District 56. She has been with District 56 since the start of the 2014-15 school year.

Leyden previously taught high school mathematics and coached cross-country at Bellevue East High School and Lincoln North Star High School.

Leyden will replace Shawn Emerson who has resigned to accept a position in Missouri. 

(KNZA)--Authorities have identified the man killed in an officer-involved shooting early Monday morning in St. Joseph.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol in a news release identified the victim as 27-year-old Jason Fanning, of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Police say the shooting happened after police responded to report of  a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of 20th and Charles Streets shortly after 2:30.   

Its unknown at this time what led to shots being fired by the officer.

Fanning died shortly after he was taken to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation into the shooting at the request of St. Joseph Police.

The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave.

(KLZA)-- The Auburn Board of Education last week voted to approve amendments to three lines in the 2016-17 budget.

The Board approved refinancing bonds used for the Middle School and Calvert Elementary School projects. The bonds will be paid off a year earlier and save the district approximately $450,000. 

The second budget amendment will be to the building fund.  The Auburn School District is anticipating receiving federal funds to help with infrastructure improvements, with an emphasis on wired Internet.
The project comes with a price tag of approximately $100,000 with the government reimbursement amounting to 70 percent of the costs. 
 
The other budget amendment will allow improvements at Tushla Field to be run through the school’s activity budget. 

The City of Auburn and other various donors are donating money to replace the baseball scoreboard and lights at Tushla Field.  The cost is estimated at $250,000.  
.  

(KLZA)-- Plans are being made for the annual Southeast Nebraska Career Fair to be held on the Peru State College Campus, Wednesday, March 1.

The event is free and open to the public. Career Fair Coordinator Jamie Eberly invites students and community members from across the region to attend. 

Those attending will be able to learn what skills and experiences employers are looking for in future employees.  

Nearly 20 businesses have signed up for the event to be held in the Live Oak Room at Peru State College. 

Hours are from 10:30 that morning until 2:30 in the afternoon.  

(KNZA)--A Falls City man convicted on a felony drug charge in Doniphan County will learn his fate March 6th.

As part of a plea agreement, 27-year-old Cameron Gill recently pleaded “ no contest” in Doniphan County District Court to a charge of possession of  methamphetamine.

In exchange for the plea, five additional charges were dismissed.

Gill was arrested last September by the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Department following a traffic stop on U.S. 36 Highway.   During a consent to search his vehicle, authorities say a black pouch was located with baggies and residue of what appeared to be meth.

Gill remains in the Doniphan County Jail after his bond was revoked.

(KMZA)--Misdemeanor drug cases in Seneca will now be prosecuted through municipal court instead of through district court.

On the recommendation of Police Chief Jordan Weaver, the Seneca City Council last week approved an ordinance making the change.

With an increase in the number of drug cases in the last couple of years, Weaver said he felt the city should do their own cases.  He said the city had about 20 misdemeanor drug cases last year, and are looking for that to increase this year.

Weaver says most cities prosecute misdemeanor drug cases through municipal court.

City Attorney Martin Mishler will handled prosecution of the cases.

Felony drug cases will still be prosecuted through district court.      

(KLZA)--A Falls City day care facility was ordered shut down by state health officials  Friday. 

According to the Omaha World Herald, an emergency shutdown of the Little Bits Daycare owned and operated by Michelle Wilcox was ordered after an inspector found rodent droppings and trash throughout the home.

The order bars Wilcox from caring for any children other than her own until she has corrected the problems.

A state child care inspector made an unannounced visit last Thursday, prompted by a complaint received by the state.

A report indicates rodents droppings were found throughout the home, including on an infant’s eating surface and behind the chairs in the same room were an infant had been placed on a blanket on the floor. 

In addition, the inspector discovered dirty dishes in the sink and on the countertops, along with a crock-pot containing food from the previous day. 

Trash was also discovered on the floor in multiple rooms as well as in a fenced outdoor play area.  

(KNZA)--U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins will host a “ listening tour” session in Highland Tuesday morning,February 21st.  

The Republican congresswoman will be at the Highland City Hall at 10:00.  

Jenkins says she wants to hear from area residents about the issues that are important to them.  

The public is invited to attend.

(KNZA)--Funeral services have been set for the Jackson Heights High School sophomore who was killed Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle wreck at the entrance to the road that leads to the school about 4 ½ miles north of Holton.

Services for 16-year-old Afton Burdick, of Circleville, will be Thursday morning at 10:30 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, with burial following in the Circleville Cemetery.

The family will greet friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 at the funeral home.

Afton is survived by her mother, Lori; her father, Alan; and a sister, Bailey.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says Burdick was attempting to turn onto U.S. 75 Highway from 266th Road when her car was struck by a northbound semi tractor-trailer around 3:30 Friday afternoon.

Burdick was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck.  

The semi driver, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was transported to the Holton Community Hospital with what were believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

(KLZA)-- The Mound City Board of Education approved one-year contract extensions for Elementary / Middle School Principal Carolyn Hall and High School Principal Korey Miles when they met Wednesday. 

Board members also voted to accept the letter of resignation from Sandy Hughes as Speech Pathologist. She worked for the Mound City District 2 ½ days per week and has accepted a full-time job with the North Andrew School District. 

Hiring Monica Campbell as the Family and Consumer Science Teacher for the 2017-18 school year was approved.

Superintendent Ken Eaton discussed facility needs and a list of summer projects for the Mound City School District. 

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Clerk Candi Nicholas discussed the salary of the District Court bailiff with County Commissioners this week.  

Gage County will no longer pay any of the bailiff salary effective July, 2017. Following the discussion, Commissioners voted unanimously not to pay any more to the District Court Bailiff salary than the amount currently paid.  

Gage County pays more than $8,300 toward the bailiffs salary with Pawnee, Nemaha, Richardson and Johnson counties paying salary, benefits and mileage for the bailiff. 

The five counties make up the First Judicial District.  

(KLZA)-- The Johnson-Brock School Board has approved extending the contract of K-12 Principal Lucas Dalinghaus for the 2018-19 school year with the salary to be negotiated. 

The board voted to regretfully accept the resignation of science teacher Jacob Luenberger at the end of the scool year and Sylvia Smith who has taught at Johnson-Brock for more than 25 years.

Contracts were approved for the 2017-18s school year for Dawn Metschke and Holly Mosel as Science Teachers.

A contract was approved with Tim Newman as the Drivers Education instructor at a rate of $150 per student.  The tuition rate to take Drivers-Ed was approved for 2017 at $250 per student. 

(KNZA)--Two people arrested in St. Joseph in connection with a California homicide investigation have waived extradition.

That came during an appearance in a Buchanan County courtroom Friday for 26-year-old Coty Sutton and 22-year-old Amber Anderson.

Both are expected to be returned to California in ten days.

The pair was arrested Sunday in St. Joseph on fugitive warrants.

Sutton is wanted in Modesto, California for murder and robbery.  Anderson is wanted for being an accessory to murder.

The two are charged in connection with the November 26th stabbing death of a 56-year-old Modesto man.

Modesto police say Sutton and Anderson fled to Missouri following the homicide.

(KAIR)--A local road will be closed for up to six weeks due to a bridge replacement project.

Seth Howard, with the Atchison County Road and Bridge Department said in an e-mail, 210th Road (east of Rooks Road) in Atchison County will be closed beginning the week of Feb. 20 and will remain closed anywhere from four to six weeks.

Howard said the project will include removing the old concrete bridge structure and replacing it with an aluminum box culvert structure.

He said making the replacement will make the bridge safer by eliminating the narrow bridge and widening the roadway.

(KAIR)--An Atchison woman goes to jail following the alleged discovery of methamphetamine on her person.

“It was about 10 am On Thursday morning when an officer on patrol did a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Harper Drive,” said Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. “She was taken into custody on driving while suspended and during that arrest, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was found on her person.”

He said arrested was 39-year-old Ebony Knott.

She was booked into the Atchison County Jail where she remains held without bond.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Legislature has approved a big increase in personal income taxes to help balance the state budget in a move that defies Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

Senate approved a bill Friday that would generate more than $1 billion over two years. The vote was 22-18.

Senators acted the day after the House approved the measure, so the bill goes to Brownback. He has strongly criticized the bill and said he would not sign it, but he has so far stopped short of saying specifically that he would veto it.

The bill would abandon core tax-cutting policies Brownback championed in 2012 and 2013 to help close projected budget shortfalls totaling nearly $1.1 billion through June 2019.

Supporters did not have the two-thirds majorities necessary to override a possible veto.
  

(KNZA)--A single-vehicle wreck on U.S. 169 Highway about one mile south of St. Joseph Thursday evening left two injured.

The  Missouri State Highway Patrol says 63-year-old Flagstaff, Arizona resident Catherine Petersen was northbound when her car crossed the center line and left the roadway, where it struck an embankment, utility pole and mailbox.

Petersen was transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for the treatment of what the Patrol described as moderate injuries.

A passenger, 90-year-old St. Joseph resident Norma Cobb, was transported to by private vehicle to the hospital with minor injuries.

The patrol says both were buckled up when the wreck occurred shortly after 7:30.
 

(KMZA)--The Seneca Fire Department presented their annual report to the City Council Wednesday evening.

Fire Chief Tom Scott said the department responded to fifty-five calls last year.   

That includes thirty-two rural calls, twenty-two city calls and one mutual aid call.

Among the calls were twenty grass fires and two house fires.

During the department’s January meeting, Scott was re-elected as fire chief and Darrin Schmitz was re-elected as first assistant chief.

Scott said four people have retired from the department this year and their positions have been filled.

(MSC News)--The Kansas Highway Patrol will be joining several local law enforcement agencies in a stepped up enforcement around area high schools beginning Monday, February 20th through March 5th.

The Atchison and Brown County Sheriff's Departments along with Hiawatha, Horton and Seneca Police Departments are among law enforcement agencies that will be participating in the annual  “High Visibility Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign.”

According to Kansas Department of Transportation statistics, 13 teens lost their lives in 2015 due to car crashes.  Of those teens, 40 percent were not properly restrained.

KDOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety and Technology is spearheading the two-week awareness campaign in hopes of decreasing serious injuries and crash fatalities to teens by increasing seat belt usage.

Officers will be issuing citations to any individual who refuses to obey the traffic laws, whether it is for speeding, texting or failing to buckle up.

(KMZA)--The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department is seeking information in the criminal damage of a backhoe.

Sheriff Greg Riat says the Case backhoe had three windows broken out and another cracked sometime between January 27th-30th while it was parked in the 13-thousand block of McIntyre Road near Olsburg.

Damage was estimated at $2,500.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353.  Crime tips can also be left online at ptsheriff.com.

(KNZA)--Riverside USD 114 Superintendent Mike Newman has announced his resignation, effective at the end of the current school year.

That came following an executive session at this week’s USD 114 Board of Education meeting.

While Newman is resigning as superintendent, he will remain with the district, serving as chief financial officer for the 2017-18 school year with a base pay of $11,000.

He will also be serving as part-time superintendent of the Doniphan West school district.

The Riverside and Doniphan West school districts have shared Newman as superintendent since July 1st of last year.

The Kansas Chief reports current Riverside High School Principal Bob Blair has been offered the superintendent’s position at Riverside.

(KNZA)--A Troy man is facing multiple charges in an alleged domestic battery case involving a baseball bat and hammer.

32-year-old Travis Smith was arrested February 5th after the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic disturbance at his residence in the 200 block of North 1st Street in Troy.

Smith is charged with three felony counts---aggravated battery, aggravated criminal sodomy and criminal threat.  He also faces three misdemeanor counts---domestic battery, criminal restraint and disorderly conduct.

A pre-trial conference in the case is set for March 14th.

Smith remains in the Doniphan County Jail, held on a $75,000 bond.   

(KMZA)--Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville has again received designation as a Level IV Trauma Center by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 

Every three years, designated trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance as outlined by the American College of Surgeons and endorsed by the Kansas Advisory Committee on Trauma.

CMH initially received Level IV Trauma Center designation in August of 2012 when CMH Medical Staff passed a resolution to support its establishment under the direction of then Chief of Staff Dr. John Ryan. The resolution was approved the following day by the CMH Board of Directors.

There are four separate categories of designation by the Kansas Trauma Program. Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of designation.

A trauma care system includes a network of hospitals providing a spectrum of care for injured patients. Trauma center designations are based on the hospital’s care capability, from the highest, Level I, to hospitals designed Level IV.

Level IV trauma centers are rural hospitals whose primary role is to stabilize seriously injured patients and, if necessary, transfer them to a higher level trauma center.  

Hospitals that have achieved Level IV trauma center designation have demonstrated a commitment to providing optimal care for those who have been seriously injured.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City School Board approved the 2017-18 school calendar when they met this week. 

The first day of school for students will be August 17th with May, 24, 2018 being the last day for students in the school year. 

There are 186 teacher contract days in the calendar with students in class 179 days.  

In other action Board members approved a facility project list for 2017 with a budget of more than $135,000. 

(KLZA)--Fire destroys a Humboldt, Nebraska landmark.

The Humboldt Fire Department was called to the former Cooper Mills building on the south edge of Humboldt shortly after 6 o’clock Thursday morning. 

Assistant Fire Chief Rick Dettmann told MSC News the building was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.  Its the third time the building has caught fire.

No injuries were reported and no other buildings were damaged.  

According to the Richardson County Assessors Office records, the building is owned by Donald Stroud of Ashland, Nebraska while the Burlington Northern Railroad owns the land the building sits on.

The train tracks are about 20 feet from the building and train traffic was unable to pass during the fire.  

The building was reportedly in the process of being taken down and there was no electrical service to the building.

Pictures posted with this story were provided by members of the Humboldt Fire Department.

(KAIR)--A burn ban is in effect for two local counties, while a hold on burn permits remains in another.

Atchison and Doniphan County emergency management officials alerted residents Thursday that no open burning will be allowed until further notice.

Also Brown County Sheriff John Merchant says his office will not be issuing burn permits until further notice.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for northeast Kansas until 6:00 Thursday evening.

The weather service says a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm conditions creates a high fire danger.

(KNZA)--A Wathena man facing a felony charge of aggravated battery has entered into a plea agreement.

The Kansas Chief reports 37-year-old Ryan Smith pleaded “ no contest” last Friday in Doniphan County District Court to a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery, canceling a jury trial that had been set this week in the case.

Sentencing was set for April 5th.

Smith is accused of assaulting J.T. Euler at a farm north of Wathena last April, leaving Euler requiring surgery for facial injuries.

Authorities say the altercation occurred while Euler was in the cab of a tractor planting corn after Smith confronted him about who had permission to hunt on the property.   

(KMZA)--The Nemaha Central Board of Education has approved the calendar for the 2017-2018 school year. Heidi Wolfgang reports..

Under the calendar approved by the Board during their regular meeting Monday evening, new teachers will report for  orientation on Thursday, August 10 and returning teachers will return on Friday, August 11. Students will begin with a full day on Thursday, August 17.

Superintendent Darrel Kohlman says the calendar is very similar to the current year calendar with two more days for students and teachers.

Following an executive session, the Board voted to extend the current two-year contracts for the district's four administrators an additional year until 2018.  Compensation will be determined at a later date.

Nemaha Central High School student Max Holthaus updated the Board on the progress of the district mobile app he has  been developing. Holthaus said the app is 25% complete and he expects it to be finished towards the end of summer.

And two donations were accepted from Frontier Farm Credit. The first, in the amount of $5,000, will  be used in the Vo-Ag/FFA program start up. The second donation for $350 is for the BackSnack program at the elementary/middle school.

(KNZA)--A stream bank stabilization and road repair project southeast of Robinson has been completed.

District Conservationist Matt Sprick met with the Brown County Commission Monday to update them on the project on 205th Road.

Sprick says the contractor, Aller’s LLC of Hiawatha, completed the project February 7th, ahead of schedule thanks to good weather.

The stream bank along the Wolf River and road were damaged from flooding last September.

Sprick said the total project cost was nearly $245,000.

Funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Services Emergency Watershed Protection program will reimburse the county for 75 percent of the project cost or nearly $184,000.

(KAIR)--Very high fire danger.

That word from the Brown County Sheriff's Office. In a text alert, the Brown County Sheriff's office said they won't be issuing burn permits until further notice.

The National Weather Service says the rangeland fire danger index is expected to reach the 'very high' category for much of the norheast Kansas area Thursday and Friday.

(KMZA)--A Pottawatomie County man suspected in a string of vehicle battery thefts is behind bars.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat said in a news release that 36-year-old William Eichem, of Louisville, was arrested Monday near Wamego following an investigation.

Riat says the sheriff's office received several reports of batteries being stolen in the Louisville area. The thefts are believed to have occurred between February 8th and 12th.

He said tips and assistance from the public lead detectives to identify Eichem as a suspect.

Riat says Eichem was in possession of some batteries that had allegedly been stolen when arrested.

Eichem remains in the Pottawatomie County Jail, held on a $25,000 bond.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Board of Education voted this week to extend contracts for High School Principal Gale Dunkhas, Middle School Principal Rick Johnson and South Elementary School Principal J.P. Holys. Salaries will be reviewed later.

North Elementary School Principal and Assessment Director Shawn Emerson is resigning to take a job as Principal at the Nodaway-Holt School District in Graham, Missouri.

The Board also approved the Certified Faculty Master Contract for the 2017-18 school year with the Falls City Education Association. The base salary will be increased $575 to $34,700. The health insurance plan will remain the same.

(KLZA)-- The Auburn City Council Monday evening approved a resolution to place a half-cent sales tax proposal before voters on May 9.  

If approved, the funds would pay for a multi-use community center with a price tag estimated at $3-million.

In the past year Auburn residents were surveyed and indicated they would like to have a performing arts center, a gymnasium, a facility that could host large weddings, and an indoor pool was even suggested. 

With some of those options being cost prohibitive, Mayor Scott Kudrna provides information on an idea combining some of the ideas. The idea is to have a building that can host various functions. The building would include a floor large enough for multiple basketball and volleyball courts, a stage area and seating ranging from around 400 to 1200 depending on the event and configuration. 

Council members voted 5-1 to put the sales tax increase up for the voters to decide.  Councilman Rick Janssen cast the lone dissenting vote.  

Kudrna says the ½-cent sales tax would cover the estimated cost of the facility and help with long-term maintenance

The City of Auburn has an option on property near the bowling alley on the north side of Highway 136 in Auburn to construct the facility if approved by voters.  

(KNZA)--Two suspects wanted in connection with a California murder investigation have been arrested in St. Joseph.

KQ2-TV reports 26-year-old Coty Sutton and 22-year-old Amber Anderson have been charged in Buchanan County with felonies for being out of state fugitives.

According to court documents, Sutton is wanted in Modesto, California for homicide and robbery.  Anderson is wanted for accessory to murder.

The two are wanted in connection with the November 26th stabbing death of a 56-year-old Modesto man. 

Modesto police say Stutton and Anderson fled to Missouri following the homicide.

The pair were taken into custody Sunday in St. Joseph and are being held in the Buchanan County Jail without bond.

Sutton and Anderson are to appear in a Buchanan County courtroom Friday.

(KNZA)--A vacancy has been filled on the Highland City Council.

During their regular meeting last week, the Council approved the appointment of Jesse Marriott to fill the unexpired term of Jerry Twombly.

Twombly was sworn in as mayor last month following the resignation of Scott Sisk.   

Marriott took a seat on the Council after he was sworn in by City Clerk Joann Karn.

The Council then elected Matt Peterson as council president.   Twombly had served as council president.

(KNZA)--The Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education has approved a summer lunch program in Wetmore this year.

Superintendent Todd Evans says Food Services Supervisor Brook Brubeck shared the plan with the Board Monday evening, which includes serving sack lunches to children up to 18 years of age.

He says Wetmore qualifies for the program by meeting the federal program qualifications. Evans says the school district will act as the fiscal agent and is responsible for preparation of the meals.  

He says the district will be looking for community volunteers to help distribute meals for the program.

In other business, the Board approved the hiring of an intervention teacher at the Sabetha Elementary School.

Evans said he’s very excited about the new teaching position, which is to help with implementation of the improved multi-tiered system of support that the district has been developing.  

He said the individual will be responsible for assessment data analysis, will supervise and provide training for classified intervention staff, will collaborate with classroom teachers and work directly with students

Evans says the Board also approved the hiring of a third coach for the Sabetha High School baseball and softball programs due to the interest level by players and the logistics of student supervision.  

The cost for the additional coach will be covered for 3 years by the Keim and Saylor families who are providing funding for the programs.

In addition, the USD 113 Board approved a school calendar for the 2017-18 school year.    Evans says its very similar to this school year, with 168 student days and 179 teacher days.  The first day of classes will be August 17th and the last day, May 17th.    

(KNZA)--A group of landowners meet with the Brown County Commission Monday to voice their concerns about the Kickapoo Tribe’s efforts to revive a water reservoir project.

Linda Lierz, representing the group of eleven landowners, urged the Commission not to sign a letter of support for the proposed project.

Lierz said while the group agrees the tribe needs water, they believe the tribe could drill wells on their reservation to meet their needs instead of taking valuable farmland to construct a reservoir. “In the Farm Bureau book that I gave you, it shows that if they drill wells they could have water, ground water that would be more healthy,” she told the Commision. “If it's about water, they would have drilled wells a long time ago.” 

Lierz said none of the landowners have sold property to the tribe for the proposed project and have not been contacted by the tribe in the last five years.

Kickapoo tribal officials met with the Commission last week to ask for a letter of support for the ratification of a water rights agreement that will help the tribe develop a reservoir on their reservation.

Last September, the tribe and state entered into the agreement which quantifies the tribe’s water rights in the Delaware River Watershed. However, the agreement still must be ratified by Congress.

Commissioner Keith Olsen said he contacted the offices of Senator Jerry Moran and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins last week and was told they have not agreed yet to sponsor a bill to ratify the agreement.

Commission Chairman Steve Roberts told the group the Commission doesn't plan to sign a letter of support, saying the Commission has not received very good answers from the tribe about the proposed project.

(KLZA)-- The Nemaha Natural Resources District Board of Directors discussed the Shubert water well situation during their February 9th meeting.

A closed session was held to discuss advice and comments from the Nemaha NRD Board Attorney regarding the Shubert well interference issue. Following about 30 minutes in closed session, the board voted to deny the request from the Village of Shubert to pay the cost to perform start-up protocol for Shubert Well #3.

(KLZA)-- Preliminary figures from the Nebraska Legislature indicate the Auburn School District is going to take another significant hit in state aid.

Superintendent Kevin Reiman noted preliminary figures indicate a loss of $283,000 for the 2017-18 school year. That is on top of the $480,000 loss in state aid for the current school year. 

The assessed valuation of property making up the Auburn School District is not increasing to the point it can keep up with the losses in state aid. In addition, the school district is up against the $1.05 levee lid. 

Reiman says the goal is to make cuts that have minimal effects on education and student activities. 

Reiman said some of the solutions likely to be proposed include increasing the requests for school supplies supplied by parents and instituting a participation fee for athletics and extra-curricular activities.
 
It would also mean no new vehicles, no new textbooks, no new computers, labs or teachers and only urgent repairs will be made to equipment. 

The base salary for teachers would be froze under the planned cuts in spending.  Salaries for all other employees including administrators and classified staff will also be frozen. There are no plans to rehire a teacher to replace retiring elementary teacher Ronda Reid.

The cuts include moving girls golf from a fall sport to a spring sport combining it with boys to reduce a coaching slot and travel. There will be just one head track coach instead of a girls Coach and a Boys Coach. In addition, instead of leasing two gymnasiums for practice, it will likely be cut to one.

The regular supplies budget will be cut by $11,000 and travel and attendance at professional development workshops will be cut. Various smaller cuts to software and web services will also be cut.

Auburn School District patrons will have a chance to express their thoughts during the March School Board meeting. 

Two items approved Monday night have started the savings.  The Board approved a two-year contract extension for Kevin Reiman freezing his salary for the 2017-18 school year at $121,250. The contract runs through the 2018-19 school year. 

An early retirement program for qualifying teachers was also approved. The teacher must have been with the Auburn District for at least 15 years to qualify.
 

(KNZA)--A reduced charge has been filed against a Holton woman in connection with the November 2015 death of her infant son.

The Holton Recorder reports an amended complaint has been filed in Jackson County District Court charging 32-year-old Alicia Whipple-Decker with attempted first-degree murder.

Whipple-Decker had originally been charged with first-degree murder.

The reduced charge comes after the recent discovery of new information in the case.

An April 13th preliminary hearing has been set on the new charge.

Whipple-Decker remains free on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond after a judge granted a request by her attorney January 26th for a bond reduction.

(KNZA)--The driver of a semi tractor-trailer loaded with market hogs escaped serious injury Tuesday morning when the rig overturned on a curve on U.S. 36 Highway, south of the Hiawatha Wal-Mart store.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant says the wreck was reported around 7:00.

Merchant said the eastbound semi was loaded with about 180 head of hogs.  Around 30 were killed in the crash.   

He says emergency personnel who responded to the wreck contained the loose pigs off the south side of the highway in the right-of-way.   Merchant says a county resident responded to the location with a portable corral, which was quickly set up.  With the number of emergency services personnel at the scene, he says the pigs were then quickly contained and loaded up by the owners.

A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper at the scene told MSC News that the semi driver from Pawnee City, Nebraska received minor injuries but refused medical treatment.

The Patrol investigated the wreck.

Responding to the scene were the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Hiawatha Fire Department, Squad 48 and Town and Country EMS. The Kansas Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control.

Merchant says U.S. 36 was only shut down for a short period of time in order to enable wrecker crews to remove the semi and trailer.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Board of Education Monday evening unanimously approved a calendar for next school year that does not contain the Wednesday morning PLC one-hour late starts held twice a month.

Instead, the calendar includes extra staff development throughout the school year.

Board members said they would like to try something different after hearing concerns from parents.  Board member John Wright said he thinks the Wednesday late starts put an undo burden on parents.

Superintendent Penny Hargrove said 60 percent of teachers favored a school calendar option that kept the Wednesday late starts.

The first day of school will be August 17th and the last day will be May 24th.

Following an executive session, the Board approved the hiring of a new elementary school counselor.

Heather Kline was hired to replace Tom Jones who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Kline currently serves as a student advisor/test coordinator for the Oelrichs, South Dakota Public Schools.  She received her master degree in school counseling from Fort Hays State University.

(KMZA)--An investigation is launched after a vehicle was broken into over the weekend at a Bern business.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says an unknown individual broke into a vehicle at CJ Foods sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning and took items.

The total loss was placed at more $1,000
 
Anyone with information on the crime is urged to contact the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office in Seneca.

(KMZA)--A single-vehicle wreck in Nemaha County Friday evening sent a Sabetha man to the hospital.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says 48-year-old Bradley Konig was westbound on U.S. 36 Highway when he attempted to turn north onto K-236 Highway.  The Sheriff’s Department says Konig was traveling to fast to make the turn and his car left the northwest corner of the intersection and rolled.

Konig was transported by ambulance to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca with unspecified injuries.

The wreck was reported shortly before 7:15 Friday evening.

(KLZA)-- Mound City Aldermen awarded a bid for a metal roof at the water plant to Phillips Construction when they met last week.  The bid was $14,920.  

The Holt County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan was also approved for adoption.  

Council members voted to approve the re-appointments of Chris Krueger to the Planning Commission for a 4-year term and Russ Northup to a five-year term on the Board of Zoning Adjustments.  
 

(KAIR)--An Atchison woman goes to jail—arrested twice in the same day for separate incidents including in connection with an alleged stabbing of a family member.

“It was at 3:45 on Saturday afternoon that officers responded to the area of the 1500 block of South 6th to investigate a report of a reckless driver,” said Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. “They located a vehicle in a ditch in Jackson Park and subsequently arrested 22-year-old Sarah Federinko.” He said in that case, she faces charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving.

But charges didn't end there for Federinko.

Wilson said it was around 7:00 Saturday night when officers were called to a disturbance in the 1500 block of South 8th.

“They found a 31-year-old male had been stabbed with a kitchen knife by a family member,” Wilson said. “Federinko was then taken into custody at the scene in that case. The victim was treated at the scene by EMTs, but was not transported to the hospital.”

In that case, she faces aggravated battery and criminal damage to property charges.

She was booked into the Atchison County Jail where she's held without bond.

(KAIR)--A Grammy Award for a local native.

That happened when Rory Feek was awarded with the “Best Roots Gospel Album” honor, for Hymns That Are Important To Us, recorded with his late wife, Joey. “My wife's dream was to make a hymns album, pretty much her whole life, and she didn't have a chance to do it until she had been diagnosed with stage four cancer,” Feek said when accepting the award. “She'd sing her vocals in hotel rooms while she did chemo and radiation.”

Joey Martin Feek died March 4 last year.

Her surviving husband, and one-time duet partner, is a native of Atchison and Doniphan Counties.

The award was not presented during Sunday night's telecast of the “59th Annual Grammy Awards” on CBS. Instead, Feek accepted the award during a ceremony held prior to the broadcast.

Hymns was Joey and Rory's seventh, and final, album.

It was released on February 12 of last year.

(KLZA)-- The Omaha Public Power District is, once again, receiving an especially high number of reports of scammers who are calling their customers, claiming to be from the utility and demanding money. 

At least 35 reports of scam phone calls from customers were reported Friday. 

As we and other utilities have reported, the scam has been around for several years, now. It’s impacting utility customers across the nation. The calls come with several variations, but their goal is the same – to steal customers’ money.

Usually, callers will falsely tell customers they are overdue on bills and that they need to purchase a payment card of some sort to settle up or their service will be disconnected. In some cases, they claim the customer needs to pay to replace a meter or other equipment.

OPPD stresses that none of these people demanding payments or financial information works for the utility.

OPPD advises customers:

Never give personal or financial information to a stranger during an unsolicited telephone call.

If such a person should appear unannounced at one’s door claiming to work for the utility, do not allow them inside. Always ask for identification or verification. Failure to produce identification should always be a tip-off to the customer that something is wrong.

Never turn off security systems for any reason, if a stranger asks. Any customer who receives such a request should call law enforcement immediately.

Customers with any questions about making a payment, or about their account in general, should always call OPPD directly. 

(KAIR)--The answer “yes” could prove costly down the road.

That's the warning offered by the Better Business Bureau regarding what's being called the “Can You Hear Me Now?” scam.

According to a press release from the agency, callers are placing calls that, when answered, attempt to trick the person answering to say the word “yes.”

While the scheme has long been used to target businesses into making purchase they don't want, such as office supplies, it's now being aimed at individuals.

The BBB says it's not immediately clear what gain the callers are seeking, but it's possible the use of the word “yes” could be used against would be victims in the future.

That single word could be edited to suit the needs of the scammers, who could falsely claim it was stated as an agreement to enter into some type of major purchase.

According to the BBB, the agency has received reports from consumers saying they have received phone calls claiming to offer a variety of services, ranging from vacation packages to warranties.

The caller claims to be having trouble hearing, asking their would be victim “can you hear me?” in an attempt to make the person say the word yes.

While no financial losses are immediately reported, the intent appears clear, with the Better Business Bureau saying those who receive such calls to provide no answers, and to instead hang up immediately.

BBB is offering consumers the following advice:

• Use Caller ID to screen calls, and consider not even answering unfamiliar numbers. If it’s important, they will leave a message and you can call back.

• If someone calls and asks “Can you hear me?”, do NOT answer “yes.” Just hang up. Scammers change their tactics as the public catches on, so be alert for other questions designed to solicit a simple “yes” answer.

• Make a note of the number and report it to bbb.org/scamtracker to help warn others. BBB also shares Scam Tracker information with government and law enforcement agencies, so every piece of information is helpful in tracking down scammers.

• Consider joining the Do Not Call Registry (DoNotCall.gov) to cut down on telemarketing and sales calls. This may not help with scammers since they don’t bother to pay attention to the law, but you’ll get fewer calls overall. That may help you more quickly notice the ones that could be fraudulent.

• Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized charges. It’s also a good idea to check your telephone and cell phone bills, as well. Scammers may be using the “Yes” recording of your voice to authorize charges on your phone. This is called “cramming” and it’s illegal.

(MSC News)--Suspects are sought in what's reported as a Thursday morning armed burglary in St. Joseph.

KQ2-TV reports that police are seeking two suspects who allegedly held a woman at gunpoint during a break-in at a home near North 2nd and West Augusta Streets on the city's north side.

The suspected burglars fled the scene with several items of value, making their getaway in a white car.

No injuries are reported.

Suspect descriptions have not been released.

Anyone with information is urged to call 816-238-TIPS.

(MSC News)--Due to the high fire danger created by the windy, warm weather, a burn ban has been issued in Doniphan County for today and Saturday.

That word from County Emergency Management Coordinator Julie Meng.

A similar ban is in place for Atchison County, where Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter says burning is prohibited until further notice.

In Brown County, Sheriff John Merchant says his office will not be issuing burn permits until further notice due to the high fire danger.

The National Weather Service says a very high fire danger is expected today, mainly east and south of an Abilene to Hiawatha line. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Also the Weather Service says an elevated fire danger is possible Saturday afternoon, mainly south of I-70.

(KMZA)--A Marshall County man convicted of operating a marijuana grow operation at his residence south of Blue Rapids will learn his fate April 18th.

The Marysville Advocate reports a Marshall County jury convicted Wayne Tyner last week on five charges---including unlawful cultivation of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use, possession of marijuana without tax stamps, unlawful possession of marijuana and interference with law enforcement.

Tyner was found not guilty on a sixth charge—unlawful endangerment.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department raided his residence in October 2015, seizing at least 50 marijuana plants and equipment to grow plants.

Submitted photo. Pictured: L to R: Scott Steffes: NFC General Manager, Jon Edwards: NFD Fire Chief, Loren Edwards: NFD Captain, Jon Banaka: NFD Lieutenant, Alan Slipke: NFD Firefighter, Dave Williams: NFC, “Coach” Friese: NFC, Tony Myers: NFC Assistant Manager, Mary Williams: NFC, Mary Macy: NFD Firefighter, Rusty Bontrager: NFD Captain, & Steve Banaka: NFD Assistant Fire Chief

(KNZA)--A potentially lifesaving donation is made by local firefighters.

That happened in the Jackson County community of Netawaka, following a request for assistance last year.

It was at that time that the Netawaka Fitness Center's Dave Williams approached the Netawaka firefighter's about the need for an automated External Defibrillator, commonly known as an AED.

At the time of the request, the Fire Department was preparing to update their current unit, in need of one that would be more compatible with local EMS provider, Jackson County EMS.

According to a press release issued by Netawaka Rural Fire District #6, the fire department was able to obtain the equipment at a reduced cost by working with the EMS service. Once training was completed, and the new AED put into service, permission was granted by the rural fire district's board to donate the older device to the fitness center.

That presentation happened Wednesday when firefighters met with the staff of the fitness center, where the AED is now ready for use.

(KNZA)--A survey will be included in the next Hiawatha water bill to get the input of residents on what they think should be done with the downtown brick streets.

That word came during Monday evening’s Hiawatha City Commission meeting, with the Commission receiving an update from the 7-member citizens committee appointed to help determine the fate of the brick streets.

The survey prepared by the city will allow residents to vote on one of four options for addressing the brick streets around the courthouse square.

Committee chairman Jim Brennan said after the committee was appointed he   called surrounding towns of similar size to get their input on whether the city should keep the brick streets or not.  Brennan said the key thing they stressed was that  they would fight to keep all the brick streets because of the character it brings to the small town feel.

Brennan said he hopes the Commission will allow the committee to figure out what Hiawatha really wants and not what the Commission wants.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg says while the commission would like to do exactly what residents want, alot is going to be driven by dollars.

He says for now the brick streets portion has been removed from the street improvements to be funded by a half-cent sales tax approved by voters last November.   Shamburg said its hoped other funding sources—possibly grants—can be used to address the brick streets.

He said the commission is interested in seeing how the survey comes back, noting he’s heard from those both for and against keeping the brick streets.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Department of Corrections is telling legislators it could cut staffing at its largest prison by having a private company build a new facility and lease it to the state.

Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood said in a presentation for a Wednesday meeting of a House budget subcommittee that the Lansing prison's staffing could drop to 392 employees from the current 686.

His presentation projected annual staffing costs would drop to less than $21 million from nearly $35 million.

Norwood announced last week that the department will seek proposals from private companies to build a new prison. The state would mothball but preserve the oldest parts of the prison that date to the 1860s but tear down the rest.

The department has described a lease-purchase deal as one possible option.

(KNZA)--A St. Joseph teen escaped serious injury Thursday morning in a single-vehicle roll-over wreck on I-29 in St. Joseph.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 19-year-old Joseph Elder was northbound when the SUV he was driving left the roadway and overturned, coming to rest on its wheels.

Elder, who was buckled up, was transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph with what the Patrol described as minor injuries.

The wreck was reported shortly before 7:00.     

(KAIR)--Despite what State Representative Dr. John Eplee says is a desire to cut spending, making that move is difficult without a ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court regarding what the court deems to be adequate funding for the state's public schools from the Legislature. "I think we would cut spending, and this gets complicated but I want to explain this, were it not for the Supreme Court Gannon case that's hanging over our heads. The Gannon case is where four districts sued over funding." 

Eplee made that assertion last weekend when he served as the speaker at a Legislative Coffee forum held in Atchison.
"There have been bills floated out there for as much as an 8 to 9% cut in the state general budget, across the board cuts in the budget...it would be very hard on public education, which is 52% of our budget." 

Eplee told those gathered at the Santa Fe Depot Saturday morning, that while the court has made some progress regarding the funding issue, it's still a matter of wait and see for the final outcome. "The court did rule last summer, you may recall, on the equity piece, and we made schools whole on equity. The court keeps holding back on its ruling on adequacy, and the adequacy piece may be huge, we don't know." 

The school finance lawsuit was filed in 2010, and it remains unknown exactly when a ruling could be forthcoming.

An Atchison man is behind bars after police investigated bullets fired into a parked car Wednesday evening.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said officers responded to a residence in the 1100 block of North 10th after reports of shots fired.

When officers arrived, they found a 23-year-old victim whose car was parked outside the residence and had been struck by bullets.

“While investigating that case, there was another person with the victim, 25-year-old DeAngelo Dobbs,” Wilson said. “It was determined that there was an outstanding district court warrant for him. When he was being arrested, a firearm found on his person. It was also determined that it was unlawful for him to possess that firearm based on his criminal history.”

Dobbs was booked into the Atchison County Jail where he is held without bond.

(KAIR)--New purchases for the Atchison Police Department are slated to help keep the public and officers safer and keep the department running smoothly.

That's according to Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking after commissioners approved the purchase for new tasers for every officers and two new patrol cars.

“Since 2011 the city has had tasers,” Cocking said. “We believe they have prevented a lot of officers from getting hurt and also have prevented suspects from getting hurt as well. They have about a five year life span, so they had ended their lifespan.”

Cocking said the company they purchases the tasers from stopped making replacement parts so they opted to purchase 23 new tasers for a total of just under $25,000.

Additionally, commissioners approved the purchase of two 2017 Ford Police Interceptor patrol vehicles from Shawnee Mission for for just over $56,000.

When our officers get in those patrol cars, we want them to go, Cocking said.

Cocking said it is typical to purchase two new patrol cars every year for the police department.

(KNZA)-- Horton city employees have been granted a pay increase for 2017.

 The City Commission this week approved a three percent across-the- board increase for employees.

 The pay increase had been budgeted for and is retro-active to January 1st.

(KAIR)--Current issues pertaining to water in the local region will be the focus of an upcoming meeting to be held in Atchison.

That's set to happen Tuesday morning when the Kansas Water Office's Missouri Regional Advisory Committee comes together in the USD 409 Community Room, beginning at 9:00.

According to a press release from the water office, the committee, during the session, will receive updates pertaining to activities taking place to implement the action plans for the region, as adopted by the Kansas Water Authority.

Missouri River updates will also be provided during the meeting, with the presentation to be made by the Kansas City District Corp of Engineers.

The session is open to the public.

The agenda and meeting materials will be available at www.kwo.org or you may request copies by calling (785) 296-3185 or toll-free at (888) KAN-WATER (526-9283).

If accommodations are needed for a person with disabilities, please notify the Kansas Water Office at 900 SW Jackson Street, Suite 404, Topeka, KS 66611-1249 or call (785) 296-3185 at least five working days prior to the meeting.

(KMZA)--A pickup truck collides with a bull in the roadway, and that sends the driver to the hospital.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says it happened early Tuesday morning on K-9 Highway about a ½ mile east of R Road.

The Sheriff’s Department says 47-year-old Teresa Rodgers, of Goff, was westbound when she struck the bull shortly before 12:50.

 Rodgers was transported by ambulance to the Holton Hospital for the treatment of unspecified injuries.

(KLZA)-- The largest project included in the Nebraska 150 Celebration is coming to Falls City.

Nebraska First Lady Susanne Shore announced the “Truckin” Through Nebraska: A Mobile Children’s Museum” will make stops in Falls City, Nebraska City and Beatrice in Southeast Nebraska. 

The Mobile Children’s Museum was created to provide a fun, hands-on learning experience for children who may not normally be able to easily access a children’s museum. 

Children will be able to explore their heritage and envision their futures through play, interactivity and the latest technology. 

The display is contained in a 53-foot state-of-the-art custom air-ride, double-expandable trailer specially designed for traveling museum exhibits. The unit is ADA accessible.  

A wind chamber and earthquake simulator will be part of the trailer and exhibits will surround the exterior of the trailer. 

The Mobile Children’s Museum will begin it’s journey in early April.  The tour dates and hours of operation will be announced in the coming weeks.

The exhibits are intended for children 5-12 years of age but audiences of all ages are welcome. Admittance will be free and it is open to the public.  
 

(KNZA)--If the email claims to be from the Internal Revenue Service, and requests personal information, it's a scam.

That message is delivered in a notification sent this week by the Northeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging.

According to the release, taxpayers have reported receiving an email requesting their IP PIN, a six-digit code that is issued by the IRS.

The email explains the taxpayer contacted must confirm the pin with the IRS by replying to the message.

The Area Agency on Aging says that should be avoided, as the IRS will never contact taxpayers by phone, e-mail, text, social media or other method to request confirmation of their IP PIN.

Anyone who has received such a message should contact phishing@irs.gov to report the incident.
 

(KAIR)--Following the announcement from the Atchison Library telling the Atchison Genealogy Society to vacate the Kansas Room, an emergency meeting of the library board was held Monday night. At that meeting, it was decided a special committee would be formed consisting of three genealogy members, two library board members and Atchison Library Director Jacque Slingsby.

“There will be six of us that will sit down and meet and try to come to a resolution that we can all go forward with,” Slingsby said. “The goal of everyone is to benefit the Atchison community so I feel very positive about this committee. I really think we will be able to problem-solve.”

Along with the committee, Slingsby said they've agreed to hold off on their request for the genealogy society to leave the Kansas Room for 60 days while an agreement can be reached.

The library originally made the request in the name of fairness to all groups wishing to use the library's space and in an effort to uniform library policy as no other groups are allowed to store items in the Kansas Room.

“This gave us a chance to really correct some of the misinformation that had been out there,” Slingsby said “But, also to have an opportunity to look at things with a different view.”

One of the genealogy members on the committee is Cora Chambers.

“At this point, I am optimistic that something can be worked out,” Chambers said. “We want to thank the community for all their support and for attending the meeting. It was very beneficial.”

Over the next 60 days, the committee will meet and work to come to a resolution.

(KNZA)--A local Kansas lawmaker will hold a town hall meeting in Highland Saturday morning.

State Representative Dr. John Eplee will hold the meeting beginning at 9:00 in the Library at Highland Community College.

The Atchison Republican invites the public to join him for coffee, juice, donuts and conversation on constituent viewpoints and concerns on the state level.

Eplee was elected last November to represent the 63rd District in the Kansas House, which includes Atchison and Doniphan Counties.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Corporation Commission is expected to decide by April 24 whether it will approve Great Plains Energy's acquisition of Westar Energy.
 
The commission heard six days of testimony on the proposed $12.2 billion acquisition before ending the hearings Tuesday.
 
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports attorneys will present written briefs to the commission before commissioners make their decision.
 
Stockholders for both Missouri-based Great Plains and Topeka-based Westar overwhelmingly approved the deal in September, saying it would lead to lower electric rates.
 
But the commission's staff, consumer advocates and others opposed the deal, contending it would cause closed plants and job losses.
 
If approved, the new company would serve 1.5 million customers from central Kansas to central Missouri. Great Plains is the parent company of Kansas City Power & Light Co.
 
     ---

(KNZA)--A special prosecutor has been appointed to handle the prosecution of a Holton man facing sex-related charges in six separate cases.

At the request of Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller, former Shawnee County chief deputy district attorney Jacqie Spradling will serve as special prosecutor in the cases against 22-year-old Jacob Ewing.

In making the request, The Holton Recorder reports Miller cited a lack of time and resources to devote to what she called “ the biggest sexual assault case in the history of the state of Kansas.”

Miller recently asked the Jackson County Commission for the allocation of $20,000 in county funds for the services of Spradling.

Ewing pleaded "not guilty" last October to a total of 19 counts in the six cases.   The cases, dating back to January 2014, involving five women and a teenage girl.

Jury trials in the cases have been set for this year, with the first beginning in March.

(KNZA)--Kickapoo Tribal Officials are seeking support for the ratification of a water rights agreement that will help the tribe develop a reservoir on their reservation.

Kickapoo Tribal Chairman Lester Randall, Vice-Chairman Fred Thomas and Tribal Treasurer Russell Bradley met with the Brown County Commission Monday to request a letter of support for the introduction of a bill in Congress to ratify the agreement.

The tribe held a ceremony last September to mark the completion of the agreement that was negotiated by legal counsel for the tribe, the state and federal government.

The agreement, which quantifies the tribe’s water rights in the Delaware River Watershed, still must be ratified by Congress.

Tribal officials traveled to Washington D.C. two months ago to enlist the support of Senator Pat Robert and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins in sponsoring a bill to ratify the agreement.

Tribal officials say they are attempting to revive the Plum Creek reservoir project, but on a smaller scale.

Commission Chairman Steve Roberts says he would like to have County Attorney Kevin Hill review the agreement before the county makes a commitment to send a letter of support.

An Atchison Elementary School fifth grade student is named the champion of the Atchison County Spelling Bee.

Julia Greco took first place honors Tuesday at the spelling bee, held at Saint Benedict Catholic School, in Atchison.

She correctly spelled “pterodactyl” after properly spelling “decrepitude.”

7th Grade Atchison County Community Junior High School Student Shelby Burge earned the silver medal when the word “cayenne” was misspelled.

Greco and Burge were among the fourty-four 5th through 8th grade students that took part in the spelling bee, that included all schools in Atchison County,

KAIR Radio's Neil Wieland served as the pronouncer for the spelling bee, while Eddie Gibson, Kate Werring, and Piper Wentz served as judges.

Greco and Burge now advance to the Kansas State Regional Bee in Topeka on Saturday, March 4, at Shawnee Heights High School. 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved the 1 & 6 Year Street Plan presented by Patrick Malcolm of Olsson Associates Engineers Monday evening.

City Administrator Gary Jorn said the City is attempting to keep up with street improvements through general maintenance. Plans are to chip and seal 62 blocks and do an asphalt overlay of 31 blocks of street over the next 2-3 years.

Jorn said one of the projects for this year is an estimated $105,000 worth of improvements to Old Highway 73 known as Bill Schock Boulevard.  The road leads to the hospital, the swimming pool, a number of businesses and to the site where Southeast Community College has purchased to build a learning center.

The One-Year Plan also includes a new access road from Highway 73 west to Barada Street. This would be 33rd Street. It will only be done if Community Medical Center wants to move forward on the project. 

The City is also considering re-opening 705 Trail from U.S. Highway 73 to Fulton Street.  This former detour is on the south edge of Falls City and was taken out of service when it was learned the road was actually on private property.

Extending Abbott Street north from 28th Street feet to tie into the new 31st Street is also part of the plan. The cost estimate is $225,000. It is not certain this project will be completed this year.

The Six-Year Plan continues to include the hard surfacing of the “Airport Road.”  This is a 60-40 split on cost with Richardson County responsible for the biggest portion of the cost.  The current cost estimate is just under $1.3-million.  

Last year Falls City received right at $450,000 in Highway Allocation Funds. The City must provide a 25-percent match for those funds.  

(KAIR)--An Atchison woman has been named employee of the year for the Kansas Department of Children and Families.

“It's a great honor, said Stacey Kentzler, a human services specialist with DCF. “I'm surprised and I'm really happy. I'm really blessed to work for this agency, great people work here.”

According to a press release from the agency, she was surprised with a special ceremony last Friday at the conference center at the Atchison DCF service center with a room full of colleagues and family. Along with a certificate and plaque, Kentzler received a $1,000 cash prize.

In the release, DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said, “Stacey's hard work and commitment exemplify what it means to be a public servant, and we are grateful for her numerous contributions to our agency.”

Before receiving this honor, Kentzler was named Employee of the Quarter.

She has been employed with the State of Kansas for 27 years, with the majority of that time assisting clients at DCF. In her current role, she helps process applications for food, child care and cash assistance.

(KMZA)--Vermillion USD 380 will not be holding a bond election in May to fund improvements to the district’s schools.

Superintendent Mischel Miller says that’s the outcome of a special USD 380 Board of Education meeting Monday evening.

“The meeting resulted in a board member putting forth a resolution for our option B plan that was out and visible to patrons,” Miller said. “It resulted in a 3-3 vote. The result of a tie means, at this point, we are not moving forward with the bond election in May.”

Option B at a price tag of $8.7 million called for improvements to the Centralia and Frankfort schools and the closing of the Vermillion building, which currently houses the district office and the pre-kindergarten class.

The Board of Education had been considering four bond options, ranging from $4.3 million to $8.7 million. Two of those options were eliminated during a special meeting last week.

(KNZA)--A new Superintendent is selected to oversee the South Brown County Schools.

Chosen for the role of leadership is Jason Cline, whose hiring follows a special Monday night meeting of the USD 430 Board of Education.

Cline officially begins serving in the role on July 1.

He will replace current Superintendent Dr. Steve Davies, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

According to a press release issued by School Board Chair Tim McClaskey, the board team feels Cline is the right selection to serve the students and the community.

Cline was one of three finalists seeking the position. The three were selected following input from a committee comprised of a cross section of school district members, including teachers, students, and patrons.

Cline currently serves as the Superintendent and PreK-12 grade principal of Hay Springs Public Schools in Hay Springs, Nebraska.

He has ties to the local area, once living in Atchison and teaching at the schools of USD 409, as well as time spent working for the Hiawatha public schools.

McClaskey says the board looks forward to welcoming Cline, his wife Heather, and two children, Courtney and Carson, to the local community.

TROY, Kan. (AP) - A man who let his 8-year-old granddaughter take the wheel of his car prior to a fatal Doniphan County wreck in 2015 has been placed on one year of probation.
 
Dennis Meers, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was sentenced Monday after pleading no contest in December to child endangerment.

Investigators say Meers' granddaughter, Cadence Orcutt, of Troy, died in November 2015 when the car she was driving went down an embankment on a Doniphan County road west of Wathena and overturned.  Meers was a passenger. 
 
The St. Joseph News-Press reports Meers will serve 11 months in prison if he fails his probation.
 
Meers previously was sentenced to two years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for felony driving on a revoked license. In 1996 and 2001, Meers was convicted in Missouri of being a persistent offender for driving while intoxicated.
 

(KAIR)--An Atchison County fire causes destruction, but no injuries.

That happened at 179 254th Road, at the Atchison/Jackson County line.

Sheriff Jack Laurie says when Deputies arrived, following a report of the fire Saturday,

they found no blaze, but what remained of a mobile home and two sheds. A few vehicles had also incurred damage, along with a nearby camper.

Laurie says it's believed the fire had occurred either the day, or night, before his office was alerted.

The owner of the property is identified as Thomas McLaughlin, who was out of town when the fire occurred.

Laurie says the State Fire Marshall is assisting with the probe; and while arson is not suspected, the investigation is continuing.

(KLZA)-- The Nemaha Natural Resources District Board of Directors has reorganized for 2017.

During the January Board meting Dan Hodges was elected to serve as Chairman for 2017 with Bill Niedfeldt serving as Vice-Chairman.

Mike McDonald was elected Secretary-Treasurer.

During the business meeting the Board approved the purchase of a Case loader from Humboldt Implement at a cost of $7,700. It was the lowest of the two bids submitted..

(KAIR)--No credibility regarding what's being called a rumor involving a threat to an Atchison school.

That word came Monday morning in a text alert sent to parents.

USD 409 Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers verifies the validity of the alert to MSC News.

It stated that “early [Monday] morning a rumor was reported that a student was bringing a gun to [Atchison Middle School]. Police responded to the home. There was no threat to students [or] staff.”

There's not immediate word regarding where the rumor developed, and what led police to the home referenced in the text alert.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson calls the situation “a school matter,” but does confirm that his office worked with the school district in handling it.

Parents, after receiving the notification, took to Facebook to voice their concerns, with at least several indicating they planned to keep their children home, despite the all clear.

(KNZA)--The Brown County community of Reserve has been awarded a $168,000 federal grant to make improvements to its water distribution system.

According to a press release from the Kansas Department of Commerce, the city will provide more than $500,000 in matching funds.

Reserve is among 14 Kansas communities that will share nearly $5.4 million through the Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program for improvements to their water and sewer systems.

Also receiving grants locally were the Marshall County community of Blue Rapids and Pottawatomie County community of Westmoreland.

Blue Rapids is being awarded a nearly $83,000 grant to replace water meters throughout the city.  The city will provide a similar amount in matching funds.

Westmoreland is being awarded a nearly $440,000 grant to make improvements to its sewer collection system.  The city will provide a similar amount in matching funds.

(KNZA)--The Kansas PRIDE program has named three area cities as a Community of Excellence for 2017-2019.

According to a press release from the Kansas PRIDE program, Delia, Perry and Olsburg are among seven receiving the honor for their ongoing accomplishments in community development.

The Kansas PRIDE program is a partnership of K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas PRIDE Inc.

The release says the award is given to local PRIDE volunteer groups that continuously work to improve their communities through activities such as determining the community’s needs, establishing goals, creating projects and celebrating successes.

Volunteers form a local PRIDE organization that works with K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Commerce to accomplish their goals.

The designation is awarded to a community for a three-year period.

As award winners, they are eligible to apply for Partners in PRIDE matching grants of up to $2,000 to fund future community improvements.

(KNZA)--A new trial date has been set for a Hoyt man accused of sex crimes involving a girl under the age of 14.

A 4-day jury trial for 50-year-old Leon Holloway is now set to begin June 13th in Jackson County District Court.

The trial setting marks the third for Holloway after being delayed twice due to ongoing medical issues with his attorney, William Rork, of Topeka.  Atchison attorney John Kurth was appointed as a secondary counsel for Holloway last November.

Holloway faces charges rape, indecent liberties with a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy stemming from alleged sex offenses  occurring between April 2013 and March 2015 in the city of Hoyt.   

He was arrested in May 2015 following an investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and remains free on bond.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - A former worker at a youth center on Kansas' Fort Leavenworth faces sentencing next month after being convicted of sexual misconduct with a 13-year-old girl.

A Leavenworth County jury on Friday found 24-year-old Nicholas Clark guilty of two counts each of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated indecent solicitation with a child.

Authorities said Clark solicited the child at the center in August 2014, and that the girl's mother reported the matter to police after finding conversations between Clark and the girl on the girl's cell phone.

Sentencing is set for March 17th.

(KNZA)--The decision regarding who will be the new Superintendent for the South Brown County Schools could be known as early as Monday night.

That comes as the USD 430 Board of Education plans a special meeting for that evening.

The agenda for the meeting, to be held mostly behind closed doors in executive session, does not explicitly state that it's for the hiring purpose, but follows School Board  interviews with the three finalists seeking to fill the position.

The interviews were held January 25, January 27 and February 1.

Seeking to serve in the role are current Hiawatha High School Principal Andrew Gaddis, current Hay Springs, Nebraska Superintendent and Principal Jason Cline, and the current superintendent and transportation director of the Lyndon, Kansas school district, Cheryl Cook.

The three finalists were selected following a special Board meeting held January 23.
Monday's meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:00 at the Board of Education Office, in Horton.

The agenda states that the executive session is being held regarding non-elected personnel.

The search was launched following the announcement by 16-year Superintendent Dr. Steve Davies that he plans to retire at the end of the current school year.

Photo Credit: Facebook

(KAIR)--A well known Atchison teacher is being remembered.

Fred Anderson died Wednesday in Olathe, where he currently resided, at the age of 84.

According to his obituary, the longtime Atchison resident spent 42-years in the teaching field, spending 35 of those in Atchison classrooms.

A 3D art and stage craft instructor at the Atchison High School and Middle School, Anderson also taught stage design and technical theatre courses at Mount Saint Scholastica College and Saint Benedict College.

He was known for his work in local theatre, designing and building sets for school and community theatre productions.

Among Anderson's survivors is his wife of 44-years, Peggy.

Funeral services will be Monday morning at Olathe's Prince of Peace Church.

(MSC News)--An internal investigation of the operations at the Buchanan County Jail is underway.

That's reported by KQ2-TV, which cites Sheriff Bill Puett as confirming the investigation Friday morning.

Puett tells the TV station the probe follows the findings of internal audits and reviews in late December that discovered some employee performance issues surrounding the destruction of former inmate property.

Puett has not confirmed the specific type of issues involved in the investigation, but told the TV station the department is working to figure out if theft could be involved.

The investigation is being conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.

The investigation started in December under the direction of then-Sheriff Mike Strong.

(KAIR)--A 58-year-old woman was struck by a car Thursday night while she was foot.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson tells MSC News it happened around 9:45 when Amy Reagan was walking on the campus of Benedictine College.

He says she was hit by a vehicle backing out of a driveway.

Following the accident, Reagan was transported by EMS to the Atchison Hospital for examination.

Wilson calls her injuries non-life threatening.

The driver of the vehicle is identified as Atchison resident Margo Sharp. 

(KMZA)--The USD 380 Board of Education remains undecided on what bond option they will present to voters this April for improvements to the Centralia and Frankfort schools.

During a special meeting Wednesday evening, the Board reviewed the results of a survey conducted at community meetings last month on four bond options ranging $4.3 million to $8.7 million.

The results showed 62.5 percent of those responding favoring a bond issue of some kind.

Following discussion, the board decided to eliminate two bond options, leaving the two options originally proposed.   

One of those options would close the Vermillion building, which currently houses the district office and the pre-kindergarten class.

Board members couldn’t decide if the community wants the Vermillion building closed or not.

Superintendent Mischel Miller was directed to look into the cost of storage and district office placement if the Vermillion building were to close.

Another special meeting was set for Monday evening at 6:45 to make decision on which of the two remaining bond options to present to voters.

(KAIR)--After 25 years, the Genealogy Society of Atchison County has been told to leave the Atchison Library.

“We’re trying to provide a service, right now it just totally blindsided everybody,” said Myrna McConaughey with the Genealogy Society.

But Atchison Library Director Jacque Slingsby explains it’s apart of the effort to unify all library services.

“It comes down to reviewing policy and making sure we’re in line with accreditation standards and best library practices,” Slingsby said. “We realized we are offering a different degree of access to the genealogy group than any other group.”

Slingsby explained other groups have asked to store their materials as the genealogy society does and she’s had to say no.

According to the contract between the two, the library must provide 30 days notice—which they did in a formal letter and meeting Jan. 30.

However, Slingsby said they do not have to be out by the 30 day deadline.

From here, McConaughey says they have to explore different options for locations to provide their services.

Photo Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff

(KAIR)--An Atchison man goes to the hospital following a single vehicle Atchison County rollover crash Thursday night.

Sheriff Jack Laurie says 56-year-old Richard Pantle was found at the scene of the crash at around 10:30. He says it happened on 254th Road, in the area of Meade Road, in rural Atchison County, when Pantle's pickup truck left the roadway, struck a ditch, and then rolled over.

According to Laurie, Pantle suffered head and chest injuries, and was transported to the Atchison Hospital for treatment of the non-life threatening injuries.

Laurie says alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor in the wreck, and Pantle was investigated for driving under the influence.

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission has tabled action on a zoning change being sought to allow for the location of storage units and a meat processing operation on property near Troy.

The Commission held a public hearing Monday on a request from Terri Hegarty for the rezoning of property located at 1187 Last Chance Road from agricultural to mixed use.

Two county residents spoke in opposition to the zoning change and a letter of opposition was received from an adjoining landowner.

County Zoning Administrator Julie Meng said the Doniphan County Planning Commission recommended the zoning change contingent upon all county, state and federal regulations that apply being met.

The Commission tabled action until their February 27th meeting to allow Hegarty time to contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture for state licensing requirements and the county time to research state standards for licensing.   

(KMZA)--An early Thursday morning mobile home fire claimed the life of an elderly Marshall County man.

Marshall County Sheriff Daniel Hargrave said in a news release that 86-year-old Donald Jacobson, of rural Vermillion, died in the fire reported around 3:20 at 3055 Valley Road.

Hargrave says Jacobson's son, Larry, also lived at the residence and escaped unharmed.

He says the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office was called to the scene and determined the fire was accidental.

Responding to the fire were the Frankfort Fire Department, Nemaha County Fire Department from Centralia, Marshall County Sheriff's Department and Frankfort Ambulance.

(KNZA)--A rural Hiawatha home was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon.

Hiawatha Fire Department Public Relations Officer Jordanne Shockley says the fire department was called to 2298 Kestrel Road shortly before 4:15 and when they arrived found the two-story house fully engulfed.

Shockley says no one was home at the time of the fire.

She says the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office.

Shockley says firefighters remained on the scene until 7:30 Thursday evening.

Assisting the Hiawatha Fire Department were fire departments from Robinson, Powhattan and the Kickapoo Tribe.  Also assisting was the Brown County Rescue Squad and Town and Country EMS.
      

(KLZA)-- An early morning fire destroyed a metal shed in Salem Thursday.  

Mike Ramsey with the Falls City Rural Fire Department said the call came in about 5 o’clock to the Gene Brown property in Salem.  The shed was engulfed in flames when fire fighters arrived on the scene.

The building and contents were destroyed.  There were no injuries reported.

15 members of the Falls City Rural Fire Department responded to the call and were on the scene for about two hours.  
 

(KAIR)--An Atchison woman, injured this week in a two vehicle Saint Joseph, Missouri crash, remains hospitalized.

51-year-old Rhonda Eagle was transported to Saint Joseph's Mosaic Life Care following the Monday morning crash that happened on U.S. Highway 59, just south of Alabama Street.

Mosaic Community Relations Coordinator Joey Austin tells MSC News in an email that Eagle remains in the hospital, and is currently listed in serious condition.

News-Press Now, citing Saint Joseph Police, reports she suffered the injuries when her southbound vehicle was hit when a turning tractor-trailer detached and smashed into her.

Eagle required extrication from the wreckage.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man goes to jail after an alleged domestic battery incident that sent one woman to the hospital.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson says it was around noon on Tuesday when there was a disturbance in the 600 block of Parallel and a 29-year-old woman reported she was a victim of battery.

He said police arrested 25-year-old Jeffery Schmelzle on charges of domestic battery and criminal restraint.

“She did sustain some injuries and subsequently went to the hospital for examination,” Wilson said. “The criminal restraint centers around the suspect had prevented her from leaving the residence during the disturbance...in this case he held her to where she wanted to leave residence but could not—that's what constituted that charge.”

Schmelzle was booked into the Atchison County Jail and was released after posting a $2,500 bond.

(KAIR)--A reduction in crime for the city of Atchison.

That word from the Atchison Police Department in the 2016 Annual Report.

“Every year we come out with an annual report describing our activity from the year before as far as statistic go,” said Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

He told MSC News, crime is down eight percent in Atchison from last year with the number of total criminal cases being reduced from 1,615 in 2015 to 1,490 2016.

The number of adult arrests is also down from 784 last year to 735 this year.

The report also notes no homicides or traffic fatalities occurred in 2016.

Improvements to the police department include new protective vests purchased for all officers along with new light bars for all vehicles and a completed remodel at the animal control facility.

(KAIR)--Plans are being put in place to modernize a longstanding, local area prison.

The Kansas Department of Corrections Thursday announced that options will be explored to construct a new facility at the current location of the Lansing Correctional Facility.

The press release from the agency says the structures that currently stands, built in the 1860s, would be replaced.

The Lansing site has been used to house offenders since 1863.

Department of Corrections spokesman Todd Fertig told the Associated Press the plan is to mothball historic, maximum-security units of the prison built in the 1860s and to raze lower-security units of the prison built more recently.

Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood says the project would take about three years to complete.

He states in the press release that the project is expected to be “budget neutral” based on the efficiences that would be found with a modern facility.

(KAIR)--It's not too late to get your flu shot.

That word from the Kansas Department of Heath & Environment.

“We are now up to six outbreaks that have been identified during the 2016-2017 season,” said Matt Keith, spokesman for KDHE. “Current influenza activity for this season is increased over last year. Kansans who have not yet taken the precaution of getting their influenza vaccine should do that as soon as possible. That vaccine is recommended for anyone for nearly everyone over six months of age.”

According to a press release from KDHE, this season's flu vaccine appears to be a good match to the circulating influenza viruses.

Now during the peak of flu season, the press release states anywhere from five to 20 percent of the population may get the flu each year. Along with the vaccine, there are other ways to protect yourself.

“Hygiene,” Keith said. “You can avoid spreading influenza by covering your mouth when you cough and sneeze, washing your hands and staying home when you're sick.”

For more information on the flu vaccine, KDHE says to contact your health care provider or local health department or see this story at mscnews.net for helpful links.

(KMZA)--A domestic dispute leads to the arrest of a Seneca father and his son on charges.

Seneca Police Chief Jordan Weaver says 64-year-old Keith Scott and his 38-year-old son, Joshua, were arrested Monday after the police department responded to a domestic dispute at 711 Amador Street.

He says when officers arrived they found both intoxicated.

Keith Scott was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, battery on a law enforcement officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua Scott was arrested on charges of domestic battery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both remain in the Nemaha County Jail.     

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - Officials say an inmate has attacked a staff member at the state prison in Tecumseh.
 
The Nebraska Correctional Services Department said in a news release Thursday that the inmate used a blunt, homemade weapon to strike the staffer once in the head Wednesday evening. Other staffers soon subdued the inmate.
 
The department says the staffer was treated for minor injuries and released.
 
The department also says the names of the staffer and inmate will not be released.
 
Last year officials detailed a rash of attacks on corrections officers and staff at various Nebraska prisons.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners spent a good portion of their meeting time Tuesday discussing county roads and projects with Highway Superintendent Scott Huppert. 

Commissioners scheduled the annual 1 & 6 Year Road Plan public hearing for Tuesday, February 28 at 10 a.m.

During the February 8 meeting, Commissioners will consider a contract with Midwest Underground, Inc. for the Rulo Southeast project.  The company has negotiated a price to complete concrete abutment work on the bridge at the Mouth of the Nemaha.

The Lincoln company has agreed to do the project for just over $274,000.

Richardson County originally received just one bid for the project. The bid was rejected due to excessive costs.

Huppert discussed work being done by Omaha Public Power District on county road right-of-way and damage that is being done to county roads.
 

(KMZA)--Work is set to begin on the 2nd phase of improvements at the Marysville Junior-Senior High School as part of a $26.4 million bond issue approved by district patrons in November 2015.

That follows action taken during a special USD 364 Board of Education meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Superintendent Bill Mullins says the Board accepted the low bid submitted by Sampson Construction, of Lincoln, Nebraska in the amount of $14.2 million for the phase 2 improvements.

It was among five bids received and was 11 percent under what the project's architect had estimated.

Mullins says Board also approved a contract with Terracon to provide construction observation and materials testing services for phase 2.

He says the project is scheduled for 420 calendar days and should be completed by the end of March 2018.

The 2nd phase will include the construction of a new activities center, refurbished classrooms for art and special education, bathroom renovations, a new fire sprinkler system along with other improvements.

The 1st phase of the bond project, which included improvements at both the Marysville Elementary School and Junior-Senior High School was completed last month.   

(KAIR)--Two Kickapoo Tribal members plead guilty to defrauding the Kickapoo Childcare Assistance Program.

According to a press release issued by the Kickapoo Tribe, Delores Hooper and Darlene Wewenes were convicted of larceny in the Tribal District Court, and were found to have acted by “fraud or stealth.”

Their pleas were accepted by Judge C. Steven Hager.

Both Hooper and Wewenes were ordered to pay restitution.

Their three month jail sentences were suspended, and both will be placed on six months of unsupervised probation.

They will also no longer receive per capita payments from the Tribe, based on the Tribe's Net Gaming Revenue Allocation Ordinance.

Kickapoo Tribal Vice-Chair Fred Thomas describes the crimes as “selfish actions” that “serve to deprive needed resources from the benefit of those in need” of support" from the Child Care Assistance Program.

(KNZA)--Atchison, Centralia and Waterville are among 14 Kansas communities that will share $3.3 million in federal grants.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced the grant awards Tuesday through the Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.

According to a press release, Atchison is being awarded a $250,000 grant to make street improvements.  The city will contribute $259,000 in matching funds.

Centralia will receive a $400,000 grant to make electrical system improvements.  The city will provide nearly $969,000 in matching funds.

Waterville will receive a nearly $200,000 grant to make drainage improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide  nearly $200,000 in matching funds.

(KLZA)-- A Falls City man has entered a plea of not guilty to three charges in Richardson County District Court.

20-year old Brett Winters entered the pleas Tuesday to charges of possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.  

A jury trial has been scheduled for April 12 and bond was continued.

Winters was arrested December 31st by the Falls City Police Department.  

On December 13th, Winters was sentenced to probation on a felony charge of burglary. He was charged in an April 2016 burglary of a home in the 2800 block of McLean Street. A motion to revoke his probation has been filed in Richardson County District Court. 

Winters is also facing a February 21 sentencing hearing on an amended charge of attempted possession of a controlled substance.  

In exchange for his plea, three charges against Winters were dismissed. Among the charges dismissed was a count of tampering with evidence at the scene of the shooting death of Joseph Debella Jr. in August of 2015.  

(KMZA)--This years annual Baileyville Benefit Tournament was a big success.

Organizers say the event, held this past weekend at Nemaha Central High School in Seneca, raised $145,000 to help four people with medical expenses.

The proceeds will be split between Sarah Conroy, Zach Engelken, Bethany Ohlsen and Jase Suther.

Twenty-two volleyball teams and sixteen basketball teams participated in the tournament.  

(KNZA)--The city of Hiawatha is seeking the removal of four derelict houses it deems unsafe.

The Hiawatha City Commission Monday evening approved a resolution setting a hearing for their March 20th meeting on the structures.

During the hearing, the owners will have an opportunity to show cause why the structures should not be condemned and ordered removed.

The structures are located at 914 Kickapoo Street, 1014 Pottawatomie Street, 1105 Shawnee Street and 111 Utah Street.

They were deemed unsafe by the city’s code enforcement officer.

In other business, the commission approved a certificate of final completion for phase 2 of the city’s sanitary sewer improvement project.  

City officials who participated in a walk-through of the project last week said they were pleased.

City Administrator Mike Nichols says some seeding remains to be done and will be completed this spring.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg opened the meeting by reading  a proclamation declaring February 5th-11th as Scouting Anniversary week.  On hand were members of the local Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops.  

(KNZA)--The final candidate seeking to fill the position of superintendent for the South Brown County Schools was interviewed by the USD 430 Board of Education Wednesday evening.

According to a press release, Cheryl Cook currently serves as the superintendent and transportation director of the Lyndon, Kansas school district.  She is in her second year in that position.  Previously, Cook served as superintendent and high school principal of the Deerfield, Kansas school district for two years.  The Sabetha native also previously taught at Horton for 11 years.

The two other finalists for the superintendent position were interviewed last week.  They include current Hiawatha High School Principal Andrew Gaddis and current Hay Springs, Nebraska Superintendent and Principal Jason Cline.

The three were selected for interviews during a special USD 430 Board meeting January 23rd.   

The search was launched after 16-year Superintendent Dr. Steve Davies announced his intention to retire at the end of the current school year.

(KAIR)--An up close look at matters of the Kansas Legislature is the goal when the annual Legislative Coffee gatherings return to Atchison.

According to the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce, the first for the current Legislative session is planned for Saturday.

It will begin at 9:00 at the Santa Fe Depot, in Atchison.

Republican State Representative John Eplee has confirmed his attendance, while other area representatives and senators have been invited to take part.

The coffee series allows area residents the chance to informally discuss the happenings in Topeka with state lawmakers.

Additional Legislative Coffees are scheduled for March 4 and April 1.

Coffee and Donuts will served at each event, which are sponsored by the Chamber and Medicalodge of Atchison.

(MSC News)--Praise for the President's pick as the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

The kind words for Judge Neil Gorsuch are voiced in statements released by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts following President Donald Trump's nomination of Gorsuch for the seat Tuesday.

Moran calls Gorsuch “an impressive and well-qualified Supreme Court nominee who has already received broad, bipartisan support in the Senate.”

Moran's fellow Republican Senator from Kansas, Roberts, says “President Trump has selected a person who believes will carry on the tradition of [the late] Justice Scalia and uphold the values of the Constitution to the highest standard.”

The Washington Post reports that Gorsuch is to visit Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Republicans are hoping to confirm the nominee by early April before a two-week Easter recess, allowing Gorsuch to participate in the final cases of the court’s term ending in June.

(KNZA)--A set back in the plans for the construction of a new municipal swimming pool in the Brown County of Horton.

During a special meeting Monday evening, Horton City Administrator/City Clerk Kim Clausen says the City Commission voted to reject the lone bid received for the project and re-bid the project, with a projected completion date of May 1st, 2018.

Clausen says the project engineers attributed the lack of bidders to the short three-month time frame that had been set for completion of the pool.   

She said it hoped by extending the completion date they can attract more bidders.

The project is to re-bid in March.

Horton voters last August approved a one-percent citywide retailers sales tax to fund construction of the new pool.  Collection of the tax began January 1st of this year and will be in effect for 20 years.

The new pool is to be constructed at the site of the current pool which has been closed the past three seasons.  Its no longer insurable due to safety issues.