TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - A Tecumseh State Prison  inmate charged in the strangulation death of his cellmate and now facing the death penalty has fired his attorneys and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
 
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Patrick Schroeder entered the plea Friday, telling a judge that he wants to represent himself and drop his legal challenges to the death penalty.
 
Schroeder is charged in the April death of 22-year-old Terry Berry Jr. Prosecutors said Friday that Schroeder and Berry had been sharing a cell for less than a week when Berry was killed. Schroeder confirmed at the hearing that he had grown intolerant of Berry's constant talking and strangled him with a towel.
 
Schroeder is already serving life for the 2006 killing of 75-year-old Pawnee City farmer Kenneth Albers.
 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska prison officials say an inmate punched and kicked one of their staff members in the face and then fled when other employees arrived to intervene.

Officials say the assault took place Monday in a dining hall at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. They say the staff member suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Officials say the injured staffer was punched in the face several times and fell to the ground, at which time the inmate kicked the staff member. The inmate, who was not publicly identified, was restrained by other staff members shortly after the assault.

Prison officials say the Nebraska State Patrol is investigating and will provide details to a local prosecutor to see whether charges should be filed.

(KLZA)-- A Richardson County Deputy was able to pull a woman off of a railing in the middle of the Missouri River Bridge at Rulo Saturday afternoon.

According to a release from the Richardson County Sheriff’s Department, at about  1:20 p.m. Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Kirkendall, who was off duty, happened to drive by and see a middle-aged woman sitting on the north railing in the middle of the bridge with her feet dangling over the edge. 

Deputy Kirkendall got out of his vehicle and started talking to the woman from a distance. The release indicates it was apparent the woman was upset and having a mental health crisis. She was threatening to jump off the bridge. 

As Kirkendall continued talking to the woman and trying to calm her down, Sgt. Jeff Frederick with the Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene.  Kirkendall motioned for Sgt. Frederick to keep a short distance away, stating later that the arrival of a marked patrol car and uniformed Deputy seemed to make the woman more agitated. 

As Kirkendall continued to talk and listen to the woman, he inched closer until he was able to grab her with both of his arms around her body and pull her from the railing.  

Sgt. Frederick and Kirkendall were able to get the woman into Frederick’s patrol car and get her off the bridge. 

The Targeted Adult Service Coordination Crisis Response Team was contacted and mental health professionals at TASC did an evaluation and made arrangements for follow-up resources for the woman.  

Other agencies responding to the scene were the Iowa Tribal Police Department, Sac & Fox Police Department and Brown County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Office.  

(KAIR)--Three people are arrested in Atchison over the weekend for the alleged possession of heroin among other drug charges.

“On July 29 at 12:30 a.m., while an officer was on routine patrol, he observed an illegally parked vehicle in the 1900 block of North Second,” said Atchison Police Lieutenant Tim Stout. “Upon further investigation, they discovered the three occupants of the vehicle were in possession of heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.”

Stout said those three individuals were 23-year-old Blake Getman, of Kansas City, Missouri; 25-year-old Emily Cohen and 24-year-old Dylan Dumas, both of Independence, Missouri.

All three were booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(MSC News)--Someone in northeast Kansas could be the state’s newest millionaire.

The Kansas Lottery says one ticket sold in northeast Kansas in Saturday’s Super Kansas cash drawing matched all numbers to win a record jackpot of $3.6 million.

The winning numbers are 14-22-24-27-30 Super Cashball 9.

For security reasons, the Kansas Lottery will not release the name of the store where the ticket was purchased until the ticket is claimed. The store could be located anywhere inside the northeast Kansas area, which includes 21 counties.

After taxes, the lucky jackpot winner will receive a payment of $2.5 million.

(KNZA)--A single-vehicle crash on  I-229 in Buchanan County, Missouri Sunday afternoon claimed the life of a St. Joseph man.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 53-year-old Fayrel McCarthy was northbound when his car traveled off the east side of the highway and struck a bridge pillar.

McCarthy, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The wreck was reported shortly before 5:00 Sunday afternoon.    

(MSC News)--Voters in USD 380 will go to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate of $8.25 million bond issue for improvements at the Centralia and Frankfort schools, while a primary election will be held in the Doniphan County community of Elwood.  

The bond proceeds would go to fund safety and security improvements at the two schools.   It would also fund facility expansions at both locations, which will house  Pre-K programs now operated at the district office in Vermillion.  In addition, the old gym at the Centralia school would be converted into classroom space and a new gym built.

Including the Pre-K relocations, there would be a net addition of two classrooms at Frankfort and three at Centralia.

Paying off the bond issue is projected to increase the district’s property taxes by 12 mills for twenty years.  That would mean about $138 per year more on a home valued at $100,000.
 
The district’s last bond issue passed in 1996 and paid for the K-6 building and gym at Frankfort.

In Elwood, a primary election will be held Tuesday to narrow the field of candidates vying for two open seats on the city council.  

Seven candidates have filed, and the field will be narrowed to four for the  November 7th general election.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.    

(KNZA)--A Wathena motorcyclist was seriously injured Sunday evening after striking a deer on a Doniphan County highway.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 49-year-old Todd Hailey, Sr. was northbound on K-7,  three-tenths of a mile north of Deer Run Creek, when he struck the deer as it crossed the highway, causing his motorcycle to slid to the west shoulder.   

Hailey was transported to Mosaic Life Center, in St. Joseph, with what the Patrol described as disabling injuries.

The Patrol says he was wearing a helmet and eye protection when the wreck happened around 8:20.   

(KNZA)---A two-vehicle wreck in Jackson County Friday evening sent two to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened on U.S. 75 Highway, south of 102nd Road, around 5:00.

The Patrol says a northbound car driven by 56-year-old Topeka resident Nancy Puett struck the rear-end of another northbound car driven by 72-year-old James Murphy, of Ozawkie.

Both drivers, who wearing seatbelts, were transported to Topeka hospitals for the treatment of possible injuries.

(KNZA)--On Tuesday, August 1st,  neighborhoods throughout Hiawatha are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “34th Annual National Night Out” crime and drug prevention event.

National Night Out will involve over 11,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world.

National Night Out is designed to: (1) heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

For the 23rd year, the Hiawatha Police Department will sponsor the National Night Out.

Agencies will set up displays in the Schuneman Addition at the Fisher Center on East Iowa Street from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. These include the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Squad 48, Town and Country Ambulance, and Hiawatha Fire Department.

Sonic will provide the hot dogs and water, Seneca Wholesale will provide the soda, Nigus retail will provide the ice, Hiawatha Farm and Home will provide the ice tank, and Wal-Mart and Citizens State Bank will assist in providing the paper goods, buns, chips, and condiments.

From 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. a pool party will be held at the Hiawatha Aquatic Park at no charge.

“We are extremely grateful for all of our sponsors and guests, we could not do this without all of them”, said Police Chief John Defore.

Defore says the National Night Out program is an outstanding campaign to help build neighborhood unity and strengthen police-community partnerships. On August 1st, he says everyone is invited to join forces to give crime and drugs a going away party. For more information, contact the Hiawatha Police Department at 742-2156.

(KAIR)--Guilty.

That's the plea from the Lansing man arrested on numerous charges in early July after an injury wreck in Atchison.

23-year-old Dalton Spinner pled guilty to theft and burglary of a vehicle last week in Atchison County District Court.

Four additional charges were dismissed--including possession of methamphetamine were thrown out.

Sentencing for Spinner is set for Sept. 1.

Charges for Spinner stem from a July 5 incident when Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said Spinner crashed a stolen vehicle in the area of Omaha Junction in Atchison.

Officers determined that vehicle had been stolen from Leavenworth several days earlier.

After crashing, Spinner ran to nearby Max's BP where bystanders intervened and held Spinner until police arrived.

During the wreck, Spinner had a female passenger in the vehicle who was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

(KMZA)--Two road improvement projects are planned in Nemaha County.

The County Commission this week accepted a bid of  just over $587,000 from Bergcamp Construction, of Wichita, to add concrete into the base of a 2 ½ mile stretch of the Fidelity Road and 4 ½ mile portion of the Sabetha-Wetmore Road.

The purpose of the reconditioning process is for road stabilization.

In other action, Sheriff Rich Vernon presented three bids to Commissioners for the purchase of a new patrol vehicle.

The Commission voted to accept the low bid submitted by Nemaha Valley Motors, of Seneca, for a 2018 1500 Dodge 4 X 4 crewcab in the amount of $28,250.  The bid does not include a trade-in.

Bids were also received from Aberle Ford, of Sabetha, and Honeyman Ford, of Seneca.

Vernon says he has made arrangements to sell the current 2008 pickup truck to the Hiawatha Police Department for $12,000 when the new pickup is delivered.

(KNZA)--There will be no change in the kindergarten schedule at the Hiawatha Elementary School for the 2017-18 school year.

Following discussion during a special Board of Education meeting Thursday morning, a motion was made to continue with no changes this school year and to change to five, full days for the 2018-19 school year.  However, the motion failed on a 3-1 vote.  As a result, the schedule will remain the same.

In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Trish Gibson as 6th grade teacher and Middle School activities director, effective immediately.

The board also accepted the resignation of bus driver, Lester Soyland.

Following an executive session, two supplemental contracts were approved.  They included Karl Kliewer as freshman boys basketball coach and Katie Miller as forensics coach.

The Board also approved the substitute teacher handbook for the 2017-18 school year.  Under the handbook, the daily pay rate for substitute teachers will increase from $85 to $95.   

(KNZA)-- A Holton man already convicted of raping two women and acquitted of sexually assaulting a teen won't face additional rape charges, but will stand trial in relation to explicit images of an underage girl that authorities found via his Facebook profile.

Following a preliminary hearing Thursday, the Topeka Capital Journal reports  Jackson County District Judge Norbert Marek found there was sufficient evidence for 22-year-old Jacob Ewing to be bound over for trial on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Three additional counts were dismissed.

A jury trial was set, beginning November 15th.

At the request of special prosecutor Jacqie Spradling, Marek dismissed additional rape charges that Ewing had been scheduled to go on trial for in August.        

Marek also denied a request by defense attorney Kathleen Ambrosio to have Ewing retried to try to overturn his convictions in June. A jury last month found Ewing guilty of raping and sodomizing two other women. Sentencing in that case was pushed back to September 1st.

Ewing also faces trial in October on charges of attempted rape and aggravated sexual battery stemming from an alleged 2015 incident.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Volunteer Fire Department reports only minor damage from a fire call to the Burbank Apartments in Falls City shortly before noon on Wednesday. 

Fire fighters were call to the apartment of Tracey Wlaschin because of a fire on the stove. 

The State Fire Marshall was called to investigate the cause of the fire and determined it was a grease fire.  

Powder was used to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. 

(KLZA)-- Lengthy discussion was held during the Pawnee City Council meeting Monday evening concerning issues in the downtown area.

The Council will notify Ed Raper, new owner of a building at 526 G Street in Pawnee City that he has until December 1 to tear off and replace the back wall of the building which is crumbling and falling in.  

The Council also heard updates on the Kobza Building at 501 G Street.  Dr. Travis Kobza, DDS previously offered to give the building to the City, an offer that was not accepted.  

City Clerk Tammy Stephens reported to the Council Monday, a letter received from Economic Development Group PCDC, that they had also failed to reach an agreement with Kobza on the facility. 

The PCDC has also sent a letter to the City, offering up to $50,000 in funding to be used to save and repair the Kobza building if the City can work out an agreement and undertakes the rehabilitation of the building.

The building has had structural issues in recent years and Kobza alleges the building may have been put at further risk by water used to fight a downtown Pawnee City Fire in September 2015.  

Stephens tells MSCNEWS that City representatives, Pawnee City Development Corporation, and Southeast Nebraska Development District personnel have met and are researching how to make changes to the revolving loan fund, re-use funds awarded to the City previously. 

The City is looking at updating the plan for revolving loan fund, re-use money to include blight and sub-standard properties in the business district, which could allow funds to be used for upgrades to the Kobza building.   

If a solution is reached allowing use of the funding, there are still ownership issues that would need to be resolved. The City cannot be a recipient of those re-use funds so another non-profit organization would have to be the owner of the building. 

Stephens says there are some ideas for the building after cutting through the red tape and making repairs. The possibility of turning the building into a small convention meeting place has been discussed.  The first priority is to get repairs made so the building is not a danger to people. 

The Council took no action, tabling the matter until more research can be completed.  
 

(KLZA)-- The Richardson County Junior / 4-H Fair  is underway in Humboldt.

Events Thursday afternoon include the Rabbit Show at 1:00 p.m. 
Friday events include the Swine Show at 9:00 a.m., Dairy Goat Show at 1:30 p.m. followed by the Dairy Cattle Show.  The Tractor Operator Contest will be at the horse arena followed by the ATV Contest, which is followed by the Goat Show. 
The Livestock Judging Contest is Friday evening at 6:30.

Saturday events begin with the annual Ag Society Breakfast from 7-8:00 a.m.   The Beef Show begins Saturday morning at 9. The Round Robin Showmanship will be at 2 o’clock.

The 4-H Council/ FFA Alumni Barbecue will be held from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the 4-H Building followed by the Livestock Support Auction at 7:30.  

Events wrap up Sunday afternoon at 2 with the Public Fashion Show and the Awards Ceremony. 

A silent static support auction is open each day, closing Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

The 4-H Council Elections are also going on through Saturday.  

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission is proposing a 2018 budget of $11.4 million that calls for a 1.8 mill decrease in the property tax levy.

The Commission approved the proposed budget for publication this week.

It calls for the county to collect $5.6 million in local taxes, a nearly $9,800 reduction over this year.

The county was able to lower the mill levy due to a $5 million increase in the county’s assessed valuation.

The proposed budget contains an about $110,000 increase in funding for the county road and bridge department and around $59,000 increase for the sheriff’s department.

The Commission will consider adoption of the budget following a public hearing 9:00 in the morning of August 14th in the Commissioners room.

(KNZA)--A lightning strike has damaged the 911 dispatch center in Jackson County.

Sheriff Tim Morse says shortly after 8:00 Wednesday evening the center’s radio tower received a massive lightning strike, causing a disruption in 911 services and radio communications.

911 calls were temporarily routed to Pottawatomie County while crews worked to restore service. Callers were asked to contact Holton Police Department or the Potawatomi Tribal Police Department.

Later in the evening, partial 911 services were restored. Crews worked past midnight to re-establish full radio communication.

Morse says damage to the center is estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is looking to take an ambassadorship in President Donald Trump's administration.

The White House announced Wednesday that Trump will nominate the Republican governor to serve as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. If confirmed by the Senate, he'll run the State Department's office of International Religious Freedom.

Brownback has scheduled a news conference Thursday afternoon to discuss plans for his expected departure from the governor's office. In a tweet Wednesday,

Brownback said he was honored "to serve such an important cause."

The chairman of Kansas' Republican Party says Brownback will be remembered as a governor who advanced conservative goals. But the state Senate Democratic leader says Brownback's legacy will be the budget problems caused by income tax cuts the governor championed.

(KAIR)--Atchison Firefighters are investigating a structure fire early this morning. 

Fire Chief Ted Graf says firefighters were dispatched at 6:00 this morning to 1227 Hickory Street for a report of a possible fire.

Crews noticed visible smoke coming from the roof and front door of the residence with fire visible through a basement window.

They found no victims inside the home and no injuries are reported.

The fire was confined to the basement with smoke and heat extending throughout the home.

Graf said it appears no one was home at the time of the fire and a search for the occupants in ongoing.

(KLZA)-- Work is underway to construct the new Pawnee City Assisted Living Facility in Pawnee City.  

AHRS Construction in Bern is building the new $3.5 million project.

The 14,700 square foot structure will offer 22 resident units of assisted living with licensing for 24 beds.

USDA Rural Development is providing nearly $3.2 million to the City of Pawnee City in loans and a grant. The Pawnee City Development Corporation will provide $200,000 and nearly $123,000 has been donated towards the project.

A $2.9 million Rural Development loan will be repaid over 40 years and a $147,500 loan will be repaid over two years. A grant of more than $102,000 was also provided. 

Plans for the project were originally approved in the fall of 2012.  

(KLZA)-- The Auburn Board of Public Works is planning a power outage for Sunday afternoon, July 30th.

BPW Director Dave Hunter said in a new release the outage is to start at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.  Power should be restored by 4:00 p.m. in the affected areas.  Customers south of 13th Street, north of 14th Street, then west to F Street, to the east side of J Street will be affected.

During the outage, a section of power line will be changed from 4,160 primary volts to 12,400 primary voltage.  

The Auburn BPW apologizes for any inconvenience, but notes the works is necessary to improve service provide by the BPW.

This project is one of the many steps required in the long range plan to phase out, 4,160 primary voltage and convert all of the City of Auburn to 12,400 voltage.

Anyone with questions or concerns may contact the Auburn Board of Public Works at 402-274-4981.  

(KLZA)-- Following interviews Tuesday, the Richardson County Board of Commissioners appointed a new County Treasurer.  

Current Deputy County Treasurer Amanda Bartek-Young will be sworn into office Tuesday, August 1 at 9:00 a.m. 

Bartek-Young has been employed at the Treasurers Office since April of 2013.

She will fill the unexpired term of Austin Duerfeldt who resigned July 5th, after accepting a position as Agriculture Economist with the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. 

 The current term expires in January, of 2019.  The position will be up for election in November, of 2018. 

The Commissioners interviewed four finalists for the position.  Cass County Treasurer Richard Wassinger assisted the Board with the interviews.  

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Council has awarded a bid for the upgrades at the swimming pool.  

Monday night the Council voted unanimously to award the bid to Premier Pools out of Omaha.  Four bids were received, two form Premier Pools and two from Mid-American Pool Renovation.  The low bid for the work was selected. 

Work will include repairing the drains, replacement of the ladders, sandblast, one epoxy coat and one aqua-bright poly coat at a cost of $159,219.

Originally the hope was to have done the project in 2016.  Grant funding will cover half the cost of the project. Pawnee City received a Nebraska Game and Parks, Land Water and Conservation Fund Grant that would match up to $87,500 for the project.  

The Pawnee City Pool will close early this year so the work can begin.  The last day the pool will be open is august 13th with the work to begin August 15.  

( MSC News) Many area AT&T customers woke up Wednesday unable to make calls.

A T & T Senior Public Relations Manager Chris Lester says they are aware of an issue affecting customers’ ability to make voice calls and working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Lester did not say what caused the issue.

A map shows the outage is affecting a large portion of northeast Kansas and the Kansas City area.     

(KAIR)--'Aerobatic Stunts at a high altitude.'

That's what a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board said witnesses reported just before the airplane crash that killed two people on July 16 in Atchison County.

Those witnesses were between the crash site, 5 miles south of the Amelia Earhart Airport at 3618 Ness Road, and K-59 Highway, according to the report.

The report says another witness who was further south of K-59 Highway observed, “The airplane fly over nearby power lines between 25 ft and 30 ft above the ground. The airplane pitched up to climb in a near vertical attitude and then the nose turned to the left and the airplane turned and pitched down in a nose low attitude. The airplane descended towards terrain and just prior to impacting the ground the tail of the airplane came up.”

Killed in the crash, was the 1944 Roth American p-51D Mustang's pilot 64-year-old Vlado Lenoch, of Bluff Ridge, Illinois along with his passenger, 34-year-old Bethany Root, of Atchison.

Root served as the General Manager at Atchison's Amelia Earhart Airport.

The plane, named “Baby Duck,” departed the Amelia Earhart Airport at 10:05 the morning of July 16th and crashed just short of a grove of trees at 10:20.

The initial crash report indicated clear weather conditions at the time of the crash. A full report into the fatal crash could take months.

“Baby Duck,” was the same plane Lenoch flew in the aerobatics show during the Amelia Earhart Festival the night before the crash.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has voted for the county to take over all emergency dispatch services in the county, effective January 1st, 2018, subject to the approval of the cities of Horton and Hiawatha along with the county Sheriff’s Department.

Commission Chairman Steve Roberts made the recommendation at Commission Monday’s meeting. “I just thought it was the thing to do,” Roberts told MSC News. “We've been dispatching for the City of Hiawatha for a long, long time. I felt like it was unfair to the City of Horton. We have a good relationship with all of these law enforcement entities, and I think for the betterment of Brown County, it's time that we all get on the same page.”

Roberts said the recommendation followed discussions with Hiawatha and Horton city officials along with Sheriff John Merchant.

The city of Horton currently operates a 24-hour dispatch center, while the city of Hiawatha contracts with the county to provide the service.

Roberts says he feels the county is in better position financially to provide the service than the two cities.   

Hiawatha is currently paying the county more than $4,100 a month to  provide dispatching services for the city and the county had recently approached the city about negotiating a new contract.   

With the change, the city would no longer have to pay the county for providing dispatching services.

Roberts says Merchant has indicated the sheriff’s department is willing to take on the additional dispatch duties.

 TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - Two more staff members have been attacked by prisoners at a state prison in southeast Nebraska.
 
The Nebraska Correctional Services Department says the two were assaulted early Sunday morning at the Tecumseh prison. One of them suffered what the department described as serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The department didn't provide details on how the attack occurred or say how many prisoners took part. It did say no weapons were involved. 
 
The staffers' names haven't been released.
 
In recent years the department has reported several incidents of violence at the prison. Authorities say two inmates were killed by other prisoners in a March uprising, and two more died during rioting in May 2015.
 

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - Officials say an inmate head-butted two staff members at a state prison north of Tecumseh where two other staffers were attacked the day before.
 
The Nebraska Correctional Services Department says the latest attack at the Tecumseh prison occurred around 7:30 p.m. Monday, when the staff members were attempting to move the restrained inmate from a cell to another location. The department says the inmate lunged forward to head-butt one of the staffers and head-butted a third staff member who came to their aid.
 

The department says the injured staffers were taken to a local hospital. One had suffered a broken nose; the other had bruises. The names of the inmates and staffers involved have not been released.
 
The department says an inmate attacked two other Tecumseh staffers Sunday morning. 
 

(KAIR)--Atchison's City Manager Trey Cocking is resigning.

In a letter addressed to the City of Atchison, Cocking said he made the difficult decision to accept a position of Deputy Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities in Topeka.

His last day will be Aug. 30.

Along with professional reasons, Cocking said family largely guided his decision.

His wife, who works in Topeka, is expecting their first child in September.

“She has a fantastic job in Topeka and with the little one coming, I don't think it's fair to her to have to drive two hours,” Cocking said. “This is a move that we can both be in the same city and be close to our daughter. From a family perspective, for us, it makes sense.”

Cocking said, although he's excited about his new position, he hates to leave Atchison.

“Number one, it's a wonderful city staff that we have here,” Cocking said. “It's just a great team of dedicated professionals who really do want the best for this community. Number two, it's the people of Atchison. It's a wonderful community and I have so much pride in this place. It really is a truly special place. I've been honored to be here for eight years.

Mayor of Atchison Allen Reavis called Cocking a huge asset for the city of Atchison.

“He's been a great leader in the city,” he said. “We've created a more dynamic city team. We're definitely accomplishing a lot of our goals to move the city forward.”

Reavis said Cocking brought the city out of a financial crisis during his time as city manager as has kept the property tax levy at almost a flat rate.

“The good news is Trey is still going to be helping us because he's going to work for The League of Kansas Municipalities,” Reavis said. “He'll be advocating for all the cities and by having the chief lobbyist for the league, I think we'll still have Trey working for us. I think it'll be good for the city and good for Trey.”

Below is Cocking's letter posted in its' entirety.

A letter to Atchison:

Recently, I made the difficult decision to accept the position of Deputy Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities in Topeka. My passion for Kansas cities makes this an exciting calling for me, as I will be able to serve all 625 cities, but the decision to accept this position was largely guided by family. My wife Jen and I are expecting our first child in September, and Jen works in Topeka. Although we love Atchison and have immensely enjoyed living here, it’s important to me that she can spend more time with our daughter and less time on the road. My last day with the City of Atchison will be August 30th.

I want to say thank you to the City of Atchison staff, who do an amazing job striving to improve the lives of Atchison’s citizens.  These dedicated public servants work hard every day to make Atchison the best city in Kansas.  I am honored to have served as their leader and to have been a part of the highs and lows that Atchison has experienced over the last eight years.  I have complete faith in their ability to deliver the very best to this great city. 

I also want to say thank you to the citizens of Atchison who have shared their lives with me.  Atchison is truly a special place.  There are exciting things happening here and Atchison’s citizens should be proud. 

It has been an absolute honor to serve as your City Manager for the last eight years.  Thank you for welcoming me and allowing me to become a part of our community.  We have worked hard together to brighten  Atchison’s future, and I have no doubt the next City Manager will continue to steer Atchison in the right direction. 

In the end, I just want to say,

Thank you!

(KAIR)--Atchison's City Manager, Trey Cocking is resigning.

In a letter addressed to the City of Atchison, Cocking said he made the difficult decision to accept a position of Deputy Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities in Topeka.

His last day will be Aug. 30.

Along with professional reasons, Cocking said family largely guided his decision.

His wife, who works in Topeka, is expecting their first child in September.

“She has a fantastic job in Topeka and with the little one coming, I don't think it's fair to her to have to drive two hours,” Cocking said. “This is a move that we can both be in the same city and be close to our daughter. From a family perspective for us, it makes sense.”

Cocking said, although he's excited about his new position, he hates to leave Atchison.

“Number one, it's a wonderful city staff that we have here,” Cocking said. “It's just a great team of dedicated professionals who really do want the best for this community. Number two, it's the people of Atchison. It's a wonderful community and I have so much pride in this place. It really is a truly special place. I've been honored to be here for eight years.

Below is Cocking's letter posted in its' entirety.

A letter to Atchison:

Recently, I made the difficult decision to accept the position of Deputy Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities in Topeka. My passion for Kansas cities makes this an exciting calling for me, as I will be able to serve all 625 cities, but the decision to accept this position was largely guided by family. My wife Jen and I are expecting our first child in September, and Jen works in Topeka. Although we love Atchison and have immensely enjoyed living here, it’s important to me that she can spend more time with our daughter and less time on the road. My last day with the City of Atchison will be August 30th.

I want to say thank you to the City of Atchison staff, who do an amazing job striving to improve the lives of Atchison’s citizens.  These dedicated public servants work hard every day to make Atchison the best city in Kansas.  I am honored to have served as their leader and to have been a part of the highs and lows that Atchison has experienced over the last eight years.  I have complete faith in their ability to deliver the very best to this great city. 

I also want to say thank you to the citizens of Atchison who have shared their lives with me.  Atchison is truly a special place.  There are exciting things happening here and Atchison’s citizens should be proud. 

It has been an absolute honor to serve as your City Manager for the last eight years.  Thank you for welcoming me and allowing me to become a part of our community.  We have worked hard together to brighten  Atchison’s future, and I have no doubt the next City Manager will continue to steer Atchison in the right direction. 

In the end, I just want to say,

Thank you!

(KNZA)--A St. Joseph man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2015 shooting death of his cousin.

The St. Joseph News Press reports 34-year-old Charles Coats, Jr. was sentenced Monday in Buchanan County Circuit Court on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 32-year-old Jason Ginn, of St. Joseph.

In addition to the life sentence, Coats was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a charge of armed criminal action.  The two sentences were ordered to be served at the same time.  

 A jury found Coats guilty on the charges in May.

Authorities say Ginn was shot and killed August 1st, 2015 in midtown St. Joseph following a dispute between the two men.  An autopsy found Ginn was shot five times, with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Coats fled the area following the shooting.  He surrendered to law enforcement in Columbia, Missouri five days later.

(KLZA)-- Falls City Mayor Jerry Oliver, City Administrator Gary Jorn along with Police Department officials and Richardson County Sheriff Don Pounds attended the Richardson County Commissioners July 18th meeting.

Richardson County has expressed an interest in recent years, in renegotiating the contract for the Falls City Police Department to serve as the Public Safety Answering Point ( PSAP)  for 911 Calls. Commissioners are concerned about the annual fees for service, which are in the neighborhood of $125 - $134,000. The agreement calls for each entity to pay half the costs. 

City Administrator Gary Jorn said its possible the County is actually saving money under the agreement that has been in place for in the neighborhood of 30 years. He said the City is actually picking up part of the cost for 911 dispatching. Jorn said the last time he looked, the County was using less than one-cent of the County levy for dispatching.

The County is responsible for providing 911 service in Richardson County. However, through the agreement, the Falls City Police Department dispatches 911 calls for the County and the City.  

With the new Richardson County Law Enforcement Center now open. Sheriff Don Pounds has expressed his wish to bring the PSAP to the Law Enforcement Center and do the 911 dispatching. That would mean the County would receive the 911 service charges paid by phone customers. Those fees, now collected by the City, are estimated to be around $45,600 annually. 

During the July 5th Commissioners meeting, Chairman David Sickel said he is not happy with the amount the County is paying for the dispatching, and feels services are being duplicated, costing taxpayers extra money.  

During the meeting on the 18th, Sickel said its time to discuss County-wide-law enforcement, noting patrons are asking him why it’s not being done in Richardson County, believing it would be a chance to save money. 

As the meeting ended, Commissioners and City representatives agreed to have Sheriff Pounds schedule a meeting with Nemaha County, Nebraska Sheriff Brent Lottman and the Nemaha County Commissioners to discuss their county-wide law enforcement agreement.

It’s anticipated that meeting will be in the latter part of August.  

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County 4-H Fair prince and princess were crowned during a ceremony Monday evening.

Selected as prince from among six candidates was Devin Masters, a 7-year member of the Troy Triangle 4-H Club.

Brooke Kiehnhoff, a 6-year member of the Wathena Sunflower Club, was selected as fair princess from among six candidates.

Kiehnhoff will be an 8th grader at Riverside Junior High this fall, while Masters will be 8th grader at Troy Middle School.

In their roles as fair prince and princess, the pair will hand out the ribbons and awards during the fair.  The fair runs through Friday at the fairgrounds in Troy.      

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners Tuesday will conduct interviews with four candidates seeking to fill the unexpired term of county treasurer.  

Candidates to be interviewed are Amanda Bartek-Young, who currently serves as the deputy county treasurer, along with Kevin Gutshall,  Michael Dougherty and Sarah Ahern.

Cass County Treasurer Richard Wassinger will assist with the interviews.

The Board will appoint someone to fill the unexpired term of Austin Duerfeldt, who resigned effective July 5th to accept a position as an agriculture economist at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

The term will expire in January 2019.

(KLZA)-- A Falls City man has been arrested on a felony charge of burglary. 

The Falls City Police Department reports 18-year-old Broderick Smith was arrested Thursday morning for the alleged theft of a television from an apartment at 2305 Towle Street.

The television was recovered.  Smith was being held in the Richardson County Jail as of Friday morning.  
 

(KLZA)-- The City of Humboldt is currently without a City Treasurer. 

Mark Novak who served as Treasurer on a part-time basis submitted his resignation, which was effective immediately during the July 18th Council meeting.  

A letter from Nebraska Department of Roads District 1 Highway Engineer Tom Goodbarn was reviewed during the meeting. The letter informed the City the retaining wall and sidewalks along Highway 105 through Humboldt are City property and maintenance is the responsibility of the City.

Concerns have been raised recently about rust and mold on the retaining wall as well as some fencing issues that need attention.   

In other business members of the Southeast Nebraska Cancer Memorial Garden Committee met with the Council to discuss a memorandum of understanding concerning maintenance and upkeep of the area. Concerns about insurance coverage for the facility was also discussed.  Further discussion will take place during the next Council meeting.  
The Council also voted to accept reservations for approximately 25 spacs for camping at the Lake Park on August 21.  The spots are normally available on a first-come-first served basis.  

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Commissioners opened bids for a belly dump trailer during their July 18th meeting. 

Seven bids from six companies were opened.  The Board will review the bids and discuss again during the August 1st meeting. 

Commissioners also tabled the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for funding of the position of the District Court Bailff.  County Attorney Jennifer Stehlik Ladman is to gather more information with the Commissioners to discuss the agreement again on August 1. 

A public hearing has been scheduled for August 1, at 10:30 a.m. regarding the closure of a portion of 709 Road.  

Dr. Jerry Bausch was appointed to the Pawnee County Veteran Service Board. Commissioners also voted to close the Pawnee County Courthouse at 11:00 a.m. on August 21 for the total eclipse event. 

(KLZA)-- Unemployment rates went up in southeast Nebraska counties during the month of June. 

Unemployment rates went up from two-tenths to half a percentage point in June.  Nemaha County, Nebraska, has the highest unemployment rate in the area at 4.6 percent, up half a percent. 

Pawnee County has the best unemployment rate in the area at 3.2 percent but that rate was also up half a percent for the month.  

Richardson, Johnson and Gage counties had an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent.  Otoe County was up to 3.6 percent. 

Statewide the unemployment rate was steady at 2.9 percent, ranking amongst the best in the country.

The U.S. unemployment rate in June was 4.5 percent in June.

Nonfarm employment is up more than 18,000 from a year ago and up nearly 5,200 jobs from May.  

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council awarded bids for the demolition of two nuisance properties during the July 17th Council meeting. 

City Administrator Gary Jorn explained the city has gone through the legal process to receive authority through legal abatement to have the homes razed.  

Two bids were submitted for each project with Frederick Brothers awarded the bid to demo each structure.

The locations are 923 Fulton Street at a bid price of $6,450. The other property is 2021 McLean Street with a successful bid of $7,450.  The total for the two properties was $13,900. Triple S Construction also submitted bids, which totaled $20,400 for the two properties. 

The buildings will be razed, the properties brought back to level grade and seeded with grass.  

(KNZA)--Unemployment was up in most area northeast Kansas counties in June from the month before.

According to a report released Friday by the Kansas Department of Labor, Marshall and Nemaha Counties were the only two area counties not to see an increase in their jobless rates, with both remaining unchanged at 2.7 percent.  

That was the lowest rate among area counties.  Atchison County continued to have the highest unemployment rate at 6.3 percent.

Elsewhere, Brown County’s unemployment rate in June was 4.1 percent; Doniphan, 4 percent;  Jackson, 3.8 percent; Jefferson, 3.8 percent; Leavenworth, 4.1 percent; and Pottawatomie, 3.4 percent.

All the figures were down from June 2016.

Statewide, the Department of Labor says preliminary estimates show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.7 percent in June.  That was unchanged from May and down from 4.2 percent in June 2016.

(KNZA)--A rural Mayetta boy died Friday following a fireworks explosion at his home.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse identified the victim as 11-year-old Colby Harris.

Morse says the sheriff’s office received a 911 call Friday shortly before noon from Harris of an apparent explosion.

The Sheriff’s Office, Hoyt and Mayetta Fire Departments along with the Jackson County EMS responded to 15530 150th Road.

Deputies breeched the residence and found Harris died.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Team was requested to assist with the incident.

Morse says the subsequent investigation determined that Harris had been experimenting with fireworks and other minor explosive devices.  Harris was home alone for a very short period of time prior to making the 911 call.  

An autopsy was performed Saturday in Kansas City.  Morse says the manner of death was determined to be accidental, with the preliminary cause of death due to massive blood loss caused by shrapnel.  

Harris would have started 6th grade at Royal Valley Middle School this fall.

Mass of Christian Burial for Harris will be Wednesday morning at 10:00 at St. Dominic Catholic Church, in Holton.

The Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, in Holton, is handling arrangements.

BASEHOR, Kan. (AP) - A Leavenworth County man has been sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation for a crash that killed two relatives who were to be groomsmen at a wedding the day they died.

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson says  22-year-old William Wilson, of Basehor, was sentenced Friday for involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The charge stemmed from a June 2015 crash near the Kansas River that killed 29-year-old Jesse Aldrich and 34-year-old Justin Wilson.

The Leavenworth Times reports  prosecutors say William Wilson had a blood-alcohol level of .09 after the accident. He was 20 at the time and the legal limit for a driver under 21 is .02.

William Wilson and the two victims were to serve as groomsmen at Wilson's brother's wedding in Basehor the day they died.
 

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - A Leavenworth woman has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for beating her mother to death.

 Sixty-year-old Victoria Smith was sentenced Friday for intentional second-degree murder in the July 2016 death of Anna Maria Higgins.

The Leavenworth Times reports  prosecutors say Smith hit Higgins several times with a flashlight and a three-pound mallet at a home where Smith lived.

Friday's hearing began with District Judge Gunnar Sundby denying a defense motion to allow Smith to withdraw her no contest plea.

Family members said before sentencing that Smith had a history of abusing Higgins.

Smith told the court she intended only to scare her mother and then "snapped" but she believed she should be sentenced for manslaughter, rather than second-degree murder.
 
    

CHICAGO (AP) - Funeral services have been set for an Illinois man killed along with a passenger when his World War II-era aircraft crashed in Atchison County.

Visitation for Vlado Lenoch of Burr Ridge will be held Sunday in the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook. His funeral will be held Monday at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Western Springs.

The 64-year-old Lenoch and 34-year-old Bethany Root were killed last Sunday when the P-51 Mustang fighter they were flying in crashed in a field near Cummings, about five miles south of Atchison's Amelia Earhart Airport.

The crash occurred one day after Lenoch flew in an aerobatics show that was held as part of Atchison's Amelia Earhart Festival.

Root, who served as manager of the airport, will be laid to rest in her native Ohio.

Her services will be held Saturday morning at the Staton Borowski Funeral Home, in Warren, Ohio.

She will also be remembered during a celebration of life hangar party next Saturday in Atchison.

The come-and-go ceremony will be held Saturday evening, July 29, at 7:00 at the Amelia Earhart Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the plane crash, with the findings to likely not be completed for 10 months to a year.

(KAIR)--A single-vehicle roll-over wreck on a rural Atchison County road sends an  Effingham woman to the hospital.

According to a report from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, it was 7:40 Friday morning when a vehicle driven by 59-year-old Cheryl Hawk attempted to pass another vehicle while driving east on 286th Road near Hamilton Road.

Hawk's vehicle had a tire blowout on the rear driver's side, causing her to lose control of the vehicle.

The vehicle went into the south ditch and overturned, striking a guide wire of a Westar utility pole.

She was transported by EMS to the Atchison Hospital for treatment of injuries.

(KNZA)--The annual Doniphan County 4-H Fair kicks off Monday at the fairgrounds in Troy.

A highlight of the fair will be the crowning of the fair prince and princess Monday evening at 6:00.

Six girls are vying for fair princess this year.  They include Makenzie Christenson, Carlie Windmeyer, Zoee Edie, Brooke Kiehnhoff, Jaidyn Johnson and Katelynn Nett.

Six boys are vying for fair prince.  They include Hunter Smith, Isaac Houghton, Austin Grable, Brody Jeschke , Alex Williams and Devin Masters.

The livestock sale will take place Thursday evening.

The fair wraps up Friday evening with the public style revue and awards presentation, followed by the 4-H Council dance from 9 to midnight.  

(KAIR)--A step forward to a new restaurant opening in Atchison.

That followed Monday's Atchison City Commission meeting when KC Bell, a regional franchise for Taco Bell restaurants, was approved for a community improvement district.

Atchison Director of Public Works & Utilities Justin Pregont said KC Bell has acquired two properties on the northeast corner of Main and Tenth Street in Atchison and intends to demolish the existing structures to construct a Taco Bell.

In order to do that, KC Bell sought community improvement district to levy an additional 1 cent sales tax at the future Taco Bell location. Those proceeds will be returned to the developer for a maximum period of 20 years or $200,000 whichever is first.

Pregont said there will be no direct cost to the city approving the CID.

Following a public hearing with no comment, commissioners approved the community improvement district for KC Bell on an unanimous vote.

(KMZA)--The proposed 2018 budget for the city of Seneca contains a slight decrease in the property tax levy.

City Administrator Matt Rehder says the City Council approved the $11 million budget for publication Wednesday evening.

The budget contains an estimated tax rate of 32.294 mills, which is to raise nearly $729,000 in local taxes.   That’s a nearly $16,000 increase over this year. 

Rehder said the tax lid requirements passed by the Kansas Legislature dictated the city had to lower the mill levy.

Under a law passed by the Kansas Legislature in 2015 and amended in 2016, cities and counties in the state must ask for voter approval if the total amount of property tax they raise increases by more than the five-year average of the consumer price index.

The Council will consider adoption of the budget following a public hearing at their August 15th meeting.

(MSC News)- If you're hitting the highway this weekend, make sure to slow down and travel safely.

That word of advice comes as a six state enforcement is scheduled for this weekend, running from now through Sunday, July 23.

According to a press release issued by the Kansas Highway Patrol, they will be working with local law enforcement agencies to address the issue of speeding.

According to the Patrol, as speed increases, the severity of a crash increases, meaning serious injuries or even death.

Along with the Kansas authorities, five other states will be on the lookout for fast drivers as part of the combined effort.

That includes law enforcement in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

The combined effort will include speed enforcement on state and federal highways, as well as city and rural roads.

Citations will be issued not only for speeding, but for other driving related infractions, such as not buckling up.

The six state speed enforcement effort, the Patrol says, is intended to educate drivers and passengers on the importance of following traffic laws.

(KNZA)--Horton’s Mission Lake remains under a public health warning due to the presence of blue-green algae.

According to a post on the city’s Facebook page, direct contact with the water is strongly discouraged at this time for people and animals.

The city says people and animals may get sick if they come into contact with the water.

Fish can be eaten as long as they are rinsed with clean water.  Only the fillet portion should be consumed and all other parts discarded.

Warning signs were posted at the lake July 12th.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Community Hospital Board of Trustees has announced the hiring of a new hospital CEO.

According to a press release issued Thursday, Jeffrey Shelton has been appointed to the position.  

Shelton has more than 26 years of healthcare experience with his last eight years as a CEO of a critical access hospital and small rural hospitals.

The candidates for the CEO position were screened by a committee concluding with on-site interviews which included meetings with the administrative team, department heads, medical Staff and the Board.

The release says the stakeholders were impressed with the energy Shelton presented and the research he had done on the community and the hospital.  Shelton shared he liked the size and location of Hiawatha and its proximity to larger cities and major airports.

Shelton’s most recent position was as the CEO at Sterling Regional Medical Center in  Colorado. Sterling Regional Medical Center was recognized this year as one of the Top Rural and Community Hospitals by The National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Policy Institute, Ivantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

Shelton has a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, has completed a senior executive fellowship and a Critical Access Hospital executive fellowship.

When accepting the position, Shelton shared, “While researching the community of Hiawatha and the hospital, I was so impressed with the commitment of not only the hospital, but the community to ensure Hiawatha is not only an exceptional community to work within, but also that the hospital remains a meaningful facility of choice to receive healthcare and healthcare resources.”

Shelton and his wife will be relocating to Hiawatha, beginning his duties at Hiawatha Community Hospital on July 31, 2017.

(KNZA)--Guilty. That’s the plea entered by a Wathena teenager accused of shooting a 20-year-old man at an underage drinking party in January near Agency, Missouri.

17-year-old William Dowlen pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Buchanan County courtroom to a felony charge of unlawful use of a weapon.

The St. Joseph News Press reports Dowlen told the judge the shooting was an accident.

He said he had been beaten up at the party, and when he went back to his car, a friend handed him a handgun.

Dowlen told the judge he intended to fire the weapon into the ground to scare off his attackers.  But he says the gun recoiled, and the second shot hit the victim in the leg.

Prosecutors says the victim had to have multiple surgeries and still has another one to undergo.

Dowlen is scheduled to be sentenced September 15th.

(KNZA)--Funeral arrangements are set for the former Holton resident who died last week from injuries he received as the victim in a Topeka home invasion.

Allen Wichman was 66-years-old when he died Friday at Promise Hospital in Overland Park.

According to The Topeka Capital-Journal, the home invasion happened June 18 at an apartment complex, in Topeka, the city where Wichman had lived for a number of years.

During the home invasion, Wichman suffered life-threatening injuries that later claimed his life.

Arrested in connection with the home invasion, following a standoff with police that same night at another Topeka location, is 31-year-old Howard Dale Burchfiel.

According to his obituary from the Mercer Funeral Home, in Holton, Wichman was a graduate of Holton High School.

Among his survivors is his son, Vance Spiker.

A visitation for Wichman will be held from 12:30 until 2:00 Sunday at the funeral home, with cremation to follow.

(KNZA)--Additional charges have been filed in Doniphan County against a St. Joseph area man following the recovery of a body in May from the Missouri River.

An amended complaint was filed this week in Doniphan County District Court charging 40-year-old Christopher Colhour with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Colhour had initially been charged with felony theft.

The body of 64-year-old St. Joseph resident Daniel Purvis was recovered from the Missouri River, south of St. Joseph, on May 27th after it was spotted by a citizen and following a week long search.

The search was launched May 22nd after Purvis’ vehicle was located in Troy.     Colhour was arrested that day in connection with the vehicle theft.

A judge last month granted a motion filed by Colhour’s attorney for a competency evaluation, which is to be conducted by Kanza Mental Health.

He remains in the Doniphan County Jail.       

TARKIO, Mo – Another Atchison County, Missouri road is scheduled to close for approximately two hours Friday as part of the Rock Creek wind farm project. Route M is scheduled to close Friday, July 21, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. The closure will be on Route M just south of 180th Street.

During the closure, motorists should seek an alternate route. All work is weather dependent and schedules may change.

As part of this project, large cranes used by the contractor will be moving across Routes C, M, N, YY and U.S. Route 136 at various times during the upcoming weeks. When the cranes are moved, it will require a full closure of the roadway. Most of these closures should take four hours or less.
 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council appointed Council member Charlie Bentley to identify the location and number of Ash Trees located on city owned property.

City Administrator Gary Jorn told the Council, the City Tree Board had requested this be done as they are putting a plan together how to address the Emerald Ash Borer issue in the city limits. 

Jorn said that a 2011 study by the State Forestry Department found 206 Ash trees on city property. It was not clear how many were street trees and how many were located in parks. The 2011 study estimated it would cost over $200-thousand to replace the Ash trees.

Bentley said it is important to know if they were green ash or white ash trees since only one species if affected by the Emerald Ash Borer.

(KLZA)-- The Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn has been named a Most Wired Hospital.

The American Hospital Association’s Health Forum released data Monday revealing the 19th Annual Health Care’s Most Wired survey found Nemaha County Hospital to qualify for the designation.

Most Wired hospitals utilize technology to make it easier for patients and providers to interact, thus improving communication, safety and patient-provider relationships.  

Kermit Moore, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at Nemaha County Hospital says increased patient safety and higher quality of care are a direct result of the hospitals utilization of technology for patient care.

The survey of 698 participants representing more than 2,100 hospitals examines how organizations are leveraging technology to improve performance for value-based healthcare in various areas. 

Nearly 40-percnet of all the hospitals in the U.S. participate in the survey.  
 

(KNZA)--Hiawatha city officials say Hiawatha Township is not paying its fair share for fire protection.

The City Commission this week discussed a proposal from the township to pay the equivalent of one property tax mill annually, which would amount to nearly $18,000 for 2018.

The township is currently paying $12,500. However, the city says the township should be paying around $21,000 based on the number of township fire calls and cost of providing service.

The city had proposed a three-year increase to that amount by 2020.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg says the city is trying to be as fair as possible.

Fire Chief Gary Shear said he doesn’t think its fair that Hiawatha taxpayers are subsidizing fire protection for the township.

Following discussion, the Commission voted to accept the township’s offer  of $17,516 for 2018 with the understand they must start paying more in 2019 or risk the loss of fire protection from the city.

(KNZA)--Hiawatha city officials say Hiawatha Township is not paying its fair share for fire protection.

The City Commission this week discussed a proposal from the township to pay the equivalent of one property tax mill annually, which would amount to nearly $18,000 for 2018.

The township is currently paying $12,500. However, the city says the township should be paying around $21,000 based on the number of township fire calls and cost of providing service.

The city had proposed a three-year increase to that amount by 2020.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg says the city is trying to be as fair as possible.

Fire Chief Gary Shear said he doesn’t think its fair that Hiawatha taxpayers are subsidizing fire protection for the township.

Following discussion, the Commission voted to accept the township’s offer  of $17,516 for 2018 with the understand they must start paying more in 2019 or risk the loss of fire protection from the city.

(KNZA)--Hiawatha city officials say Hiawatha Township is not paying its fair share for fire protection.

The City Commission this week discussed a proposal from the township to pay the equivalent of one property tax mill annually, which would amount to nearly $18,000 for 2018.

The township is currently paying $12,500. However, the city says the township should be paying around $21,000 based on the number of township fire calls and cost of providing service.

The city had proposed a three-year increase to that amount by 2020.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg says the city is trying to be as fair as possible.

Fire Chief Gary Shear said he doesn’t think its fair that Hiawatha taxpayers are subsidizing fire protection for the township.

Following discussion, the Commission voted to accept the township’s offer  of $17,516 for 2018 with the understand they must start paying more in 2019 or risk the loss of fire protection from the city.

(KAIR)--The Atchison woman killed in Sunday's plane crash near Cummings will be laid to rest in her native Ohio.

According to the obituary for 34-year-old Bethany Root, services will be held Saturday morning at the Staton Borowski Funeral Home, in Warren, Ohio.

According to a Facebook post from Atchison's Travis Grossman, serving as the local liaison for Root's family, a celebration of life hangar party will be held Saturday evening, July 29, at 7:00, at Atchison's Amelia Earhart Airport.

Root had served as manager for the airport since 2016.

According to Grossman, the celebration of life will be of a come-and-go nature, where pictures, videos, and stories about Root's life will be shared.

Along with her service to the airport, Root was one of a small handful of female agricultural pilots in the country, providing crop dusting services for McElwain Ag Sprayers, of Wathena.

Her family has established the Bethany Root Memorial Fund “to honor her legacy and passion for flying,” through the support of education, training, and initiatives for girls and women interested in aviation.

In lieu of flowers or plants, Root's family is asking that contributions in her memory be made to the foundation at RootFund.org.

Root was a passenger in an airplane flown by pilot Vlado Lenoch late Sunday morning that crashed near Cummings.

Both died in the crash.

The 64-year-old Lenoch, a heavily experienced demonstration pilot from Bluff Ridge, Illinois had, the night before, performed as part of an aerobatics show held in conjunction with Atchison's Amelia Earhart festival.

Federal investigators say it could take 10-months to a year to complete the investigation into the deadly crash.

(KNZA)--Two are dead, and three are hospitalized, following a double vehicle Brown County crash Wednesday that left a stretch of U.S. Highway 73 closed for hours.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identifies the two who were killed as 52-year-old Horton resident Michael James and 80-year-old Upland, Nebraska resident Patricia Boldt.

The fatal afternoon crash happened on the highway, 4 miles south of U.S. Highway 36, around 1:45.

According to the Patrol's report, James was the driver of a northbound Chevy Suburban that went left of center and smashed into a southbound Toyota Sienna just right of center.

Boldt was a passenger in the Toyota, which was driven by 80-year-old Delwyn Boldt, also from Upland, Nebraska.

He required hospitalized treatment at the University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas.

Traveling with the Boldts were two teenagers from North Carolina.

15-year-old Luke Boldt was transported to Children's Mercy, in Kansas City while 15-year-old Leland Boldt was taken to the Horton Community Hospital.

The Patrol's report says all three suffered disabling injuries.

James, who was traveling alone, is listed by the Patrol as being the only one involved in the fatal wreck who was not buckled up at the time that it happened.

However, the Patrol notes that Luke Boldt's seat belt was being worn improperly.

Editor's note: Below is the original story reported by MSC News shortly after the wreck occurred. 

(KNZA)--A stretch of U.S Highway 73 is closed in Brown County this hour, following a two vehicle crash.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant tells MSC News the roadway is closed to all traffic just south of 190th, the Landfill Road.

Merchant says it's likely the stretch will remain shut down for several hours, and motorists are told to find an alternate route.

The closure follows a two vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon that sent at least two to local hospitals.

Sources close to the investigation say two were killed in the crash, but that has not yet been officially confirmed.

According to Merchant, the Kansas Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation.

He says numerous agencies have been assisting at the scene, including the fire departments, and EMS, from both Hiawatha and Horton, Kickapoo Tribal emergency responders, and the Brown County Rescue Unit.

(KAIR)--A vehicle is found on fire in a ditch, but the driver is absent, leading the Atchison County Sheriff's Office to open an investigation into exactly what happened.

According to Sheriff Jack Laurie, his office received a call about the burning vehicle shortly before 3:00 Wednesday morning after it was discovered at Morton and 310th Roads.

The preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle was eastbound on 310th Road, when it left the roadway and struck a culvert marking sign and a concrete culvert railing.

Laurie, late Wednesday morning, told MSC News the driver had still not been located, but new details regarding the vehicle had emerged. "We did get the VIN off the vehicle, but we're still working to figure it out. We traced it a little bit, but we're not getting much on that, or how it would end up here if it was last registered in North Carolina." 

The vehicle is believed to be a white or light colored 1996 to 1999 Ford Taurus. 
"We didn't have any signs of anybody being injured out there," Laurie said. "Of course, with the vehicle being burned as bad as it was, there's not much there." 

Anyone who has any information related to the investigation should notify the Atchison County Sheriff's Office.

(KNZA)--A trial has been set for one of three Sabetha teens accused of breaking into and vandalizing the Sabetha High School over the Easter weekend.

17-year-old Seth Harrell pleaded not guilty last week in a Nemaha County courtroom to charges in the case.

A trial was set for August 22nd.

Co-defendant, 18-year-old Marcus Jackson, also made his first appearance in court last week.  A preliminary hearing was set for August 22nd.

A continuance was granted for the third defendant, 19-year-old Grant Meyer, and his first appearance was rescheduled for August 22nd.

All three have been charged with burglary, felony criminal damage to property, theft and consumption of alcohol by a minor.

The trio are accused of breaking into the Sabetha High School on April 15th.  

Police say markers were used to write several racist, hated-based, vulgar messages inside the school and classrooms were spray painted.  In addition, a vending machine was damaged to steal candy.

All three teens remain free on bond.    

(KMZA)--Registered voters in USD 380 may now vote an advance election ballot for the August 1st special bond election either by mail or in person at the Nemaha County Clerk’s Office.

To vote by mail, a person must complete an application form and return it to the County Clerk’s Office before a ballot can be mailed to them. All application forms must be received by July 25th.

Voters may come to the County Clerk’s Office to vote in person up until 12:00 noon on Monday, July 31st. The County Clerk’s Office is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All USD 380 registered voters who will not be able to get to their polling place on Election Day, August 1st, are encouraged to use the advance voting option in order to cast their vote in this election.

Due to Kansas election law, every voter in Nemaha County is required to provide identification before voting. If a voter requests a ballot to be mailed to them, they must include their driver’s license number on the application or include a copy of their photo ID with the completed application.

Anyone with questions concerning the advance voting process should contact the Nemaha County Clerk’s Office at 336-2170.

(KNZA)--A child sex charge filed against the former assistant chief of the Kickapoo Tribal Police Department has been dismissed.

33-year-old Joshua Barnes, of Meriden, had been charged in Jackson County District Court in March with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child less than 14-years-old.

That followed an investigation by the Holton Police Department into alleged incidents occurring between January 2015 and May 2016.   

The Holton Recorder reports the charge was dismissed July 12th, without prejudice, under the terms of an agreement filed by Deputy Jackson County Attorney Brian Yearout. 

That came one day before Barnes faced a preliminary hearing on the charge.

Under the agreement, the newspaper reports the state has agreed not to re-file charges against Barnes on conditions that he has no further contact with the child or anyone in the child’s family and is not charged with any new crimes during an unspecified “ statute of limitations”, excluding minor infractions or traffic offenses.

Barnes was arrested March 28th on the charge and released the same day on $50,000 bond.

He had worked for the Kickapoo Tribal Police Department since March 2013, serving as assistant chief since February 2016.

(KAIR)--The factors that led to Sunday morning's plane crash that left two dead in Atchison County remain unknown; and, federal investigators say it could take up to a year to complete the final, formal report regarding the fatal crash.

The 64-year-old pilot, Vlado Lenoch, of Bluff Ridge, Illinois and his 34-year-old passenger, Bethany Root, of Atchison, were both killed when the plane crashed late Sunday morning, near Cummings.

The night before, Lenoch flew before a crowd of thousands, showcasing his renowned stunt pilot skills as part of Atchison's Amelia Earhart festival.

Root, the general manager of Atchison's Amelia Earhart Airport, from where the airplane departed, is being remembered as a passionate aviator who, in the words of Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking, “was making a big difference at the airport.”

Federal investigators arrived at the rural crash site early this week, and have been collecting evidence as part of their investigation.

Jennifer Rodi, Senior Air Safety Investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, ays “the exhaustive and extensive” investigative process could take “from 10 months to a year” to complete.

The plane that carried Lenoch and Root is believed to have been the same 1944 Roth American P-51D Mustang, named Baby Duck, that Lenoch flew as part of Saturday night's Amelia Earhart Festival activities.

According to the report released by the Kansas Highway Patrol, which assisted with the initial investigation into the crash, the plane was traveling southeast, 5 miles south of the airport, when it turned around and then dove towards the ground, where it collided, at 3618 Ness Road.

(KAIR)--The factors that led to Sunday morning's plane crash that left two dead in Atchison County remain unknown; and, federal investigators say it could take up to a year to complete the final, formal report regarding the fatal crash.

The 64-year-old pilot, Vlado Lenoch, of Bluff Ridge, Illinois and his 34-year-old passenger, Bethany Root, of Atchison, were both killed when the plane crashed late Sunday morning, near Cummings.

The night before, Lenoch flew before a crowd of thousands, showcasing his renowned stunt pilot skills as part of Atchison's Amelia Earhart festival.

Root, the general manager of Atchison's Amelia Earhart Airport, from where the airplane departed, is being remembered as a passionate aviator who, in the words of Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking, “was making a big difference at the airport.”

Federal investigators arrived at the rural crash site early this week, and have been collecting evidence as part of their investigation.

Jennifer Rodi, Senior Air Safety Investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, ays “the exhaustive and extensive” investigative process could take “from 10 months to a year” to complete.

The plane that carried Lenoch and Root is believed to have been the same 1944 Roth American P-51D Mustang, named Baby Duck, that Lenoch flew as part of Saturday night's Amelia Earhart Festival activities.

According to the report released by the Kansas Highway Patrol, which assisted with the initial investigation into the crash, the plane was traveling southeast, 5 miles south of the airport, when it turned around and then dove towards the ground, where it collided, at 3618 Ness Road.

(KAIR)--Controversy surrounding a historic park shelter to be demolished.

That followed Monday's Atchison City Commission meeting when commissioners voted 3-2 to tear down the historic 'Mushroom' Shelter on top of Guerrier Hill in Jackson Park at a cost not to exceed $10,000.

Deputy Public Works Director Clinton McNemee said safety is the primary concern with the shelter as small to medium size chunks of concrete have fallen from the roof structure and it continues to deteriorate.

Although the shelter has been cornered off since late 2016, park visitors continue to ignore the warning signs and use the shelter.

McNemee said repair or replacing the shelter would be too costly, and destroying the shelter would be the most cost-effective and safe option.

Repairing the structure would cost $15,000 while replacing it would cost $30,000, McNemee estimated. And repairs would only last 5-8 years.

Worried about the influx of people to Guerrier Hill during the solar eclipse happening Aug. 21, city staff felt the 'Mushroom' Shelter was an immediate concern.

During discussion, however, tempers flared as commissioners disagreed on how to proceed forward.

Commissioner Charlie Purdue questioned McNemee wanting to know why maintenance was neglected on the structure saying there's money in the budget for other improvements at the park, but non for the 'Mushroom Shelter'.

“That's what the budget is all about commissioners, priorities,” said Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking. “Yeah, we could cut somewhere. What do you want to cut so we don't raise the mill levy? The illusion that you have that these guys could just work a little harder and fix this stuff, no. Justin and I have both tried, Clinton has worked for years. That's an illusion. It's either more money, or cutting elsewhere to create more money. That's how we do a better job of maintenance.”

The concerns were raised during a presentation of the Jackson Park Master Plan draft being reviewed by commissioners. That plan will be open for the public to provide feedback before further action is taken on other aspects of the park.

Despite disagreement, commissioners voted to tear down the 'Mushroom' Shelter with Purdue and Commissioner Larry Purrcell casting the no votes.

(KNZA)--A single-vehicle wreck early Tuesday morning in Buchanan County, Missouri claimed the life of a St. Joseph man, and left a St. Joseph woman injured.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says killed in the wreck on Missouri Highway 371 about 10 miles south of St. Joseph was 24-year-old Brandon Nolan.

The Patrol says Nolan was the passenger in a southbound car driven by 24-year-old Corrine Smith that lost control on a curve shortly after 1:00.  The car left the roadway and struck a tree.

Nolan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Smith was transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph with what the Patrol described as serious injuries.

The patrol says neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt.      

(KNZA)--A bid has been accepted for the long awaited construction of a new Hiawatha water treatment plant to address the ongoing problem of high nitrate levels in the city's water supply.

On the recommendation of the engineering firm, BG Consultants, the Hiawatha City Commission Monday evening accepted the low bid from Bern-based AHRS Construction in the total amount of more than $3.5 million( $3,519,043) for the plant and related improvements, contingent on the approval of USDA Rural Development and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Engineer Brian Kingsley says it was among four bids received July 13th, and even with the addition of a water line improvement along Hatfield Road, came in around $300,000 under what had been estimated.

The new ion exchange treatment plant will be built on property along U.S. 73 Highway, north of Hiawatha.   

Kingsley says AHRS says they are ready to start as soon as the contracts are signed, and will have one calendar year to complete the project.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg says the project has been along time coming, and is excited about being able to provide the residents of Hiawatha with good quality drinking water.    

( New Brown County Appraiser Tami Antoine began work Monday)

(KNZA)--A Topeka engineering firm will inspect Brown County’s two hundred and two off-system bridges.  

The County Commission Monday accepted the low bid submitted by Cook, Flatt and Strobel to conduct the inspections at $78 a bridge for a total cost of $15,756.   

Two bids were received last week.  BG Consultants, who have been conducting the county’s bridge inspections, submitted a bid for $98 a bridge.     

The county’s off-system bridges must be inspected every two years.

In other action, the Commission approved a resolution appointing Tami Antoine, of Marysville, to a 4-year term as county appraiser, ending June 30th, 2021.

Antoine began work Monday.  She was hired last week to replace Jeffery Ball who the Commission decided not to re-appoint.   

She has worked in the Marshall County appraiser’s office the past 20 years in various positions—including as county appraiser since October 2015.

And Kanza Mental Health CEO David Elsbury informed the Commission that Dr. Steve Davies has resigned from the organization’s board of directors.  On the recommendation of Elsbury, the Commission approved the appointment of Jackie Wenger to fill Davies unexpired term, ending December 31st, 2017.    

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved two contracts Monday night recommended by the Board of Public Works.

The first contract approved was for more than $1.3-million. Utility Superintendent Alan Romine told the Council this would be the final contract for the new electrical generation engine being installed at the Power Plant.

The work will include installation of the piping and electrical for the engine. 

The Farabee Company from Hickman, Nebraska was awarded the bid, which was nearly $640,000 less than the other bid submitted. They expect to complete their work in 10-12 weeks with a completion date of December 10. 

The Council also approved a bid for a waterline replacement project. 

The bid to upgrade three blocks of water line on Valley Street from 2-inch, to a 6-inch line, and install three new fire hydrants was awarded to General Excavating at a cost of $194,675.  That was the low bid submitted and came in approximately $6,600 less than the estimate.

(KLZA)-- A 16-year-year-old Rulo teenager was killed Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle wreck on Highway 159, about 1 1/2 miles west of Rulo. 

According to a release from the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses stated that an eastbound car driven by Easton Vonderschmidt crossed the centerline and struck the driver’s side of a westbound pickup truck and a trailer, driven by 48-year-old Bobby Campbell of Rulo.

The report indicates the pickup and heavily loaded trailer came to rest in the north ditch.  The Vonderschmidt car spun around and came to rest on the highway.

Vonderschmidt was pronounced dead at the scene.  Campbell was transported to Community Medical Center in Falls City, and then taken to a Lincoln hospital as a precautionary measure for non-life-threatening injuries.  

Easton Vonderschmidt was the son of Chance and Jamie Vonderschmidt and would have been a junior at Falls City Sacred Heart this fall. 

In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, the Rulo Fire Department, Richardson County Road Department, Nebraska Department of Roads, Falls City Volunteer Ambulance Squad and volunteers from Richardson County Emergency Management responded to the scene of the wreck.  
 

(KLZA)-- An Omaha woman suffered minor injuries in a wreck early Monday morning in Atchison County, Missouri.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports 34-year-old Andrea Moffatt was driving south on Interstate 29 approximately three miles north of Rock Port when her care traveled off the west side of the road, went into the ditch and overturned, coming to rest on its top. 

The Atchison-Holt Ambulance transported Moffatt to the Fairfax hospital for treatment. 

The car was totaled.

The Atchison County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene of the wreck. 
 

(KAIR)--A stolen vehicle is recovered and two teenagers are arrested in connection with the theft.

“At 8:30 Friday evening, an officer investigated the theft of a 2003 Jeep Liberty from the 1300 block of North Sixth,” said Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. “About 30 minutes later, the officer spotted that stolen vehicle near Sixth and Kansas Avenue.”

He said a 17-year-old male was taken into custody and the jeep recovered. Additionally, there was a 16-year-old passenger who fled from officers.

“He was apprehended a short time later in the downtown area,” Wilson said.

The teens were charged with theft of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property.

“They manipulated the steering column to be able to steal the car,” Wilson said. “It was in a driveway in front of the residence, they apparently did not know the victim. They chose that vehicle because apparently they had an interest in this Jeep Liberty.”

Both teens were released to juvenile intake.

(KLZA)-- Several people were injured in separate wrecks Saturday in Northwest Missouri.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports a single vehicle wreck in the northbound lane of Interstate 29 approximately seven miles south of Mound City sent three members of an Overland Park, Kansas family to a St. Joseph hospital.

At 8:25 a.m. a mini-van operated by 30-year-old Shaughnessey Shull  
swerved to miss a vehicle that was either traveling very slowly or was stopped in the right lane just over the crest of a hill. The Shull van went off the east side of the roadway into a ditch an overturned before striking some small trees coming to rest on its wheels facing south. 

The report indicated Shull, her six-year old son Logan, and 11-year old son Kristopher suffered minor injuries and were transported by the Atchison-Holt Ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. 

Another son, age 12 was not injured in the wreck. 

The Holt County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon, Missouri Police Department assisted at the scene of the wreck.

Shortly after noon on Saturday 43-year-old Curtis Livengood of Tarkio, Missouri was involved in a motorcycle wreck on Route A, East of Graham, in Nodaway County.

The State Patrol report indicates Livengood was westbound on Route A when he lost control of the motorcycle on a curve and was ejected. Livengood came to rest on the road. His injuries were described as moderate.  

The Nodaway County Ambulance transported Livengood to St. Francis Hospital in Maryville. 

The motorcycle sustained moderate damage.  
 

(KAIR)--A new executive director for Project Concern in Atchison.

According to a press release, Stephanie Barnes, of Atchison, took on the role July 10.

In the release, Barnes said “I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve the Atchison community in this new role with Project Concern as their new executive director.”

An Olathe native, Barnes came to Atchison in 1997 to attend Benedictine College where she graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.

She worked more than 13 years at the Guidance Center in Atchison moving in the director position at Achievement Services of Northeast Kansas in 2016.

Project Concern Board President, Jeff Schuele was quoted in the release saying Barnes is highly qualified candidate to lead Project Concern siting her skill set in working with other non-profits in similar roles, a psychology degree from Benedictine and her passion to improve the quality of life for citizens in Atchison.

Project Concern is a non-profit organization that provides public transportation and meals to people in Atchison County.

Schuele said under Barnes' leadership, Project Concern can take services to a whole new level.

In 2017, the public transportation service is on pace to provide almost 8,000 rides and serve 46,000 meals.

(KLZA)-- The Auburn Board of Education has approved placement of security cameras in various locations at district facilities. 

Superintendent Kevin Reiman said plans are for cameras at the Central Office will be used for vehicles parked outside. At Calvert Elementary School the cameras will offer better coverage of the playground area. The High School / Middle School cameras will help with coverage of the track, the front of the building and the parking lot.

The Board also approved the purchase of an enclosed 6-foot by 12-foot trailer, in hopes of saving money in the long run. During football games on the road, one act play and show choir events at other venues it requires two and sometimes three vehicles to haul students and equipment requiring another driver.
The Board believes the savings in driver costs and fuel will be beneficial to the district budget.  

Reiman says the plan is to use funds from an upcoming auction of excess equipment, including some vehicles, to cover the cost of the new trailer. 
The auction is likely to be held in August or September.

Board members also approved student, teacher and classified staff handbooks for the upcoming school year and approved a number of revisions to school policies. 

(KLZA)-- The Rural Futures Institute has announced nine teaching and research grants worth almost $400,000--including one involving two Peru State College professors.

Peru State College Professor of Business, Dr. Sheri Grotrian-Ryan and Professor of Kinesiology, Dr. Kyle Ryan, are attached to a project based in Nebraska City focused on obesity education for post-secondary students.

The Rural Futures Institute noted the project was a collaborative project to combat the epidemic of rural pediatric obesity. University of Nebraska at Omaha Assistant Professor Danae Dinkel and Peru State College Professors Kyle Ryan and Sheri Grotrian-Ryan are working with schools and community-based organizations in Nebraska City to create a service-learning course for undergraduate students.

Ryan notes that, even though the obesity epidemic has been well chronicled, many are unaware of the circumstances that make combating rural obesity more challenging.

The grants build on RFI’s successful Competitive Awards program that so far has funded 50 teaching and research projects in more than 100 Nebraska communities. 
 

(KNZA)--The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a St. Joseph, Missouri man wanted on an outstanding warrant, who evaded authorities twice in the same day. 

Sheriff John Merchant says the sheriff’s office received a report Friday of a wreck in the vicinity of 320th and Hazelnut Roads.   Upon arrival, it was learned that an individual gave chase to 43-year-old Arthur Hampton who has a $10,000 Brown County warrant for interference with a law enforcement officer.   Their vehicles collided and Hampton fled on foot into a cornfield.

Tracking canines from the Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks were brought in to try and locate Hampton.  Also a KHP airplane was brought in to assist in the search due to the hot weather and number of cornfields in the area.  

The search was discontinued after about 3 to 4 hours.

Later in the evening, Hampton was spotted by a resident, but authorities were unable to locate him after another 3 to 4 hour search.

No injuries were reported and the case remains under investigation.

Merchant says Hampton has a criminal history that includes probation violation, failure to appear and eluding law enforcement.

Hampton remains at large and anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

Photo credit: Atchison County Sheriff's Office

(KAIR)--The plane that crashed Sunday morning is believed to have been the same one flown in Saturday night's aerobatics show that accompanied Atchison's Amelia Earhart festival.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie says the plane, believed to be the 1944 Roth American P-51D Mustang used in the show, was piloted by 64-year-old Vlado Lenoch. The Bluff Ridge, Illinois pilot, who helmed the plane during the air show, was killed in the wreck.

Also killed was his passenger, 34-year-old Bethany Root, of Atchison. She served as the General Manager at Atchison's Amelia Earhart Airport.

Laurie says the plane, named “Baby Duck,” took off from airport around 10:00 Sunday morning and crashed around 10:15 in the area of 234th and Ness Road, near Cummings.

The cause of the crash is not immediately known.

According to the report from the Kansas Highway Patrol, the plane was traveling southeast, 5 miles south of the airport, when it turned around and then dove towards the ground, where it collided, at 3618 Ness Road.

The FAA will conduct the investigation.

Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking Sunday afternoon issued a statement to MSC News regarding the tragic crash. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends. Bethany was making a big difference at the airport and the City Commission and myself are very saddened by her sudden death."

The Atchison County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Atchison County EMS and the Atchison County Rescue Unit all assisted at the scene of the fatal crash.

(KAIR)--No major damage is reported following a small fire at an Atchison grocery store.

Atchison Fire Chief Ted Graf tells MSC News it happened Saturday afternoon at Van Dyke's grocery, located at 401 North 4th Street.

Graf says the fire was confined to the basement of the store, and is being blamed on an electrical problem.

He says it was discovered by employees shortly before closing; and, due to the timing of the discovery, the fire was kept from spreading.

The Atchison Fire Department was called to the store and quickly handled the situation.

(KLZA)--Scott Riley was elected to the Future Business Leaders of America –Phi Beta Lambda National Officer Team as the Mountain Plains Regional Vice President.

Riley is from Auburn, and is pursuing a Business Administration-Management major with a minor in Computer Management Information Systems.

Riley is one of five regional vice presidents on the National Officer Team. He will represent Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico.

For the 2017-2018 school year, Riley will be the President of Nebraska PBL after he campaigned for the position during the 2016-2017 State Leadership Conference in Kearney. Recently, Riley also competed at the National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California in June.

(KNZA)--One person was killed early Saturday morning after two motorcycles collided on U.S. 24 Highway in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the victim as 49-year-old Carbondale resident Lance Elliott.  The other motorcyclist, 56-year-old Oskaloosa resident Vicki Allen, was not hurt.

The Patrol says both were westbound when they collided for unknown reasons.  Both motorcycles went into the south ditch and both drivers were ejected.

The Patrol says neither was wearing a helmet.

The crash was reported shortly before 12:30 Saturday morning at Phillips Road.

(KAIR)--An artistic investment.

That's what Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking calls a new monument donated by Westar Energy that was unveiled Friday morning on the southeast corner of 10th and Main in Atchison.

“We've really worked closely with Westar over the last six years,” Cocking said. “We've had a lot of problems with power outages just with Bradken and MGP, they had such a high demand for power. So, we worked closely with them over the last six years on a new infrastructure system for their power to get in town and provide reliable electricity to our giant industrial users in town.”

Representatives from Westar along with city leaders gathered around the 8-foot monument affirming Westar's special relationship with the city of Atchison.

“Things like this is what makes a community special, when you have something that differentiates it from any other community in Kansas or the United States,” Cocking said. “I'm just proud of what has happened here.”

As part of Westar's $50 million investment in Atchison, the new Amelia Earhart substation at 5th and Q Street will feature a 12-foot tall concrete wall around the substation with a timeline outlining Earhart's personal and professional accomplishments.

(KLZA)-- The Auburn School District is dealing with another year of significant cuts in State Aid.

As a result of the cuts, the Auburn School Board this week approved increases in student fees for the 2017-18 school year. Admission prices to attend varsity sports events will increase to $6 for adults and $4 for students.  For junior varsity and Middle School contests the cost will be $5 for adults and $3 for students.

The costs for annual activity passes is also increasing. A student pass will be $35, the family pass will cost $135 and the price for an adult annual pass will be $90. 

The Board also approved reinstating a fee schedule for students to participate in various activities sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association. Fees to participate in sports, cheerleading and speech will be $30 per sport, per student. There will be a $120 maximum fee per family. 

The school breakfast program will also be charging more.  In August Board members approved an increase of a dime for breakfast.  

(KLZA)-- The Auburn City Council tabled action on a bid for the sale of a lot owned by the City, located at 722 10th Street when they met Monday. 

The Council is hoping to draw more interest in the lot once it is cleaned up. The Auburn Fire Department used the property for training, conducting a controlled burn. Currently there is a hole in the ground that needs to be cleaned up and leveled off.

Glen Houge had submitted a bid for the property of just over $200. 

No Council action on a request for re-zoning of a property at 1902 P. Street owned by Mitch Bishop.  The property is zoned residential. Bishop had planned to build shed for storage at the location.  The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the re-zoning request be denied. 

(KMZA)--The Nemaha Central Board of Education has ratified a negotiated agreement with the Nemaha Central Education Association for the 2017-18 school year.

The action came during the Board’s first meeting of fiscal year 2018 Monday evening.

Under the agreement, the salary package, which includes the district paid health insurance fringe, will increase 2.38 percent.

Following an executive session, salary increases for classified, administrative and special licensed personnel were approved. Staff will receive a 1.57% salary increase plus the increase in Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance.  The salary increase percentage is the same percentage as the overall salary increase for the teachers.

Jason Hammes was re-elected president of the board for the 2017-18 school year.  Owen Zinke was re-elected Vice President.

The board approved a special meeting to be held on Thursday, August 24th, beginning at 5:00 in the evening for the 2017-18 budget hearing.

(KAIR)--A Doniphan County corn grower is among a group of seven selected to represent the Kansas Corn Growers Association at a national event.

According to a press release issued by the association, Ken McCauley, of White Cloud, will join the other six who were chosen in providing representation at the summer Corn Congress delegate sessions in Washington, D.C.

There, delegates will review National Corn Growers Association policy and elect national officers.

In addition to the voting delegate session, the growers will visit the offices of the Kansas congressional delegation, and participate in the National Corn Growers Association's action team meetings.

McCauley, in the press release, says “this is a crucial time for corn growers,” adding that it's important that Kansas “senators and representatives have an opportunity to discuss issues, like trade, regulatory reform and market access for ethanol.”

Corn Congress week, in the nation's capital, begins July 17.

(KAIR)--An attempt to escape leaves a Saint Joseph, Missouri man dead.

KQ2-TV reports the burglary suspect died while hiding in the attic of a home.

He is identified by police as 52-year-old Tony Miller

The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office Thursday night was called to the home where they found two suspicious men. Despite both trying to flee on foot, one was apprehended quickly, while Miller fled inside the home

Deputies made their way into the home, with the man found in the crawl space of the attic.

Determined to have died, the Saint Joseph Fire Department was called to extract the body by cutting a hole in the side of the home.

An autopsy will be conducted, but the TV station reports that authorities suspect the high heat of the hiding space, which was more than 100-degrees, played a role in Miller's death.

The suspect apprehended at the scene is identified as Jason Griffey.

Authorities say he was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant.

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Council heard good news concerning electric rates and insurance rates when they met this week. 

The Council approved renewing the workers compensation and liability insurance with the League Association of Risk Management through the Nebraska League of Municipalities. By committing for three years the City received a five-percent discount. 

The workers comp insurance rate dropped $5-thousand. The total cost for workers comp and liability insurance for the next year will be $48-thousand.

Pat Hatfield with Nebraska Public Power District met with the Council.  He noted that as street lights burn out in Pawnee City, they are being replaced with LED lights which last longer and are cheaper to use.

Hatfield also provided good news about electric rates, informing Council members there will be no rate increase for the next year.  

On final reading the Council approved a three-percent cost of living pay increase for City employees.  The vote was 3-1 with Councilman John Dahlgren casting a nay vote.  

(KLZA)-- An unfortunate sign of the times. 

That is how Auburn School Superintendent Kevin Reiman described the need for the school district to approve a contract with a collection agency. 
 
An increase in lunch fund debt is the reason for the action.  Superintendent Kevin Reiman noted the amount of debt has tripled in the last year because some families are not paying their bills.  The Auburn School District philosophy is that students need to eat so they do not take meals away from the kids. 

Reiman says cuts in state aid, mean it is just not feasible for the school district to continue subsidizing the unpaid balances from the districts general fund.

Reiman is hopeful the action will mean more patrons will take care of their unpaid balances. 

The collection agency is located in Beatrice. The agreement allows the collection agency to keep 40-percent of the money they collect.  

(KLZA)-- Two men were injured Wednesday morning in a wreck near Craig, Missouri. 

The Missouri Highway Patrol report indicates the wreck occurred in a construction zone two miles north of Craig on U.S. 59 Highway about 10:40 a.m.

A delivery van, driven by 25-year-old Joshua Lawson of Kansas City, Missouri, slid out of control, striking the rear of a semi-tractor and trailer.  A Missouri Department of Transportation Flagman had stopped the semi in the southbound lane of the workzone.  

When the van struck the trailer the semi was towing, Lawson was ejected out of the front passenger door of the van.

The semi driver, 68-year-old Dennis Thurnau of Oregon, Missouri suffered what were described as minor injuries. Thurnau refused medical treatment.
Lawson’s injuries were described as moderate but he also refused medical treatment. 

The 2010 delivery van was totaled and was towed away.  The semi suffered moderate damage and was driven from the scene.

The Holt County Sheriff’s Office assisted the State Patrol at the scene.  
 

(KLZA)-- Auburn’s City Council approved the final payment on the Splash Pad Project at the Rec Complex during their July meeting.  

Mayor Scott Kudrna noted the final cost for the project, excluding engineering costs was $171,045. AHRS Construction was the contractor.

The Council discussed the possibility of creating an on-line reservation program to rent the R.V. pads at the Rec Complex.  The hope was to ease the burden on city staff members who do the reservations over the phone. One of the issues was the $600 annual fee it would cost for the on-line reservation service. No action was taken.

Mayor Scott Kudrna noted his disappointment with a recent vandalism of the new rest room and concession building in Legion Park.  The newly remodeled facilities were completed earlier this spring.  

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) - Police say a missing 14-year-old Beatrice girl is back home and a 24-year-old North Dakota man has been charged with kidnapping.
 
Radio station KWBE says the girl was reported missing Monday and investigators determined she had been enticed to leave by Nichollas Johnson, whom she had met in an online gaming site.
 
Police and FBI agents found the girl Wednesday night in Fargo, North Dakota. Police say Johnson was arrested at a separate location in Fargo. He's charged with kidnapping in a Nebraska arrest warrant. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
 

Johnson is being held in North Dakota awaiting extradition to Nebraska.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska prisoner who died last month overdosed on a combination of methamphetamine and Ecstasy.

A death certificate issued to The Associated Press Thursday confirms that 22-year-old Daelan Lamere died because of the accidental overdose.

Prison officials previously acknowledged that Lamere had both drugs in his system when he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution on May 27. He died at a Lincoln hospital on June 6 after his heart failed.

Lamere was sentenced to 6 to 11 years in prison for four counts of robbery and one count of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in Douglas County. He was scheduled for release in September 2020.
 

(KAIR)--A joint investigation is launched after several reports of stolen vehicles from the local area.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said officers responded Thursday morning to a report of a stolen vehicle in Atchison.

“We had a 2011 Dodge Caravan taken from a convenience store parking lot at 6th and US 59,” Wilson said. “The officers then discovered that a 1993 Toyota Camry reported stolen in Leavenworth yesterday had been left at the same convenience store parking lot by the suspect who took the Caravan. We did recover the Caravan midday today in Holton.”

He said, the vehicle taken in Atchison was stolen after leaving the vehicle taken from Leavenworth. When the vehicle taken from Atchison was recovered in Holton, they had a vehicle taken.

They have no suspects are in custody at this time.

“We know we're looking for a white male in his thirties,” Wilson said. “At the time of our theft, we know that he was wearing a black ball cap, sleeveless shirt and black shorts. We believe that the suspect identified, at least being seen in Holton, has the same description. We know that Leavenworth, Atchison and Holton are looking for the same suspect.”

If you have any information regarding any of the thefts, contact local law enforcement.

(KNZA)--The leadership for the South Brown County Schools has reorganized for the new school year.

That happened when the USD 430 Board of Education met for their regular meeting Monday evening.

Selected by the Board to serve as president for the 2017-18 school year was Jason Smith.

Chosen for the role of vice-president was Jacob Bruning.

It marked the first meeting for new superintendent Jason Cline.  Cline replaces longtime superintendent Dr. Steve Davies who retired at end of the 2016-17 school year after 16 years in the position.  

Cline thanked everyone who has welcomed him and helped him in getting acquainted with things.

(MSC News)--A herbicide, that had been banned in two states, will be the focus of a community meeting Friday.

Set to happen at 12 noon at the firehouse in Corning, the session is being held to discuss the broadleaf weed killer known as dicamba.

At issue is the claim that the product drifts from where it's initially sprayed. Once it makes it's way to neighboring farms, ag-producers claim it's causing soybean damage.

Used in products manufactured by major herbicide companies, dicamba was banned in the state of Missouri earlier this month.

On July 7, the Missouri Department of Agriculture temporarily issued a stop sale, and use, on all dicamba products.

Chris Chinn serves as the Director of Agriculture for the state, and issued a message about the decision in a Youtube video.  

The Missouri Soybean Association, in a statement on their website, says “it's clear that action is needed,” with the statement saying upwards of 200,000 soybean acres are suspected of incurring damage in the state during the 2017 growing season.

However, that changed Thursday, July 13. The Associated Press reports the Missouri Department of Agriculture lifted the temporary halt to the use and sale,  saying it's satisfied by new safeguards involving the chemical.

The State of Arkansas, on July 7, also halted the sale and use of dicamba.

Monsanto issued a statement about that decision, saying it was “premature since the causes of any crop injury have not been fully investigated.”

As of July 13, the Arkansas ban remained in place. 

Possible, local crop damage from the product is the key reason behind Friday's noon meeting in Corning.

A Missouri agronomist is expected to speak at the session, and a Kansas City attorney will be in attendance.

(KNZA)--A new Brown County appraiser has been hired.

Following an executive session Monday, the County Commission voted to hire Tamie Antoine, of Marysville, at salary of $51,480.

She was among three candidates interviewed for the position.

Antoine has worked in the Marshall County Appraiser's Office the past twenty years in various positions, serving as county appraiser since October 2015. 

She will replace Jeffery Ball who the Commission decided late last month not to re-appoint. Ball was appointed in July 2015 to fill the unexpired term of the Paula Jones who died in February 2015. His term expired June 30th.

Curt Clark, who serves as senior data collector in the appraiser's office, has been serving as interim appraiser since that time.

County Clerk Melissa Gromley says Antoine is to begin work July 17th.

(KNZA)--Two Sabetha residents charged in connection with an alleged Hiawatha home invasion and robbery have been bound over for trial.

Following a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says a judge found probable cause and bound  21-year-old Edgar Martinez and 23-year-old Jazmene Hicks over for arraignment on August 7th.

That followed testimony from Hiawatha Police Detective Beau Hasenohr and the alleged victim.

The pair face felony charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and aggravated battery along with a misdemeanor count of criminal restraint.

They are accused of breaking into a home at 121 Apache Street on May 16th.  The occupant, Ray Atlakson, told police he was battered and robbed, with his hands bound behind his back before the suspects fled the scene.

Atlakson was treated for injuries at the Hiawatha Community Hospital.

The suspects are accused of taking a pair of car keys, billfold and a RCA tablet by force.

Hill says a third suspect in the case, 27-year-old Bern resident Oscar Martinez, remains at large.

(KNZA)--A Hiawatha man accused of breaking into a rural Brown County residence twice has entered into a plea agreement.

33-year-old William Schaefer pleaded “ no contest” this week in Brown County District Court to one count each of burglary and felony theft.  

In exchange for the plea, two additional counts of burglary and theft were dismissed.

Sentencing was set for August 7th.

Schaefer is accused of breaking into a residence at 1567 250th Street twice and stealing numerous items.

Among the items stolen were a laptop computer, DVD player, game camera, several bows, pocket knifes and jewelry.

He remains in the Brown County Jail on a $15,000 bond.`

(KNZA)--A St. Joseph, Missouri man has been arrested on a felony charge of electronic solicitation of a child following an investigation by the Hiawatha Police Department.

69-year-old William Buehler made his first appearance in a Brown County courtroom Wednesday on the charge following his arrest Monday.

A preliminary hearing was set for July 19th.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says the criminal complaint alleges Buehler was involved in communications through the internet with a person he believed to be a 14 year old girl between May 1st and July 10th in an effort to commit or submit to an unlawful sex act.   However, Hill says he was actually communicating with an undercover officer with the Hiawatha Police Department’s cyber crime unit.

Hill says when Buehler arrived in Hiawatha at a pre-arranged meeting place to meet who he believed was the girl, he was instead met by numerous officers with the police department and arrested.

He remains  in the Brown County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners have approved an expenditure of nearly $25-thousand for telephone communication upgrades and a new communications server. 

During the July 5th Board meeting representatives of Southeast Nebraska Communications in Falls City  met with the Board to present revised quotes and additional information on the systems.

The new courthouse phone system will allow in-house communications between courthouse offices, the Law Enforcement Center and possibly the Road Department.  Cost for the phone system and installation will be in excess of $11,600. 

The new communications server, including installation comes with a price tag just under $13-thousand. 

(KLZA)-  The Nemaha County, Nebraska Fair is open Thursday through Sunday in Auburn.  

This years Fair Theme is “Something Old, Something New.

4-H, FFA and Open Class Shows will be going on each day of the Fair.

There will be just one fair parade this year. The parade will be 6:00 p.m. Friday starting at the courthouse, going down Courthouse Avenue to J Street which if Highway 75 and on to 10th Street. 

The always popular chain saw carving shows will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the Fairgrounds with the creations to be auctioned off Sunday afternoon at 4.  Proceeds from the auction support the Nemaha County Fair activities.  

The River City Carnival on the Midway will be open Thursday through Sunday.

Friday there will be grandstand shows at 3:30 and 8:00 p.m. featuring hypnotist Edward Wunder.  Friday evening at 8 the annual Farm Family Awards will be presented at the grandstand.

Saturday a balloon artist will perform at 3:30 and 8:00 p.m. The Little Tuggers Pedal Tractor Pull will be at 6:30 p.m.  Registration begins at 6:15. The event is for children ages 4 – 12. 

The FFA Ag Olympics will be Saturday evening at 7:15.  There will be live music Saturday evening from 7 – 8:15 p.m. and again from 9:00 p.m. until Midnight.  

Sunday morning at 8:30 there will be a non-denominational service in the Open Air Building on the fairgrounds hosted by the Brock Christian Church.  

(KAIR)--A drawing from first grade while attending Franklin Elementary School becomes a published children's book for an Atchison native.

“I've always wanted to write a book,” said Stephanie Keegan who now lives in Beatrice, Nebraska. “My kids were saying, 'Mom you should write your book,' I used to draw a character when I was in grade school, it didn't have a name.”

Keegan said her son came up with idea, No Head Fred.

She's written a series of books entitled No Head Fred each with a different educational theme.

“I just wanted to do something where I maybe could teach the kids something and make my dreams come true,” Keegan said.

You can hear Keegan read No Head Fred aloud at 10:00 this Saturday morning at the Atchison Public Library.

She'll also host a reading at the Beatrice Public Library June 25 at 2:00 pm.

(KNZA)--After hearing opposition, the Brown County Commission has decided against vacating a portion of a county road.

Four county residents attended a hearing Monday to voice their opposition to the county's plans to vacate a section of 200th Street between Jackrabbit and Kestrel Roads.

They included several members of the Hiawatha Fire Department, who voiced concerns about emergency service access.

County resident Jerry Gifford questioned why the county is just now vacating the road, since its been closed for some time.

Commission Chairman Steve Roberts told Gifford that the Union Pacific Railroad requested the county vacate the road, which contains a railroad crossing, and offered to compensate the county.

Following the hearing, the Commission voted unanimously not to vacate the  section of road.      

(KAIR)--Questions are posed regarding the state of an Atchison County road that recently underwent maintenance by the County Road and Bridge Department.

At issue is the condition of Ottawa Road, which was recently milled and partially resurfaced.

However, a group of six residents, who reside in the Mount Pleasant and Walnut Townships, questioned why the condition quickly deteriorated following the start of the work.

One group member said, We finally think we're going to get a good solid road. But, within the first mile, it's breaking up again.

Road and Bridge Superintendent Seth Howard was present when the questions were posed during the July 5 meeting.

He explained that the problem stems from a base in poor condition, with soft spots found after the milling was conducted.

“What we're doing now, is digging them out, if they're still wet, we're digging them a lot deeper,” Howard said. “We're packing some rock int here. If we feel like we're having problems with rock staying, we're pouring concrete over it. The majority of the time, we're digging down to about a foot, and it's solid. We should be pretty good to go.”

Howard told the concerned residents the county plans to conduct ditch work, once resurfacing is complete, to allow for proper drainage.

Because the road apparently has lacked a solid base, an engineer will conduct an inspection in the future, with the price of establishing a solid base as yet undetermined.

Howard, according to the unofficial minutes of the meeting, hopes that the outcome of the project will be satisfactory, and will hold up, until the County's budget can be addressed. He indicated a possible, future bond issue to fund a complete rebuild of the road's base.

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, August 29 at 5:30 p.m. to conduct a budget hearing for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

During Monday nights July Board meeting Board members approved acceptance of a donation of just over $3-thousand from the Pawnee City Public Schools Education Foundation for purchasing new elementary vocal curriculum.

Substitute teacher daily pay will be increased by $5 per day for the new school year. Substitutes will now be paid $115 per day.  An increase for school bus drivers was also approved.  The rate will go from $35 to $40 per route.  

Lunch prices are increasing for Pawnee City students.  The price is going up a dime for Elementary, Junior and Senior High lunches. Breakfast prices will increase a nickel for students. Adult meal prices will remain the same.

The Pawnee City School District will renew its membership in the Nebraska Rural Community School Association for the new school year with dues of $850.  

A motion to authorize Kyle’s Service Center in Pawnee City and Klepper Oil &  Repair of DuBois to conduct student passenger vehicle quarterly inspections was approved unanimously.  

(KLZA)-- The Auburn City Council awarded the final Community Development Block Grant funds for Downtown Revitalization projects when they met Monday. 

More than $116,000 in grants were awarded for eight projects. Combined with matching funds the work will amount to more than $200,000 worth of improvements in downtown Auburn.

The work will include roof repair, tuck pointing, windows, doors and H-vac improvements in an effort to restore some of the communities older buildings.

The latest round of DTR funding allowed around 30 projects to be completed. Mayor Scott Kudrna estimated previous DTR grant funds provided money for around 25 improvement projects.  

(KNZA)--A Hiawatha man accused of setting homes and vehicles ablaze during a crime spree early May 9th in Horton will stand trial on charges.

Following a preliminary hearing Wednesday, which included testimony from six witnesses, Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says the court found probable cause for 27-year-old Dustin McCulley to be bound over to Brown County District Court on nine counts.

Arraignment was scheduled for August 28th before District Judge Jim Patton.

McCulley faces one count of aggravated arson, five counts of arson, one count of felony theft and two counts of burglary.

He accused of setting two residences on fire—including one which was occupied at the time it was set ablaze.  No injuries were reported.

McCulley is also accused of setting four vehicles on fire, along with the theft of a pickup truck and the break-in of two other vehicles.

He remains in the Brown County Jail on a $250,000 bond.    

(KAIR)--The name of the man shot dead by police in Leavenworth has been made public.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, in a news release issued Wednesday, identifies the person as 47-year-old Antonio Garcia, Jr.

According to the KBI, which is overseeing the investigation, the Leavenworth resident died Tuesday night after Leavenworth Police Officers were called to 1708 Rose Street to investigate an alleged stolen vehicle.

When they arrived, they encountered a man, now identified as Garcia, and an altercation occurred. The KBI says it was during that altercation, around 8:15, that the officer fired at Garcia.

EMS was called to the scene, where Garcia was pronounced dead.

Garcia's 41-year-old wife, Heather, was arrested and faces charges for interference of a law enforcement officer, concealing, destroying, or altering evidence, and criminal damage to property.

The KBI says the investigation is ongoing, and no further information is being immediately released.

(KNZA)--An Atchison man arrested last month after allegedly fleeing on foot from Horton police following a short vehicle pursuit has pleaded no contest to charges.

39-year-old Nichlos Norton entered the plea Monday in Brown County District Court to felony charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and possession of methamphetamine.

In exchange for the plea, four additional counts were dismissed.

Sentencing was set for August 7th.

A Horton police officer attempted to stop Norton during the morning hours of June 19th for a traffic violation and a chase ensued.  Norton fled out of the Horton city limits east on U.S. 73 Highway and then turned north onto Nighthawk Road where he drove into a ditch and fled on foot into a heavily wooded area.  He was arrested following a five-hour search.

Norton remains in the Brown County Jail.    

(KLZA)-- Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has kicked off a tour of businesses throughout the state in the build up to a state economic development summit later this week. 

Ricketts is visiting the recently opened Falls City Foods Wednesday, as part of the tour. 

The Governors Summit on Economic Development is Thursday in Lincoln.

The Governor is visiting companies that helped the state win the prestigious 2016 Governor’s Cup from Site Selection magazine for having the most economic development projects per capita in the nation. In 2016, Nebraska garnered more capital investment projects than North Dakota, South Dakota, and Kansas combined. Overall, 101 projects helped Nebraska clinch this prestigious award.
 

(KLZA)-- During the July 3rd City Council meeting in Falls City, Administrator Gary Jorn asked drivers to be careful when entering work zones. 

City workers have been replacing concrete on the street, which is Highway 73 through Falls City.  Jorn says this project and others will continue through the summer months.  

Drivers are urged to slow down when they see workers and the road signs alerting drivers to the work and workers ahead.  
 

(KNZA)--After reconsideration, the Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education has approved the addition of a pre-school program at the Wetmore Academic Center, beginning this school year.

Superintendent Todd Evans says the Board revisited the issue when they met Monday evening, and following discussion approved on a 6-1 vote the addition of a state pre-school program at the school for 4-year-olds.  

A motion at last month’s Board meeting to add the pre-school program failed on a 3-3 tie vote.

To qualify for the program, students must have turned 4-years-old by August 31st and meet at least one of eight criteria set by the state.

The program will be integrated with the kindergarten class Monday through Thursday mornings.

The district will be required to include special education students in the program.  

Currently, the other district schools at Sabetha and Axtell have a pre-school program.

In other action, Evans says Ed Reznicek was re-elected board president and Kathy Lippert vice-president for the 2017-18 school year.

Monday marked the first meeting of the new school year.

(KMZA)--After a second try, a state grant has awarded for the construction of a new fire station in the Nemaha County community of Bern. 

The Nemaha County Commission Monday reviewed a letter from the Kansas Department of Commerce announcing that Fire District #4 has been awarded a nearly $240,000 KAN-STEP grant for the project.

The fire district will provide a nearly $129,000 match in the form of volunteer labor.  

The first application was denied last September due to the size of the building planned.

Another grant application was submitted last month after fire district officials downsized their plans from a six-bay to 3-bay fire station.  The building will also include a meeting/training room, storage room, bathroom and kitchen.

The old quonset currently being used as a fire station will be demolished and a new building constructed on the existing lots owned by the fire district.  

The KAN-STEP grant program provides funds if the community is willing to provide “ sweat equity” and donations to equal at least 35 percent of the project.  

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - Police say a suspect was fatally shot in Leavenworth as an officer was investigating a vehicle theft.
 
Leavenworth police Chief Patrick Kitchens says the officer had responded Tuesday night to the theft report in the 17-hundred block of Rose Street. The officer was at the scene about 10 minutes before reporting that shots had been fired. Kitchens says other officers then responded and that the suspect was pronounced dead.
 
Kitchens provided no other details, including the name and race of the suspect. He directed further questions to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which is reviewing the shooting. The KBI didn't immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.

Shayna Strahm

(KNZA)--A Sabetha High School student wins top honors in a state art design contest. 

Sabetha High School student Shayna Strahm, who will be beginning her junior year this fall, has been named the first place overall winner in the 28th annual Kansas State Department of Education Conference Art Design Contest.

Strahm’s design will be used in the conference program, and she will be recognized at the opening session of the KSDE Annual Conference on Thursday, Oct. 12, in Wichita.

As a 1st place winner, she will receive a $125 cash award.

The contest encourages students to use their creativity, with this year’s contest using the theme of “Kansans CAN: Imagine!”

The contest was open to all students in Kansas K-12 schools, both public and private, with a winner selected in grade level divisions K-4, 5-8 and 9-12, as well as overall.

(KAIR)--Two separate arrests are made in Atchison County over the weekend both involving methamphetamine charges.

The first, is 27-year-old Andrew Tipton, of Atchison, who was arrested Friday evening.

“Back on the 4th of June about 1 a.m., he was stopped at the 400 block of 59 Highway where he was seen leaving the Lutz Brothers there, and he was pulled over and arrested for driving while suspended, said Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie. “During the arrest, there were some items that were seized. We submitted those to KBI for testing. Once we received those back, we filed for warrants on those items.”

He said Tipton was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended. He was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

The second, was an Atchison woman arrested again for a previous incident who had been released due to a mix-up at the lab. She's 64-year-old Linda Ballard who was arrested back in April, along with her son, during a raid at an Atchison residence.

“We submitted everything to the lab that was supposed to, expect for this one package that was evidence for her case,” Laurie said. “When we reviewed the results and got to the preliminary hearing, the county attorney was forced to dismiss until we got the items tested in the lab.”

Ballard is now facing distribution of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and aggravated child endangerment.

Ballard was also booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KAIR)--The leadership for the Atchison County Community Schools has reorganized for the new school year.

That happened when the USD 377 Board of Education met for their regular meeting Monday evening in Effingham.

Selected by the Board to serve as President for the 2017-2018 school year is School Board member Nancy Keith.

Chosen to hold the role of Vice-President is Jeff Martin, who had served as President for the 2016-2017 school year.

He replaces former Vice-President, Tana Hoffman.

Following the selection of officers, the Board moved forward with other business, including a proposed increase of the local option budget from 30-percent to 33-percent. Past discussion led the Board to that consideration, with the additional 3-percent projected to generate an additional $160,000. However, the Board previously agreed not to levy the full 33-percent every year, but to approve the increase in order to have the additional funds on hand, if needed.

The increase was brought to a vote, and was approved by the School Board.

The Board also took another step toward finalizing the budget for the 2017-2018 school year.

That process will include a budget hearing, which the Board approved to take place at 6:15 on the evening of Monday, August 21.

Also approved during the meeting was an expenditure of $17,500 for the replacement of door knobs at the junior/senior high school.

The expenditure is made necessary by the requirement to change to lever-style knobs.

L&L Construction submitted the bid for the work, and the Board voted to accept it in order to make the change.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Board of Education held their first meeting of the new school year Monday evening, which also marked first for new superintendent Lonnie Moser.

As part of their consent agenda, the Board accepted the retirement resignation of Middle School Principal Dave Coufal, effective at the end of the 2017-18 school year, with regrets.

Coufal has served as principal since the 2005-06 school year.

Members of the Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau Solar Eclipse Committee provided the Board with an update on the August 21st event, which is expected to bring a large number of people to the community.

Activities will be held from 11:30 to 2:30 that day between the Fisher Center and Noble Park.

Board members voiced concerns about the safety of students walking home that day.  Following discussion, the Board voted not to hold classes on August 21st.  It will taken as a snow day.

Dr. Pete Rosa was re-elected as board president and Ian Schuetz was elected as vice-president for the 2017-18 school year.

Keith Erdley was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Board member Denise Elffner, effective August 1st.  Erdley is running unopposed in the November election for the position and was the lone candidate to apply to fill the remainder of Elffner's term, which expires in January.

The Board accepted a bid from Chris Gross Construction, of Holton, for the construction of a new storage building at the high school in the amount of $54,975, which includes a concrete pad.  It was among two bids received.

And following an executive session, the Board accepted the resignation of high school science teacher Gabi Bauman.

(KNZA)--A warning has been issued for water customers of the city of Hiawatha as the city again exceeds the allowable level of nitrates in its drinking water.

According to a notification released by the city, concentrations of 11 milligrams per liter were found in a sample collected June 21st, exceeding the state and federal maximum contaminant level.

Customers are told that while the water is safe to consume for most, it should not be given to infants, as children below the age of 6 months could become seriously ill.

Pregnant women, or those with specific health needs, should consult a doctor prior to ingestion.  The water should also not be boiled.

The high nitrate warning also effects customers of Brown County Rural Water District #2, the city of Powhattan, city of Robinson and Doniphan County Rural Water District #1, which all receive their water from Hiawatha.

The City of Hiawatha is taking steps to construct a new water treatment plant to address the ongoing nitrate problem.  The city anticipates the plant being done in 12 to 15 months.

Brown County Rural Water District No. 2 has partnered with several other water suppliers in the region to create Public Wholesale Water Supply No. 27 for the purpose of distributing high quality water that is low in nitrates to its member entities at the lowest cost possible.  It’s expected to be in operation in 1 to 3 months.

Editor's note: Below are the two official notices issued to affected water customers. 

DRINKING WATER WARNING

Brown County Rural Water District No. 2 water system has high levels of nitrate

The City of Hiawatha collected a water sample on June 21, 2017, from which Rural Water District No. 2 purchases water, and it showed nitrate levels of 11.0 mg/L. This is above the federal and state nitrate standard or maximum contaminant level (CL) of 10 mg/L. Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old.

What to do?

• DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome. Blue baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.

• Water, juice and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.

• DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.

• Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants because they can’t process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, if you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.

Source of Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial or agricultural sources (including septic systems and run-off). Levels of nitrate in drinking water can vary throughout the year. Brown County Rural Water District No. 2 will let you know when the amount of nitrate is again below the limit.

Corrective Action: Brown County Rural Water District No. 2 has partnered with several other water suppliers in our region to create Public Wholesale Water Supply No. 27 for the purpose of distributing high quality water that is low in nitrates to its member entities at the lowest cost possible.  We expect Public Wholesale Water Supply No. 27 to be in operation in 1 to 3 months.

For more information, please contact Harold Keller at 785-474-3407 or by mail at P.O. Box 126, Powhattan, KS 66527.

This notice is being sent to you by the Brown Co. RWD #2, State Water System ID # 8510.

Distributed on July 11, 2017.

Drinking Water Warning

City of Hiawatha water system has high levels of nitrate

 THE CITY OF HIAWATHA has exceeded the state and federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) allowed for nitrate (as N) in drinking water.  Concentrations of 11.0 milligrams per liter (mg/l) were found in a sample collected on June 21, 2017.  Nitrate above 10 mg/l is considered to be an acute MCL violation.

What to do?

• DO Not GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS.  Infants below the age of six months who drink the water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.  Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.  Blue baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin.  Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with heath deteriorating over period of days.  If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.

• Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water.  Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.

• DO NOT BOIL THE WATER.  Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level.  Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.

• Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants because they can’t process nitrates in the same way adults can) However, if you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.

Source of Nitrate

Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic systems and run-off).  Levels of nitrate can vary in drinking water throughout the year.  The City of Hiawatha will let consumers know when the amount of nitrate is again below the limit.

Corrective Action

The City of Hiawatha is working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and USDA Rural Development to bring the nitrate levels to an acceptable level. We have secured funding for a water treatment plant and have hired an engineering firm to design and oversee the construction. We anticipate the plant being done in 12 to 15 months.

For additional information, please contact Rick Koenig at (785) 742-7850 or stop at City Hall at 701 Oregon Street, or call (785) 742-7417.

This notice is being sent to you by City of Hiawatha, State Water System ID# KS 8500.

Distributed on July 10, 2017.

(KNZA)--The Northeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging has been awarded a $5,000 grant. 

The grant comes from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, a non-profit organization that  unites more than 2,600 member organizations nationwide with the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals living with dementia and their families..

According to a press release from the AFA, the grant will enable the Area Aging on Aging to provide respite for 41 caregivers by an in-home aide through a contracted provider.

The contract providers would train their individual staffs.  That will allow caregivers time to do errands and recharge, enabling them to provide the necessary care their loved ones need in their home, avoiding nursing facility institutionalization.

NEK Area Agency on Aging Executive Director Karen Wilson said the non-profit organization is very pleased to be able to provide additional respite services to caregivers to allow them the opportunity to take time for themselves.  Wilson added caregiving is a challenge and any support they can provide is invaluable.

NEK Area Agency on Aging aims to help individuals maintain independence, quality of life, and dignity as they age.  They serve seven counties in Northeast Kansas.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man goes to jail after allegedly threatening a female victim with a knife.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said it was 3:00 Friday afternoon when officers responded to the 400 block of South Sixth Street in Atchison.

“It was determined that a 47-year-old female had been threatened with a knife during this disturbance,” Wilson said.

Wilson said it was 66-year-old John Ross arrested in connection with the incident.

He's facing a charge of aggravated assault and battery.

Ross was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KNZA)--A two-vehicle wreck Sunday morning in Doniphan County left one injured.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened at the intersection of U.S. 36 and K-238, south of Elwood, shortly after 11:00.

The Patrol says 68-year-old Grant, Iowa resident Andrea Holldorf was driving a  pickup truck eastbound on U.S. 36 when she collided with a tractor pulling a hay baler, also traveling eastbound.

Holldorf, who was wearing a seatbelt, was transported to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for the treatment of unspecified injuries.

The tractor driver, 42-year-old Wathena resident Jeffrey Hartman, was not hurt.

(KMZA)--Details have been released on a motorcycle crash in Nemaha County that claimed the life of a Circleville man.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says killed in the crash early last  Thursday morning on K-63 Highway, north of 128th Road, was 32-year-old Caleb Specht.

The Sheriff’s Department says Specht was northbound when he drove off the right side the roadway.  His Harley Davidson motorcycle struck a field entrance and became airborne.

Specht was pronounced dead at the scene.

The motorcycle crash was reported around 4:00 last Thursday morning.      

(KLZA)-- The 2nd Annual Falls City Police Department National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1 at the Falls City Aquatic Center. 

Last years event was an award winner, named as one of six Rookie of the Year Award Winners in the nation.  Falls City Police Officer Zach Ractliffe, said during an appearance on the Community Focus Program he has high hopes for year two of the event, noting he would like to win an award for communities with a population under 5,000.

 The National Night Out event will be 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and there will be free hotdogs and demonstrations on public safety and health along with games, prizes, a dunk tank and more. 

Ractliffe says it’s important for the public, adults and children to get to know local law enforcement officers and first responders. 

Several agencies will be represented during the evening with a large number of displays planned. Among the displays will be a crash simulator, an impaired / distracted driving simulator and many more.  

Office Ractliffe says he is looking forward to some of the new displays this year, including the Falls City Rural Fire Departments new grass fire truck, the Nebraska State Patrol helicopter and the Nebraska National Guard will bring a number of vehicles. 

From 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. there will be free swimming for all ages at the Falls City Aquatic Center.

For information, of if you would like to help with the event contact the Falls City Police Department at 402-245-4422. You can also visit the Falls City Police Department Facebook page.  

(KAIR)--A good friend and a valued member of his family and community.

That's how the obituary for Paul Dittemore says the longtime Troy resident is being remembered, for both his civic contributions and his personal pursuits.

Dittemore was 88-years-old when he died July 3.

The owner of a long-running construction business, Dittemore was active in Troy's city government, serving on the City Council, and holding the title of Council President and Mayor.

In the 1950s, Dittemore and a group of Troy business leaders created a development plan and zoning ordinance that became the Doniphan County Planning and Zoning Commission, on which he served, and once chaired.

As a member of the Commission, Dittemore became a founding member of the MO-KAN Regional Council, which worked towards economic development in a partnership between Atchison and Doniphan Counties, in Kansas, and the counties of Buchanan, Andrew, Clinton, and DeKalb, in Missouri.

Dittemore served on the MO-KAN Council for 35-years, making him the longest-serving founding member.

Also active on other boards and councils, Dittemore was recognized for his service by the Doniphan County Chamber of Commerce when they presented him with their “Quiet Hero” award.

Dittemore will be laid to rest Tuesday morning during a graveside service at 10:30 at the Mount Olive Cemetery, in Troy.

The Harman-Rohde Funeral Home, in Troy, is in charge of the arrangements.

(KLZA)-- Tuesday, August 15th is the date of a recall election in the Village of Rulo. 

Registered voters will cast a “yes” or “no” vote on the ballot question: “Shall Quincey L. Smith be removed from his position as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Rulo?”

Voting will take place at the Rulo Library from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Early voting ballots will be available July 31, for voters who will not be able to vote at the polls on August 15.  Registered voters may also vote early in person at the County Clerk’s Office beginning July 31 through 5:00 p.m. August 14th.  

Early ballots may also be obtained from the County Clerk’s Office. 

Voter registration will be taken at the County Clerk’s Office at the Courthouse in Falls City during regular business hours for those not previously registered and wanting to vote in this election, until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4.

Quincey Smith is Chairperson of the Village Board of Rulo. 

Kevin Barber was the principal circulator of the recall petition. The statement of reasons for the recall effort includes violation of the open meeting act. Operating village equipment without proper training and breaking bid contracts.

In a statement of defense, Smith sites his experience as an Army engineer as training to run equipment, denies violating the open meetings act and said he is not aware of bid contracts being violated.

In addition, in his response, Smith requested a full audit of all Village of Rulo records for the past five years, alleging a conflict of interest by Barber.

(KLZA)-- Dollar General representatives are making inquiries concerning locating a store in Humboldt.

City Clerk Carol Glathar told MSCNEWS that a set of plans for a new building has been sent to City Hall.  Representatives have also made inquiries about parking variances and building permits.

The proposed location for the business is on the east side of Highway 105, just south of the Highway 105 and Highway 4 junction.  

No other details are currently available.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy have announced a revamped plan to merge after Kansas regulators scuttled an earlier deal.
 
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the deal announced Monday morning would form a utility with a combined equity value of about $14 billion. The move comes after the Kansas Corporation Commission denied the $12.2 billion sale of Topeka-based Westar to Kansas City, Missouri-based Great Plains Energy in late April. Regulators cited concerns about a high price, the capital structure, merger savings and Kansas job retention, among other issues.
 
Under the new deal, each share of Westar Energy could be exchanged for a share in the new company. Great Plains shares would be worth about 60 percent of a share in the new company.
 
 No transaction debt would be incurred.
 

(KNZA)--The 99th Annual Brown County Fair began today (Monday) at the fairgrounds in Horton, with the livestock entry.

Tuesday will bring poultry and rabbit shows.  The fair parade will take place that evening at 6:30, with the fashion revue to follow.

Highlights Wednesday include the swine, bucket calf, beef and dairy shows.  The Pedal Power Tractor Pull will take place that evening at 7:00 at the outside cement platform, with registration beginning at 6:00.  The event is open to all boys and girls through 11-years-old.  Children must be registered by their parents.

Free entertainment will be provided Thursday evening by county singer/songwriter Tim Strathman.  Strathman will be taking the stage at the fairgrounds at 8:00 with his band Blacktop Road.   Strathman, who grew up in Nemaha County, began writing songs in high school.  He has been performing for ten years, and with Blacktop Road for the last year.     

The fair will wrap up Friday evening with an awards program at the livestock arena and the livestock sale.  

(KNZA)--A Jefferson County crash involving two motorcycles claimed one life and left three others injured.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports it happened Saturday afternoon on K-92 about two miles east of Ozawkie.

The Patrol says 57-year-old Kansas City, Missouri resident Debra Elling was the passenger on a Harley Davidson motorcycle that rear-ended another motorcycle, causing her motorcycle to slide into a ditch.  

Elling was transported to a Topeka hospital where she died early Sunday morning.

Her 59-year-old husband, Timmy, and the two riders on the other motorcycle, also from Kansas City, were transported to a Topeka hospital for the treatment of unspecified injuries.

The Patrol says all the riders involved were wearing helmets.

(KLZA)--Pawnee County Commissioners have approved having Highway Superintendent Chris Rauner study a road south of Pawnee City for vacating an abandoning.

Rauner will prepare a report on vacating a portion of 709 Road, west of Highway 65, which is a mile south of Pawnee City.

Commissioners met with Courthouse Building and Grounds Superintendent Mark Tegtmeier to discuss trees on the courthouse grounds. Several trees will be cut down and another is to be trimmed.

An audit contract with Schulz and Associates was approved and an agreement was accepted for emergency protective custody with Region Five Systems.

(KLZA)--A health alert has been issued for Kirkman’s Cove Lake near Humboldt due to the presence of toxic blue-green algae.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality said Friday it added the lake after water samples earlier in the week were above the state’s health alert threshold.

The Department says the alert will continue for at least two more weeks, because lakes that are on health alert must have two consecutive weeks of readings below the threshold before the alert is discontinued.

Meanwhile, the health alert for Iron Horse Trail Lake near DuBois in Pawnee County continues..

When a health alert is issued, signs are posted to advise the public to use caution and designated swimming beaches are closed during the alert.

Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, but the public is advised to use caution and avoid exposure to the water, particularly avoiding any activity that could lead to swallowing the water. Do not let pets get in the water or drink from the lake. People can still use the public areas for camping, picnics and other outdoor activities.

Editor's note: the following was submitted by Brown County Sheriff John Merchant

I have had many people who are concerned about the solar eclipse on August
the 21st and the possibility of a large number of people coming in to the
county to witness the event.  I thought I would share with you some
information that I have received and information on what we can all do to
make this event as safe, enjoyable and productive as possible.

By talking with  several state agencies,  we have all agreed that there is
just no way to predict  how many people will be coming in to Brown County
or other areas of the state where the eclipse will be prevalent.     There
have been many estimates, but until that day arrives, we will just have to
make sure we are prepared to handle whatever comes our way.  I know we will
see an increase of people that day and I am confidant that all will go
well.

I have been monitoring many sources of information on the event, and many
residents have kept me aware  of those coming in to camp out ahead of the
event and where they will be staying.  From what I have been told so far,
there are at least a dozen areas or more where there could be a large
number of campers and the area hotel rooms have been spoken for many weeks
ago.   We are expecting people to start arriving Saturday the 19th,  and
most leaving Monday after the eclipse which is shortly after 1 p.m.

I would like our county residents to know that we are planning on meeting
the needs of any issues that should arise from this event.  It is very
important that our roadways stay cleared for any emergency vehicles that
need to respond to those in need and I will have extra deputies staffed
throughout the county.  Extra  dispatch and jail staff will also be
available if needed.

Many people have asked me how they can prepare should our county have an
abundance of people which could severely impact routine travel and
business as usual.   My suggestion was to plan as if a major winter storm
was coming.  Make sure to have plenty of food, water,groceries, formula,
diapers,medicine and  gasoline in your vehicles etc.   Allow extra time if
you have to travel on this date as our area is not the only one to be
affected by this event.

If you are planning on viewing the event. we stress to everyone to make
sure you have the appropriate eye protection.  Parents, make sure to inform
your kids on the proper way to view this eclipse.

I also want to stress that residents do not need to panic, many agencies
and provisions are in place for your safety during  this event and we will
do our best to make sure it is safe and enjoyable for all.  Should you have
any concerns, questions or information we should know about, please feel
free to contact me at 785-742-7125

Sheriff John D Merchant
Brown County Sheriff's Office
 

(KAIR)--The administrator for the Jefferson County Health Department is leaving that role.

Beth Brown, during Monday's meeting of the Jefferson County Commission, informed the board of her intent to end her employment with Jefferson County by the end of the year.

She cited family health issues as the reason for her decision.

Following the announcement, Brown thanked the Commission, and County staff, for what she calls “a wonderful experience.”

Brown began her career at the health department in November 2002 as a home health and hospice nurse. In September 2010 she began serving as assistant administrator and then transitioned to administrator in June 2011.

According to the unofficial minutes of the meeting, the Commission took action to prepare for Brown's exit.

They voted unanimously to appoint Registered Nurse Crystal VanHoutan, an employee of the Health Department, as Assistant Administrator, effective July 24.

The Commission intends for VanHoutan to assume the role of Administrator when Brown vacates the position at the end of the year.

When her career comes to an end, Brown will have served Jefferson County for 15-years.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission is proposing a 2018 county budget of $10.2 million that calls for a less than one mill decrease in the property tax levy.  

The Commission recently approved the budget for publication.

It contains a estimated tax rate of 32.69 mills which is to generate nearly $5.7 million in property tax revenue.

Even though the mill levy will decrease, the county will be collecting more than $270,000 in additional revenue due to a more than $12 million increase in the county’s assessed valuation.  

The Commission will consider adoption of the budget following a public hearing at 9:00 the morning of August 7th in the Commissioner’s room at the Brown County Courthouse.    

(KAIR)--18 months probation.

That's the sentence given to the Atchison man who stole personal images from two female victims while repairing their devices at an Atchison business.

42-year-old Jason Seetin was sentenced Thursday in Atchison County District Court to 8 months in prison with the Kansas Department of Corrections for one count of computer crime. However, that sentence was suspended to 18 months probation.

Additionally, in accordance with Kansas state statute, Seetin now being a convicted felon, can no longer possesses a bail bondsman license. His felony could also affect his business operation of All American Pawn as he can no longer posses firearms.

Charges for Seetin stem from a January incident when Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said a 21-year-old victim reported images from her phone were unlawfully obtained while the phone was in Seetin's possession at All American Pawn for repair.

After that initial report, another victim came forward who also had personal photos taken from her laptop that was taken to the pawn shop weeks prior.

(KAIR)--An Atchison woman, accused of kidnapping, sees her charges reduced.

That follows a review of the case by the Atchison County Attorney's Office.

According to documents related to the case, 35-year-old Rebekah Green is formally charged with one count of felony interference, and one count of disorderly conduct.

A bond hearing was held Friday in Atchison County District Court, with her next court appearance now set for Monday afternoon.

Green remains in custody at the Atchison County Jail, held on a bond of $10,000.

When she was arrested July 2, Green was taken into custody on a felony count of kidnapping along with obstructing legal process.

That followed what Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson described as the kidnapping of a 4-year-old child outside a residence in the 900 block of South 5th Street.

According to Wilson, Green was not acquainted with the family of the child.

He told MSC News the intervention of the child's family, along with the arrival of officers, led to a quick apprehension and the safe return of the child.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A major financial rating agency says a structural imbalance in Kansas' budget is "likely to persist" even after the state increased income taxes.
 
S&P Global Ratings said in a report this week that while the state boosted its revenues, it also increased spending for the next two years. S&P also said the state still is diverting money from highway projects to sustain other spending and is not fully funding contributions to public pensions.
 
S&P did not change its negative credit outlook for Kansas.
 
Legislators enacted the tax increase over Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's veto to raise $1.2 billion over two years. The new law rolls back past tax cuts Brownback championed.
 
The S&P report came a month after Moody's Investors Service upgraded the state's credit outlook to stable from negative.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Highway Superintendent Scott Huppert reminds the public that the bridge at the Mouth of the Nemaha, southeast of Rulo, will be closed for repair as of Monday, July 10th.

The bridge on Highway 661will be closed until at least the middle of September.  

Huppert said the approaches on each end of the bridge are going to be rebuilt.   

While the bridge is closed, traffic will be re-routed to the west utilizing 660 Boulevard, crossing into Kansas.   
 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Highway Superintendent Scott Huppert reminds the public that the bridge at the Mouth of the Nemaha, southeast of Rulo will be closed for repair as of Monday.

The bridge on Highway 661will be closed until at least the middle of September.  

Huppert said the approaches on each end of the bridge are going to be rebuilt.   

While the bridge is closed, traffic will be re-routed to the west utilizing 660 Boulevard, crossing into Kansas.   
 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council has approved advertising for bids for two of several projects proposed for parks in the community.  

Included in the bids will be new sidewalks at Pioneer Park and an overlay of the parking lot at the Aquatic Center. 

City Administrator Gary Jorn told Council members that residents of Pioneer Plaza use the sidewalk regularly and complain about the current condition of the sidewalk. 

Jorn proposed a change to the layout of the sidewalk. He suggested an oval design instead of a square sidewalk going around the perimeter of the park. Jorn said he feels it would be a good idea to incorporate a news wider sidewalk into a trail system linking the downtown area to Prichard Auditorium and on to Pioneer Park utilizing the city property where the former City Hall and fire station is located.  

The parking lot at the Aquatic Park is 11 years old. Jorn suggested overlaying the lot all the way to the west limits, removing the bump outs and moving the trash receptacles closer to the highway possibly creating a few additional parking spaces. 

Jorn said there will be an asphalt company in town this year and hopes that would mean a better price for the project.  

Another park project is occurring at Legion Park.  The fence around the tennis court has been removed and pieces of the tennis court.  Jorn said Councilman Don Ferguson suggested a basketball court be constructed in place of the tennis court and said he would help move the project forward.  

Bids are to be sought for the Pioneer Park sidewalk and aquatic park overlay project.  If favorable bids are received, the proposed projects could move forward with Council approval.  

(KMZA)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded the boil water advisory for Nemaha County Rural Water District #3.

It was issued June 30th due to a line break that caused a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

KDHE said Friday laboratory testing samples collected from the water district indicate no evidence of contamination, and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by the agency to be resolved.

As a result, customers no longer need to boil the water they use for drinking or food preparation.   

(KNZA)--A Troy man will stand trial on multiple charges in connection with an alleged domestic battery case involving a baseball bat and hammer.  

32-year-old Travis Smith recently waived his preliminary hearing and was bound over to Doniphan County District Court on felony counts of aggravated battery, aggravated criminal sodomy and criminal threat.

He also faces misdemeanor charges of  domestic battery, criminal restraint and disorderly conduct.

Arraignment was scheduled for July 26th.

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

 TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Authorities say two Kansas Highway Patrol troopers escaped serious injury when the patrol helicopter they were occupying made a hard landing at an airport in Topeka, Kansas.
 
 The patrol says the accident happened early Friday when the Bell 407 helicopter's tail rotor hit a hangar at Philip Billard Municipal Airport.
 
 The pilot, 54-year old patrol Capt. Gregory Kyser, was taken to a hospital for observation and possible treatment. A passenger, 36-year old state trooper Ryan Nolte, was treated at a hospital for slight injuries.

(KAIR)--A grant intended to prevent fires.

That was awarded to the Netawaka Rural Fire District #6 from FM Global, a large commercial property insurance firm.

According to a press release, the $1,200 grant will be used to assist with fire investigation and prevention activities in the community.

The grant was presented in May to Fire Chief Jonathan Edwards at the Netawaka Fire Department.

Edwards said, “This is the second grant we’ve received from FM Global through their fire prevention grant program, it really makes a difference for small departments to afford equipment and materials we might otherwise do without. We appreciate the additional support.”

The release says fire-related incidents continues to be the leading cause of property damage worldwide. For that reason, FM Global contributes millions of dollars to fire prevention grants around the globe.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department will be holding a free women’s self-defense class.

The class will take place Sunday, July 16th, beginning at 1:00 in the afternoon, at the Pioneer Building located at 710 Pioneer Street in Seneca.

Sheriff Rich Vernon says McPherson County Sheriff Jerry Montagne, who previously worked for the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, is teaching the class.

He says the 3-4 hour class is attended to teach women how to be safe and defend themselves in the normal working environment and while their going to school.

The class size is limited.

Those interested in attending are asked to call the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department at ( 785) 336-2311 to register.

Vernon says high school age girls can also attend as long as a female guardian is with them.

(KAIR)--An early Wednesday morning wreck in Atchison County sent a Holton man to the hospital.

According to a report from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, 26-year-old Greco Reyes was traveling on US 59 Highway at Neosho Road in rural Atchison County when his 2003 Ford Focus went off the roadway and rolled into a grass waterway.

Reyes was transported to the Atchison Hospital for treatment of head, neck and shoulder pain.

Laurie said Reyes was issued citations for not possessing a valid driver's license and no proof of insurance.

The wreck was reported shortly before 3:00 Wednesday morning.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council voted 5-2 Monday to amend the city ordinance regarding open containers of alcohol on public property. 

In June the Council voted to allow those camping at Stanton Lake Park and those renting Candlelight Cabin to consume alcohol in the park. It was suggested the current ordinance be amended.

City Administrator Gary Jorn explained the City Attorney added language giving the Council authority to determine if alcohol consumption will be allowed on city property for special events. 

Council members Judy Murphy and John Vaughn cast nay votes with Councilman Don Ferguson absent from the meeting. 

The change will include other parks in the City, Prichard Auditorium as well as special outdoor events such as beer gardens.  

(KLZA)-- The Humboldt Lake Park is the home of the new Southeast Nebraska Cancer Memorial Garden. 

Vince Riley of Humboldt is one of the volunteers working on the project as well as a fundraising effort. Riley explained during an appearance on the Community Focus Program that Janice Wilhelm had the original idea to create a place to celebrate Cancer survivors and memorialize victims of Cancer. 

The intent is for the Southeast Nebraska Memorial Cancer Garden to be a place where anyone touched by Cancer can go. The project includes multiple gardens, a pergola, sidewalks, trees, bushes, a dry riverbed and eventually a water wheel.  The site will be handicap accessible. 

The estimated cost to complete the project is in the neighborhood of $150,000.  Currently there is a Memory Brick sales project underway to help raise the needed funds. $100 donations are sought for the paver blocks.  The names of loved ones or your own name if you fought Cancer can be placed on the blocks. 

Pamphlets are currently available around the area for those interested in purchasing a Memory Block. Information will be available at area businesses, hospitals, churches and mortuaries.    

A large-scale fundraiser is being planned for August 26th at the Richardson County Ag Building in Humboldt. The event will include food, an auction and a dance. 

Riley noted that individual, corporate and business donations are all appreciated. 

Donations are tax deductible through the Humboldt Community Foundation.  Funds need to be designated to the Cancer Memorial Garden. For more information you can contact Vince Riley at 402-245-0859.
 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approved the sale of up to $4.3-million in bonds.

City Administrator Gary Jorn told the Council the bond funds will be utilized to reimburse city coffers for approximately $2.7-million the City has paid on the project; to create a debt service reserve fund; pay the cost of issuance, and pay the remaining costs of improvements. 

The total cost of the generator project is more than $11-million. The City issued approximately $7-million in bonds in 2016 for the project.
 

(KNZA)--A power line safety school will be held in Hiawatha.

Westar Energy and the Hiawatha Fire Department will be hosting the class, which is open to the public.

It will take place July 20th at 7 p.m. at the Fisher Center.

The classs is intended for all public safety officers and fire personnel.

Westar Energy wants to make the class available to the public to make them aware of the dangers of working around power lines and even electricity at home.

Instructors from Westar along with their safety trailer will be there.

Refreshments will be served during the class, so organizers would like to have an approximate number that will attend the class.

Your asked to RSVP by July 17 by calling Gary Shear at 785-742-3341 or Jordanne Shockley at 785-742-7417.

(KNZA)--The proposed 2018 Hiawatha city budget contains no change in the property tax levy from this year.

The Hiawatha City Commission Monday evening approved the nearly $7.5 million budget for publication.

It calls for the city to collect nearly $1.2 million in property tax revenue.

The Commission will consider adoption of the budget at their July 17th meeting.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says its investigators found components of illegal fireworks in the debris of a St. Joseph home that exploded July 4.

ATF spokesman John Ham says the evidence will be sent to an explosives laboratory for further evaluation.

St. Joseph police Capt. Jeff Wilson says a 53-year-old male was taken into custody after the explosion.

 The St. Joseph News-Press reports  several neighbors called 911 Tuesday morning after hearing a large explosion at the home.

Wilson said that two males and one female were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

The house walls were blown out and the roof collapsed into the structure.

(KAIR)--A photograph potentially proving Amelia Earhart actually survived her final flight.

That's the subject of a new documentary Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence s where former FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry, investigates new, shocking evidence surrounding one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time, according to the History Channel website.

Lost for nearly 80 years, the photograph along with other evidence, might show Earhart didn't crash in the Pacific Ocean, as is widely believed, but crash-landed in the Marshall Islands where she was captured by the Japanese military and held prisoner on the island of Saipan.

Jacque Pregont is the Atchison Chamber of Commerce Director who works each year to organize Atchison's annual Amelia Earhart Festival celebrating America's first female aviator who originates from Atchison.

“Is it going to be proof enough that we say 'Yes, that's what we know happened,' or is it just going to be another side of the mystery?” Pregont said. “ We've had all those people here over the years who talk about things that they think happened. One of the ladies here last year, she was from Saipan and talked about her grandmother who saw this woman, and they were just sure it was Amelia.”

Pregont said it's going to be fun to see how this story progresses and see if they produce real evidence.

As for the impact on Atchison, Pregont said it's exciting.

“It's a lot of publicity,” Pregont said. “I know a couple TV stations have been in town today already. I've always said, any publicity about Amelia is wonderful for us. She's in the news, and inevitably, most stories say she was born in Atchison, Kansas. That's just about as good as you can get as far as we're concerned.”

The two-hour documentary is set to premiere July 9 on the History Channel.

(KAIR)--A 53-year-old man is in custody in connection with Tuesday's home explosion in north St. Joseph.

KQ2-TV, citing Saint Joseph Police, reports no formal charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing. 

Police received several reports of an explosion at a home in the 1200 block of Prospect Avenue around 9:30 Tuesday morning.  

When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found that the home was no longer standing, reduced to rubble in the explosion. 

Neighbors were able to help three people to safety.

The three, who were inside the home at the time of the explosion, were transported to Mosaic Life Care with what police call non-life threatening injuries. 

The ATF is investigating the incident, with the possibility of illegal fireworks a focus of the investigation. 

(KAIR)--An Atchison man is arrested after allegedly threatening another man with a knife at the apartment complex where the two live.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson says it was 2:00 Tuesday morning when officers investigated a disturbance in the apartment complex in the 600 block of Santa Fe and 43-year-old Brian Johnston was taken into custody on a charge of aggravated assault.

“It was determined that a 43-year-old male victim had been threatened with a large kitchen knife by Johnston,” Wilson said. “Apparently, the suspect had been yelling obscenities and threats from an apartment within this complex when the victim case outside of his apartment to investigate. He then was threatened by the suspect.”

Johnston was booked into the Atchison County jail where, at last check, he was held without bond.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners discussed a number of matters that could affect the next fiscal year budget when they met June 27th.

Sheriff Don Pounds presented a salary study and the proposed fiscal year 2017-18 budget for the Sheriff’s Department and Jail.  The Sheriff also requested the Board consider approving a salary increase for the department.

In addition, the Sheriff reviewed with Commissioners, the 9-1-1 answering service and the dispatching agreement with the City of Falls City.  No action was taken.

Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Kirkendall presented a request to appoint Tylene Windle as deputy director for Richardson County Emergency Management.  The change would also include a salary increase. Commissioners will review the request. 

Miller Monroe presented the insurance premium for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. An overall increase in total premium for all coverage was $1,449, which is less than one-half of one-percent. The total premium for property, auto, general liability including marine, errors and omissions, law enforcement, umbrella and workers compensation will be $271,933.  

Ray Joy with Southeast Nebraska Communications and County IT person Joe Buckminster met with the Board to discuss a quote for the installation of a new phone system for the Courthouse which would enhance the phone system so the Law Enforcement Center and Courthouse will be able to communicate.  Rewiring of the communications network within the Courthouse was also discussed.  

(KNZA)--An all-terrain vehicle accident Tuesday evening in Buchanan County, Missouri sent a St. Joseph man to the hospital.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Keith Cherry was eastbound on Northeast 85th Road about 4 miles east of St. Joseph when he lost control of his ATV around 6:00.

Cherry was transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph with what the Patrol described as serious injuries.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.    

(KAIR)--A safe and incident free Fourth of July for the city of Atchison.

That word from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. He said although police did respond to a number of complaints of fireworks being set off within city limits.

“In the city were fireworks are actually unlawful, when you compare it to past year's, I don't think the numbers were quite as high as far as the complaints go,” Wilson said. “We're not aware of any fires or injuries to would have occurred to anyone, so in that sense, we made it through safe.”

Additionally, he said the public Fourth of July event at Warnock Lake went smoothly without any incidents.

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission has approved a zoning change to allow for the construction of a new Dollar General Store on the outskirts of Troy.

That followed a more than hour long public hearing Monday attended by more than 50 county residents and two motions.

Those speaking in support of the zoning change cited the store’s potential economic benefits while those against cited safety concerns with the proposed location at the northeast corner of the intersection of Mesquito Creek Road and Highway 36.

The county Planning Commission voted 3-2 on June 14th to recommend the zoning change be denied.

Following the hearing, a motion by Commissioner Jerry McKernan to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission died due to the lack of a second.

Commissioner Thad Geiger then made a motion to approve the zoning change, which was approved on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioner McKernan  voting no.

Dollar General  is proposing the construction of a 7,500-square-foot store, which would be much smaller than their current 9,100-square-foot store in Elwood.

(KAIR)--A stolen vehicle is recovered and one is arrested on numerous charges after a Friday afternoon injury wreck in Atchison.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said it was 4:15 in the afternoon when police and first responders were called to 11073 US 59.

“A stolen 2011 Ford truck driven by Dalton Spinner, of Lansing, had been southbound on Omaha Junction when it struck an eastbound 1997 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Jacob Layton, of Atchison,” Wilson said. “The subsequent investigation determined that Spinner had stolen the 2011 Ford truck in Leavenworth several days earlier.”

Wilson said after crashing the vehicle, Spinner ran to nearby Max's BP.

“He attempted to steal a parked vehicle,” Wilson said. “Several bystanders intervened and Spinner was held by bystanders until police arrived.”

While officers were arresting Spinner, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found on his person.

In total, Spinner is facing six charges including possession of a stolen vehicle, attempted theft of a vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and failure to yield involving a motor vehicle accident.

Wilson said Spinner had a female passenger in the stolen truck when it crashed and she was transported by EMS for examination.

“A passenger in the Layton was taken to the hospital by private vehicle to the hospital for examination,” Wilson said.

Spinner was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Fire Department has been awarded a grant from the Kansas Forestry Service for additional equipment.

The City Commission Monday evening voted to accept the nearly $9,700 grant through the Volunteer Fire Assistance, Cooperative Fire Protection Program and to provide a local match in the amount of just over $4,800.

The Department was awarded funding for all the equipment listed on their grant application--including gloves, hose, a dump tank liner, pump, nozzle valve and strainer.

According to a press release, the department has received the grant in previous years.  However, the release says the grant comes at a particular time where additional equipment is needed to help with fire protection within the 105 squares miles the fire department covers.

The grant was written by Fire Chief Gary Shear and Public Relations Officer Jordanne Shockley.

The Kansas Forestry Service is the Nation’s 5th oldest state forestry agency.

(KMZA)--A Seneca teen escaped serious injury in a motorcycle crash Saturday afternoon on a Nemaha County road.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says 18-year-old Brandon Haverkamp was traveling on J Road when he lost control of his motorcycle, causing him to crash into the ditch.

The Sheriff’s Department says Haverkamp was injured in the wreck, but was not transported from the scene.

The wreck was reported shortly after 4:00 Saturday afternoon.  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — A house explosion in St. Joseph, Missouri collapsed a house and injured three people.

The St. Joseph News-Press reports that local police, firefighters and the ATF are still investigating the cause of Tuesday morning's explosion in the 11-hundred block of Prospect Avenue.

Capt. Jeff Wilson of the St. Joseph Police Department says two men and a woman were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after neighbors pulled them from the home.

The house walls were blown out and the roof collapsed into the structure.

Neighbor Paul Saunders says he heard two booms and called emergency services.

Saunders said this isn't the first time they've heard booms at that residence. He said they could be heard year round. He said he has called police because they sometimes shoot fireworks off at night and wake up his children.

ATF Spokesperson John Ham says they are looking into illegally-made fireworks as a possibility for the explosion.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - School districts suing Kansas over education funding argue that an increase approved by legislators this year is as much as $1.5 billion short of what's needed for the next school year.

They're also asking the state Supreme Court to order lawmakers to provide more money by Sept. 1.

The four local districts' attorneys detailed their objections to a new school finance law in written arguments filed ahead of a Supreme Court hearing July 18.

The new law phases in a $293 million increase in aid to public schools over two years. It also creates a new per-pupil funding formula.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office contends the increase is sufficient for legislators to fulfill their duty under the state constitution to finance a suitable education for every child.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Two federal lawsuits alleging violations of civil rights have been filed against Valley Falls Police Chief Bronson Campbell.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Monday that the lawsuit filed by Jamie Petitt alleges Campbell has harassed her and the council has backed his actions.

A second lawsuit filed by Clayton Conser alleges his rights were violated in June 2015 when Campbell used a stun gun him.

Campbell told the newspaper he couldn't comment on pending litigation, but said he doesn't think he's ever used excessive force.

Valley Falls Mayor Charles Stutesman says the police chief has his support and the support of the council.

(MSC News)--A wrongful death civil lawsuit in relation to the officer-involved shooting of 27-year-old Jason Fanning, in Saint Joseph, Missouri, will move to federal court.

A judged motioned last month to have the case moved out of Buchanan County to the U.S. District Court in Kansas City.

The lawsuit alleges the City of St. Joseph and Police Chief Chris Connally failed to properly train and enforce protocol.

The lawsuit alleges SJPD Officer Justin Bever's decision to use excessive force on Fanning stemmed from lack of proper training.

Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins cleared Bever of any criminal wrongdoing earlier this year.

(KAIR)--The alleged kidnapping of a 4-year-old child who was playing outside a residence sends one Atchison woman to jail.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said it was 9:45 Sunday morning when officers went to 900 block of South Fifth to investigate a female attempting to kidnap a child.

“Officers arriving one the scene saw a female running from the area but not with the child,” Wilson said. “A foot pursuit ensued, and 35-year-old Rebekah Green was apprehended a short distance away.”

Officers determined Green had grabbed the child and ran with the child a distance away. When family members observed what was happening, they yelled at Green to put the child down.

Wilson said she did, but then attempted to coax the child across the street.

The victim nor the victim's family did not know Green and were not acquainted with her.

“There were remarks made from the suspect toward the family members as the family members yelled for her to put the child down,” Wilson said. “Those threats that were made, among other factors, caused this charge to be kidnapping at this point,” Wilson said.

Along with kidnapping, Wilson says Green faces a charge of obstructing legal process.

Wilson said a motive as to why Green grabbed the child is unknown at this point.

“If the family had not intervened and realized what was happening, if police officers hadn't arrived at the scene quickly to apprehend her running from the scene, who knows what would have happened,” Wilson said. “Fortunately, the child is safe.”

Green was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KLZA)-- Pawnee City recently hosted a luncheon; and during that time, presentations were given focused on community development and housing. 

City Clerk Tammy Stephens updated the City Council members on topics discussed during the June 26th Council meeting. Representatives of the USDA, Southeast Nebraska Development District and Nebraska Investment Finance Authority made presentations.  Housing and workforce housing along with various other programs were reviewed.  

Stephens also reported to the Council no the sales tax receipts for April.  This was the first month the additional half-percent sales tax, approved by Pawnee City voters in 2016 was collected.

The additional tax monies go to pay the bonds on an extensive street overlay project being planned in Pawnee City.  The first month the additional tax brought in approximately $13,200. That amount was just shy of what the projected amount is anticipated to be.  

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Highway Superintendent Scott Huppert informed Commissioners during their June 27th meeting that a Richardson County bridge project is scheduled to begin Monday, July 10. 

The bridge over the Mouth of the Nemaha, southeast of Rulo will be closed for re-construction and is expected to remain closed until mid-September.  
 

(KLZA)-- A St. Joseph man suffered what were described as minor injuries in  a Holt County motorcycle wreck Saturday evening.  

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports 54-year-old Robert Wood was southbound on U.S. Highway 59 approximately eight miles south of Oregon when he missed a curve and the motorcycle traveled off the roadway.

Wood was transported by Atchison-Holt Ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment of his injuries.  

The Holt County Sheriff’s Department assisted the State Patrol at the scene of the wreck. 

(KLZA)-- If you are planning for some fun on and in the water for the July 4th holiday, be aware of the latest warnings for lakes in Southeast Nebraska about toxic blue-green algae problems.

Area lakes included in the alert include Iron Horse Trail Lake near DuBois in Pawnee County and Rockford State Recreational Area east of Beatrice.

There is to be no swimming or other forms of body contact in these bodies of water.  In addition, the water should not be ingested and you also need to keep pets away from these waters.  

Boating and fishing are still permitted along with use of other parts of the recreation areas.  
 

(KNZA)--A three vehicle, Jackson County crash sends one to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports 57-year-old Brent Meyer, of Sabetha, was transported to the Holton Community Hospital following the Saturday afternoon wreck.

He suffered what the Patrol says were only possible injuries.

The wreck happened around 4:00, as all three vehicles were northbound on U.S. Highway 75, at 326th Road, a mile north of Netawaka.

According to the Patrol, a vehicle, carrying two Oklahoma residents, attempted to pass a semi truck, not noticing that Meyer was attempting to pass them at the same time.

Those two vehicles collided, which then caused the vehicle from Oklahoma to crash into the semi.

Everyone was buckled up at the time of the wreck, with only Meyer requiring a hospital visit.

(KNZA )--New LED lighting will be installed in the Brown County Courthouse.

The County Commission Friday accepted a proposal from Jeanne’s Distribution, of Agency, Missouri, for project  in the amount of $16,688.

The quote includes disposal of the current ballast’s and bulbs and the installation new LED bulbs and sockets.

The Commission had also received a proposal from a representative of Yellow Blue Eco Tech for the installation of LED lighting.  

The Commission was told LED lights will result in a significant energy savings, are safer and last longer.

(KNZA)---An interim Brown County appraiser has been appointed.

The County Commission voted Friday to appoint Curt Clark to the position until a full-time appraiser can be appointed.

Clark currently works in the county appraiser's office as senior data collector.

The Commission voted at their June 26th meeting not to re-appoint Jeffery Ball as county appraiser. No reason was given for the decision.

Ball had served as county appraiser since July 2015 when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Paula Jones, who died in February 2015.

The county will be advertising for a new appraiser.