(KAIR)--One person is dead following a late Wednesday morning single vehicle Atchison County crash.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Don Hughes tells MSC News the wreck happened on U.S. Highway 59, southwest of the Atchison city limits.

A report from the Kansas Highway Patrol identifies the victim as 57-year-old Michael Bruce, of Atchison.  He was a passenger in the 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera.

Three others also traveling in the vehicle suffered injuries, and were transported to area hospitals for treatment.

The Patrol's report says the driver, 53-year-old Tracie Turpin, of Atchison, and 31-year-old passenger, Brandon Mottin, of Lancaster, were both transported to Mosaic Life Care, in Saint Joseph, Missouri, with disabling injuries.

Another passenger, 49-year-old Martin Winfield, of Columbus, Kansas, was transported to the Atchison Hospital with disabling injuries.

According to the Patrol's report, only Turpin was buckled up at the time of the 10:00 wreck.

The report says the wreck happened two miles outside of the Atchison city limits, when Turpin failed to negotiate a curve, sending the northbound car across the roadway, into the west ditch and down an embankment where it struck a tree.

Numerous area agencies assisted at the scene of the fatal crash, including the Atchison County Sheriff's Office, the Atchison Fire Department, and Atchison County EMS.

(KMZA)--The man killed Monday evening in Wamego during an exchange of gunfire with authorities following an armed carjacking has been identified.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Melissa Underwood Wednesday identified the victim as 25-year-old Ethan Straub, of Wamego.

Officers were called Monday evening to the Kreem Kup Drive In on U.S. 24 Highway after receiving a report of an armed carjacking.

The suspect was seen about 30 minutes later and authorities attempted to make contact with him as he allegedly tried to steal another vehicle.

Gunfire was exchanged between Straub and five officers from four law enforcement agencies.

Straub was pronounced dead at the scene.

No officers were injured, though one officer was taken to a hospital as a precaution due to a health concern.

The KBI is investigating the incident, and Underwood said the agency's findings will be turned over to the Pottawatomie County Attorney for review.        

(KMZA)--Additional details have been released on a lockdown at the Marysville Junior-Senior High School late Wednesday morning.

Marysville Police Chief Duane Ackerman said a press release Thursday that the school was locked down as a precaution after a disturbing and threatening message was found on the boy’s bathroom wall.

He said the message was discovered around 10:45 after a school assembly and a fire drill.

Ackerman says at no time was there an immediate threat to the students or staff at the school.

Officer’s from the Marysville Police Department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s office secured the school.  Investigations are still on going.

Ackerman says one student was removed from school to be interviewed but was not arrested.

It was the second lock down at a Marshall County school in a week.

A 17-year-old student was arrested February 21st after the Axtell School was placed on lock down in response to a threatening note found at the school.

Marshall County Attorney Laura Johnson-McNish said in a news release that Cordell Swanson, of Frankfort, has been charged with a felony count of communicating a threat to commit violence.

Swanson was briefly held last week at a juvenile detention facility in Junction City.  He was released to the custody of his parents, contingent upon certain conditions, after a detention hearing last Friday in Marshall County District Court.    

(KAIR)--A three-county pursuit that passed through Atchison Tuesday night ended with the arrest of a Leavenworth man.

Police Chief Mike Wilson confirms his officers were involved in the attempt to stop a motorcyclist, wanted by Leavenworth-area authorities. "That pursuit that occurred actually originated in Leavenworth County, came into Atchison County throught the City of Atchison, ended up in Doniphan County where a Leavenworth man was taken into custody."

The suspect is identified by Wilson as Stephen Cox.

According to the Doniphan County Jail report, the 36-year-old Cox was arrested by the Kansas Highway Patrol, and remains in the Doniphan County Jail.

He faces charges including fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, along with a number of traffic-related charges, including reckless driving.

ST. LOUIS (AP) —  A St. Louis judge has set a May trial date over the objection of prosecutors in the felony invasion of privacy case against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens.

Greitens was indicted by a grand jury last week on one felony count of invasion of privacy. The indictment alleges that the Republican took a compromising photo of a woman without her consent while they had an affair in March 2015.

Prosecutors say they needed until November to prepare for trial because the criminal investigation had been rushed to beat a three-year statute of limitations.

Assistant Circuit Attorney Robert Steele also sparred with Greitens' attorney, Edward L. Dowd Jr., over the existence of the photograph that spurred the charges. Dowd says prosecutors told him the photo didn't exist, but Steele says he'd only told Dowd that prosecutors didn't yet have the photo.

(KNZA)--Doniphan County Economic Director Adrienne Korson has resigned.

Following an executive session Monday, the Doniphan County Commission accepted the resignation of Korson with regret.

No reason was given for the resignation, which is effective March 13th.

Korson has held the position for the past two years.

On the recommendation of Noxious Weed Director Francis Hubbard, the Commission voted to re-instate Phillip Robinson as part-time noxious weed assistant effective March 1st at salary of $11 an hour.

Road Supervisor Bob Edie presented the Commission with a proposed wage scale for the Road Department.  It would set the starting wage at $15.00 per hour for new hires with a commercial driver’s license and $13.00 per hour for new hires without a CDL, with the requirement to obtain within 60 days of hire.  

In addition, current employees under $15.00 per hour would be moved to $15.00 per hour and current employees being compensated at a rate higher than $15.00 per hour would be given a $1.00 per hour increase for every 10-years of service.  

Commission Chairman Tad Geiger said future discussion would be held on restructuring the Road Department, along with wages for all County Departments

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A Missouri Court of Appeals in the Eastern District has sent a case over a stalled multi-state transmission line, that would run through several local counties, to the state Supreme Court.

 The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the 780-mile Grain Belt Express wind energy line has been held up since the Missouri Public Service Commission said last year that all counties along its path must agree to the project.

 Presiding Judge Lisa Page wrote Tuesday that the commission erred when it said it could not authorize the project. The court ordered the case sent to the state Supreme Court.

 The line would run from wind farms in western Kansas through Missouri and Illinois to Indiana, where it would connect with a power grid for eastern states. All the other states on the route have approved the $2.3 billion project.
 

(KMZA)--The 28th annual Baileyville Benefit Tournament held this past weekend at the Nemaha Central High School was a big success.

Event organizers, Kenny Schmitz and Danny Broxterman, said they had a great turnout despite Saturday’s weather not being the best and raised about $200,000 for four beneficiaries

Proceeds this year will go to Frank Hulsing, Eric Holthaus and  Dan Kramer to help with medical expenses due to long term illness.  In addition, the proceeds will go to Team Schnak, which helps spread awareness of Type One Diabetes, raises funds for research and helps families cover the expenses of living with the disease.  

A two-day basketball and volleyball tournament complete with concession stands and silent auction raised money for the four.  The event wrapped up Sunday evening with a live action.

Organizers thanked all those who donated, volunteered, played or purchased items for the great success of this year's benefit.

(KAIR)--One person is in custody following the robbery of a Platte County, Missouri bank.

According to a news release from the Platte County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Bank in Edgerton was robbed shortly before 12 noon Tuesday.

A person of interest was taken into custody a short time later following what the news release calls “a pursuit involving multiple agencies.”

The Platte County Sheriff's Office is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the investigation is ongoing.

Details pertaining to the robbery, as well as the identity of the person in custody, aren't immediately made public.

(KNZA)--The third and final suspect in a May 2017 Hiawatha home invasion is now in custody.

28-year-old Oscar Martinez, of Bern, was arrested February 10th by the Brown County Sheriff’s Department on a warrant for felony counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and aggravated battery along with a misdemeanor count of criminal restraint.

He remains in the Brown County Jail on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 21st for a preliminary hearing.

Co-defendants, Sabetha residents Edgar Martinez and Jazmene Hicks, were sentenced in November on charges in the case.  

Edgar Martinez was sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison, while Hicks was placed on 36-months supervised probation.

Authorities say the trio broke into a home at 121 Apache Street in Hiawatha on May 16th, 2017.  The occupant, Ray Atlakson, told police he was battered and robbed, with his hands bound behind his back before the suspects fled the scene.

Taken were a pair of car keys, billfold and an RCA tablet.

Atlakson was treated for injuries at the Hiawatha Community Hospital.  

(KAIR)--A stolen car, once owned by Amelia Earhart, has been recovered.

CBS News is reporting that the 1932 green and black Hudson Essex Terraplane disappeared Friday while it was being stored in a trailer, secured with a safety lock, in an industrial complex located in Orange, California.

The car's owner, Jim Somers, said the car was being prepared for an auto show on Saturday.

CBS News reports the car, one of only 14 models known to exist, was located Monday night in Los Angeles.

The vehicle is valued between $250,000 and $500,000.

According to The Orange County Register, Earhart was asked to promote the car during the great depression.

There's not any immediate word regarding any suspects, or an arrest, in connection with the vehicle's disappearance.

Social media is being credited in the effort to solve a case of alleged animal abandonment in Atchison County.

According to Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, the discovery of an abandoned dog caught the attention of concerned Facebook users, and that led to an investigation. "It was one of those investigations...started by our citizens on Facebook. I happened to run across it on the [Atchison] Humane Society Facebook page, and got to looking into it. One of our Deputies had been contacted about it," Laurie said.

The investigation led to someone with information about the dog's previous history, and that led authorities to the suspect. “We interviewed possibly a previous owner of the dog who told us who had had the dog, and who would have dumped the dog."

Arrested last week on a charge of cruelty to animals was 20-year-old Mercedes Giles, of Atchison.

Following her arrest, Laurie says she was released with a notice to appear in court on the charge.

The Facebook conversation about the dog began after it had been found on Sedgwick Road, in the area of 314th Road, on February 15.

Taken to the Atchison Humane Society after it was discovered, Laurie says at last check the animal remained in that organizations custody.

(KAIR)--The two victims of a fatal February 16 Netawaka house fire have been identified publicly.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse Tuesday identified the two occupants of the home as 55-year-old Richard Willits and 47-year-old Denise Willits.

A press release issued by Morse says identification follows the completion of autopsies.

The bodies of the victims were recovered in the wreckage of the 421 Whiteway Street home that was devastated by a late morning fire.

More than a dozen fire departments from surrounding areas responded to the scene shortly after 10:00, and found the two-story home fully engulfed in flames.

The crews worked to bring the fatal fire under control in a little more than an hour.

A family dog was rescued from the blaze.

Morse says the investigation into the cause of the blaze continues, with fire investigators from his office working with the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office, to determine what happened.

 PERU, Neb. (AP) - A Peru State College football player has died from injuries received in a car crash.
 
A college spokesman says Justin Haystrand was airlifted to a hospital following Sunday's wreck, south of Nebraska City. Spokesman Jason Hogue says Haystrand was pronounced dead on Monday.
 
The Otoe County Sheriff's Office says Haystrand was the passenger in a car that collided with a SUV on U.S. 75 around 4:30 Sunday morning.
 
The Lincoln Journal Star reports the junior from New Port Richey, Florida, was a kinesiology major.
 
Peru State planned to have a moment of silence before Monday night's basketball game. A candlelight vigil is also scheduled for Tuesday evening on the Peru State campus and a memorial service for Wednesday.
 
The newspaper says Haystrand scored five touchdowns last season.

(KMZA)--The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the fatal shooting of a carjacking suspect in the Pottawatomie County community of Wamego.

According to the KBI, officers responded to a report of an armed carjacking around 5:30 Monday evening at the Kreem Kup Drive-In along U.S. 24 Highway in Wamego.

About 30 minutes later, Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Adam Winters says the suspect was spotted riding a bicycle with a gun.
 
Officers tried to make contact with the man as he tried to steal another vehicle and gunfire erupted a short time later. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. His name wasn't immediately released.

The KBI says five officers were involved and that they worked for the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office, the Wamego Police Department and the St. George Police Department.

None of the officers were injured, although one was taken to a hospital as a precaution because of a health concern.

(KNZA)--After months without a hometown grocery store, the Jackson County community of Holton will once again have a store to call their own.

Cecil K‘s Hometown Market is set to open its doors Wednesday morning, February 28th at 7:00 in the former Ron‘s IGA building along U.S. 75 Highway.

Two Holton High school alumni, Carly Whorton and her cousin, Chad Bontrager, are opening the store.

The pair leased the building, renovated the space and secured all the equipment and inventory for a full-service grocery store.

Ron's IGA closed at the end of March 2016 and the community's other locally-owned grocery store, Holton Country Mart closed, in early 2017.

Cecil K’s is named after Carly and Chad’s great grandfather, Cecil Kern. Cecil and his wife, Lottie, ran a grocery store in Iola, Kansas in the 1930s.

Jessica Cox/Submitted photo

(KAIR)--The first armless pilot in aviation history has been selected as the 2018 Pioneering Achievement Award recipient by Atchison's Amelia Earhart Festival.

A news release issued Monday says Jessica Cox was chosen for that honor, which is presented annually in conjunction with the July festival held to honor famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart, who was born in Atchison.

The news release says Cox, who was born without arms, earned a Guinness World Record medal for her accomplishments as an aviator.

She serves as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Nobel Prize winning NGO Humanity and Inclusion, and mentors children with limb difference.

Along with flying, Cox slacklines and is a rock climber.

In the news release, Festival Coordinator Jacque Pregont and Festival Chair Karen Seaberg jointly state that Cox “fits the criteria of the Pioneering Achievement Award perfectly,” as an honoree “must demonstrate triumph over adversity, reinforce the image of self-worth and self-confidence in young women, and demonstrate that for any woman, the sky is no longer the limit.”

Cox will receive the award at the Pioneering Achievement Award Luncheon on July 21, and will serve as the featured speaker at the noon-hour event, held in the Benedictine College Dining Hall.

Tickets to attend are $20, and reservations can be made by calling the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce.

Cox that same morning at 10:00 will take part in the Speaker's Symposium, held in the O'Malley McAllister Auditorium on the BC campus.

As a recipient of the Pioneering Achievement Award, Cox will receive the “Amelia” bronze, and a $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to an institution of her choice, in her name, to encourage and support young women.

(KMZA)--Details have been released on a single-vehicle Nemaha County wreck late last Thursday night that sent a Vermillion woman to the hospital.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says 53-year-old Joy Carsten was eastbound on 56th Road, about one-quarter mile east of E Road, when she lost control of her Chevy Tahoe on the ice.  Her vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree in the south ditch.

Carsten was transported by ambulance to the Onaga hospital.

(KAIR)--Alleged threats send a Jefferson County student to jail.

WIBW-TV reports the Perry-Lecompton High School student was taken into custody in connection with alleged social media threats aimed at other students.

Citing Jefferson County Undersheriff Robert Chartier, the TV station reports students at the school showed the threatening messages to the school resource officer Friday afternoon.

The suspect was questioned later in the day.

The student, whose name is not made public, was taken to the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center and is expected to face a Douglas County Judge Tuesday.

(KMZA)--A Sabetha woman was injured Sunday morning in a two-vehicle wreck on a Nemaha County road.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says 51-year-old John Suhr, of Sabetha, was eastbound on 176th Road when his pickup truck traveled through the intersection of V Road without yielding to a northbound SUV driven by 32-year-old Zachary Engelken, of Seneca.    The vehicles collided.

A passenger in the pickup, 48-year-old Lisa Suhr, was transported to a local hospital by ambulance.

The wreck was reported shortly before 9:30 Sunday morning.

(KNZA)--A St. Joseph man will stand trial in Brown County on a charge of electronic solicitation of a child.

38-year-old Daniel Cook was bound over to Brown County District Court last week on the felony charge after waiving his preliminary hearing.

Arraignment is scheduled for April 2nd.

Cook was arrested New Year’s Day following an investigation by undercover officers with the Hiawatha Police Department. 

He remains in the Brown County Jail, held on a $500,000 bond.

(MSC News) Beginning February 26th and running through March 9th, the Kansas Highway Patrol and  area law enforcement agencies will participate in the annual “High Visibility Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign”  near area high schools.

The  initiative is coupled with the Seat Belts Are for Everyone (SAFE) program in Kansas’ high schools. SAFE is a locally sustained program, administered by the students of the high school they attend.  The focus is on reducing deaths and injuries on Kansas roadways.

Currently, 157 high schools from 71 counties participate in the SAFE program statewide.

In 2015, Kansas lost 13 high school teens in motor vehicle crashes.  Of those teens, nearly 40 percent were not properly restrained.  

KDOT’s Traffic Safety section is spearheading the two-week awareness campaign in hopes of decreasing serious injuries and crash fatalities by increasing seat belt usage. In 2015, the observed seat belt rate in Kansas for the ages of 15-17 was 85%. The seat belt usage rate for the same age group was 61% in 2008-09, which KDOT says demonstrates the SAFE program is making a difference for Kansas youth.

Among local law enforcement agencies participating in the seatbelt enforcement campaign are the Hiawatha Police Department, Horton Police Department and Brown County Sheriff's Department.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man goes to jail, arrested last week in connection with an Atchison County District Court warrant for aggravated burglary and theft.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson tells MSC News 32-year-old Sidney Kye, Jr. was arrested Thursday. "Shortly after 2 p.m. on February 16, officers responded to a residence in the 1300 block of Santa Fe where a theft had just occurred. It was determined that a 60-year-old resident was inside the house when a 32-year-old male, who had formerly lived at the residence, came into the residence, grabbed medication from a purse, and then left the area. That investigation led to Sidney Kye's arrest on Thursday for aggravated burlary and theft."

Following his apprehension, Kye was booked into the Atchison County Jail on the charges.

(KAIR)--A visit from the new Lt. Governor of Kansas.

That happened Saturday as Tracey Mann made stops throughout northeast Kansas.

Beginning the morning in Marysville, Mann then traveled to Seneca and Sabetha, and then to Atchison, where his arrival was met by a crowd at the downtown Sunflower coffee shop. “There's nothing that I love more than traveling around, meeting with Kansans, hearing what their concerns are, what their needs are, and just getting to know what's happening in all of our communities. I think people are excited for our new Governor, I think people are excited for the bright days ahead."

Meeting individually with those in attendance, which included city and county leaders, as well as members of the community, Mann also gave a brief, informal address.

The Salina businessman, told the attendees that among the goals of new Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, is managing the state like a business. "Day one he created a new position, basically the COO of the state, and put someone in that position. It's just in our conversations, in our meetings, he's just business minded...and that's kind of the focus moving forward."

From Atchison, Mann then traveled to Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties for late afternoon and early evening stops on Saturday.

Mann was named as Lt. Governor by Governor Colyer on February 13.

(KAIR)--The arrival of tax season means the return of scam artists using fear to gain personal, financial information.

That message comes in the form of a news release issued Friday by Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

Merchant, in the release, says he has had reports from residents who say they have been receiving phone calls from someone representing themselves as an IRS agent.

The phone number showing on caller ID falsely indicates that the call has been made by the IRS.

According to Merchant, the caller claims there has been an issue with the income tax paperwork filed by the person called, and the IRS needs verification before continuing to process a tax return.

The caller reportedly asks the intended victim to provide a social security number for verification of the refund amount.

Merchant, following confirmation by the IRS, says the agency will never place such phone calls, and anyone believing they have fallen for the scam should contact the IRS at 800-366-4484.

Merchant reminds anyone who receives any such solicitation to provide no personal information, and to never rely on caller ID for formal verification of the caller.

(KAIR)--Citing a crisis in the school district, the committee focused on the future of the Atchison High School mascot is postponing their upcoming meeting.

The workshop-styled session had been planned for Monday.

The announcement of the decision to postpone came Friday in an email addressed by School Board members Diane Liebsch and Sean Crittendon, who represent the school board on the committee.

The statement says the postponement “will allow all involved to attend to the issues facing our district's needs;” and while it's not specified in the statement, the reference to a “crisis” and “needs” apparently stems from the recent suicides of district students, and the impact that has had on the Atchison community.

Based on discussion in the Facebook group “AHS REDMEN 4-EVER,” formed to give voice to those with opinions about the high school's Redmen mascot, patrons of the district have raised concerns regarding the prioritizing of that matter in comparison to the issue of suicide, bullying, and other matters.

Discussion regarding the future of the mascot began in December of 2016, with MSC News reporting at that time that the district had received what Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers called “written communications pertaining to the use of the Redmen mascot” which led to the formation of the committee comprised of students from the high school and the middle school, district administration, community members, alumni, and Native American representatives, along with Liebsch and Crittendon.

The statement announcing the postponement of the meeting notes that the conversation about the mascot will continue later, with Monday's postponed meeting to be rescheduled.

(KAIR)--Holton residents are being targeted by scammers.

That word is delivered in an emergency alert message issued Friday.

According to the alert, “the City of Holton has received calls from citizens in the area reporting they have received scam calls from someone claiming to be with Holton Utilities.”

The alert states that those who receive the call are informed of an outstanding debt with the city, and unless it's paid within 30 minutes, services will be shut off.

The alert states that the phone number shown on caller ID appears to come from the City of Holton, but it does not. Instead, it's believed that phone spoofing software is being to used to mask the number that originates elsewhere.

The City of Holton, in the alert, clarifies that no such telephone notification is used. Instead, the City posts a hanger on the door of a residence, or business, prior to any service interruption.

The alert states that the calls are a hoax, and warns those who receive such a call to not provide any personal or financial information over the phone.

(KNZA)--Due to the recent resignation of Mayor Tim Lentz, the city of Horton is seeking applicants to fill his unexpired term.  

According to the city, those who would like to be considered for appointment should submit a letter of intent to the Horton City Hall in care of the City Clerk/Administrator by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 1st.

Candidates must live within the city limits of Horton and be a registered voter.

Applicants will be interviewed by the City Commission during a special meeting Thursday evening at 6:00 and the Commission will consider the appointment of an interim mayor at that time.

The person appointed will serve until January 2020.

The position is up for election in November 2019.

The mayor is paid $50 a month and presides at all Commission meetings, expect as otherwise provided by statute.

Those with questions are asked to call the Horton City Hall at 486-2681.

(KAIR)--A chance to meet the four candidates vying for the role of Atchison City Manager.

That happened Thursday evening during a mix and mingle reception at the Atchison Event Center, hosted by the City of Atchison.

Local business and civic leaders, among others, had a chance to talk first hand with all four in a casual setting.

Atchison City Mayor Allen Reavis tells MSC News the event was the latest step in the hiring process, with additional steps to be taken during the day Friday. "The candidates [Friday] will continue their tours of all the city departments, meet with all the department heads. They take turn at the end doing a SWOT analyisis, in other words, Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. They have one hour to write an analyis of their views of the city, not just the city but the region, and how it affects the county and the entire region. They turn that in, they have an interview, we spend an hour with them. At the end of those four interviews, the Commissioners will meet for, oh, I don't know, 45-minutes or an hour, and kind of dicsuss the candidates a little bit as far as our views."

Reavis says once Friday's interview process concludes, the Commission will assess their findings, including feedback on all four candidates from those who met with them during the mix and mingle reception, prior to extending a contract offer to the candidate chosen to be the next city manager. "We'll then probably take a week or ten days to review everything. We're going to get some feedback from the mix and mingle, from the emails from everybody, and just try to weigh it all out and then we'll make our decision in March as to who to offer the position to."

Vying for the vacant city manager's seat are Becky Berger, the current Finance Director for the City, who is currently serving as interim City Manager;

Matt Rehder, the current City Administrator for the City of Seneca;

John Hollenbeck, a native of Effingham, who currently resides in California, where he owns an engineering company;

and Jonathan Roberts, the current City Administrator of Spring Hill, Kansas.

(KNZA)--A Hiawatha man convicted of setting homes and vehicles ablaze during a crime spree last May in Horton has been sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says 27-year-old Dustin McCulley was sentenced Friday in Brown County District Court on 9 felony counts.

Hill says McCulley was not granted probation and was remanded to the penitentiary to serve his sentence.

In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution to all the victims in various amounts.

McCulley pleaded no contest last month to one count of aggravated arson, five counts of arson, one count of felony theft and two counts of burglary.

Authorities say McCulley set two residences on fire early May 9th of last year—including one that was occupied at the time it was set ablaze.  In addition, police say he set four vehicles on fire, stole a pickup truck and burglarized two other vehicles.  

No injuries were reported in the fires.   

(KNZA)--A Jackson County commissioner is seeking re-election. 

According to the Jackson County Clerk’s Office, 1st District Republican Commissioner Rob Ladner, of Holton, has filed for another 4-year term. 

Ladner is the first candidate to file for the position, which is the only county seat up for election this November. 

He has served on the Commission since January 2015. 

Candidates have until noon, June 1st to file at the Jackson County Clerk’s Office. 

The primary election will be held August 7th, with the general election November 6th.

(KLZA)--Following a public hearing drawing no comment, the Falls City Council Monday night approved the One and Six Year Street Improvement Plan prepared by Olsson Associates.

There are five projects in the one-year plan. The 10 blocks of street paving come with an estimated price tag of $415-thousand.

Included is the paving 33rd Street from Highway 73 to Barada  Street.  A 900 foot extension of Abbott Street to the north.  Paving of 705 Trail from Highway 73 to  Fulton Street; and paving Shamrock Circle from Abbot Street to the west to a new cul-de-sac along with the paving of Tiger Trail from Abbott Street east to a new cul-de-sac

The six-year plan consists of approximately five blocks of street paving with a total cost in excess of $550-thousand.
 
The plan is to pave 21st Street from Fair Avenue, east to the city limits.  Paving of  Business Parkway from 707 Road north to the airport. The final project proposed is paving 270 feet of 14th from the end of the existing pavement to the city  limits.

Justin  Stark with Olsson Associates serves as the City Street Superintendent.  

(KNZA)--A Topeka man who had been the subject of a search Thursday has been captured in Nemaha County.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office had asked the public’s assistance Thursday morning in locating 33-year-old Matthew Shipley after he allegedly fled the Jackson County Courthouse in Holton.

Sheriff Tim Morse said Shipley was in the Jackson County District Court when he was searched by a security deputy.  The deputy located what was believed to be drug contraband.  

Jackson County deputies, Holton Police officers and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers searched several locations in an around Holton.

Morse said the Sheriff’s Office received numerous tips of Shipley’s location.

The Sheriff’s Office continued their investigation, which led them to Baileyville.  Morse said Shipley had received a ride to that area early in the day.

Jackson County authorities, Nemaha County deputies and KHP troopers surrounded a farmstead south of Baileyville in the 1700 block of E. Road. Shipley fled into a field and later surrendered to law enforcement.

Shipley was transported to the Jackson County Jail, where he is being held on felony interference with law enforcement and an outstanding warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

(KAIR)--Nationally known youth motivational speaker, teen suicide prevention expert, and best selling author, Jeff Yalden, is planning a visit to Atchison.

Yalden, also described by his website as “a mental health professional and parent communicator” has visited the local community in the past; and, following the impact that recent Atchison teenage suicides have had on the community, a local leader reached out to Yalden to return.

Sean Crittendon, the Unit Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Atchison tells MSC News he contacted Yalden; and following a day of conversation Thursday, finalized arrangements for a March visit.

It was during the day Thursday that Yalden posted a 22-minute video to YouTube, addressing the Atchison community through a message focused on the pressures faced by today's youth.

According to a post on the Boys and Girls Club of Atchison's Facebook page, Yalden's two day visit is planned for March 8 and 9.

According to the post, made Thursday, Yalden will “work with the teens, the teachers, parents, and community” during his visit to Atchison.

Yalden, in the post, is quoted as saying his talk will not focus only on loss, but “is more about who we are, where we are, where we are going, and how we are going to get there.”

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis grand jury on Thursday indicted Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens on a felony invasion of privacy charge for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman with whom he had an affair in 2015. The Republican governor responded that he made a mistake but committed no crime.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner launched an investigation in January after Greitens admitted to an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. He was elected governor in November 2016.

Thursday's indictment was followed with an announcement by House Republican leaders that they were forming a group of lawmakers to investigate the charges "and answer the question as to whether or not the governor can lead our state while a felony case moves forward."

In a statement following the indictment , the Republican governor was defiant and attacked the prosecutor who brought the charge.

"As I have said before, I made a personal mistake before I was Governor," he said. "I did not commit a crime. With today's disappointing and misguided political decision, my confidence in our prosecutorial system is shaken, but not broken. I know this will be righted soon. The people of Missouri deserve better than a reckless liberal prosecutor who uses her office to score political points."

Greitens' attorney, in a separate statement, called the indictment "baseless and unfounded."

"In 40 years of public and private practice, I have never seen anything like this," attorney Edward L. Dowd Jr. said.

Greitens' legal team immediately filed a motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that any relationship with the woman was consensual.

Gardner, a Democrat, declined comment beyond a brief news release.

Some lawmakers renewed suggestions that Greitens should consider resigning, as they had done when the affair first become public last month.

Democratic state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed of St. Louis called for an impeachment process to begin immediately.

"Gov. Greitens has to go," Nasheed said. "Missourians thought they voted for a person of character and integrity, and instead they got a liar and alleged criminal."

Any impeachment process must begin in the House with an investigation.

The joint statement from House Speaker Todd Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr and Majority Leader Rob Vescovo did not specifically mention impeachment while noting that they were initiating an investigation.

The indictment states that on March 21, 2015, Greitens photographed a woman identified only by her initials "in a state of full or partial nudity" without her knowledge or consent. The indictment said Greitens "transmitted the image contained in the photograph in a manner that allowed access to that image via a computer."

In 2015, the woman told her husband, who was secretly taping the conversation, that Greitens took the compromising photo of her at his home and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke about the affair.

The penalty for first-degree invasion of privacy in Missouri is up to four years in prison.

Greitens was taken into custody in St. Louis and released on his own recognizance, said Susan Ryan, a spokeswoman for Gardner. He is due in court for his first hearing on March 16, before Circuit Judge Rex Burlison.

Greitens has repeatedly denied blackmailing the woman, but has repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he took a photo.

The indictment came about a month before the statute of limitations would have run out. The statute of limitations for invasion of privacy in Missouri is three years.

Ryan, asked if additional charges could be filed, said the matter is still under investigation. Several lawmakers were questioned last week by investigators from Gardner's office.

Greitens, 43, is a brash outsider whose resume as a Rhodes Scholar and Navy SEAL officer made him a rising star in Republican politics. He admitted to the affair on the night of Jan. 10, shortly after he delivered the State of the State address to lawmakers.

Greitens emerged the winner in a crowded and expensive GOP primary before defeating the state's attorney general, Democrat Chris Koster, in the November 2016 election to give Republicans control of the governor's mansion for the first time in eight years.

Despite the party's strengthened clout in Jefferson City, there have been frequent clashes between lawmakers and Greitens, who compared them to third-graders and labeled them "career politicians."

He has also faced criticism from some educators and And Greitens' was investigated by for his use of a secretive app that deletes messages.

A former boxer and martial arts expert, Greitens portrayed himself as a maverick during the campaign. He responded to a Democratic attack ad with one of his own in which he fired more than 100 rounds from a machine gun as an announcer declared he'd bring out "the big guns" to fight Democratic policies championed by then-President Barack Obama.

He joined the Navy in 2001 and as a SEAL officer was wounded in Iraq six years later. He also served as a White House fellow, founded a nonprofit organization for veterans and authored a best-selling book.

His charity, The Mission Continues, faced scrutiny during the campaign when Democrats accused him of insider politics for accessing the donor list to raise about $2 million through its top contributors.

Greitens and his wife, Sheena, have two sons, Joshua and Jacob.

___

AP reporters Summer Ballentine, David A. Lieb and Blake Nelson in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

(KAIR)--An investigation into Atchison County drug-related activity leads to the arrest of a 62-year-old Cummings resident.

According to Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, Stephen Blackaby allegedly sold methamphetamine from his residence, located at 4424 U.S. 59 Highway, on March 1, 2017, while he was under investigation.

A warrant was later issued for his arrest in connection with the alleged crime.

Free since the time of the alleged meth sale, Laurie says Blackaby was taken into custody last week in Jackson County, Missouri on the Atchison County warrant.

Following his apprehension, Blackaby later waived extradition.

He now faces charges of distribution of methamphetamine and use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug violation.

Bond for Blackaby is set at $20,000.

Update:  A Topeka man sought by Jackson County authorities has been captured.  Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said early Thursday evening that 33-year-old Matthew Shipley was taken into custody in a field south of Baileyville by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Nemaha County Sheriff's Department and Kansas Highway Patrol.

(KAIR)--A search is launched for a Topeka man, wanted after allegedly fleeing from authorities.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, in a news release, said Thursday 33-year-old Matthew John Shipley remains on the run after fleeing on foot from the Jackson County Courthouse, following an unspecified incident.

Shipley was last seen on the southern side of Holton, leading the Sheriff's Office to issue an alert to residents to keep both their homes and vehicles locked.

Morse said Shipley is believed to be homeless, and investigators believe he may try to find an outbuilding, vehicle, or house to enter, in order to stay warm.

Shipley is also reported to be a parole absconder with the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Morse described him as 5 foot 7 inches, weighing around 155 pounds, with a full beard and wearing black pants, a black hat and a jacket of an unknown color.

According to Morse, Shipley is not known to be violent.

Anyone with information related to the whereabouts of Shipley is asked to notify the Sheriff's Office at 785-364-2251.

(KNZA)--Despite the cost being more than budgeted for, the Hiawatha City Commission has renewed the current health, dental and vision plans for city employees for 2018.

The Commission took the action Tuesday evening on the recommendation of City Administrator Mike Nichols.

Nichols said different health insurance options were looked at and presented to employees for their consideration, with a majority of employees favoring renewal of the current plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas.

The city will continue to pay for 100 percent of an employee’s premium, but will reduce what it pays towards spouse and dependent premiums from 80 percent to 74.5 percent.  

Even with the change, the city will spend nearly $19,000 more than budgeted for.   

The city had budgeted for a 10 percent increase, but saw an 11 percent   increase.

Mayor Steffen Shamburg and Commissioner Bill Collins both agreed the annual premium increases the city has been seeing are not sustainable.   Commissioners said if the trend continues, the city will have to make further reductions in what it pays toward an employee's health insurance coverage.

(KMZA)--An arrest is made in connection with a perceived threat that led to Wednesday afternoon's lock-down of the Axtell Public School.

Marshall County Sheriff Dan Hargrave tells MSC News the investigation was launched after authorities received a report that a threat had been made. "Dispatch received a call at approximately 1:15 from the administration at Axtell. The call was in regards to a threatening note that had been found in the men's restroom at the Axtell High School. The note was from a student, it was a letter that written in haste. The school was placed on lock-down at that time, and law enforcement responded to the incident."

The name, or other details pertaining to the accused student, aren't made public.

Hargrave says a number of agencies assisted with the investigation. “ Law enforcement agencies, from the Marshall County's Sheriff's Office, the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, and also the Marysville Police Department, responded to this...the investigation does continue."

In a news release issued early Wednesday evening, Prairie Hills USD 113 Superintendent Todd Evans said all students and staff remained throughout the afternoon, during the lock-down, with school dismissed at the usual time.

Noting that the district's primary goal is the safety and security of the students, Evans voiced appreciation for the support of law enforcement, parents, and the community.

The school houses grades Pre-K through 12.

(KNZA)--Slick road conditions contributed to a two-vehicle wreck in Jackson County Thursday morning that sent one to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened on U.S. 75 Highway,  just north of 186th Road, shortly after 7:30.

The Patrol says 22-year-old Justin Currence, of Manhattan, was northbound when he lost control of his Pontiac Grand Am on the ice and drifted into the southbound lane.  His car was struck in the side by a southbound Jeep Wrangler driven by 35-year-old Rebecca Gann, of Wetmore.

Currence was transported to Topeka’s Stormont Vail Hospital with what the Patrol described as disabling injuries.

The Patrol report says Gann received possible injuries, but refused to be transported to a  hospital.   A three-year-old passenger, Mathew Gann, also received possible injuries, but was not transported to a hospital.

(KNZA)--The Horton City Commission during a special meeting Thursday evening accepted the resignation of longtime Mayor Tim Lentz.

Lentz submitted his letter of resignation Wednesday morning, citing personal reasons.  The resignation was effective immediately.

Lentz had served as mayor for the past 11 years.

Commissioner Wade Edwards said he’s sadden by the resignation.  Commissioner Jeremy Forkenbrock also said he thinks its a sad day and a big step backwards.

Commissioner Bryan Stirton said he appreciates all the time Lentz put in and Commissioner Ken Krug thanked him for his service.

Commissioners voted to solicit letters of intent from those interested in filling the position.  They are to be submitted to the Horton City Hall no later than 5 p.m. March 1st.   

The Commission will then hold a special meeting at 6:00 that evening to interview the applicants and appoint an interim mayor.

The person appointed would serve until the next city election in November 2019.

(KLZA)-- A winter weather advisory is in effect from 3:00 A.M. Thursday to midnight Thursday night for central and southeast Nebraska and eastward into southwest Iowa.

The National Weather Service predicts mixed precipitation with total snow accumulations of up to 2 inches and ice accumulations of one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch.

The ice will result in difficult travel conditions and travel delays. There could also be reduced visibilities at times.

Snow should mix with or change to light freezing drizzle Thursday morning for all but far northeast Nebraska. Precipitation should lighten up around midday, then another round of light snow and freezing drizzle is expected Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening ending from west to east.

(KNZA)--A Jackson County investigation focused on a rape reported earlier this month leads to an arrest.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says 38-year-old Antonio Ramirez-Garcia, a resident of Mexico, was arrested after Deputies located him in Topeka.

According to Morse, the alleged rape occurred in Holton, during the early morning hours of February 10.

Morse says Ramirez-Garcia was taken into custody on charges related to the rape, and booked into the Jackson County Jail.

Ramirez-Garcia is being held on a bond of $50,000.

(KMZA)--The reason behind Wednesday's lock-down of the Axtell Public School remains unspecified, but the school district Superintendent says “further information will be made available if and when necessary.”

WIBW-TV is reporting the lock-down was put in place after a threatening note was found in the school, with a student arrested in connection with the threat.

However, MSC News has not independently confirmed that report with the Marshall County Sheriff's Office.

In a news release issued early Wednesday evening, Prairie Hills USD 113 Superintendent Todd Evans explained that once the lock-down was put in place around 1:15 Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement was called to the school.

In the statement, Evans says all students and staff remained throughout the afternoon, during the lock-down, with school dismissed at the usual time.

Noting that the district's primary goal is the safety and security of the students, Evans voiced appreciation for the support of law enforcement, parents, and the community.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office told MSC News Wednesday afternoon the investigation is continuing, which is being assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol

The Marshall County based school houses grades Pre-K through 12.

(KAIR)--The search for the City of Atchison's next City Manager is progressing.

That comes as a mix and mingle event to meet the candidates for that position is scheduled for Thursday evening, February 22.

According to a notice from the City, the event will be held at the Atchison Event Center, from 5:00 until 7:00.

An invitation for the event was sent to what the invitation identifies as leaders in the Atchison community.

Four candidates are seeking to fill the vacant position.

Although it's confirmed that Interim City Manager and City Finance Director Becky Berger is vying for the position, the names of the other three candidates are not made public in advance of the event.

According to an email sent by City of Atchison Human Resources Director Lori Moore, input regarding the candidates will be accepted by the city from those who attend the mix and mingle following the event.

The vacancy was created by last year's resignation of 8-year City Manager Trey Cocking.

He ended his duties with the City of Atchison on August 30 after accepting the position of Deputy Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities in Topeka.

(KLZA)--A pretrial conference is scheduled for April 3rd in Richardson County District Court for a Humboldt woman facing a pair of felony charges in an embezzlement case.

47-year-old Vicki Manning entered a not guilty plea recently to charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition and a charge of tampering with physical evidence.  

According to court documents, Manning is charged in connection with an embezzlement scheme during her employment at Humboldt Implement.  

She is accused of taking more than $5,000 between December 2014 and May 5th, 2017.

While the charges cover only that time period, it is alleged the  embezzlement had gone on for several years prior to December, 2014 and included more than $77-thousand.

The tampering charge alleges Manning attempted to destroy evidence.

(KNZA)--With the threat of additional ice and snow, the City of Hiawatha is hauling in additional treatment material to apply to the streets.  

That word Wednesday in a press release from City Administrator Mike Nichols.

The city is urging drivers to slow down and think ahead when driving in slick conditions.

Nichols says the city appreciates everyone’s patience while they work to create safer conditions.

(KAIR)--A Leavenworth man, accused of beating and burning a dog, has been formally charged with a felony.

According to a news release from Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson, 57-year-old Lemuel Dean Hunter, Jr. is charged with felony cruelty to animals.

The charge stems from a crime that Thompson says happened Monday.

According to the release, Hunter made his first appearance in a Leavenworth County courtroom Wednesday, where bond was initially set at $10,000.

According to The Leavenworth Times, Hunter was arrested Monday night after allegedly kicking a dog, beating it with a board, choking it, and burning it with a propane torch.

The newspaper reports the 3-year-old beagle/corgi mix, named Gracie, survived the alleged abuse.

(KLZA)--At the request of the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department fire chiefs, the City of Falls City has made donations to several area fire departments for their assistance during the downtown Falls City fire that occurred January 3.

A $500 donation was made to the Morrill Fire Department for their response of fire fighters and their Air Cascade Trailer.

A $1,000 donation was made to the Falls City Rural Fire Department for their response of fire fighters and three trucks.

A $1,000 donation was make to the Hiawatha Fire Department for responding with fire fighters and their snorkel truck.

The Fire Chiefs said in a news release that without help from these departments during that difficult time of cold weather and with such a heavy fuel load the outcome could have been much worse.

No injuries were reported during the fire.

Public Information Office Jon McQueen also thanked the businesses and groups who brought clothing, food, drinks and allowed fire fighters to go inside to warm up, and to the many employers allowing their employees to leave their jobs to help fight the fire.

McQueen concluded by saying "Thank You" to everyone who played a part in coming to the aid of the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department.

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) - Classes have been cancelled in the Plattsmouth School District after two threats of school attacks.
 
The first threat was reported in a joint statement Tuesday from Plattsmouth Community Schools and the Cass County Sheriff's Office. The statement says investigators determined that a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were planning an attack on Plattsmouth High School. The statement says "the weapon that they had intended to use has been accounted for and has been secured." The two students remain in the custody of their parents and have been banned from school grounds.
 
Their names haven't been released.
 
The district posted later Tuesday on its website that classes had been canceled Wednesday so authorities could investigate a second threat against the school.

(KNZA)--No serious injuries are reported following what Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says were three injury wrecks on icy Jackson County roadways Tuesday.

Morse says all totaled, Deputies responded to 11 different weather-related traffic mishaps during a two-hour period after the slick roads created chaos.

Along with the three injury crashes, Morse says Deputies responded to 5 non-injury wrecks and 3 slide-offs.

Morse says the majority of such incidents in winter weather are “due to drivers being in a hurry and driving too fast for conditions.”

He encourages all drivers to stay alert to developing conditions and to take extra time anytime winter weather affects travel routes.

(KNZA)-- Delia woman is jailed in Jackson County, arrested following an armed standoff.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says the standoff happened Tuesday afternoon, northeast of Delia, when his office was notified that a woman had pulled a shotgun on her boyfriend.

Deputies responded to 3621 182nd Road, where a man, apparently the one allegedly threatened, had, along with a child, escaped unharmed.

Morse says the woman, identified as 27-year-old Audrey Dawn Smith, remained inside the residence for over an hour.

Negotiations were initiated, and ultimately led to her surrender, and arrest.

Morse says Smith faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic battery, and criminal damage to property.

Following her arrest, Smith was booked into the Jackson County Jail.

Morse says the Kansas Highway Patrol, Jackson County EMS, and fire departments from Delia, Mayetta, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation all assisted at the scene.

(KMZA)--Slick road conditions contributed to a two-vehicle Pottawatomie County wreck late Monday night that claimed one life and left two others injured.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says killed in the wreck on U.S. 24 Highway near Camp Creek Road was 38-year-old Sarah Salinas, of St. Marys.  

The Patrol says Salinas was driving a car eastbound and 51-year-old Donald Ebert, of Louisville, was driving a pickup westbound when both vehicles lost control on an icy bridge.  Ebert’s pickup struck Salinas car head-on in the eastbound lane.

Salinas was pronounced dead at the scene.  She was a 911 dispatcher for the Wamego Police Department.

Ebert and a passenger in his vehicle, 50-year-old Clay Center resident Corina Roudybush, were both transported to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

The Patrol says Ebert and Roudybush were both buckled up, while Salinas was not, when the wreck occurred around 11:15 Monday night.

(KAIR)--An Atchison woman is facing charges following a traffic stop that authorities say turned up a variety of illegal drugs.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson tells MSC News the arrest of 37-year-old Lisa Buchanan happened late last week. It was shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday evening. An officer stopped a vehicle in the 1900 block of South 6th, and the subsequent investigation led to the recovery of heroin and methamphetamine. The 37-year-old driver now faces drug and traffic charges."

Wilson says Buchanan was taken into custody on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, no proof of insurance, and a Brown County warrant for contempt of court.

Following her arrest, Buchanan was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

Editor's note: City of Atchison Director of Public Works Justin Pregont says the above pictured bridge structure isn't necessarily the one discovered on Commercial Street, but is representative of the structures of that era.

(KAIR)--The 700 block of Atchison's Commercial Street remains closed as the major replacement of a storm water pipe in that location advances.

City of Atchison Director of Public Works Justin Pregont tells MSC News that while the work is progressing, their have been several holdups, including a unique discovery in that area.

MSC Radio News Director Brian Hagen had a chance to talk to Pregont late last week following the not-so-expected find. The interview can be heard here.

(KNZA)--A single-vehicle Brown County wreck Tuesday morning sent a Sabetha woman to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 29-year-old Amber Lierz was eastbound on U.S. 36, just east of Foxtail Road, when she lost control of her SUV due to the slick roadway.  Her vehicle left the roadway and rolled.

Lierz was transported to the Hiawatha Community Hospital with what the Patrol described as possible injuries.

The Patrol says Lierz was buckled up when the wreck occurred around 8:30 Tuesday morning.   

(KMZA)--The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash in Pottawatomie County late Monday night.

According to the KHP crash log, the two-vehicle wreck happened around 11:15 on U.S. 24 Highway near Camp Creek Road.

The Patrol says one vehicle was traveling westbound, while the other was eastbound.

Both vehicles lost control on an icy bridge and crashed head-on.

The Patrol has not released the names of those involved at this time or further details.

(KLZA)--Following many months of discussion concerning the Kobza Building in downtown Pawnee City, an agreement has been reached.

Under the agreement, the building that last housed the Kobza Dental Clinic will be given to the City, deeded to the Community Foundation.  Dr. Travis Kobza will pay the City $10-thousand now and another $10-thousand in 12 months.  

The building located at 501 G Street, 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.

The City will pay expenses including insurance on the building until they establish a use for the property.

The Pawnee City Council also voted not to purchase the Subway Building in downtown Pawnee City. Steve Glenn offered to sell the building that was damaged by fire in 2017 to the  City for $15-thousand. 

(KMZA)--A single-vehicle Pottawatomie County wreck late Friday night claimed the life of a Frankfort woman.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 65-year-old Stephanie Slifer was southbound on K-13, just south of Carnahan Creek, when her Ford Edge went off the right side of the highway.  The vehicle overturned once, landing on its roof.  

Slifer, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was the lone occupant in the vehicle.

The wreck was reported around 10:00 Friday night.

(KAIR)--New information comes to light regarding Friday's lock-down at the Atchison County Community Schools

In a Facebook post Monday morning, the Effingham based USD 377 clarified that the lock-down came after the district Friday was “informed by local law enforcement of an anonymous report concerning students who attend” the schools.

The statement says the report “did not contain any threats or plans of violence and there was no imminent danger to students or staff. To ensure the safety of all students, steps were taken, including the temporary lockdown, to allow the investigation to take place. The investigation did not find any threat to school safety or imminent danger to students at Atchison County Community Schools.”

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie Monday told MSC News the anonymous report received by law enforcement focused on “student(s) that have possibly discussed topics that the reporting person felt were concerning to the safety of the school and others.”

Laurie said no one was taken into custody because there was nothing that led investigators “to believe a crime had been committed or that there was one going to be committed.”

He clarifies that despite Facebook posts to the contrary, no one was taken to juvenile intake, and the investigation is considered closed.

The lock-down of all buildings was implemented late Friday morning, and lasted for around 90-minutes.

(KNZA)--The trial for a woman accused of murdering her estranged husband in Leavenworth has been pushed back.  

51-year-old Barbara Frantz, of  Kansas City, Kansas, had been scheduled to go on trial March 19th.  However, The Leavenworth Times reports a judge granted a request by her attorney during a hearing Friday for a continuance.  

The trial was rescheduled to begin June 25th.  Two weeks are to be set aside for the trial.

Frantz is charged in Leavenworth County District Court with first-degree murder.

She is accused of shooting her estranged husband, Gary, Jan. 27, 2017, in a Leavenworth parking lot.

Frantz remains in the Leavenworth County Jail.

(KAIR)--Atchison Police solve two past burglaries, arresting a 15-year-old for his alleged connection to the crimes.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson tells MSC News the teen was taken into custody Friday in connection with the two cases, that date back to earlier this year. “On January the 24, a 41-year-old resident in the 700 block of R Street reported the theft of cash, several firearms, liquor, a blanket. Then, on February the 7, a 20-year-old resident in the 900 block of Kansas Avenue reported the theft of a rifle and a wallet. Most of the items taken in these two burglaries were recovered."

Following his arrest, the teen was transported to a juvenile detention facility.

Wilson says it's likely that a second juvenile will also be taken into custody in the near future for involvement in the crimes.

(KLZA)--The HTRS School District  has purchased property north of the school parking lot.  

The school purchased property adjacent to the north of the school parking lot. The school district purchased the land on a repossession auction February 1st for $1,401.  

There is a house on the property that will need to be torn down. The future use of the property has not yet been determined.  

The Board decided not to purchase some lots east of the football field that had been offered to be sold to the School District.

The HTRS School  District once again has a place to store the districts school buses. The new bus barn located in the parking lot west of the school is nearly complete but can be used to house eight school buses with an area to work on buses inside.

There is some gravel work to complete when the weather cooperates.  Jack McNealy Construction built the bus barn. The bus barn was previously located at the  former Table Rock School. 

(KMZA)--On Saturday, February 17, Arden Andersen, MD, a Democratic candidate for Governor of Kansas, spoke to a energetic, vocal audience at the Seneca Public Library annex.

Andersen is one of seven Democrats to announce his intent to file for the August 7 primary election.

Andersen, an Olathe resident, is an active colonel in the Kansas Air Reserve as well as a family medicine physician in Leavenworth at Whiteman Air Force Base. His career includes serving, training, and practicing medicine to families, prison employees, and service men and women. He was raised on a Michigan dairy farm and holds four degrees, one as a vocational-agricultural educator which has allowed him to visit other countries and compare and study agriculture, natural resources, economics, and leadership. One of his graduate degrees is in public health and occupations.

Dr. Andersen has one more year to serve before deciding retirement in the Air Reserves. He understands a great deal about physical and mental health, health care costs, and pharmaceuticals as his wife is a clinical pharmacist in Mission.

During his sharing of his background and reasons for running, Andersen stated, “I am not a career politician; I am tired of the status quo. I want to heal Kansas, and I have the skills, leadership, and knowledge of issues that affect ALL Kansans.”

Andersen has a five-part plan to reduce costly health care needs, expand Medicaid for a larger group of citizens while dealing with issues of privatizing which will cause the economy to grow, to increase agricultural procedures by strengthening the soil, water, and needed natural and human resources. He wants a competitive, funded education system which will place trained individuals in new technological careers from the expansion of more people working and being healthy which will cause a stable, beneficial economy. He wants to restore the funds of KPERS and the infrastructure, such as the Department of Transportation that has been misused in stabilizing the Kansas State Treasury for revenue sources.

He said that All Kansans—not just Republicans, not just Democrats, and not just independents--want affordable and effective health care, beneficial education, personal safety in our lives and environment--, food, air, water, roads, etc., a sound economy that affords sustained incomes for individuals with training and skills, and a strong, stable infrastructure for our state’s present and future.

Andersen spoke and answered questions for over two and a half hours as topics of mental health, taxation, gun control, voting suppression, transparency, training for future employment, medication costs, the condition of jails and courts, poverty levels, and crime. He demonstrated a solid ability to speak, listen, and teach in his presentation as he wants to lead, manage, and participate in the administrative and legislative processes while serving as Governor of Kansas and being the primary advocate for healing Kansas.

Larry Kuckelman won the microfleece blanket from the raffle, with the proceeds going to Dr. Andersen. Mary Baker provided delicious cinnamon rolls for the refreshments, organized by Lois Kuckelman, treasurer. County Chair, JoLene Bloom, contributed some sweets to the table and operated the raffle. She made these announcements of upcoming events:

Kansas Democrats will meet in Topeka at the Ramada Inn on March 2-3 for Washington Days, a weekend of training, elections, business, and events such as the Democratic Kansas Governor candidates’ forum during Saturday’s lunch. The annual banquet and fundraiser on Saturday evening will feature Paul Buttigieg. As Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, he is considered a rising national star in the Democratic Party. All activities are free, except for the luncheon and banquet on Saturday.

The County Democratic Party is busy encouraging committee men and women to file for their positions by June 1 and seeking candidates for state and local positions such as Kansas House District #62. Our purpose at this point is to give voters knowledge of the Democratic candidates who will appear on the primary ballot.

On Saturday, April 21, Josh Svaty will appear at the Seneca City Library at 10:00 A.M. for the second planned Kansas Governor candidates’ appearance. The general public is invited to attend. One to come includes Topekan and Kansan State Senator Laura Kelly as well as others who will appear on the Democratic Primary Election ballot on August 7: Jack Bergeson, Wichita; Robert J. Klingenberg, Salina; Carl Brewer, Wichita; and Jim Ward, Topeka.

The next meeting of the Nemaha County Democrats will be Saturday, March 17 at 10:00 A.M. at the Seneca City Library at Sixth and Main; all Democrats are welcomed. Contact: JoLene Rae Bloom 785-336-3641.

(KMZA)--There will be some changes in the Nemaha Central High School credits for students beginning next  year following action by the school board at last week’s meeting.

High School teacher Cathy Enneking presented information at last week’s USD 115 Board of Education meeting about adding a required class for seniors basically to assist students with their senior project.

Enneking said the class to be called " Senior Workshop" would provide extra support for their senior project as well as teach technical writing, composing resumes, career preparation and increasing the quality of senior projects.

The Board voted to add the required class beginning next school year.

With the addition of FFA-related classes this year, plant and animal science classes were added to the class selections for students. Following board approval, those classes may now be counted as a science credit.

Fifth grade teachers, Heather Sullivan and Lisa Holthaus, met with the Board to request that students be allowed to take their school provided iPads home to help them do science and math homework.

Currently, only middle and high school students may bring their iPads homes.

The Board approved allowing 5th graders to take their devices homes, beginning next school year.

They will be expected to follow the same protocol and requirements as the 6th through 8th grade students currently.

(MSC News) Being prepared for the worst.

That's the reason for upcoming local training sessions, focused on the approach of the spring severe weather season.

Two will be held this week in Jackson and Atchison Counties.

The Jackson County session is slated for Tuesday evening at the Holton Senior Citizens building and the Atchison County session will take place Thursday evening in the Atchison Elementary School cafeteria.

Two others are set for next week in Nemaha and Jefferson Counties. The Nemaha County session will be Monday, February 26th at the Pioneer building in Seneca, and the Jefferson County session on Wednesday, February 28th at the high school in Meriden.

All the free training sessions, which are open to the pubic, will begin at 7:00 in the evening and last about 90 minutes.

A National Weather Service meteorologist will discuss various aspects of severe weather, storm spotting, and severe weather safety.

The training sessions are being held in advance of the annual Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas.

To be proclaimed by Governor Jeff Colyer, the week of March 5 through 9 is set aside as a time for all state residents to prepare for times of actual emergencies stemming from spring storms.

According to a news release from the Kansas Adjutant General's Office, early warning, spotter and preparedness systems are attributed to helping “to contribute to fewer lives lost and fewer injuries.”

The annual statewide tornado safety drill is scheduled for 10:00 on the morning of March 6.

(KAIR)--Strong opinion is posted to social media, in advance of a forthcoming USD 409 special committee meeting.

According to a Facebook post, apparently made by school board member Rick Zumbrunn, the meeting is being held as part of the ongoing discussion focused on the future of the Atchison High School mascot.

In late 2016, the school board convened a committee to explore the use of the “Redmen” name.

At that time, Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers told MSC News the district had received what she called written communications pertaining to the use of the Redmen mascot.

The resulting committee was, according to Myers, to  be comprised of students from the high school and the middle school, district administration, community members, alumni, Native American representatives, and School Board members Diane Liebsch and Sean Crittendon.

In the weekend Facebook post apparently made by Zumbrunn, he calls himself “the only school board member against changing the mascot,” and says he needs “everybody that we can get to be there that is against changing it right now,” apparently referring to the upcoming committee meeting that the post says is planned for February 26.

Zumbrunn has not yet responded to a Facebook message from MSC News seeking to verify the post.

A Facebook group, AHS Redmen 4-Ever, has been established to discuss the matter.

In a confirmed post to the group, Crittendon told members he understands their views and concerns, and offered to provide committee related information to those who are interested. He also clarified that the Board of Education will hear an update from the mascot committee at their March 12 regular meeting.

(KAIR)--A two vehicle, late Friday afternoon Atchison County crash, sends four to the hospital.

According to a report from the Atchison County Sheriff's Office, it happened shortly after 4:00, on U.S. Highway 73, south of the Atchison City limits.

It was there that Atchison County resident Ronald Depinto attempted to turn his northbound pickup truck onto 234th Road, and was struck by a northbound Cadillac Escalade that attempted to pass his Ford Ranger on the left, in the southbound lane.

Striking the truck on the front end, the Escalade went out of control, rolling over several times along the shoulder of the highway.

Two Kansas City, Kansas residents in the SUV, identified as Wallace Fox, Jr., and Stephanie Hill, were both ejected.

Fox was flown from the scene by helicopter to the University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas.

Hill was transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care, in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

The report says it's unclear which of the two was driving the Escalade.

A young child traveling with them, estimated to be 3 to 4-years-old, was also transported to Mosaic with what the report calls very minor injuries.

Depinto was treated at the scene by EMS, but later taken by private vehicle to the Atchison Hospital with minor injuries.

The Sheriff's Office continues to investigate.

Photo credit: Jackson Co Sheriff's Office

(KNZA)--A Jackson County residential fire claims two lives.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, said the fire was reported late Friday morning in Netawaka.

A dozen fire department from the surrounding areas, including the Netawaka Fire Department, responded to 421 Whiteway Street, shortly after 10:00, and battled the deadly blaze for just over an hour. 

“There was really nothing anybody could do to be able to enter the residence. It was just too far gone at that point,” Morse said.

The flames had fully engulfed the two story structure, and threatened a residence located to the east.

Morse said it was after the fire was extinguished that the two persons were found inside.

The two victims are not immediately identified, and the Jackson County Coroner has ordered autopsies to be conducted.

A family dog was able to be rescued.

The home is considered a total loss.

The cause of the deadly blaze remains under investigation, with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office conducting the probe.

“They did use a wood stove to heat the residence, so that's all being taken under consideration as well,” Morse said.

As of late Friday afternoon, Morse said his office's three fire investigators remained on the scene, working with the Fire Marshal's investigators.

(MSC News)--Westar Energy is working to keep its customers safe.

That comes as scam attempts are being reported to the energy supplier.

According to a press release from the company, customers have reported receiving phone calls from someone claiming to work for Westar.

The fake representative demands that the customer provide them with a prepaid card as payment, due to what the caller claims to be late payment on a bill. Saying service will be cut off, the fake employee claims the customer can avoid disruption by calling a number, which spoofs an actual Westar phone number.

The company says the calls are clearly a scam, and they should be reported to either 800-383-1183 or local law enforcement.

(MSC News)--Westar Energy is alerting customers that imposters claiming to work for the company are threatening to disconnect service and asking for prepaid cards as payment.

Several customers have contacted Westar Energy’s Customer Relations Center after receiving suspicious phone calls.

Some imposters are very convincing. They may use websites that allow them to
manipulate caller ID, making the call appear to come from Westar. They speak with authority. When the targeted customer calls the phone numbers provided, the person who answers sounds like they work for Westar. In some cases, callers may even provide information like amount due that makes them sound credible.

“Scammers create a sense of urgency to get customers to act quickly rather than allowing them time to check their account,” Gina Penzig, media relations manager, Westar Energy, said. “We will never require a pre-paid card for payment. Also, we notify customers multiple times in advance if service may be interrupted for non-payment.”

Before acting on one of these calls, check your records to see if a recent payment has been made. If you are still unsure, call our Customer Relations Center, 1-800-383-1183, and check your account status.

If a customer receives a suspicious visit from an individual, he or she should also report it to their local law enforcement agency.

(KLZA)--Following the tragic shooting event at a Florida High school Wednesday, Falls City Public School Superintendent Tim Heckenlively issued a statement to parents of school children and the public.

The statement says “Our hearts go out to the families and all those impacted by the tragic events that occurred on Wednesday”. The statement goes on to say the administration, faculty and school board want to assure you that the safety of children continues to be the top priority in the Falls City Public School System.

Falls City Public Schools are following the security measures outlined in their comprehensive building plans. Exterior doors remain locked during the school day and visitors are screened upon entry. All adults wear identification badges and cell phone and two-way radio and networking capabilities are in place in each building throughout the district.

Sheriff Don Pounds and the Richardson County Sheriff's Department periodically conduct the Standard Response Protocol active shooter training with the Falls City School District. The next training is scheduled for Monday, February 19th with the elementary staff being engaged in the same training in March.

The District suggests parents listen to children and if they need to talk, answer their questions simply, honestly and possibly over and over again.

It is very important to keep a sense of normalcy with our young people and be vigilant in your observations. Parents with questions or concerns may contact the school.

(KAIR)--Details regarding the reason for a late Friday morning lock-down at the Atchison County Community Schools remain unspecified, but authorities say there was never an imminent threat of danger.

The lock-down was implemented around 11:30, with patrons alerted by USD 377 though a text message and a social media post.

The message confirmed that all buildings had been placed under lock-down status for precautionary measures the district felt necessary “to ensure the safety of all our students and staff to investigate a report” received by the district, which is based in Effingham.

About 90-minutes after the message was released, the lock-down was lifted.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, in a message posted to his office's Facebook page, stated there was no imminent danger, but implementation of the lock-down was viewed by his office, and the school district, to be “in the best interest of everyone, to complete the investigation thoroughly and as quickly as possible.”

Laurie has not yet released the reason for the investigation.

District Superintendent Andrew Gaddis, according to an automated email response received by MSC News, is out of the office Friday and unavailable for comment.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Linwood in Leavenworth County.

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Linwood indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man, arrested as part of a drug investigation last year, is going to prison.

24-year-old Kyle Wrightsman learned his fate Monday in Atchison County District Court.

According to the Atchison County Attorney's Office, Wrightsman was sentenced on three felony charges, including possession of heroin, felon in possession of a firearm, and aggravated child endangerment.

Together, the charges earned Wrightsman nearly three years behind bars and 12-months of post-release supervision.

Wrightsman and 24-year-old Brittany Elmore were both arrested in October following an investigation of drug activity at their Terrace Hills Apartment.

In December, she was sentenced to 18-months of supervised probation for her role in the case.

Both were arrested outside their shared residence, prior to a raid, by the Atchison County Sheriff's Office on October 19.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, following their arrests, said that along with drugs and drug paraphernalia found inside the apartment were syringes underneath a pillow, located less than a foot away from a baby sleeping on the bed where the pillow was located.

(KMZA)--A group is seeking the improvement of a Nemaha County road.

Five county residents met with the Nemaha County Commission Monday to speak about the condition of Q Road, north of Oneida.

The group said the road is in bad shape and they would like to see it black-topped.

They said the previous county commissioners had intended to pave the road, but had not followed through with that plan.

Commissioners said they will take the group’s comments into consideration when planning future road improvements in the county.

In other business, County Road and Bridge Supervisor Dennis Ronnebaum informed Commissioners that he has hired Kristina Talkington for the position of Road and Bridge Office Assistant.  She will begin work February 20th at a salary of $13.18 an hour.

The Commission voted to sign two letters of support that will be submitted to the Kansas Department of Transportation with the final grant application for the proposed new Seneca nutrition center/transit building project.  A public hearing was held last week on the grant application, which is due February 16th.

Nick Scott and Susan Bowman with Nemaha County United 4-Youth met with the Commission to discuss the quarterly funding the county gives the group.  

They requested an appropriation of $3,875 per quarter for 2018, with an additional appropriation of $819 per quarter if Commissioners would also like to continue sponsoring the mentoring program in Nemaha County schools.  Following discussion, the Commission voted to appropriate a total of $4,700 per quarter in 2018 to the Nemaha County United 4 Youth organization.         

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission has approved the purchase of two used excavators for the county’s road department to replace two existing machines.

The Commission Monday approved the purchase of a 2014 Komatsu with 2,099 hours from Berry Tractor, of Topeka, for a total price of just over $119,000 with the trade-in of a 1993 excavator in the First District.  

The Commission also approved the purchase of a 2012 Hyundai with 2,200 hours from Victor L. Phillips in the amount of nearly $110,000 less an insurance payment of nearly $45,000 for the loss of a 2000 excavator that was damaged in the Second District.

Prior to taking the action, Commission Chairman Thad Geiger asked Road Supervisor Bob Edie if two machines are needed or if the county could get by with one machine used between all three road districts.

Edie said with emergency road repair work and only being able to use the equipment during favorable weather conditions, there is a need for two excavators.  In addition, Commissioner Tim Collins indicated excavators now replace the use of bulldozers on some projects.     

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - A Kansas congressional hopeful says he plans to raffle off an AR-15 rifle to support his campaign, even after a suspect reportedly used that type of weapon in Wednesday's mass shooting at a Florida high school.

Republican Tyler Tannahill of Leavenworth announced the raffle on Tuesday, saying it was a show of support for the Second Amendment. He told the Kansas City Star after Wednesday's shooting that the raffle would continue.

He says he supports weapons training for educators and more laws wouldn't have prevented the Florida shooting.

He says the raffle was planned a month ago to coincide with this weekend's Kansas Republican Convention.

Tannahill, a Marine veteran and former medical devices salesman, is seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins in Kansas' 2nd Congressional District.

(KMZA)--A Democratic candidate for Kansas Governor will visit Seneca Saturday morning, February 17th.

Arden Andersen, of Leavenworth, will be at the Seneca City Library at 10:00 to meet residents and share his vision for the state.

Andersen is a family medical specialist in Leavenworth, as well as active member of the Kansas Air Reserves and former vocational-agricultural educator.

His visit is being hosted by the Nemaha County Democrats, and the public is invited to attend.

Andersen is one of seven Democratic candidates for Kansas Governor.

Eleven others have announced as Republican or Independent candidates for governor.

The filing deadline is June 1st.    

(KLZA)--The Richardson County Commission approved a resolution Tuesday that will allow the sheriff to hire an additional deputy.

The need for the additional deputy comes from a request for security at the Courthouse.  

The District Court has requested a deputy provide security when court is in session.    

The county is also considering other security measures—including new security cameras, a deputy on duty when the courthouse is open and possibly dedicating one entrance for the public.

(KLZA)--Auburn, Nebraska High School band students will be getting new uniforms.

The Auburn Public Schools Board of Education this week approved the purchase at cost of nearly $60,000.

Superintendent Kevin Reiman said over the past 10 – 15 years, $22,000 has been raised to help offset the cost of the new uniforms.

The current band uniforms were purchased in the early 90's.

In other business, Reiman informed the Board that a hard freeze during the Christmas break appears to have led to a gymnasium roof issue.  

He said when it thawed, a leak in the school gymnasium was discovered.  That is the oldest roof in the school district.

Reiman estimates the cost for a new roof at around $300-thousand, which he says is not in the current budget.  

Hopes are that a temporary fix at a cost of $1,500 - $2000 will allow the school district to get another two or three years use out of the roof before a complete new roof is needed.

In other action, the Board approved the 2018-19 school year calendar. The first day of school for students will be August 20th.  The calendar calls for a full two-week holiday break which had been requested by some parents.

(KLZA)--Nebraska Third District Congressman Adrian Smith will meet constituents during a mobile office stop in Falls City on Tuesday, February 20th.

Congressman Smith will discuss issues such as tax reform, trade, immigration and infrastructure with the public from 2:00 – 3:00 P.M. In the Commissioners Room at the Richardson County Courthouse.

A mobile office allows constituents to meet directly with Congressman Smith about federal issues and take advantage of the services available through his office.

For additional information contact Smith's Grand Island Office at 308-384-3900.

(KAIR)--A Kansas City, Kansas man is going to prison for a home invasion last year in Leavenworth County.

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson, in a news release, says Jron Williams learned his fate Wednesday in a District courtroom.

The 30-year-old Williams was sentenced to nearly 6-years in prison on the charges of aggravated burglary, or a burglary of a dwelling with someone inside, and theft.

Williams was arrested in connection with the forced entry into a home, where he, and two others, stole a television and a router. The trio also stole a Kia that had been parked at the residence.

The vehicle was spotted, and pursued by Leavenworth County Sheriff's Deputies following the burglary, with Williams arrested following a foot pursuit after the vehicle crashed.

(KMZA)--A teaching position will be cut at the Wetmore Academic Center.

In action to assist in the viability of the school, Superintendent Todd Evans says the USD 113 Board of Education voted Monday evening to reduce the teaching staff by one position for the 2018-19 school year.

The reduction will be made through attrition, as the Board accepted the resignation of  Wetmore 2nd grade teacher Joyce Stallbaumer at Monday’s meeting, effective at the end of the current school year.

The reduction would save about $61,000.  However, Evans says the savings alone will not be enough to bring the Wetmore school within the viability threshold.

He said the Board indicated they would like to be pro-active in making adjustments to personnel and services that would improve the financial outlook for the school.  The Board requested additional information from the administration.

Evans said the main challenge being faced at the school is a declining enrollment.

In other action, the Board approved a 2018-19 school calendar recommend by a majority of teachers.  It calls for classes to begin on August 15th and end on May 16th.     

(KAIR)--A member of the USD 377 Board of Education has resigned.

The letter of resignation written by Stephanie Moore cites relocating as the reason for her decision to resign from the role of leadership for the Atchison County Schools.

In the letter, addressed to Superintendent of Schools Andrew Gaddis, and School Board President Nancy Keith, Moore writes that she has accepted a position in another state, forcing the resignation.

She says the decision "was definitely not an easy one" and calls her time on the school board "a rewarding professional association."

Moore's resignation became effective February 11.

The letter was included as part of the agenda for the Board of Education's February 14 meeting.

Moore represented the school district's position 3, which represents portions of Kapioma and Benton Townships, in Atchison County, the portion of Grasshopper lying South of the South edge of Township Five, and those contiguous portions of Jackson and Jefferson counties located in USD 377.

(KNZA)--A current South Brown County Schools teacher has been hired as the new Everest Middle School principal.

Following an executive session, the USD 430 Board of Education Monday evening voted to hire Travis Torkelson for the position.

Torkelson was offered a one-year contract for the 2018-19 school year.

He is currently in his 11th year as a social studies teacher at Horton High School and also serves as head boys basketball coach.

Torkelson was among six candidates interviewed.

He will replace Jackie Wenger who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

The Board also approved one-year contract extensions for Horton Elementary School Principal Judy Dickman and Horton High School Principal Fred Winter.

Superintendent Jason Cline was granted a two-year contract extension. This is his first school year as superintendent of USD 430.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska judge has dismissed a lawsuit that claimed the 2016 vote to reinstate the death penalty was invalid because Gov. Pete Ricketts helped bankroll the petition drive to place the issue on the ballot.    

 Lancaster County District Judge John Colborn on Tuesday rejected the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of eight of Nebraska's 11 death-row inmates.

The inmates also argued unsuccessfully that their sentences automatically defaulted to life terms when lawmakers voted to abolish capital punishment in 2015.     

The lawsuit contended that Ricketts overstepped the Nebraska Constitution's separation of powers clause because he financed and controlled the referendum that led voters to overturn the Legislature's decision.     

Attorney General Doug Peterson praised the decision as "a thorough analysis of important Nebraska case law."

(KNZA)--A Jackson County traffic stop leads to the arrest of two Osage County residents on drug charges.

Jackson County Sherriff Tim Morse says 38-year-old Matthew Barr, of Carbondale, and 35-year-old Shawna Valentine, of Osage City, were arrested Friday after a Sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle at 4th and Arizona Streets in Holton.

Barr was booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement.  Bar also had an outstanding Osage County warrant.  Bar was released after posting bond.

Valentine was booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement. Valentine was also wanted on an outstanding Osage County warrant.  Valentine is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail with bond set at $7,500.00.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer has picked Tracey Mann to serve as the state's next lieutenant governor.

The new Republican governor announced his appointment of the 41-year-old Mann Tuesday evening during a Kansas Livestock Association dinner in Topeka. A swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the Statehouse.

Mann is a commercial real estate broker and farmer from Salina. He said in a statement he's "extremely grateful for the opportunity."

Colyer was the state's longest-serving lieutenant governor but became governor Jan. 31 when former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback stepped down to take an ambassador's post.

Mann will be on the gubernatorial ticket when Colyer seeks a full, four-year term this year.

(KNZA)--A single-vehicle Jefferson County wreck early Tuesday morning sent an Ozawkie woman to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 56-year-old Tammy Palmer was southbound on Ferguson Road, about 1 1/2 miles east of Ozawkie, when the Ford Ranger she was driving crossed the center line and struck a guardrail.  The vehicle traveled over the guardrail and overturned.

Palmer was transported to the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City with what the Patrol described as disabling injuries.

The Patrol report indicates Palmer was not buckled up when the wreck occurred shortly after 12:30 Tuesday morning.

(KNZA)--The Prairie Hills school district did not have to go far in its search for a new Sabetha High School principal.

On the recommendation of an interview committee, Superintendent Todd Evans says the USD 113 Board of Education voted Monday evening to hire current Sabetha High School English-Language Arts teacher David Glynn for the position.

Evans says Glynn was offered a two-year contract.

He has taught at the high school since the fall of 2013.

Glynn will replace Sheri Harmer who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Photo credit: Facebook

(KAIR)--The illegal dumping of wild game on state property in Atchison County leads to an investigation.

According to a post on the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Facebook page, the discovery was reported February 5.

According to the post, the agency was notified by a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper that 18 geese had been illegally dumped at a Kansas Department of Transportation mixing strip.

The posting states that an investigation was launched by the Atchison County Game Warden, who found that the 18 geese had no meat taken, and were left to waste.

They had been dumped following the morning snow fall of February 4th, which the post says means the dumping happened sometime between the afternoon of February 4 and the evening of February 5.

No leads have yet been developed, with the wildlife agency turning to the public for help with finding who's responsible for the crime.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the wildlife agency's Operation Game Thief at (877) 426-3843.

(KAIR)--The former Fox Theater is named to the Register of Historic Kansas Places.

According to a post on the Kansas Historical Society's Facebook page, the Atchison structure was one of six added to the register on Saturday.

The Fox Theater was constructed in 1949 on Atchison's Commercial Street.

According to documents from the Kansas Historical Society, the period of significance noted for the theater is from the time of its construction until 1970, when alterations were made to create a separate theater in the balcony.

Prior to the 1949 construction, the same parcel of land housed the Fox Royal Theater, from 1911 to 1947.

Following the ultimate closure of the Fox Theater, the site was remodeled and reopened as the Royal Theater in the early 1990's, which closed 22-years later.

In June of last year, the Board of Directors for Theater Atchison, the site of community theater in Atchison, voted to purchase the property, renovate it, and reopen it.

In October of last year, the purchase was completed, and in December of last year, WDM Architects of Wichita and Henderson Engineers of Kansas City were selected as the design team to make the project a reality.

According to a press release issued in December, construction is planned to begin this spring.

(KNZA)--A new Hiawatha Middle School principal has been hired and she’s a familiar face.

Following an executive session Monday evening, the USD 415 Board of Education voted to hire current middle school counselor Kyley Gatz for the position.

Gatz was offered a one-year contract for the 2018-19 school year.

She was among four candidates interviewed last week.

Gatz will replace David Coufal who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

In other business, the Board accepted the resignations of 5th-12th grade band instructor David Kerwood and high school counselor Stacy Mayer effective at the end of the current school year.

The Board voted to move Jennifer Dunn, who currently serves as an English teacher at the high school, to the counselor position.

Kylee Reschke, who currently serves as a substitute teacher at the high school, will replace Dunn.

The Board also approved hiring Chris Vitt as a full-time science teacher at the high school.  He is currently teaching half-time and previously taught science at the high school before retiring.      

In other business, the Board approved the 2018-19 school calendar.  The first day of classes will be August 16th and the last day will be May 22nd.  Spring break will be held March 11th-15th, the same as state colleges.

Following a lengthy discussion, the Board approved having District Maintenance Coordinator Matt Cluck seek bids for options for the repair or replacement of the high school track.

(KAIR)--A Johnson County, Kansas crash claims the life of a Leavenworth County man.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that 60-year-old Christopher Fisher, of Easton,  died as a result of the late Monday morning single-vehicle wreck.

According to the Patrol, Fisher was southbound on K-7 when he tried to enter the ramp to westbound K-10, in Olathe.

The Patrol reports Fisher's pickup truck entered the ramp too fast, causing him to lose control.

Fisher over-corrected, causing the truck to rollover.

The Patrol says Fisher was not buckled up at the time of the fatal crash, which happened shortly before 10:30 Monday morning.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the public water supply located in the City of Linwood in Leavenworth County. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

The advisory took effect on February 12, 2018 and will remain in effect until conditions which place the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be adequately resolved.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.

• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.

• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

(KAIR)--A Leavenworth County man is dead, killed Monday in a double vehicle Wyandotte County crash.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identifies the victim as 54-year-old Lansing resident Dennis Wagner.

He died when his car rear-ended a Freightliner, just south of the Wyandotte/Leavenworth County line, on southbound K-7 Highway.

The Patrol says Wagner was not buckled up.

The driver of the truck, from Cameron, Missouri, was not hurt.

The fatal crash happened shortly after 6:30 Monday morning.

(KAIR)--An early Monday morning single-vehicle crash, near Faucett, Missouri, sends one to the hospital.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports it happened in Buchanan County, a mile east of Faucett, on I-29, when a northbound Honda Pilot ran off the road and overturned.

According to the Patrol, the vehicle left the west side of the roadway where it struck a guardrail, causing it to roll over.

The driver, from Saint Joseph, was not hurt, but his passenger, 51-year-old Rafeeq Siddeeq, suffered what the Patrol identifies as serious injuries.

He was transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care, in Saint Joseph, for treatment.

Both men were wearing seat belts when the wreck happened around12:30 Monday morning.

 OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The officials who manage the reservoirs along the Missouri River say the system is in good shape to handle this spring's runoff.

John Remus with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the reservoirs are ready to reduce flood risk in the region even though runoff is expected to be slightly above average at 104 percent of normal.

Some of the Plains snowpack has already melted and entered the reservoir system because of recent warmer periods.

The releases from Gavins Point dam near the South Dakota-Nebraska border are expected to remain at winter levels of 18,000 cubic feet per second during February.

The Missouri River should have enough water for full service navigation through at least the first half of the 2018 season.

(KLZA)--The Nebraska State Fire Marshal's office says the cause of a January 3rd fire in downtown Falls City is still under investigation.

That word from Deputy State Fire Marshal Alyssa Sanders, who serves as the Public Information Officer for the State Fire Marshall's office, an email response to MSCNEWS.

The fire, which was first reported between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.,is believed to have started in Patrillo's Mexican Restaurant in the 15-hundred block of Stone Street . Smoke and water damage occurred to adjacent buildings and due to the heavy smoke from the blaze several Falls City businesses were closed down that day.

Significant smoke and water damage was reported in the Chaney Furniture building next to the restaurant as well as the next building north which housed apartments and offices. The H&R Block building to the south sustained smoke damage but has since been cleaned up and re-opened.

Chaney Furniture Company is still waiting on a determination from insurance companies before they make any decisions on the buildings future. The corner building owned by Paulo and Vanji Bruxellas has already undergone some renovation inside and a building permit for remodeling the building was recently issued by the City of Falls City.

Some work to clean up the debris inside the walls of the restaurant has begun as well.

(KAIR)--In an effort to promote optimism and a sense of service within the state’s executive branch, recently sworn-in Kansas governor Jeff Colyer visited the local area on Saturday, meeting with residents at Daylight Donuts in Atchison.

After chatting one-on one with many of the residents who crowded into the downtown establishment, Colyer addressed the entire group as a whole for several minutes.

The first issue he brought up was a change in the state’s policy toward sexual harassment prevention. “One of the first things that we did is, we’re the first state, I shouldn’t say the first but we’re one of the very first states to mandate that we have sexual harassment prevention training for every state employee on an annual basis. We do that in the private sector. I want a professional workplace. We just got to do the basic blocking and tackling, and it starts there.”

Colyer went on to seemingly distance himself from the previous administration of Sam Brownback, notably in the area of government transparency, an issue that the state of Kansas has come under fire for recently. “I want to make sure that people have access to information, and so the second executive order that I signed was that any Kansas citizen can make an open records request, and the first 100 pages, is free. That covers everything, you know, pretty much. I just want you to know that we’re going to be much more responsive, and open.”

Colyer, a surgeon, also emphasized that his administration would be operating in a more efficient and business-like way. “Another executive order is that I’m going to be requiring every cabinet agency to start having performance metrics, so you can see what we’re doing, and you can see the good with the bad. When I’m in the operating room, when that heart rate is going down, I want to know it. And we’ll deal with it. And so, you’re going to start seeing us operating this multi-billion dollar operation in a much more professional manner.”

Following the Governor’s remarks he fielded several questions, one of which concerned Medicaid, and whether he would veto or sign legislation that included its expansion. While not offering a specific answer, Colyer said he would look at anything that came across his desk. He added that it’s a very challenging issue due to changes in how the program is federally funded, coupled with the state’s budget problems.

(KMZA)--Community National Bank, of Seneca, has announced a $50,000 matching grant in support of a new Agricultural Education Learning Center building for the Nemaha Central Schools.

With the grant, the bank said in a press release that it hopes to challenge others in the agricultural industry and to help establish the physical presence of the program by supporting the community's agricultural heritage and expanding local educational opportunities.

The release says CNB will match, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 for every contribution made towards the project.

In the spring of 2016, USD #115 School Board announced the addition of an agricultural education curriculum to Nemaha Central High School. During the fall of 2017, classes began and the Nemaha Central chapter of FFA was formed.

As the next progression in the curriculum, the board and school administration are developing plans for the addition of an agricultural learning center to NCHS. The plans for the expansion will initially consist of a classroom, learning labs, and a green house facility to facilitate functional learning throughout the school year. Future plans may consider a school farm that is capable of facilitating livestock educational experiences.

“This is an exciting addition to the NCHS curriculum”, stated Darrel Kohlman, Superintendant of USD #115. “All contributions towards the matching grant will be accepted through the Nemaha Central Education Foundation.”

The Nemaha Central FFA chapter looks forward to February 22nd, when it will host its first annual Mountain Oyster/Soup Supper and Work Auction fundraiser

(KNZA)--A Hiawatha man is accused of failing to register as a sex offender.

24-year-old Daniel Auckland was arrested Thursday by the Brown County Sheriff's Department.

He appeared Friday in a Brown County courtroom on the felony charge.  A preliminary hearing was set for February 14th.

Information was not immediately available on the original sex offense conviction.

He had been arrested Wednesday by the Hiawatha Police Department for a probation violation.  A hearing in that case is now set for March 6th.

Auckland was released Friday on his own recognizance.  

Highland Community College, established as Highland University in February of 1858, is celebrating its 160th year of providing higher education opportunities to Northeast Kansas. 

The signing of its charter was conducted on February 9, 1858 by the Kansas Territorial Legislature.  That day will be celebrated on not only the Highland campus, but also at its Regional Centers in Atchison, Baileyville, Holton, Perry, and Wamego.  The public is invited to join in recognizing the College’s mission of providing lifelong learning opportunities and contributing to economic development to enhance the quality of life in the communities it serves.

As part of a Presbyterian mission to area Native Americans, Father Samuel Irvin established a mission building that is located directly east of Highland.  As the mission grew and the town of Highland was established, one of the town’s first efforts was the creation of Highland University.  The first College building, still in use today, was named for Father Irvin.  Irvin Hall has been the location for a wide variety of uses in the history of the College; today it houses a student reception area for the College’s Admissions Office in the lower level.  The upper level houses the College’s Student Support Services program and student advising/tutoring.

Through the years, the College has been able to collect many items of memorabilia.  During the recent solar eclipse, one of the participants in the College’s hosting of that event made himself known as a descendent of Father Irvin and loaned the College a Certificate of Scholarship from February 25, 1874, that provides the heirs of Father Irvin with free tuition in perpetuity. 

(KLZA)--A two-vehicle wreck Wednesday afternoon in Falls City sent a Rulo man to the hospital.

Falls City Police say it happened at the intersection of 20th and Harlan Streets.

Police say 21-year-old Chance Huppert was southbound on Harlan Street in a car when an eastbound Dodge Dakota pickup driven by 84-year-old Roland Fisher of Falls City started to cross Harlan Street and the vehicles collided.

Huppert was transported to Community Medical Center in Falls City by ambulance with a possible  arm injury.

Fisher was not injured.  He was issued a citation for failure to yield.

(KMZA)--The Seneca Volunteer Fire Department saw a decrease in fire calls last year.

Fire Chief Tom Scott presented the department’s annual report to the City Council Wednesday evening.

Scott said the department responded to a total of 45 calls last year, which is ten less than in 2016.

The department responded to 11 city calls, 33 rural calls and 1 mutual aid call in 2017.

At the request of Scott, the Council approved the purchase of five new radios for the department's trucks from Haug Communications for a cost of $6,855 and some rescue tools for $2,801.

In other business, Wilson and Company Engineers representative Doug Goetz provided an update on the sewer rehabilitation project.

Goetz said the project is 60 percent complete and is on track to be finished  in May.

He said the project should come in under budget.

The Council also approved a zoning change for property located at 1st and Branch Streets from light industrial to low density residential.  City Superintendent Brian Ruske said the property has been sold and the neighboring lots are residential.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau has announced the hiring of a new director.

According to a post on the organization’s Facebook page, Elizabeth “ Liz” Lane has been hired for the position.

Lane currently serves as curator/director of the Brown County Historical Society, a position she’s held since May of last year.  Prior to that, she was at the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lane received her bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Kansas.

Chamber Board President Kate Miller said they are excited to have Lane’s educational and life experiences brought to the role and know the organization will benefit from her leadership.

Lane will replace Deidra Leander who is stepping down in March to spend time with her young family. She has held the position since April 2016.

With the hiring of a new director, Miller says they will start interviews soon for their new assistant director position.    

(KAIR)--Forward movement for the possible renaming of the Atchison Post Office.

That comes as legislation to rename the building in honor of Amelia Earhart advances. The famed aviatrix was born in Atchison in 1897.

The legislation to rename the Post Office was introduced by United States Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins in November of last year.

According to a press release from her office, the House Oversight and Government Reform committee has marked up and unanimously passed out the legislation.

In the press release, the Kansas Republican says she is “pleased the committee has worked quickly to acknowledge the important role Amelia Earhart has had not just in her home state of Kansas but the world.” She says that Earhart's spirit has inspired her and generations of little girls, adding that it's her pleasure to take what she calls a small step to keep Earhart's legacy aloft.

The bill will now be worked by the House of Representatives which would then move the legislation to the Senate for consideration.

If final approval is granted, the Atchison Post Office, which stands at 621 Kansas Avenue, would be designated as the “Amelia Earhart Post Office Building."

(KNZA)--The Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual Legislative Forum Saturday morning, February 10th.

It will begin at 11:00 in the commission chambers on the first floor of the Jackson County Courthouse in Holton.

State Representatives Francis Awkerkamp and Randy Garber along with State Senator Dennis Pyle have confirmed they will be on hand.

The local legislators will provide an update on what happening in the Kansas Legislature and answer questions from those in attendance.

The public is invited to attend.

Meat, cheese and vegetable trays will be available.  In addition, coffee, tea and water will be served.   

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska residents could gain a constitutional right to use medical marijuana under a proposed ballot measure pending before lawmakers.

Senator Anna Wishart of Lincoln presented a state constitutional amendment to a legislative committee on Thursday, arguing that voters should decide the issue.

Wishart introduced the amendment after several previous legalization bills stalled in the Legislature. Unlike past measures, the amendment would appear on the November general election ballot if lawmakers approve it.

The measure appears likely to advance out of the Judiciary Committee, but its prospects before the full Legislature are unclear. Gov. Pete Ricketts has voiced opposition to legalization, but placing it on the ballot would bypass him.

The Nebraska attorney general's office and the state's chief medical officer oppose the measure.

(KAIR)--Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer is coming to the local area.

According to an itinerary released from his office, Colyer Saturday will make five stops at locations across the local region.

His visit will begin Saturday morning in Leavenworth, where he'll visit from 9:00 until 9:35 at Meriwether's Coffee Shop and Cafe, at 702 Cherokee Street.

From there, the recently sworn-in Republican will travel to Atchison, and a stop at Daylight Donuts, at 714 Commercial Street, from 10:15 to 10:45.

Once he departs Atchison, Colyer will travel to Junction City and Manhattan, followed by an afternoon stop at Wamego's Barleycorn's Downtown Deli, at 410 Lincoln Street, from 3:15 to 3:50.

According to Colyer's office, each visit is open to the public. They will allow him to briefly meet with local residents about Kansas issues.

Colyer was sworn in last week as Kansas Governor.

The former Lieutenant Governor stepped into the seat formerly held by his fellow Republican Sam Brownback, who resigned to become U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom under the Trump administration.

(KNZA)--Two Everest Middle School students will represent Brown County at the Regional Spelling Bee next month.

6th grader Grace Cloud captured first place and 7th grader Madison “ Maddy” Stirton took 2nd place during the Brown County Spelling Bee on February 2nd in the Horton High School Auditorium, and will now advance to the regional competition.

Ten Everest and Hiawatha Middle School students took part in the competition.

The Kansas Press Association will sponsor the Regional Spelling Bee March 10th in Tecumseh, near Topeka.

The winner of the regional competition will represent the area in the 2018 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has approved a 7-year plan for the chip sealing of city streets.

The Commission approved the plan Monday evening as presented by Streets Supervisor Nic Siebenmorgen.

The plan calls for the chip seal of 3.6 miles of city streets each year over the seven-year rotation.

The plan also includes a street reclamation portion.  As part of the process, the city will utilize its asphalt zipper machine to grind the existing surface and put down a new surface in areas that need repair.

Art Vonderschmidt appeared before the Commission on behalf of the new high school trap shooting team to request to be able to use the city airport property for practice.

Vonderschmidt said they would like to use the property until their spring season starts April 1st at the new Falls City shooting range.    

Commissioners were open to the request and asked that a use agreement be drafted for consideration at their next meeting.     

At the request of Police Chief John Defore, the Commission voted to rescind a conditional offer that was made at last week’s meeting for an applicant for an additional full-time officer position and authorized the chief to re-open the application process.

In order to attract more applicants, Defore said he would like to see the city ordinance changed that requires officers live within 20 minutes of the city limits.

Commissioners directed Defore to bring something back at their next meeting for consideration.

(KAIR)--The reported theft of an all terrain vehicle sparks an investigation by the Atchison County Sheriff's Department.

According to Sheriff Jack Laurie, the 2018 Polaris RZR was reported stolen from a garage, located at 111 West 1st, in Muscotah. 

The owner told authorities he last saw it in the garage on Saturday, and discovered that it was missing on Sunday.

Laurie says the owner reports the keys to the vehicle were not in it, but the garage was not locked, with entry made through the front door.

No suspects are immediately identified.

Laurie descirbes the 2018 Polaris RZR XP1000 as white, with bright green and yellow colors around the suspension and shock areas.

Anyone with information about the missing vehicle is urged to contact the Atchison County Sheriff's Office.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has approved the purchase of a new pup trailer for the 2nd District road and bridge department.

The Commission Monday accepted the low bid submitted by Wild Horse Industries, of Whitney, Texas, in the amount of $27,592.

The bid was among four received.

It will replace a trailer that was totaled in a wreck.

In other business, the Commission approved the appointment of Ryan Menold to a trustee position on the Morrill Township Board.  

The appointment is for a two-year term.    

(KLZA)--Several more people have filed for local positions prior to the May Primary elections in Richardson County .

Pamela Vice has filed for re-election to the position of Richardson County Assessor on the Republican Ticket.

Richard Malcolm has filed for re-election to the District 56 Board of Education in Falls City. Joseph Jarred of Verdon has also filed to seek one of the seats up for election of the Falls City Board of Education.

Linda Patchen has filed for a 4-year term as a Trustee on the Shubert Village Board.

Incumbents have until February 15 to file for re-election. Non-incumbents have until March 1 to file to run for a position up for election.

(KLZA)--Richardson County Sheriff Don Pounds discussed the possibility of adding additional certified deputies when he met with the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.

Currently, Richardson County employs seven full-time deputy's in addition to the Sheriff'. The County Resolution, which is currently outdated allows for 5.5 deputy's. Commissioners have approved adding deputy's in recent years, but the resolution was not updated.

Sheriff Pounds is requesting he be allowed to hire two more Deputy Sheriff's.

Recently Mike Dougherty, who had served as Jail Administrator changed duties that will have him doing Richardson County Courthouse Security and paper services. The change followed a request from the County and District Judges for security when court is in session.

The Commissioners will consider the possibility of adding additional certified deputies during their February 13th meeting.

Sheriff Pounds also discussed the plans to obtain a drug dog. The company Richardson County was working with in pursuing a dog informed the County that they are unable to get a dog at this time for training and will be sending the County a refund of the fees that have been paid in advance.

MERIDEN, Kan. (AP) — The owner of a Meriden auto body and restoration shop says it was "brutal" watching his business burn, knowing that six classic cars inside the building were destroyed.

High Torque Racing Auto Body and Paint was destroyed in the fire early Wednesday.

The company owner, Mike Garrison, said the fire destroyed a 1967 Buick GS-400 convertible, one of only 421 ever built. Other cars included a '69 Camaro convertible Restomod, a 1957 Chevy and a 1972 convertible.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Garrison says he hopes his insurance is enough to cover a claim that could reach $1 million. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

He says he plans to rebuild the Meriden business.

(KLZA)-- A Fairfax, Missouri man escaped serious injury in a rollover wreck in Atchison County, Missouri Wednesday morning about three miles north of Fairfax.

The Missouri Highway Patrol report indicates 36-year-old Stuart Heck was southbound on U.S. Highway 59 when his Pontiac Grand Prix traveled off the road.  The car went across the intersection of Route TT where it struck a ditch and overturned, coming to rest on its wheels.

Heck was transported by private vehicle to Community Hospital in Fairfax for treatment of what were described as minor injuries.

The Patrol says Heck was buckled up when the wreck occurred around 6:30 Wednesday morning.

(KNZA)--Funeral services have been set for a rural Fairview man who died last week in a fire at his residence.

A celebration of life service for 67-year-old John Schaible will be held Friday, February 16th at 11:00 in the morning at the United Church of Christ in Fairview.

A mass in John’s honor will be Saturday, February 17th at 4:00 in the afternoon at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sabetha.

The Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha is handling the arrangements.  

Firefighters from six Brown County fire departments responded to the fire at 2144 Dewberry Road around 5:20 last Thursday morning.

Schiable’s body was discovered by emergency responders following the fire.

The cause of the fire, which is being investigated by the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office, has not yet been determined.

Investigator Lamar Shoemaker tells MSC News he is still waiting on lab results. However, he said it does not immediately appear that the fire was suspicious.

(KMZA)--A Bern man escaped serious injury in a single-vehicle Nemaha County wreck Wednesday morning.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 43-year-old Shanon Don Schurman was eastbound on K-71, about two miles west of Bern, when his pickup truck left the roadway.  The vehicle struck a culvert and barbed wire fence.

Schurman was transported to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca with what the Patrol described as possible injuries.

The report indicates Schurman was not wearing a seatbelt when the wreck occurred shortly after 10:30 Wednesday morning.  

(MSC News)--The State of Kansas needs an audit, and the people of the state should select who conducts it.

That's the goal behind legislation being introduced in the Kansas Legislature.

The legislation is requested by Republican Senator Dennis Pyle.

According to a press release issued by Pyle, the legislation would require the election of a State Auditor for one four year term, which will expire and go away unless the office can find enough waste, fraud, and abuse equal to or exceeding its budget. "Kansas needs an investigative auditor that is answerable to the electorate for greater transparency, accountability, and confidence reasons. Given the recent findings of misuse, which took some thirty years to discover, it is apparent a full audit of all branches of state government should happen. A full transparent accounting of every receipt and expenditure will allow sunshine into state government activities and restore some confidence to the citizenry."

The release states that the Legislative Post Audit, a division of the legislature, recently audited the transportation weighting of the school finance formula, uncovering the fact that funds were being allocated to certain districts without statutory authority. “With Kansas facing many challenges, including the pending school finance case, making sure every taxpayer dollar is accounted for and spent for the purpose it was appropriated, is more relevant than ever. An elected auditor assigned to a specific task to be thoroughly completed and reported within the four year time frame could potentially be a great investment with a great return."

Pyle, of rural Hiawatha, represents the 1st District of Kansas, which includes all of Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Nemaha, and parts of Marshall and Pottawatomie counties.

(KLZA)--Community Medical Center in Falls City has implemented visitor restrictions due to the high rate of influenza in the community.

Hospital Administrator Ryan Larsen said in a news release that only 1-2 primary family or caregivers can visit patients. This can be a spouse, adult child, or another person designated by a patient.

In addition, no one under the age of 18 will be allowed to visit patients. No visits are allowed by those that are ill or have symptoms of influenza.

Nurses will be permitted to make exceptions in appropriate situations.

Anyone with questions may contact the Administration at 402-245-6503.

(KLZA)--The  Falls City  Council confirmed Mayor Jerry Oliver's recommendation to appoint Chuck Di Giacomo to the position of  Sergeant with the Falls City Police Department Monday evening.  

Di Giacomo has been with the Falls City Police  Department since 2009 and served previously with the Altus, Oklahoma, Police Department. He will take the place of Sergeant Sean Nolte who has retired.

Also on the agenda was the Clow Fit lease agreement with the City for the former City Hall building.  First Ward Councilman Mike Dougherty asked for the discussion to take place in closed session to protect the public interest and the prevention of needles injury to the reputation of an individual.

Following the closed session, the Council voted unanimously to continue the lease agreement.  

The fitness center is now open in the former City Hall building.

(KNZA)--A single-vehicle Brown County wreck early Tuesday evening sent three people to the hospital with possible injuries.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened on K-20 Highway, just east of Kingfisher Road, shortly after 5:20.

The Patrol says 31-year-old Kyle Scoggins, of Everest, was eastbound when he lost control of his Nissan Pathfinder.  The vehicle left the roadway, hit an embankment and overturned on its passenger side.

Scoggins and two passengers, 35-year-old Hiawatha resident Caleb Lear and 31-year-old Everest resident Kelly Haverkamp, were transported to the Horton Community Hospital.

The Patrol says all three were buckled up when the wreck occurred.  

(KNZA)--A new phone scam is being reported locally in attempt to steal your personal information.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant says county residents are being contracted by phone by someone who identifies themselves as a Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative.

The caller is informing residents that they are trying to update information by phone and in some cases have asked to come to the residents home to propose new policy information.

Merchant says several residents have reported that a time and date was agreed upon by the so-called representative to come to their home.  However, when the date arrived, the caller contacted the resident claiming to have some kind of scheduling issue and asked if they could just take the information over the phone.     

In all cases, the resident hung up and reported the activity.  It was also reported that the callers did not have a foreign accident.  

Merchant says he spoke with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas representative and was informed they will never make unsolicited sales calls and will never make appointments to come to your home.

He again reminds residents to never give out personal information over the phone or internet.

If you feel you have been a victim of this scam, notify your local law enforcement at once.

(KAIR)--An 8th grade student at the Atchison County Community Schools is declared the winner of the 2018 Atchison County Spelling Bee.

Ashtyn Jolly earned the victory by correctly spelling “extravaganza.”

Earning 2nd place honors was Alexis Trautloff, a 6th grade student at Atchison's Trinity Lutheran School.

Both students now advance to the Kansas Press Association Regional Spelling Bee in Topeka on March 10.

A total of 47 spellers from Atchison County based elementary and middle schools took part in the competition held Tuesday at the Atchison Middle School.

(KLZA)--A set of dual tires that detached from a semi-truck caused damage to a a house in Falls City Monday afternoon.

According to the Falls City Police Department report, 20-year-old Jackson Hartman of Falls City was southbound on Harlan Street, which is Highway 73 through Falls City, in a 1995 Peterbilt Truck owned by Ramsey Trucking of Falls City.

In the 2300 block of Harlan, a set of duals on the driver's side of the truck became detached,  struck the curb on the southwest corner of 23rd and Harlan, went airborne and eventually struck a house at 2221 Harlan Street.

Damage to the home of Kurt Forsyth was estimated at $1,500 with damage to the truck estimated at $500.

No citations were issued.

(KAIR)--An accidental look into the past, following a mix-up of calendars sent to City of Atchison utility customers.

Customers this week began to report that a Solid Waste schedule calendar received in mailed utility bills was not for the current year, but was instead for 2016.

Following an inquiry from MSC News, the City of Atchison explained that around 300 customers were affected.

In the explanation provided by Customer Relations Manager and Financial Analyst Tina Fitzpatrick, it's clarified that around 300 customers received the incorrect calendar.

The problem is being blamed on a mix-up at the company that prints the utility bill on behalf of the city.

Correct calendars are being mailed to all residential customers at no cost to the taxpayer.

The City clarifies that there will be no change to the solid waste pickup for the week of February 19 through the 22.

Calendars can also be downloaded, and printed, on the City of Atchison's website, cityofatchison.com

(KAIR)--Non-life threatening injuries are reported following a two vehicle Atchison crash late Tuesday morning.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson tells MSC News it happened shortly before 11:30, at 7th Street and Harper Drive.

Wilson says it was there that a westbound car, driven by 54-year-old Brad Carter, of Atchison, was struck by a northbound van, driven by 65-year-old Marcia Walters, of Atchison.

Carter was transported from the scene by EMS, taken for hospitalized care.

Walters was cited for failure to yield.

Wilson says both she, and a child passenger, were unhurt.

(KAIR)--The purchase of two new pickup trucks for the City of Atchison is approved.

That came following a presentation to the Atchison City Commission Monday.

The intended use of the vehicles was outlined to the Commission by Deputy Public Works Director Clinton McNemee. “One of them is for Community Development, more specifically the building inspector, McNemee stated. “It would replace a 2008 Chevy Impala that was a transfer over from [the police department]. That vehicle would then go to the [Amelia Earhart] airport as the courtesy car. The other truck would replace a 2003 half-ton pickup that is being used by utilities, and that pickup would be for the utilities superintendent."

Following the presentation, the Commission voted 3 to 1 to purchase the two 2018 half-ton pickups from Lewis Chevrolet at a cost of more than $53,000.

Commissioner Charlie Perdue cast the lone no vote.

Perdue, prior to the vote, stated he was concerned the new pickup truck for the City Inspector would not be regularly utilized.

Among other business during Monday's meeting, the Commission heard a presentation regarding the recent upgrade to the City of Atchison's Official website, intended to make it more user friendly.

(KMZA)--Plans for the proposed construction of a new Seneca nutrition center and public transit building move forward.

A public hearing was held Monday on a grant application that would help fund the new building.

Nemaha Public Transit plans to seek a grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation that would pay for 50 percent of the transit portion of the building. 

County Senior Services and Public Transit Director Diane Yunghans said  that portion of the project would allow them to expand transportation services for the county along with provide a transit waiting area, van storage areas, meeting area and transit offices.

The other half of the estimated $975,000 project would be county funded.

Yunghans said that part of the project would include an expanded kitchen for their Meals on Wheels program and larger dining hall.  With the expansion, she said they would be able to provide county-wide Meals on Wheels delivery.

Yunghans says two sites are being considered for the project. They include at the  corner of Main Street and Community Drive and two lots along U.S. 36 next to ShopKo, with access off of Branch Street.

Most comments were positive from the 27 people in attendance.  The most pressing question was how people would get to the new proposed location.

Yunghans said that the transit department would pick people up at their door and take them to the new center as needed.

The grant application is due February 16th.

If awarded, Yunghans said construction on the new building could possibly begin in July.
   

(KAIR)--One person is dead, and another continuing to recover, following a Friday night stabbing at a Saint Joseph, Missouri business.

KQ2-TV reports the victims were both employees of Legends Sports Bar where the attack occurred.

27-year-old Eliseo Hernandez-Sabastian is accused of stabbing and killing 38-year-old Terra Reents and injuring the other employee.

Hernandez-Sabastian is charged with second degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with the attack.

The TV station reports the altercation began with the alleged theft of liquor from behind the bar at the establishment.

The stabbing reportedly came after the employees addressed the issue.

(KAIR)--Public input is wanted regarding the temporary placement of stop signs at four intersections in downtown Atchison.

The temporary signage has been in place since early in the new year at the intersections of 3rd and Commercial Streets, near the Atchison Family YMCA, 4th and Kansas Avenue, by the Atchison Public Library, 5th and Santa Fe, and 6th and Santa Fe, on the south side of the Atchison Middle School.

The stop signs were put in place in an effort to study if they create safer traffic flow in those locations.

The matter of the ongoing study was addressed by Atchison Mayor Allen Reavis during Monday's special meeting of the Commission.

Reavis, who said he's heard mixed reviews regarding the signs, inquired as to the best method for members of the public to send comments regarding the stop signs, and was told to contact Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson or Director of Public Works Justin Pregont. "Everybody in those coffee clubs that's out there listening right now, really, send us some emails, send some comments in,” Reavis said. “I can try to quote what you say but, I've heard both ways. There's some that they feel are good, but there's some they don't feel are."

The signs are allowed to remain in place temporarily for up to 90 days for review. After that period ends, the Commission must decide whether or not to pass an ordinance to make the stop signs a permanent addition at the intersections.

(KAIR)--No major damage, but Sunday morning services were canceled, following what's reported as a small fire at the United Methodist Church, in Horton.

According to Horton Fire Chief Lamar Shoemaker, services had not yet begun when smoke alarms inside the church alerted the congregation around 9:00.

The fire was contained to the lower level of the church, located at 130 East 10th Street.

The building incurred smoke damage throughout.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation

(KAIR)--A Junction City runaway, arrested in October in connection with the armed burglary of an Atchison County residence, is going to prison.

Atchison County Attorney Jerry Kuckelman tells MSC News Taggart Lee learned his fate Friday in Atchison County Court. "He was sentenced to 36-months with the Department of Corrections for his involvement in a robbery."

Lee, who was 17 at the time of the alleged crimes, was arrested for his role in the incident that happened at 4123 Ottawa Road.

A woman, planning to clean that residence, arrived there only to find a burglary in progress.

Atchison County authorities at the time said the woman was held at knife point.

Lee, originally from Atchison, had been reported as a runaway from Junction City prior to his arrest.

Two other teens were also accused of playing a role in the crime.

(KLZA)--A  rural Brock man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and motor vehicle homicide following a Saturday evening wreck in Nemaha County, Nebraska that claimed the life of a Pawnee City man.

The Nemaha County Sheriff's Office says 26-year-old Travis Ries was killed in the wreck on U.S. 75 about two miles north of Auburn.

The Sheriff's Office says Ries was a passenger in a car driven by 25-year-old Heather Spurlin, of Pawnee City.

Investigators say Spurlin tried to pass a sport utility vehicle driven by 51-year-old Monty Eaton, which then turned left into her car.

Spurlin and Ries, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected.

Spurlin was flown to a Lincoln hospital. Ries was pronounced dead at the Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn.

Eaton was booked into the Nemaha County Jail in Auburn.

The Nebraska State Patrol is assisting in investigating the crash.

(KAIR)--A Holton traffic stop sends a Topeka man to jail, accused of committing forgery at a Holton business.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse tells MSC News a vehicle was stopped for a traffic infraction in the 100 block of Holton's Arizona Street Friday night.

According to Morse, the Deputy who conducted the stop quickly learned that the passenger in the vehicle allegedly committed a forgery shortly before the stop.

It's alleged that 47-year-old William Randall Manrose made a purchase at the Holton Walmart using the identity of someone else, utilizing a fake driver's license to pass a forged check.

Manrose was arrested on charges of forgery and identity theft.

Following his arrest, Manrose was booked into the Jackson County Jail, but was released on bond Sunday.

(KAIR)--A Holton woman, accused of a Jackson County stabbing last year, is now in custody.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says 31-year-old Holton resident Nicole Leann Martinez was arrested Monday morning on a Jackson County District Court warrant for 2nd degree attempted murder and aggravated battery.

Morse says the issuance of the warrant stems from a joint investigation between his office and the Holton Police Department.

It's alleged that Martinez, on November 26, 2017, stabbed 28-year-old Cruz Ruiz in an apartment at Holton's Red Roof Inn.

Ruiz, of Holton, received hospital treatment for his non-fatal injuries.

Following her arrest, Martinez was booked into the Jackson County Jail, where she's held on a $50,000 bond.

(KMZA)--A single-vehicle wreck early Saturday evening on a Nemaha County road sent a Wetmore man to the hospital.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department says 29-year-old John Coleman was eastbound on 96th Road, east of Q Road, when he over-corrected, which  caused his Chevy Silverado to roll.

Coleman was transported to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

The wreck was reported around 5:20 Saturday evening.    

Meanwhile, details have been made public regarding a single-vehicle wreck early last Wednesday morning on Highway 75 in Nemaha County that left a Hallam, Nebraska man injured.

The Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Jeremy Devries was northbound , north of Acorn Road, when he fell asleep at the wheel his minivan.  He lost control of the vehicle, which overturned.

Devries was transported by ambulance to the Sabetha Community Hospital.

The wreck was reported around 5:00 Wednesday morning.

(KAIR)--An early Saturday morning stabbing at a St. Joseph bar sent two people to the hospital with serious injuries.

KQ2-TV reports it happened at the Legends Sports Bar around 1:20 a.m.

The TV station reports a man used an edged weapon to assault two Legends employees.

According to witnesses cited in the report, two suspects were attempting to steal liquor from behind the bar.

Two employees then attempted to escort the suspects out of the building when one of the them pulled out a weapon and assaulted the employees, according to witnesses.

Both of the victims were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Police said they have one person in custody in relation to the case.

(KAIR)--A Junction City runaway, arrested in October in connection with the armed burglary of an Atchison County residence, is going to prison.

Atchison County Attorney Jerry Kuckelman tells MSC News Taggart Lee was sentenced Friday in Atchison County Court to three years in prison for his involvement in a robbery last summer.

Lee, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, is accused of playing a role in a burglary at 4123 Ottawa Road.

A woman, planning to clean that residence, arrived there only to find a burglary in progress.

Atchison County authorities at the time said the woman was held at knife point.

Lee, originally from Atchison, had been reported as a runaway from Junction City prior to his arrest.

Two other teens were also accused of playing a role in the crime.

(KAIR)--A Jefferson County man is in jail following a threat to kill someone.

WIBW-TV, citing Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig, reports the incident happened shortly after midnight Sunday, at a bar called Fred’s Place, in Perry.

48-year-old Barclay Mead allegedly pointed a gun at a man, and said he was going to kill him.

Mead was then punched by another person in the bar, and knocked unconscious.

No other injuries are reported.

Mead was taken to a local hospital, and later transported to the Jefferson County Jail.

He was taken into custody on charges of attempted 2nd degree murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, among other charges.

(KLZA)--The Richardson County Commission has approved the purchase of a security camera system for the courthouse.

During their January 29th meeting, a proposal was approved from A1 Security Cameras in an amount of nearly $14,400.

The security update was prompted following a break-in of the courthouse last fall.

Sheriff Don Pounds reviewed courthouse security on court days with the Board and the possibility of allowing only one access to the Courthouse during business hours. No action was taken.

(KAIR)--A single vehicle, Andrew County, Missouri crash sent an Atchison man to the hospital. 

According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 47-year-old Frederick Hysten was behind the wheel of a pickup, south of Savannah, Missouri, traveling southbound on Business 71 at County Road 345, Thursday afternoon, when the truck went off the right side of the roadway, and onto the shoulder. 

Hysten lost control, sending the pickup back onto the roadway. Hysten overcorrected, sending the truck sliding off of the west side of Business 71, where it rolled over several times. 

Suffering from what the Patrol says were moderate injuries, Hysten was transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care, in Saint Joseph. 

According to the Patrol's report, Hysten was buckled up at the time of crash, which occurred shortly before 3:30 Thursday afternoon. 

Chase Bryant and Nathanael Nicholson

(KAIR)--A raid conducted at an Atchison residence nets more than 3 pounds of marijuana, along with firearms and ammunition.

That word from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, who says the execution of a search warrant at 122 North 2nd Street Thursday night led to the arrests of 22-year-old Chase Bryant and 23-year-old Nathanael Nicholson. "We've had some complaints from neighbors...about the activity that was going on there. We were able to make a few purchases out of there over the last few months, and do some more surveillance on it, and try to figure out what was really going on in there. The house had actually been shot up, and reported to the police, so that was concerning as well."

Assisted by the Atchison Police Department's Special Response Team, Laurie says Bryant and Nicholson surrendered their weapons when authorities entered the home around 11:30 Thursday night.

Once the suspects were in custody, a search of the residence was made, and that's when the alleged 3 ½ pounds of marijuana was seized, along with liquid THC, paraphernalia used for packaging, distributing, and smoking, and more than $800 in cash.

Photo credit: Atchison County Sheriff's Office

Laurie says a large quantity of ammunition was also located, along with the legal weapons. "There were three handguns and also an AK-47. They weren't necessarily breaking any laws with the guns, as far as having them in the home, [but it's] a safety issue for everybody else when they're dealing narcotics out of the residence."

Bryant and Nicholson both face charges of distribution of marijuana, possession of hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia used to distribute marijuana, & no drug tax stamp for marijuana.

Following their arrests, the pair was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

A woman, who did not live at the residence, was detained during the raid, but released without charge.

(MSC New)--Coming on the heels of the resignation of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, and the swearing in of former Lieutenant Governor Dr. Jeff Colyer to fill the position, legislation is introduced pertaining to how the Lieutenant Governor is selected.

Senator Dennis Pyle is requesting legislation to require Senate confirmation for gubernatorial appointments to that office.

The rural Hiawatha Republican, in a news release, says such oversight is needed as a matter of keeping a check on power. “Appointment without oversight is comparative to walking along a cliff in the dark, we need some sunshine to insure safety. Senate confirmation eliminates the possibility of someone stepping into the office of lieutenant governor or governor without ever having faced the scrutiny of the voters or the check on power that can be provided by those elected to represent the voters. The past and current situation make this reform a timely issue.”

The proposal is made based on the need to select a new Lieutenant Governor for Kansas.  “With Kansas facing many challenges including the pending school finance case, making sure those in positions of executive authority are accountable to the voters or their representatives is more crucial than ever,” Pyle said in the news release. 

Brownback resigned following his appointment by the United States Senate to become ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom under the Trump administration.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - University of Nebraska Regent Rob Schafer is seeking another term in office.

Schafer announced his campaign Thursday to represent District 5 in southeast Nebraska. Schafer was elected to the Board of Regents in 2014 after being appointed to the position in 2013.

The 50-year-old Schafer is an attorney in Beatrice and serves as a lieutenant colonel and staff judge advocate for the Nebraska Air National Guard. He also owns and operates a farm in Pawnee County raising corn, soybeans and wheat, and serves as the director of a swine operation in Iowa.

District 5 includes Butler, Cass, Clay, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Seward, Saunders and Thayer counties. It also extends into northwest Lancaster County and part of the city of Lincoln.
 

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - A man has been accused of looting his ailing mother's bank account and not paying her bills in southeast Nebraska.
 
Nebraska City station KNCY reports that 58-year-old Gary Vaughn, of Auburn, is accused of misusing nearly $61,000 from his mother's account. Court records say he's charged with three felony counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult. His attorney didn't immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press.
 
Vaughn's next court date is Feb. 14.
 
An arrest warrant affidavit says Vaughn has power of attorney for his 83-year-old mother and is supposed to be paying her bills. The affidavit says the facility caring for his mother is owed nearly $28,000.
 

(KAIR)--A rescue Friday morning at Atchison's MGP Ingredients.

Atchison Fire Chief Ted Graf tells MSC News it involved an individual who became trapped in grain in a storage facility.

Although it happened at MGP, Graf says the incident stemmed from subcontract work, and the person rescued was a subcontractor.

Graf says the man was freed and was evaluated by Atchison County EMS.

He suffered no serious injuries, and refused transport for further medical treatment.

Graf says the Atchison Fire Department was notified directly by MGP shortly after 10:00.

He said his office was aware that the work, that led to the short entrapment, would be conducted Friday morning.

To hear Graf provide a detailed explanation of the rescue, go here. 

(MSC News)--A new superintendent of schools has been hired for the St. Joseph School District.

The Board of Education announced in a press release Thursday the hiring of  Dr. Doug Van Zyl.

Van Zyl, who was among three candidates interviewed, was offered a three-year contract with an annual salary of $210,000 the first two years.

He is currently is in his 8th year as superintendent in Fort Dodge, Iowa, a school district of about 4,000 students. During his tenure, the release says he increased student achievement, stabilized the budget and developed many partnerships between the school district and local business and civic organizations.

Prior to serving in Fort Dodge, Van Zyl was superintendent of Harrisonville, Missouri for three years.

 Van Zyl will begin his new role with the St. Joseph School District on July 1st.

(KNZA)--Due to lack of quorum, the Doniphan County Commission will not be in session Monday,  February 5th.

That announcement came in an email Friday from County Clerk Peggy Franken.

The next regular meeting will be Monday, February 12th.

( KLZA)--The Humboldt  City Council conducted the annual 1 & 6 Year Street Plan public hearing during the January 16th Council meeting.  

Mayor Crystal  Dunekacke informed Council members that longtime City Street Superintendent Jim Condon with Olson & Associates had recently passed away. 

The City must update the 1 & 6 Year Plan annually in order to receive Highway Allocation funding from the  State of Nebraska.    

Council member Doris DeJong pointed out a mistake on the map provided by Olsson Associates. The map shows the Airport Road running to Rose Street through a field while it actually ends at 4th Street.   

The Council voted to approved the plan with the requirement the map be changed concerning the mistake.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - A Leavenworth woman is among two women facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of a 34-year-old Eudora man whose body was found inside a burning house near Lawrence.

The Douglas County District Attorney said 37-year-old Christina Towell along with 38-year-old Tria Evans, of Lawrence, were charged Thursday. They are being held on $1 million bond.

Joel Wales was found dead Nov. 3 in the home south of Lawrence. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Evans is the mother of Wales' child, and the two had several past domestic disputes.

Towell does not have a record in the Douglas County court.

The sheriff's office said it would not release further information about the homicide while the investigation is ongoing.

(KAIR)--A forthcoming makeover of the 800 block of Atchison's Commercial Street, as funded through grant monies, will impact traffic into the 700 block, due to necessary sewer line replacement work.

City of Atchison Director of Public Works, Justin Pregont, says the unexpected scope of the project is the reason behind the upcoming lack of access for motorists.

He says a shuttle service will be put in place for use by those who can't make the walk from nearby parking lots to those businesses where parking is impossible.

To hear Pregont explain the workings of the shuttle service, go here.

The City of Atchison has also made an exception to policy pertaining to advertising individual businesses on the City's social media pages, Instead, based on the expected financial impact to businesses in the 700 block of Commercial, the City has, through for-pay sponsored content, begun to feature ads on its Facebook page, as well as for free on its Twitter feed.

According to Interim City Manager/City Finance Director Becky Berger, the price tag for the Facebook advertisements is expected to total around $500.

(KNZA)--One person is dead following an early Thursday morning Brown County fire.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant says it happened near Fairview, at a residence located at 2144 Dewberry Road.

Merchant confirms that a body was discovered by emergency responders, but the identity of the victim isn't immediately being made public.

According to a release from Merchant, the fire began around 5:20 Thursday morning, with fire departments from Fairview, Morrill, Powhattan, Horton, Hiawatha, and the Kickapoo Tribal department, all rushing to the scene to battle the deadly blaze.

Town and Country Ambulance, along with Squad 48, the Sac and Fox Police Department, and the Sheriff's Office, all assisted at the scene.

Merchant says the Kansas Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

(KMZA)--The results of a group of visitors “First Impressions” of Seneca were shared during a meeting Wednesday evening.

As part of the “ First Impressions” program developed by K-State Research and Extension, a volunteer team from the Pottawatomie County community of St. Mary’s recently visited the community.   In turn, a group from Seneca visited their community.  

A questionnaire was given to both groups to make comments on different aspects of the city that they visited.  

The comments from the St. Mary’s group noted that Seneca is a clean, well-kept town with friendly, and courteous customer service in the businesses that they visited.  They noted the variety of stores and services that were available for a town the size of Seneca.  In addition, the group commented on the well-kept look of the schools and churches in the community.

On the other side, the group noted the lack of rental housing in the community and need for additional signage directing people to the downtown.

The information will be used in future city planning.  
    

(KNZA)--A new Hiawatha High School principal has been hired.

Following an executive session at a special USD 415 Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening, Superintendent Lonnie Moser says the Board voted to hire Lori Fordyce for the position.  

Fordyce was offered a one-year contract for the 2018-19 school year.

She was among four candidates interviewed.

Fordyce, who lives on a farm in the Powhattan area, currently serves as a librarian and Title I math teacher in the Buchanan County R-1V School District. .

She previously was a business teacher at Central High School in St. Joseph for 11 years, and a business and technology teacher for two years at Ridgeway, Missouri.

Fordyce received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Business, Master of Science in Educational Administration and Specialist of Education in Educational Leadership, all from Northwest Missouri State University.

Fordyce has a son who currently attends school in the Hiawatha School District.

The high school principal position came open following the resignation of Andrew Gaddis at the end of the 2016-17 school year.

Alan Jeffery is serving as interim principal this school year.

(KNZA)--A woman was airlifted to an area hospital following a single-vehicle Jackson County wreck early Thursday morning.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says the wreck was reported around 3:00 on 142nd Road, just east of U Road.

Morse says 25-year-old Khelsea Loh, of Topeka, was eastbound when her Dodge Ram pickup left the roadway and overturned.

Loh was ejected from the vehicle.  

Morse says she was flown to Topeka’s Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center by Lifestar ambulance with serious injuries.

The Hoyt and Mayetta Fire Departments along with Jackson County EMS responded to the scene.

The wreck remains under investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.