(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission Friday unanimously approved an amended resolution changing the ballot language for the May 21 special election on the proposed sales tax initiative for health care services in the county.

The action was taken on the recommendation of the joint city/county hospital advisory committee, which met Thursday.

Hiawatha City Administrator Mike Nichols, who serves as chairman of the Committee, said the committee approved amending the ballot language to allow the sales tax proceeds from the proposed 10-year half-cent countywide retailers sales tax to not only go to the Hiawatha Community Hospital but another entity providing heatlhcare services in the city of Horton. With so much unknown now about the Horton facilities, it was felt the broader wording would be more fitting and provide revenue for the future of healthcare in south Brown County.

Nichols said the committe also voted to recommend that 80 percent of the sales tax proceeds go to the Hiawatha hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton to provide health care services in their community. 

The sales tax is estimated to generate around $700,000 annually.

In addition, Nichols said the committee voted to recommend that Sabetha Community Hospital's request for a portion of the sales tax proceeds be denied. He said the committee felt it was important to have all the sales tax revenues go toward healthcare facilities located within Brown County.

Before the amended resolution was approved, Commissioner Rich Lehmkuhl asked Hiawatha hospital CEO John Broberg several questions based on concerns he's heard from residents--including what he feels are the benefits of a 10 year versus 5 year sales tax.

Broberg said the biggest benefit is that it will allow the hospital to refinance its existing industrial revenue bonds, saving nearly $640,000. In addition, he says it would allow the hospital to make capital improvements there has not been money for.

Lehmkuhl said he believes the hospital needs to be more transparent and accountable to the taxpayers. He asked for monthly reports and annual financial statements from the hospital as long as the sales tax is in place.  

Hospital board member Jake Wisdom said they want to be good stewards of the taxpayers dollars.

Broberg said the hospital plans to hold twenty-nine town hall meetings, beginning the week of April 8, to educate the public about the need for the sales tax.

(KNZA)--The report of a suspicious vehicle leads to the arrest of two people in Jackson County on burglary and other charges.

Sheriff Tim Morse said shortly after 8:00 Friday night Jackson County deputies and the Hoyt Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious car parked behind a residence in the 13-thousand block of S. Road near Hoyt.

He said deputies discovered that forced entry was made to the property, and law enforcement stopped the car east of  T. Road on 126th Road.

34-year-old Rachel Johnson, of Wellsville, and 36-year-old Bradley Cowling, of Carbondale, were taken into custody.

Morse said the duo was alleged to be in possession of property that came from the residence at the time of their arrests.

Cowling was booked into the Jackson County Jail for burglary, theft, felony interference with law enforcement, and criminal use of weapons. Cowling also had outstanding warrants for his arrest from other Kansas jurisdictions. Johnson was booked into the Jackson County Jail for burglary and theft.

Bond is pending at this time.

(KQ2-TV)--The Platte County Sheriff's Department is investigating what they say is the suspicious death of a man and toddler. 

The sheriff's office received a call shortly after 7:00 a.m. Sunday regarding a vehicle on fire in the 20000 block of B Highway north of Ridgley.

When first responders arrived on scene, they found the remains of a toddler and man inside a charred car.

"We have found 'skeletonized' remains of what we believe is an adult male and possibly a toddler," Major Erik Holland from the Platte County Sheriff's Office said. 

Fire crews had to cut through the car's doors after the handles were melted shut. 

"A lot of parts had melted down so it had to be cut," Holland said. 

Investigators say this will be a slower investigation due to the state of the remains. Detectives say they will have to use dental or DNA samples to positively identify the bodies.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office is also assisting in the investigation. 

(KAIR)--A vehicle pursuit that began in Jefferson County ended in Atchison County when the suspect vehicle crashed into the Effingham City Swimming Pool.

Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, in a release, said it happened early Sunday morning after his office was notified of the pursuit, which involved 19-year-old Florrisant, Missouri resident Jaylon L. Ray.

After deputies were told Ray had entered Atchison County, the pursuit came to an end when the 2014 Hyundai he was driving crashed into the swimming pool. However, it’s alleged that Ray didn’t give up, with Laurie saying he fled the crash scene on foot, but was located several hours later in Effingham.

Ray was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Additional Jefferson County charges are possible, as are charges in Colorado where Ray allegedly fled from the Colorado Highway Patrol on Saturday.

Following his arrest in Effingham, Ray was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

No injuries are reported.

Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

(KNZA)--A candidate has filed for a position up for election this November on the Horton City Commission.

The Brown County Clerk's Office reports Glen Obbards filed Friday for the position of Commissioner of Parks and Recreation.

The position is currently held by Bobby Bacon.  Bacon was appointed last July to fill the unexpired term of Jeremy Forkenbrock.

Also up for election are the position of mayor, currently held by Bryan Stirton, and Commissioner of Police, currently held by Rex West.

Candidates have until noon, June 3 to file in the Brown County Clerk's Office.

A primary election will be held August 6, if necessary.  The general election is November 5. 
 

(KMZA)--The release of the term sheet for the proposed Soldier Creek Wind Farm in Nemaha County has been delayed.

According to an email from Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert Friday afternoon, the County Commission need additional time to resolve some minor issues with the document.  Accordingly, he said the term sheet will not be released or published until Monday morning, at the earliest.

It was announced at this past Monday's Commission meeting that contact negotiations with NextEra Energy Resources had been finalized and the term sheet was to be released to the public by the end of the week.

The term sheet will lay out the rules and regulations for the construction, operation and ultimately dismantling of the 300 megawatt windfarm.

After the document is published, two hearings will be held to allow an opportunity for public input before Commmissioners vote on it.

(KAIR)--The death of a Platte County man is under investigation.

That word was delivered Friday in a news release issued by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim is identified as a 61-year-old white man who was found Friday morning near an overturned boat in the flooded area near Bean Lake, north of Weston.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office does not suspect foul play.

According to the release, the Sheriff’s Office Thursday evening received a call from the man’s family saying they were unable to contact him.

Attempts to locate him Thursday evening were unsuccessful, but resumed Friday morning.

It was around 11:00 that the overturned boat, and the man’s body, were found.

His name is not immediately made public.

The official cause of death is pending the results of the Medical Examiner’s investigation.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Marine Division.

(KNZA)--Former longtime Sabetha Police Chief Mike Hill is being remembered.

Hill died Wednesday at a Topeka hospital at the age of 66.

He served with the Sabetha Police Department for 31 years, including as police chief for 25 years from 1982 to 2007.

After his retirement, Hill served as a park ranger with the city of Sabetha.

He is being remembered for his kind heart and caring disposition.

A memorial service for Hill will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha.

Visitation will be Monday evening from 6 to 8 at the mortuary.

Among survivors are his wife, Les, and three sons.

(KAIR)--The convictions of a Holton man accused of rape have been overturned by the Kansas Court of appeals.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported the Appellate Court Friday ordered a new trial for  24-year-old Jacob Ewing.

The Court said the prosecutor misstated evidence in closing arguments and inflamed the passions of the jury.

Ewing was found guilty in June 2017 on two counts of rape, four counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, and two counts of battery.

The newspaper reports Ewing filed an appeal a year later which argued that special prosecutor Jacqie Spralding made comments unsupported by evidence during closing arguments. Ewing also argues that six errors, leading up to the controversial trial, were made by the court.

In its decision, the court of appeals said the case had“the cumulative effect of the errors committed by the district court and the prosecutor denied Ewing his constitutional right to a fair trial.”

(KAIR)--A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy suffered non life-threatening injuries Friday morning following a two vehicle crash.

According to a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol, it happened around 7:30 on K-4 Highway, at Main Street, in Meriden.

The deputy, identified as 40-year-old Wade Noll, of Topeka, was transported by ambulance to Topeka’s Stormont Vail for the treatment of what the Patrol called a “suspected minor injury.”

According to the report, Noll’s 2016 Ford Explorer, identified by the Topeka Capital-Journal as his patrol vehicle, collided with the rear of a vehicle that was also northbound on K-4, that was attempting to turn west onto Main Street.

The driver of that vehicle, 16-year-old Haley Kimble, and her 13-year-old passenger, both of Meriden, were not hurt.

According to the Patrol, everyone involved was buckled up at the time of the wreck.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission Friday approved a resolution setting a public hearing to consider the formation of a cemetery district.

The hearing was set for April 30 at 8:30 in the morning in the Commissioner’s room at the Brown County Courthouse.

Representatives of Hiawatha’s two cemeteries met with the Commission Monday to request that the cemetery district be formed.

It would consist of the city of Hiawatha and most of Hiawatha township.

The district would provide funding for the upkeep and maintenance of the Hiawatha Cemetery, Mount Hope Cemetery, Brown County Poor Farm Cemetery and an unnamed cemetery located west of the intersection of 260th and Kestrel Roads.

The four cemeteries are currently the only cemeteries in Brown County not receiving tax support.

The district would be funded by a maximum 2 mill levy, which is expected to raise $72,000.

(KMZA)--A Goff man facing charges in connection with an armed home invasion last September in Seneca has entered into a plea agreement.

According to the Nemaha County Attorney’s Office, Albert Scott III pleaded guilty Thursday in Nemaha County District Court to an amended charge of attempted aggravated robbery.

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

Sentencing was set for the morning of April 25.

Scott is accused of entering a Seneca residence on September 29 of last year, armed with a .380 handgun, and taking tattoo equipment while someone else was inside the home.

It’s also alleged that Scott, when being placed under arrest, interfered with the process, committing battery against a Seneca police officer.

He remains in the Nemaha County Jail, held on a $300,000 bond.        

(KNZA)--The first candidate has filed for one of four positions up for election this fall on the South Brown County USD 430 board of education.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports Laurence Berger filed Thursday for re-election to position 3.

Also up for election are position 1, currently held by Richard Lovelady; position 2, currently held by Jason Selland; and position 7, currently held by Jason Smith.

Candidates have until noon, June 3rd to file at the Brown County Clerk’s Office.

If a primary election is necessary, it will be held August 6.  The general election is November 5.  

(KNZA)--A legislative forum is set Saturday morning, March 30 in Holton.

The forum, which is being sponsored by the Holton Rotary Club, will take place from 9 to 11 at the Hutchins Building, located on the west side of the Holton Town Square.

On hand will be the three state legislators serving Jackson County---Senator Dennis Pyle, Representative Francis Awkerkamp and Representative Randy Garber.

They will provide an update on what’s happening in the Kansas Legislature and then take questions from the audience.

The public is invited to attend.

The Rotary will furnish coffee, orange juice and doughnuts.
 

Left to right: Atchison City Manager Becky Berger, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), 63rd KS Representative Dr. John Eplee, and Atchison Mayor Shawn Rizza, discussed flooding at the Atchison Riverfront March 29, 2019 (Credit: Brian Hagen/MSC News)

(KAIR)--Atchison-area officials late Thursday morning gathered at Atchison’s riverfront to meet with United States Senator Jerry Moran. “I wanted to see what the circumstance is,” Moran said following his talk with officials.

With the Missouri River serving as the backdrop, the Republican Senator from Kansas discussed the impact of recent flooding with the local officials. “This is really early in the year, this is a lot of water to have in March. Spring is still ahead of us, and lots of reports of great levels of snow-melt and the rainy season coming. I want to have conversations that I take from these meetings back to the Army Corps of Engineers. What are they doing to help reduce the chance that there will be future flooding later this year?”

Among those taking part in the discussion were Kansas 63rd District Representative Dr. John Eplee, Atchison City Manager Becky Berger, Atchison Vice-Mayor Dr. Allen Reavis, Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter, and Atchison Mayor Shawn Rizza. “We really appreciate him coming down and putting eyes on the problem, that way he can take that experience back to Washington with him and help solve those problems,” Rizza told MSC News. “It’s going to take a lot of work working together with Missouri, raising up [U.S. Highway] 59 so that every time this happens we don’t get stuck. We’re losing a lot of business from the Missouri side where people, instead of coming over the bridge to us, are now going to St. Joe, going to Kansas City. It’s going to take work at the federal level for that to really be fixed.”

Moran said the issue of the elevation of U.S. Highway 59, which remains closed due to flooding just east of Atchison, in Buchanan County, Missouri, will be discussed with Missouri officials. “I’ve already had a number of conversations with Senator Blunt, from Missouri, about how we can work together. Generally, we were talking about levees, but this is an opportunity for us to see if we can encourage Missouri, as they rebuild 59, to do it in a way that it doesn’t flood in the future.”

Moran’s Atchison visit was one part of his overall Thursday tour of northeast Kansas locales impacted by flooding. “I’ve been in Leavenworth this morning [Friday, March 28] visiting with city officials. We’ll spend time, of course, here in Atchison, and a stop, for a couple hours, in Doniphan County, meeting with ag producers. I would expect, as I spend additional time in northeast Kansas, that agriculture will be a place in which much of the damage has occurred. Farmers and ranchers, consequences to their livestock and to their grain, and their ability to grow crops into the future.”

Moran was to be accompanied during his meeting in Doniphan County by state officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which Moran said included Rural Development, NRCS, and FSA, the Farm Service Agency.

Moran said a disaster assistance bill is advancing in the Senate which would include support for flood-stricken states such as Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two top leaders of the Kansas Highway Patrol are leaving the agency.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday in a news release that Col. Mark Bruce, the patrol's superintendent, and Lt. Col. Randy Moon, an assistant superintendent, have resigned.

Kelly said Shawnee County Sheriff Herman Jones will take over the agency on Wednesday. Maj. Jason De Vore will be acting superintendent until Wednesday.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the governor's spokeswoman, Ashley All, said she couldn't comment on the departures because they were personnel matters.

Kelly said in December that she would retain Bruce because he was an effective leader and a strong advocate for law enforcement officers.

Jones led the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department since 2012 and was a highway patrol employee for more than 20 years.

WIBW-TV, late Thursday, cited an anonymous letter alleging sexual misconduct at the state agency.

The TV station is reporting that the letter alleges that Bruce tried to cover up misconduct, and also outlines a report of domestic violence involving Moon.

(KNZA)--An advisory committee voted Thursday to recommend that the Sabetha Community Hospital not receive a portion of the proceeds from a proposed sales tax for health care services in Brown County.

That followed a lengthy discussion and presentation from Sabetha Community Hospital CEO Lori Key.

The Brown County Commission asked the Joint City/County Hospital Advisory Committee to meet to make a recommendation after Sabetha hospital officials approached the Commission Monday with the request.

Committee members felt the proceeds from the proposed 10-year half-cent countywide retailers sales tax should go toward facilities maintained in Brown County, noting the Sabetha hospital is located in Nemaha County and already receives tax support.

The committee also voted to recommend that, if the sales tax is approved during a special election May 21, 80 percent of the proceeds over the 10-year period go to the Hiawatha hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton for health care services in their community.

Hiawatha Hospital interim CEO John Broberg said he felt it was a good compromise, while Horton City Administrator John Calhoon said he felt it would help both communities.

The sales tax is estimated to generate around $700,000 annually.

The committee also voted to recommend an amendment to the sales tax resolution approved by the county commission March 11, which would allow another entity other than the Hiawatha Community Hospital to receive proceeds for providing health care services in Horton. 

County Attorney Kevin Hill said with so much unknown now about the Horton facilities, the broader wording of the resolution would be more fitting and provide revenue for the future of healthcare in southern Brown County.

The committee recommendations will now go to the Brown County Commission for consideration when they meet Friday morning, March 29.

(KLZA)--U.S. Senators Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer have sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency urging FEMA to expedite aid for Nebraska counties which have not yet been designated eligible for individual assistance.

The Senators from Nebraska ask that in light of the devastating storms and ongoing flooding in Nebraska, FEMA expedite its delivery of damage assessments for the counties not yet granted eligibility for individual assistance as requested by Governor Pete Ricketts.   

The counties include: Richardson,  Boone, Buffalo, Burt, Custer, Knox, Nance, Saline, Thurston and the Santee Sioux Nation.

The letter concludes the severity of damage from flooding presents the need for immediate action.  

(KNZA)--The former director of Jackson’s County’s Banner Creek Lake Reservoir has been arrested, taken into custody Thursday in connection with trespassing at his former office.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, in a news release, said 63-year-old John D. Kennedy, of Hoyt, was apprehended on a Jackson County District Court warrant for burglary and theft.

On February 11, deputies served a no trespass warning, issued by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, to Kennedy. That order prohibited Kennedy from trespassing at his former office and shop space, located at the reservoir, and instructed him to return all county owned property, including keys and a credit card, by February 15.

Morse said it was on February 18 that the Sheriff’s office was contacted regarding a possible unauthorized entry into the shop, and evidence related to a possible burglary at the facility was gathered.

The investigation led to the discovery that county property was missing from the shop, which then led investigators to obtain a search warrant for Kennedy’s southeastern Jackson County residence.

The search warrant, obtained February 20, was executed at Kennedy’s home where it’s alleged that property and tools belonging to Jackson County was seized.

Investigators say that not only was Kennedy in possession of the county property, it’s alleged that he used a key to enter the reservoir shop February 18 and then stole fuel.

Investigators also allege that he stole cash from his former office prior to the fuel theft.

Following his arrest, Kennedy was booked into the Jackson County Jail.

His bond is set at $1,500.

According to online jail records, Kennedy was not listed as an inmate as of early Thursday afternoon.

(KNZA)--The bond for a rural Horton man, accused of shooting at law enforcement officers during a 10-hour standoff last November on the Kickapoo Reservation, has been modified.

A Brown County District Court judge Monday granted a motion by the attorney for 54-year-old Anthony Walker to reduce his bond from $500,000 to $10,000 cash or surety.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says the motion was granted over his strong objections.

Walker had been scheduled for arraignment on 12 counts, but that was continued to April 22.

The stand-off began the evening of November 27 after Kickapoo Tribal Police were called to a residence in the 12-hundred block of Fern Road for a domestic disturbance.

Multiple agencies responded after Walker,  allegedly armed with an AK-47, began shooting at officers.

Walker surrendered peacefully the following morning after a tactical team from the Kansas Highway Patrol entered the home.

A woman in the home, who allegedly was being held against her will, was able to escape without injury before the standoff ended  and no officers were hurt.    

At last check, Walker remained in the Brown County Jail.

(KNZA)--A jury trial has been set for a Hiawatha woman facing a pair of child sex charges.

Teaini Simmons pleaded not guilty Monday in Brown County District Court to charges of rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

A three-day jury trial was set, beginning September 11.

A judge found Simmons competent to stand trial following a hearing in December based on an evaluation conducted by KANZA Mental Health.

She was arrested in May of last year following an investigation by the Hiawatha Police Department.

The investigation was launched after the Department received a report from a concerned citizen that Simmons was romantically involved with a child under the age of 14.

She remains free on a $100,000 bond.

(KLZA)--Pawnee County Commissioners discussed the Pawnee County / Pawnee City law enforcement agreement for the years 2019-20 through 2022-23 when they met Tuesday.

Board Chairman Dennis Schaardt met with the City law enforcement committee and an agreement was reached. The Pawnee County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services for Pawnee City.

The City will pay $65,500 for 2019-20, with a three-percent increase per year for the next three years.  Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

In other business, Emergency Manager Amanda  Burki met with the Board to provide disaster updates.  The preliminary damage assessment in Pawnee County was estimated at nearly $315-thousand from flooding.  The report was submitted to Nebraska Emergency Management on March 20th.    Additional damages can be added as they are discovered.

County Clerk Candi Nicholas discussed correspondence from the Nebraska State Auditor regarding a possible need for budget amendments for counties that have disaster funding needs.

(KLZA)--Johnson County Rural Water District #1 will received a $298-thousand loan from the USDA to make improvements to the water system.

The USDA is investing $116-million to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure for more than 171-thousand people in 23 states.

The loan to Johnson  County Rural Water District #1 will provide financing to replace water mains, install new lines, repaint the standpipe and replace a well pump.

Just over two thousand residents are served by the system.  The loan is for 40 years with a 4-percent interest rate.  

(KNZA)--A burn ban has been issued for Doniphan County due to the windy conditions.

That word Wednesday from Doniphan County Emergency Management Coordinator Julie Meng.

Meng said no outside burning is permitted.

The burn ban will remain in place until further notice.

(KAIR)--As temperatures warm up, construction begins in Atchison as two long-discussed projects get underway.

According to the City of Atchison, preliminary construction on the 2nd Street Corridor Project began Monday.

Atchison Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont, last month, told MSC News the concept has been years in the making. “We wrote this grant a couple of years ago,” Pregont said. “The idea was to create an exceptional pedestrian experience between downtown Atchison and the campus of Benedictine College. The way that we’re going to do that is with a big investment in curb and gutter, a big investment in sidewalks through that corridor, and also by adding pedestrian style Stress Crete streetlights similar to those you see downtown. The last component of that is that through the Amelia Earhart District, which is on that corridor which runs from about Kansas Avenue to Atchison Street, the sidewalks that are existing will come out and will be replaced by a brick paver thing kind of meant to accentuate that historic district that’s been designated.”

Federal grant funds will support the bulk of the project. “The project won a $525,000 grant through the Transportation Alternatives Program,” Pregont said. “It’s about a $920,000 project so the balance of that will come from the City of Atchison from a couple of different funds.”

Also getting underway is the Safe Routes to Schools Project on South 5th Street. “About 18-months, or 2-years ago, we established a Safe Routes to School Plan for Atchison Middle School, and what we did was survey students and parents and some community engagement efforts to figure out what are the barriers for kids to walk to school safely. We figured out that one of the biggest barriers to do that is sidewalk conditions, so we took this opportunity to develop a scope of work for the South 5th Street corridor which leads to the 5th Street viaduct over the railroad tracks and Main Street and [U.S. Highway 59] so it’s kind of a safe way to cross from the south side of town to the north side of town, from Park Street all the way out to U Street and some of the side streets.”

Pregont said grant funds will also cover most of the project’s price tag. “That’s a project that was awarded a $400,000 grant thanks to the planning work of Live Well Live Atchison and USD 409 and our organization, the City of Atchison. It’s about a $500,000 project, so, the City will have $100,000 in it and there’s about a $400,000 Safe Routes to School grant.”

Leavenworth-based Julius Kaaz Construction is serving as general contractor on both projects, which are expected to be completed this summer.

The Atchison City Commission in February gave final approval to both, allowing the construction to proceed.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man goes to jail, arrested following an Atchison County Sheriff’s Office investigation focused on the sale of cocaine.

According to a report issued by Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, 37-year-old Trevell Seymore was arrested Monday.

Laurie said the arrest stemmed from an alleged purchase of cocaine from Seymore made by the Sheriff’s Office in January, 2018.

A warrant was later obtained, leading to Seymore’s evening arrest in the 1600 block of Atchison’s Main Street.

He was taken into custody on charges of distribution of cocaine, no drug tax stamp, and use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony.

Following his arrest, Seymore was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

He is currently free on a $20,000 bond. 

Inside Atchison's Fox Theater/Credit: Brian Hagen/MSC News

(KAIR)--Following nearly 5-years without, Atchison will again have a movie theater.

That comes as the renovation of downtown Atchison’s formerly unoccupied theater building comes to a close.

In October 2017, Theatre Atchison, the local home of community live theater, purchased the building, at 612 Commercial Street, with designing, planning, and fundraising following the purchase in order to fulfill the goal of what’s known as the Silver Screen Project.

The theater building last housed the Royal Theater, which closed in 2014. Prior to that, it was known as the Fox Theater, and the completely overhauled building will again use that name.

On Saturday, March 23, a donor party was held at the theater, and now, later this week, it’s the public’s turn to experience the renovation first hand.

MSC News Director Brian Hagen had a chance to tour the theater with Travis Grossman, Executive Director for Theatre Atchison, on March 15, for an inside look at the state-of-the-art facility.

(KNZA)--The increased traffic on Brown County highways due to flooding in Missouri and Nebraska could last 3 to 6 more weeks.

That word Wednesday from Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

Due to the recent flooding, many roadways in Missouri and Nebraska have been deemed impassable. Railways have also been compromised due to flooding across several states.

Merchant said the biggest increase in traffic has been reported on U.S. 36 and 75 Highways, but U.S. 73 is seeing an increase in truck traffic as well. “We’re asking everybody to drive a little more cautious, be more alert, because there are an excessive number of big trucks on the road. We have folks that get stuck behind semis, and they want to get someplace in a hurry, and they pass on hills.”

Merchant said the sheriff’s department along with other law enforcement agencies have been busy patrolling the highways to keep traffic related issues and complaints down as much as possible. “We are providing extra patrols, so we are going to try to keep the bad driving habits, and anything that affects the safety of the public, down to a minimum.”

Merchant said he has requested message boards at different locations for information and to remind people to slow down. “It is going to take a little extra time to get places, but just bear with us, don’t take any chances, because you’re not only endangering your own lives but the lives of other folks.”

Merchant said it was last Friday, while he was patrolling on U.S. 75 near the Nebraska line, that he stopped to turn around to head back south and encountered a line of 72 vehicles in the southbound lane. He said he had to wait until they passed before he could turn around.

Merchant asks motorists to exercise patience as traffic increases continue, and if they witness reckless driving to report it at once.

(KLZA)-- Contractors hauling heavy loads of boulders and gravel to the Burlington Northern–Santa Fe Railroad at Rulo are tearing up local roads. 

During the Tuesday meeting of the Richardson County Commissioners,  Highway Superintendent Steve Darveau told the Board the trouble began when Governor Pete Ricketts waived the load limits for trucks on federal and state highways. 

Truckers are allowed to load their trucks as heavily as they are comfortable with in efforts to help recover from flooding.  However, the declaration does not include county roads. 

Darveau said truckers have been turning at the Prichard Corner six miles north of  Falls City and hauling on the “Dustless Highway” to Highway 159 north of Preston then going to Rulo.  He also noted damages have been done to the blacktop south of Rulo and on the road through Preston.

As many as 300 trucks per day have been hauling to Rulo and the rock is then transported by train across the railroad bridge in attempt to get the rail line open again for trains. 

Darveau did say the railroad has been helpful in trying to keep the trucks off county roads.

The amount of trucks hauling rock is expected to slow down for a few days and then the hauling could ramp up again later on.  

(KLZA)-- A multi-agency information meeting to help flood victims is scheduled for  Thursday evening in Rock Port. 

The Atchison-Holt Disaster Relief Committee is organizing the meeting to be held at the Velma Houts Building in Rock Port beginning at 8 o'clock. 

People who need assistance will be able to fill out a short form application to establish flood victim residency and receive information about assistance and resources available now and in the future. 

ID and proof of residence are required. 

Information will be available from the Red Cross, Vital Statistics, schools, churches, Catholic Charities,  County Health / hospitals, counseling and pastoral care in addition to the Salvation Army, Social Services, Extension Office and the FSA.

Information on places to make donations and the types of donations needed will be available.  

Immediate needs include clothing, bedding, shoes, coats, household items and non-perishables.  

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Kirkendall presented an update on flooding along the Missouri River in the Rulo, and Lewis & Clark Estates area Tuesday. 

The Missouri River reached a record level of 28.1-feet last week, more than 11 feet above flood stage at Rulo.  

Richardson County takes part in the National Flood Plain program.  Kirkendall explained that allows Richardson County to qualify for grants for those that  are insured.  It also requires the Flood Plain Administrators Office,  which is the Richardson County Emergency Management office to inspect every property that was flooded before owners are allowed back in to clean up or make repairs. 

Kirkendall said he expects a number of properties will be declared a total loss.  

If the cost to repair the structure is more than 50-percent of the pre-flood valuation,  the structure cannot be repaired unless it is flood-proofed, or raised at least a foot above the highest level the flood has reached. 

Materials, labor and donated labor all count against the estimated of damage.

Notifications will be posted at all sites that were flooded.  

(KLZA)-- The statewide “#NebraskaStrong Drive for Flood Relief” led by NBA member radio and TV stations on Friday, March 22nd resulted in $441,919 in donations to the American Red Cross to aid the victims of the historic flooding impacting Nebraska and southwestern Iowa.  

Major contributions to the drive included $25,000 each from Ameritas and Black Hills Energy, $20,000 from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, $10,000 each from KETV and Gray Television, and $5,000 each from KMTV/The Scripps Howard Foundation and Citadel Communications, LLC/KLKN.  
 
 Governor Ricketts, who fielded donor phone calls during the event along with First Lady Susanne Shore and Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse said, “Thank you to the numerous individuals and businesses across the state who stepped up to support flood relief for their fellow Nebraskans on #NebraskaStrong Day.  

NBA President/Executive Director Jim Timm added, “This couldn’t have happened without the voluntary efforts of countless people from amongst our station membership.”  The NBA also thanks Omaha Steaks for donating the use of their call center.  Personnel from the American Red Cross, the Governor’s office and the Nebraska State Patrol also contributed significant support. 
 
 

(MSC News)--A new Banner Creek Reservoir director has been named.

The Jackson County Commission has announced that Lu Griffiths, of Holton,  is to begin work April 1.

He previously worked for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.

The Holton Recorder reports Griffiths was among six candidates interviewed earlier this month.

He is replacing John Kennedy, who was terminated from the position last month.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission Monday was asked to form a cemetery district by resolution that would allow for a tax levy to provide funding for the upkeep of four local cemeteries.

John Howard, speaking on behalf of a joint cemetery committee, made the request.

Howard said the cemetery district, which would have its own taxing authority, would consist of the city of Hiawatha and Hiawatha Township.

He said the district would provide funding for the upkeep and maintenance of the Hiawatha Cemetery, Mount Hope Cemetery, Brown County Poor Farm Cemetery and an unnamed cemetery located west of the intersection of 260th and Kestrel Roads.  

"The two cemeteries in Hiawatha combined cover 46 acres. Maintaining a cemetery is extremely difficult, if not impossible, without a means of perpetual funding. Doing it by resolution makes it an easier way to create a district."

A cemetery district can be formed two ways—by petition or by resolution.  Howard said approval by resolution would allow for an appeal process.

The four cemeteries are currently the only cemeteries in the county not receiving tax support.

If approved, Howard said the cemetery district would be funded by maximum 2 mill property tax levy.  "Two mills in the district would equate to $26 per $100,000 of valuation. That would raise approximately...given the current valuation...$72,000."

The Commission received letters of support for the creation of the cemetery district from a number of local organizations and the city of Hiawatha.

Following discussion later in the meeting, it was the consensus of the Commission to have County Attorney Kevin Hill prepare a resolution for consideration and possible approval at their April 1 meeting.   

(KLZA)-- “Going Out of Business.”  That is the headline on the Web page for I-29 Truck, SUV, Car and Van Center in Mound City.

The Mound City News is reports the final day the business, formerly known as Laukamper Motors will be March 30th. 

Mike Reid purchased the business from Joe Laukamper in December of 2016.  The business originally opened in Mound City in 1946.

At the time of the sale the business had nearly 30 employees.

An auction is expected to be held in the near future to liquidate the remaining used cars, tools equipment and real estate.  

(KNZA)--Sabetha hospital officials met with the Brown County Commission again Monday to ask for a share of the revenues from a proposed 10-year half-cent countywide retailers sales tax earmarked for the Hiawatha Community Hospital.

Sabetha Community Hospital CEO Lori Key presented the Commission with a resolution approved by the hospital’s Board of Directors asking that the sales tax resolution approved by the Commission March 4 be amended.

Key said the hospital is proposing that the Hiawatha Hospital receive 100 percent of the proceeds for the first two years. After that, Key said they are asking that the portion of sales tax generated by retailers located within the Sabetha city limits go to Sabetha’s hospital, with the remainder still going to Hiawatha’s hospital.

A special election on the sales tax issue is set for May 21. “We at Sabetha Hospital understand the plight that is before everyone,” Key told the Commission. “We did not want to delay any vote, but we did want the realization that Sabetha Hospital does serve some of the Brown County population, providing health care services. Ten-years is a long time for the retail sales tax to be generated.”

Key said the Sabetha Hospital currently provides health care services to a significant number of Brown County residents, comprising 27 percent of the patients served by the hospital.  In addition, she said the hospital took over home health services from the Hiawatha Hospital last April for the western part of Brown County.  Since that time, Key said the hospital has served twenty-two patients in the Brown County area.

Sabetha Hospital Attorney Martin Mishler presented a petition to Commissioners signed by Sabetha businesses in support of the request.

Hiawatha Hospital Interim CEO John Broberg, who was present at the meeting, said he had no problem working with the Sabetha hospital on a portion of the funds. He said what’s really important is not delaying the vote due to the hospital's urgent situation.

Commission Chairman Keith Olsen asked that the joint city-county hospital advisory committee meet to consider if the sales tax resolution should be amended, and make a recommendation to the Commission for consideration when they meet again Friday.

The committee is to meet Thursday afternoon at 12 noon in the upstairs room at Hiawatha City Hall.
   

(KAIR)--As the impact of the recent flooding of the Missouri River continues to be felt, a video posted to YouTube explores Atchison’s history in relation to the river.

The video is courtesy of the Kansas Humanities Council, and was posted in 2014.

It features residents from Atchison, including Atchison County Historical Society Executive Director Chris Taylor, Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce President Jacque Pregont, and others.

The video becomes timely as Atchison, and surrounding communities, remain impacted by the recent flooding that left devastation in its wake, including in Buchanan County, Missouri, just east of Atchison.

(LINCOLN, NEB.)  — Now through Friday marks Severe Weather Awareness Week in Nebraska. Following the recent response and recovery to severe weather that affected most of Nebraska during the past two weeks, most Nebraskans will already be aware of the need to prepare for hazardous weather conditions that can occur during the spring and summer months in Nebraska. The state celebrates Severe Weather Awareness Week each year as a way to get citizens prepared for severe weather.

Many communities will be participating in the annual statewide tornado drill, to be held Wednesday, March 27 at 10 a.m. as part of the week’s activities. Richardson County Emergency Management will be sounding the warning sirens as part of the test. 

The Wednesday drill offers a time for residents, businesses and industries to test their severe weather emergency preparedness plans. The morning drill will begin around 10 a.m., with the issuance of a mock tornado warning and activation of outdoor warning sirens about 10 to 15 minutes later. If severe weather is possible that day, the drill may be postponed or canceled.

All Nebraskans are urged to take some time during Severe Weather Awareness Week to prepare for spring and summer severe weather. Devastating impacts of extreme events can be reduced through improved readiness. Make a safety plan, create a preparedness kit and review proper safety precautions. It’s just a good practice for those of us who live in areas affected by tornadoes, floods and severe thunderstorms.”

Resources for staying prepared are available on the NEMA website at https://nema.nebraska.gov/

Before a disaster strikes is the best time to prepare, and NEMA has a preparedness kit list available online at: https://nema.nebraska.gov/files/doc/preparedness-kit.pdf to help families get ready for the next disaster in their community.

(KLZA)-- In a ruling released Friday, March 22, the Nebraska Supreme Court denied an appeal filed by Salem Grain to overturn a decision by Richardson County District Court Judge Daniel Brian Jr. in a lawsuit filed against the  City of Falls City and the Community Redevelopment Authority.  

The ruling states after review of the claims, the Nebraska Supreme Court agrees with the district court that no open meeting violation occurred.  Finding all of Salem Grain's assignments of error to be without merit, affirming the judgment of the district court. 

Salem Grain sought to reverse the sale of Tax Increment finance bonds and grant of the proceeds of those bonds to assist development of the Consolidated Grain & Barge loop train, grain handling facility.  

It was also alleged by Salem Grain that the CRA had violated the Nebraska Open Meetings Act on two occasions  including an August 15, 2012 dinner attended by three of the five CRA members. 

The Supreme Court upheld the District Court decision that there was insufficient evidence that the dinner involved any discussion of public business or taking of action by the Authority. The second occasion involved an email exchange between the CRA Chairman and other members of the Authority. Again the Supreme Court upheld the District Court decision the email was not a violation. 

(KNZA)--A Topeka man has been convicted in Brown County on a charge of electronic solicitation of a child.

50-year-old Dennis Prochazka pleaded no contest Monday in Brown County District Court to the felony charge.

Sentencing was set for April 22.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says Prochazka faces a presumptive prison sentence of between 55 and 247 months in prison, depending on his prior criminal history.  He will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of 25 years.

Prochazka was arrested in March of last year following an investigation by undercover officers with the Hiawatha Police Department.

(KAIR)--Residents of the City of Lancaster no longer need to boil their water.

That word came Tuesday morning from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, with a news release saying the boil water advisory that had been in place has been lifted.

However, the agency said the boil water advisory for Doniphan County Rural Water District 3 is still in effect.

According to the release, Lancaster was given the all clear because “laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Lancaster 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.”

The boil water advisory was issued March 19, and included the City of Atchison, and its water customers, due to high turbidity, which the KDHE says “may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.”

Testing has cleared the affected locations one by one, with Doniphan County Rural Water District 3 the last to remain under the advisory.

Water customers in that district are told to continue to boil water intended to be consumed for one minute prior to use.

(KNZA)--Voters in Riverside USD 114 will vote again on a capital outlay levy during a special election Tuesday, April 2.

The district is seeking the authority to levy up to 3.6 mills for a period of four years.

The Board of Education during a special meeting in January approved a resolution placing the proposal on the ballot.

USD 114 patrons last August defeated by a narrow margin a levy of up to 4.775 mills for five years.

Currently, the Riverside school district is among only seven districts in the state without a capital outlay levy.

The current source of revenue for the capital outlay fund is an annual transfer from the district’s general fund budget.

The district will hold an informational meeting on the capital outlay proposal Thursday evening ( March 28) at 6:30 at the East Campus Gymnasium in Elwood.  Patrons are invited to attend.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha Central Board of Education has approved two make up days due to inclement weather this winter.

During their regular meeting last week, Superintendent Darrel Kohlman presented information on the loss of instruction time and the loss of work time for classified staff due to inclement weather.

There were two days built into the calendar for making up time.  April 15 is currently scheduled as a professional development day and April 22 is the Monday following Easter.  

Kohlman said using these two days for makeup days would recapture instructional time, regain lost work hours for classified staff, and keep the district ahead of required attendance hours.

The board approved changing both days to student days.

(KAIR)--Atchison’s River Road could reopen as early as Tuesday afternoon.

That word was delivered Monday evening in a post made to the City of Atchison’s Facebook page.

The post said that city crews will begin the cleanup of the road, and the riverfront, on Tuesday, clearing the way for the opening.

River Road was closed to all traffic last week due to the flooding of the Missouri River.

Meanwhile, other area roadways remain closed, including U.S. Highway 59, east of Atchison, in Buchanan County, Missouri. Due to that closure, the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, connecting Atchison to Missouri remains closed.

The Army Corps of Engineers increased the release from Gavins Point Dam Monday.

According to a news release, the decision was made to up the release to 27,000 cubic feet per second.

In the release, John Remus, Chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Water Management Division, said the Corps is “beginning to see the plains snow melt in the upper basin with runoff into all of the upper storage reservoirs.”

Releases are expected to be increased to 30,000 cubic feet per second March 30 to allow increased releases from Fort Randall Dam.

The National Weather Service is forecasting high flows from melting snowpack in central and eastern South Dakota and along the Missouri River at North Dakota.

Gavins Point release changes take two to three days to reach Omaha, three to four days to reach Nebraska City, and four to five days to reach Kansas City, Missouri.

(Lincoln, Neb.) -- Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol are seeking information on the whereabouts of a suspect identified in connection to a double homicide in Douglas, Nebraska. 

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts or activities of 36-year-old Brindar H. Jangir,  of Sioux City, Iowa, is urged to call the Nebraska State Patrol at 402-479-4921. If you see him, call 911 immediately. Jangir is extremely dangerous and may be armed.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Jangir by Otoe County and Lancaster County. The Otoe County warrant is for first degree murder for the deaths of Randal Grimes, 56, and Annette Grimes, 51, who were found deceased Saturday morning in Douglas.

The Lancaster County warrant is for a stolen firearm, which is believed to have been used to commit both murders.

Investigators believe it is likely that Jangir is no longer in the area, but Nebraskans are asked to call 911 immediately if you see him. NSP is working with authorities at the local, state, and federal levels in this search. 
 

(KNZA)--Fire destroyed a machine shed at a rural Hiawatha residence Sunday afternoon.

Hiawatha Fire Department Public Information Officer Jordanne Shockley said firefighters were dispatched to 2125 Linden Road shortly before 2:40.

Shockley said the shed was fully engulfed with firefighters arrived.

The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time.

No further details are being released.

Assisting at the scene were the Robinson Fire Department, Brown County Rescue Squad, Town and Country EMS, Brown County Sheriff’s Department and Hiawatha Police Department.

Shockley said the Hiawatha Fire Department sends a hugh " thank you"  to Andy and Wendy Pederson, PJ Aller - Aller Construction, and to Pizza Hut.  She added the Department sincerely appreciates all the support from community members.

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Public Power District announced Sunday afternoon  that Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville is no longer under an emergency classification of a "Notice of Unusual Event status."

The plan entered the emergency classification March 15th due to the Missouri River level rising to levels dangerous to the plant.  

The river level is three fee t below the level at which the Cooper Nuclear Station is required to enter the emergency classification status.  The plant operated safely while under the unusual event notice. 

A news release from NPPD says  there was not threat to plant employees or the public throughout the event.  
 

LINCOLN, Neb. – Outreach teams from FEMA will begin canvassing Nebraska communities affected by the flooding and straight-line winds beginning March 9, 2019 to help impacted Nebraskans register for federal disaster assistance.

The teams, known as Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams (DSATs), are working in counties designated as federal disaster areas to help residents register for help and to quickly identify and address immediate and emerging needs. The teams also can provide application updates and referrals to additional community resources for remaining needs.

On March 21, President Donald J. Trump approved individual assistance for nine Nebraska counties impacted by recent flooding and straight-line winds.  

Currently, residents who were impacted by flooding and/or straight-line winds that began March 9 in the following counties are eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance: Butler, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Nemaha, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington. 

This assistance can include help with making temporary repairs to their disaster-damaged houses, paying for another short-term place to live while permanent repairs are being made and/or help with serious, disaster-related needs not already covered by other programs.  

Additional counties may be added as more damage assessment information is received. FEMA and NEMA are continuously working to validate the damage.

DSAT team members can easily be identified by their federal photo identifications and FEMA clothing. Nebraska residents are reminded to ask for official photo identification before providing personal information. FEMA employees do not solicit or accept money from disaster survivors.

Housing inspectors contracted by FEMA also will be working in disaster-designated counties, inspecting damage sustained by survivors who have already registered with FEMA. When FEMA-contracted inspectors arrive at a home, they will display official photo identification. If the photo identification is not visible, it’s OK to ask to see it. This helps prevent fraud.

Many legitimate disaster assistance representatives also may visit your property such as insurance agents, damage inspectors, FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff.

Again, federal workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help with registration.

Here are some tips to safeguard against fraud:

Ask to see ID badges. All FEMA representatives wear a federal photo ID badge. A FEMA shirt or jacket is not absolute proof of identity. If you are unsure or uncomfortable with anyone you encounter, please contact local law enforcement.

Beware of people going door-to-door. People knocking on doors at damaged homes or phoning homeowners claiming to be building contractors could be con artists, especially if they ask for personal information or solicit money. Be sure to verify federal ID badges of disaster assistance staff who may visit your home.

FEMA does not have “approved” contractors. Beware of contractors who say they are

affiliated with FEMA. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand, or contracts with blank spaces.

If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.

Always use licensed and bonded contractors and ask for credentials.  Never pay for anything in advance of work being done. 

Survivors who sustained damage or losses caused by the flooding and/or straight-line winds can register with FEMA in the following ways: 

§  Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. 

§  By phone using FEMA’s toll-free registration line by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY call 800-462-7585; or use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) to call 1-800-621-3362. Telephone registration is available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man will serve 9-years in federal prison for trafficking in methamphetamine that authorities say was purchased from a Chicago-based street gang.

That word came Monday in a news release issued by the office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

30-year-old Earnest Preston Crawford III was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In his plea, Crawford admitted that investigators arranged to make a series of controlled buys from Crawford at his Atchison residence, located in the 600 block of North 10th Street.

The release states that investigators learned that Crawford was getting his meth supply from members of the Satan’s Disciples street gang, purchasing pounds at a time for $6,000 to $10,000.

McCallister, in the release, commended the Atchison Police Department for the role they played in the case, as well as the KBI, and the DEA.

(KMZA)--Longtime Nemaha County Training Center director Alice Lackey is retiring after 43 years.

Lackey’s last day at work will be Friday, March 29.

Susan Futsecher, of Sabetha, has been hired to replace Lackey.  She has been with the non-profit organization for 27 years in various job duties.  Futsecher has a bachelor’s degree in social work.

NCTC serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

It has facilities in Seneca and Sabetha.       

Flood waters cover Buchanan County, Missouri, east of Atchison, on March 22, 2019/Credit: Atchison County Emergency Management 

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Even as floodwaters receded in hard-hit places in the Midwest, experts warned Saturday that with plenty of snow still left to melt in northern states, the relief may only be temporary.

Rainfall and some snowmelt spurred flooding in recent weeks that's blamed on three deaths so far, with two men in Nebraska missing for more than a week. Thousands were forced from their homes as water broke through or poured over levees in the region. The damage is estimated at $3 billion, and that figure is expected to rise.

As temperatures start to warm, snowmelt in the Dakotas and Minnesota will escalate, sending more water down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and their tributaries.

A precautionary evacuation involving hundreds of homes in the St. Joseph, Missouri-area was lifted as the Missouri River began a swift decline after unofficially rising to a new all-time high, inches above the 1993 record. St. Joseph was largely spared, but officials say 250 homes were flooded in the southern part of Buchanan County. It wasn't clear when residents would be able to get back.

When they do, officials say they need to be careful. Contaminants that escaped from flooded farm fields, industrial operations and sewage plants are part of the murky water now saturating homes.

Near St. Joseph, in Elwood, Kansas, residents were forced to evacuate Thursday as the river rose. However, they were able to return home Sunday morning.

No residential flood damage was reported in Elwood.

(KAIR)--An activist of the civil rights movement visited Atchison last week, delivering her message to students prior to an evening presentation to the local community. “When you see a problem, get together with friends who agree with you it is a problem. Get a plan of action, include non-violence in your plan, and just get out there and change the world,” Joan Trumpauer Mulholland told students during her time in Atchison.

Trumpauer Mulholland was present at key events of the civil rights movement of the early 1960s, including the freedom rides, the Woolworths lunch counter protests, and the March on Washington.

On Wednesday, March 20th, Trumpauer Mulholland gave presentations to students at the Saint Benedict Catholic School, punctuated by video highlights of civil rights history. “The students are our future, so we’ve got to connect with them, and encourage them, and support them,” Trumpauer Mulholland said. She told MSC News that despite the successes made during the civil rights movement, the fight for racial equality is far from over. “We got rid of legal segregation, but we still have lots of discrimination and hatred, and we’ve got a long way to go.”

Trumpauer Mulholland works through her organization, the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation, to provide civil rights-based education and to encourage community activism.

Select students at Saint Benedict Catholic School, prior to Trumpauer Mulholland’s visit, engaged in a special project focused on the civil rights era.

School Principal Diane Liebsch told MSC News watching those lessons come to life through Trumpauer Mulholland’s presentation was a great educational experience for the students. “It’s been wonderful. Her piece of advice about how to solve problems was pretty great. It’s a piece of history that we really haven’t talked about much with our students in recent times and it’s important that they know the story.”

Following the morning presentations, Trumpauer Mulholland brought her message to the students of Atchison’s Maur Hill-Mount Academy during the afternoon, and then to the Atchison community during an evening presentation held at the Atchison Middle School.

The visit, and student project, was arranged through the efforts of local attorney, Kevin Hill, whose wife, Ellen, teaches 3rd grade at Saint Benedict Catholic School.

(KAIR)--The residents of Elwood are set to return home.

The good news was delivered by Elwood City Attorney Joel Euler Saturday evening during a community meeting held in Wathena. “The City had a meeting and what we’ll do is open the city [Sunday morning] at 9:00. So, we’ll have you all home at 9:00...the utilities will be in place,” Euler told those in attendance.

It was announced during the meeting that the Missouri River level at Elwood is falling, and is expected to reach the 29 foot range either Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon.

The mandatory evacuation of the Doniphan County community came Thursday evening when the river climbed to 30 feet.

It was also announced during the meeting that animals sheltered at the Doniphan County Fairground, in Troy, need to be picked up by noon Sunday.

A total of 68 dogs and 39 cats were sheltered due to the evacuation.

(KLZA)--Falls City Council members approved bids for the demolition of two nuisance houses when they met Monday evening.

Bids were awarded to Frederick Brothers of Falls City to demolish houses at 1203 Lane Street and 915 Wilson Street.  The total bids for the two houses was $14,200,  with Frederick Brothers submitting the low bid for each house. 

A third house, located at 2215 Lane Street was not approved for demolition.  Someone has offered to purchase the house from the owners and will have until the next Council meeting to  work out the details.  

Aerial view of Missouri River Flooding in Buchanan County, Missouri, east of Atchison, Kansas, on March 22, 2019/Credit: Atchison Co Emergency Management. 

(KAIR)--“This was supposed to be a 500 year event.”

That word, regarding the flooding impacting local communities, came in a social media post made Saturday morning by Kansas Representative Dr. John Eplee.

Calling the post “just an update from Northeast Kansas District 63,” the Republican lawmaker said, "it will be months before the full impact of this event can be stabilized.”

Eplee said thousands of acres of farm land is under water in Doniphan and Atchison Counties, leaving the homes of many rural residents under water.

Saying the flooding “currently is approaching the flood of ‘93 at 31.3 feet,” Eplee, in the post, said “the policies of the Army Corps of Engineers will certainly be discussed and reviewed again.”

Adding that he has been in communication with the Governor’s office and the Adjutant General’s Office discussing relief and recovery efforts,” he said he fears that the local area is “in for a prolonged flood event,” and that “demographics will certainly be affected just as they were in ‘93” when historic flooding devastated the local area.

The flood has forced the evacuation of Buchanan County, Missouri communities, just east of Atchison, Kansas, as well as the Doniphan County, Kansas community of Elwood, a portion of Saint Joseph, Missouri, and others.

Motorists are also feeling the effects, with major travel routes covered by flood water.

That includes the closing of U.S. Highway 59, in Missouri, east of Atchison, including the closing of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge that connects Atchison, Kansas to Winthrop, Missouri. Missouri 45 is also closed, as is all of Atchison’s River Road, along with K-7 from Sparks, Kansas, to the Nebraska line, and the ramps off Highway 36 going into Elwood. For updated road information go online to www.KanDrive.org or call 511 or online and mobile (http://511mm.ksdot.org).

Atchison County Emergency Management reported on social media that the Missouri River crested Friday at 31.2 feet.

The river, at Atchison, hit a record crest of 31.63 feet in July, 1993.

The Army Corps of Engineers Friday evening said Gavins Point Dam releases have been maintained at 24,000 cubic feet per second since Wednesday, but are expected to be increased to 32,000 cubic feet per second once the crest on the Big Sioux River reaches Sioux City, Iowa.

In Kansas, Doniphan, Marshall and Jefferson Counties have issued local disaster declarations and Kelly signed a state declaration for Doniphan County on March 15.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas has asked Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to investigate the Tonganoxie Police Department following an August incident in which local officers detained a black man moving into his own home.

The ACLU said in a news release Thursday that Karle Robinson was held at gunpoint and handcuffed as he moved into the home he had purchased. Robinson alleges police harassed him and that Police Chief Greg Lawson stopped him from filing a racial bias complaint.

Lawson said he had not seen the press release and would comment later.

ACLU alleges a pervasive culture of racial bias exists in the police department. It requests that the attorney general's office investigate or refer the complaint to the Kansas Commission on Officers Standards and Training.

(MSC News) A new Royal Valley High School principal has been hired.

The Holton Recorder reports the USD 337 Board of Education this week approved a one-year contract with Joel Hesed, of Holton, for the 2019-20 school year.

Hesed currently serves as assistant principal at Jackson Heights High School.  He’s been with the district the past ten years, serving his first few years as an English teacher.

Hesed will replace Jim Holloman who is retiring at the end of the current school year after serving as principal for 25 years.  Prior to that, he taught in the district for 14 years.

During its meeting Monday evening, the Jackson Heights USD 335 Board of Education accepted the resignation of Hesed.

(MSC News)--Authorities Friday afternoon worked to evacuate a low-lying area of St. Joseph, Missouri, as the Missouri River crests at near-record levels.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jake Angle says the evacuation began late Friday morning in the city's Lake Contrary area.

The river is cresting in the city at levels that are less than 1 foot away from those reached during historic 1993 flooding.

More than 100 people are sandbagging to shore up the levee that protects the Missouri Air National Guard and Rosencrans Airport.

Kansas City Power & Light says that because of the flooding, crews have shut off power to some customers in five communities, including St. Joseph, which has a population of about 75,000. 

In response to the flooding, the American Red Cross has opened emergency shelters.

According to a news release from the agency, the shelters are:

The Keys Christian Fellowship

6001 S. 9th Street

St. Joseph, MO

Troy Community Building

1217 Last Chance Rd.

Troy, KS

Mound City Christian Church (previously opened)

402 5th Street

Mound City, MO

What to bring:

Clothing for a few days, bedding, toiletries, essential medication, your child’s stuffed animal, blanket or other comfort item, your emergency kit.

Individuals wishing to help those affected by disasters like floods and countless other crises can do so by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Financial gifts enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.

Meanwhile, Brown County, Kansas Sheriff John Merchant Friday said he’s received a report from a resident who said they received a phone call seeking money from someone claiming to represent the Red Cross.

Merchant said he is advising area residents to be very cautious about such calls which are a scam.

According to Merchant, he called Red Cross and was informed that they would never make such a phone call.

Merchant reminds residents to never give out personal information when receiving an unsolicited call.

In Kansas, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at a 24/7 level as major flooding is occurring along the Missouri River in Doniphan and Atchison Counties. The SEOC is monitoring flooding conditions and providing support to Doniphan and Atchison counties.  KDEM has two regional coordinators deployed to assist Doniphan county emergency management officials.

State agencies that have reported to the SEOC are Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Kansas National Guard, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kansas Highway Patrol, Department for Children and Families, Kansas Department of Transportation, National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  A liaison from FEMA has been requested to report to the SEOC today.

“The potential for flooding is high in several counties and we will do what we can to support the counties to protect the lives and property of the people we serve,” said Governor Laura Kelly.

The City of Elwood sounded their sirens on March 21 when the river level reached a 30 foot flood stage on the Missouri River at St. Joseph and strongly recommended evacuations.  The river is anticipated to reach 32 feet at approximately 1 p.m. today.

There is a shelter open in Troy, 1225 Last Chance Road, which is currently sheltering six individuals. 

A pet shelter has also been opened in Troy at the Doniphan County Fairgrounds, 211 N Boder St., and is providing care for more than 80 pets.  The Kansas Department of Transportation delivered a pet sheltering trailer overnight to Troy to support an increased sheltering demand.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism currently has one air boat mobilized to support water rescue operations as necessary within Atchison and Elwood.  A request has been made by the SEOC for two more teams to deploy.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal currently has one search and rescue task force in Elwood and is deploying as second.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing water pump support.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is providing four tractors to operate water pumps.  KDOT has closed the following roads due to flooding:  US-59 from Atchison, Kansas, into Missouri; K-7 from Sparks, Kansas, to the Nebraska line and the ramps off Highway 36 going into Elwood. Counties are reporting damaged road systems due to flooding.  For updated road information go online to www.KanDrive.org or call 511 or online and mobile (http://511mm.ksdot.org).

The Kansas Highway Patrol has units in the area that are providing assistance to local law enforcement with evacuations, road blocks and other assistance as needed.

Gov. Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency declaration on March 15 for counties affected by flooding.  The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is urging Kansans who wish to help the victims of the flooding, to donate money to a reputable voluntary, charitable or faith-based organization rather than collecting food, clothing or other goods.

The Associated Press and state agencies in both Kansas and Missouri contributed to this story. 

Editor's note: The following statement was released Friday evening, March 22, by the Platte county, Missouri Sheriff's Office. 

Editor's note:  the following release was submitted Friday afternoon by the Kansas Adjacant General's Office.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at a 24/7 level as major flooding is occurring along the Missouri River in Doniphan and Atchison Counties.

The SEOC is monitoring flooding conditions and providing support to Doniphan and Atchison counties.  KDEM has two regional coordinators deployed to assist Doniphan county emergency management officials.

State agencies that have reported to the SEOC are Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Kansas National Guard, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kansas Highway Patrol, Department for Children and Families, Kansas Department of Transportation, National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  A liaison from FEMA has been requested to report to the SEOC today.

“The potential for flooding is high in several counties and we will do what we can to support the counties to protect the lives and property of the people we serve,” said Governor Laura Kelly.

The City of Elwood sounded their sirens on March 21 when the river level reached a 30 foot flood stage on the Missouri River at St. Joseph and strongly recommended evacuations.  The river was anticipated to reach 32 feet at approximately 1 p.m. today ( Thursday ).

There is a shelter open in Troy, 1225 Last Chance Road, which is currently sheltering six individuals.

A pet shelter has also been opened in Troy at the Doniphan County Fairgrounds, 211 N Boder St., and is providing care for more than 80 pets.  The Kansas Department of Transportation delivered a pet sheltering trailer overnight to Troy to support an increased sheltering demand.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism currently has one air boat mobilized to support water rescue operations as necessary within Atchison and Elwood.  A request has been made by the SEOC for two more teams to deploy.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal currently has one search and rescue task force in Elwood and is deploying as second.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing water pump support.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is providing four tractors to operate water pumps.  KDOT has closed the following roads due to flooding:  US-59 from Atchison, Kansas, into Missouri; K-7 from Sparks, Kansas, to the Nebraska line and the ramps off Highway 36 going into Elwood. Counties are reporting damaged road systems due to flooding.  For updated road information go online to www.KanDrive.org or call 511 or online and mobile (http://511mm.ksdot.org).

The Kansas Highway Patrol has units in the area that are providing assistance to local law enforcement with evacuations, road blocks and other assistance as needed.

Gov. Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency declaration on March 15 for counties affected by flooding.  The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is urging Kansans who wish to help the victims of the flooding, to donate money to a reputable voluntary, charitable or faith-based organization rather than collecting food, clothing or other goods.

(KLZA)-- One person was killed in a two vehicle crash Thursday afternoon on Highway 75 in Nemaha County, Nebraska. 

The Nebraska State Patrol reports the crash occurred just past 4:00 P.M. just south of Auburn when a southbound Ford Expedition crossed the center line and struck a northbound Ford Fusion.  

The driver of the Fusion,  56-year-old George Winchester of Cook, Nebraska was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The driver of the Expedition, 30-year-old Rachelle Ellston, of Humboldt was transported by ambulance to the Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn and then transported to Bryan Health Center West in Lincoln.  Two children in car seats in the rear of the Expedition were uninjured. 

Highway 75 was closed for approximately five hours.
The investigation into the crash by the Nebraska State Patrol is ongoing.  

Highway 75 is experiencing increased traffic due to flooding on Interstate 29 in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri.  

The Nebraska State Patrol is urging caution with the additional traffic in the area. 

(KLZA)-- One person was hospitalized following a wreck Wednesday afternoon five miles east of Fairfax, MO. on Route N.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports 46-year-old Amy Midyett of Plattsburg, Missouri was southbound when her Ford Fusion railed to stop at a STOP sign and traveled off the south side of Missouri Highway 46 and became airborne.  

The vehicle struck the ground at the bottom of an embankemnt and came to rest on its wheels.

Midyette was transported by the Atchison-Holt Ambulance Squad to the hospital in Fairfax with what were described as moderate injuries.   

The vehicle was totaled.  

The Atchison  County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene of the wreck. 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners approved signing a Declaration of Disaster due to severe flood damage during their meeting Tuesday morning. 

The declaration was sent to the State of Nebraska. 

In other business the Board set two public hearings to receiving input on possibly closing roads.  Both hearings will be Tuesday, April  16.  The first will be for 709 Road east of 661 Avenue.  The seconds is to close a portion of the road knows as 648 Avenue, south of 706 Road. 

Also approved during the meeting was the expenditure of nearly $7,400 for the purchase of a roller attachment for a skid steer from Merz Farm Equipment in Falls City. 

(KLZA)-- A Tecumseh State Correctional Institution staff member suffered serious injuries Thursday when assaulted by two inmates.

According to a Nebraska Department of Corrections news release, the staff member was escorting one of the inmates back to a cell shortly after 6:30 Thursday evening. The wrong cell door was mistakenly opened and the second inmate, armed with a homemade weapon, stabbed the staff member multiple times while the first inmate kicked the staff member in the head.

Three additional staff members responded, secured the inmates and provided aid to the injured staff member.  The staff member was taken to the Johnson County Hospital where he received stitches and was released. 

The incident will be investigated with the findings sent to the Johnson County Attorney for determination of criminal prosecution.

(KAIR)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Saturday afternoon said the majority of Atchison County water customers are no longer under a boil water advisory, but the City of Lancaster and Doniphan County Rural Water District 3 are still affected. 

Removed Saturday from the boil water advisory were Atchison County Rural Water Districts 1, 3, 5, and 6. The City of Atchison was cleared Friday, as was Doniphan County Rural Water District 5.  

The advisory was issued Tuesday because of high turbidity in the Atchison water as a result of flooding in the area, which may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

KDHE, in a release, said "laboratory testing samples collected from these Atchison County Rural Water Districts 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." The release noted that the advisory "will remain in effect for individual purchasing systems until final testing of water indicates it is free of contamination. KDHE will provide an update for each individual purchasing system when the boil water advisory for that system has been rescinded."

A boil water advisory is a precautionary measure only, separate from a boil order.

All area residents remaining under the boil water advisory are told to continue to boil water for 1 minute if it will be used for drinking or eating.

(MSC News)--Two new bench trials has been set in a Jackson County animal cruelty case.

The Holton Recorder reports a judge last week set a two-day bench trial, beginning April 9, for Frank Johnson after he appealed his conviction last month on 45 animal cruelty charges.

The newspaper reports the judge also scheduled a bench trial for May 22 in a civil case in which Johnson and a Montana resident listed as the co-owner of the horses involved in the case are contesting the possible forfeiture of the animals.

Johnson was found guilty last month on the animal cruelty charges following a bench trial and placed on two years supervised probation.  He was also ordered not to possess any livestock, particularly horses, during the probation period.

The trial consolidated two criminal cases against Johnson, one involving 12 animal cruelty charges filed in August of last year, and the other filed in December involving the 33 remaining charges.

(KNZA)--Plans are being put in place to reopen the Horton Community Hospital.

That was revealed during a community meeting Thursday evening at the Horton High School auditorium, which had originally been scheduled to provide an update on healthcare options that have been explored since the March 12 closure of the hospital.

The large crowd on hand erupted into applause after Horton City Administrator John Calhoon made the surprise announcement.

Calhoon said the plan to reopen was developed during an about one hour conference call Thursday afternoon with the court-appointed trustee involved with the bankruptcy filing that came two days after the hospital’s closure.

Involved in the conference call were Calhoon, hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Richard Brown and Hospital CEO Ty Compton.

Although he couldn’t offer specifics, Calhoon said the planned reopening would happen in phases over the next couple of months, including the opportunity to immediately obtain medical records. “We can’t be real specific, but I’m hoping we have full services back within a month to no more than three months.”

Calhoon said many of the immediate decisions will be at the discretion of the court-appointed trustee, but additional details could be released as early as sometime Friday. 

During Thursday evening’s meeting, Calhoon assured those in attendance that the trustee appears to be just as concerned as they all were and wants to be of help to the community. 

After Calhoon’s announcement, Dr. Brown addressed the crowd, stating that he wanted to clear up the notion that the hospital was losing money, which created the problems that led to the hospital's closure. “We are fiscally sound and financially viable,” said Brown, “I believe we were systematically ripped off over the last decade.” He said he feels justified in that thought process by the fact that the trustee and courts, after an examination of the hospitals books, are willing to move forward with reopening the hospitals doors.

(KAIR)--Elwood, Kansas residents evacuated Thursday evening as emergency sirens sounded in the Doniphan County community.

The evacuation began as the Missouri River, at Elwood, reached 30 feet. At that level, the City of Elwood’s mandatory evacuation plan is implemented.

Shortly before 7:30 Thursday evening, as the sirens sounded, a post on the official Doniphan County Emergency Management Facebook page listed the river stage, at Elwood, as 30.13 feet. 

Elwood City Attorney Joel Euler told those in attendance at Thursday evening’s flood-focused community meeting that residents had 8 hours to evacuate once the sirens sound. After 8 hours, residential power and gas are shut off.

In order to re-enter after evacuating, residents will be required to show a City of Elwood sewer/water utility bill and identification.

Red Cross shelters are in place, one at the Leonard L. Clary Community Building in Troy, and another at 6001 South 9th Street in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly had planned to tour Elwood Thursday, but Euler Thursday evening said the city called off the visit because there was no time to meet. “The Governor was supposed to come today and we waved the Governor off because there was so much activity that we didn’t have time to visit with her.”

Two community meetings are planned for Friday evening. Euler said the first will be held at 6:30 in the gymnasium of the Wathena High School at 705 Jessie Street, and the second at 7:15 at the Restoration Church, located at 117 Francis Street in Saint Joseph, Missouri. 

Today, ( 3/21/19)  President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on March 9, 2019, and continuing.
 
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Butler, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Nemaha, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington.
 
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
 
Federal funding is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Adams, Antelope, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Cherry, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Frontier, Furnas, Gage, Garfield, Gosper, Greeley, Hall, Harlan, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Keya Paha, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, Merrick, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Pierce, Platte, Richardson, Rock, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Sherman, Stanton, Thayer, Thurston, Valley, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, and York and the Santee Sioux Nation, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Sac and Fox, and Winnebago Tribe.
 
Furthermore, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
 
Pete Gaynor, Acting Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Constance Johnson-Cage as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 
 
Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and additional areas may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.
 
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.  
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV
 

Today, ( 3/21/19)  President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on March 9, 2019, and continuing.
 
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Butler, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Nemaha, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington.
 
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
 
Federal funding is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Adams, Antelope, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Cherry, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Frontier, Furnas, Gage, Garfield, Gosper, Greeley, Hall, Harlan, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Keya Paha, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, Merrick, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Pierce, Platte, Richardson, Rock, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Sherman, Stanton, Thayer, Thurston, Valley, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, and York and the Santee Sioux Nation, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Sac and Fox, and Winnebago Tribe.
 
Furthermore, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
 
Pete Gaynor, Acting Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Constance Johnson-Cage as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 
 
Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and additional areas may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.
 
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.  
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV
 

(KLZA)-- The Humboldt – Table Rock – Steinauer School Board met March 11.  

Board members learned the Nebraska School Activities Association voted not to allow HTRS and the Pawnee City School District to coop football for the 2019 season. 

2019 is the second year of the scheduling cycle.  It would be possible to coop the following year when  a new 2-year scheduling cycle begins. 

Board members also leaned a committee has been formed to consider the possibility of implementing a new student drug testing policy for students involved in extra curricular activities. 

A report on possibly updating the kitchen at the HTRS School was presented.  Bids will be requested after specifications are provided.  

A discussion was also held, but no action taken on how to prioritize future expenditures of possible building updates.  

The Board accepted the resignation of para-professional Linda Yoble and met in executive session to discuss personnel.

No action was taken following the closed session.  

(KLZA)-- Falls City Council members approved bids for the demolition of two nuisance houses when they met Monday evening.

Bids were awarded to Frederick Brothers of Falls City to demolish houses at 1203 Lane Street and 915 Wilson Street.  The total bids for the two houses was $14,200,  with Frederick Brothers submitting the low bid for each house. 

A third house, located at 2215 Lane Street was not approved for demolition.  Someone has offered to purchase the house from the owners and will have until the next Council meeting to  work out the details.  

( KLZA / KTNC ) -- KLZA, SUNNY 101.3 and KTNC Radio in Falls City, and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association will conduct the “#Nebraska Strong Drive for Flood Relief” with the American Red Cross Friday from 5:00 A.M. To 11:00 P.M.
The Nebraska Broadcasters  Association has made a $20-thousand donation to the Omaha chapter of the American Red Cross to aid the victims of the historic flooding impacting Nebraska and Southwest, Iowa. 
The statewide “#NebraskaStrong Drive for Flood Relief” involves NBA member radio and TV stations asking their audiences to donate to the American Red Cross to aid the ongoing recovery efforts.  
A phone bank will be open from 5:00 A.M. Through 11:00 P.M. on Friday.  With an expected  high volume of calls,  callers are asked to be patient.  The toll-free number to call is 1-844-278-8555.  
The Red Cross is a regionalized organization and the people the NBA has coordinated with  are responsible for the region consisting of Nebraska, Southwest Iowa and Kansas.  The phone number in use on  Friday was secured for this fund drive only, to make sure that all money donated Friday through that phone number stays in our region. 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri regulators have reversed course and given the go-ahead to one of the nation's largest renewable energy projects.

The Grain Belt Express power line approved Wednesday would carry wind power from Kansas on a 780-mile path across Missouri and Illinois before hooking into a power grid in Indiana that serves eastern states.

The Missouri Public Service Commission had rejected the project twice previously, but it reconsidered following a ruling last year by the state Supreme Court.

In November, Chicago-based Invenergy announced it was buying the project from Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners. That deal should bolster the financing, but the sale still needs regulatory approval.

The transmission line also would need regulatory approval in Illinois, where a state appeals court overturned the state's previous approval.

(KMZA)--Two Nemaha County road improvement projects have received the green light.

On the recommendation of county Road and Bridge Supervisor Dennis Ronnebaum, the Nemaha County Commission this week accepted a bid from Bergkamp Construction, of Wichita, in the total amount of nearly $810,000.

Plans are to hard surface two stretches of county roads.  They include a four mile stretch of W Road north of Highway 36 and a two-mile stretch of 200th Road.

Both projects are slated for this year.

Following an executive session with special attorney James Neeld, Commission Chairman Gary Scoby announced that the county is still in negotiations with NextEra Energy Resources concerning the term sheet for the Soldier Creek Windfarm.

The term sheet will lay out rules and regulations for the construction, operation and ultimately dismantling of the 300 megawatt wind farm.

Commissioners have stated when an agreement is reached,  the term sheet will be released to the public in advance of  public hearings that will be held on the issue.

(KAIR)--Self-evacuations began late Thursday morning in Buchanan County, Missouri, east of Atchison, Kansas. A short time later, the decision was made to close U.S. Highway 59 through the flooded area. Hours after the closure, area rescue crews were involved in a water rescue operation. 

US 59 at the state line just before the bridge into Atchison, KS, closed due to water over the road. pic.twitter.com/EYfolUrtOM

— MSHP Troop H (@MSHPTrooperH) March 21, 2019

Shortly before 11:00 Thursday morning, Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter relayed the evacuation communication between his office and Buchanan County authorities to MSC News. 

Lanter Thursday morning said residents of Sugar Creek, Winthrop, and the Missouri Bottom area were called on to voluntarily evacuate as a full levee breach was reported in that area. 

U.S. Highway 59, due to flood waters, was closed by Thursday afternoon, followed by the closing of the Amelia Earhart Bridge to all eastbound traffic, leaving Kansas motorists traveling into Missouri needing to take alternate routes. 

On Friday morning, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced the closing of Buchanan County Route 45 from the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 to Woolston Road in Platte County due to the flooding.

Late Thursday afternoon, Lanter confirmed that area rescue crews were engaged in a water rescue effort. “A black SUV tried to drive through flood waters, westbound [on U.S. 59] from the Y to the City of Atchison, made it a very little way into the actual flood waters and the [SUV] stalled. They called for emergency services. Atchison County Rescue and EMS was paged to the scene, also the [Missouri State Highway Patrol] Water Patrol. The Missouri Highway Patrol was able to put their boat in and get to the person stuck in their vehicle and extricate them out.”

Lanter said the situation serves as a reminder of the danger of attempting to drive through flood water. “It’s very hard to navigate flood waters,” Lanter told MSC News. “Definitely we need people not to drive through flood waters, and not to stand or walk through flood waters. A very small amount of water can knock you off your feet and sweep you away.”

Lanter added that all physical contact with flood water, which could be contaminated, should be avoided. “That water is very dirty. You don’t know what is in it at this time, what it’s flooded through.” He added that the Atchison County Health Department, in Atchison, is offering free tetanus shots to anyone who comes in contact with flood water.

The National Weather Service calls for the Missouri River to crest Friday.

That follows days of forecasts calling for the river to crest Thursday.

As of Thursday afternoon, the river level at Elwood, KS stood at 29.32 feet. A crest of 30.1 feet is expected Friday afternoon.

Flood stage is 17 feet.

A mandatory evacuation goes into effect at 30 feet, and that possibility was addressed during a Wednesday evening community meeting in Elwood. 

As of Thursday afternoon, the river level at Atchison, KS stood at 30.2 feet, with a crest of 31.8 feet forecast for Friday afternoon.

Flood stage is 22 feet.

A record high crest was recorded at 31.63 feet in July 1993 in Atchison.

Water from the Missouri River coming over the levee on the Missouri side at the bridge going into Atchison, Kansas. pic.twitter.com/R8gXACyG1d

— MSHP Troop H (@MSHPTrooperH) March 21, 2019

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed an executive order easing motor carrier regulations to assist with flood relief.

According to a news release issued by Kelly’s office Thursday afternoon, March 21, the executive order will “expedite emergency relief and restoration efforts associated with recent flooding in Kansas and neighboring states.”

The release said it will temporarily exempt commercial motor carriers and operators from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations while traveling in Kansas and directly participating in disaster operations.

 The executive order was signed Wednesday. “Yesterday, I signed an executive order waiving fees and easing regulation on motor carriers to assist with transporting relief to flood affected areas,” Kelly said in the release. “I’m grateful for the work of our emergency management team and the Kansas National Guard during this critical time. It’s important communities in both states receive the aide they need immediately.”

 The regulation exemptions include licensing, certification and permitting; fuel tax permits, and other rules that will allow motor carriers to more quickly bring in necessary supplies and equipment to aid in relief efforts.

 Heavy rains and spring snow melts are causing moderate flood conditions along the Missouri River in several states, including Kansas, and is expected to increase to major flooding in the next few days.

Doniphan, Marshall and Jefferson Counties have issued local disaster declarations and Kelly signed a state declaration for Doniphan County on March 15.

Currently, potential flooding in the state would primarily affect farmland and not residential areas.

 The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka has been activated to a 24/7 level to monitor weather conditions and support local emergency management operations.

Kelly Thursday planned to tour the area impacted by flooding with the Kansas National Guard, the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, and the Kansas Water Office.

(KLZA)-- Weather permitting, work on two Falls City area highway improvement projects will resume the week of March 25.  

Knife  River Corporation doing business as Knife River Midwest of Sioux City, Iowa was awarded the bids on both projects.

The Highway 8 project from Salem to Falls City includes pavement repair and asphalt surfacing at a bid price of more than $3.4-million.

The Highway 73 project through Falls City includes concrete pavement repair and asphalt surfacing at a cost just under $2-million. 

According to the release from the Nebraska Department of Transportation,  traffic will be maintained by one lane work zones and both projects are to be completed this spring.  

Hiawatha Mayor Bill Collins ( R) presented a certificate of appreciation to Jere Bruning ( L) Monday evening for his service to the community.

(KNZA)--A longtime Hiawatha resident has been honored for his service to the community.

During Monday evening's Hiawatha City Commission meeting, Mayor Bill Collins presented a certificate of appreciation to Jere Bruning, and offered his thanks for everything he’s done for the city.

Bruning was recognized for his service on various boards and committees, along with contributions of financial support to various groups.

The certificate says Bruning’s commitment to Hiawatha is “ a model for all to follow.”

After retiring from farming and moving to Hiawatha, Bruning said he decided to start volunteering to get to know people in town. 

And about 30 years later, he still remains activity in the community.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council has approved moving forward with a revitalization project in the 1600 Block of Stone Street. 

The base bid for the 1600 block sidewalk replacement from AHRS Construction in Bern, Kansas, was $389,367.  They were the only firm to submit a bid.  

The engineers, Snyder and Company out of St. Joseph, Missouri, suggested continuing with the same look as phase I, except the bump outs will be smaller.  

There is just shy of a quarter million dollars left in grant funding for the project.  City administrator Gary Jorn says it is a use it, or lose it scenario with the funds.  If Falls City does not move forward with the project, the City would have to return nearly a quarter-of-a-million dollars to the Department of Economic Development. 

With the bid at nearly $439-thousand. Jorn said he feels capital  improvement sinking funds from city sales taxes can be used to make up the approximately $190-thousand difference. 

With the Council approving the funding for the project, it is expected the engineers will give AHRS of Bern, Kansas the authorization to proceed around April 1.  The project is supposed to take 110 days to complete, being finished before the Cobblestone Festival in August. 

(KAIR)--The City of Nortonville is no longer under a boil water advisory.

That word was delivered Wednesday, one day after the advisory was put in place by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The KDHE has not lifted the advisory for any others who are affected, which are all water customers of the City of Atchison.

The KDHE issued a news release Wednesday saying that the City of Nortonville, located in Jefferson County, was able to connect to an alternate source of water.

The release said that “laboratory testing levels samples collected from the City of Nortonville 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.”

Remaining under the Boil Water Advisory is the City of Atchison and its customers, which include Atchison County Rural Water Districts 1,3,5, and 6, as well as Doniphan County Rural Water Districts 3 and 5. The advisory includes the City of Lancaster, in Atchison County, but does not include Effingham.

The advisory was issued because of high turbidity readings at the City of Atchison water treatment plant. High turbidity may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

According to a social media post by the City of Atchison Wednesday evening, the turbidity levels at the Atchison Water Treatment Plant have returned to near normal levels. The City will take samples Thursday morning that will be examined in Topeka by the KDHE.

The City is optimistic that the boil water advisory could be rescinded as early as Friday, but no sooner.
If there are issues with the sample, it could be two days longer.

The turbidity issue was caused by the current flooding of the Missouri River.

All water customers under the boil water advisory are told to boil water for 1 minute if it will be used for drinking or eating.

A boil water advisory is a precautionary measure only, separate from a boil order.

Atchison Mayor Shawn Rizza took to social media Tuesday to offer a clarification between the two.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

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

• 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.

(MSC News)--A Kansas Judge, whose nomination to the state’s second-highest court was pulled by Governor Laura Kelly, is now called on to resign.

Kelly on Tuesday withdrew her nomination of Jeffry Jack to the Kansas Court of Appeals after state Republicans told the Democratic Governor Jack would most likely not be confirmed.

That followed the discovery of Tweets on Jack’s Twitter feed dating back to 2017 critical of President Donald Trump and supportive of abortion rights and gun control. Some of the Tweets reportedly contained profanity.

Rural Hiawatha Republican Senator Dennis Pyle is introducing legislation calling for Jack’s resignation.

In prerecorded audio sent to Kansas media, including MSC News, the First District Senator said Jack’s actions show he’s not fit to serve as a judge. “The withdrawal of Judge Jack's nomination for appellate court was the right move, but his actions demonstrate his lack of qualifications not only for appellate court but for district court as well. Due to these actions, I am requesting legislation calling for his resignation from the bench. It's unacceptable for a sitting judge, who must be seen as unbiased and impartial, to post personal political views on social media."

Pyle said that Jack should resign due to the Tweets. “These actions by Judge Jack are deemed offensive and highly inappropriate for executing the duties of the bench. Should he choose not to withdraw from his position as district judge, then perhaps an appropriate consideration would be impeachment."

Jack, following Kelly’s decision to withdraw him as a nominee, told the Associated Press his tweets were "anti-violence, anti-discrimination and anti-hypocrisy." He said he assumed he was expressing personal opinions to a small group of followers and did not understand that his tweets were accessible to the public.

Jack was also critical of Senate President Susan Wagle for opposing his confirmation to the Kansas Court of Appeals before he had a hearing.

(KNZA)--Increased travel on U.S. Highway 36, through Brown County, is being experienced.

That follows the closure of roadways in the region due to flooding.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant is urging motorists to be aware of the increase, and is adding extra patrols to oversee the situation.

MSC Radio News Director Brian Hagen talked to Merchant about the efforts he’s taken in the name of highway safety.

This building, at 8th and Central Avenue, in Horton, KS crumbled overnight Tuesday, March 19 into Wednesday, March 20. The public is asked to avoid the area. (Photo credit: Horton City Administrator John Calhoon)

(KAIR)--Crumbling buildings in two separate local communities caused no injuries.

The first occurred in the Jefferson County city of Valley Falls.

WIBW-TV reports the building crumbled Tuesday afternoon, causing bricks and other debris to strike a gas meter, which caused a leak. The area was evacuated while repairs were made.

The TV station reports that travel was returned to normal in the 400 Block of Broadway Street Tuesday night.

A building collapse came late Tuesday night, or early Wednesday morning, around midnight, in the Brown County city of Horton.

City Administrator John Calhoon told MSC News the building, located at 8th and Central, has been vacant for some time.

The area is barricaded off, with the public told to stay out of the vicinity of the structure which once housed the Town Cafe. 

MSC Radio News Director Brian Hagen talked to Calhoon about the situation.

(MSC News)--The National Weather Service will be holding storm spotter meetings this week and next week in Nemaha, Brown and Marshall Counties in preparation for the upcoming severe weather season.

The Nemaha County meeting will take place this Thursday evening, March 21 at the Sabetha Community Center located at 1116 Main Street in Sabetha.

The Brown County meeting is set for Tuesday evening, March 26  at the Blue Building in Horton, and the Marshall County meeting will take place next Thursday evening, March 28 at the Beattie Community Center.

All three meetings will begin at 7:00 and last about 90 minutes.

A meteorologist from the National Weather Service Office in Topeka will be on hand to discuss severe storm safety, preparedness and awareness.

The public is invited to attend the meetings.

Editors note: the following release was submitted by Second Harvest Community Food Bank, in St. Joseph, Missouri.

With the continued rise of the Missouri River, Second Harvest has taken action by gathering donations of both product and monetary to assist the surrounding communities being affected by the flooding.

This week, Second Harvest has distributed water to Holt County, MO, to assist the members of their community. Action such as the distribution of goods to locations, along with holding an on-site MEGA MOBILE Wednesday, March 20 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and a Mobile Food Drop in Oregon, MO, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. are some of the measures being taken to assist those through this tough time.

“The need for our services within these areas has increased vastly with the flooding” Blake Haynes, Second Harvest Communications Coordinator said, “our organization has received some donations, but we are still in need of assistance from all that are willing to help their neighbors in need.”

Moving forward, Second Harvest is in great need of obtaining more bottled water and easy to eat snack foods such as ‘pop-top’ canned goods, beef jerky, etc. If someone would wish to donate monetarily, you can do some at shcfb.org or on Second Harvest’s Facebook Page. Any help goes a long way.

Items to donate; M-F 8 am – 5 pm @ Second Harvest, After 5 or on the weekend call 816.617.1003:
• Canned goods (Easy open cans)
• Water
• Personal care products
• Dry Goods
• Peanut butter
• Baby food and formula
• Rice
 

This photo, submitted to MSC News Monday, March 18, 2019, by Cathy Scholz, shows Missouri River flood waters covering much of a bench at Atchison's riverfront. 

(KAIR)--With flood waters over the roadway, the decision has been made to close Atchison's River Road in its entirety.

That's confirmed by Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter.

Prior to the complete closure, a stretch of the roadway had been shutdown due to the flooding.

As of Wednesday morning, the Missouri River, at Atchison, was 29.2 feet, with the National Weather Service Forecast calling for the river, at Atchison, to crest at 31.2 feet Thursday morning. Flood stage is 22 feet.

Atchison’s highest crest on record is 31.63 feet in July 1993.

The Army Corps of Engineers has reduced releases from Gavins Point Dam.

According to a news release from the Corps Tuesday evening, the releases were reduced to 28,000 cubic feet per second Tuesday evening, after being reduced from 38,000 cubic feet per second Tuesday morning.

The Corps plans to continue making the reductions until they reach 20,000 cubic feet per second.

According to the release, Gavins Point release changes take two to three days to reach Omaha, three to four days to reach Nebraska City, and four to five days to reach Kansas City, Missouri.

Flooding along the Missouri River has caused elevated concern locally, along with precautionary measures such as moving classes for some students from Elwood to Wathena in Doniphan County.

The City of Elwood Tuesday evening held the latest in a series of community meetings to update residents on the flooding situation. 

The National Weather Service Wednesday morning predicted the Missouri River at Elwood to crest at 28.7 feet Thursday afternoon. A mandatory evacuation plan for Elwood is in place at 30 feet. As of Wednesday morning, the river, at Elwood, was at 26.91 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet.

(KLZA)-- As levies continue to break in Northwest, Missouri,  more people are being displaced from their homes.

Tuesday a mandatory evacuation was ordered for residents of Craig, Missouri. 

The Holt County Sheriff's Office says anyone choosing to stay must go to City Hall to provide their name and address in case they need to be rescued.

Craig School Superintendent Mike Leech told MSC News that the school in Craig will be closed the rest of this week.  

(KAIR)--A community meeting, focused on available healthcare options, will be held in Horton Thursday evening, March 21.

The meeting follows the permanent closing of the Horton Community Hospital last week.

According to a release from the City of Horton, the meeting will be held at 7:00 in the Horton High School Auditorium.

During the session, healthcare options that have been explored by Horton Mayor Bryan Stirton, Commissioner Wade Edwards, and City Administrator John Calhoon, will be outlined for those in attendance. A presentation will also be given focused on the option of acquiring a Comprehensive Primary and Preventative Healthcare Program.

The release calls the meeting "informational only," and is intended “to listen and gather feedback from any and all citizens in Horton and surrounding areas interested in future healthcare options in Brown County.”

The release says the city "would like to have as many individuals attend as possible" as the task of moving forward, following the closure of the hospital, needs "to be a community effort."

The closure of the hospital followed a long stretch of financial woes, including the inability to pay employees.

The current ownership of the hospital, listed in court documents as CAH Acquisition Company #3, LLC, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy March 14, two days after the closing.

The company is tied to Kansas City firm EmpowerHMS whose head, Florida resident Jorge Perez, is facing lawsuits for allegedly using the hospitals he owned as a way to funnel lab bills in order to profit from the increased reimbursements that rural hospital labs gain to help keep them open.

(KAIR)--A boil water advisory has been issued for the City of Atchison, including Atchison and Doniphan County residents supplied by the city.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in a news release early Tuesday afternoon, said the advisory will remain in place until further notice.

Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter, in a news release, said the advisory does include Atchison County water customers supplied by the City of Atchison, but excludes the City of Effingham.

According to information from the KDHE, the advisory does include Atchison County Rural Water Districts 1, 3, 5, and 6, as well as Doniphan County Rural Water Districts 3 and 5. That includes the cities of Lancaster and Nortonville.

Atchison City Manager Becky Berger told MSC News early Tuesday afternoon a turbidity issue led to the advisory. “We had a reading [Tuesday morning] that measured at 2 NTU, and anytime you have a measurement that exceeds 1 NTU, then [KDHE will] issue the advisory. Now, we have to get down below .35 NTU in our distribution system before they’ll lift the advisory. Currently we’re at .55 NTU.”

Berger, in a release issued early Tuesday evening, said the high readings didn’t last very long and were well under 1.0 for most of the day Tuesday. By Tuesday afternoon, those levels were consistently under 0.4.

Berger explained that flooding of the Missouri River is to blame. “When you’ve got this much water coming in, it’s just really hard to get that turbidity rate down. We have more than 80 years of combined experience among the 5 operators at our Water Treatment Plant. They’ve successfully treated Missouri River water from many flood events through the years, and this water is the most difficult they’ve encountered.”

Turbidity is a measure of the relative water clarity and is an indicator of water quality, and according to the KDHE, high turbidity may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

All customers of the City of Atchison’s water supply are told to boil all water to be consumed for one minute prior to use.

According to a news release issued early Tuesday evening by the City of Atchison, city staff has been in contact with KDHE and other producers along the Missouri River to determine if there are better avenues for treatment and are making tweaks to the system as the characteristics of the water continues to evolve.

The release notes that City staff is currently working to secure bottled drinking water for free distribution for those in need.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

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

• 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.

( L-R)  KDOT law enforcement liaison Bob Hamilton presented a 2018 community traffic safety award to Hiawatha Police Chief John Defore Monday.  The Hiawatha Police Department was among three Brown County law enforcement agencies to receive the award.  

(KNZA)--Three Brown County law enforcement agencies have been recognized by AAA Kansas for their efforts in addressing local traffic safety issues.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Hiawatha Police Department and Horton Police Department were each presented Monday with a 2018 Community Traffic Safety Award.  

Bob Hamilton, law enforcement liaison for the Kansas Department of Transportation, presented each department with a Platinum Award—the highest award given.

For the Brown County Sheriff’s Department it marked the 5th AAA Traffic Safety Award and the 2nd consecutive year the department earned the Platinum Award.

It was the sixth consecutive year the Hiawatha Police Department had been recognized.

Statewide, forty-one law enforcement agencies were selected to receive awards for their 2018 work to keep roadways in their cities and counties safe through a variety of initiatives and programs.

The awards have been presented annually since 2011 to encourage communities to address local traffic safety issues in a coordinated and cost-effective way.   

This photo, submitted to MSC News Monday, March 18, 2019, by Cathy Scholz, shows Missouri River flood waters covering much of a bench at Atchison's riverfront. 

(KAIR)--Flood concerns remain across the region as forecasts for the Missouri River continue to fluctuate.

As of late Tuesday morning, March 19, the National Weather Service forecast called for the Missouri River at Atchison to crest Thursday evening at 31.2 feet.

The highest crest on record is 31.63 feet in July 1993. Flood stage is 22 feet.

Monday’s meeting of the Atchison City Commission began with a flood-focused prayer by Sister Barbara McCracken, OSB, of Mount Saint Scholastica. “I’m from Nebraska, so I grew up there, and I have lots of relatives there, so our prayer is kind of for the flood victims today,” she told the Commission.

Monday’s Doniphan County Commission meeting focused on the flood situation. Commission Chair Thad Geiger executed a seven-day Local Emergency Disaster Declaration. According to the minutes for the meeting, the declaration will be renewed weekly until flooding is no longer a threat.

During the session, Emergency Management Coordinator Julie Meng informed the Commission that Highway 7 is closed from Iowa Point north to the Nebraska state line due to flood waters across the roadway. 

Meng also explained that the American Red Cross will have an emergency shelter set up at the Troy Community Building in Troy beginning today, Tuesday, March 19. She also explained that the KC Metro Animal Response Team is onsite at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Troy to assist with pets for individuals affected by the flood who are not able to relocate with their pets.

Following a question from the public, Meng also clarified that grades 3rd through 8th have been relocated from Riverside USD 114, in Elwood to the school district’s west campus, and First Baptist Church, in Wathena, at least through the week, or until the flood threat subsides.

(KLZA)-- The City of Peru is among the many communities along the Missouri River that are dealing with flooding.

The Peru water treatment plant has been flooded and residents are urged to conserve as much water as possible.  An effort is underway to fill the water tower with water being hauled in.

Water from the tap is safe to drink at this time.

Another issue is the Peru sewer lagoons have also been flooded which means sewage from the lagoons is in the flood water.  Because of the sewage in the flood waters, everyone is reminded to stay away from the flood water and do not go into the floodwaters.  If you are in the floodwaters, you can be issued a citation. 

Donations of bottled water, paper plates, plastic utensils ans such are being accepted at City Hall in Peru and Peru residents can come to City Hall and get needed supplies.  In addition,  2-1/2 gallon water bladders are available to residents to get to cook with.

(KLZA)-- A boil water notice has been issued by the City of Peru. 

It is recommended that water for consumption be boiled prior to use.  It is not required to boil water for taking a shower or doing laundry.

Peru Assistant City Clerk Caylin Winkelman, says tankers continue to haul water to Peru to keep water in the water tower for residents since the water treatment plant was flooded.  Residents of Peru are reminded to conserve as much water as possible.

Members of the Nebraska National Guard 134th Cavalry Squadron are in Peru to help make sure everyone stays away from the Missouri River flood waters on the north edge of Peru.  

Peru State College will be open on Wednesday with classes and activities resuming.  

(KNZA)--Sabetha city and hospital officials meet with the Brown County Commission Monday to request a portion of the revenue generated from a proposed sales tax for health care services.

The Commission last week approved a resolution setting a special election for May 21 on a proposed 10-year half-cent countywide retailers sales tax, with the proceeds going to the Hiawatha Community Hospital to provide health care services in Brown County.  

Sabetha City Commissioner Norm Schmitt, who also serves as vice-chair of the Sabetha Community Hospital Board of Trustees, spoke on behalf of the group. 

He requested the Commission amend the resolution to allow the Sabetha Hospital to receive a share of the proceeds generated from the tax, as allowed by state statue.

A portion of Sabetha is located in Brown County, and Schmitt noted Sabetha is the third largest sales tax contributor in the county. 

Schmitt said Sabetha was never included in the discussions about the sales tax.

The proposed sales tax is estimated to generate around $700,000 annually.

Following discussion, Commission Chairman Keith Olsen asked for a motion to change the resolution to include the Sabetha hospital.  However, the matter died due to the lack of a motion.

Commissioner Richard Lehmkuhl expressed concern about changing the resolution at this time, saying it would force them to start all over again and set the whole process back.  He said if that were to happen, Brown County could loose another hospital.

Sabetha city and hospital officials plan to ask the Commission to reconsider the issue at their upcoming meeting Monday, March 25.

Nemaha County voters in April 2015 approved a 10-year half-cent countywide retailers sales tax for health services in their county, with the proceeds being divided between the Sabetha Hospital and Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.  Schmitt said Sabetha took a smaller percentage of the proceeds at that time because a portion of city's taxing district is in Brown County.   

A Lawrence man, who prosecutors say called the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s office more than 122 times in April and May 2018, has been placed on probation.

According to a release from Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson, 38-year-old Justin Allen Roehrich was sentenced Friday in Leavenworth County District Court for three counts of making a false alarm.

He was sentenced to 16-months in prison but that was suspended to 24-months probation due to the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines and Roehrich’s lack of severe criminal history.

According to Thompson, the phone calls were placed to 911 over multiple weekends, with Roerich identifying himself each time as “Jesse.” He would only speak to female dispatchers, and spoke at length about pantyhose and women’s feet.

When dispatchers told him they would disconnect the call if assistance was not needed, Roerich, as “Jesse,” would threaten to commit unlawful sexual acts with unidentified minor females.

The resulting investigation revealed no children were ever at risk.

(KNZA)--City and school positions will be up for election this November in Brown County.

Four positions each are open on the Hiawatha and South Brown County boards of education.

On the USD 415 Board of Education they include position 1, currently held by Jeff Brockhoff; position 2, currently held by Tom Simmer; position 3, currently held by Ian Schuetz; and position 7, currently held by Amy Kopp.

On the USD 430 Board of Education they include position 1, currently held by Richard Lovelady; position 2 , currently held by Jason Selland; position 3, currently held by Laurence Berger; and position 7, currently held by Jason Smith.

No positions are up for election this fall on the Hiawatha City Commission, but there are three open positions on the Horton City Commission.  They include mayor, currently held by Bryan Stirton; Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, currently held by Bobby Bacon; and Commissioner of Police, currently held by Rex West.

Positions are also up for election in all third class cities in Brown County.

Candidates have until noon, June 3rd to file at the Brown County Clerk’s Office.  

If a primary election is necessary, it will be held August 6.  The general election is November 5.    

(KNZA)--The Board of Education for the Atchison County Schools of USD 377 has adopted the 2019-20 calendar.

That came during their regular meeting Wednesday evening.

The first day of school will be August 15.

The last day of school for seniors will be May 8, 2020 and for K-11th grade students, May 19.

Christmas break will take place December 23 through January 2, with spring break being held March 9-13.

In other business, repairs will be made to the Junior/Senior High School auditorium which was damaged by water earlier this year.

The Board accepted the low bid submitted by Michael Hundley Construction, of Atchison, in the amount of $7,703 for replacement of the sheetrock and carpet.

It was among three bids received.    

Credit: Nick Sherman of Platte City, MO

(KAIR)--As river levels remain high, officials continue to monitor the situation closely.

In Atchison, River Road remains closed, from the north Atchison city limits to the Doniphan County line.

The Missouri River, at Atchison, is expected to crest at 30.9 feet Thursday evening according to the the National Weather Service late Monday morning. That’s below an earlier prediction of a Tuesday crest at 31.8 feet. Flood stage is 22 feet. The highest recorded crest to date in Atchison was 31.63 feet on July 26, 1993.

Elwood city officials Saturday evening provided the residents of the Doniphan County city with an update regarding flooding.

Elwood City Attorney Joel Euler said, "Optimism or stay alert because what you're having is that the anticipated crest is going down—went down by about a foot and that's because things are happening north of us that aren't good for those folks, but beneficial for us," Elwood city attorney Joel Euler said.

Concerns of a possible evacuation have subsided somewhat, with the latest crest prediction forecast. The National Weather Service indicates the Missouri River, at Elwood, will crest at 28.1 feet Thursday morning. Evacuation would become mandatory at 30 feet. Flood stage at Elwood is 17 feet.

As a precaution, KQ2-TV reports efforts in Elwood include sandbagging and moving grades 3rd through 8th from Riverside USD 114, in Elwood, to Wathena.

Riverside Superintendent Bob Blair said the volunteer support has been generous. "We were overwhelmed by volunteers that brought trucks and trailers, people from both communities. We even had people from St. Joseph, Hiawatha, Atchison that came up to volunteer to help us out."

On Friday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency declaration for Doniphan County.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urges everyone to never drive through flooded roadways and to follow the slogan, “turn around, don’t drown.”

A news release issued by the Corps Sunday said that in the past week the Missouri River, and surrounding areas, have been experiencing a serious flood event. The high waters have been brought on by rapid snowmelt and rainfall upstream in the Nebraska and South Dakota region, as well as the breaching of two non-federal dams in northern Nebraska.

Flood waters are impacting county, state, and federal roads, bridges, trails, and recreation areas. Many areas have been closed, gated, or barricaded, and the Corps reminds those traveling near the Missouri River to double check the road conditions before driving.

Only six inches of fast-moving water can knock a person over, and it only takes 12 to 18 inches of fast-moving water to carry away most vehicles including large SUVs.

Credit: Nick Sherman of Platte City, MO

(KAIR)--A missing Horton child has been located.

According to a news release issued late Sunday afternoon from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Horton Police Department has notified the KBI that 11-year-old Gianna Hazelton has been found safely and is on her way home.

Additional details were not disclosed. 

An alert for Hazelton was issued Sunday morning saying that she had last been seen in Horton Saturday night.

According to the initial release, authorities believed she was with a non-custodial parent, identified as Casey Hazelton.

(KLZA)--Due to the flooding threat and the city’s water treatment plant being flooded the city of Peru has ordered a water conservations notice. They are asking residents not to wash clothes, dishes or take showers at this time. They ask that water use be reserved for drinking and the occasional flushing.

The Nemaha County Emergency Angency is currently working on delivering bottled water, filling up water bladders for each household and they are also working on bringing in a tanker truck to fill the water tower.

As a result of the water conservation notice the Peru State College campus will be closed Monday, March 18th. The College is encouraging students on campus and in town to go someplace more comfortable through at least Monday evening.

(AP )--The Latest on flooding in the Midwest

As rivers and creeks in flooded eastern Nebraska and western Iowa crest Saturday, officials have begun looking downstream at likely flooding further south along the Missouri River.

The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports Missouri Gov. Mike Parson met with emergency management team members Friday to review and update flood-response plans. The Missouri Highway Patrol is preparing additional equipment, and swift water rescue personnel are on standby. The Missouri National Guard also has temporarily relocated the 139th Airlift Wing's C-130s from Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph as a precaution.

Some flooding of low-lying areas around the river in northwest Missouri had already been reported Saturday.

The National Weather Service says the Missouri River at St. Joseph reached nearly 26 feet on Saturday, about a foot below what's considered major flooding at the northwest Missouri city. But it's expected to crest Wednesday or Thursday at 29.3 feet — more than two feet above major flooding level.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities were using boats and large vehicles on Saturday to rescue and evacuate residents in parts of the Midwest where a recent deluge of rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers, and killing at least one person.

Rescue efforts in eastern Nebraska were hampered by reports of levee breaches and washouts of bridges and roads, including part of Nebraska Highway 92, leading in and out of southwest Omaha. Authorities confirmed that a bridge on that highway that crosses the Elkhorn River had been washed out Saturday. And in Freemont, west of Omaha, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office issued a mandatory evacuation for some residents after floodwaters broke through a levee along the Platte River.

The flooding followed days of snow and rain — record-setting, in some places — that swept through the West and Midwest. The deluge pushed some waterways to record levels in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. The flooding was the worst in nearly a decade in places.

The family of farmer James Wilke, 50, of Columbus, Nebraska, said he was killed Thursday when a bridge collapsed as he was using his tractor to try to reach stranded motorists on Thursday. His body was found downstream, his cousin Paul Wilke told the Columbus Telegram. Gass Haney Funeral Home confirmed James Wilke's death.

At least two other people were missing in floodwaters in Nebraska. Officials said a Norfolk man was seen on top of his flooded car late Thursday before being swept away in the water and another man was swept away by waters when a dam collapsed on the Niobrara River.

Officials in Sarpy County, south of Omaha, said Saturday that power may be shut off to communities along the Missouri, Platte and Elkhorn rivers for safety reasons. They warned those who choose to ignore calls to evacuate that rescues would be attempted only during daylight hours. Some cities and towns, such as North Bend on the banks of the Platte River, were submerged. Others, such as Waterloo and Freemont, were surrounded by floodwaters, stranding residents in virtual islands with no access in or out.

Farther east, the Mississippi River saw moderate flooding in Illinois from Rock Island south to Gladstone. Meteorologist Brian Pierce with the National Weather Service's Quad Cities office in Davenport, Iowa, said flooding on the Mississippi could get worse a few weeks as more snow melts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"What we're having now is the dress rehearsal for the main event that's going to happen in early April," he said of the flooding on the Mississippi.

Rising waters along the Pecatonica and Rock rivers flooded some homes in the northern Illinois cities of Freeport, Rockford and Machesney Park. The National Weather Service said record crests were possible along the rivers, with water levels forecast to continue to rise over the next several days and remain above flood stage through most of the weekend.

___

Associated Press reporter Caryn Rousseau contributed from Chicago.

(KLZA)--Two Missouri River crossings north of St. Joseph are now closed due to flooding: U.S. Route 159 in Holt County and U.S. Route 136 in Atchison County. The Missouri Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, has closed these roadways due to flooding and the potential for rapidly rising water.

U.S. Route 159 is flooded and closed west of Route 111 near Big Lake. That closure may extend further east overnight. Residents and motorists should use caution in the area and remain alert for additional water over roadways.

U.S. Route 136 is closed west of Rock Port. Due to the threat of vehicles being caught in rapidly rising water, should levees be overtopped or breached, the road is closed on both the Missouri side and on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River.

Rising water along the Missouri River and other smaller rivers and streams have closed portions of I-29 in Iowa and Missouri, as well as other roadways throughout the two states. Roads impacted by flooding are expected to be closed for an extended period of time.

Interstate 29 is now CLOSED between Exit 110 at Rock Port and Exit 11 at Hamburg, Iowa.

Through Traffic on I-29 between Council Bluffs/Omaha and Kansas City is being asked to detour along I-25 and I-80

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A tax relief bill pushed by Republican leaders has cleared the GOP-controlled Legislature.

The measure went to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly after the Senate's 24-16 vote Thursday evening. The House approved it last week.

The bill is designed to prevent businesses and individuals from paying more in state income taxes because changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. It also contains a small cut in the state's sales tax on groceries.

Republicans said the bill is a matter of fairness and prevents an unlegislated tax increase.

But Democratic senators excoriated the bill as a budget-buster.

Kelly has stopped short of saying she will veto the measure but lawmakers in both parties expect her to reject the measure.

Senators approved the bill after passing an education funding increase.

(KAIR)--A state of disaster emergency declaration has been issued for Doniphan County.

According to a news release issued by the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly did that Friday as the flood waters continue to threaten the county.

That comes a flood warning remains in place for the Missouri River, affecting local counties, including Doniphan.

The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.

The Doniphan County community of Elwood continues to urge community preparation, holding a community meeting Friday evening.

According to the City of Elwood, a second meeting is planned for Saturday evening, March 16, at 6:00 in the new gymnasium at the Riverside School.

The city is hopeful that new information will be available by that time.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management has activated the State Emergency

Operations Center to a partial level and is working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service to provide support to Doniphan County.

Editor's note: Kansas Division of Emergency Management released the following statement Friday.

Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a state of disaster emergency declaration today for Doniphan County affected by flooding this week.  The state declaration may be amended to include any additional counties that may experience flooding. The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.

"We urge residents to be aware of their safety. Flood waters can be deceptive; it only takes 18 inches of water to float a car," Kelly said. "Although people often think of tornadoes as the big destructive force of nature in Kansas, floods can be just as damaging, if not more so. While tornadoes are generally limited in scope, floods affect many, many square miles, destroying or damaging roads, bridges, power lines and other vital infrastructure. I am signing this declaration to help these county governments quickly restore infrastructure and get things back to normal for their citizens."

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to a partial level and is working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service to provide support to Doniphan County.  KDEM has sent three regional coordinators to assist Doniphan county emergency management officials. 

Other state agencies that have reported to the SEOC are State Fire Marshal's Office, Kansas Highway Patrol and Department of Children and Families.  

The Kansas State Animal Response Team has been requested to deploy to assist with sheltering of evacuated pets.

For Kansas road information go online to www.KanDrive.org. The site displays information from KDOT's traveler information technology, including highway cameras, dynamic message signs, traffic management centers and 511 phone, online and mobile (http://511mm.ksdot.org).

(KNZA)--A former Elwood police officer convicted of a pair of sex-related offenses will have to serve 60-days in jail.

Aaron Newberry, currently of Amazonia, Missouri, was sentenced Thursday in Doniphan County District Court after entering into a plea agreement.

Newberry pled to an amended charge of sexual battery along with a charge of mistreatment of a confined person, both misdemeanors.

He had originally been charged with a felony count of aggravated sexual battery.

Newberry was sentenced to one year in jail on each count, which was suspended except for 60 days.  

He is to begin serving the jail time March 22.  That’s to be followed by two years probation.

Newberry was arrested July 21st of last year following an investigation.

He was fired following his arrest, which came just over four months after joining the Elwood Police Department.  

Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert served as special prosecutor in the case.

(KAIR)--The body of a man discovered Tuesday morning on an isolated stretch of road in Leavenworth County has been identified.

The Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office, in a news release Friday, said the body is that of 23-year-old Travis Doughty, of Leavenworth.

The Sheriff’s Office believes Doughty was murdered.

The release said Leavenworth residents and investigators are working to determine the circumstances leading to Doughty’s death.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Doughty in the days before his death is urged to contact the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office (913) 682-5724.

(KAIR)--A second arrest is made in connection with a rash of vehicle thefts and burglaries in rural Atchison County.

29-year-old Andrew Tipton, of Atchison, was already in custody at the time of his arrest in connection with the case. He had been arrested Thursday by the Atchison Police Department on an Atchison County District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine.

36-year-old Dewayne Martin, of Atchison, was arrested Monday in connection with the crime spree.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie told MSC News with the two arrests, nine burglary and or theft cases, have been cleared. “It was one of the bigger cases we’ve had in quite awhile as far as the spree of thefts we had. We had a lot of people in the county pretty concerned. There were a few times when we almost had them where citizens called us and told us, “hey, someone’s in my driveway.” We just couldn’t get there in time to catch them.”

The crimes, ranging from the theft of three vehicles, burglary of vehicles, and an attempted residential break in, occurred earlier this year at rural Atchison County locations, including Effingham, Lancaster, and Cummings.

Tipton is held on charges related to the Atchison County case including three counts of vehicle theft, one count of burglary of a vehicle with intent to steal a firearm, and one count of theft of a firearm with a value less than $250.

Jail records show that Tipton’s bond is set at $10,000.

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Public Power District's Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville declared a “Notification of Unusual Event” about 5:45 Friday morning. 

NPPD spokesman Mark Becker explained once the Missouri River reaches 42.5 feet at Brownville, the unusual event notification is issued. 

Based on Missouri River projections, it appears imminent the nuclear power plant will need to be shut down late Friday night or early Saturday morning. 

Despite record flood levels predicted for Brownville, Becker is confident the plant will not be damaged.  The Cooper plant is built above grade and the levy on the Missouri side of the river is lower than on the Nebraska side.  

The Missouri River level is expected to remain above the level to keep the plant in mandatory shutdown for at least a week.  Once the river level drops below that level, it is a lengthy process to restart the plant and get back into the electric grid. 

Employees will remain on site during the shutdown period and there is no danger to the public. The only concerns are access to the plant with the north road to the plant underwater and the south entrance being a gravel road for a portion of the distance.

The Cooper Nuclear Station is located three miles southeast of  Brownville.  
 

(KAIR)--The current ownership of the Horton Community Hospital, listed in court documents as CAH Acquisition Company #3, LLC, filed for bankruptcy Thursday.

According to online court documents, a Chapter 11 Voluntary Petition was filed Thursday in North Carolina Eastern Bankruptcy Court.

A meeting of creditors is scheduled for April 17 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The filing came two days after the Horton Community Hospital ceased operations following a long stretch of financial woes, including the inability to pay employees.

The Topeka Capital Journal reports the Kansas Department of Labor is reviewing claims whether wages are owed to former Horton hospital employees. According to the report, if the employer refuses, court action will follow.

Employees had not been paid since early February.
It was in early February that management of the facility was turned over to Miami, Florida-based iHealthcare.

The court documents indicate the debtor, doing business as Horton Community Hospital, lists a Saint Louis, Missouri, PO Box as its address.

Assets are listed from $0 to $50,000.

The hospital had been owned by Kansas City firm EmpowerHMS.

According to a report from the Kansas City Star, EmpowerHMS head Jorge Perez is accused of using the hospitals he owned as a way to funnel lab bills in order to profit from the increased reimbursements that rural hospital labs gain to help keep them open.

According a report this week from the Pittsburg Sun, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation focused on the former Horton Hospital, but specifics were not stated.

Meanwhile, Horton Mayor Bryan Stirton told MSC News Thursday he and City Administrator John Calhoon are currently in the process of visiting with different entities to explore options to evaluate possible ways to regain some of the services the community lost with the closing of the hospital.

(KNZA)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday rescinded a boil water advisory for the Brown County community of Reserve.

The advisory was issued March 9 because of a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

KDHE says laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Reserve indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed to be resolved.

(KAIR)--The criminal charges against an Atchison man, accused of involvement in a rash of property crimes in rural Atchison County, continue to grow.
35-year-old Dewayne Martin was apprehended Monday in connection with the theft of three vehicles, along with a number of vehicle burglaries, and an attempted residential burglary.

Arrested Monday in connection with those crimes, Martin was again arrested midweek for a separate case.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News Martin was arrested Wednesday on an Atchison County District Court Warrant for fleeing and attempting to elude.

Those charges stem from the night of March 1 when Wilson said a police officer was checking on a complaint near 3rd and Atchison Streets involving a vehicle.

Wilson said the officer determined the tag on the vehicle was the wrong one, and a traffic stop was attempted.

Instead, Wilson said the driver, identified by another officer on the scene as Martin, drove off, fleeing from the officer by crossing into Missouri across the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge.

Martin remains in custody at the Atchison County Jail.

He’s held on charges including aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling in relation to the Atchison County case.

His bond is set at $25,000.

Two of the vehicles Martin is accused of stealing have been recovered, but a third is not yet located.

A second arrest in connection with the Atchison County case has also been made.

(KLZA)-- Holt County Commissioners have ordered a mandatory evacuation of Big Lake, Missouri. 

According to Presiding Commissioner Tom Bullock, who also serves as Emergency Management  Director, there  had been no levee breaks reported, but water was coming over the top of a levee protecting Big Lake. 

A State of Emergency for Holt County was issued Thursday afternoon.  

There are no reports of levee breaks in Atchison County, Missouri but water from the Missouri River is beginning to overtop the levees according to Atchison County Emergency Management. 

Flooding at Atchison's Riverfront/Submitted photo by Cathy Scholz

(KAIR)--The flooding of the Missouri River has led to the closure of an Atchison road.

According to an alert issued Friday morning by Atchison County Emergency Management, River Road is closed from the north Atchison city limits to the Doniphan County line.

That comes as the flood waters are out of the banks on that stretch of roadway.

The closure will remain in place until further notice.

Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter said that will likely be for several days.

Local authorities have been putting plans into place due to the flood threat.

Lanter told MSC News his office met Wednesday with officials from both the City of Atchison and the County of Atchison to assess the situation.

That was done as a flood warning remains in place, with the flood stage at Atchison Friday morning checking in at 26.38 feet. Flood stage is 22 feet. According to Lanter, citing current predictions from the National Weather Service and the Corps of Engineers, the Missouri River is expected to crest at 31.8 feet on Sunday. The highest recorded crest to date in Atchison was 31.63 feet on July 26, 1993.

The National Weather Service says recent rain, and melting snow, has led to the flooding.

Due to those conditions, the Army Corps of Engineers Thursday night increased water releases from Gavins Point Dam to 90,000 cubic feet per second.

Lanter said as those increases change, so, too, could local planning for handling the flooding.

However, he said it’s “fortunate that the City of Atchison is at a higher elevation than other cities along the Missouri River.”

The closure of Atchison’s River Road means a change for Atchison’s Saint Patrick’s Parade.

Parade Committee Chair Janie Pickman told MSC News that while the parade route remains the same, the location of the 12:30 check-in for parade participants has been moved. “We’re going to have to change the check-in point,” Pickman said Friday. “We were supposed to check in at Atchison Street and River Road. We’re now changing that to the southeast corner of 4th and Main.”

All other aspects of the 36th annual Saint Patrick’s Parade through downtown Atchison remain the same, including the 2:00 start time.

Submitted photo by Cathy Scholz

The flood warning is also in affect for Doniphan and Leavenworth Counties, in Kansas, and Buchanan and Platte Counties, in Missouri.

The Doniphan County community of Elwood is preparing for the worst.

The city leaders are encouraging Elwood residents to be prepared, and recommends a mandatory evacuation at 30 feet.

As of Friday morning, the flood stage of the Missouri River at Saint Joseph, Missouri was 24.89 feet, with a predicted crest of 29.2 feet on Wednesday.

Flood stage is 17 feet.

According to the National Weather Service, the high level causes flooding in Elwood and the eastern edge of Wathena.

An Elwood Community Meeting about the situation will be held this evening, March 15, at 6:00 at the Elwood Community Center.

The Associated Press is reporting the U.S. Coast Guard says all traffic on the Missouri River from about 50 miles south of Omaha, Nebraska, downstream to St. Joseph, Missouri, has been shut down due to the river's high water levels.

The order came Friday. The Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also requested all river vessel operators create as little wake as possible between St. Joseph downstream to Kansas City to minimize levee damage.

Officials say the restrictions will be lifted as soon as flooding conditions improve.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. 

Submitted photo of sandbags being readied in Atchison/Credit: Cathy Scholz

Editor's note: Brown County voters during a special election May 21 will decide whether to approve a ten-year one-half percent countywide retailers sales tax to support health care services in Brown County.  The following release was submitted by the Hiawatha Community Hospital.

In Brown County, like much of Kansas, Hiawatha Community Hospital is an economic anchor for the community. Without hospitals, communities lose one of the most important components in their community. HCH is the 3rd largest employer in Hiawatha. The hospital delivers about 100 babies a year, provides emergency room care to patients with about 4,000 visits a year and more than 25,000 outpatient visits a year. HCH is an important fabric of this community.

Unfortunately, today's current environment is financially challenging to many rural hospitals.  In fact, sixty-nine percent (69%) of rural hospitals are losing money. In many cases, public funding provides a great support.

A recent report by the Kansas Hospital Association (Public Funding Survey Results 2018) shows that of the 96 Kansas hospitals that participated in the survey, sixty-nine percent (69%) indicated that they received public support ranging from $146,000 to $2,000,000. They indicated sales tax support ranged from $25,000 to $800,000 a year. Eighty-three percent (83%) of the Critical Access Hospitals surveyed (those hospitals like Hiawatha Community Hospital) receive tax support.

It is unfortunate that Kansas has not expanded Medicaid, which would not only benefit patients and communities, but would benefit HCH and every hospital in Kansas. Like many hospitals, HCH is experiencing an increase in bad debt – thirty-six percent (36%) higher than last year – estimated about $2.2 million dollars for 2018. Medicaid (KanCare) expansion would financially help Hiawatha Community Hospital as well.   

The Medicare payment methodology for Critical Access Hospitals is unlike any other reimbursement model. The complex nature of the process often times results in the Medicare program paying the hospital too much or too little. In 2016, HCH paid back $405,000 and $1,860,000 in 2017. In 2018, Medicare recouped approximately $1.2 M through lower reimbursement. The latter contributed to the most recent cash flow challenges for HCH in 2018.

Facing significant loss for 2018 – ($3M), several initiatives were undertaken by HCH – the expense reductions included:
Two percent (2%) decrease in all employee wages;
Retirement plan – ended all employer contributions;
Life Insurance – terminated employer funded programs;
Long Term Disability – terminated employer funded programs; and
Other employee and provider concessions.

The total impact of these reductions was $2 million, but these concessions are not sustainable. In addition, the hospital is in need of funds for capital projects that are necessary to provide quality care and to meet regulatory requirements.

Hiawatha Community Hospital plans to improve transparency and hold town hall meetings throughout the county to share the hospital story and ask for the county support.

Given the challenges of rural health care in Brown County – HCH recommends a 10 year plan which enables the hospital to refinance the current bond and reduce overall interest expense, as well as enabling the hospital to continue to provide the high quality patient care close to home that our communities deserve.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the employees and providers of Hiawatha Community Hospital, and most importantly, the community, we ask for support of the proposed one-half percent (0.50%) retailers’ sales tax for the purpose of supporting health care services in Brown County.

(KLZA)-- The National Weather Service in Omaha hosted a teleconference Thursday afternoon concerning the widespread flooding across Nebraska. 

Brian Smith, Coordination Meteorologist,  revealed that in addition to the rain, melting snow and ice,  the Army Corps of  Engineers has decided to increase the output of water from the Gavins Point Dam at Yankton, South Dakota from 37-thousand cubic feet per second to 60—thousand cfs, at the Gavins Point Dam at Yankton, South Dakota. 

Smith said that while it is going to warm up over the next two weeks, it's going to take a while to dry things out.  In the Rulo area, Smith is predicting a Missouri River crest for Monday, March 18,  but with the additional water entering the river from the dam, it is expected to keep the river above flood stage through at least March 25th and likely longer. 

Smith says that another concern the National Weather Service is keeping an eye on is  whether or not the Missouri will crest high enough to go across Interstate 29 in the Hamburg, Iowa area like it did in 2011. 

(KNZA)--A man apparently became disoriented while walking in Brown County, and his distress call to an area 911 center led to his rescue.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, in a release, said the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office took the 911 cell phone call shortly before 9:00 Wednesday morning.

The man told the dispatcher he was lost, cold and wet, laying in a field somewhere between a pond and a farmhouse.

The dispatch center was able to identify that the call was coming from a Brown County location, in the vicinity of Hazelnut and K-20 Highway.

When the call was transferred to Brown County dispatch, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Kickapoo Tribal Police were contacted and the search began.

Merchant notes that strong winds and heavy rains were occurring at the time of the call, but that didn’t deter Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Brian Guilliams and Kickapoo Police Chief Nathan Gray from walking more than half-a-mile in wet, muddy fields, until they located the man who placed the emergency call.

According to Merchant, the man, whose name is not released, had spent 24 hours in the elements after walking near the Delaware River where he became disoriented, leading him to spend the night outdoors.

Located shortly before 11:30 Wednesday morning, Merchant said the Kickapoo Fire Department utilized an ATV to transport the man from the field to a waiting Horton EMS ambulance which transferred him to the Hiawatha Community Hospital for treatment and observation.

Merchant, in the release said, “By the actions taken by the Nemaha County Sheriffs dispatch, Chief Gray and Sgt. Guilliams, they are directly responsible for saving this mans life.”

Merchant is also crediting a number of agencies who took part in the effort, including the Brown County Rescue Squad, Powhattan Fire, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Brown County Mounted Search and Rescue. 
 

(KNZA)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for Brown County Rural Water District #1.

However, the agency said Thursday a boil advisory remains in effect for the Brown County community of Reserve.

The advisory was issued March 9 due to the loss of pressure . KDHE says failure  to maintain adequate pressure many result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Reserve residents are advised to continue to boil their water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or to use bottled water.

The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.  

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) - The Horton Community Hospital is under investigation by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

That’s revealed in a report from the Pittsburg Sun following the execution of a search warrant at a southeast Kansas hospital that closed last month.

Both hospitals were once run by EmpowerHMS, which has had several hospitals close across the country.

The Horton Hospital ceased operations Tuesday evening.

According to the newspaper, a search warrant was executed in February at Oswego Community Hospital, about a week after the hospital, and two other medical facilities in Labette County, closed.

C.J. Grover, spokesman for Attorney General Derek Schmidt, confirmed the search warrant but declined to comment further.

He did say the Attorney General’s Office is also investigating the Horton Hospital.

According to a report from the Kansas City Star, EmpowerHMS head Jorge Perez is accused of using the hospitals he owned as a way to funnel lab bills in order to profit from the increased reimbursements that rural hospital labs gain to help keep them open.

(KLZA)-- The Auburn City Council approved moving forward with an application for an Historic Preservation Grant request when they met Monday evening. 

The total fund would come to $14,675 with the City share not to exceed three-thousand dollars.  If approved the funds would be  used to  have a Peru State College intern research a number of historical properties in Auburn and also help create an historic logo. 

In other business the Council approved a request to change the width of a portion of “G” Street, from 80 to 70 feet for approximately one-half block. The change will allow a property owner to construct a storage shed. 

Requests to use the city street for a 5K run by Educational Service Unit #4 and to close Highways 75 and 136 for the Nemaha County Fair Parade this summer were also approved. 

Council members also approved $1,500 in funding assistance for the Blue Rivers Agency.  

(KAIR)--Civil rights activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland is coming to Atchison, and in advance of her visit, students from Atchison’s Saint Benedict Catholic School have been studying the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

Trumpauer Mulholland was involved with the lunch counter sit-ins and Freedom Rides through Mississippi, nearly losing her life as a result.

Her Atchison visit will include a public forum on the evening of Wednesday, March 20, from 7 to 9:00, at the Atchison Middle School Auditorium.

MSC News sat down with Saint Benedict students to find out what they’ve learned in the classroom regarding our country’s civil rights history.

(KAIR)--Concerns of flooding are growing in the Doniphan County community of Elwood, with the City of Elwood watching the situation closely. 

A release from the City of Elwood is alerting residents to be prepared for flooding. That comes as the Missouri River at Elwood is predicted to continue rising, and then crest at 29.4 feet on March 19. 

The release says "the city recommends a mandatory evacuation at 30 feet." 
A community information meeting focused on the flood threat is planned for Friday evening, March 15.  

According to the City of Elwood, the meeting will be held at 6:00 at the Elwood Community Center, located at 803 Massachusetts Street. 

Credit: Facebook/City of Elwood

The Missouri Department of Transportation, in a release, said that with the melted ice and snow saturating the ground, more rain could cause flooding situations to change quickly.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is increasing releases from Gavins Point Dam in response to increased runoff into the Missouri River above the dam. 

According to a release from the Corps, the increased releases began Wednesday.

Widespread rain and snowmelt has prompted the National Weather Service to issue flood warnings from southeast South Dakota to St. Louis, with warnings in place across the local area.

(KLZA)--  Richardson County Emergency Management has issued a voluntary evacuation notice for areas along the Missouri River in Rulo and the Lewis and Clark Estates.

In addition the Atchison County Missouri Commission and Atchison County Levee District #1 are recommending evacuation for persons residing within the Missouri River bottom.  All area's of  Atchison County, west of Interstate 29 are in danger of flooding in the next week to 10 days.

Mark Manchester with Atchison County Emergency Management said the only road closed presently is Highway 59 between Tarkio and Fairfax due to high water and that no levee breaks  have been reported.

Holt County Emergency Manager Tom Bullock said people are voluntarily moving trailers and items out of Big Lake.  Bullock will be meeting with Corps of Engineers representatives today to inspect levees and decide if a mandatory evacuation will be ordered for Big Lake. 

Highway 136 east of Auburn is closed due to flooding of the Little Nemaha River.  It appears the Little Nemaha is receding at this time.  

If you do not live within the areas where evacuations have been suggested or have equipment in these areas, you are asked to please stay out. 

Editor's note: The following information was submitted Wednesday, March 13 by Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse. 

On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, Jackson County became the 91st Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to join the statewide Next Generation 9-1-1 system.

Kansas has a total of 117 PSAPs.

AT&T installed the new system over the past few weeks and have provided the training for sheriff’s office dispatchers.

A new feature with this new system is Simple Message Service Text-to-911. Sheriff dispatchers can not only receive 911 phone calls, but now can receive emergency text messages. Dispatchers will be able to text back through the new system to the caller. Incidents where someone may be in danger and does not want the suspect to know they are calling for help can text for help.

By joining the 911 Coordinating Council’s statewide NG911 system, Jackson County no longer is required to host an in-house 911 system and isn’t required to plan for future 911 updates.

The state has 2 different host sites for their 911 system, one in Wichita and the other in Topeka.

If Jackson County were to experience an outage or disaster, dispatchers could go to another PSAP in another county and still be able to answer 911 calls for Jackson County. Typically, 911 systems need to be replaced every 5-6 years. These projects can cost a couple hundred thousand dollars or more each time.

The 911 Coordinating Council’s system will be upgraded overtime and maintained by the council.

This new system provides an upgrade to the Center’s 911 mapping system. Counties receive better mapping for the entire state, rather than just the their own counties. This is important when crimes or emergencies that are in progress and cross county lines.

The annual cost for the new system is approximately $39,000.00 and will be paid for out of the 911 taxes collected from cell phones and landlines in the county.

Some counties have elected to continue to host their own system or join other systems. However, a majority of counties have joined the state-wide system.

Jackson County went live with their first 9-1-1 system on August 3, 1993. This is the sixth system upgrade for Jackson County.

The 911 Coordinator for Jackson County is Sherri Ladner and the Dispatch Supervisor for the center is Kylie Mercer.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center is the central answering point for all 911 calls in Jackson County.

(MSC News)--According to the National Weather Service, the Missouri River could see its third-highest crest soon at 28.5 feet. The record flood stage is 32.1 feet.

The Missouri Department of Transportation, in a release, said that with the melted ice and snow saturating the ground, more rain could cause flooding situations to change quickly.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is increasing releases from Gavins Point Dam in response to increased runoff into the Missouri River above the dam. 

According to a release from the Corps, the increased releases began Wednesday.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Board of Education approved three resignations and three teaching contracts during their Monday, March 11th meeting. 

The Board approved with sincere regret the retirement resignation of Middle School Principal Rick Johnson. Johnson has held the position for 29 years. 

The resignations of 5th grade teacher Denise Kurpgeweit who has taught for 38 years and 4th grade teacher Phil Janssen were also approved.

Maygan Ramsy and Brandon  Gibson were hired as elementary teachers and Ginger Feek was hired as a special education teacher.

Although Falls City Public School have missed five days of school since November 26 due to extreme weather conditions, it is projected the district will well exceed the Nebraska Department of Education's requirement for instructional time.

The school district is not scheduling make-up days at this time.   If additional days are lost due to weather,  April  22 will be designated as a make-up day for students and staff.  

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Emergency Management reports that a voluntary evacuation is underway at Big Lake, Missouri.

Richardson County Emergency Management was in contact Wednesday morning with Holt County Emergency Manager Tom Bullock.  

The evacuation is strictly voluntary and no decisions on mandatory evacuations will be made until the storm system moving through the area Wednesday has passed through the area. 

The Holt County Sheriff's Office did report that some  people were moving trailers from the Big Lake area due to the potential for flooding. 

In Richardson County, one road closure has been reported.  707 road is closed from 655 Avenue to 656 Avenue.  Water from melting snow went over the road and caused quite a bit of damage to the roadway.

This area is approximately a mile north of the Preston corner and the first mile west.  

(KAIR)--Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is concerned for the Horton community.

In a news release issued Wednesday following Tuesday’s closure of the Horton Community Hospital, Kelly said she has directed state agencies to coordinate support for hospital staff during what she calls a “challenging time.”

According to the release, the KANSASWORKS team will be in Horton Thursday to assist hospital staff with filing for unemployment benefits, as well as job applications and re-employment services.

The Governor’s Office, Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Department of Labor are working to provide support to employees of the hospital, ensure unemployment benefits applications are streamlined, and re-employment opportunities are available.

KANSASWORKS will be hosting Rapid Response Informational Meetings Thursday in Horton in conjunction with the Community Outreach Event at the Horton Public Library.

Efforts to assist affected hospital employees will include Rapid Response Informational Meetings Thursday afternoon at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00, at the Horton Public Library. Registration is not required.

Information will be shared about KANSASWORKS, Workforce Center employment and training services and how to file unemployment insurance benefits.

Also, the KANSASWORKS Mobile Workforce Center will be at the Horton Public Library Thursday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 to provide additional re-employment services. Workforce Center staff will be available to help with registering on KANSASWORKS.com, creating a resumé, job search assistance and filling out job applications.

Kelly, in the release, called local hospitals “ key to the health of Kansas families and are often one of the largest employers in a small town.” She added that “elected leaders must work together to do more to support our local hospitals.”

Along with Horton’s hospital, the release notes closure of two other rural Kansas hospitals within the last three months, including Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott and the Oswego Community Hospital.

Horton Hospital’s closing follows financial struggles, with Florida-based firm iHealthcare retained in February to take over management of the troubled facility.

Horton City Administrator John Calhoon said the employees that remained at the hospital prior to the closing had not received a paycheck since February 15. “They’ve given everything they could to try and hold out as as long as they can.”

Horton Mayor Bryan Stirton told MSC News Tuesday, prior to the closing, that negative impacts will be felt in the Horton community. “If folks have to leave to find new jobs, it will impact the school district, too. All of the local businesses will suffer. I commend the employees for their support to keeping the hospital open this long. Without them it would have been closed by now.”

The Brown County Commission Monday approved an agreement with Hiawatha-based Town and Country EMS to provide ambulance service in the southern portion of the county in anticipation of the closure. 

Calhoon said arrangements are now in place to house the ambulances, and to provide a small office for personnel. “We have had several meetings over the past few weeks and made arrangements with Town and Country Ambulance Service, and their owner, to immediately take over ambulance service, so that will be covered. The ambulances will be housed at the armory here in Horton. They’re already there stationed.”

That plan went into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the time the hospital closed its doors.

Beside a 25-bed critical access hospital, the Horton hospital operated a clinic and ambulance service.

The Hiawatha Community Hospital, which is also struggling financially, has committed to opening a health clinic in Horton should voters approve a 10-year countywide half-cent sales tax during a special election in May.  

The Brown County Commission Monday approved a resolution setting that special election for May 21. 

(KMZA)--Another block of Seneca’s brick Main Street is to be rehabilitated this year.

The Seneca City Council last week approved a resolution awarding the contract for the project between 6th and 7th Streets to Bryant and Bryant Construction, of Halstead, in the amount of $757,404, and committing $315,000 in local matching funds.

The total project cost is placed at $871,000.  A Kansas Department of Transportation grant awarded to the city in 2017 will cover $556,000 of the project cost, with the city responsible for the remainder.

The city is to submit its share of the funding to KDOT on or before April 11.

The project will rebuild the brick street surface and replace sidewalks similar to  to the 2012 project that rebuilt Main Street from 3rd to 6th Streets.

City Administrator Matt Rehder says the project will begin in early August following the Nemaha County Fair.

The project is scheduled for 120 working days.

(KAIR)--A former Jackson County EMT will serve five-years on federal probation for the theft of morphine.

According to a release Wednesday from the office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, 33-year-old Colby VanWagoner was sentenced Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty in December to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by deception, and one count of making a false statement during an investigation.

One condition of VanWagoner’s probation is to not engage in any occupation that would give him access to controlled substances without prior approval from his probation officer. He must also complete an approved substance abuse program.

The vials of morphine were stolen while VanWagoner worked for the Jackson County Emergency Medical Service, in Holton.

In his plea, VanWagoner admitted he tampered with vials of morphine sulfate, replacing the morphine with saline solution. He then put the vials back into narcotic boxes on ambulances and in office stocks.

Tests showed the concentration in the vials VanWagoner tampered with was as low as 1-percent or less.

The concentration should have been 100-percent.

(KAIR)--An arrest is made, and another expected, in connection with a rash of vehicle thefts and burglaries in rural Atchison County. “Our Deputies beat the streets on this one and were finally able to come up with some information on Mr. Martin and one other suspect," Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie told MSC News. "They were finally able to piece it all together and get some good information and make an arrest.”

Laurie said 36-year-old Dewayne Martin, of Atchison, was taken into custody Monday, arrested in connection with a number of cases.

They include the thefts of 3 vehicles, including a 2002 Ford Escape, reported stolen in rural Atchison County on January 23, a 2007 Ford Edge, reported stolen from Effingham, on July 29, and a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado, reported stolen from Lancaster on January 27.

The Ford Escape remains missing, but the Chevy Colorado was recovered Wednesday morning north of Weston. The Ford Edge was found running south of Atchison on January 30.

Laurie said the search for the missing vehicle is continuing. “We’ve got a good location on the vehicle, at least where we believe the vehicle was last seen. We’ve been checking on that the last few days and trying to recover it. We’re hopeful that we’ll recover it.”

Martin is also blamed for vehicle burglaries that Laurie said were reported January 26 and January 27 at rural Atchison County locations, including Cummings.

He is also accused of attempted burglary and misdemeanor criminal damage to property in connection with an attempted residential burglary, in Cummings, on February 1.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 1309 South 10th Street, in Atchison, where items of evidence pertaining to the thefts and burglaries were located.

The raid led authorities to believe Martin was also responsible for a vehicle burglary and theft case reported January 31 in Cummings.

Following his arrest, Martin was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

The second arrest is forthcoming.

(KNZA)--This year's annual Brown County Spotlight auction was a big success.

More than 320 items and services donated by area businesses were auctioned off Monday and Tuesday evenings over KNZA 103.9 FM, generating $11,711  

The items auctioned off brought nearly 93 percent of retail value.

Proceeds from the auction will be used for operation of the 2019 Brown County 4-H Fair to be held July 8-13 in Horton.

(KNZA)--A new Hiawatha Elementary School principal has been hired.

Following an executive session Monday evening, USD 415 Superintendent Lonnie Moser said the Board of Education voted to offer one-year contract to Paul Carver, of McPherson, for the 2019-2020 school year.

Carver currently serves as a 5th grade teacher at McPherson.

He will replace Tom Schmitz who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Carver was among four finalists interviewed last month.

He and his wife were present at Monday’s Board meeting and were introduced by Board President Ian Schuetz.

Moser said Carver is to start work the last week of July.

Also after the executive session, the Board approved the hiring of Jeremy Enns as district computer technician.  Enns come to Hiawatha from Texas.   He replaces Ryan Bauer who resigned effective February 5 to take a job with Rainbow Communications.    

In addition, the Board approved the hiring of David Winter as a bus mechanic.

In other action, the Board approved the adoption of a new K-12 math curriculum at a cost of nearly $110,000.   

The Board also accepted a bid from the Manhattan CPA firm, Varney and Associates, to conduct the financial audit for the year ending June 30, 2019 at a cost of $7,260.  That’s $1,700 less than the district paid last year.

(KLZA)--A longtime Falls City businessman and promoter of the community is remembered.  

Kenneth Kunce died March 7 at the age of 84.

Kunce and his wife Cecelia bought Shestak Drug in Falls City in 1976 and operated Ken's Pharmacy and added a JC Penney Catalog store and Radio Shack to the pharmacy. He retired, for the first time in1998.  In 2004 he started Falls City Pharmacy and retired again in 2008.  

As a community leader Kunce led the push to eliminate paid parking downtown;  had Falls City declared the “balloon capital of Nebraska,” staging hot air balloon launches and events. He was also instrumental in the promotion of building up Cobblestone Days into a regional event.  

Kunce also led the fundraising efforts to build the Falls City Library and Arts Center.

A memorial mass for Ken Kunce will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday morning, April 27, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic  Church in Falls City.

Ken Kunce is survived by his wife Cecelia and children Julie Field;  Amy Kunce, Mary Kunce and a son Jon. 
 

(KNZA)--Brown County Sheriff John Merchant is alerting residents about a possible phone scam involving the Sheriff’s Office.

Merchant said residents are getting phone calls implying that the sheriff’s office is soliciting people to put advertising on 911 magnets.

He says the sheriff’s office is not affiliated with the company in anyway and is questioning their motives.

Merchant said he has called the company personally asking them not to misrepresent his office.

Merchant said if you get a call from the company be very cautious and offer no personal information.

(KNZA)--The new president of Highland Community College has been named.

The HCC Board of Trustees announced Tuesday that Deborah Fox, of Independence, Kansas, has been hired as the 44th president of the college.

The announcement follows an unanimous vote during a special meeting Monday evening.

Fox currently serves as Director of Business Operations & Management for USD #446 in Independence. Previously, she served at Highland Community College as the Vice President of Finance & Operations and Assistant Dean of Regional Instruction.

Fox thanked the Board for putting their faith in her to lead Highland as president.

Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Smith said Fox will be a great fit in the community.  He added she knows Highland having previously spent 14 years at the college and will be able to hit the ground running.

Fox was among three candidates interviewed.

Current President David Reist is retiring effective June 30 after 38 years with the college.

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Department of Labor reports unemployment figures in Southeast Nebraska were higher in January while statewide the unemployment rate was steady.

The highest unemployment rate in the area is Nemaha and Gage counties at 3.6 percent. Gage County had the largest increase in unemployment at .7 percent.

The jobless rate in Richardson County was 3.4 percent, up 3-tenths of a point. The Johnson County rate was also 3.4 percent, up a tenth of a point.

Nemaha County had an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent, up a tenth.

Pawnee County has the best unemployment rate in the area at 2.8 percent, up a tenth of a point from January.

Statewide the unemployment rate was unchanged from January at 2.8 percent. That compares to the national average of 4-percent.

(KAIR)--The 36th annual Atchison St. Patrick's Day Parade is planned for Saturday, March 16, at 2 p.m. 

The theme for 2019 is Castles and Clovers. 

MSC Radio News Director Brian Hagen talked to Parade Planning Committee Chair Janie Pickman about the planned activities. 

(MSC News)--Heavy rainfall, combined with warmer temperatures and melting snow, frozen ground and thick ice cover in rivers is creating the possibility of widespread flooding on area rivers and streams beginning Wednesday.

The National Weather Service says some locations along the Missouri River could see major flooding in the next week.

The warmer temperatures will accompany a strong storm system which is likely to produce 1 to 3 inches of rain in the next several days.

Due to the threat, flood warnings are put in place across the region, impacting local area communities of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.

(KAIR)--The Horton Community Hospital has closed its doors. “We are closed, as of immediately. We tried,” Hospital CEO Ty Compton told MSC News just minutes after 5:00 Tuesday evening, March 12.

The closing follows financial struggles for the hospital, with Florida-based firm iHealthcare retained in February to take over management of the troubled facility.

Horton Mayor Bryan Stirton told MSC News Tuesday, prior to the closing, that negative impacts will be felt in the Horton community. “If folks have to leave to find new jobs, it will impact the school district, too. All of the local businesses will suffer. I commend the employees for their support to keeping the hospital open this long. Without them it would have been closed by now. Reports say they have been without a paycheck for almost 6 weeks.”

Horton officials say the employees had not received a paycheck since February 15. “They’ve given everything they could to try and hold out as as long as they can,” Horton City Administrator John Calhoon said of the employees that remained at the hospital prior to Tuesday’s closing.

Along with a 25 bed critical access hospital, the Horton Hospital operated a health clinic and ambulance service.

The Brown County Commission Monday approved an agreement with Hiawatha-based Town and Country EMS to provide ambulance service in the southern portion of the county in anticipation of the closure. 

Calhoon said arrangements are now in place to house the ambulances, and to provide a small office for personnel. “We have had several meetings over the past few weeks and made arrangements with Town and Country Ambulance Service, and their owner, to immediately take over ambulance service, so that will be covered. The ambulances will be housed at the armory here in Horton. They’re already there stationed.”

That plan went into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the time the hospital closed its doors.

The Hiawatha Community Hospital, which is also struggling financially, has committed to opening a rural health clinic in Horton should voters approve a 10-year countywide half-cent sales tax during a special election in May.  

The Brown County Commission Monday approved a resolution setting that special election for May 21. 

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly late Wednesday morning issued a statement on the hospital's closing. 

Following the closure Tuesday of Horton Community Hospital, Governor Laura Kelly extended assistance from her administration and highlighted the critical importance of community hospitals in rural Kansas.

“I’m concerned for the community of Horton as they face the serious loss of their local hospital,” Kelly said. “This is becoming a far too frequent occurrence in our state. Local hospitals are key to the health of Kansas families and are often one of the largest employers in a small town. Elected leaders must work together to do more to support our local hospitals.”

Three rural hospitals have closed in the last three months. Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott closed on December 31st. Oswego Community Hospital closed in February. And Horton Community Hospital closed its doors Tuesday.

“I’ve directed our agencies to coordinate support for hospital staff during this challenging time,” Kelly said. “A closure of a hospital has ripple effects through the community and region. Our KANSASWORKS team will be in Horton Thursday to assist hospital staff with filing for unemployment benefits, as well as job applications and re-employment services.”

The Governor’s Office, Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Department of Labor are working to provide support to employees of the hospital, ensure unemployment benefits applications are streamlined, and re-employment opportunities are available.

In response to Tuesday’s closure, KANSASWORKS will be hosting Rapid Response Informational Meetings Thursday in Horton in conjunction with the Community Outreach Event at the Horton Public Library.

Efforts to assist affected hospital employees will include Rapid Response Informational Meetings at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday at the Horton Public Library, 809 1st Ave E. No registration is required. Information will be shared about KANSASWORKS, Workforce Center employment and training services and how to file unemployment insurance benefits.

Also, the KANSASWORKS Mobile Workforce Center will be at the Horton Public Library from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to provide additional re-employment services. Workforce Center staff will be available to help with registering on KANSASWORKS.com, creating a resumé, job search assistance and filling out job applications.

The Rapid Response team was also sent to Oswego following the closure of its hospital last month.

Any questions about KANSASWORKS should be directed to the Department of Commerce. 

(KNZA)--The National Weather Service is holding storm spotter meetings this month and next in preparation for the upcoming severe weather season.

A meeting will be held in Jackson County Wednesday evening, March 13 at the Jackson County Senior Citizens Building located at 312 South Pennsylvania Street in Holton.

It is scheduled to begin at 7:00 and last about 90 minutes.

The presentation will be given by meteorologist from the National Weather Service Office in Topeka.  

It will focus on severe storm safety, preparedness, and awareness in addition to accurate identification of storm features.

The public is invited to attend.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission Monday voted 2-1 to approve a resolution setting a special election for May 21 on ten-year half-cent countywide retailers sales tax for the Hiawatha Community Hospital to provide health care services in the county.

The Commission took the action on the recommendation of a joint city/county advisory committee that has been working to find solutions to assist the hospital with its current financial crisis.

Commissioner Richard Lehmkuhl cast the lone no vote, voicing support for a five-year sales tax instead of ten years. Lehmkuhl said he feels a five year tax would have a better chance of receiving voter approval.

Hiawatha Hospital Interim CEO John Broberg appeared before the Commission to request approval of the resolution.

Broberg said many rural hospitals are challenged financially, with most operating in the red or losing money. “In Brown County, much like other Kansas hospitals, the hospitals are really the anchors of the community. Without the hospitals, we lose one of those most important components.”

Broberg noted the results of a recent survey of Kansas hospitals shows a large percentage are receiving tax support. “In a recent report by the Kansas Hospital Association, on public funding, 96 hospitals participated in the survey. 69% of those hospitals in Kansas have tax support, ranging from $146,000 to $2 million.”

The hospital, at the March 4 meeting of the joint advisory committee, reduced the amount of financial support sought from $5 to $2 million up front. Broberg said the reduction will decrease that amount of interest expense and those funds will be available to the hospital for health care in Brown County.

The hospital has committed to opening a rural health care clinic in Horton should the Horton hospital close.

If approved by voters, the sales tax proceeds would be used to pay off $2 million in bonds that would be issued to provide funding for the hospital. Once the bonds are paid off, the sales tax proceeds would continue to support the hospital for the remainder of the 10-year period.

The sales tax is estimated to generate $600,000 to $700,000 annually.   If approved by voters, the sales tax would commence October 1st.

A poll election will be held instead of a mail ballot election as had originally been proposed.

Brown County and the City of Hiawatha will split the estimated $20,000 cost for the special election.

Broberg said the hospital plans to hold town hall meetings throughout the county to educate the public about the need for the sales tax.

(KMZA)--A St. Joseph, Missouri woman is facing charges in connection with a Nemaha County pursuit last week involving a stolen vehicle.  

According to the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office, 40-year-old Kelly Willard was booked into the Nemaha County Jail Sunday on charges of possession of stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and criminal damage to property.

The Sheriff's Office says the chase, which reached speeds of 100 miles an hour, began in Seneca Thursday evening and ended about 30 minutes later after Willard crashed the vehicle she was driving near 56th and G Roads, south of Centralia.

The Sheriff’s Office says the vehicle had been reported as stolen from St. Joseph.

Willard was released to the custody of the Sheriff’s Office after receiving medical treatment.

She remains in the Nemaha County Jail.  

(KLZA)-- Due to the condition of county roads, and more rain in the forecast, Falls City School District 56 and Falls City Sacred Heart students will only be picked up and dropped off along emergency snow / mud routes Tueday through Friday this week.

The routes will be used in the mornings and evening, utilizing only hard-surfaced highways.  The following will be used for emergency  snow / mud routes. 

 Bus #4 that serves the Barada, Stella, and Shubert areas, the bus will start out at the intersection of 652 Avenue and 720 Road at 6:48 a.m. and continue West on 720 Road stopping at all intersections where someone is parked to Highway 67.  This bus will then go to Shubert, all riders in this area must meet in Shubert, by the Antique Shop. The bus will leave Shubert at 7:15 a.m. This bus will also stop at all intersections where someone is parked on Highway 67 down to Palmer corner.
Bus #2 that serves the Dawson and Verdon area's will leave the intersection of 641 Avenue and Highway 73 (Steve Keans) at 7:05 a.m. stopping at all intersections where someone is parked on Highway 73 and then make its regular stops in Verdon, leaving Verdon at 7:25 a.m.  It will also make stops where someone is parked along Highway 73 after leaving Verdon, then stopping at the St. Pauls Lutheran Church parking lot at Prichard Corner, leaving there at approximately 7:35 a.m.  This bus will stop at all intersections where someone is parked on Highway 73 back to Falls City.
Bus #7 that serves the Rulo area will leave Rulo at 7:25 a.m.  All riders in the Rulo area will meet in Rulo by the auditorium.  On its way back to Falls City it will stop at all intersections where someone is parked along Highway 159.  Due to safety concerns, riders from Preston should meet on the North side of the Preston corner for Bus #9 at approximately 7:30, coming from the North.
Bus #8 that serves the Salem area will leave the flashing light at the intersection of Highways 8 and 75 at 7:00 a.m.  It will then leave Salem at 7:25 a.m. It will stop at all intersections where someone is parked along Highway 8 back to Falls City.
Bus #9 will start out at the intersection of Highway 73 and 712 Road (Dustless Highway) at 7:10 a.m. and continue East stopping at all intersections where someone is parked and then turning South and stopping at all intersections where someone is parked down to the intersection of 656 Avenue and Highway 159 (Preston Corner) at approximately 7:30.
Bus #10 that serves riders south of Falls City, the bus will leave the intersection of 702 Road and Highway 73 (State Line) at 7:35 a.m.  It will also make stops at all intersections where someone is parked on Highway 73 back to Falls City and also at the Pony Creek road intersection at approximately 7:40 a.m.
Bus #2 will shuttle Middle School Students to North School at the end of the day.

(KLZA)-- Father Thomas Dunavan, chief administrator of Falls City Sacred Heart School, and pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Falls City, has been placed on administrative leave according to a story in the Lincoln Journal Star.

In a statement issued Sunday by the Diocese of Lincoln, the action was taken by Bishop James Conley due to allegations of sexual misconduct dating back approximately 20 years.

The release indicates the allegations do not involve any recent conduct or recent allegations.

Bishop Conley took the action following consultation with a four-member independent lay task force currently reviewing past allegations of sexual misconduct within the diocese. The Bishop determined the allegations warranted further investigation. An independent, private investigator has been retained to investigate the matter.

Father Dunavan will be on administrative leave pending a full investigation by the diocese. Information related to the allegations have been provided to law enforcement in connection with the Nebraska Attorney General's investigation into clergy misconduct.

No conclusions have been reached by the diocese about the allegations.

Father Kenneth Hoesing has been appointed administrator of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Falls City and Doug Goltz has been named the interim chief administrative officer of Sacred Heart School.

(KAIR)--Construction is set to begin on the first phase of Atchison’s Dam 6 sewer separation project.

Due to the work, traffic on Main Street and 15th Street will be affected.

According to a news release issued by City of Atchison Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont, the project will include construction of a new stormwater-only concrete pipe from White Clay Creek to the overflow of Dam 6.

Curb inlets along the route of the pipe will also be reconstructed to connect to the new stormwater-only system.

According to the release, construction is expected to cross Main Street between 15th and 16th Streets during the early weeks of the project. Work will continue up the 15th Street right of way, between Main Street and Commercial Street, as the project progresses. Main Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the crossing, while 15th Street from Main Street to Commercial Street will likely be completely closed during construction.

While an exact date for the start of the work is not stated, the release says the first phase, running from White Clay Creek to just north of Commercial Street along 15th Street, will begin this month, and last about four months.

The second phase is expected in the summer and fall.

The release notes that the Dam 6 Sewer Separation Project is the next step for the City of Atchison to maintain compliance with the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the subsequent consent agreements that have been established between the City and the Environmental Protection Agency and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The City has secured financing for the project through KDHE's Revolving Loan Fund program, an offering that the release says provides below market interest rates for qualifying utility projects.

Amino Brothers Construction will serve as the general contractor for the project, having been selected from 11 other bidders.

BG Consultants, the firm that designed the project, was also hired to perform construction inspection and materials testing services once the project gets underway.

(KLZA)-- Father Thomas Dunavan, chief administrator of Falls City Sacred Heart School and pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Falls City has been placed on administrative leave according to a story in the Lincoln Journal Star.

In a statement issued  Sunday by the Diocese of Lincoln, the action was taken by Bishop James Conley due to allegations of sexual misconduct dating back approximately 20 years. 

The release indicates the allegations do not involve any recent conduct or recent allegations.

Bishop Conley took the action following consultation with a four-member independent lay task force currently reviewing past allegations of sexual misconduct within the diocese.  The Bishop determined the allegations warranted further investigation. An independent,  private investigator has been retained to investigate the matter.

Father Dunavan will be on administrative leave pending a full investigation by the diocese. Information related to the allegations have been provided to law enforcement in connection with the Nebraska Attorney General's investigation into clergy misconduct. 

No conclusions have been reached by the diocese about the allegations.
Father Kenneth Hoesing has been appointed administrator of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Falls City and Doug Goltz has been named the interim chief administrative officer of Sacred Heart School.

(KNZA)--A jury trial has been set for a St. Joseph, Missouri man charged in the  shooting death of a former Troy man last August.  

Jessie Lee Nelson recently pleaded not guilty in Buchanan County Circuit Court to charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

A trial was scheduled to begin November 12.

Nelson was found competent to stand trial last month following a mental evaluation.

He is accused of killing 29-year-old Mack Jenkins and seriously wounding 23-year-old Deon Hernandez on August 6 of last year.

Witnesses told police they saw Nelson allegedly fire shots into a vehicle  containing Jenkins and Hernandez after it had crashed just north of downtown St. Joseph, and then drive away.

 Nelson remains in the Buchanan County Jail, held on a $250,000 bond.

(KNZA)--The victim of a fatal late Friday night Brown County crash has been identified.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says killed in the wreck on Kingfisher Road about one mile south of Hiawatha was 65-year-old Clay Smith, of Hiawatha.

The Patrol reports Smith was northbound when his Jeep Liberty veered off the road and struck a railroad track.  The vehicle continued north where it struck a culvert and overturned in the ditch.  

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Patrol says he was wearing a seatbelt when the wreck happened shortly before 10:30 Friday night.
 

Robert Love Jr., Marie Hisaw, and Jason Michael Moser/Credit: Jackson Co Sheriff's Office 

(KNZA)--Suspicious activity at the Holton Walmart leads to three arrests.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, in a statement released early Friday evening, said the arrests were made Friday morning.

Morse said his office jointly investigated the report of suspicious activity with the Holton Police Department.

Taken into custody were three Topeka residents, 35-year-old Marie Hisaw, 40-year-old Robert Love Jr., and 40-year-old Jason Michael Moser.

Hisaw faces charges for possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal trespass.

Love faces charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft.

Moser was arrested for driving while suspended, and has since been released on bond.

Bond is pending for Hisaw and Love, who remain in custody at the Jackson County Jail.

Credit: Jackson Co Sheriff's Office 

(MSC News)--Three Topekans were arrested early Friday morning after a traffic stop in southern Jackson County.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a passenger car near 94th Road on US Hwy 75 shortly after midnight.

The driver, Arron Dale Martin, 29, of Topeka was arrested on a Jackson County District Court warrant for failure to appear on drug charges.

Two of Martin’s passengers were also arrested.

Gretchen Merissa Fortune, 40, of Topeka was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Austin Healey Tonniges, 36, of Topeka was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Martin and Fortune are being held in the Jackson County without bond, Tonniges was released Friday evening on bond.

(KAIR)--A Leavenworth man has entered a guilty plea to federal child pornography charges.

According to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, 56-year-old Curtis Allison pleaded guilty Friday to one count of possessing child pornography.

In his plea, Allison admitted he was on supervised release from a prior child pornography conviction when investigators found more than 5,000 images of child pornography and 1,012 child pornography videos on his computer and storage devices.

In 2006, Allison pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in child pornography and he was sentenced to more than 10-years in federal prison.

In October 2014, he began a three-year term of supervised release, but violated the terms of his release within six months. Authorities say the violation came when Allison used the internet to search for child pornography.

The court revoked his supervised release and sentenced him to two years, and he began a second supervised release in January 2017.

Investigators found the child pornography related to the latest case on Allison’s computer in August 2017.

 Sentencing is set for May 20.

An agreement has been reached that a 10-year sentence in federal prison will be recommended.

(KNZA)--A Mayetta man convicted of shooting a family member last August has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller tells MSC News that 40-year-old Alva McKinney was sentenced Friday on charges of aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm.

Following his prison sentence, McKinney must serve 36-months on post release supervision.   In addition, Miller says McKinney will be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

A Jackson County jury found him guilty of the charges last month.

McKinney was arrested August 1 after authorities say he shot a male relative in the head at a residence north of Mayetta.

The 59-year-old victim was transported to a Topeka hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound.  

(KLZA)--With no bids submitted to tear down the former 4H Building on South Crook Street in Falls City, Council members accepted a proposal to use the building from Falls City Recreation when they met Monday night. 

Council member Derek Leyden is also a member of the Falls City Recreation Board and proposed instead of tearing down the building, the City allow Falls City Rec to continue to use if for storage.  Currently the group stores soccer goals in the building.

In lieu of rent, Falls City Rec would paint the building and make minor repairs if needed. 

Leyden noted they have volunteer labor and an opportunity for paint and primer at cost is the proposal was accepted. 

Leyden said if at some point the roof of the building becomes and issue, they might be able to use just half of the building and raze any damaged section.  

(KMZA)--Authorities say a female suspect crashed a stolen vehicle Thursday evening after leading Nemaha County authorities on a pursuit.

According to a press release from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, the chase began after the Seneca Police Department responded to a call just after 5:00 regarding a person who was littering in the parking lot of the Seneca Dollar General.

When police arrived, the suspect fled, and the pursuit began.

Nemaha County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the vehicle pursuit, which went through the cities of Seneca and Corning, and reached speeds of 100 miles an hour.

The pursuit ended shortly after 5:30 after the suspect crashed the vehicle just west of the intersection of 56th and G Roads.

The female suspect was taken into custody and is receiving medical treatment.

Authorities are still trying to verify her identity.

The release said the vehicle she was driving had been reported as stolen from St. Joseph, Missouri.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is working the crash scene.

(KNZA)--A Holton city commissioner is stepping down.

The Commission during their regular meeting this week accepted the resignation of Twila White, effective April 30.

The Holton Recorder reports White is resigning because she will be moving out of Jackson County.

White holds position 5 on the commission, which is an at-large position.

She was first elected to the commission in 2014 and re-elected in 2017.

The commission has agreed to seek candidates to fill White’s term, which expires at the end of 2020.

Resumes with a letter of interest will be accepted through March 29 and can be left at the Holton City Hall.

The commission will review the resumes and interest letters at their April 1 meeting.

(KNZA)--A report on Hiawatha’s tree inventory was presented to the City Commission this week.

District Community Forester Kim Bomberger said data was collected last September on trees at the City Lake, the city’s four parks and along street rights-of-way.  It had been 15 to 20 years since the last inventory was done.

Bomberger said data was collected on nearly 1,800 hundred trees consisting of 56 different species.

63 percent of the city’s tree population was rated in poor condition, with a majority of the inventory being older, larger trees.

She said maple’s comprise 60 percent of the inventory population, with the sugar maple making up 37 percent and silver maple 16 percent.

Bomberger noted its generally recommended that a species should not be more than 10 percent of the inventory population.

Bomberger suggested planting no more maples outside of strategic and highly visible areas, to prevent the opportunity for disease or infestation from destroying a large percentage of trees at one time.

She also recommended that the city take back management of the trees along city streets.

(KNZA)--The 2019 Brown County Fair Spotlight Auction will be held Monday and Tuesday evenings, March 11-12.

It will be broadcast over KNZA 103.9 FM from 5:30 to 9 each evening.

The Spotlight Auction is a live radio auction of merchandise, services and chamber dollars donated mostly by area businesses, with bids taken via the phone.  

About 325 donated items will be auctioned off this year.

You can see pictures of the items being sold and view the flyer online by going to the Brown County Fair Facebook page.

Those unable to call on the two evenings can call the Brown County Extension Office and give a maximum bid on the item or items you would like to buy, and one of the Fairboard members will be the bidder for you.

Proceeds from this year’s auction will be used for the operation of the 2019 Brown County Fair to be held July 8-13.

(KNZA)--An arrest is made in connection with a Pottawatomie County murder investigation.

Sheriff Greg Riat, in a release issued Thursday, said 23-year-old Cody Lamia-Beck, of Wamego, was taken into custody Wednesday.

He was arrested for 2nd degree murder, accused of the death of 19-year-old Jacob Bouck.

Bouck’s body was located December 24 of last year, west of Wamego, near the bank of the Kansas River.

Riat credits the arrest to the ongoing investigation involving the assistance from surrounding agencies and the KBI, saying the investigation yielded information leading to Lamia-Beck.

Lamia-Beck was booked into the Pottawatomie County Jail, in Westmoreland, following his arrest.

Bond is set at $1 million. 

Riat, in the release, urges anyone with information regarding the case to contact his office at 785-457-3353.

Credit: Jackson Co Sheriff's Office 

(KNZA)--Three people were transported for hospitalized care following a two vehicle, Thursday afternoon crash, in Jackson County.

A report from the Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened shortly after 4:00 on U.S. Highway 75 at 190th Road.

A Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by 57-year-old Patty Dalsing, of Denison, was eastbound on 190th when she failed to stop at the stop sign.

Her vehicle crashed into a Ford F150, northbound on the highway, and driven by 83-year-old Robert Allen, of Holton.

Allen and his 66-year-old passenger, Kathy Allen, also of Holton, were both transported to Topeka’s Stormont Vail for treatment.

Dalsing was transported to a private hospital.

The Patrol reports that all three suffered suspected minor injuries, and were buckled up at the time of the wreck.

The crash caused a stretch of the highway to be closed late Thursday afternoon as crews worked the scene.

It reopened Thursday evening.

(MSC News)--A stretch of highway is closed Jackson County early Thursday evening due to an injury wreck. 

Word comes in an emergency alert issued by Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

NB US 75 traffic @ 190th Rd is being diverted due to an injury accident.

(KLZA)--Bids to abate three nuisance houses in Falls City were tabled until the March 18th meeting when the Falls City Council met  on Monday. 

While bids to demo two of the homes were submitted, it was learned that asbestos inspections need to be completed on all three properties. 

Ward I Council member Don Ferguson also asked if there was another action to be take on a  house at 2215 Lane Street that was partially damaged by fire. Ferguson said he hates to have another empty lot and feels most of the house is still in good shape.

City Administrator  Gary Jorn said that nuisance abatement is the only process available to the City, noting the City cannot acquire someones personal property and sell it even though it is a nuisance.  

Ferguson is hopeful that a local realty company can contact the owner of the home and a buyer who will rehabilitate the home.

The other nuisance properties on the list at at 915 Wilson and 1023 Lane Street. 
 

(KLZA)--The American Cancer Society says excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.  It is also the second leading cause f cancer death among both genders, combined.

It is projected that colorectal cancer will cause more than 51-thousand deaths in 2019.  

Also known as colon cancer, screening tests can find the polyps in the colon or rectum that develop into cancer.  This type of cancer is almost always preventable through these tests.

Symptoms of Colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms right away. Symptoms include a change in bowel habits;   a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement tha's not relieved by having one;  rectal bleeding with bright red blood;  blood in the stool, which may make the stool look dark;  cramping or abdominal pain;  weakness and fatigue and unintended weight loss.  

Screening is advised for all individuals 50 years of age or older, or younger for those with a family history of  colorectal cancer.

The Southeast District Health Department is offering Fecal Occult Blood Test kits to anyone age 50 – 75 at distribution sites throughout Richardson, Pawnee, Nemaha, Johnson and Otoe counties. 

For more information or to obtain a FOBT kit, contact Southeast District Health Department by calling toll free 1-877-777-0424 or visit www.sedhd.org

Ray Atlakson and Jessica Mottin/Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

(KAIR)--Arrests are made following the execution of a search warrant at an Atchison residence Thursday morning.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News the Special Response Team, as part of an ongoing investigation involving state and federal authorities, executed the search warrant around 6:15 at 1124 Riley Street. “Been working over recent days preparing,” Wilson said. “Officers, detectives, agents, our Special Response Team, all gathered in the early morning hours [of March 7] and this raid was executed with no one injured.”

Drugs were allegedly found in the home, and Wilson said two were taken into custody. “Heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a handgun were seized from the residence. We do have two people in custody. They include Ray Atlakson, 31, and Jessica Mottin, 30, both who live at 1124 Riley. They are now both charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. Atlakson is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Mottin is charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.”

Following their arrests, Atlakson and Mottin were both booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KAIR)--Although the Horton Community Hospital rural health clinic is not currently accepting appointments, the clinic remains in operation.

High priority patients are still being served, including walk-in patients in immediate need of care.

That word comes from Horton Hospital CEO Ty Compton, who told MSC News the change comes through the hospital’s “strong desire to assist [the] patients in assuring they have the care they need and deserve,” adding that the hospital is “operating on a day to day basis” until they are comfortable that the needs are being met, and “will be able to provide those scheduled services in the future.”

Compton adds that the hospital is presently “working to focus on the immediate healthcare needs of the community and welcome walk in patients seeking care.”

The change comes as the hospital struggles financially, with the firm iHealthcare last month retained to manage the hospital with the goal of averting its closure.

A recent letter to hospital staff from the company said efforts are underway to “rebuild [the] hospital which has been in “financial peril for sometime.”

Editors note: the following was submitted by Brown Co Sheriff John Merchant

We are receiving many concerns of scams that are circulating Brown County and surrounding areas.

I would like to send out this information so the public can be more aware of how to avoid these potentially financially devastating incidents.  We have had many calls from county residents recently stating their caller ID's showed IRS and when they answered, someone with a thick accent was on the other end of the call, stating the resident owed back taxes.  In all cases the residents did not give out any information and hung up.  Any caller ID showing IRS, etc is a scam.

We are starting to hear from residents who have been contacted by phone, from companies wanting to asphalt their driveways.  As I have stated in the past, do not give out personal information such as bank account number, social security numbers, etc. One resident stated that the asphalt company needed this information to verify who they were speaking to----this is a scam.

Several reports have been made about MEDICARE calling and needing to update their information.  The caller is asking for the county resident to provide social security number, MEDICARE/MEDICAID number, and other personal information.  These people will NEVER phone you to obtain this information, this is a scam.

NEVER GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE
Any time you give out your personal  information, it cannot be retrieved. Be very cautious when giving out personal information to anyone.

NEVER TRUST YOUR CALLER ID TO IDENTIFY THE CALLER
Scammers can make any name or number appear on your caller ID.  Always be
100 percent sure of who you are talking to.

IMMEDIATELY HANG UP IF YOU ARE NOT SURE OF A CALLERS IDENTITY
Nothing says you have to stay on the line with someone who makes you feel
uncomfortable or someone you do not know, simply hang up.

REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED
Some folks have felt embarrassed to report they have been a victim of a scam.  By reporting, this gives us the ability to warn others and I also pass on information to the state so they are aware of what activity is surfacing.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT IS A SCAM
No one is going to give you a lot of money or property for nothing, The longer a scammer can keep you on the line--the better chance they have of taking your hard earned money.  HANG UP on these callers immediately. These scammers are highly trained to obtain information any way they can, polite conversation allows people to let their guard down and give out information they normally wouldn't.  In this day and age, if it is someone you do not know, don't try to be polite, HANG UP.

IF YOU RECEIVE A RECORDED MESSAGE--HANG UP
Too many times recorded messages are being made by scammers.  HANG UP if you receive these messages.  Remember, the longer you stay on the phone, the better chane you have of becoming a scamming victim.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

(KAIR)--The Kansas Academy of Family Physicians (KAFP) has selected John Eplee, MD, FAAFP of Atchison, Kansas as the 2019 Kansas Family Physician of the Year.

Dr. Eplee has practiced family medicine in Atchison for 38 years.

He is a board certified family physician.

Dr. Eplee has built his practice on these principles as a family physician:

1.) active listening to his patients

2.) providing continuity of care for his patients;

3.) advocating for patients from cradle to grave.

In addition to his work as a family physician, Dr. Eplee is the representative for Kansas District 63. He is in his second term as a representative in the Kansas House of Representatives. Representative John Eplee MD serves as Vice Chair of the House Health & Human Services Committee this legislative session.

Dr. Eplee grew up in Fredonia, Kansas. He studied pre-medicine and psychology at Kansas State University, Manhattan. Following K-State, Eplee earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City. He went on to complete his residency with Via Christi Family Medicine Residency at St. Joseph Medical Center, Wichita.

Dr. Eplee puts the “family” in family physician. He says when treating patients, “I frequently explain that this treatment, this medication, or simply this education, is the same I would want for any of my own family members. After all, the patient in our exam room is an important part of my ‘practice family.’ When we complete our office visit, they know I’m treating them like family. I don’t believe that any other medical specialty grasps this concept.”

A patient writes about an example of her trust and confidence in him as a physician: "Dr. Eplee’s vast medical knowledge was once again proven to me this year when he diagnosed my son’s 'mysterious disease' via a photo. We had seen numerous doctors/specialists and undergone several tests prior to this. We weren’t able to consult with Dr. Eplee because he was in Topeka for the legislative session at the time of my son’s illness. I became so frustrated that I sent him a photo. He emailed me immediately with the correct diagnosis!"

Rev. Dr. Rachel Dannar, Topeka, Kan., writes in her nomination letter: “Despite all his best qualities, the thing I admire most about John is that he continues to push himself to advance his knowledge and care. He does not settle for ‘always having done it that way’ mentality. He uses tried and true methods when they are the right choice, but he has kept pace with new options and new medicinal practices. John works hard to give the absolute best care for his patients and tries to stay current and connected.”

Eplee explains that he learned the business aspects of medicine “on the fly” and that the administrative business side of running a practice can direct the attention away from the patient and doctor relationship. To overcome those distractions, Eplee became an “active listener” to maintain his focus in the exam room. He said, “Active Listening is imperative to validate the patient experience and quickly make the right diagnosis.” Continuity of care and caring for the patient cradle to grave is what family physicians do. “To mature (age) with your practice is a fascinating wonderful opportunity. Continuity allows you to forge a bond with your patients that is unbreakable. When you have delivered everyone in a family, saved the father from sepsis because of a complicated pneumonia, and then hold the hand of their grandmother as she transitions from Alzheimer’s disease you understand how transcendent your role is in that family.”

Dr. Eplee serves on many committees for his church and hospital and is a school board member of USD 409. He is involved with the Delta Upsilon International Fraternity Educational Foundation. In past years he has been a cub master and youth sports coach, and served on the board of directors for numerous local organizations, including the Rotary Club. Dr. Eplee was president of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians (KAFP) and also the Kansas Medical Society (KMS). In addition, he served as chair of the Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC), which is comprised of immunization leaders throughout the state. His impact with these organizations was instrumental in improving the immunization rates in the state of Kansas. IKC evolved from the Governor’s Immunization Task Force formed in 1988, on which he served as a member. His collaborative work with these organizations resulted in raising all childhood immunizations rates to 90 percent and maintaining that level for several years. As chair of the IKC he became part of a team that faced the challenges of very low Kansas immunization rates for adolescents: specifically HPV and meningitis. These rates have improved remarkably in the past two years since his leadership.

Dr. Eplee steadfastly maintains that today's vaccinations save more lives and positively impact population health greater than anything else in our modern world other than clean drinking water.

All of these roles and his passion for immunizations led to his service on the Kansas House of Representatives.

During his first term he authored legislation to require all immunization providers in Kansas to track immunizations utilizing WEB-IZ, an online immunization tracking program, and to add the meningitis vaccine (MCV-4) to the list of immunizations required by schools. He was the prime mover behind legislation to require all immunization providers in Kansas to track immunizations utilizing WEB-IZ, an online immunization tracking program, and to add the meningitis vaccine (MCV-4) to the list of immunizations required by schools. Dr. Eplee is working closely with Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition and KAFP in efforts to raise the legal age of purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21 and was instrumental in gaining the opportunity to hold informational hearings in both the House and Senate Committees related to health.

Dr. Lynn Fisher, Plainville, writes, “I witnessed his passion for advancing immunizations, protecting family physicians scope of practice from other health care providers, and collaborating with other medical specialties in the house of medicine to advocate for patient care. And now, maybe in his greatest act of service to us, he is part of the Kansas Legislature. Here, he is a voice for Kancare expansion and for expanding access to vaccines.”

Dr. Eplee says, “I learned early on that advocacy starts in the exam room as you actively listen, providing continuity in our patients’ care, and ultimately advocate for them for the correct diagnostic test, the right medicine and occasionally the best referral for specialized care.”

Dannar writes: “I have never met a person like Dr. John Eplee in my ministry before. I would highly recommend this physician to you as an outstanding example of what it means to be a family physician, to care for those in need of his service, and to reach beyond his practice by seeing it more as calling in life and less as job to be done. Dr. Eplee is the epitome of what it means to be a servant leader and I am honored to be his pastor and to have him as my family’s physician.”

Atchison City Manager Becky Berger writes: “Although his work within the Atchison community is substantial and merit worthy on its own grounds. In my role as city manager I’ve developed an even greater admiration and respect for Dr. Eplee while working with him as our state representative. I’ve seen first-hand his tireless work in Topeka to further legislation that improve the lives of all his constituents. Despite being one of the busiest people I know, he is always responsive.”

Dr. Eplee will be honored at the KAFP Annual Meeting “Connect. Interact. Learn.” in Wichita on Friday, June 7, 2019 during the President’s Dinner as the 2019 Kansas Family Physician of the Year.

2019 Kansas Family Physician of the Year finalists included: Mark Basham, MD (Eureka); Edward Hett, MD, FAAFP (Wichita); J. Michael Patton, MD, FAAFP (Wichita); Nick Tomsen, MD (Wichita) and Belinda Vail, MD, FAAFP (Kansas City). KAFP has presented the Kansas Family Physician of the Year award since 1990.

Past recipients are listed on the KAFP website at: https://www.kafponline.org/FPOYrecipients

(KAIR)--Atchison-based MGP Ingredients was among two companies indicted Wednesday on federal charges of safety violations related to the October 2016 release of a toxic chlorine gas cloud.

According to the office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, Harcros Chemicals, Inc., of Kansas City, Kansas, was also indicted.

Both are charged with Clean Air Act violations that put the public in danger.

The release from McAllister says a web page, a phone line, and an email address, have been established for victims to provide and receive information on the case.

According to the indictment, more than 140 people sought medical attention after 4,000 gallons of sulfuric acid combined with 5,800 gallons of sodium hypochlorite to form a toxic, greenish-yellow cloud that covered the City of Atchison for 45 minutes until emergency personnel arrived to turn off the flow.

The indictment alleges that on Oct. 21, 2016, a driver for Harcros pulled a truck into MGP"s facility in Atchison to deliver sulfuric acid. An operator for MGP helped the driver access the transfer equipment. When the driver mistakenly connected the sulfuric acid line to the sodium hypochlorite line, toxic gas began to form.

The indictment alleges both men violated safety rules by failing to verify that the connection was correct and failing to monitor the transfer.

MGP addressed the indictment in a statement issued Wednesday evening. 

If convicted, the defendant companies face the following penalties:

Count one, violation of general duty clause: A fine up to $500,000.

Count two, knowingly releasing a hazardous pollutant: A fine up to $1 million.

Count three (alternate to count two), negligently releasing a hazardous pollutant: A fine up to $200,000.

The Environmental Protection Agency investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway is prosecuting.

Victims can get more information on US v. Midwest Grain Products, Inc., by visiting https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/victim-witness and filling out a victim questionnaire, leaving a message on a designated phone line at 913-551-6543 or emailing questions to usaks.victim.witness@usdoj.gov .

(KMZA)--The Superintendent of Marysville USD 364 plans to step down from the district’s helm in order to focus on his health.

Superintendent Bill Mullins made the announcement Monday through a post on social media.

He is continuing a battle with cancer.

Mullins said he informed the Board of Education during a special meeting last week of his intention to leave the district in the next few months, which “will open the door for an interim superintendent for the 2019-20 school year and the search for a new superintendent who would begin July 1, 2020.”

Mullins said he feels stepping down is the best decision for himself, his family, and USD 364.

He said “there are many great things happening in the district right now” and the district is “headed in a good direction.”

Mullins has served as superintendent since July 1, 2014.

(KAIR)--An on-campus food pantry is established at the Atchison High School.

That word comes from Blake Haynes, Communications Coordinator for the Saint Joseph, Missouri-based Second Harvest Food Bank.

Haynes, in a news release, said creation of the Campus Cupboard will allows high school age students access to non-perishable items to assist themselves, along with their families.

The release notes that establishing the Campus Cupboard was made possible with the assistance of UMB Bank.

The grand opening is being held Wednesday afternoon, March 6.

Haynes said that will happen as Second Harvest delivers 50 food boxes to Atchison High School at 3:00. 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City, City Council is back to full strength following Monday nights meeting. 

On the recommendation of Mayor Shawna  Bindle, the Council   approved the appointments of Kaylie Ractliffe to a vacant Ward II Council position and Carla Rhodd to the vacant Ward III Council position.  

Ractliffe will complete the term of Charlie Bentley and Rhodd will fill the unexpired term of Kirbry Robidoux JR.  both men died in February.  

Falls City has eight council members and a Mayor.  

(KLZA)-- Six people were transported to the Fairfax Hospital Tuesday evening following a one-vehicle wreck on Interstate 29 approximately three miles east of Watson.

The Missouri Highway Patrol report indicates that shortly before 9 o'clock, the front passenger tire on southbound mini-van deflated, causing the driver to lose control. The mini-van left the road and struck a ditch, filled with water and overturned, coming to rest on it's top. 

The driver, 33-year-old Alisha Sachs of Tarkio suffered minor injuries.  31-year-old Mark Sachs of Lincoln, Nebraska was a passenger and suffered moderate injuries.  Neither was wearing safety devices at the time of the wreck.

There were four children in the van, three girls and a boy ranging in age from 4 to 10 years of age.  All four children were using safety devices and suffered only minor injuries.  

The Atchison-Holt Ambulance Squad, Missouri Department of Conservation, Rock Port Fire Department and Rock Port Police Department all assisted at the scene of the wreck.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council has approved advertising for bids to make repairs to the roof of Prichard Auditorium. 

City Administrator Gary Jorn says the winter snow, freezing and thawing  has been tough on the  building.  He believes it has been more than 20 years since any major roof work has been done to the building. 

Jorn told the Council he has already received some interest from contractors. 

Jorn also said he would like to use Capital Improvement Funds to pay for the repairs if approved. Once the bids for the project are received, they will be presented to the Council for approval.  
 

(KAIR)--Atchison’s Public School leaders look to the future, approving the calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.

That happened Monday when the Board of Education for USD 409 met in regular session.

According to Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers, the Board voted to approve the calendar as presented.

The final approval followed the presentation of the calendar at the Board’s February meeting.

Enrollment will be held July 28 and July 29, 2020, while the first day of classes for PreK through 9th grades will be August 18.

The first day for all students will be August 19.

Teachers will report on August 12.

The Thanksgiving holiday break is scheduled for November 25 through November 27, while the winter holiday is scheduled for December 21 through January 1.

The last day of school for the 2020-2021 school year will be May 26.

(KMZA)--This year’s annual Baileyville Benefit tournament was a big success.

Organizer Clete Kramer said the benefit raised about $175,000.

The funding will go to help four families struggling with medical expenses due to illness.  This year’s beneficiaries are Rylee Howard, Everett Tjaden, Elizabeth and Morgane Donnelley, and William and Kameron Meade.

18 basketball teams and 24 volleyball teams participated in the tournament held February 23rd and 24th.   

Organizers credit the success of the benefit to the generosity and hard work of numerous people and businesses.

(KNZA)--A joint city/county advisory committee, that’s been working to find solutions to assist the Hiawatha Community Hospital with its current financial crisis, has voted to recommend that financing for the hospital be provided through a 10-year county-wide ½ cent sales tax, which would require voter approval during a special election.

That came after the committee agreed Monday to a compromise offered by the hospital Board of Trustees to a recommendation that the hospital retain an independent management firm to run the hospital.     

In its response to the recommendation, the Trustees said they felt there are significant challenges associated with such a move, and as an alternative, offered to work toward an affiliation with a regional health care provider.  The Trustees said if the hospital was not able to develop an affiliation with a health system within a reasonable time, the hospital would seek proposals from management and consulting firms.

In response to another recommendation from the committee, the Trustees said they have directed Interim CEO John Broberg to work with an independent consultant to explore and, if the need arises, establish a rural health clinic in Horton.  Broberg said the Trustees envision a clinic that will have scheduled patient appointments and will accommodate walk in patients as well.

Broberg said Monday the hospital is reducing the amount of financial support its seeking from $5 to $2 million up front.  He said that will decrease that amount of interest expense and those funds will be available to the hospital for health care in the county.

Hiawatha City Administrator Mike Nichols, who serves as committee chair, said the next step is for the hospital is to go before the Brown County Commission to request approval of a resolution to hold a special election on the sales tax issue.  That election is expected to take place in mid-June.

If approved by voters, the sales tax proceeds, estimated at $600,000 to $700,000 annually, would be used to pay off $2 million in bonds that would be issued to provide funding for the hospital.  Once the bonds are paid off, the sales tax proceeds would continue to support the hospital for the remainder of the 10-year period.  

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has approved a funding increase for the Brown County Humane Society.

Phyllis Shaeffer with the Humane Society appeared before the Commission Monday evening to request the city consider providing additional financial support to the organization.     

The city has provided $1,000 annually for the past three years. Shaeffer said the city of Horton currently provides $1,500 annually and city of Sabetha $2,000 annually.

She said the organization is funded solely through donations and fundraisers.

Shaeffer said the local animal shelter took in 368 dogs and cats last year, with 91 of the animals coming from Hiawatha.

Following discussion, the Commission voted unanimously to increase the city’s annual donation to the Humane Society to $2,000.

(KNZA)--A Garnett, Kansas man has begun work as the new Brown County appraiser.

The County Commission Monday approved a resolution officially appointing Steve Markham to the position.  

Markham comes to Brown County after serving as the county appraiser in Anderson County in east central Kansas.

Brown County has been without a full-time appraiser since May of last year.

Meanwhile, the Commission plans to begin advertising for a new emergency management director.

Undersheriff Randy Linck resigned from the position last month but has agreed to continue in the role until a replacement is hired.  

County Clerk Melissa Gormley Monday presented job descriptions for the position from various counties for the Commission's review.

The Commission said they would like to advertise the position for two weeks.

The Commission plans to review applications on Monday, March 18, and start scheduling interviews at that time.

(KAIR)--A 3-year-old boy, injured Tuesday after finding what police say was an unsecured gun in an Atchison home, is continuing to recover. “We’re just very excited to know that the little boy’s condition has improved, and we’re very optimistic about his recovery,” Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News late Wednesday morning.

Wilson said the child suffered a single gunshot after finding the gun inside the pocket of a jacket, or sweater, in a room on the second floor of the home, located in the 1100 block of Santa Fe Street. “The child apparently found that gun in that clothing, and while handling the gun it discharged, striking him in the abdomen. There was one other person in the residence at that time, and that would be his mother. As soon as this happened, became aware of it, [she] called us right away.”

Police, and other emergency responders arrived on the scene, and found the child to be conscious and talking.

He was first taken to Atchison Hospital and then flown by helicopter to Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy where Wilson said the boy underwent surgery Tuesday night.

The investigation is ongoing. “We’re continuing to look into some of the background information as to the weapon itself,” Wilson said.

The accidental shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon shortly before 3:00.

Editor's note: below is the story as first reported shortly after the accident. 

(KAIR)--An accidental shooting sent a 3-year-old child to the hospital.

It happened Tuesday afternoon, shortly before 3:00, at an Atchison residence in the 1100 block of Santa Fe Street.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News the preliminary investigation indicates the child shot himself. “What it appears to be is the child located the gun. The gun discharged, struck the child. [The mother] was in the house [who] immediately called for us. We were here very quickly, as were the EMTs.”

Wilson said the child was transported for hospitalized treatment with what initially appeared to be serious injuries.

However, Wilson said the child was conscious, and is expected to survive. “In fact, we were speaking to the child," Wilson said. "He was conscious when we first got here. Police officers attended to him very quickly, and we were getting verbal responses from him.”

The child was first taken to the Atchison Hospital and then flown by helicopter to a Kansas City hospital.

This is a breaking story, and MSC News will provide updates as new information becomes available.

(KAIR)--An arrest is made in connection with a 2018 Atchison County burglary.

At the time of the October crime, Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie told MSC News it was believed the break-in at the rural Atchison County home was focused specifically on guns. “It was forced entry,” Laurie said. “They made entry through one door, and possibly exited out of the front door. It was targeted theft, and they went directly for the guns and removed them. A few of them they didn't take with them.”

Arrested Saturday by the Atchison Police Department was 19-year-old Jonathan Hundley.

He was taken into custody on an Atchison County District Court warrant for burglary, theft of a firearm, theft, and criminal damage to property.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News Hundley was located around 4:30 Saturday afternoon by an officer patrolling Atchison’s River Road. Hundley was spotted near the north boat ramp and apprehended.

Following his arrest, Hundley was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

His bond is set at $20,000.

According to Laurie at the time of the burglary, investigators believed the Osage Road residence was targeted based on knowledge that the occupant owned guns.

Reported stolen were a shotgun, two .22 caliber rifles, and two air rifles.

The guns are valued at around $2,000, and have not yet been recovered.

Laurie said Monday there are additional suspects in the case.

(KLZA)-- The Humboldt City Council will meet Tuesday evening at 7 at City Hall. 

A petition for opposing the sale of the Humboldt “Airport Property” has been signed by more than 550 registered voters with more than 300 of them having voted in the 2018 General Election.

The petitioners are wanting to discuss the preferred delivery method to the Richardson County Clerks office. 

According to a report in the Humboldt Standard newspaper, Mayor Bob Mendenhall dismissed City Clerk Carol Glathar from her position on February 27th.

City Treasurer Amy Hunzeker was appointed City Clerk but has given two weeks notice and will be leaving City employment on March 12. Hunzekers resignation as Treasurer and the resignation of Planning Commission Secretary Wanda Hartshorn are also on the agenda. 

Another agenda item is an ordinance that if approved, would combine the positions of City Clerk and Treasurer into one position.  

Another agenda item is hiring Linda Eis to work in the City Office part-time.   

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City and Humboldt – Table Rock – Steinaur School Districts will have representatives at the Nebraska School Activities Association Board of Control meeting in Lincoln Wednesday.

School Board members at each school have voted to approve a cooperative agreement to combine the schools football teams into one 8-Man team for the 2019 season if approved by the NSAA.

Both schools are expecting low participation numbers for football in 2019. 

Since the upcoming season will be  the second year of the two-year scheduling cycle for football,  the NSAA Board of Control will have to approve the cooperative agreement.

Local representatives will be on hand during the meeting to answer questions Board members may have.

HTRS and Pawnee City currently coop Junior High football.  

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Commissioners approved an agreement with Southeast Nebraska Community Action Transit for July 1, 2019 through June 30, 202 during the February 26th Board meeting. 

Pawnee County will pay $4,388 annually with the City of Pawnee City to contribute $3200 each year toward the program. 

Ruth Stephens with the Pawnee County Memorial Hospital met with the Board to discuss the hospitals governance structure.  The hospital would like to add two board members bringing the total to five.  Board members serve for six years.

Commissioners agreed to approve the additional Board members if the hospital can find people interested in serving. 

The Board also discussed changes coming in the Treasurers office.  Treasurer Stefanie Rauner said the Treasurers Office will be moving their desks from the vault to the front office once an electrician is able to make some changes.  New state computers will be arriving in the office  by June.  
 

(KAIR)--A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy suffered a stroke while on duty Sunday afternoon.

WIBW TV reports the deputy is recovering.

Sheriff Jeff Herrig told the TV station that the deputy and a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper were responding to the report of a domestic, around 1:00 in Perry, at the time it occurred.

The Trooper recognized indicators of a stroke when the deputy began to show symptoms, and immediately took the deputy to Stormont Vail in Topeka for treatment.

Herrig said that allowed the deputy to get needed medication, with a full recovery expected.

The name of the deputy has not been released.

(KLZA)-- Community Medical Center, Falls City, has announced it has been named one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Regarded as one of the industry’s most significant designations of performance excellence, the annual Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award is based upon the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX® from iVantage Health Analytics.

This is the third consecutive year CMC has been recognized as a Top 100 CAH in the United States. 

Ryan Larsen, CEO, stated “As in past years, I want to thank each of our employees for their contributions to our patients and mission. I am pleased to see their hard work and our organization honored, not because it looks or sounds good, but because I hope it indicates in some way that we are making a difference in our communities and in the lives of each patient and guest that trusts us with their care.”

Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility scored in the top 100 among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally. Now in its ninth year, the INDEX leverages 50 rural-relevant indicators across eight pillars of hospital strength (i.e. Inpatient Market Share, Outpatient Market Chare, Cost, Charge, Quality, Outcomes, Patient Perspective and Financial Stability) to determine an overall score for each hospital. Each of the INDEX’s 50 indicators is culled from publicly-available data sources.  

“In an era of increased complexity and uncertainty, Top 100 hospitals have established themselves as a bellwether for rural provider performance,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “Top 100 status is a real indicator of how proactive these hospitals are when it comes to pushing for performance improvement in areas such as quality, outcomes, patient safety, market share and finance.”

(KAIR)--Severe Weather Awareness Week is underway across Kansas, which includes the testing of emergency storm sirens.

That’s planned to happen Tuesday morning, March 5, at 10:00.

However, the sirens will not be sounded in Atchison County.

Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter, in a release, said the decision was made due to the below freezing temperatures.

He said if ice is inside a siren, it can cause damage.

The backup test day is Thursday, but Lanter said with temperatures predicted to remain below freezing, Atchison County will also not activate the sirens that day.

Lanter adds that if a real tornado were to threaten the local area in such temperatures, the sirens would be sounded.

The reason for the test is to encourage residents to practice tornado drills.

Lanter encourages Atchison County residents to take part in the planning regardless of the sirens.

(KNZA)--A Jackson County man convicted of 45 counts of animal cruelty has learned his fate.

Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller tells MSC News that Frank Johnson, of rural Hoyt, was given a suspended one year jail sentence Monday and placed on two years supervised probation.

As a condition of his probation, Miller said Johnson is to not posses any animals during that time.   

He was found guilty following a bench trial last month, which consolidated two cases against him.  Johnson has filed a notice of appeal.

The first case was filed last August after 12 horses, determined to be in poor health, were removed from Johnson’s farm.

The second case was filed in December, charging Johnson with an additional 33 counts of animal cruelty.  That followed an investigation in November by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office first began receiving complaints in April 2017 that the horses at the farm were living in poor conditions.

(KAIR)--An Atchison home incurs damage as the result of an early Monday morning fire.

Atchison Fire Chief Ted Graf told MSC News firefighters were called to 720 South 12th Street shortly after 2:00.

The fire was confined to the attic, and left the roof of the home with considerable damage.

The interior of the home sustained what Graf called significant smoke and water damage.

Graf said the occupant of the home was able to escape the fire without injury.

As firefighters battled the fire in the sub zero temperatures, the resident was sheltered in the warmth of an Atchison County EMS ambulance until a family member arrived on the scene.

According to Graf, fire crews remained on the scene for around 3-hours.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was called in to assist with the investigation.

Late Monday afternoon, Graf said the investigation points to a lit fireplace as the cause due to missing mortar.

The home was occupied by a woman and her son.

The cost of damage is estimated at more than $75,000.

(AP)--Buchanan County authorities say no criminal charges will be filed against a St. Joseph police officer who shot a 42-year-old man in January.

Prosecuting Attorney Ronald Holliday said Friday the decision comes after an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Phillip T.J. Hoyt was shot in the arm and leg during the confrontation on Jan. 10.

The St. Joseph News Press reports Holliday said officer Branton Hutchison shot Hoyt after Hoyt pointed a gun in the officer's direction.

The officer was responding to a call about a disturbance between neighbors. Hutchinson pursued Hoyt after he walked quickly away from the disturbance.

Hoyt is a convicted felon who could not own a weapon. He had a loaded pistol and admitted he had used methamphetamine.

(KNZA)--Two Jackson County law enforcement agencies were recently awarded federal grants to purchase updated equipment.

According to a news release from the office of Governor Laura Kelly, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police Department was awarded more than $174,000.  The grant funds will be used to replace the department’s radios, which are 14 years old.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was awarded nearly $71,000.  The funds will be used to purchase updated in-car camera systems and protection gear.

The release says the two local law enforcement agencies are among forty-one in the state to receive grant awards as part of the Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, which is administered by the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

The grant program is a partnership among federal, state and local governments to create safer communities and improve criminal justice systems.  
 

(KNZA)--One Jackson County injury accident leads to another, as a deputy’s patrol vehicle is struck while he’s assisting at the scene.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, in a news release, said the first wreck happened around 1:00 Sunday afternoon, north of 198th Road, on U.S. Highway 75.

It happened when a northbound pickup truck merged from the passing lane into the northbound driving lane occupied by a semi-tractor trailer.

The pickup truck, driven by 33-year-old Michelle Holmes, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, struck the front of the tractor.

Holmes was transported by Jackson County EMS to the Holton Community Hospital for the treatment of what Morse identified as non-life-threatening injuries.

A deputy, on the scene investigating the crash, spotted a northbound car heading towards the patrol vehicle, and warned the semi driver, who was outside his vehicle, to take cover.

The car, driven by 17-year-old Emily Howard, of Topeka, struck the patrol vehicle, leading to non-life-threatening injuries for Howard.

She was transported by Jackson County EMS to the Holton Community Hospital for treatment.

The deputy, the semi driver, 40-year-old Ryan Love, of Clarksville, Tennessee, and others at the scene, were not hurt.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash involving the patrol vehicle.

(KAIR)--A two vehicle Saturday afternoon Atchison County wreck led to injuries and charges for a Kansas City, Missouri woman.

According to a report from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, 37-year-old Ashley Heags attempted to flee from the scene of the wreck, which happened in the 5000 block of U.S. Highway 73, around 12:20.

During her attempt to escape the crash scene, her vehicle became inoperable, and Atchison County Sheriff’s Deputies located her a mile south of where the wreck occurred.

Heags was issued a notice to appear in court for driving under the influence, driving while revoked, no insurance, wrong license plate on her vehicle, transporting an open container, failure to stop and render aid at the scene of an accident, and driving left of center.

Complaining of arm pain, the report says Heags was transported for hospitalized treatment.

Heags was southbound in the northbound lane, or shoulder, of U.S. Highway 73 when she struck the rear passenger side of a northbound vehicle.

The driver of that vehicle, 49-year-old Midonna Powell, of Weston, Missouri, was not hurt.

(KNZA)--A convicted sex offender wanted in three western Kansas counties was apprehended in Jackson County Friday evening.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says 43-year-old Eric Paul Shoemaker was found at a home in Denison after the sheriff's office received information the Great Bend man was in the area.

Morse says Shoemaker refused initially to come to the door, but after deputies communicated with him at length, he surrendered peacefully.

He says Shoemaker was wanted on warrants out of Barton, Pawnee and Ford Counties for failing to register as a sex offender, probation violations and failing to appear on a domestic battery charge.

Shoemaker was booked into the Jackson County Jail, where he is currently  being held without bond.  

(KMZA)--Details have been released on two separate Nemaha County injury accidents this week.

According to the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, the first wreck happened Tuesday afternoon on 56th Road, a ¼ mile east of F Road.

The Sheriff’s Office says 66-year-old Peggy Woolsoncroft, of Centralia, was eastbound when she struck a bridge banister.  Her SUV overturned into the south ditch.

Woolsoncroft was transported by ambulance to the Onaga Hospital with unspecified injuries.

The second wreck happened early Wednesday morning on K-9 Highway, just east of W Road.

The Sheriff’s Office says 18-year-old Katie Vance, of Soldier, was eastbound when she lost control of her SUV on the icy roadway while avoiding a deer and slid off the roadway.

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

(KNZA)--A sentencing decision by a Brown County District Court Judge has been overturned by the Kansas Supreme Court.

The decision was made in response to Judge John Weingart’s sentencing of Wyatt Brown, who was originally sentenced in 2013 to a 30-year prison sentence after Brown pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated sodomy.

He was sentenced under provisions of “Jessica’s Law.”

According to a release from the Kansas Courts issued Friday, the Kansas Court of Appeals panel vacated Weingart’s decision, because he “had not followed the proper procedure in imposing the sentence.”

When the case was sent back to Weingart for resentencing, he leveled a penalty of 31-years behind bars for Brown.

The Supreme Court overturned Weingart’s decision because “the record of the resentencing demonstrated that Brown was punished for his successful exercise of his legal right to appeal.”

In it’s decision, the Kansas Supreme Court remanded Brown’s case to Brown County District Court for a second resentencing.

(KAIR)--The Horton Community Hospital remains open, despite concerns that the cash-strapped operation could close by the end of the current week.

According to a letter addressed to the staff of the hospital, from iHealthcare, Inc, efforts are underway to “rebuild [the] hospital.”

According to the letter from iHealthcare COO David Bingaman, the company was “engaged on February 6 to manage the hospital with the goal of averting its closure” due to the hospital being in “financial peril for sometime.”

The letter says it’s the belief of iHealthcare that if they had been enlisted sooner, the hospital “would already be on the road to recovery.”

The hospital has been suffering financial woes, including the inability to pay employees.

The letter explains the situation, saying “the limited cash flow coupled with the long wait for cost-reporting reimbursements has only been exacerbated by the loans that were secured in order to keep the facilities open.  The failure to make payments on these loans led to the creditors securing a court order to freeze on all of the hospitals’ bank accounts.  This led to an inability for all the hospitals to make payroll, beyond satisfying any of their other obligations.”

The letter adds that iHealthcare recognizes “that anything short of getting payroll current offers little comfort to the employees who are suffering. However, iHealthcare is in preparation to making the sweeping changes, in very short order,” and believes “that these changes will give the best chance to bring the hospital back into operation in a way that is sustainable for patients and [the staff’s] careers.”

The letter closes by saying iHealthcare hopes “to have material news to share by next week if not this weekend.”

(KMZA)--The second of two men charged in a 2017 armed escape from the Marshall County Jail has pleaded no contest to charges, canceling a jury trial that been set for March 11.

The Marysville Advocate reports 46-year-old Jeffrey Guenther, Sr. entered the plea last week in Marshall County District Court to 13 counts—including one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Sentencing was set for May 6.

Co-defendant, 31-year-old Matson Hatfield, was sentenced in November to more than 47 years in prison after pleading guilty to 15 counts.

Authorities say Hatfield and Guenther escaped from the Marshall County Jail on October 14, 2017 after setting a cell on fire and obtaining two shotguns.   

Hatfield fled to a nearby home and surrendered a short time later.

Guenther allegedly stole a pickup truck at gunpoint and lead authorities on a chase.  He was arrested in rural Gage County, Nebraska after rolling the truck.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says shots were fired during their escape but no one was hurt.

(KLZA)--The Nemaha County, Nebraska Commissioners adopted a resolution at a Board Mission Statement during their February 20th meeting.

The resolution reads: “ Be fiducially responsible and more efficient in all aspects of county operations with conty tax dollars. Encourage sustainable economic and population growth and safeguard the county resources. Be the leaders we were elected to be, for the citizens of Nemaha County.”

The Commissioners also approved funding for the proposed Southeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court and voted to support and commit to funding the Blue Rivers Area Agency program for Fiscal Year 2019-20.

Tim Nichols was appointed to a 3-year term on the Nemaha County Extension Board representing District 1.

The County Clerk was also authorized to sell “antique, surplus office equipment to the public via a silent bid procedure.

(MSC News)--A tradition of 17-years, providing a one-stop shop for a wide variety of services available across the local region, will be held Saturday, March 2nd.

The Regional Expo, sponsored by the radio stations of KNZA-FM, KMZA-FM, KAIR-FM, KLZA-FM, and KTNC-AM, will again be held at Hiawatha's Fisher Center, at 201 East Iowa Street, from 9.a.m. until 3 p.m.

The radio stations, which service the areas of northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri, and southeast Nebraska, combine their resources to attract a wide variety of vendors, which represent businesses, and other service providers, from across the region. 42 vendors are confirmed to attend.

Greg Buser, General Manager for the radio station group, says that along with the vendors, prize giveaways will happen throughout the day, as well as seminars provided by lawn and garden expert Carl Jarboe, the host of Kanzaland radio's “Lawn and Garden Solutions” show.

Jarboe's two seminars are scheduled for 10:00 and 1:30. A Sarah Kathyrn’s style show will be held at noon.

The public is invited to attend all, or part of the expo, where admission is free.

Food will be provided by the local Honor Flight group .

(KNZA)--It will cost more to dispose of trash at the Brown County transfer station.

The Brown County Commission Thursday approved a rate increase.

The rate for in-county trash will increase $1.60 a ton to $49, while the rate for out-of-county trash will increase a $1.50 a ton to $53.

The new rates will take effect June 1.

The rates are being increased to cover operational costs.

Meanwhile, the county is preparing for this summer’s chip seal road projects.

Bids were opened for the purchase 500,000 gallons of road oil.

The Commission voted to accept the low bid submitted by Kansas City, Missouri-based Vance Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $2.23 a gallon.  It was among three bids received.

The county paid $1.70 a gallon for road oil last year.

Bids were also opened for assorted tubes for the three road districts.  The Commission voted to accept the low bid submitted by Metal Culverts, of Maryville, Missouri, for a total of $40,984.  It was among three bids received.

In addition, the Commission opened bids for right to harvest about 60-acres of brome hay at the county landfill this year.   The Commission accepted the bid submitted by Ray Vonderschmidt for $2,255.  It was among four bids received.     

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission this week heard about a new rural broadband program.

Representatives from Rainbow Communications and County Economic Development Director Leah Johnson met with the Commission to discuss the USDA’s ReConnect Program, an initiative to connect rural areas that currently have insufficient broadband service.

In December, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the department would be distributing $600 million in a combination of grants and loans to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas of the country through the program.

Telecommunication companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers and municipalities are eligible to apply for funding through the program.

Johnson said in order to determine Doniphan County’s qualification in applying for funds, an engineering map would need to be developed for the county.

She presented the Commission with a proposal from RVW Inc., of Columbus, Nebraska, to create a broadband map of the county at a cost of $580.

Once developed, the map would be used to determine broadband service areas and as a foundation for future economic growth.

The Commission voted to enter into an agreement with RVW to create the broadband map.

(KNZA)--An additional candidate will be interviewed for the position of president of Highland Community College.

According to a press release from the College, Deborah Fox of  Independence,Kansas  will be interviewed Friday, March 1 by the Presidential Screening Committee as well as HCC Board of Trustees.

Fox currently serves as Director of Business Operations & Management for USD 446 in Independence, and previously served at Highland College as the Vice President of Finance & Operations.

Two other candidates were interviewed for the position this week.  They include Brett Campbell, of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Timothy Taylor, of Clarkston, Michigan.

Another candidate, George McNulty, of Colby, Kansas has withdrawn from the search.

Current college President David Reist is retiring effective June 30 of this year after 38 years with the college.