(KMZA)--Some good news following concerns pertaining to a dam located near Sabetha.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning in relation to a possible breach.

However, at that time, Nemaha County Emergency Preparedness Director Russel Lierz said flooding was not imminent, despite a sink hole that developed below the watershed dam.

On Friday, he said the sinkhole is two feet lower, and the inflow into the dam area is back to normal.

The situation does continue to be monitored.

The sinkhole was discovered Tuesday, and Sabetha City Administrator Doug Allen Thursday told MSC News a Kansas Water Office representative has been physically monitoring the situation.

The flash flood warning has since been lifted.

On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly toured the watershed dam along with Kansas Division of Management officials.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources and the Kansas Water Office have developed maps for significant and high hazard dams in Kansas that show the area that would be flooded if the dam were to fail.

According to a news release, if the watershed dam south of Sabetha were to fail, the map indicates that agricultural lands would be flooded, as well as a couple of local roads, County Road 220 and County Road 250. Those roads have not been impacted at this time, but have been closed in a precautionary measure.

Mapping does not show water would extend over Highway 36 or out of the banks for more than a few miles downstream and does not indicate flooding in other areas with significant residential or commercial development.

(KMZA)--A Seneca man is dead, killed Friday morning in a single vehicle Nemaha County, Kansas wreck.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office identifies the victim as 36-year-old Noe Najera Munoz.

The report from the Sheriff’s Office says Munoz was eastbound on State Highway 71, about a mile east of State Highway 63, shortly before 7:00 Friday morning.

His Ford Ranger left the roadway to the right, went into a ditch, and struck a tree.

Munoz was pronounced dead at the scene.

(KAIR)--Monday is the filing deadline for candidates running for local city and school board positions up for election in November in Atchison County.

Two candidates have filed for two of the three open seats on the Atchison City Commission, with J. David Faris and Luke Jesnowki both filing in advance of the deadline.

Five have filed for the Effingham City Council, including incumbents Kirk Wohlgemuth, David Lowe, and Mark Hurst, as well as Harvey Fasse and Ross Montgomery.

Filings to date for the Muscotah City Council election are Dale Small and Dalia Wilson, both incumbents.

Five candidates have filed seeking election to the three open seats on Atchison’s USD 409, including incumbent Herb Gwaltney, along with Sally Berger, John Bishop, Stefanie Gardner, and Pamela Rizza.

Incumbents have filed for reelection to the USD 377 Board of Education, with Nancy Keith seeking position 3, Greg Smith filing for position 2, and Barbara Chapman has filed to retain position 1 on the board. Keith currently serves in the at-large position, and fills the role of School Board President. Chapman is Vice-President.

The Board of Education has four seats open for election.

Candidates have until noon, Monday, June 3, to file at the Atchison County Clerk’s office.

If a primary election is necessary, it will be held August 6.

The general election is November 5.

(KAIR)--Nearly 100 people attended a Thursday afternoon forum, held in Highland, focused on the affects of spring flooding in Kansas.

That’s according to a social media post from United States Senator Pat Roberts who was in attendance for the session.

Following the tour, @Rep_Watkins and I hosted a flood forum in Highland, where nearly 100 people came to ask questions about the flooding. pic.twitter.com/sqdbLVG6vn

— Senator Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) May 31, 2019

The Kansas Republican was joined in hosting the forum by U.S. Congressman Steve Watkins, with representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in attendance.

Prior to the forum, Roberts toured the White Cloud area where he viewed first hand the impact of the flooding. The tour included a stop at Taylor Seed Farm where local farmer Jason Taylor provided a look at a levee break.

We then went to Taylor Seed Farm, where local farmer Jason Taylor showed us a levee break. pic.twitter.com/483cWt4NQh

— Senator Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) May 31, 2019

Roberts, in the post, said the view from White Cloud’s Four State Lookout allowed him to see how widespread flooding is in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.

From Four State Lookout, you could see how widespread the flooding is in NE Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. pic.twitter.com/h7MaMmS3o4

— Senator Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) May 31, 2019

The White Cloud tour was among numerous stops Roberts made in local northeast Kansas communities Wednesday and Thursday.

(KNZA)--A Hoyt man convicted on animal cruelty charges will spend 30 days in jail and must pay more than $100,000 in restitution.

Frank Johnson was sentenced last week in Jackson County District Court after he was found guilty in April of two counts of animal cruelty following a two-day bench trial.

Johnson was given a suspended one-year jail sentence on the charges and placed on two-years probation.  As part of the terms of his probation, he was ordered to serve 30 days in the Jackson County Jail, beginning May 27.

In addition, The Holton Recorder reports Johnson was ordered to pay $118,000 in restitution to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to cover the cost of caring for 45 horses that were seized from his property in two separate incidents in July and November of last year.

District Judge Jeff Elder also ordered Johnson “not to care for any animals other than one dog or one cat” during the probation period.  

Johnson was original found guilty on 45 counts of cruelty to animals in February and placed on two years probation.

He appealed his conviction and a motion for a new trial was granted, with the charges amended to two counts of animal cruelty.    
    

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - A three-day Kansas country music festival scheduled for June has moved from a state park outside Manhattan to the Topeka area because of concerns about flooding.

The Country Stampede announced its move Friday. Organizers said they were unsure of the safety of its original location at Tuttle Creek State Park because of recent severe weather.

The festival will be held at Heartland Park, a motorsports park south of Topeka. The dates of the festival remain June 20-22.

Areas across the state have seen flooding because of heavy rains in recent weeks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the Tuttle Creek Lake is close to full and it is releasing 27,500 cubic feet of water per second to keep water levels manageable.

PHOENIX (AP) - Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran's office says the 65-year-old has suffered an ankle injury while hiking on a mountain in Phoenix.

Moran spokeswoman Morgan Said said the Republican injured his ankle Thursday morning while doing a workout on Camelback Mountain, a popular hiking spot.

The Phoenix Fire Department said in a statement that a 65-year-old man couldn't walk due to an injury but did not identify him by name. Firefighters used a wheeled litter to transport him off the mountain.

The man was then transported to a hospital for further evaluation.

Said said Moran was in the Phoenix area for meetings with law enforcement officials and had to cancel them. She said he plans to return to Kansas on Friday for scheduled meetings and events. 

(KNZA)--A Flash Flood Warning was issued Thursday afternoon for portions of Nemaha, Brown, and Jackson counties, in Kansas, by the National Weather Service in reference to a dam failure one mile south of Sabetha.

However, Nemaha County Emergency Management Director Russel Lierz told MSC News following the issuance that the failure is not imminent, but the status of the dam is being monitored closely.

Sabetha City Administrator Doug Allen told MSC News a sink hole has developed below the watershed dam, which is located above the City’s wastewater plant. “Tuesday morning we noticed it probably about 5 by 10 feet wide, and several feet down, and it’s just since been growing. We’ve had the state water office up here helping out, and Nemaha County Preparedness has been involved. We’re just watching the hole increase all the time. Eventually they think it’s going to be a breach and it will get through. There’s been somebody from the state here all day until early evening the last three or four days. They really don’t have a clue when it will happen, [but] the hole’s getting bigger and bigger all the time, so eventually it’s going to break through.”

The Flash Flood Warning is issued for east central Nemaha County, northeastern Jackson County, and southwestern Brown County until 10:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30.

The dam south of Sabetha has not failed yet, but it could in the next hour or two. Flooding has yet to begin in Nemaha CO. #kswx

— NWS Topeka (@NWSTopeka) May 30, 2019

The National Weather Service reports the flooding would impact U.S. Highway 36, about 3 miles south of the dam, and the Kickapoo Reservation, west of Horton, which includes the Golden Eagle Casino.
The weather service says the water could rise to near 13.8 feet at U.S. highway 36 just over an hour after a dam failure, and to near 11.2 feet at U.S. highway 75, 3 ½ hours after a failure. 

, If/when the dam fails in Nemaha CO, The water will flow south, away from Sabetha. #kswx

— NWS Topeka (@NWSTopeka) May 30, 2019

(MSC News)--Releases from Gavins Point Dam are again being increased.

That’s according to a release Thursday afternoon issued by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

According to the release, the Gavins Point Dam releases will increase by 5,000 cubic feet per second on Saturday.

That follows an increase earlier this week.

On Wednesday, the Corp increased releases to 70,000 cubic feet per second.

John Remus, Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, said runoff into the upper Missouri River above Sioux City has remained high, with rain continuing to fall.

In the past five days, the National Weather Service, Missouri Basin River Forecast Center is showing 1 to 4 inches of rainfall in South Dakota and Nebraska.  

The effects from releases on the lower Missouri River diminishes at locations further downstream due to the large uncontrolled drainage area and the travel time from Gavins Point Dam. Travel times for releases from Gavins Point 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.

(KAIR)--Although the Missouri River continues to rise at Elwood, a mandatory evacuation is not expected based on the current forecast.

That comes in part as the requirement for such an evacuation has been changed.

In March, the Doniphan County community evacuated when the river rose to 30 feet.

According to the County’s emergency management agency, the City of Elwood “ has made the decision to only issue a suggested mandatory evacuation if the river has a sustained height of 30 feet for 48 hours.”

City Attorney Joel Euler told KQ2-TV the decision is made to keep residents from having to continually move in and out.

The river, at Elwood, is expected to crest at 29.3 feet around 7:00 Friday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, the levee system is likely overtopped at 31.5 feet, causing flooding in both Elwood and the eastern edge of Wathena.

According to a social media post Wednesday, Doniphan County Emergency Management said the levee is continuing to be monitored, and no issues are currently detected.

Additional pumps have been received, which crews will use to pump standing interior water beginning Friday.

(MSC News)--A complaint is filed following the removal of news media by the Kansas Senate Wednesday.

That move, made during the Legislature’s last day in session, came as protesters in the Senate gallery sang and chanted in support of state Medicaid expansion.

The Associated Press reports the Senate halted its work to clear the gallery floor, with Capital Police requiring reporters to leave the chamber temporarily.

The complaint is filed on behalf of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government, the Kansas Press Association, the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and the Kansas Institute for Government Transparency.

The letter, outlining the formal complaint, is addressed to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, and signed by Ron Keefover, the President of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government

The complaint calls the action taken by Senate President Susan Wagle “unprecedented,” and says the removal of the news media is “clearly an unconstitutional breach of both the Kansas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution's right to liberty of the press,” as well as to the Senate’s own rules.

The complaint urges an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office in order to reach a “speedy resolution,” including a preliminary restraint which the letter says “may be achieved in a consent order.”

Wagle’s office, following the removal of the media and protesters, Tweeted that it was done for safety reasons. Her chief of staff, Harrison Hems, told reporters they were giving demonstrators "an audience" by shooting pictures and recording video, making it harder to restore order.

Wagle later said her office wasn't singling out reporters, only trying to clear the floor and end the demonstration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

(MSC News)-- A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Craig, Missouri due to flooding.

The city issued the evacuation order Wednesday morning.

KQ2-TV reports the evacuation was ordered due to concerns from flooding of multiple roads around the town including a new concern of the Little Tarkio River potentially flooding east of town.

Parts of northwest Missouri saw between 2-4 inches of rain Tuesday night.

(KNZA)--A change is coming for Brown County’s emergency notification system.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, in a release, said that beginning Saturday, the TextCaster service will be implemented, replacing the current NIXLE notification system. However, the current service will remain active until June 15 to allow residents time to make the switch.

The system sends text and email alerts during emergency situations to those who sign up.

Merchant calls the new system “much more user friendly” for dispatchers, with many of the emergency notifications updated automatically, which allows dispatch to focus on handling emergency calls instead of updating the system.

To sign up, go here. 

Merchant said anyone who experiences issues signing up for the free service should notify Brown County dispatch for assistance.

(KNZA)--Two additional candidates have filed for positions up for election in November on the Horton City Commission and South Brown County USD 430 Board.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports James Stuart filed Wednesday for Horton Commissioner of Parks and Recreation.

Stuart joins incumbent Bobby Bacon and Glen Obbards in seeking the position, which is among three up for election on the Horton City Commission.

The County Clerk Office also reports Rex Lockwood filed Wednesday for position 7 on the USD 430 Board.  The position is currently held by Jason Smith, and is among four up for election on the board.

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

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

(KNZA)--The city of Hiawatha will hold its Citywide Clean-up Day Saturday, June 1.

The clean-up site will be located at the city public works property at 912 Hiawatha Avenue.  Items will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bob Spicer Salvage will be at the location to accept air conditioners, appliances, tires WITH rims, iron, metal and batteries.

Hamilton Recycling will also be at the location with a paper shredder and picking up recyclable items.

Each household will be allowed one pickup load, one carload, or one single-axle trailer load.  No contractors are allowed and the city reserves the right to refuse any load.  Proof of residency will be required.

Unacceptable items include household trash, leaves, grass clippings, tires, paint, oil, gas, hazardous materials, and any material containing Freon expect appliances.

(KMZA)--Marshall Co voters will decide in November whether to approve a proposed sales tax for Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville.

At the request of representatives of CMH, the Marshall County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to allow residents to vote on a proposed 10-year, half-cent countywide retailers sales tax during the November 6 general election.

The wording of the ballot question will be decided in the near future.

It was fourth year in a row the hospital had requested the Commission place a sales tax proposal on the ballot, failing to gain approval the past three years.

Community Memorial Healthcare CEO Curtis Hawkinson said rural hospitals across Kansas are struggling financially and 80 percent of the critical access hospitals in the state, such as CMH, receive some form of tax support.

CMH Board members said they feel it is important for the hospital to keep moving forward with technology and competitive wages.

Brown County voters during a May 21 special election defeated by a 29-vote margin a proposed 10-year, half-cent countywide retailers sales tax for health care services in the county. 80 percent of the sales tax proceeds would have gone to the Hiawatha Community Hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton for health care services in the southern Brown County community.

(KNZA)--The final vote count is in---the proposed half-cent sales tax initiative for health care services in Brown County was defeated by a 29-vote margin.

Meeting as a board of canvassers, the Brown County Commission Tuesday morning counted 26 of the 51 provisional ballots cast in the May 21 special election.  That made the final vote tally, 1,097 in favor to 1,126 against.

Twenty-five of the provisional ballots were not counted mainly because the voters had failed to register by the required deadline.

Provisional ballots are used to record a vote when there are questions about a given voter’s eligibility to vote, such an address change, name change or not having a photo ID at the polling location. 

The unofficial results the evening of May 21 showed the issue being defeated by a 35-vote margin.

The proposed 10-year sales tax was projected to raise more than $750,000 annually.   80 percent of the proceeds would have gone to the Hiawatha Community Hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton for healthcare services in the southern Brown Community.

Facing financial problems, the Hiawatha Community Hospital sought the tax support.

Hospital CEO John Broberg, in a statement released to MSC News following last week's unofficial results, said he planned to meet with the county again soon to explore other tax options that could benefit the hospital.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office is unable to receive 911 or administration calls. 

As of Wednesday evening, work was underway to remedy the issue.  

All 911 calls are being routed to the Sabetha Police Department dispatch.

Any questions should be directed to the Sabetha Police Department at 785-284-2158.

(KAIR)--Atchison High School gains a new Assistant Principal/Activities Director for the next school year.

That follows a special meeting of the Board of Education for Atchison’s USD 409.

Following an executive session held as part of Wednesday’s noon hour meeting, the board approved the hiring of Jason Schroeder for the role.

He will fill the position currently held by Matt Renk, who will begin serving as Head Principal at Atchison High School on July 1.

According to the school district, Schroeder received his Master of Science in Education Administration and Leadership from Emporia State University and his Bachelor of Science in Education in Health and Physical Education from the University of Kansas.

Schroeder’s past experience in the field of education includes serving as Assistant Principal/Athletics Director/Transportation Director at Holton USD 336 for four years.

Prior to that position, he served seven years as Physical Education Teacher and Athletic Director for McLouth USD 342.

Schroeder most recently spent two years working as an insurance agent.

(KAIR)--Leavenworth becomes the latest local county added to the state disaster proclamation signed by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

Leavenworth County was added to the list, which now includes 56 counties, following the Tuesday night tornado outbreak, which included devastation in Linwood, which is located in Leavenworth County.

According to a news release issued by the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office, nine tornadoes were reported in the state between 6 and 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

A destructive tornado, reported to be a mile wide, struck southeast Lawrence along U.S. Highway 59.

Major damage was reported in Linwood and Pleasant Grove, while other tornadoes were reported in Beloit, Bonner Springs, Collier, Eudora, Russell, and Tipton.

Other local counties already included on the state disaster declaration are Doniphan, Jefferson, Marshall, and Pottawatomie.

The declaration follows this spring’s severe weather which has also included flooding.

(KAIR)--A local area roadway joins numerous others across Missouri that are closed due to flooding.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Route 45, south of Saint Joseph, is closed. The closure is from Route 116 at Rushville to just south of the village of Iatan.

The closure took effect Wednesday afternoon, May 29.

According to MoDot, more than 300 roadways are closed across Missouri.

Locally, that includes U.S. Highway 59, east of Atchison, KS, in Buchanan County, and Interstate 29, north of St. Joseph.

(KAIR)--When tornadoes struck the local area counties of Atchison, Jackson, and Nemaha, on May 21, property destruction was left in their wake.

A casualty of the Atchison County tornado that touched down in the Effingham area was a trampoline belonging to kindergarten student Gracie Sinclair.

According to a release received by MSC News, a group of Gracie’s kindergarten classmates, being billed as “Friends of Gracie,” are holding a fundraiser to help her replace the trampoline.

That will happen Thursday, May 30, from 9:30 until 12:30, on Main Street in Effingham.

It’s there that the group will hold a cookies and lemonade sale to help raise funds for the cause.

According to the National Weather Service, the tornado confirmed in Atchison County on the evening of May 21 was an EF-1 that destroyed an abandoned home, and several outbuildings at a farmstead, as wind speeds reached up to 90 mph.

(KNZA)--Hiawatha ACES is gearing up for its 6th year of providing free lunches to local kids.

The non-profit organization’s “ No Summer Hunger” program will kick off Monday ( June 3) in the basement of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, in Hiawatha, and run through July 26.

Last year, an average of 84 meals were served per day.

The program is co-sponsored by Second Harvest, which provides ready to cook food for volunteers to heat and serve.

The program is open to any child up to the age of 18, and there are no income guidelines. Parents accompanying children will have the option of purchasing a low-cost meal for themselves.

The organization says volunteers are needed to help prep and serve the meals along with cleanup after lunch.  Those interested can sign up through a link on the Hiawatha ACES Facebook page or can phone or text 785-741-5141.

(KNZA)--Four Hiawatha businesses are receiving statewide recognition as part of Business Appreciation Month.

The month is held annually by the Kansas Department of Commerce, with businesses selected through a nomination process for four categories: Service, Retail, Manufacturing/Distribution, and Hospital/Non-profit.

According to a news release, Hiawatha Ford, State Farm Insurance, Outback Guidance and the Kanza Mental Health and Guidance Center are among more than 70 Merit Award winners across the state.

Business Appreciation Month begin in 1995 to serve as a statewide tribute to Kansas businesses for their contributions to the state.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A vicious storm tore through the Kansas City area, spawning tornadoes that downed trees and power lines, damaged homes and injured at least a dozen people in the latest barrage of severe weather that saw tornado warnings as far east as New York City.

Parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey also were under tornado warnings hours after a swarm of tightly packed twisters swept through Indiana and Ohio overnight, smashing homes, blowing out windows and ending the school year early for some students because of damage to buildings. One person was killed and at least 130 were injured.

The storms in Kansas City Tuesday were the 12th straight day that at least eight tornadoes were reported to the National Weather Service.

After several quiet years, the past couple of weeks have seen an explosion of tornado activity with no end to the pattern in sight.

A large and dangerous tornado touched down on the western edge of Kansas City, Kansas, late Tuesday, the National Weather Service office reported. At least a dozen people were admitted to the hospital in Lawrence, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the University of Kansas, hospital spokesman Janice Early said. Damage also was reported in the towns of Bonner Springs, Linwood and Pleasant Grove in Kansas.

But the Kansas City metropolitan area of about 2.1 million people appeared to have been spared the direct hit that was feared earlier in the evening when the weather service announced a tornado emergency.

Mark Duffin, 48, learned from his wife and a television report that the large tornado was headed toward his home in Linwood, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Kansas City.

The next thing he knew, the walls of his house were coming down.

Duffin told the Kansas City Star that he grabbed a mattress, followed his 13-year-old to the basement and protected the two of them with the mattress as the home crashed down around them.

"I'm just glad I found my two dogs alive," he said. "Wife's alive, family's alive, I'm alive. So, that's it."

(KNZA)--U.S. Senator Pat Roberts will make several stops in the local area Wednesday and Thursday.

According to his office, Roberts will hold a town hall meeting in Holton Wednesday morning at 9:00 at Penny's Coffee Shop located at 409 New York Avenue.

The Kansas Republican will then travel to Hiawatha, where he's scheduled to tour the Hiawatha Community Hospital.

Roberts will make his final stop Wednesday in Sabetha where he will tour the Sabetha Fitness Center.

On Thursday morning, Roberts will hold a town hall meeting in Jefferson County at the Oskaloosa City Hall at 9:30.

(KNZA)--A woman wanted in Missouri on child related sex crimes has been arrested in Brown County.

According to a release from Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, 29-year-old Michelle Merz was located Saturday in the Everest area.

She had been wanted on a warrant for sexual exploitation of a child.

Merchant said Merz was booked into the Brown County Jail to await extradition to Missouri on the $10,000 warrant.

(KNZA)--Heavy rainfall is causing dangerous driving conditions in Brown County.

Sheriff John Merchant told MSC News Tuesday afternoon roads are being impacted, and drivers must remain aware and alert to the situation.

As the conditions worsen, Merchant said some roads may become impassable.

(KAIR)--A forum, focused on the spring flooding that has impacted the local region, is planned to be held in Doniphan County.

That word was delivered during Tuesday morning’s Doniphan County Commission meeting by Chairman Tad Geiger.

Geiger informed the Commission that the forum is planned for Thursday afternoon at 3:00 at the Highland Community Center.

United States Senator Pat Roberts and Congressman Steve Watkins, both of Kansas, will be in attendance, along with representatives from the Army Corp of Engineers.

According to the minutes of the meeting, Geiger also executed a declaration of local emergency disaster on behalf of Doniphan County, due to recent rains and flooding.

County Emergency Management Director Julie Meng told the Commission a damage assessment will be taken, from April 28 and onward, to determine a federal and state declaration.

Meanwhile, agencies in Kansas are continuing their response to severe weather, heavy rains, and flooding that has hit the state hard over the past week.

According to a news release from the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office, the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka was activated May 20 and will remain activated to monitor weather conditions across the state and respond to requests for assistance.

Water levels at several U.S. Army Corp of Engineer reservoirs are being closely monitored including Perry Lake.

According to the release, Perry Lake began releasing water Sunday and is maintaining 5,000 cubic feet per second. The release notes that the rate would be able to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool in less than 18 seconds.

A total of 49 counties have been named in a state of disaster declaration signed by Governor Laura Kelly on May 9. Local counties included in the declaration are Doniphan, Jefferson, Marshall, and Pottawatomie.

The governor on May 26 sent a request to President Donald Trump seeking emergency federal assistance.  The request is currently under review and the state has not yet received a determination.

Assistance was also requested from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. 

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - A Leavenworth woman was killed by a massive tree falling on her home while she was in the living room.

The death occurred Tuesday morning in Leavenworth. Authorities have not yet released the victim's name.

Leavenworth Fire Chief Gary Birch said authorities believe the tree might have fallen over because the ground was so saturated from recent rains that its roots became loose. He said there was no strong wind in the area Tuesday morning.

Birch said a crew was working Tuesday to remove the tree so that the woman's body can be recovered. He said the trunk of the tree appeared to be about 4 feet in diameter.

Much of Kansas has seen heavy rain and flooding over the past week.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - A Leavenworth woman was killed by a massive tree falling on her home while she was in the living room.
 
The death occurred Tuesday morning in Leavenworth. Authorities have not yet released the victim's name.
 
Leavenworth Fire Chief Gary Birch said authorities believe the tree might have fallen over because the ground was so saturated from recent rains that its roots became loose. He said there was no strong wind in the area Tuesday morning.
 
Birch said a crew was working Tuesday to remove the tree so that the woman's body can be recovered. He said the trunk of the tree appeared to be about 4 feet in diameter.
 
Much of Kansas has seen heavy rain and flooding over the past week.

(KAIR)--An Atchison County Memorial Day ATV accident required helicopter transport for one.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, in a release, said it happened Monday morning around 10:00 at 109 High Street in Lancaster.

Deputies responded to the scene and found that 18-year-old Nathan Myers, of Lancaster, had been a passenger on the rear of the northbound 4-wheeler when he fell off.

Suffering a head injury from the fall, Myers was flown by LifeNet to the University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas, for treatment.

Both Myers and the operator of the ATV, identified as 20-year-old Atchison resident Jacob Kenworthy, were not wearing helmets.

Kenworthy was not hurt.

(KNZA)--A stolen vehicle, guns, and drugs led to the arrest of two Kansas City, Kansas residents following a weekend Hiawatha investigation.

Hiawatha Police Chief John Defore, in a news release, said it happened Saturday afternoon when officers noticed a man buffing paint on a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot of Hiawatha’s Sunflower Motel, at 406 North 1st Street.

A vehicle check was conducted, with officer’s learning it had been reported stolen.

The man, having gone back inside the motel, wasn’t immediately located despite attempts by officers. Instead, the vehicle was towed and the Brown County Sheriff’s Office called to assist with surveillance of the suspect’s room.

A second man was spotted approaching the room, and he was apprehended by police, with the investigation revealing he had rented the room.

After he granted permission to enter, authorities made what Defore called “guarded entry” into the room after it was learned that weapons were inside.

Three persons were removed from the room without incident, with two identified as being wanted on felony warrants.

Arrested were 36-year-old Rusty Ruth and 24-year-old DeeAnna Goodall.

According to Brown County Jail records, Ruth faces charges for felony possession of stolen property, possession of illegal narcotics, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, and criminal damage to property.

Goodall faces a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property in connection with the stolen vehicle.

During the course of the investigation, Defore said officers located a loaded handgun, ammunition and a loaded magazine for a semi-automatic rifle along with suspected illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.  

(KAIR)--A Topeka man is facing Jackson County charges related to the theft of a truck.

According to a release issued by Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, 28-year-old Dylan Wayne Massey was arrested around 8:00 Monday morning.

That followed the report of a truck backed into a residential driveway, located in the area of 118th and U.4 Road, near Hoyt, with a man asleep inside the vehicle.

Deputies arrived at the scene, and identified that the sleeping man was Massey. They also learned that the truck had been reported stolen from Wabaunsee County, near Eskridge.

Massey was taken into custody for felony theft.

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

Three Atchison businesses are receiving statewide recognition as part of Business Appreciation Month.

The month is held annually by the Kansas Department of Commerce, with businesses selected through a nomination process for four categories: Service, Retail, Manufacturing/Distribution, and Hospital/Non-Profit.

According to a news release issued by the City of Atchison, Backroad Atlas is named as one of seven regional winners statewide in the retail division.

Atchison Community Health Clinic and Harvest Video both earned Merit Award recognition along with 71 other businesses and organizations across the state.

Business Appreciation Month began in 1995 to serve as a statewide tribute to Kansas businesses for their contributions to the state.

One winner in each of the four categories is chosen from each of the seven designated regions of the state by a panel of judges from the business and economic development community.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Police Department is investigating the burglary of a local liquor store.

According to a press release from Police Chief John Defore, officers responded to an alarm call at Henry Retail Liquor located in the 12-hundred block of Oregon Street shortly after 5:00 last Thursday morning.

Upon arrival, Defore says officers found the front glass door had been shattered as well as damage inside the building.

Defore said officers obtained video surveillance footage along with other evidence and suspect identifiers.

Defore said they have been receiving leads from the public but no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the Hiawatha Police Department.     
   

Video credit: Hiawatha Police/Facebook 

(KAIR)--A local Atchison community and business leader has died.

A.C. Robert “Bob” Berger died Sunday at the age of 88 at the Atchison home where he was born.

Commonly known as “Bob,” Berger, in 1973, founded the Berger Company, where he served as chairman of the board of directors until his retirement.

Prior to the founding of his company, an international supplier of leather and textiles, he owned and operated Atchison Leather Products, which his father began in 1908. It later became a division of Berger’s company.

According to his obituary from the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Berger spent many decades serving in leadership roles in Atchison organizations, groups, and projects. Those included the Atchison Family YMCA, the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Fe Depot Trustees, the Atchison Area United Way, the Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust Advisory Committee, and the Boy Scouts of America. Berger was an Eagle Scout.

Serving as a member of such organizations as the Atchison Rotary Club, the Elks, and the American Legion, Berger was also well known for his political involvement, active in the Republican Party at the local, state, and national levels.

In August of 2018, Berger, and his family, were honored with the Cray-Seaberg Vision of Excellence Award which was established in 2014 by the Santa Fe Depot Board of Trustees to honor individuals and families who demonstrate extraordinary foresight and commitment in helping create progressive opportunities for the betterment of the overall Atchison community.

Berger will be laid to rest June 4th at Atchison’s Mount Vernon Cemetery, where graveside services will be held that morning at 11:00.

Among his survivors are his daughter, Carla Berger Blattner, and his son, Rick.

(KNZA)--Two additional candidates have filed for school board positions up for election in November in Brown County.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports Amy Kopp filed Friday for re-election to position 7 on the Hiawatha USD 415 Board of Education, and April Keo filed for position 1 on the South Brown County USD 430 Board.  The position is currently held by Richard Lovelady.

Four positions are up for election on each board.

Candidates have until noon, June 3, 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.   

(MSC News)--Governor Laura Kelly Sunday sent a request to President Donald Trump asking for emergency federal assistance to help address the widespread severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that have plagued Kansas in recent days.

The letter details the events leading up to the request and asks for Direct Federal Assistance for:

1. Swift water rescue support;

2. Shelter management support including short-term housing assistance;

3. Mass care and human services support through commodities;

4. Technical support and possible staffing for state logistics staging areas;

5. Possible technical support regarding hazardous materials spills and orphan containers.

The request also anticipates the need for debris removal, which poses an immediate threat to lives, public health, and safety.

"Kansas is experiencing damage from severe weather and historic flooding due to extended heavy rain," Kelly said. “Today I sent a request to President Donald Trump for emergency federal assistance for response and recovery. We are working with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure Kansans have the resources they need at this challenging time.”

Named in the request are the 49 Kansas counties listed in the state declaration originally signed by Kelly May 9 and later amended. Locally, the counties include Doniphan, Jefferson, Marshall and Pottawatomie.  Marshall County was added to the list Monday.

"In order to proactively expand our resources and ensure the Kansas Division of Emergency Management has everything it needs to assist local partners and keep people safe, we have requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact an advanced team to assist our personnel. As we work with impacted communities, I want to ensure that every resource is being brought to bear to assist local emergency personnel so we can keep people safe and limit damage to property."

A change in location for the Sabetha and Fairview Memorial Day services due to the  weather.

The Sabetha Memorial Day service will be Monday at 10 a.m.at the Main Event (formerly the armory) in Sabetha. The Fairview service will be in the Fairview Community Building at 12:30 p.m.

(KAIR)--A late Friday afternoon Atchison County single-vehicle roll-over  wreck sent a Lancaster woman to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports 50-year-old Jo Ann Enzbrenner was northbound on U.S. 73 Highway, about one mile south of  326th Road, when her SUV left the roadway.  The vehicle went into the north ditch and overturned, coming to rest on its wheels.

Enzbrenner was transported to the Atchison Hospital with what the Patrol described as possible injury.

The Patrol says she was buckled up when the wreck happened shortly before 5:00.

(KAIR)--A two-vehicle Friday morning wreck in Atchison sent an Atchison man to the hospital.

According to a report from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, it happened at the intersection of 9th and Santa Fe shortly before 10:00.

Wilson said Theodore Ackman was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on 9th Street when a westbound 2009 Honda on Sante Fe driven by Elle Strother, of Nortonville, entered the intersection.

Wilson said Ackman attempted an avoidance maneuver and overturned his motorcycle.

He was transported by EMS to a St. Joseph hospital for treatment of injuries.

Strother was cited for failure to yield.

MARYSVILLE, Kan. (AP) - The National Weather Service is investigating why a warning wasn't issued for Marysville when a tornado hit the city.

The Kansas City Star reports that the EF1 tornado developed early Friday morning on the southwest side of the Marshalll County community and went through about 3:45. The twister was about 50 yards wide and produced winds of 105 mph.

No injuries were reported. A home suffered roof damage and a 3,000-gallon gasoline tank was tossed around.

National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Baerg said sirens for the town of 3,300 people didn't go off because no warning was issued.

He said the Weather Service is reviewing radar and other data to see what happened and ensure that it doesn't happen again.

(KAIR)--A public health advisory is issued for the Atchison County State Fishing Lake.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has placed the lake under a watch status due to blue-green algae.

According to a release from KDHE, a watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. 

People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.

The watch is issued in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

The release says boating and fishing on affected bodies of water are safe, but inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Direct contact with water should be avoided, and wash with clean water after any contact.

Any fish caught in affected water should be cleaned thoroughly with only the fillet portion eaten.

The local lake is among three in the state currently under watch status.

(KMZA)--A tornado touched down in Nemaha County early Friday morning as severe storms moved through the area, causing damage at a rural Seneca residence.

Nemaha County Emergency Preparedness Director Russel Lierz said the National Weather Service confirmed that it was an EF-1 tornado that touched down at the Steve Fangman residence  at 2411 “ M” Road around 4:30, about 6 miiles northeast of Seneca.   

Lierz said the tornado destroyed Steve's Auto Repair Shop along with a hay shed, outbuildings and an empty grain bin. 

Fangman's home also received some damage.    

No injuries were reported.

Two tornadoes were confirmed Tuesday evening in Nemaha County, causing damage but no injuries.   One, an EF-3 tornado, touched down in the Bern area, and the other, an EF-1, touched down in the Oneida area.

(KLZA)-- Holt County, Missouri Commissioners are billing railroad companies for the cost of rebuilding roads that have been destroyed by rock trucks hauling for the rail lines.

According to the Mound City News, a bill of more than $51-thousand to put the roads back to the way they were prior to flooding has been submitted to the rail lines.

In addition, there will be bills sent from a rock quarry in Maitland, Missouri who supplied the rock for the roads.

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee County Commissioners have approved amending the 2018-19 Pawnee County budget following a public hearing on Tuesday that drew no comment.

The amendment will allow for changes in the road fund revenue and expenditures. The actual expenditures for the current fiscal year will exceed the budgeted expenditures. The reason for the increase is due to the necessity of replacing a semi-tractor due to a 2018 accident that was not budgeted for.

The budget was amended to include revenue from a $100-thousand insurance settlement, and expenditures of $100-thousand due to the purchase of a 2019 Mack truck.

The action will not affect the appropriations for tax dollars.

County Clerk Candi Nicholas discussed her plan to purchase a new computer before the end of the fiscal year and representatives of NACO Benefits met with the Board to review health insurance prices for July 2019 through June 2020.

(KNZA)--There will be a contested race this November for a position on the South Brown County USD 430 Board of Education.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports Carrie Miller filed Thursday for position 3, which is currently held by Laurence Berger.

Berger filed in March for re-election.

Four positions are up for election on the Board.

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

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

(KMZA)--A wrestling program will be added at the Nemaha Central Middle School beginning next school year.

The USD 115 Board of Education voted to add the sport when they meet last week.

Board members were reluctant to bring the program back to the high school after student surveys didn’t show much interest, and instead opted to try it at the middle school.

It was noted that every other Big 7 school, except Hiawatha, competes in wrestling.

In other action, the Board approved fees for next school year.

Breakfast and lunch prices will increase 10 cents across the board, but all other fees will remain the same.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has agreed to pay $1.03 million to a Jefferson County man who spent nearly 16 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the 1999 kidnapping, rape and murder of a 14-year-old Oskaloosa girl.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced in a news release Thursday Kansas resolved the second lawsuit under the mistaken conviction statute enacted last year.

Floyd Scott Bledsoe filed his state compensation claim in July 2018. A separate federal lawsuit filed by him in May 2016 remains pending.

Shawnee County District Judge Richard Anderson approved the settlement Wednesday and granted a certificate of innocence. Bledsoe also is entitled to state health care benefits for two years.

Five lawsuits have been filed under the state's wrongful compensation law. One was resolved in December. Three others remain pending.

(KAIR)--A long planned relocation of state operations to the Atchison Event Center took a step forward during Monday’s meeting of the Atchison City Commission.

The Department of Children and Families plans to locate a local office to the lower level of the city-owned facility.

Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont told the Commission that plan has been in the works for 2-years, and while it’s unusual for the City to play the role of landlord, the projected funds to be generated through the use would help offset the facility’s financial losses. “What we have here is a 15-year, lease proposal,” Pregont said, explaining that, “[It would be] $12.95 per square foot. That nets us about $143,500 on an annual basis...we’d receive two $71,000 payments throughout the course of the year.”

The agency would occupy what is currently known as the Mercantile Ballroom on the lower level of the structure, meaning upfront costs for the City to see the necessary conversion happen. “We would issue bonds. They would be 15-year bonds. The annual payments on those would be about $86,000. We expect to incur about $12,000 in additional operating expenses at the facility as a result of this.”

However, along with DCF, Pregont told the Commission a verbal agreement is also in place for a second, as yet unnamed state tenant, to occupy space following the renovation.

Following Pregont’s presentation,the Commission voted to move forward with the plan, approving a near $788,000 construction contract with Herner Construction, of St. Joseph, Missouri. $50,000 is authorized to manage small change orders.

Asbestos abatement, heating and air conditioning modifications, and data cabling improvements up to $125,000 is included.

The Commission voted 4 to 1 to approve the contract.

Commissioner Charlie Perdue cast the lone no vote after citing concerns of financial risks involved with the plan.

(KNZA)--Brown County Sheriff John Merchant has announced the six 2019 Brown County Sheriff Memorial Scholarship winners.  

In Hiawatha, the scholarship winners include Felicity Thomas-Rodecap ($1000.00), Alan W. Simpson ($500.00) and Liam K. Jones (500.00).

(L-R) Felicity Thomas RodeCap, Liam K. Jones and Alan Simpson/Submitted photo

In Horton, the scholarship winners include Naikipyeeha Horned Eagle ($1000.00), Isaiah Cortes ($500.00) and Matthew A. Lobdell ($500.00).   

( L-R) Matthew A. Lobdell, Isaiah Cortes and Naikipyeeha Horned Eagle/Submitted photo

A news release says the scholarship is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The six winners were presented with a Brown County Sheriff challenge coin, a certificate and check.  Sheriff Merchant said, “We are proud to provide these scholarships to our county high school seniors and wish them only the best for their futures.”

The release says the scholarship opportunity is made possible by the use of Offender Registry money collected from the more than 70 registered offenders working or living in the county.

(KLZA)--  Rainfall in Central Nebraska and South Dakota have increased inflows to the Missouri River reservoirs causing pool levels to rise.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has increased the release of water at the Gavins Point Dam at Yankton, South Dakota to 60-thousand cubic feet per second as of Thursday.

2 to 5 inches of rain have fallen in the past several days causing an increase in inflows into Oaha, Big Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point Dams causing the pool levels to rise. Increasing the releases from Gavins Point Dam will allow more water to pass through the system and slow the rise in the pool levels.

The Corps of Engineers say they are monitoring conditions along the length of the Missouri River and this increased flow of water at Gavins Point will not reach Kansas City until after Monday, May 27. It will reach portions of Nebraska, Iowa, Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas earlier.

There is no estimate on how long the releases will remain at 60-thousand CFS at Gavins Point. Additional precipitation, lack of precipitation or other circumstances could cause adjustments to the reservoir release rates.

Mountain snowpack is normal, but there is still more than 8-inches of snow water equivalent coming from the mountain snowmelt.

Releases from the dams on the Missouri River are expected to remain higher than average into the fall because the reservoirs have to be at the base of the annual flood control pool by the start of the 2020 runoff season.

The Missouri River if forecast to crest at Rulo Thursday evening at 21 feet, drop slightly then climb back to around 21 feet on Wednesday, May 29. That is four feet above flood stage.

At Brownville the crest is predicted at 36.1 feet Friday morning, drop some and then climb back to 36 feet which is two feet above flood stage on Tuesday the 28th.

(KAIR)--The unofficial start of summer is marked by the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, and with the season comes the tradition of swimming.

Timed with the holiday is the weekend opening of Atchison’s Municipal Lion’s Pool, located at 1201 Commercial Street.

According to a release from Atchison Public Works Director Clinton McNemee, the pool is scheduled to open at 1:00 Saturday afternoon, with a free admission for opening day.

The regular rate is $1.00 daily, with children 2 and under admitted free.

McNemee, in the release, notes it’s possible the opening could be delayed due to weather and/or water temperatures.

If that happens, the closing will be announced on the City’s social media pages.

(MSC News)--A new Jackson Heights elementary school principal has been hired.

The Holton Recorder reports the USD 335 Board of Education last week approved a two-year contract with Cody Witte, beginning with the 2019-20 school year.   He will be paid an annual salary of $60,000.

Jackson Heights Superintendent Adrianne Walsh has also served as elementary principal the past 12 years.  She will continue as superintendent.   

Witte has served as athletic director and elementary physical education teacher at Jackson Heights since the 2017-18 school year.

Prior to coming to Jackson Heights, Witte was a teacher and coach in the Mission Valley, Auburn-Washburn and Newton Districts.

A graduate of Winfield High School, Witte earned a bachelor of science degree in health and human performance in 2009 from Fort Hays State University.  He recently complete a master’s degree in education administration through Emporia State University.  

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has approved pay increases for four department heads.

On the recommendation of City Administrator Mike Nichols, the Commission Monday evening approved a $2 an hour pay raise for City Clerk Tish Sims, Parks and Recreation Director Stacy Jasper, Streets Superintendent Nic Siebenmorgen and Water Superintendent Brad Scott.

The pay raises are to bring their salaries more in line with those of similar size cities.

In other business, Nichols informed the Commission that S & A Global, the company that sets municipal bond ratings, is projecting an increase in the city’s bond rating.

Nichols said when he came to the city 5 ½ years ago, the city had just received a notice that its bond rating had gone down.

He credited department heads and the Commission for the turn around, noting its not an easy thing to do.

(KNZA)--A second candidate has filed for one of four positions up for election in November on the South Brown County USD 430 Board of Education.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports Jason Selland filed Wednesday for re-election to position 2.   He is the first candidate to file for the position.

Laurence Berger previously filed for re-election to position 3.

Also up for election is position 1, currently held by Richard Lovelady, and position 7, currently held by Jason Smith.

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

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

(KAIR)--Jefferson County is added to the list of Kansas counties included in a state disaster declaration signed May 9 by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

Jefferson joins Doniphan and Pottawatomie as the three local area counties included among the total of 43.

The included counties have all been affected by spring 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.

According to a release issued by the Kansas Adjutant General's Department, the state declaration may be further amended to include any additional counties that experience flooding

Kelly, in the release, also cites Tuesday’s severe thunderstorms that impacted the state as an example of the state’s dangerous weather, and notes that more rain and severe weather is expected in coming days.

The release said tornadoes were confirmed Tuesday night in the local area counties of Atchison, Jackson, and Nemaha.

(MSC News)--The National Weather Service Wednesday surveyed damage from tornadoes that struck Atchison, Jackson and Nemaha Counties Tuesday evening.

The Weather Service says the largest, most powerful tornado occurred in northern Nemaha County in the Bern area. It was designated as an EF-3, with wind speeds up to 140 miles an hour.

The tornado, which touched down about three miles southeast of Bern, traveled nearly 6 miles before lifting 200 miles south of the Nebraska state line.

It caused damage to several structures, with the most severe damage occurring to a home towards the middle of the tornado's path. Damage to trees and power lines also occurred.

About 10 minutes earlier, a smaller tornado occurred southwest of Oneida in Nemaha County, causing damage to outbuildings at one residence.  The Weather Service rated that tornado as an EF-1, with winds up to 100 miles an hour. It traveled about three miles.

In Jackson County, the Weather Service says an EF-2 tornado, with winds speeds up to 115 miles an hour, formed near Mayetta and moved through the western side of town.  The tornado traveled north more than 17 miles, causing damage to several structures--including a house near the end of the tornado.

In Atchison County, the Weather Service says an EF-1 tornado, with wind speeds up to 90 miles an hour, touched down in the Effingham area and traveled 4.5 miles. It destroyed an abandoned home and several outbuildings at a nearby farmstead.

No injuries were reported from any of the tornadoes.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners took no action concerning implementation of the C.R.I.M.E.S Record Management System during their meeting Tuesday. 

Sheriff Don Pounds was unable to meet with the Board and no one else from the Sheriff's Office appeared at the meeting. 

Sheriff Pounds submitted a letter addressed to the Commissioners in which he stated he would not allow the Jail Management software or the C.R.I.M.E.S records management software to be located on a server at a separate location from the Richardson County Law Enforcement Center. 

Pounds stated his concerns about liability for himself and the County if proper steps are not taken to prevent the possibility of a security issue and damage.  

During a public meeting in Humboldt last week, Sheriff Pounds was highly critical of the Board approving putting the  C.R.I.M.E.S system on a server at the Falls City Police Department, claiming he felt the Falls City Police Department is trying to take over the Sheriff's Department.  

City Administrator Gary Jorn attended Tuesday's Commissioners meeting and explained the City's position. Jorn said the City would allow the program to be  put on their server at no cost, but noted it is fine with the  City if the county does not use the server.  Since the City has a relatively new server, Jorn said there would be no cost if it is  used, but down the line when the server has to be replaced, the  City would expect the County to help cover a portion of the cost of a  new server. 

Commissioner John Caverzagie made the motion, that was approved to put the system on the City server.  While not responding to  Pounds allegation,  Caverzagie, the former Falls City Chief of Police explained he got involved with the matter due to the County Attorney's Office wanting information on probation. 

Caverzagie explained he feels having the system on the  City server could actually be beneficial in an emergency, since all County 9-1-1 calls are routed to the Falls City Police Department. He said by sharing the program, it would save an extra phone call from the Police Department to the Sheriff's Office in an emergency situation meaning less response time. 
 
Caverzagie also said he feels purchase of additional parts of the C.R.I.M.E.S system is a good idea. The program would  include some bookkeeping, property and evidence along with others he felt would be good to have.

In April, Commissioners approved the expenditure of more than $18-thousand to purchase the C.R.I.M.E.S software and allow  the Falls City Police Department and Richardson County Attorney's office access to the system.

The Board took no action Tuesday concerning proposed pay increases for Deputy Sheriff's.  
 

(KLZA)-- An Oregon, Missouri woman suffered what the Missouri Highway Patrol described as minor in a single vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon.

The report indicates 31-year-old Elizabeth Conrad of Oregon was headed west on US-59 Highway approximately five miles east of Oregon when she failed to negotiate a curve and her mini-van traveled through a ditch and struck an embankment.

Conrad was transported to Mosaic Life Care Hospital in St. Joseph by the Atchison-Holt EMS. The Holt County Sheriff's Office and South Holt First Responders, assisted at the scene of the wreck.

The vehicle was totaled.

(KAIR)--After more than four decades of service, a longtime Atchison educator is saying goodbye.

Diane Liebsch, who has served the last 8-years as principal at Saint Benedict Catholic School, was given a full-day sendoff Monday, May 20; and while she was expecting the afternoon retirement reception that was held, she was not aware of other ceremonies, including a parade complete with police escort. “I feel really blessed just to have ended my career here at Saint Benedict Catholic School. This has truly been the icing on the cake,” Liebsch told MSC News.

Beginning her 44-year education career in 1975, Liebsch spent the entirety of her career working in Atchison.

Among her other community roles, Liebsch serves as a member of the Board of Education for Atchison’s USD 409.

Diane Liebsch/Credit: USD 409

As Liebsch says goodbye, her successor is being welcomed.

That comes with the hiring of Helen Schwinn to fill the role.

Helen Schwinn/Credit: St. Benedict Parish

According to a release issued Wednesday by Father Jeremy Heppler, OSB, Pastor of Saint Benedict Parish, Schwinn was selected from a pool of four candidates who interviewed for the position. The finalists were selected by Heppler and a committee comprised of Catholic educators and parishioners formed to assist with the hiring process.

Schwinn currently serves as a biology teacher and community leader at Atchison’s Maur Hill-Mount Academy.

According to the release, she brings more than 33-years of education experience, both as a teacher and school leader at both Catholic and public schools, to the role.

She has also served as a middle and high school basketball, volleyball, and track coach, as well as a class and club sponsor.

Schwinn holds a BA in Biology, with an English minor, which she earned at Topeka’s Washburn University, and earned her Master of Educational Administration from Emporia State University.

(KMZA)--A Wamego woman has been convicted of the mistreatment of a dependent adult.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said a Pottawatomie County jury found 54-year-old Jana Paczkowski guilty Monday of one felony count of mistreatment of a dependent adult.

The case stemmed from an investigation by the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office.

Schmidt said that investigation discovered that between August 2017 and October 2017, while serving as the trustee of a special needs trust for a dependent adult, Paczkowski used money from the special needs trust for her own benefit rather than for the beneficiary.

District Judge Jeff Elder, who presided over the trial, has scheduled sentencing for July 18.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Paul Brothers of Schmidt’s office.

(KLZA)-- There is no danger to a Falls City neighborhood after a City Gas Department crew hit a small abandoned gas line Wednesday morning.

Gas Department Superintendent Mark Ramsey said the crew was working near the Falls City Middle School, in the 1400 block of Morton Street and hit an old abandoned gas line.

Ramsey said gas was escaping the damaged line for about 15 minutes before they were able to cap it off. He reiterated there is no danger from the break.

While repairs are being made, gas service for a couple of blocks south of the break will not have gas service. The affected areas will be properties with even number addresses on Lane Street and odd number addresses on Morton Street.

Repairs are expected to be made by early afternoon.

Ramsey said it is possible that you might smell some gas while the line is being purged, but there is no danger.

Video credit: Brad Webb

(KAIR)--Extreme storms rolled through the local region early Tuesday evening, bringing tornadoes, hail, and heavy rain.

The tornadic activity led the National Weather Service to issue tornado warnings for local northeast Kansas counties, as well as those in southeast Nebraska.

Among the tornadoes that touched down in the region was one in Atchison County.

Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter told MSC News the tornado, confirmed 3 miles north of Effingham, left damage in its wake. “At 286th and Dickinson is where it crossed 286th and tore down some powers lines," Lanter said. "At Edwards and 294th it destroyed an abandoned house, and then hit a farmstead. It did destroy some outbuildings, but it did not hurt the house and did not harm any of the residents there at the house. It kind of skipped the next couple miles, touching down and razing. There is some tree damage but no one was injured.”

Storm damage at 294th and Edwards Road/Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

Power lines downed at 286th and Dickinson/Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

In Doniphan County, where a tornado was spotted near Denton, no structural damage has been reported to the County Emergency Management Office.
However, that agency does report that cows were injured near Denton, with the damage assessment continuing.

In Jackson County, Sheriff Tim Morse told MSC News one house was destroyed south of Whiting on 278th Road, along with a barn. Two barns across the road from that address were also destroyed.

Another house was severely damaged north of Mayetta, at 166th and R Road, while an additional house was damaged on the Shawnee County line on I road near Delia.

Damage was also reported Tuesday evening in Nemaha County.

Nemaha County Emergency Preparedness Director Russel Lierz told MSC News that a tornado touched down northeast of Seneca at Highway 36 and “ P” Road. He said a garage was destroyed and home damaged at the location.

In addition, he said there was damage to outbuildings north of Highway 36. Also a house was destroyed at 224 “ S” Road. There were no residents living in the house.

Lierz said the tornado traveled from Highway 36 and “ P” Road northeast to the Nebraska line, touching down several times.

No injuries were reported.

Richardson County Emergency Management reports no damage found from confirmed tornadoes Tuesday evening.

The storm system that moved its way north and east produced eight confirmed tornadoes in Richardson County. Most were from the same storm during which funnel clouds were dropping and then going back up in the area south of Humboldt, in the Dawson area and eventually in the Stella area.

National Weather Service personnel are expected to be in Richardson County Wednesday to determine the strength of the tornadoes.

There were also no reports of damage caused by storms in Nemaha or Pawnee counties.

Outdoor warning sirens did sound for a few minutes in Falls City Tuesday evening. The Richardson County Emergency Management Office has been making repairs to the sirens in the county. In order for one of the sirens to be sounded in an area where the tornadoes were, the sirens in Falls City also had to be activated.

Maintenance on the sirens is continuing Wednesday on the sirens so they may sound periodically throughout the day throughout Richardson County.

( KNZA)--It will be next week before the final outcome of Tuesday's Brown County special election on half-cent sales tax initiative for health care services is known.

Unofficial results Tuesday evening showed the issue being defeated by a 35-vote margin, with 1,081 votes cast in favor to 1,116 votes against.

However, Brown County Clerk Melissa Gormley told MSC News there were 51 provisional ballots cast, and they will be considered when the Brown County Commission meets Tuesday, May 28 to canvass ballots from the special election.  Provisional ballots are used to record a vote when there are questions about a given voter’s eligibility.

The County Clerk’s office reported a 37.4 percent voter turnout Tuesday.

Hiawatha Community Hospital CEO John Broberg, once the preliminary numbers indicated a defeat, issued a statement following an inquiry from MSC News. 

Click here for the unofficial election results from the Brown County Clerk's Office.

(KAIR)--Although a tentative summer date is set to again see a health clinic operating in Horton, there are still numerous steps necessary to make that happen.

A possible full return of the Horton Community Hospital is also set as a goal.

The Hospital, and included clinic, closed in March, with the former ownership, EmpowerHMS, under investigation and facing lawsuits related to mismanagement.

Despite the closing, Dr. Richard Brown continues to retain the title of Chief of Staff.

He told MSC News he’s hopeful that all pieces will come together to fulfill the current July 1 timeline for reopening the clinic. “Quite frankly, it’s been a lot of questions, a lot of issues with what the trustees are going to do, what the court system is going to do, and how they handle things at the money level. Once all this administrative process kind of pans out, then we get to start to decide how this is going to happen, who’s going to be the management team, who’s going to run it.”

Brown’s confidence in restoring clinic operations is based in part on what he says is the court’s release of money to begin paying wages owed to a select group of employees. “July 1 is what we’re targeting. It’s a tentative date but I’m fairly confident in it. They’ve already released funds to start paying the employees’ back salaries and I think that is pivotal for this to go forward. It’s going to be a piecemeal approach as far as releasing the funds. They can’t just get access to all these funds.”

Brown added that while a group of employees continue to work voluntarily, many left hospital employment when paychecks stopped coming earlier this year due to the alleged mismanagement. “A core group of people did stick around, and I’m saying hats off to the core group, the preservation team. There’s a few people that are continuing going in everyday to do just the background work to keep things running.”

Brown stresses, as he did during a March town hall meeting focused on the hospital’s future, that the hospital itself has proven to be a lucrative operation.

A timeline for a full reopening of the hospital is not immediately set, with the clinic restoration the current priority.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Sheriff Don Pounds took his case for a pay raise and better benefits for his Deputies to the public last Thursday evening in Humboldt. 

The Sheriff's office is currently understaffed on deputies having recently lost three deputies, two of them strictly due to the insurance package. 

By statute there can be up to nine Richardson County Deputy Sheriff's.  Pounds would also like an additional person strictly to serve as a resource officer in the schools. 

Sheriff Pounds was highly critical of the health insurance plan for Richardson County employees, calling it substandard and poor quality. 

The County pays for the employee's insurance but does not contribute to the family insurance plan.  Pounds said it carries a $9-thousand dollar deductible and the family plan has a monthly premium in excess of $1,300. 

At the current staffing level, the Sheriff says there are times when only one deputy is on duty and he says that is dangerous. The Sheriff said they are getting more calls involving guns and violence. 

Recently a proposal was presented to Richardson County Commissioners for pay raises for the deputies. According to figures distributed during the meeting, a County officer would need to receive a 58.55 percent pay increase in wages and benefits to be comparable to the Falls City Police officers.  That would amount to an hourly pay increase of approximately $12 - $13 per hour.  

The Sheriff said the Falls City Police Officers are not overpaid, noting they deserve their pay. 

Pounds asked for the public's support for the pay raises, even though it will take additional tax money to pay for the increases.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in locating a White Cloud man wanted by authorities.

Sheriff John Merchant said 25-year-old Phillip Doerr is wanted on a Brown County warrant for a probation violation with a $5,000 bond and is also a suspect in recent criminal activity.

If you are aware of his location, please notify your local law enforcement agency at once.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Sheriff Don Pounds took his case for a pay raise and better benefits for his Deputies to the public last Thursday evening in Humboldt. 

The Sheriff's office is currently understaffed on deputies having recently lost three deputies, two of them strictly due to the insurance package. 

By statute there can be up to nine Richardson County Deputy Sheriff's.  Pounds would also like an additional person strictly to serve as a resource officer in the schools. 

Sheriff Pounds was highly critical of the health insurance plan for Richardson County employees, calling it substandard and poor quality. 

The County pays for the employee's insurance but does not contribute to the family insurance plan.  Pounds said it carries a $9-thousand dollar deductible and the family plan has a monthly premium in excess of $1,300. 

At the current staffing level, the Sheriff says there are times when only one deputy is on duty and he says that is dangerous. The Sheriff said they are getting more calls involving guns and violence. 

Recently a proposal was presented to Richardson County Commissioners for pay raises for the deputies. According to figures distributed during the meeting, a County officer would need to receive a 58.55 percent pay increase in wages and benefits to be comparable to the Falls City Police officers.  That would amount to an hourly pay increase of approximately $12 - $13 per hour.  

The Sheriff said the Falls City Police Officers are not overpaid, noting they deserve their pay. 

Pounds asked for the public's support for the pay raises, even though it will take additional tax money to pay for the increases.

(KAIR)--U.S. Highway 59, east of Atchison, Kansas, has closed.

That came Thursday afternoon, May 21, as Missouri River floodwaters again impacted the Buchanan County, Missouri travel route.

According to a news release issued Thursday by the Missouri Department of Transportation, the highway is closed from Atchison to Rushville, Missouri.

U.S. Highway 36 is suggested as an alternate route.

A release issued Thursday by the Kansas Department of Transportation notes that the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, which connects Atchison to Buchanan County, will remain open to local traffic only.

The highway reopened May 16, following a May 8 closure due to floodwater across the roadway. That closure followed an April reopening after the highway was shut down in March due to flooding.

According to a release from Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service is forecasting the Missouri River, at Atchison, to crest at 27.2 feet Thursday morning. However, it’s possible the level could be higher, based on forecast models.

Meanwhile,  the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is cautioning residents to stay out of Kansas waterways because of the recent flooding and associated unsafe water quality conditions.  

The agency, in a news release, said that in addition to the physical dangers associated with entering swift moving flood waters, the potential for high levels of pathogens in those waters exist. 

KDHE anticipates elevated levels of pathogens in rivers and streams across the state because of runoff.

Additionally, over the past several days, numerous wastewater systems have experienced bypasses of sewage that enter local streams.

Individuals are advised to avoid contact with waterways and to restrict pets and livestock from entering streams and allow flood waters time to recede.   

ST. LOUIS (AP) - President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster for 13 Missouri counties damaged by March flooding.

The declaration was announced Monday night. It includes the northwest Missouri counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt and Platte.

Republican Gov. Mike Parson requested the declaration in April, before a second round of flooding earlier this month caused significant damage in eastern Missouri, particularly along the Mississippi River.

The disaster declaration makes federal aid available to help repair roads, bridges and other public infrastructure. Most of the counties are in northwestern Missouri, where the Missouri River reached near-record levels in March. A few are in southeast Missouri.

Heavy snow melt from the north and significant spring rains have led to waves of flooding in Missouri. With strong storms predicted through Tuesday, forecasters expect rivers to rise again in the coming days.

(KAIR)--K-7 HIghway, north of White Cloud, is closed Tuesday. 

That's according to an emergency alert issued by Doniphan County. 

According to the alert, the closure is due to a mud slide across the road. 

Motorists are advised to find an alternate route. 

ST. LOUIS (AP) - President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster for 13 Missouri counties damaged by March flooding.
 
The declaration was announced Monday night. It includes the northwest Missouri counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt and Platte.

Republican Gov. Mike Parson requested the declaration in April, before a second round of flooding earlier this month caused significant damage in eastern Missouri, particularly along the Mississippi River.
 
The disaster declaration makes federal aid available to help repair roads, bridges and other public infrastructure. Most of the counties are in northwestern Missouri, where the Missouri River reached near-record levels in March. A few are in southeast Missouri.
 
Heavy snow melt from the north and significant spring rains have led to waves of flooding in Missouri. With strong storms predicted through Tuesday, forecasters expect rivers to rise again in the coming days.

(KLZA)-- The Richardson County Clerk's office has announced that a special election will be held by mail  on Tuesday, July 9, in Humboldt to determine if Ward I City Council woman Dolores Martinez should be removed from office.

Ballots will be mailed out to all qualified electors of Ward I in Humboldt on June 17. The only question on the ballot is:

“Shall Dolores Martinez be removed from the office of Ward I Council Member of the City of Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska?"

There will be ovals to mark indicating “Yes” or “No.”

Voter registration will be taken at the County Clerk's Office at the Richardson County Courthouse during regular business hours for those not previously registered and wanting to vote in this election. On Friday, June 28, the office will remain open until 6:00 P.M.

You must be a registered voter, residing in the City of Humboldt, Ward I, by June 28, 2019 to be eligible to vote. Registered voters wishing to vote in the special election who will be absent from their residence between June 17 and July 9, may contact the Richardson County Clerk's Office to make arrangements for early voting.

Editor's note: the following was submitted by the office of U.S. Senator Jerry Moran

(MSC News)--U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture – Monday offered United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue his recommendations on how to expand export markets, distribute the potential additional round of trade assistance programs and purchase U.S.-grown commodities for international food aid programs.

First and foremost: resolve the ongoing trade dispute with China.

“The tariffs our country levied against China, and China’s retaliatory tariffs targeted at our farmers and ranchers, threaten to cause long term damage to U.S. agriculture,” Sen. Moran wrote. “Kansas farmers and ranchers understand the need to hold China accountable for bad behavior on trade. Yet, net farm income has fallen by 50 percent since 2013 and the trade war has pushed commodity prices down even further. Many farmers and ranchers are on the verge of financial collapse. Another round of payments to producers and commodity purchases by USDA may provide short term relief for farmers, but will not make up for lost export markets and long term implications of the trade disputes.”

“The President has encouraged U.S. consumers to not buy goods from China as a way to avoid paying tariffs,” Sen. Moran continued.“However, consumers changing their purchasing decisions to avoid the tariffs provides no solution or relief for Kansas and other states who are dependent on selling what we produce to China and other foreign markets. The same logic expressed by President Trump applies to foreign buyers who are choosing to no longer purchase U.S. agriculture commodities in a similar attempt to avoid the retaliatory tariffs applied to our exports.”

“When determining the design of the trade programs, I urge you to include investments in international food aid programs, make certain payments to farmers do not distort planting decisions, and focus export promotion programs on new markets immediately available to producers,” Sen. Moran continued. “I agree with President Trump that investing in international food aid ought to be a component of trade assistance efforts.”

(KAIR)--Three boil water advisories remain in place in Jefferson County.

The latest, issued Monday, is for the Lakeside Village Improvement District, following what the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said was well flooding.

That same issue led to advisories being issued earlier this month for the City of Ozawkie and the Lakeshore Estates community.

According to KDHE, well flooding results in high turbidity and a loss of pressure in the system, which may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

All three advisories will remain in place until further notice.

The issue was addressed during Monday’s meeting of the Jefferson County Commission.

During the session, EMS Director James Tweed addressed to the Commission weather and flood related concerns, including the affects leading to the boil water advisories.

According to the unofficial minutes of the meeting, Tweed told the Commission that the dam was, as of Monday, seven feet below flood stage, and informed them the Corps of Engineers expects a possible emergency release of water in two weeks.

Those who are affected by the boil water advisories are told to boil all water to be consumed for one minute prior to use.

(MSC News)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Lakeside Village Improvement District located in Jefferson County. 

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.

The advisory took effect on May 20 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because well flooding resulting in high turbidity and a loss of pressure in the system.  Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

(MSC News) --Highland Community College held commencement exercises last week, awarding 382 certificates and degrees to students between the Highland Campus, Atchison Technical Center and Western Center commencement ceremonies.

In addition, the 2019 recipient of the Bruning Award for faculty development was announced. According to a news release from the College,  Biology Instructor Harry Moeller will use the funding to attend the National Association of Biology Teachers national conference in Chicago.
 
Highland Campus commencement speaker John Lehman, retired administrator at Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, stressed to the graduates Friday evening their potential to see their goals come to fruition.

"Goal setting can never be overstressed and setting reasonable goals is the key to success."

Lehman warned that too many people in the world focus on the negative and look at life the wrong way. He challenged the class of 2019 to set out to make a difference in society and to achieve all the success they are capable of.

Lehman went on to remind students, "as you climb the ladder of success, don't forget the people who held the ladder for you at Highland Community College."

Speaking at the Highland Community College Atchison Technical on the evening of May 15 was Atchison Mayor Shawn Rizza. HCC’s Western Center Commencement featured speaker Dwight Edelman Friday morning, the Executive Director of Operations for Schenck Process LLC.

The release says the ceremony at Highland also held a surprise for retiring HCC President David Reist. The Board of Trustees voted that the administration building on the Highland Campus would be renamed, the David Reist Administration Building.

Reist noted that he was honored and humbled by the acknowledgment. “It’s been an honor to have been able to work with and lead this institution. I thank the Board for the gesture.”

Families, friends, faculty, and staff gathered after the ceremony for a reception on the green.

(KLZA)-- A Richardson County Commissioners decision in April could lead the the resignation of Sheriff Don Pounds. 

A quickly organized public meeting, billed as the Sheriff discussing the future of the Sheriff's Department, was held at the Humboldt Fire Hall May 16.  Two topics dominated the meeting,  The County purchase of the CRIMES Record Management System  and salaries and benefits for Richardson County  Deputy Sheriff's. 

The Sheriff was critical of the the April action by the Commissioners, saying the Board is trying to force him to allow a software program running the Jail and Sheriff's Office, but put on the Falls City Police Department server, where he would have no control, but unlimited liability. 

Pounds said all the info in the system must be kept for 75  years and remain confidential. The liability for this falls back on the Sheriff personally. Pounds says he will remain firm the system is not put on the Police Department server. 

The relationship between Sheriff Pounds and Falls City Police Chief Duane  Armbruster has been strained for several years now. Pounds said he decided last week he would resign rather than allow the new program to be on the PD server. Pounds said his employees talked him out of tendering his resignation until the information was put before the public.  

Pounds had strong words  about Second District Commissioners John Caverzagie,  the former Falls City Chief of Police who won election as a Commissioner last November.  The Sheriff told those attending the  meeting he believes Caverzagie made the motion to have the software on the Police Department server as a way for the City to take the Sheriff's Department over. He calls it ridiculous it is being pushed this far. 

Sheriff Pounds said he thinks if he were to resign over this issue, the deputies would be paid on par with the Falls City Police Department officers and that a Falls City Police Officer would be appointed as the next Richardson County Sheriff thus putting the  Sheriffs Office under control of the Falls City P.D.

Pounds said he enjoys his job,  wants to continue in the position and be left alone to do his job. He says he is not invading the Falls City Police Department territory, they are the ones pushing into him. 

The CRIMES Record Management System will cost $18,750 plus maintenance fees for the Sheriffs Office. Pounds suggested purchasing fewer options for the system that would have cost $5,500 less.  
 

(KNZA)--Brown County voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate of a one-half percent countywide retailers sales tax for health care services in the county.

If approved by voters, 80 percent of the proceeds would go to the Hiawatha Community Hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton for healthcare services in the southern Brown County community.

The sales tax is projected to generate around $758,000 annually.

If approved by voters, collection of the sales tax would begin October 1 of this year and expire ten years after its commencement.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 in the morning until 7 in the evening.     

(KNZA)--A jury trial has been set for a former nurse aide at a Highland healthcare facility who faces seven counts.

27-year-old Janelle Lynn Sakakihara, of Atchison, pleaded not guilty May 8 in Doniphan County District Court to three felony counts of mistreatment of a dependent adult, a misdemeanor count of Medicaid fraud and three misdemeanor counts of battery.

A two-day jury trial was set, beginning August 13.

The criminal complaint alleges the offenses took place between September 27-29 of last year while Sakakihara was employed at the Highland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

She was among ten individuals in seven counties charged last September as part of a statewide enforcement sweep by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Sakakihara remains free on bond.

(KNZA)--Voters in the Holton school district will decide during the November general election whether to approve a $4.5 million general obligation bond issue.

The USD 336 Board of Education voted during their regular meeting last week to place the bond issue question on the ballot.

The Holton Recorder reports the 20-year bond issue would pay for the completion of a plan to upgrade the heating and cooling system at the Holton High School and Holton Middle School.

During a special meeting in March, the USD 336 Board approved a plan to spend up to $975,000 in capital outlay funds to start the work.

Superintendent Bob Davies said if the bond issue is approved, it will not increase local taxes in the district because of the refinancing of the last bond issue that was used to build a new pre-K through fifth grade elementary school.

Davies added the state will reimburse the district for 32 percent to 38 percent of the bond issue.

School official say there have been problems with the current heating and cooling system and controls at Holton High School for at least a decade.   

(KNZA)--The Horton High School football stadium and High School auditorium will be getting new lighting.

That’s comes after the Board of Education for the South Brown County Schools of USD 430 last week approved bids for both projects.

Cory Wilson with Olsson Associates reviewed with the Board the three bids received for the stadium lighting project, which ranged from $159,000 to nearly $189,000.

Wilson said he wasn’t familiar with the low bidder, National Streetscape.  He said Olsson never received anything from the company to validate their performance on projects or references.  Therefore, Wilson said he couldn’t confirm the ability of the contractor to install in a proper manner.

As a result, the Board voted to approve the bid submitted by the second lowest bidder, Brandy Electric, of  Lee’s Summit, Missouri, in the amount of $163,200.

Superintendent Jason Cline said funding for the project will come from the capital outlay fund.

Two bids were received for the auditorium lightning project.

The Board voted to approve the low bid submitted by Knight Sound and Lighting for $17,799.

(KAIR)--Three persons were injured, with one requiring helicopter transport, following a late Sunday morning, two vehicle Atchison County crash.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie told MSC News 17-year-old Christian Arnold, of Atchison, was northbound on U.S. Highway 59 when he fell asleep behind the wheel.

His Toyota 4-Runner crossed the center line into the southbound lane and into the path of a Jeep Wrangler, driven by 52-year-old Topeka resident Christopher Gnagi.

Gnagi swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision, with the two vehicles colliding on the driver’s side.

Traveling off the west side of the highway, Arnold's 4-Runner rolled over, ejecting his 19-year-old passenger, Arhianna Franklin, of Atchison, out of the passenger side. 

She was flown by LifeNet helicopter to the University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas, for the treatment of her injuries.

Arnold and Gnagi, both suffering minor injuries, were transported by Atchison County EMS for treatment at the Atchison Hospital.

Laurie said the wreck happened around 11:30 Sunday morning in the area of Bunge Milling.

(KNZA)--A second candidate has filed for one of four positions up for election in November on the Hiawatha USD 415 Board of Education.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports Tom Simmer filed Friday for re-election to position 2.

Jeff Brockhoff filed earlier this month for re-election to position 1.

Also up for election are position 3, currently held by Ian Schuetz, along with position 7, currently held by Amy Kopp.

Candidates have until noon, June 3 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.

(KAIR)--Saturday, May 18 will mark the end of an era, as a long running, family owned local business closes it’s doors.

The Atchison County Auction Company has been in operation for more than 87-years.

That comes as owner/operators, brothers Ron and Steve Estes, make the decision to retire.

Brian Hagen talked to Ron Estes about the history of the auction company as he and Steve say goodbye.

(KNZA)--Brown County voters will go to the polls Tuesday, May 21 to decide the fate of a10-year countywide half-cent retailers sales tax for health care services in the county.

MSC News talked with Hiawatha Community Hospital CEO John Broberg, who answered questions submitted by residents of Brown County regarding the sales tax proposal.

If approved by voters, 80 percent of the sales tax proceeds, estimated at around $700,000 a year, would go to the Hiawatha Community Hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton for health care services in the southern Brown County community.

(KAIR)--A Friday afternoon Atchison crash involving a car and a semi sent one to the hospital.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, in a release, said it happened about 10-minutes before 2:00 in the 500 block of U.S. Highway 59.

He told MSC News the wreck occurred when an eastbound Buick LeSabre, driven by Atchison resident Rashid Siddiqui, was attempting to turn into a parking lot on the south side of the highway.

As he attempted to make the turn, Siddiqui’s car was rear-ended by an eastbound Kenworth driven by David Thorne, of Effingham.

Siddiqui suffered injuries, and was transported by Atchison County EMS for hospital treatment.

Thorne was not hurt.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led Legislature has approved a ban on abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy, and GOP Gov. Mike Parson is expected to sign it.

House lawmakers gave the sweeping abortion bill final approval Friday.

The proposed ban allows exceptions only in medical emergencies, not cases of rape or incest.

(KAIR)--Atchison’s Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge is going blue and green.

That will happen Friday night, with the structure to be lit in those colors for a nationwide cause.

According to a social media post from the City of Atchison, the bridge will join landmark structures across the country displaying the color scheme for the “Shine a Light on NF” campaign.

The grassroots initiative is intended to raise community awareness of Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder of the nervous system.

According to the post, the “Shine a Light” campaign is one part of the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s NF awareness month, underway through the end of May.

According to the foundation’s website, Friday also marks World NF Awareness Day, held each year on May 17.

(KNZA)--Law enforcement agencies across Kansas will be taking a no-excuses approach to saving lives around the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

According to a news release from the Kansas Department of Transportation, tickets will be issued to unbuckled occupants as a harsh reminder of the importance of seatbelt use at all times.

The release says more than 50 percent of traffic fatalities in Kansas in 2017 were unrestrained. Many of these individuals could have survived the car crash if they had only worn their seat belt.  That’s why law enforcement across the state is stepping up enforcement with the Click It. Or Ticket campaign that runs May 20 through June 2.

Locally, the Hiawatha and Horton Police Departments along with Kansas Highway Patrol are among law enforcement agencies taking part.

“The Click it. Or ticket. campaign isn’t about issuing citations, it’s about saving lives,” said Technical Trooper Ben Gardner, of  the Kansas Highway Patrol. "Too many people die in motor vehicle crashes who could have survived if they had only buckled up.”

It is prohibited to drive or ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle without wearing a seat belt for a good reason.

In 2017, 53 percent of the 316 deaths from automobile crashes in Kansas were not buckled. The release says pick-up truck drivers, young adults and males are among some of the worst offenders and most at-risk.

In 2018, the Kansas observed seat belt usage was 84 percent, below the national average of 90 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

(KLZA)--Tecumseh Mayor Bill Montz has announced his plans to resign.

According to the Tecumseh Chieftan, Montz announced Monday morning that May 31st would be his last day in office. Montz has served as Mayor of Tecumseh for 17 years.

In his letter of resignation, Montz cited his investments in rental businesses and operation of the Montz Motorcycle Museum and his duties as Mayor had him overloaded.

Tecumseh Council President Jesse Grof will be the new Mayor of Tecumseh. He will be sworn in during the June 3, Council meeting and a vacancy will be declared in Ward II.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City School Board has approved the purchase of a new minitour bus.

During the Board's May meeting on Monday evening, Transportation Director Rob Baker outlined the increased student requirements and enhanced features including track-style seating benches, integrated child safety harnesses, capacity for multiple wheelchairs and the need for reliable student transportation.

The new vehicle will replace a 17-year-old minibus.

The cost for the Thomas Built Minibus will be $63,422, but qualified for at least a fifty-percent cost reimbursement from the Nebraska Department of Education Special Education Office over the next seven years.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City School Board has approved the purchase of a new minitour bus.

During the Board's May meeting on Monday evening, Transportation Director Rob Baker outlined the increased student requirements and enhanced features including track-style seating benches, integrated child safety harnesses, capacity for multiple wheelchairs and the need for reliable student transportation.

The new vehicle will replace a 17-year-old minibus.

The cost for the Thomas Built Minibus will be $63,422, but qualified for at least a fifty-percent cost reimbursement from the Nebraska Department of Education Special Education Office over the next seven years.

(KNZA)--Horton Mayor Bryan Stirton is seeking to retain his position.

The Brown County Clerk's Office reports Stirton filed Thursday for election to the position he was appointed to last March following the resignation of longtime mayor Tim Lentz.

Sirton is the first candidate to file for the position.

The County Clerk's office also reports Susanna Cooper filed Thursday for election to position 7 on the South Brown County USD 430 Board of Education.

The position is currently held by Jason Smith.

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

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

(KNZA)--The Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education has approved a new position to be housed at the Sabetha Elementary School.

Superintendent Todd Evans says the Board gave their approval this week to the hiring of a student and family liaison.

Evans said the position was created to provide social work services, especially for young students.

In other business, Evans says the Board approved a list of $52,318 in reductions for the Axtell school as part of a pro-active effort to continue to ensure the viability of the USD 113 campuses.

Evans says the Board also approved moving forward with getting bids for two capital improvement projects.  The first is the replacement of the leaking roof over the east wing of the Sabetha Elementary School and the second is for the replacement of the non-functioning boiler at Sabetha Middle School.

Evans said Jay Herman has been helping the district with roofs and Scott McKinley with PKMR Engineers, of Topeka, is help with the bid specifications for the boiler.

In addition, the Board also accepted a total gift of $6,000 the Lyle Edelman Family.  That includes $3,500 for the Sabetha High School FFA and $2,500 for the Sabetha High School band.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City School Board approved a three percent pay increase for classified employees for the 2019-20 school year when they met Monday evening.

Also approved with sincere gratitude was the resignation of High School Special Education Teacher Sara Veigel who taught 39 years with the Falls City School District.

Teaching employment contracts were approved for Terry Clark as High school Special Education teacher and Brianna Pfeiffer to teach Kindergarten.

Continuation of a partnership with the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for the next school year was approved. Falls City Public Schools will fund approximately 13-percent of the salary and benefits package, amounting to around $8-thousand for the continued support of the 4-H Extension Assistant position in Richardson County held by Jami Ankrom.

(KLZA)-- The Auburn City Council awarded a bid for roof repairs at the Auburn Library when they met Monday evening.

Lavigne Construction of Auburn was awarded a bid of just over $41,900 to repair a portion of the roof on the building.

The Council also discussed renewal of health insurance for City and Board of Public Works employees. A 4.95-percent increase in premiums has been proposed. No action was taken, the renewal date is July 1.

Up to $4,500 from the Keno funds was approved for the “Music in the Park” program.

No action was taken on a proposal from BCOM Solutions for website and Social Media services.

The Council also approved a request to place an Electrical Vehicle charging station in the city parking lot east of Cafe Metro. There will be no cost to the City.

The City also agreed to pay up to $5-thousand dollars toward removal of a nuisance structure at 2001 N Street, if the abutting landowner, who has agreed to pay a portion of the cost to abate the nuisance and will then take care of the lot once they pay the delinquent property taxes. The adjoining landowner will pay $3-thousand toward abating the nuisance prior to the City of Auburn providing any funding.

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Board of Education approved entering into a cooperative agreement with the HTRS School District to share a certified staff member to serve as a music teacher for the 2019-20 school year.

However, the HTRS Board decided Monday night they will continue for a few more weeks to hire a music teacher for the district.

The purchase of a new, 2019 Ford, 10-passenger, T-150 Transit from Beatrice Ford-Lincoln was approved. The $26,957 to purchase the vehicle will come from the Depreciation Fund.

The Pawnee City Board also approved the purchase of a new Science curriculum for grades K – 8 at a cost of $53,127.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man is facing charges after allegedly using a BB gun to damage vehicles and at least one home.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, in a release, said 18-year-old Taggart Lee was arrested around 10:30 Wednesday night following a short search by police.

The investigation began after officers responded to the 400 block of River Road around 9:45 Wednesday night. They were called after it was reported that several vehicles had sustained windshield damage after a BB gun was fired from a passing truck.

A short time later, officers were called to the 800 block of Washington Street after it was reported that siding on a residence had been damaged after it was shot by a BB.

According to Wilson, a 20-year-old man, who was in the house, came outside and was struck in the leg by a BB. He was not injured.

About 20 minutes after the residence was hit, an officer spotted the suspect pickup truck on Atchison’s Woodlawn Avenue.

The officer stopped the truck, and the driver, identified as Lee, was arrested in connection with the shooting spree.

Lee was taken into custody on charges of criminal damage to property and aggravated battery.

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

(KNZA)--New lighting is coming to the stage of the Hiawatha High School auditorium.

After hearing presentations from two companies, the USD 415 Board of Education this week voted to approve a bid from Associated Theatrical Company for up to $107,236. 

Included is around $5,600 for installation services, which will be at the discretion of District Maintenance Supervisor Matt Cluck.  The bid includes 60 fixtures and a console.

The bid from the other company, BA Supply, was around $50,000 higher and would take about four times as long to deliver.  It included 70 fixtures and a console.  

Funding for the project will come from the Sandzen fund.

In other business, the Board approved a bid from Heartland Seating Company for new bleachers at the Hiawatha Middle School in the amount $74,704.

It was noted the hardware on the current bleachers is failing and design is obsolete.

The Board also approved the purchase 30 laptops for high school teachers and 150 iPads for 1st and 2nd grade students in the total amount of $64,140.

The Board gave Hiawatha Middle School Athletic Director Ben Kettler approval to hire a third middle school volleyball coach and an additional middle school cross country coach if numbers merit.

Following an executive session, the Board filled several open positions for next school year.

The Board approved the hiring of Ashlyn Riley for 2nd grade, Hannah Cole for 3rd grade, Danielle Dasht for 5th grade, Diana Bray for 6th grade, Halee Andrushchenko for high school English, Michael Downard as head high school football coach, Nick Haedt for middle school assistant football coach,  and Sara Woods as play/musical sponsor

(KAIR)--Motorists can again utilize U.S. Highway 59.

The highway, east of Atchison, Kansas in Buchanan County, Missouri, reopened Thursday afternoon.

According to social media posts from Atchison County Emergency Management and the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, the highway is reduced to one lane, with east and westbound motorists being guided by traffic signals.

The Missouri Department of Transportation, in a release Thursday afternoon, said that’s because flood water remains over one lane of traffic.

The highway closed May 8 due to flooding, which left water over the roadway in several locations.

The closing came after the highway reopened in April after being shut down in March due to flooding.

Editor's note:  the following was submitted by Brown Co Sheriff John Merchant.

I have had several concerns from county residents lately regarding  individuals going door to door in our area.  

One resident told me that they were approached by an out of area painting contractor offering to paint their home.  They visited for a while and this person asked to use the bathroom.  After the individual left, the resident thought  they may have been missing a small amount of prescription medication from their medicine cabinet, however they weren't sure.  There was no paperwork or identification given to the resident by the contractor.  They realized that letting a stranger in their home probably wasn't a good idea.

One person stated they had a salesman  who asked to step inside their home and once inside, they tried pressuring her in to purchasing an item he was selling.  He only left after she told him she was calling law enforcement. Again, no business card or identification was given to the resident.

Another resident had a similar situation from a different person who was going door to door and needed to use the bathroom---and was very concerned afterwards, realizing that they really did not know this person and allowed them in to their home.

With the warmer weather we are seeing a lot more door to door activity, especially in the rural areas.  I am not suggesting that all people going door to door are scammers or doing something illegal, however, with the changing times--we cannot be too careful of who we are allowing in to our homes.  It is always a good idea to request identification from anyone coming to your home whether they are selling items, offering services or any other reason.  At the bare minimum they should be able to provide a business card representing themselves, company letterhead or similar.  They should really offer this in advance.

When vendors are going through the county, I request that they come to the sheriffs office and let me know who they are, what vehicles they are driving and the names of all people that will be in our area.  In addition, I request contact information to forward to residents if they have complaints about the tactics they are being subjected to by the individuals.

Unless you are sure of who you are dealing with, please do not allow these folks in your home.  

If you do have concerns, try to gather as much information as possible such as person identifiers, vehicle information and  licenses plate is great and call your local law enforcement. If you have any questions or concerns, please call.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led Senate has passed a bill to ban abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy.

Senators approved the legislation 24-10 early Thursday with just hours left before lawmakers' Friday deadline to pass bills.

It needs at least another vote of approval in the GOP-led House before it can go to Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who supports it.

It includes exceptions for medical emergencies, but not for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.

Doctors would face five to 15 years in prison for violating the new ban.

(KLZA)-- More than $600-thousand in expenditures were approved by the Humboldt-Table Rock- Steinauer School Board Monday night.

The Board approved spending up to $250-thousand to remodel the school kitchen. The final plans are yet to be approved, the exact amount is not known at this time.

The HTRS Board also approved moving forward with hard-surfacing the parking lot west of the school at a cost of nearly $223-thousand. The purchase of approximately $100-thousand for aluminum bleacher at Power Field was also approved.

The other large ticket item approved was $71-thousand for the purchase of English, Language Arts curriculum books for grades Kindergarten through sixth grade.

(KLZA)-- The Richardson County Sheriff's Office is encouraging county residents to attend an informational meeting in Humboldt Thursday evening.

The Sheriff's Office would like citizens to know what the future looks like for the Richardson County Sheriff's Office.

The meeting will be held at the Humboldt Fire Department, beginning at 6. Sheriff's Office personnel will outline their concerns for the future of the Sheriff's Department.

(KAIR)--A Missouri man is caught in the act of burglarizing an Atchison restaurant.

That’s the allegation made by police, with 28-year-old Carthage, Misssouri resident Rudy Estrada facing charges for the crime.

According to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, officers responded to 333 South 10th Street, the location of Pizza Hut, around 2:00 Thursday morning.

When they arrived, they found that forced entry had been made to gain access, and that glass had been broken out of a door and window.

Inside, officers found Estrada, who they say had forced open a cash register.

Wilson said Estrada was taken into custody for burglary and criminal damage to property.

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

(KNZA)--A rural Hiawatha teen has been arrested on a charge of indecent liberties with a child.

18-year-old Jason Porter was arrested Saturday following an investigation by the Hiawatha Police Department.

According to the criminal complaint, the alleged victim is 13.

Porter made his first appearance in court Monday.

A preliminary hearing was set for June 5.  

Porter remains in the Brown County Jail, held on a $40,000 bond.   

(KNZA)--Highland Community College will induct two individuals into the HCC Academic Hall of Fame Thursday evening.

Brenda Hines, a HCC faculty member for 46 years, will be inducted as Faculty Emeritus.

Hines, a native of Seneca, Missouri, began her journey as an Instructor of English, Philosophy, and Ethics at Highland Community College in 1969. A news release says Hines, during her years teaching at Highland, was an “enormous resource for her students and peers and saw many changes on campus.”

Hines retired in 2015.

Nominated faculty members must have been a professional employee for at least 15 years, have retired, and must be approved by professional staff, the President’s senior administrators and then confirmed by the HCC Board of Trustees.

Dr. Mark Anderson, of Irvine, California will be inducted as the 2019 Distinguished Alumni. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has been in solo-practice since 1981. After attending Highland, Anderson went on to earn an MD from the University of Kansas Medical School and train at Stanford Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery. The news release says the Seneca, Kansas, native was the youngest neurosurgeon, at the age of 29, to go into practice in the United States.

Distinguished Alumni nominees are submitted by HCC professional employees, the President’s senior staff or the HCC Alumni or Foundation Board members. In addition to having to have attended HCC, ‘candidates must have reached a status in their professional life that sets them apart from their peers and their community.”

Highland Community College President David Reist will induct both Anderson and Hines into the Academic Hall of Fame.

A ceremony, induction, and reception will be held from 4-6 Thursday evening on the Highland campus. Attendees will gather in the Lower Level of the Porter Family Stadium Center.

The community is invited to attend.

(KAIR)--Special proclamations came during this week’s meeting of the Atchison County Commission, with emergency services and the local health department both recognized.

The Atchison County Health Department is celebrating 100-years in operation, and that was noted during the proclamation made Tuesday by Atchison County Commission Chair Jack Bower, who closed the proclamation by saying, “Now, therefore, the Atchison County Commission by virtue of the authority vested in the commission by the laws of Atchison County and the State of Kansas do proclaim May 17, 2019 as Atchison County Public Health Department 100th Anniversary Day."

The Atchison County Health Department began operating in 1919.

A ceremony to mark the 100th year anniversary is planned for Friday.

It will be held at the health department, located at 616 Commercial Street, in Atchison.

Family fun activities, hotdogs, and cake will be served.

The public is invited.

Also proclaimed Tuesday was Emergency Medical Services Week which will run from May 19 through May 25.

The proclamation calls Emergency Medical Services “a vital public service,” adding that “the members of emergency medical teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

(MSC News)--Charges are filed in connection with an April house fire that resulted in the discovery of a body.

KQ2-TV reports three minors are charged in the case involving the April 25 Saint Joseph, Missouri fire in the 1400 block of North 3rd Street.

The body of a 14-year-old boy was found at the scene as the result of a tip provided to investigators.

The initial investigation indicated no one was inside the fire ravaged home.

Two of the minors are charged with first degree arson and abandonment of a corpse, while the third is charged only with abandonment of a corpse.

The charges were filed in April and May.

The body is identified as Cameron Satterly.

Satterly’s family provided that information to the TV station.

They said he was reported missing in February.

(KMZA)---A Seneca man, accused of rape and other child-related sex crimes, waived his preliminary hearing Monday.

The Nemaha County Attorney’s Office said 21-year-old Brandon Ogden was bound over to Nemaha County District Court for arraignment on June 27.

Ogden faces charge of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated sodomy.

The criminal complaint alleges that on August 26 of last year, Ogden engaged in sexual intercourse, lewd fondling or touching and sodomy with a child under 14.

He was arrested the same day following a joint investigation by the Seneca Police Department and Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office.

Ogden remains in the Nemaha County Jail, held on a one million dollar bond.      

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha school district has received a nearly $12,000 donation from the Hiawatha Youth Basketball League.

Jodi Twombly and Kylee Reschke, representing the League, presented a  check for $11,500 to Board of Education President Ian Schuetz during Monday evening’s USD 415 Board of Education meeting.

$7,500 of the donation is for a new scoreboard at the middle school and $4,000 is to go toward renovation of the training room at the high school.

Since beginning in 2013, the league has donated nearly $27,000 to the school district.

Twombly said the league for boys and girls in 2nd through 6th grades started seven years ago with 29 teams and has grown to sixty-two teams, with 560 players.

The league lasts 7 weeks, which includes a tournament for each age division.  Thirty-two games are played.

Games are played at the Hiawatha High School and Middle School along with the National Guard Armory.

Twombly said the average attendance is estimated between 1,800-2,000 each Saturday during January and February.

(KAIR)--U.S. Highway 59 remains closed east of Atchison.

That follows the closing of the stretch of highway May 8 due to flooding.

The Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, connecting Atchison to Buchanan County, Missouri remains open to local traffic only, with the highway closed one mile east of Atchison.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department is monitoring the area.

KQ2-TV reports deputies are patrolling that location around the clock, and will issue a citation to anyone who drives through barricades.

The Atchison County Emergency Management Office on Saturday reported that flood water remained across the highway in three locations.

It’s not known how long the major travel route will remain closed.

(KAIR)--A Leavenworth man is going to prison after pleading guilty to child pornography-related charges.

According to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, 36-year-old Pedro Zamora was sentenced to 10-years in prison on Monday.

He was also ordered to pay $6,500 in restitution.

According to the release, Zamora pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, admitting in his plea that investigators found 127 videos, and 1,900 images, containing child pornography on a computer in his home.

File sharing programs were used to obtain the illegal files.

Zamora told investigators he began searching for such content while he was in middle school.

(KAIR)--The discovery of a body on the Kickapoo Reservation, located west of Horton in Brown County, leads to an investigation.

Kickapoo Tribal Police Chief Nathan Gray told MSC News the body was found Sunday afternoon along the 700 block of 129th Road.

Gray said the body is that of 54-year-old Anthony Walker.

The cause of death is not known, and an autopsy is being conducted.

Foul play is not suspected.

Walker was set to face a jury beginning in August.

That followed a not guilty plea he entered last month in Brown County District Court to 12 counts stemming from a 10-hour standoff on the reservation in November.

(KNZA)--A new playground will be dedicated Wednesday afternoon, May 15, in Everest.

The new playground located at the Everest Middle School has been named  “Charger Community Park” and will be dedicated at 1:00.  The public is invited to attend.

The playground officially opened for use on April 16, and is accessible to the community.

Charger PTO President Sarah Stirton says the organization saw the need for an outdoor space where students could play and unwind.  They applied for, and received, a grant to cover a large portion of the playground with some work done in-kind.

After designing a playground and getting bids on a basketball court, Stirton says donations were sought.  She said they raised the funding for the project in only three months.

Vollmer Farms, of Lancaster, and Tom Stirton Trucking, of Horton, removed the existing tennis courts so the new structures could be placed.

Bottorff Construction poured the concrete for a full-sized basketball court, which includes two basketball goals.

Stirton says twenty-four community volunteers helped build the playground working a 10-hour day to complete the project.  A professional install crew from Wichita came to help.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Commission Monday unanimously approved a resolution placing a six-month moratorium on any new utility project.

The resolution bans  any requests to use the roads, infrastructure or other public areas of the county during the period.

However, the resolution does not apply to the Soldier Creek Windfarm Development currently pending before Commissioners.

The moratorium can be extended.

Commissioners said they intend to appoint an advisory committee to determine the viability of enacting a zoning ordinance, either limited or broad, for the county.

Commissioners said they intend to receive, discuss and debate both the conclusions of the advisory committee and the overall merits of a zoning ordinance.

 A large audience was on hand for the meeting.  Commissioners asked those in attendance their opinion on the moratorium, with most voicing concerns the moratorium did not include the Soldier Creek Wind Farm project.   

Prior to the action, the Commission held an executive session with special wind farm attorney James Neeld by phone.  

Following the closed door-session, Commissioners announced they are still in negotiations with NextEra Energy Resources regarding the term sheet for the proposed wind farm.

Commissioners will meet next week on Wednesday, May 22 instead of Monday so that Neeld may appear at the meeting in person.

(KNZA)--Brown County voters will go to the polls next Tuesday to decide the fate of a 10-year countywide half-cent retailers sales tax for health care services in the county.  

Join us for a special two part addition of “ More Than Just a Soundbite” this week on KNZA 103.9.

Hiawatha Community Hospital CEO John Broberg will be our guest.  He will answer questions submitted by residents regarding the sales tax proposal.

“ More Than Just a Soundbite” will air Wednesday and Friday at 6:15 in the morning and again at 1:05 in the afternoon.    

If approved by voters, 80 percent of the sales tax proceeds, estimated at around $700,000 a year, would go to the Hiawatha Community Hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton for health care services in the southern Brown County community.  

(KAIR)--A weekend domestic dispute turns violent, with a 43-year-old Atchison man now accused of rape and other charges.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News Richard Butler is accused of attacking a woman inside the residence they once shared. “A 53-year-old female reported that she had returned home [around 4:00] Saturday morning, and after entering the home she was threatened with a knife by a 43-year-old male who had been living with her, but she was not aware that he was in the residence at the time. She was kept in the residence for the next several hours where she was raped.”

Wilson said the victim was able to escape and notify police about the attack. “She was able to escape from the residence shortly before 8:30 a.m. and ran to a nearby residence where police were notified. We began an investigation at that point. A number of steps were taken to ensure her safety, to gather evidence, and then shortly thereafter, we were able to locate the suspect, Richard Butler, at the victim’s residence, and he was taken into custody.”

Wilson said Butler was attempting to leave the residence, located along the K-7 corridor at the northern edge of Atchison, when he was arrested.

The alleged attack followed what Wilson called a verbal altercation that had occurred hours earlier in downtown Atchison. “There had been a dispute at another location on Friday evening. She stayed away from the residence until the early morning hours on Saturday. When she returned to her residence, she did not anticipate him being there and didn’t think that he had the ability to get in, although when we worked the scene, we determined he had actually forced entry. He was waiting for her inside the residence when she entered.”

According to Wilson, the victim referred to Butler as her ex-boyfriend.

Butler faces charges of aggravated kidnapping, rape, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated assault, aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat, criminal damage, and criminal restraint.

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

According to jail records, his bond is set at $100,000. 

Butler is scheduled for a May 20 Atchison County District Court appearance. 

(KAIR)--Nearly 47,000 food insecure persons live within the local region served by St. Joseph, Missouri-based Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

That’s shown through statistics released by what’s called the nation’s largest hunger relief organization.

Feeding America has released its “Map the Meal Gap” study, which outlines the number of food insecure persons across the nation.

According to a news release issued by Second Harvest, food insecurity now resides at 46,910 individuals and a child food insecurity rate of 18.5% within the organization’s 19-county service area located in northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri.

Among the local counties served by Second Harvest are Atchison, Brown, and Doniphan in Kansas, and Buchanan in Missouri.

Chad Higdon, Chief Executive Officer for Second Harvest, said in the release, the data provided by Feeding America “drives [Second Harvest’s] distribution strategy,” and allows the food bank to align its services to meet the need in every county it serves.

The release notes that the study reveals that 97 percent of counties served include families facing hunger who are likely ineligible for federal nutrition assistance, meaning they must rely on charitable food banks to help put meals on their tables.

The average cost of a meal in the local region is around $3.00.

According to Feeding America, the food insecurity rate in both Atchison and Doniphan counties stands at 13.5%, with an additional $520,000 needed to meet all food needs in each location.

In Brown County, the food insecurity rate is listed at 13%, with an additional $620,000 needed to meet all needs.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - Authorities say an 82-year-old inmate has died at the Tecumseh prison in southeast Nebraska.
 
The Nebraska Correctional Services Department says Jerry Hansen died Saturday evening. He started his sentence on May 20, 1965, at the age of 28.
 
His cause of death has not been determined. State law requires a grand jury investigation whenever someone dies in custody or while being arrested.
 
Prison records say Hansen was serving two sentences of 10 years to life in prison for second-degree murders in Saunders County. He'd also been convicted of two counts of shooting with intent to kill, wound or maim.

(KLZA)--An early Friday morning single-vehicle crash in northwest Lincoln claimed the life of a former Falls City man.

Lincoln Police identified the victim as 31-year-old Stephen Hundley.

Police say Hundley was driving a SUV that crossed over a curbed median and rolled.  He was thrown and pinned under the vehicle.

Hundley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another occupant was also ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Hundley was raised in Falls City and graduated from Falls City High School in 2006.

Funeral services for Hundley will be held Saturday morning 11:00 at the Good News Assembly of God Church, in Falls City.

Among survivors are his parents, Charles and Joyce Hundley, of Falls City.

(KNZA)--A Horton man is accused of stealing a four-wheeler after getting his vehicle struck on a Jackson County minimum maintenance road.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says it happened Friday night.

Morse says the Sheriff's Office received a report around 8:30 of a stolen Polaris four-wheeler from an outbuilding at 6656 278th Road.

Then about an hour later, a deputy along with Morse located the stolen four-wheeler on a section of N. Road, just north of 310th Road.

Morse says the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Colten Taft Merriman, had returned to the location in an attempt to get a vehicle he allegedly had been driving unstuck.

He says Merriman allegedly gave the deputy a false name and was found to be in possession of what is believed to be methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Merriman was booked into the Jackson County Jail on charges of burglary, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony theft, no insurance, illegal tag and illegal use of a minimum maintenance road.

 TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the shooting of two brothers that officials say occurred when the brothers and their father forced their way into a Tecumseh couple's home during a dispute.
 
 The patrol says the shooting happened late Friday night after Raymond Brown and his wife received several threatening phone calls from former co-workers, 26-year-old Colton Bridgewater and 20-year-old Levi Bridgewater.
 
 The patrol says the Bridgewaters and their father, 50-year-old Kenneth Bridgewater, showed up at the Browns' home, forced their way inside and began fighting with Raymond Brown. Investigators say Brown then shot the brothers.
 
 Kenneth Bridgewater, who also had a gun, was arrested on suspicion making terroristic threats, assault and several other counts. Colton and Levi Bridgewater were flown to a Lincoln hospital with serious injuries.

(KAIR)--Two Atchison men were arrested Thursday on drug charges stemming from separate incidents.

According to a report issued by Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, one of the two men arrested was 36-year-old Thomas Lackey. Lackey was arrested on a warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The report states that the warrant was obtained following an April 3rd incident, where deputies allegedly encountered Lackey in possession of methamphetamine. Lackey was not taken into custody that day due to what the report says were unrelated circumstances.

At the time of his arrest on Thursday, the report alleges that Lackey was again found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Atchison County jail for the warrant stemming from the early April incident, as well as the new charges for methamphetamine possession.

As of Friday (5/10) morning, Lackey remained in the Atchison County Jail with a bond set at 10-thousand dollars.

Also arrested on Thursday was 27-year-old Brock Wagner. Wagner was arrested on a warrant charging him with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

According to the report, a warrant was obtained for Wagner following an incident in May of last year, where probation officers requested sheriff’s office assistance in searching Wagner’s residence in Atchison County. During the search, suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia was located. Those items were sent to the KBI lab for testing prior to obtaining the warrant.

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office is getting a new 911 dispatch console.

Sheriff Chad Clary, Undersheriff Mark Allen and 911 Coordinator Susan Shuster presented the County Commission this week with a proposal from Midwest Mobile Radio Service to replace the current dispatch console with a new two-position console.

Commissioners unanimously approved the proposal at a cost of $21,207 plus a maintenance fee of $150 a month after five years.

Funding will come from the county’s sales tax fund.

Clary also told Commissioners the west parking lot at the law enforcement center needs to be resealed this year.

He asked that the expense be paid from the sales tax fund as a capital improvement to county owned property.

Commissioners took no action.   

(MSC News)--A lawsuit filed in federal court alleges the Atchison Hospital divulged intimate private details of a woman’s sexual assault evaluation and treatment to her rapist.

And months later, after a “ barrage” of harassment, the suit alleges the woman was raped again by the same man.

According to a published report in The Kansas City Star, the woman filed the lawsuit against the Atchison Hospital and the X-ray technician accused of disclosing the patient’s information to her attacker.

The suit says the technician was fired by the hospital but was rehired at  Saint Luke's Cushing Hospital in Leavenworth County not long after.

Her attorneys said in the suit that the woman, who lives in nearby Missouri, trusted the hospital with information about the May 2017 assault, which included the name of her assailant.  In addition, her attorneys said she was adamant her health information not be released to third parties.

The petition accused the hospital of not having adequate protocols in place to protect patient information.

Atchison Hospital has not filed a response in court.

The woman's claims included invasion of privacy, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and punitive damages. She argued she was entitled to more than $75,000 in damages for each count.

Editor's Note: Atchison Hospital CEO John Jacobson issued the following statement Friday evening in response to the lawsuit 

Editor's note: the following was submitted by Brown County Sheriff John Merchant

I wanted to take this opportunity to explain the details  of my budget to the public, as many people do not realize the work load and responsibility these employees have to carry and the great liability we all must face each day.

The budget for the dispatch portion of the Sheriffs Office amounts to  $365,000.  Taken out of this fund are the wages for 7 full time dispatchers as well as uniforms, training, repairs, updates, notification alternatives and other expenses vitally important to ensure that we are able to properly handle calls for service.  Also, expenses for the high band tower on the  northern edge of Hiawatha comes out of this fund.  We dispatch not only for Brown County deputies, but Hiawatha PD, multiple fire departments, Squad 48, Town and Country ambulance and tribal entities and can contact and  notify schools, county and township road crews etc.  From January 1st of this year until April 30, dispatchers have taken more than 4,900 calls for service that require occurrences to be generated; dispatchers  have  estimated an additional 8,000-9,000 calls from individuals requesting road information, concerns of welfare, railroad concerns, follow-up case information including citizen assistance with subject identification, jail  information, outside agency assistance, all court paperwork updates and  entries, special event questions and general county-wide questions. With  the high volume of calls we receive, our dispatch center could still use an  additional employee.  Many times we try to have 2 dispatchers on duty, but  that is not always possible. What some folks need to realize is that these are 24 hour a day 7 day a week positions, when someone is ill or unable to come to work, these folks may work double shifts and they do so without complaint.  This is a very highly stressful job and we are very fortunate to have these  dedicated dispatchers working for Brown County.

On the jail side of the Sheriffs office there are 8 full time corrections officers and 3 part-timers.  The  budget is $530,000.  Wages, overtime, utilities, inmate food and health care, uniforms and equipment, jail car and transport expenses, medication, training for staff, supplies and misc. expenses are taken out of this account. Jailers are directly responsible for the care of inmates that are booked in to the Brown County jail. Their duties are many including booking the inmate in to the jail, making sure no contraband comes in to the facility, supervising inmates, cooking and serving meals, dispensing of medication, processing incoming and outgoing inmate mail, washing inmate clothing and bedding, escorting prisoners to court, documenting legal information and court dates for each inmate, random jail cell searches for contraband, arranging jail transports, delivering and/or picking up inmates to and from  different prisons, training, handling complaints, arranging visitations, addressing immediate health care needs of inmates, etc.  With everything our jailers have to deal  with, they do an amazing job.

The budget for the office side of the Sheriffs department is currently $715,000. Taken out of this fund are the wages  of the Sheriff, Undersheriff, 7 deputies, 2 part-time deputies, clerk and a part-time clerk.  Additionally, 4 part-time courthouse security officers and expenses come out of this fund.  This security measure was implemented by the Brown County Commissioners and is supervised by the Sheriff.   Overtime, fuel, repairs, training, supplies, patrol vehicles, uniforms, ammunition, vehicle and deputy radios and upgrades, etc. also come out of this fund which usually amounts to approximately  $250,000 per year and is included in the $715,000.   This may seem like a lot of money, but with the changing  times we have had to adopt different patrol strategies to keep up with current trends in criminal activity.  One example is keeping deputies on the road patrolling our smaller towns in the county daily., sometimes more. Each deputy is required to fill out a log sheet each shift  and document each town and time of patrol, mileage, calls handled, vehicle stops, arrests and citations etc.  We have also had to increase overtime and fuel to allow for extensive patrol on US 36 and 75 HWYS due to road closure on I-29 north of St. Joseph. During the first 4 months of 2019, deputies have responded to more than 60 accidents, have made more than 1100 traffic stops-reckless driving complaints--check on motorists etc, and have over 500 civil process services in addition to many other duties they are required to perform.   I am very proud of the extra effort our deputies put forth for the betterment of our county and its residents.

By having law enforcement presence, this in and of itself is a crime deterrent which reflects the KBI CRIME INDEX report for  2017.   This shows Brown County has a very  respectable reported crime rate of 5.1 occurrences per 1,000 residents per year and 3.1 property crime offenses per 1,000 residents per year.    This is based on approximately 4882 county residents who reside outside the city limits of Hiawatha and Horton and does not include their statistics as they each have their own police departments.  Based on the latest KBI report, only 14 other counties in Kansas has a lower crime rate than rural Brown County, and most of those counties have a much lower population rate than we do.

It is my opinion that these employees are underpaid for the amount of responsibility and work that is asked of them.  We are the only county entity that works 24/7 rain or shine.  When someone is sick or cannot make it to work, shifts have to be covered.  We do not have the luxury of having holidays off to be with our families, these folks have to be at work.  I know these are the  jobs we have chosen, but there also needs to be some recognition for everything that these employees miss out on and what they sacrifice to make this county a better place.  I share this sentiment for all military, emergency responders,  etc. who dedicate their lives for the benefit of others.  

With over 30 employees at the Sheriffs office, I have the largest  employees group of any other county department.  I am very thankful for the hard-work, dedication and loyalty each employee  has shown as well as our emergency responders. Please let me know if you have any questions.

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) - A driver has been convicted in the death of a man fatally injured in a collision on a southeast Nebraska highway.
 
Nemaha County District Court records say 53-year-old Monty Eaton, of Nebraska City, was found guilty Thursday of manslaughter and two counts of transporting a child while intoxicated. His sentencing is scheduled for July 22.
 
Authorities say Eaton was driving with two children when he turned his sport utility vehicle into a car that was trying to pass his Feb. 3 last year on U.S. Highway 75 north of Auburn. A passenger in the car, 26-year-old Travis Ries, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

(KNZA)--A November 2017 Jackson County head-on crash has claimed a fourth victim.

60-year-old Lee Ukele, of Sabetha, died Wednesday at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas from injuries received in the wreck on U.S. Highway 75, north of Netawaka.

His wife, Carmen; daughter, Marlee; and brother, Stephen, were killed in the wreck.

The family was heading home after watching Carmen and Lee’s two sons, who were members of the Sabetha football team, capture the state 3A title.

49-year-old Maria Perez-Marquez, of Omaha, pleaded no contest last month to amended charges in connection with the fatal crash and is to be sentenced in June.

The service for Lee Ukele will be Wednesday morning at 10:00 at the NorthRidge Church in Sabetha.  Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 at the Church.

The Popkess Mortuary, in Sabetha, is handling the arrangements.

(KNZA)--Thirteen local Vietnam veterans will be going on a Honor Flight to Washington D.C.---hosted by the Honor Flight Network of Kansas City.

The group, which includes veterans from Hiawatha, Horton and Seneca, will be leaving Hiawatha Tuesday evening, May 14.

Jodi Twombly, a physician assistant at the Hiawatha Community Hospital, is among 8 guardians going on the trip—her second one.  

Twombly said they will leaving the Fisher Center parking lot at 5:30 Tuesday evening in a small bus for Kansas City.  She said local residents are  encouraged to line the area near the Fisher Center parking lot, East Iowa and the junction of Iowa and First Street to send them off.  The group will have a police escort out of town.

The group will fly out of Kansas City early Wednesday morning on a chartered flight with other Honor Flight veterans from the Kansas City area.   

While in Washington the group will visit the WWII Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery to view the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, along with Iwo Jima, Korean, Vietnam and Air Force Memorials.  

The group will fly back to Kansas City late Wednesday night.

Twombly said it will be a busy full day but one the local veterans will never forget.

(KNZA)--Three local counties will be showcased during the third annual Big Kansas Road Trip next year.

During the Kansas Explorers Club meeting Sunday, it was announced that Brown, Doniphan and Nemaha Counties have been chosen by the Kansas Sampler Foundation for event to be held May 7-10, 2020.

The announcement was made during this year’s Big Kansas Road Trip that took place May 2-5 in the northwest Kansas counties of Cheyenne, Sherman and Wallace.  The inaugural event was held in Barber, Comanche and Wallace.

According to a news release, the Inman-based Kansas Sampler Foundation created the Big Kansas Road Trip after ending the 28-year Kansas Sampler Festival.

Foundation Director Marci Penner said the purpose of the event is to help the public get to know Kansas communities of every size.

In late April, the Kansas Sampler Foundation staff of Penner and WenDee Rowe met with representatives from the three northeast Kansas counties to explain what was required and confirm interest.

Penner and Rowe will be coming to each county later in the year to explain how the event will work and what needs to be done.

The duo co-authored the Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers after researching every incorporated city in Kansas.
 

(KAIR)--A motion filed by the state of Kansas, in connection with the sex crimes-related conviction of a Holton man, has been denied.

The Holton Recorder reports the Kansas Court of Appeals denied the motion filed in April involving 24-year-old Jacob Ewing, who is currently serving a 30-year sentence.

The State of Kansas filed the motion following a late March ruling by the appellate court that Ewing was denied his constitutional right to a fair trial during a series of Jackson County District Court trials held in 2016 and 2017.

Late last month, the Court of Appeals denied the state's motion, which affirmed the order from the appellate court that Ewing’s conviction should be reversed or remanded. That means Ewing could get a new trial in Jackson County.

(KAIR)--An argument with neighbors, inappropriate comments to a child, and a threat to kill police officers are the allegations that led to the arrest of an Atchison woman Wednesday evening. “She was obviously under the influence of alcohol,” Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News. “Apparently, this had escalated outside the residence.”

Wilson said Rebekah Green was taken into custody after officers responded to the 900 block of South 5th Street, shortly after 8:30. “Neighbors were reporting that a 37-year-old neighborhood resident was cursing at neighbors, was partially showing her body unclothed, and was saying inappropriate things to a child that was present. When officers confronted her, she became combative, she struck one of the officer’s with her hand, she threatened to kill the officers.”

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

She faces charges for battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal threat, and disorderly conduct.

Her bond is set at $2,500.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University officials say a dispute between individuals that led to shots being fired on its parking lot appears to be unrelated to the Manhattan campus.

No injuries have been reported after shots were fired around 11 a.m. Thursday. Authorities say there is "no ongoing threat."

The university issued a statement late Thursday afternoon saying the original contact between the individuals occurred off campus and continued in a parking lot north of the Foundation Building, where fundraising efforts are organized.

The victim, who is not a student, drove to the Riley County Police Department to report the incident.

Law enforcement officials are still working to locate the suspect and are continuing the investigation.

Kansas State University's main campus is in Manhattan, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) west of Kansas City, Missouri.

A change in policy at the Atchison County Jail, following what Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie says was a plot to smuggle contraband to an inmate.

The alleged plot led to the arrest of 28-year-old Crystalynn Newson for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility.

She was taken into custody Monday on an Atchison County District Court Warrant. Laurie told MSC News the warrant was issued for her arrest after investigators found that she allegedly provided tobacco products to inmate Devan Newson in the basement bathroom of the Atchison County Courthouse. “It could have been anything, that’s the worst part about it. You have to take those measures and hopefully don’t have those issues again,” Laurie said.

The alleged restroom meetup occurred March 18 when Devan Newson was scheduled for a court appearance.

Requesting to use the restroom as he was transported to court from the jail, it’s believed the two had previously planned to meet inside.

Laurie said despite a brief search of the restroom, jail staff did not notice Crystalynn Newson hiding inside, and due to the breach, inmates will now be required to use jail restroom facilities only. “It’s best that we take the highest precautionary measures we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We feel that being that the Courthouse isn’t necessarily a secured environment, we think it’s the best an inmate go back to the jail to use the facilities when needed.”

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

She was released on a cash surety bond of $15,000.

(KAIR)--A sad day at the Sheriff’s Office.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse made that statement in a social media post early Thursday afternoon in reference to the death of one of his agency’s police service dogs.

According to the post, Benny, which Morse called “a massive beautiful German Shepherd” “succumbed to a recent and sudden illness.”

Morse said Benny and his handler, Sgt. Travis DeBarge, “were a great team who together captured a lot of bad guys.”

Morse, sending sympathy to DeBarge and his family, added that “Benny will be hard to replace,” but says his department is “thankful to get to work with him on numerous occasions.”

(KNZA)--Another candidate has filed for one of three positions up for election in November on the Horton City Commission.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports Rex West filed Wednesday for the position of Commissioner of Police.

West was appointed to the position in March of last year to fill the unexpired term of Bryan Stirton following his appointment as mayor.

West joins Matthew Howell is seeking the position.

Also up for election is the position of mayor and Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, currently held by Bobby Bacon.

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.

(KAIR)--U.S. Highway 59 is closed due to flooding.

The decision to close the highway, located in Buchanan County, Missouri, east of Atchison, Kansas, was made Wednesday evening by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

According to a social media post by Atchison County Emergency Management, the closing includes the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, in Atchison.

Although barricades were put in place on the bridge Wednesday night, the social media post said it will remain open to local traffic only.

(KAIR)--Horton’s lone nursing home will remain open.

That follows the installation of a new Board of Directors to provide oversight of the facility, which had been planned to close.

Mid America Hospitals has been retained by the new board to provide management.

That was confirmed by Horton Mayor Bryan Stirton Wednesday evening.

The City of Horton worked to see that the facility remain open after it was revealed in April that the Mission Village Living Center’s former Board of Directors planned to close the facility by June 8.

A dwindling population was among the reasons cited by the former board for the decision.

The nursing home currently has 21 residents.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Mission Village Living Center currenly has 21 residents, not 23, as previously reported. 

(KAIR)--A lawsuit is filed in connection with the now defunct Riverbend International School, once based in Atchison.

The STEM focused private high school, which opened in September, 2014 at 1900 North 2nd Street, closed last year.

At the time of its closing, staff worked without pay, and taxes went unpaid.

Now, four residents of China, all named as investors, have filed suit.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Atchison County District Court, lists all four plaintiffs as "members and owners of ownership interests” in Kansas Education Holdings, LLC, which they were told would serve as ownership of the school and its property.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are two California residents, K.T. Leung and Carol Kwan.

Online business records as of last year named Leung as the Principal of the Riverbend International School, while Kwan's business card listed her as the President and Co-Founder.

The four investors were promised United States immigration status and a green card, as well as 5% membership/ownership interest in KEH, if they each invested $500,000. They were also told the school "would be directly owned and operated by KEH."

However, the lawsuit contends none of the promises were fulfilled, and the school was operated by a separate entity fully controlled by Leung and Kwan.

Additionally, no promised annual reports and updates regarding their investments were delivered, nor was tax information, or information about a fifth investor approved by Leung and Kwan in 2017, in violation of the terms of the business agreement.

The business plan presented to the investors was in English, a language none of them spoke.

The first time the plaintiffs received any information regarding the operations was in August 2016 when they were told by Kwan that the business was failing.

The lawsuit alleges that Lueng and Kwan also promised to maximize profits for the investors, and would “dedicate themselves to the wholehearted management” of the business, both of which they did not do.

Leung and Kwan, the lawsuit says, improperly withdrew nearly $497,000 of funds belonging to the school in March 2017; and instead of paying property taxes owed, or wages due to employees, used the funds to pay themselves, or companies or corporations “in which they have an ownership interest.”

The four investors are seeking 25% ownership each in the Atchison property that housed the school, as well as legal fees, and other restitution, with the amount to be determined by the court following an accounting of Kansas Education Holdings.

(MSC News)--Flooding has closed area roadways in local counties, including Doniphan, Jackson and Brown. 

According to social media post made Wednesday afternoon by Doniphan County Emergency Management, K-7 Highway, north of White Cloud to the Nebraska state line,  is closed due to water over the roadway.

According to emergency alerts sent Wednesday, closings in Jackson County include old 75 Highway north of the bridge, 326th, between N and P, M Road, between 238th and 246th, and O Road between 238th and 246th. 

In Brown County, 280th Road has been closed west of Kestrel

To keep up to date on area road closings make sure to sign up with your local county's emergency text and email service.

(KLZA)--The Missouri Department of Transportation announced Wednesday morning that Interstate-29 has reopened to all traffic from north of St. Joseph to the Iowa state line.

The roadway has been closed since late March due to flooding.

More than 12-thousand vehicles utilize I-29 through Northwest Missouri daily to access locations to the north. Due to the lack of detour routes in Northwest Missouri that could handle that many cars, trucks and heavy commercial vehicles, all through traffic was rerouted with much of the traffic utilizing Highway 36 in Kansas to Highway 75 going north in Nebraska.

About eight miles north of the Missouri – Iowa border, traffic will move head-to-head and a 12-foot width restriction will be in place. Motorists should expect delays.

Many other routes throughout the region remain flooded in Missouri and Iowa. Travelers do not have access to several roads west of I-29 in Holt and Atchison counties including US Routes 159 and 136, commonly referred to as the Rulo and Brownville Missouri River crossings. These roads were heavily damaged by the flooding and remain closed.

(KMZA)--Nemaha County Commissioners this week again delayed action on approving a term sheet with NextEra Energy Resources for the proposed Soldier Creek Wind Farm.

Following an hour long executive session with special attorney James Neeld by phone, Commission Chairman Gary Scoby announced the commission is still in negotiations with the Florida-based company.

Scoby said the negotiations are based on concerns Commissioners heard during two public meetings last month on the term sheet.    

Monday’s meeting was moved to the courtroom due to the large number of people on hand.

Commissioners allowed seven people to speak—who did not speak or were unable to speak due to time constraints—at the April 25 public meeting.

All spoke against the current term sheet.  Several voiced concerns about the proposed setback distances from turbines to non-participating property and residences.    

Scoby said Commissioners will consider a resolution at next week’s meeting imposing a six-month moratorium on any new utility project, including wind energy.

He said the resolution, which would ban any negotiations for use of county roads, infrastructure or other public areas during the moratorium, doesn’t apply to NextEra’s request.

(KNZA)--The chairman of the Doniphan County Commission is proposing the creation of a new county position.

During Monday’s meeting, Tad Geiger presented Commissioners with a job description for the creation of a road director’s position.

As part of a restructuring plan to more efficiently and effectively operate the road department, Geiger suggested hiring a road director to serve as administrator over the department, with two working road foremen.  One of the foremen would oversee the first road district and the other would oversee the second and third road districts.

Action on the proposal was tabled until the Commission’s May 13 meeting.

Geiger also suggested the adoption of a resolution making termination of county officials, other then elected, subject to approval of the county commission.

Action on the proposed resolution was tabled until the May 13 meeting.

Commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Gieger to increase the base pay and starting wage for road department employees to $13.50 an hour with a CDL license.  Road employees without a CDL will be hired at the regular starting wage of $10.75 an hour, effective June 1.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has begun the 2020 budget process.

Department heads and organizations receiving funding from the County meet with the Commission Monday to go over their budget requests for next year.

Most are requesting the same amount of funding or additional funding.

The largest funding request is for the county Road and Bridge Department, nearly $3.6 million.

The second largest request is for the Sheriff’s Department.  Sheriff John Merchant is requesting more than $1.7 million for the sheriff’s office, dispatch and jail.

Commissioners will now begin the process of drafting a proposed 2020 budget for publication.

The budget would then be adopted following a public hearing.  

(KNZA)--Doniphan County will not receive federal assistance related to recent flooding.

That word was delivered Monday to the Doniphan County Commission by County Emergency Management Coordinator Julie Meng.

Meng told the Commission the County did not quality for Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance for the flooding that impacted the area in March.

She explained that the denial of funding was due to the damage assessment not meeting FEMA requirements.

Among the flooding affects felt in Doniphan County was the March evacuation of the City of Elwood when the Missouri River reached a level of 30 feet. Residents returned home several days later.

(KLZA)--Community Medical Center in Falls City conducted their annual report to the public last week.

CEO Ryan Larsen noted that times are difficult for rural hospitals. Larsen said that CMC has reached out to the Hiawatha Hospital since their financial struggles were made public.

Larsen says he has had a good relationship over the years with the administration and doctors at the Hiawatha hospital. He says they have visited about ways the two hospitals may be able to work together in the future to help keep costs down and make sure services are available.

Larsen said if necessary Community Medical Center could broaden its service area, but feels a strong hospital in Brown County is desirable. He feels in the future, rural hospitals will need to work together more, because of the difficulty for rural hospitals to make it on their own.

CMC was named a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital in 2018 by the National rural Health Association and the Chartis Center for Rural Health.

(KLZA)--Falls City Council members awarded a bid for a roof repair project at Prichard Auditorium when they met Monday evening.

After receiving three bids proposing different repairs during an April Council meeting, the Council asked for an opinion from an engineer for an opinion as to the correct plan and cost estimate.

City Administrator Gary Jorn reported the engineer said $5 a square foot was a pretty good bid and agreed it would be better to do a full roof project instead of repairing only parts of the roof.

Skyline Roofing from Steinauer submitted a bid of $118, 895 to repair the entire roof with a 15-year warranty.

The Council also approved Jorn's recommendation to use Capital Improvement Funds to pay for the work.

The Council also approved a rental rate of $150 per day for the former City Hall building.

(KAIR)--New leadership has been selected for the Atchison Hospital.

That follows what a news release from the hospital calls a nation-wide search for a new CEO.

According to the release, the hospital’s Board of Directors has chosen Jeffery “Jeff” Perry, RN, MSN, DHA, FACHE, to fill the role.

The position has been held since 2004 by John Jacobson, whose retirement becomes effective July 1.

Hospital Board Chair, Susan Myers, in the release, said the board is “very excited that [Perry] has accepted the role,” as he “will be a great addition” to both the hospital and the Atchison Community. Myers noted that Perry was selected from what she called “a strong pool of candidates.”

Perry most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer for Crockett Medical Center, a critical access hospital in Crockett, Texas. Prior to that, he held the position of Chief

Operating Officer for Duke LifePoint Healthcare’s Upper Peninsula Health System in

Marquette, Michigan.

(KMZA)--The second of two men charged in a 2017 armed escape from the Marshall County Jail has learned his fate.

The Kansas Attorney General's Office says 48-year-old Jeffrey Guenther, Sr., of Washington, was sentenced Monday in Marshall County District Court to more than 27 years in prison on 13 counts—including one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Guenther pleaded guilty to the charges in February.

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 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.

(KAIR)--Text to 911 is coming to Atchison County as part of an overhaul to the local 911 emergency communication system.

That message was delivered during Monday’s meeting of the Atchison City Commission. “There are currently 105 counties in Kansas. Thirteen counties do not have text to 911, so that is one thing that we will have after the first of the year, we’ll be able to get text to 911 in Atchison County,” Atchison County Joint Communication Director, Kim Pruett, told the Atchison City Commission. She and County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter provided details pertaining to a joint resolution between the City and Atchison County to make the change a reality.

The County Commission gave their approval to the 911 Service Agreement at their April 30 meeting.

The change means the Mid-America Regional Council, known as MARC, will have ownership of the local 911 phone system and mapping.

MARC will pay for hardware, software, licensing, and other related fees, with the monthly payment of $5,131 to be funded through the local 911 fund.

Along with the forthcoming texting ability, Pruett told the City commission a number of other enhancements will also come through what’s known as NextGen 911. “We will also get RapidSOS which [will be] integrated with our mapping. Right now, when you call 911, it pings off cell phone towers. With RapidSOS, it’s going to ping off wi-fi and hotspots. That will give a better pinpoint of a person’s location.”

Despite the upgraded system, Pruett told the Commission day to operations will remain the same.

Following the presentation, the City Commission voted unanimously to approve the joint resolution.

(KLZA)--Nebraska First District State Senator Julie Slama has announced she will seek re-election in 2020.

In a Facebook post on her birthday, May 2, Slama, from Peru announced officially her intention to seek re-election.

Slama, who is also attending law school at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, was appointed to fulfill the remaining term of office of Dan Watermeier who won election to the Nebraska Public Service Commission in the 2018 election.

Slama, a Republican, said in the post that fighting for District 1 and the future of Nebraska is the privilege of her lifetime and said she would be honored to earn the support of voters.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Clerk’s Office is providing an opportunity for residents to vote early in the upcoming May 21 special election on a half-cent sales tax for healthcare services in the county.

Early voting will be provided Tuesday, May 7 in Morrill and Everest.  At the Morrill Community Building from 9:00 to 11:30 in the morning, and in Everest at the Northfield Community Room from 1:30 to 4:00 in the afternoon.

On Wednesday morning, May 8, early voting will be provided at the Maple Grove Complexes in Hiawatha.  In the West Complex from 9 to 10:30 and in the East Complex from 10:30 to noon.

Then beginning Thursday, May 9 through noon, May 20, early voting will be provided in the Brown County Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Residents are reminded that a photo ID is required to vote.

(KMZA)--The Kansas Department of Transportation has approved a bid for a Nemaha County highway improvement project.

According to KDOT, Halls Brothers Inc., of Marysville, was awarded the contact for the resurfacing of a more than 14 mile stretch of U.S. 36 Highway at a cost of more than $2.1 million.

The project will take place from the east city limits of Seneca to just west of the Nemaha/Brown County line.

A construction start date has not yet been announced.

The bid letting took place April 17 in Topeka.
 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for Jefferson County Rural Water District No. 10 located in Jefferson County.  

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.

The advisory took effect on May 06, 2019 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a flooded well. Flooding in wells may result in bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

If you have questions, please contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5795. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm

(MSC News)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for Jefferson County Rural Water District No. 10 located in Jefferson County.  

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.

The advisory took effect on May 06, 2019 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a flooded well. Flooding in wells may result in bacterial contamination.

(KAIR)--Authorities say a woman was held against her will at a Horton residence for hours on Saturday. “Allegations are that basically a weapon, a knife, was held against her throat on multiple occasions, as well as a number of other things, related to the numerous charges,” Horton Police Chief John Calhoon told MSC News. He said the allegations led to an investigation that began Saturday and continued into Sunday, leading to the arrest of 28-year-old Powhattan resident Ryan Curtis Greene, after officers were called to 150 West 14th Street, in Horton, shortly after 4:00 Saturday afternoon. “Upon arrival, they noticed that the victim was very emotional, and began reporting a number of things that had happened. It appears that most of these charges are related from about noon, so this took place over a 4-hour period on Saturday afternoon.”

Greene faces charges including kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, attempted rape. criminal threat, domestic battery, criminal restraint, criminal damage and cruelty to animals. “The suspect was, I guess, abusive and allegedly struck the dog on several occasions, as well.”

Greene also faces drug-related charges. “Upon searching the residence, there was multiple drugs found. Not a large amount, but there was various drugs found in various locations.”

Due to the alleged discovery of the drugs, Greene faces charges of possession of opiates, possession of stimulants, possession of a controlled narcotic, and possession of marijuana.

Following his arrest, Greene was booked into the Brown County Jail.

The case is now under the review of the Brown County Attorney’s office.

Calhoon said Greene and the victim had lived together for a short time at the residence.

(KAIR)--A wrecked vehicle is discovered unoccupied in Atchison County, and it’s later learned that the driver suffered injuries requiring hospital treatment.

According to a news release issued by Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, deputies were called to the area of 318th and Osborne Road around 12:30 Saturday morning, following the report of a vehicle in the ditch.

Although they found no one at the scene, or in the nearby area, the driver later came forward.

According to Laurie, 20-year-old Everest resident Rex Brunning reported to the Sheriff’s Office that the wreck occurred when he swerved to miss wildlife in the roadway, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.

He reported that he was transported by friends for hospitalized treatment, and required stitches in his back and treatment for hitting his head.

Following the treatment, Brunning was released.

(KNZA)--Hiawatha’s Municipal Airport is among 41 airports in Kansas awarded a portion of $5 million in grant funds.

According to a news release from the Kansas Department of Transportation, the monies are awarded to use for planning, constructing, or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports.

The grant funds are allocated through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program.

Hiawatha’s airport was awarded three grants totaling nearly $100,000.

Hiawatha City Administrator Mike Nichols said two grants totaling $38,000 are for engineering design in preparation for the construction of a new lighting system down the road for the two runways.  The city’s portion is 10 percent.  

Nichols said the third grant for nearly $62,000 is for engineering design for  renovation of the taxilane and construction in the area around the older hangers, north of the burn pit.  The city’s portion is 5 percent.

He said the city is excited to be selected for the grant funding and very appreciate to KDOT for assisting the city in making progress at the airport.

The KDOT Division of Aviation, which manages the program, considered 119 project applications this year with a combined total value of more than $29 million.

(KNZA)--A metal storage building and its contests were destroyed by fire early Sunday morning in the southwestern portion of Hiawatha.

According to Hiawatha Fire Department public relations officer Jordanne Shockley, firefighters were called to the fire near 9th and Kickapoo Streets shortly before 1:00. 

Assisting the Hiawatha Fire Department were the Robinson Fire Department, Squad 48, Town and Country EMS, Hiawatha Police Department and Brown County Sheriff's Department.

An investigator from the State Fire Marshal's Office was called in to assist in investigating the cause of the fire.

Shockley said the investigator was on scene after 8:30.

The building was owned by Charlie Baird.

No other information is being released at this time.

(KLZA)--During the Community Medical Center's annual public meeting May 2,  Hospital CEO Ryan Larsen defined the hospitals 2018 financial picture as strong, but with a significant decrease in the bottom line.

While revenues grew to $28.1-million, more than $1.5 million more than in 2017,  the total expenses increased by more than $2.6-million to $27.545-million.  

Larsen says the excess revenues of $948, 243 is excellent for a rural hospital,  calling it a strong performance, but not to the extent CMC has realized in previous years.
 
In Fiscal Year 2017, CMC's revenues outpaced expenses by more than $1.9-million and in FY-2016 the hospital revenues were ahead of expenses by nearly $2.2-million.

Larsen says it is a challenging time for healthcare around the nation and rural hospitals in particular, including some in the area.  54 rural hospitals have now closed in the past decade.

While CMC is in a strong financial situation, Larsen said it is definitely something watched by administration and staff.  He said it takes a lot of hard work by staff members and the support of the community to remain strong and robust.

CMC has more than $12.1-million in unrestricted and internally designated cash and cash equivalents which allow the hospital to weather downturns and to reinvest in necessary facilities and equipment.

Part of the reason for the drop in excess revenue is the high number of Medicare cases when the Congressionally-established rural reimbursement rate is currently set below the cost of care.  

(KLZA)--Efforts to persuade Richardson County Commissioners to increase the wage and benefit package for deputy sheriff's in Richardson County continued during the April 30th meeting of the Commissioners.

Jail Administrator Jon Kirkdenall presented a letter to Commissioners submitted by Deputy Lyle McMann.

In the letter, McMann expressed concern with the current deputy salary and benefit package and made comparisons with other county officers and or employees.

Former Johnson County Deputy Sheriff Rick Hardesty met with the board and said he is  unable to accept a deputy sheriff position in Richardson County offered by Sheriff Don Pounds because the salary and benefits package was not comparable to the surrounding counties and due to the lack of any percentage of th family insurance premiums being provided.

Mike Reynolds who has resigned as a Richardson County Deputy reviewed his reasons for leaving, expressing the salary and benefits package is not comparable to other jurisdictions in the area.

On Tuesday, May 7, Deputies Jon Kirkendall and Jeff Frederick are scheduled to present Commissioners a proposed package for salary and benefits for Sheriff's Department Deputies.  

Commissioners have expressed in the past, they cannot make changes until the start of the next Fiscal Year in September.

(KLZA)-- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded two contracts as part of a special letting to begin the recovery process for Northwest Missouri roads.

It is noted that the projected completion dates are not only dependent on the weather, but also on water levels going down and staying down.

Some roads in the area suffered significant damage in the flooding that first inundated the area in March. In some places water remains over roadways. As floodwaters recede, broken and missing roadways, damaged bridges, debris drainage issues and hazardous materials have been left in their wake.

Among the emergency projects let is US Route 159 in Holt County, from a mile east of Route P near Fortescue to the Missouri River Bridge. Crews started working April 29. Included in the nearly $3.6-million bid to Phillips Hardy, Inc. is debris removal and emergency repair. The projected completion date is on or before June 1. It will include more than 10-thousand tons of rock being placed in a pavement gap west of Route 111.

Local traffic is urged, for their own safety to stay out of the construction zone until repairs are complete.

The bid for debris removal and emergency repair on US Route 136 in Atchison County, Missouri from Interstate 29 to the Missouri River Bridge was also awarded to Phillips Hardy at a cost of nearly $3.5-million. This project has a projected completion date of July 1, but could be delayed as water was still over the roadway as of Friday, May 3.

Additional contracts will follow including Route 111, Route 118, the Little Tarkio Bridge on U.S. Route 159 and many lettered routes.

There are still several miles of roadway under water, with some rushing water which limits ability to assess damages.

Once the new rock and fill material on these routes are settled out, more permanent repairs will follow up the emergency contracts. The permanent repairs should take place next year.

The MoDOT release indicates the Iowa Department of Transportation is working to have their portion of Interstate 29 open by the end of May. When Iowa opens I-29, MoDOT will open the Missouri portion of I-29 between Exit 57 and the Iowa border to all through traffc.

(KAIR)--More than seven tons.

That’s the amount of unused and unwanted medication collected in Kansas during the April 27 Drug Take-Back Day.

According to a news release issued by the office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, law enforcement officers collected 13,638 pounds of medicine at 116 locations throughout Kansas.

Among the local agencies taking part was the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Jack Laurie reminds area residents that medication can be properly disposed of anytime, not just during Drug Take-Back events. “We have a drop box here at the Sheriff's Office, in the lobby, that anybody can come in and drop that medication off at any time, even after hours. Live Well, Live Atchison also has placed boxes throughout the community and they have a few different locations that they accept medication as well.”

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office also collects medication anytime at its Hiawatha office.

According to Schmidt’s release, Kansans have safely destroyed a total of 176,796 pounds of medications in the 17 collection days that have been held since 2010.

Law enforcement agencies turn the drugs they collect over to the DEA, which safely destroys the medications.

(MSC News)--Legislation pushed by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, and Leavenworth County Attorney, Todd Thompson, is approved by the Kansas Legislature.

According to a news release issued by Schmidt’s office, the legislation will prevent Kansas judges from lowering prison sentences for adult sex offenders due to a child victim acting as an aggressor in the crime.

The push for passage followed a Leavenworth County Judge last year reducing the sentence for a 67-year-old man convicted of a sex crime because the judge found the 13-year-old victim to have been an aggressor.

In the release, Schmidt commended passage of the legislation, which amends the current state law that allows judges to reduce the length of prison sentences if victims of certain crimes contributed to the criminal activity by acting as an aggressor. The approved change will no longer allow such downward departures in sex crimes cases involving a victim younger than 14.

It also disallows such a departure in all sex trafficking cases regardless of age.

The bill now awaits the signature of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

(KAIR)--A decision, regarding the future of Horton’s lone nursing home, could possibly be finalized Monday evening.

That’s when the Horton City Commission will hold it’s regular meeting, planned for 5:15 at the Horton Blue Building.

The session follows recent special meetings focused on the issue after it was revealed in April that the Mission Village Living Center’s Board of Directors planned to close the facility by June 8.

During an April 25 Commission meeting, possible management companies to oversee the nursing home were considered, with the Commissioners narrowing the choice to two following the review of proposals. The minutes of the meeting state that “the Commission would be inclined to be in favor of the contract from Mid-America Hospital Management Company. Representatives of that firm were present at the special meeting of April 29.

It was during that meeting that it was revealed that additional “positive developments” regarding the facility’s fate had occurred. According to the minutes, that includes an in-the-works plan that “would provide for the City having say in the Mission Village Living Center” under “a newly constituted board.” Once that is implemented, the living center would remain open under new management.

Horton City Attorney Kevin Hill is cited in the minutes as being “fairly optimistic that by Monday the City will be in the position to announce some firm commitments and will be ready to proceed the way he thinks [the community] wants the City to proceed.”

As of April 29, the attorney for the living center was in the process of updating the paperwork necessary to finalize the plan prior to Monday’s City Commission meeting, when approval could be granted.

(KAIR)--A former Atchison County Commissioner has died.

Tom Wagner was 81-years-old when he died Thursday.

Wagner served two terms representing Atchison County’s 3rd District, holding that position from 2004 until 2012.

According to his obituary from Atchison’s Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home, Wagner also once served as a board member of the former Mount Saint Scholastic Academy, among other roles in his native Atchison County.

Among his numerous survivors are his wife of 56-years, Deanna, three sons, two daughters, two brothers, and two sisters.

Funeral services for Wagner will be Tuesday morning at 10:30 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, south of Atchison.

(KNZA)--The first candidate has filed for one of four positions up for election in November on the Hiawatha USD  415 Board of Education.

The Brown County Clerk’s Office reports Jeff Brockhoff filed Friday for re-election to position 1.

Also up for election is position 2, currently held by Tom Simmer; position 3, currently held by Ian Schuetz; and position 7, currently held by Amy Kopp.

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 Brown County road closure is planned.

County officials say 200th Street, from Mulberry to Plum Tree Roads, will be closed beginning Monday for a bridge replacement project.

The road will remain closed until further notice.  

(KNZA)--A Leona man has been sentenced to three years in prison in connection with a pursuit last May that left a Highland Police officer injured.  

40-year-old Travis Winters was sentenced last week in Doniphan County District Court on a charge of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude.

He was given credit for 353 days already served in jail.

Winters pleaded no contest to the amended charges last month as part of a plea agreement.

The charges stemmed from a pursuit the evening of May 7, 2018 that began in Highland, and ended south of Leona after Highland police officer Tom Williams crashed his patrol car.

Authorities say the dust created by the chase, which reached speeds of more than 100 miles an hour, attributed to Williams crash.

Williams received injuries, which required surgery.

Winters was arrested days later by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

(KLZA)--A Falls City woman has been sentenced to just over 3 years in prison in connection with the detonation of an explosive device at a Falls City business in September 2018, and on a drug charge in a separate case.

39-year-old April Feighner was sentenced in Richardson County District Court Tuesday to one year in prison on a misdemeanor charge of use of an explosive device without a permit. On a misdemeanor charge of attempted third degree arson, Feighner was sentenced to an additional year in prison.

In a separate case, Feighner was sentenced to 13 months in prison on a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine. The sentences are to run consecutively which means a total of 37 months prison time. On the possession charge, Feighner was allowed credit for 133 days already served.

Feighner was arrested in October, 2018 on a felony charge of use of an explosive to commit a felony and second degree arson in connection with the detonation of an explosive device at “The Spirit Shoppe” liquor store at 1123 Harlan Street in Falls City.

In February, Feighner entered a no contest plea to the misdemeanor charges as part of a plea agreement.

Feighner was also arrested in October on a warrant for possession of methamphetamine.

In addition to the prison sentence, Feighner must also pay restitution of nearly $6,400 to the Spirit Shoppe and more than $800 in court costs and fees.

No one was injured in the explosion that occurred in the early morning hours.

(KNZA)--Improvements will be made to two blocks of a Hiawatha city street.

The City Commission this week approved the placement of a 4-inch asphalt overlay on the 300 and 400 blocks of South Third Street at a cost of $60,000.

City crews will prepare the street for the overlay.

The 400-block of South 3rd Street has been closed to through traffic due to failing road conditions, which Streets Superintendent Nic Siebenmorgen says is the result of poor drainage off of Iowa Street and the east alley between Iowa and Pottawatomie.

To address the issue, the Commission last month approved replacing the concrete at the intersection of Iowa Street at a cost of around $7,000 to redirect the drainage off of the street.

In other business, on the recommendation of Police Chief John Defore, the Commission approved the purchase of new body-worn cameras for officers at a cost of nearly $34,000.

Also on the recommendation of Defore, the Commission rejected the bids received for the purchase of new in-car cameras.

They will be budgeted for next year.
 

(KMZA)--Two additional candidates have filed for four positions up for election in November on the Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education.

The Nemaha County Clerk’s Office reports current board members Kathy Lippert and Kent Saylor recently filed for re-election.

Lippert holds position 3 on the board and Saylor holds position 7.

Jim Scoby previously filed for re-election to position 1.

Also up for election is position 5, currently held by Leslie Scoby.

Meanwhile, no candidates have filed so far for 4 positions up for election on the Nemaha Central USD 115 Board of Education.

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

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

(KMZA)--A Baileyville teenager is facing a charge of aggravated assault.

Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert says a complaint has been filed in Nemaha County District Court charging 19-year-old Zachariah Heiman with the felony offense.

Lippert says the complaint alleges that on April 29, Heiman willfully and intentionally used a gun to place three females in reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm.

He was arrested Monday following an investigation by the Seneca Police Department.

Heiman remains in the Nemaha County Jail, held on a $5,000 bond.

(KAIR)--The Atchison branch of a manufacturing firm is set to close next month.

The closing date for Fargo Assembly of Atchison is set for June 28.

That’s confirmed in a statement issued Thursday by the corporate ownership of the facility following inquiries made Wednesday by MSC Radio News.

According to the statement, the production will be moved from Atchison to other facilities owned by Electrical Components International, Inc.

The Saint Louis, Missouri-based company purchased Fargo Assembly Atchison in February, 2017.

Wire harnesses and related cable assemblies are manufactured at Fargo, which has operated in Atchison since 1997. The facility is located at 2002 U.S. Highway 59. 

The release gives no reason for the decision to close, and does not specify the number of employees affected.

A followup email sent by MSC News wasn’t immediately returned.

Among Fargo’s customers is Harley Davidson, which closed its Kansas City manufacturing plant last year.

In a statement released to MSC News Thursday afternoon, Atchison City Manager Becky Berger connected the closure to Fargo’s departure.

She said that while “it’s always disappointing to hear about a business in [the Atchison] community” closing it’s doors, [the City] knew Atchison’s [Fargo] location would feel the repercussions of the Kansas City Harley Plant closure.”

Berger said when the City began to hear rumors about layoffs, they reached out and offered to help connect Fargo employees that were laid off to local employers known to be hiring. Berger added that the offer still stands.

(KMZA)--Details have been released on a car-deer wreck earlier this week in Nemaha County that sent one person to the hospital.

The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office reports the wreck happened on K-63 Highway, south of 144th Road, just after midnight Sunday morning.

The Sheriff’s Office says 22-year-old Gavin Uhlik, of Washington, Kansas, was northbound when he swerved to miss a deer, causing him to go off the east side of the road.

Uhlik overcorrected and went across the highway on the west side, causing his SUV to roll.

He was transported to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, in Seneca, for the treatment of unspecified injuries

(KNZA)--An electric outage is planned Friday afternoon, May 3rd, in the Brown County community of Morrill.

According to a release issued by City Superintendent Lee Wymer, the power will be shut off beginning at 12 noon and remain off for about 3-hours.

According to the release, the outage is made necessary due to maintenance.

(KNZA)--The city of Hiawatha plans to take steps to address a recent increase in trash being dumped at the city brush pile, north of town.

Streets Superintendent Nic Siebenmorgen brought up the issue at Monday evening’s City Commission meeting.

Siebenmorgen said they are seeing trash bags, pallets and other trash being dispose of at the dump site located at the city airport.

Under state law, trash is prohibited.

Mayor Bill Collins said as far as he’s concerned, they need to lock up the dump site.

But Commissioner Becky Shamburg said she would hate to see city close the site, especially this time of year.

Commissioner Dustin Williams suggested a camera be installed to monitor the site.

In addition, it was suggested that a public notice be issued again reminding residents that only limbs and brush are accepted.  Leaves are accepted as well, but need to be dumped from plastic bags.

The city also plans to add language that violators will be prosecuted.

Residents are encouraged report violations to the Hiawatha Police Department.

Mayor Collins noted that the dump could be closed in the future if the rules are not followed.

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission has approved a zoning change that will allow for the establishment of a rock quarry and ag lime operation in rural Wathena.

Following a hearing Monday, the Commission voted 2-1 to approve the zoning change on behalf of Michael Foley for property located at 434 Monument Road, with the condition that Foley maintains the roads 1,000 feet of each side of any entrance.  Commission Chairman Thad Geiger cast the lone no vote.

The county Planning Commission voted 3-2 at their April 10 meeting to recommend the zoning change be approved.

Attorney Bill McQuillan, speaking on behalf of Foley, told County Commissioners the quarry would operate five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two county residents spoke support of the zoning change, while four adjoining landowners spoke in opposition.  

Because a valid protest petition was submitted, it was initially believed the zoning change needed unanimous approval by the Commission.

But County Zoning Administrator Julie Meng told MSC News the Commission was told Monday, that according to state statute, unanimous approval is not required.   

Editors note: the following release was submitted by Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

There seems to be new scams each and every day, therefore, it’s difficult for everyone to be up on the latest scam.

Currently, we are seeing scammers use gift cards to steal money from the unsuspecting public. Scammers are telling their victims to buy gift cards (iTunes – Google Play, etc.,) at Walmart and other retail stores.  

A recent victim to this scam was contacted by a scammer who told him that his computer had a “virus”, and the scammer had him believing they would fix the problem once he provided them a payment via a gift card. We are seeing victims who are typically elderly citizens are sending thousands of their hard earned dollars to scammers. Scammers are thieves, and criminals who prey on innocent people.

These thieves call victims with urgent news or a convincing story. They may claim to be from Microsoft or some other entity and then pressure the victim to pay them by buying a gift card, like an iTunes or Google Play card, and then insist on having the person give them the codes on the back of the card. Once the codes are given, it is next to impossible to trace the transaction and to retrieve their money.

Anyone who asks you to pay for anything, including tech support services with a gift card is scamming you. No legitimate company will ever ask you to pay with a gift card.

(KAIR)--Nearly 47,000 food insecure persons live within the local region served by St. Joseph, Missouri-based Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

That’s shown through statistics released by what’s called the nation’s largest hunger relief organization.

Feeding America has released its “Map the Meal Gap” study, which outlines the number of food insecure persons across the nation.

According to a news release issued by Second Harvest, food insecurity now resides at 46,910 individuals and a child food insecurity rate of 18.5% within the organization’s 19-county service area located in northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri.

Among the local counties served by Second Harvest are Atchison, Brown, and Doniphan in Kansas, and Buchanan in Missouri.

Chad Higdon, Chief Executive Officer for Second Harvest, said in the release, the data provided by Feeding America “drives [Second Harvest’s] distribution strategy,” and allows the food bank to align its services to meet the need in every county it serves.

The release notes that the study reveals that 97 percent of counties served include families facing hunger who are likely ineligible for federal nutrition assistance, meaning they must rely on charitable food banks to help put meals on their tables.

The average cost of a meal in the local region is around $3.00.

According to Feeding America, the food insecurity rate in both Atchison and Doniphan counties stands at 13.5%, with an additional $520,000 needed to meet all food needs in each location.

In Brown County, the food insecurity rate is listed at 13%, with an additional $620,000 needed to meet all needs.

(KAIR)--An Easton man is facing child sex-related charges.

That follows Monday’s arrest of 41-year-old Christopher Patrick.

According to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, the investigation, leading to Patrick’s arrest, began last summer.

In the fall of 2018, Wilson said his department assisted the Department of Homeland Security serve a search warrant at an Atchison apartment.

Following that action, the case was presented to the Atchison County Attorney’s Office and a warrant was issued.

Patrick was taken into custody on the warrant charging him with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Wilson said the arrest was made in Leavenworth County by the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office.

According to court documents, all three counts stem from the allegation that Patrick was in possession of a visual depiction of a child under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

The alleged crimes occurred in September 2017 and November 2018.

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

According to jail records, his bond is set at $50,000.

A court appearance for Patrick is scheduled for May 6.

Update: the Holton Police Department reports the missing girl has been found.

(KNZA)--The public's assistance is sought in locating a missing Holton girl.

Police say 16-year-old Falicity Folsom left her residence in Holton Wednesday morning for school but failed to show up for class.

She is described as 5 foot, two inches tall, weighing around 125 pounds.

Folsom has blond/strawberry hair with red highlights.  Her ears, nose and lower lip are pierced.  She has a light birthmark on her right forearm.

If you have seen Folsom or may know her whereabouts, your asked to contact the Holton Police Department at 785-364-2174.

Folsom has been entered as a runaway.

(MSC News)--Brown County voters, on May 21, will decide whether or not to approve a 10-year, half-cent countywide retailers sales tax for health care services in the county.

MSC Radio News wants to hear your questions.

We will talk with Hiawatha Community Hospital CEO John Broberg, and pose your questions to him.

Submit your questions to mscnewsradio@gmail.com no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, May 7, then join us for two special editions of More Than Just a Soundbite, Wednesday, May 15 and Friday May 17.

Hear your questions answered those days at 6:15 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. on KNZA 103.9 FM.

Depending upon timing, all questions received may not be asked. 

The sales tax is proposed to address what the hospital says are financial struggles it faces.

If approved by voters, 80 percent of the sales tax proceeds would go to the Hiawatha hospital and 20 percent to the City of Horton for health care services in the southern Brown County community.

(KLZA)-- No charges will be filed in connection with a non-fatal Rockport, Missouri shooting last month, following the decision of a special assistant prosecuting attorney.

Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Rice was appointed on behalf of Atchison County, Missouri to review the evidence and make a charging decision.

The shooting of 35-year-old Watson, Missouri resident Travis Holmes occurred March 30, at the Rockport home of his 61-year-old father, William Holmes, accused of pulling the trigger.

A news release issued by Rice said William Holmes was cooperative and agreed to waive his rights to speak without an attorney to give his side of the events.

Travis Holmes refused to provide follow-up details of what led up to the shooting and later gave a written statement that he did not want to pursue charges.

There were no eye witnesses to the events that led up to the shooting.

According to the release, Travis Holmes’ anger toward his father resulted in an altercation the day of the shooting, with William Holmes saying he feared for his safety. Because of that, he fired one round from a rifle at his son.

In Missouri, deadly force can be used if a person reasonably believes it’s necessary to protect himself against death, serious physical injury, or the commission of a forcible felony.

(KAIR)--Atchison’s Amelia Earhart Airport is among 41 airports in Kansas awarded a portion of $5 million in grant funds.

According to a news release from the Kansas Department of Transportation, the monies are awarded to use for planning, constructing, or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports.

The grant funds are allocated through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program.

Atchison’s airport is awarded $56,925 which will be used for runway surface sealing.

The KAIP program requires airport sponsors to share in project costs by paying a portion of the total project. According to Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont, the City’s of Atchison’s portion is 10%

According to KDOT, the aviation industry represents $20.6 billion in economic impact and employs more than 92,000 Kansans. In addition, 94 percent of the state’s population is within 30 minutes of air ambulance operations.

Julie Lorenz, the Kansas Secretary of Transportation, said, in the release, KDOT is “proud of the collaboration between [the agency] and airport sponsors to increase safety, enhance economic development and support the transportation needs of Kansans.”

The KDOT Division of Aviation, which manages the program, considered 119 project applications this year with a combined total value of more than $29 million. 

KDOT Director of Aviation, Bob Brock, in the release, said the Kansas Airport Improvement Program “has not only funded key improvements at local airports, it has helped create a statewide aviation network that enhances both the health and economic well being of the entire state.”

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has approved a water line replacement project.

On the recommendation of Water Superintendent Brad Scott, the Commission Monday evening approved replacing the water main on Miami Street from 4th to 9th Street at estimated cost of nearly $63,000 for materials and equipment.   City crews will provide the labor.

Scott said with the impending replacement of Miami Street, now would be the optimum time to replace the old 4-inch cast iron main, along with any lead service lines tapped into the main.

He said they’ve had problems in the past with various tap leaks.

Scott said plans are to go with an 8-inch main from 4th to 6th Streets, and then a six-inch main down to 9th Street.  

Currently, the existing main is under the curb from 4th to 6th Street and under the street from 6th to 9th Street.  

Scott said the project will allow them to move the main to the north right-of-way, getting it out from under the new street.

He said the project will also improve water flow, especially around the elementary school area, along with fire protection.  

(KLZA)--Pawnee City Council members have approved an agreement with Carlson, West, Povandra for architectural services on the Cornerstone Community Building Project.

During their April 22nd meeting the Council approved fees of approximately $38-thousand for the Omaha firms services.

The cost for the upgrades to the building is estimated at approximately $256-thousand.

Council members also reviewed the issues with voids under the deck at the swimming pool. Conversations are ongoing with Premier Pools and Spas to get the issues corrected.

Amendments to an ordinance concenring the keeping of wrecked vehicles and machinery, allowing exceptions with a Hobbyist permit was approved on final reading.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission Tuesday approved a resolution establishing a new cemetery district.

The action followed a hearing drawing no public comment.

The district will consist of the city of Hiawatha and most of Hiawatha Township.

It will provide for the continued viability and care 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.

Representatives of Hiawatha’s two cemeteries met with the Commission March 25 to request that the cemetery district be formed.

The resolution must be published twice in the official county newspaper and will take effect 30 days after the final publication unless a valid protest petition is filed signed by 10 percent of the registered voters in the district.

An organizational meeting for the new district will take place June 4 at 7:00 in the evening at the Hiawatha City Hall, which will include the election of five members to the board of directors.

The Board would have the authority to levy up to two mills to fund the upkeep and maintenance of the cemeteries.

(KLZA)--An Auburn banker was recognized during the Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference held recently in Kearney, Nebraska.

During their awards ceremony, Mike Gerdes of Auburn was recognized as Business Person of the Year. Gerdes was nominated for the award by the Peru State College PBL Chapter.

Gerdes is Vice President of the Auburn State Bank and was honored for his continual support of the Peru State Chapter and its members.

In addition to his ongoing support of PBL, Gerdes, a 1988 Peru State graduate, serves on the Board of the Peru State Football Booster Clue and served on the college's latest Strategic Planning Committee.