Left to right: Matthew Cole Scherer, Brian Spillman, Jr. (Credit: LV Co Sheriff's Office) and Scott Vandeloo (Credit: Platte Co Sheriff's Office)

(KAIR)--Amended charges are expected for the three Atchison men arrested in connection with an altercation that left a man dead.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation Monday confirmed the death of 42-year-old Cummings resident Jason Pantle.

Pantle’s family and friends began posting memorials to social media following his death Saturday. Also being shared is the hashtag #JusticeForJason.

Pantle had been hospitalized in critical condition, suffering from serious head injuries which are alleged to have occurred during an early morning September 22 attack at a party held at 159 Monument Road, in Doniphan County. 

Pantle was pronounced dead at the University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas, where he was transported after Atchison Police located him lying injured on the ground outside of a home located on Atchison’s Jayhawk Drive. According to a release last week from the KBI, he was found around 4:20 on the morning of September 22 after he had been driven to that location by a family member sometime following the fight.

In custody in connection with the altercation are 44-year-old Scott Vandeloo, 22-year-old Brian Spillman, Jr., and 30-year-old Matthew Cole Scherer. All three were arrested September 25 on charges of aggravated battery. The KBI, in a release issued Monday, said charges in the case are expected to be amended due to Pantle’s death. The Doniphan County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.

Vandeloo, following his arrest, was booked into the Platte County, Missouri Jail, but has since been transferred to Doniphan County. Spillman and Scherer are held in the Leavenworth County Jail.

Pantle, who played guitar for the Blake Camp Band, will be laid to rest Thursday afternoon following a 2:00 service at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, in Atchison.

Among his survivors are his wife, Celeste, two sons, two daughters, and his mother, Shelly, and step-father Michael Noll.

Jason Pantle (Credit: Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home)

(KLZA)-- The forecast for heavy rain over parts of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa has led to the National Weather Service issuing flash flood watches in those areas.  

A slow moving cold front is expected to trigger thunderstorms with rainfall amounts of up to five inches expected Monday evening through Wednesday morning.  Up to two inches is possible in other parts of the states.

These storms are following heavy rain that occurred over the weekend in much of the same area. 

The flood warnings continue along with Missouri River and the flood levels could be increasing another 2 – 5 feet at some gauges along the river. 

At Rulo Monday morning the river reading was 22.73 feet with the crest predicted for Saturday afternoon at 24.8 feet.  Flood stage is 17 feet at Rulo. 

At Brownville Monday the river level was 39.94 feet which is nearly 6 feet above the 34 foot flood stage.  The crest is predicted for Saturday afternoon at 44.8 feet which would be the second highest level on  record. The record level was on March 16 of this year at 45.73 feet.

At Nebraska City the river level was 21.73 feet Monday morning. Flood stage is 18 feet and the crest is predicted for Friday morning at 24.1 feet. 

Downstream at St. Joseph the river level was 23.84 feet Monday. 6.84 feet above flood stage with a crest of 26.4 feet predicted for Sunday morning.

At Atchison, Kansas, the Missouri River level Monday was 25.16 feet with a crest predicted at 28.9 feet Sunday evening.  Flood stage at Atchison is 22 feet. 

In addition, the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Tarkio River at Fairfax.  The Tarkio River is predicted to reach 24.7 feet Wednesday afternoon which is 7.7 feet above flood stage.
 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - An inmate who was injured during a prison assault earlier this month at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution has died.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 40-year-old Anthony Davis died Saturday at a Lincoln hospital where he had been treated since the Sept. 16 assault. Officials haven't named the inmate who assaulted Davis because the incident is under investigation.

Davis was serving three lift sentences at the prison for the 2012 shooting deaths of 44-year-old Miguel Avalos and his sons 18-year-old Miguel Avalos Jr. and 16-year-old Jose Avalos. All three were shot after Davis broke into their home to steal drugs and money. He was convicted in 2014.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says the State Patrol is investigating Davis' death which will be reviewed by a grand jury.

(KMZA)--An area firefighter who died in the line of duty will be honored next month during a ceremony at the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial.

68-year-old John Randle, who was a member of the Wamego Fire Department, died in January 2018 from injuries received after falling and striking his head while returning a fire apparatus to service.

Randle had been a volunteer with the department for 14 years.

WIBW-TV reports Randle's name will be added to the memorial at the National Fire Academy, in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

He and 91 other firefighters who died in the line of duty last year as well as 27 more who died in previous years will be honored on October 6, during the 38th National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service. More than 5,000 family members, friends, members of Congress, and fellow firefighters are expected to attend.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration sponsor the tribute.

(KNZA)--The Kansas Corporation Commission has voted to impose deadlines on  the new owners of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line Project—Invenergy Transmission LLC.

The KCC in a news release Thursday said the action will ensure that the 750-mile transmission line project moves forward without delay, after a lengthy history of starts and stops.

In July 2013, the Commission approved a siting permit for the 370 miles of transmission line that runs through Kansas—including several local counties-- and a converter station in the Dodge City area.  The line would continue through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana with the goal of carrying wind generated energy to eastern states.

Approval was conditioned on construction starting within five years and getting approval from other states where the Grain Belt Express would be built.

With those conditions unmet in September 2018, Grain Belt requested a five-year sunset provision. The Commission granted a limited extension until March 1 of this year.

In June, the Commission approved Invenergy’s acquisition of the transmission line. At that time, the parties agreed to replacing a sunset term, which expires on December 2nd with specific deadlines to obtain easements or financing. Those deadlines and conditions are what Commissioners approved Thursday.

(KNZA)--Three area residents are among eighty-five that have been sworn in as new attorneys in Kansas.

Matthew Rich, of Atchison, Benjamin Rioux, of Effingham and Kennedy White, of Holton, were successful applicants to the July 2019 Kansas bar examination.

They received their oaths during a ceremony Friday in the Kansas Supreme Court courtroom at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka.

White, the son of longtime Holton attorney Dennis White, is a 2012 graduate of Holton High School.

The Holton Recorder reports he is the third generation of the White family  to graduate from Washburn Law School and will be joining the firm founded by his grandfather, Marlin, in 1963 and joined by his father in 1984.

(KAIR)--The victim of a Doniphan County altercation, investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, has died.

That’s according to weekend social media posts made by members of the victim’s family.

Although the 42-year-old’s name has not officially been made public by authorities, his family and friends are sharing the hashtag JusticeForJason on social media, and identify him as Jason Pantle, of Cummings.

According to obituary information released by Atchison’s Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Pantle died Saturday.

An email sent by MSC News to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Sunday, seeking comment on Pantle’s death, was not immediately returned.

According to a release issued by the KBI prior to his death, he had been hospitalized at a Kansas City area hospital, listed in critical condition after suffering serious head injuries.

On Wednesday, three arrests were made in connection with the altercation that the KBI says happened in the early morning hours of September 22 during an overnight party at 159 Monument Road, in Doniphan County. 

In custody are 44-year-old Scott Vandeloo, 22-year-old Brian Spillman, Jr., and 30-year-old Matthew Cole Scherer. All three Atchison residents were arrested on charges of aggravated battery.

Vandeloo remains in custody in the Platte County, Missouri Jail, while Spillman and Scherer are held in the Leavenworth County Jail.

The KBI was assisted with Wednesday evening’s arrests by the Atchison Police Department, the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Doniphan County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.

Funeral services for Pantle are scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 2:00 at the funeral home, where visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 6 until 8:00.

(KLZA)--Mike and Dan  Brickman met with Pawnee County Commissioners September 24  to discuss road gravel on 718 Road between 616 and  617 Avenue.  

This is a local dirt road and to have it graveled, would require bringing it up to the minimum standards of anew road.  The requirements call for two, ten-foot lanes with three-foot shoulders, totaling 26-feet of road top.  

Engineering fees, possible purchase of right-of-way and structure sizing would be among the things to be considered. 

Pawnee County Highway Superintendent Chris Rauner will meet with engineers and obtain an estimate for the cost of the potential improvements and report back to the Board and the  Brinkman's.  

If the project moves forward, there would need to be a resolution to designate who will pay the costs of the project and for maintenance of the road after it is finished.

In other business Rauner provided lease quotes for a skid steer.  Following discussion, the Board approved a 0ne-year lease of a John Deere Skid loader with Stutheit Implement with a $4-thousand base payment for 200 hours and at the end additional  payment will be according to hours used. 

(KLZA)--Richardson County Sheriff Rick Hardesty and Deputy Roland Merwin met with the County Commissioners September 24.

Staffing changes were reported.  Rick Dettmann will be serving as a Jail  Supervisory and Clayton Hardenberger has been appointed Jail Administrator. 

The Board also voted unanimously to enter into an interlocal agreement to provide law enforcement services to the community of Humboldt with the contract price of $72,663 per year.  The contract is effective September 1, 2019 through  August 31, 2022. 

Highway  Superintendent Steve Darveau reported a purchase order for tires for count trucks is being prepared. Darveau also noted plans are being made to consider the purchase of a new motorgrader.  Dealerships will be invited to give demonstrations at the County Shop in Falls City. 

(KAIR)--A St. Joseph teenager was injured Saturday afternoon in a single-vehicle wreck in northern Platte County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 17-year-old Lauren Guess was northbound on I-29 at Dearborn when her car traveled off the roadway and struck the median cables.

Guess was transported to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph with what the Patrol described as moderate injuries.

The Patrol says she was wearing a seatbelt when the wreck happened around 4:30 Saturday afternoon.       

(KMZA)--A Saturday afternoon single-vehicle Nemaha County wreck sent a Centralia woman to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened on K-63, north of 208th Road, shortly after 1:00.

The Patrol reports 48-year-old Linda Thomas was northbound when her pickup truck left the roadway to the east. Thomas overcorrected and her vehicle re-entered the roadway, where she overcorrected again. Her vehicle went into the east ditch and overturned.   

Thomas, who was wearing a seatbelt, was transported to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca with what the Patrol described as possible injury.

(KLZA)-- Former Peru State College president Dr. Jerry Gallentine has died.

Gallentine died in Norton, Kansas at the age of 78.

He served as president of Peru State College from 1982 to 1990.

According to the College’s sesquicentennial history book, Nebraska’s First College: Shaping the Future Since 1867, “Enrollment doubled on Gallentine’s watch, and he was responsible for helping revive the Peru master of education program, which had been dead for more than 20 years.”

Gallentine left Peru State to become president of Western New Mexico University, before serving as University President and CEO of National American University for more than twenty years.

Funeral services for Dr. Jerry Gallentine will be  at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Enfield Funeral Home in Norton, Kansas.
 

(KAIR)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for Jefferson County RWD 11 located in Jefferson County.

The advisory was issued September 24 because of confirmed bacteriological contamination. The contamination also affected Jefferson County RWD 14, but the advisory that had also been issued for those water users is also lifted.

KDHE said in a news release Saturday that laboratory testing samples collected from the two water districts indicates no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the systems at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.

(KNZA)--A public health advisory for a local lake has been upgraded due to the presence blue-green algae.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment in a news release Thursday said the Atchison County Lake has been upgraded from " watch" to " warning" status.

Also under warnings are the Hiawatha City Lake and Holton's Elk Horn Lake.

14 lakes in the state are currently under public health warnings, while nine are under watches.

For lakes under warnings, direct contact with the water should be avoided.

Fish may be eaten if rinsed with clean water.  However, only the fillet portion should be consumed and all other parts discarded.

(KAIR)--An Atchison County Sheriff’s Department investigation leads to the recovery of property stolen in two burglaries.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie said sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at 1106 North 10th Street in Atchison Thursday evening where they recovered numerous items reported stolen in the break-ins.  

Recovered was all but one of the items stolen in a burglary at the Evergreen Cemetery in Effingham.  The maintenance building was broken into sometime between the evening of September 14 and the morning of September 18.

Also recovered was nearly all the items stolen in a burglary of a residence located at 5961 206th Road in rural Atchison County.  That burglary was reported September 18.

Laurie said the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office is investigating two burglaries reported Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office took a report of a break-in at the Muscotah City Hall early September 18.  Taken were about seven envelopes containing utility payments.

Laurie says the sheriff’s office has a suspect in the case.

Also the sheriff’s office took a report of a burglary at a residence located at 12717 U.S. Highway 159 in rural Muscotah.

Laurie says suspects entered the basement of the residence and removed numerous miscellaneous items—including antiques and railroad memorabilia.

The burglary is believed to have occurred sometime between August 23 and September 23.

The loss was estimated at $1,000.

(KAIR)--A man has been charged in connection with an officer-involved shooting in St. Joseph in August.

KQ2-TV reports Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Holliday announced Friday that 36-year-old Roger Ricker Jr. has been charged with three felony offenses. They include assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and felon in possession of a firearm.

The officer-involved shooting happened on August 6 in the 1000 block of River View Drive.

Ricker was injured in the shooting and taken to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.

In September, Holliday determined that the shooting was justified under Missouri law and the three officers involved would not be facing charges.

Holliday said Ricker was to be released Friday afternoon from Mosaic to the custody of the Buchanan County Sheriff on three outstanding warrants.

He is scheduled for arraignment Monday morning in Buchanan County Circuit Court. Ricker is being held on a no bond parole violation warrant.

(KLZA)--A vacancy has been declared in the Ward I Council seat in Tecumseh. 

The Tecumseh Chieftan reports the resignation of Councilman Garrett Harris was accepted during the September 9 meeting. 

The term of office expires in December, 2022.  Anyone living in Ward I that is interested in fulfilling the remainder of the term should contact Mayor Jesse Grof. 

(KNZA)--The Brown County Historical Society will hold its annual Heritage Day Saturday, September 28.

The event will take place from 10 to 3 at the Brown County Ag Museum on East Iowa Street in Hiawatha.

Among this year’s activities will be one-room schoolhouse classes, a petting zoo, pony and wagon rides, muzzleloaders and re-enactment actors.

Jack’s Cook Shack will be serving breakfast from 7 to 10  and lunch from 11 to 2.

A special addition to the day is a historical re-enactment by Nolan Sump.  Sump will be portraying Governor Edmund Morrill. He will be joined by his wife, Monica, who will be portraying the First Lady.   Sump is nearing his 20th year as a living history performer.

The Memorial Auditorium and Museum in downtown Hiawatha will also be open Saturday for free to the public from 10 to 3.

(KAIR)--The Atchison County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a burglary at the Muscotah City Hall.  

According to a release from Sheriff Jack Laurie, the building was broke into early September 18.

Taken were about seven envelopes containing utility payments.

Laurie says the sheriff’s office has a suspect in the case but the case remains under investigation.

The sheriff’s office is also investigating a burglary at a residence located at 12717 U.S. Highway 159 in rural Muscotah.

Laurie says suspects entered the basement of the residence and removed numerous miscellaneous items----including antiques and railroad memorabilia.

The loss was estimated at $1,000.

Both burglaries were reported to the sheriff’s office Tuesday.

(KAIR)--A 76-year-old Leavenworth County man has been convicted of trying to rape a young girl in May 2018.

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson in a news release said Galen Hurt, of Linwood, pleaded no contest Tuesday to amended charges of attempted rape and aggravated child endangerment on the second day of his jury trial.

Hurt was originally charged with rape.

Thompson said that part of his decision to offer a plea deal was consideration of the victim. The plea happened before the now 6-year-old victim would have to testify.

Thompson said it is a requirement that a child testify under current case law.

Hurt will be in court at a later date for sentencing.

(KLZA)-- Two people were injured when attempting to make repairs to an unoccupied semi-truck Thursday afternoon in Holt County, Missouri.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports the semi was facing west on Holt Road 320, approximately six miles southeast of Oregon. There was no one in the cab of the truck.  65-year-old Anthony Rauch of Oregon, Missouri was laying underneath the trailer, attempting to release the units locked-up brakes.  

When the brakes were released, the truck began to roll backwards, dragging and then rolling over Rauch whose injuries were described as minor.

 A second man, 41-year-old Jeremy Wolf of St. Joseph, was behind the truck and attempted to roll of of the path of the truck but was struck by the trailer.

Wolf was transported by the Atchison-Holt Ambulance to Life-Flight and then to the K.U. Medical Center with serious injuries. 

Rauch informed the investigating officers he would seek medical attention at a later time. 

The Holt County Sheriff's Office and Oregon First Responders also assisted.  

( OMaha) - Omaha Public Power District is hearing from an increased number of customers this week that they have received phone calls from scammers. The utility has received more than 100 reports so far this week.

The con is nothing new. Scammers have been aggressively targeting utility customers across the country for years, now. Several times a year, like this week, OPPD receives a spike in the number of reports from our customers. Businesses tend to be targeted frequently, as callers know they cannot afford to lose electricity. However, most of the recent reports we’ve received have come from residential customers.

Often, scammers make it look like they’re calling from OPPD’s real toll-free customer service number in order to appear more legitimate, a practice known as spoofing. Callers pretend to be OPPD employees and demand payment from customers on bills they claim are overdue. They try to get their targets to give up credit, debit or checking account information over the phone to make a payment, or to purchase a payment card, such as a Green Dot card, from a nearby store. They instruct customers to call them back with the numbers from those cards.

Another tactic scammers have used in the past is to try to convince Automatic Bill Payment customers that there’s been a bank error, and they need to pay ASAP to avoid shut off. Callers have also tried to convince customers they need to pay for equipment, such as a new meter.

OPPD stresses that NONE of these people demanding payments or financial information works for the utility. OPPD would NEVER cold call customers demanding immediate payment. And the utility would NEVER ask customers to purchase a pre-paid card to make a payment.

OPPD advises customers:

NEVER give personal or financial information to a stranger during an unsolicited phone call.

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

NEVER turn off security systems for any reason if a stranger asks. 

Any customer who receives such a request should call law enforcement immediately.

Customers with questions about making a payment, or about their account in general, should always call OPPD directly. Within Omaha, the number is 402-536-4131. 

Customers in our rural areas may talk with their local offices during business hours, as well. Outside of Omaha, customers should call 1-877-536-4131. Due to spoofing, do not trust phone calls coming in from this number and demanding payment. Hang up and dial back yourself, so you can be sure you are speaking with OPPD.
 

(KAIR)--An 80-year-old woman was killed and a two-month-old infant injured in a two-vehicle wreck in Platte County, Missouri.

According to a press release from the Platte County Sheriff's office, it happened shortly after 4:00 Tuesday afternoon at the intersection Missouri Highway 45 Spur and Stillings Road.

The Sheriff's office says the woman, from Platte City, was northbound crossing the center of the intersection when her SUV was struck by a westbound pickup truck on Missouri 45 Spur.

The woman was transported to an area hospital where she later died.  The two-month-old, who was a passenger in her vehicle, was transported to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City for treatment.

The driver of the pickup, a 65-year-old McLouth, Kansas man, was not hurt.

The sheriff's office said the woman was wearing a seatbelt and the child was properly secured in a car seat.

The names of those involved have not been released.

The wreck remains under investigation.        

(KAIR)--Three arrests are made in connection with a Doniphan County fight that left a 42-year-old man critically injured. 

According to the Kansas Bureau of investigation, the arrests were made Wednesday evening after search warrants were served.  

Taken into custody in connection with the fight, that left the man with what the KBI is calling serious head injuries, were 44-year-old Scott Vandeloo, 22-year-old Brian Spillman, Jr., and 30-year-old Matthew Scherer. All three suspects are identified in a release issued by the KBI as residents of Atchison. 

Vandeloo was arrested in Platte City, Missouri on a charge of aggravated battery. He was booked into the Platte County Jail. 

Spillman was arrested after he surrendered at the intersection of Mineral Point Road and Monument Road in rural Doniphan County. 

Scherer was arrested at the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office.
Both Spillman and Scherer were booked into the Leavenworth County Jail and face charges of aggravated battery. 

The attack the three are accused of occurred during an overnight party at 159 Monument Road in Doniphan County. 

According to the KBI, the fight happened early Sunday morning. 

Following the altercation, the victim was driven by a family member to a residence in the 1600 block of Atchison’s Jayhawk Drive. Police and EMS were called around 4:20 Sunday morning and found the victim lying on the ground outside the residence. 

First transported to the Atchison Hospital, he was later transferred to a Kansas City area hospital where he remains hospitalized in critical condition. 

The KBI was assisted with Wednesday evening’s arrests by the Atchison Police Department, the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Doniphan County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.

According to the release, no additional details are being immediately made public.

( KLZA) -- A large crowd showed up for the Southeast Community College Learning Center ribbon cutting in Falls City Thursday morning.

The new 9,500 square foot facility , located at 3200 Bill Schock Boulevard is open and a class was actually going on during the ribbon cutting. The class schedule will remain the same as in the former location in Falls City.

Community Medical Center CEO Ryan Larsen says he is excited about the opportunities the new facility will offer, enhancing the efforts of Southeast Community College, what it will do for the community, and help develop skills people need for jobs.

Falls City Mayor Shawna Bindle was among the speakers at the ribbon cutting. She said the City is excited to have a facility to train the workers local industries need.

Learning Center Coordinator Holly Carr says the wait for the new facility has been worth it.  

There are four classrooms, a large manufacturing space and a health science area. Both business and industry training will be offered by the the Learning Center.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners have voted unanimously to enter into an interlocal agreement to form the  Southeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court. 

During their Tuesday meeting Amanda VanAsperen with the Southeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court presented the agreement to Commissioners to establish the adult drug court to serve Richardson, Pawnee, Nemaha,  Johnson and Otoe counties.

Richardson County will contribute $7,878 to the Court and was selected  to be the fiscal reporting county for the Court. 

The Court will begin operations October 1.  

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Council Monday evening met in executive session to discuss fulfillment of the Pawnee City Assisted Living facilities financial obligations to the USDA. 

Following the closed session, the Council voted to approve an $80-thousand loan to the Assisted Living Board to enable them to make this years loan payment. 

The facility is not at full capacity for residency yet and the Board plans to do a marketing campaign to attract more residents. 

The Council also approved renewing the solid waste disposal agreement with Seneca Sanitation with no changes to the contract. 

It was noted the City Office in Pawnee City will be closed September 30 and October 1 to move the City Office to its new location on Main Street next door to the Cornerstone Building. 

An ordinance was approved on final reading to ad a chapter to the Code Book entitled “Small Wireless Facilities Regulations for the Right-of-Way” which concern items such as cell phone towers. 

The Council also approved a resolution to create an ordinance to set up an “enforcement  reserve fund”  which would be used to pay legal fees when citations for violations go to court, creating legal bills for the City. 

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County  Commissioners received delinquent tax listings from 2010through 2017 and the tax sale listings from January 2010 to September 2019 and the Pawnee  County Treasurer's county tax sale certificate during their Tuesday meeting. 

The Board voted to direct the County Treasurer to put the delinquent taxes that are two years or more delinquent, on the County tax sales.  The Board also voted to direct the County  Attorney to commence foreclosure upon each outstanding tax sale certificate held in the name of the County within six months after the expiration of three years from the date of issuance of such tax sale certificates, and   then continue with foreclosure to conclusion. 

In other business the Board approved paying fees for service and postage regarding failure to trim trees out of the miscellaneous line item in the miscellaneous general fund. 

(KNZA)--The 2019 Relay for Life of Brown County will take place Saturday evening, September 28.

The Relay for Life will kick off at 6:00 at the Walking Trail near the Fisher Center in Hiawatha with welcome presentations and the Survivor Walk.

Teams are invited to walk the Trail and view the luminaries, visit with survivors and vendors.

Food will be available on site and luminaries will also be available until 7:00, with a ceremony at dusk at the Paul Rockey Legion ball field at Noble Park.

The Relay for Life committee is also holding two raffles to help raise funds.    One is for a quilt pieced and quilted by the Morrill Library Quilting Club.  The other is for a 10-by-16 foot shed, made possible through the donations of several local businesses, to be delivered and set up within 75 miles of Hiawatha.   

Tickets for the quilt are $1 a ticket or six for $50.  Tickets for the shed are $20 each.  Tickets will be available at the Relay until 8:00 from team members.

Relay For Life is an American Cancer Society event that brings the communities in Brown County together to support and raise funds for cancer research.

In case of inclement weather, the Relay for Life will be held inside the Fisher Center.

For more information, you can contact Laurie Neeman at ( 785) 547-5501.

(KNZA)--A Leavenworth woman has been convicted of charges in a Medicaid fraud case.

According to a news release from the office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, 53-year-old Ena Louise Mathis pleaded guilty last week in Leavenworth County District Court to one felony count Medicaid fraud and one felony count of committing a computer crime.

An investigation revealed Mathis had submitted false claims to the Medicaid program to pay for in-home assistance for a Medicaid beneficiary for times when the beneficiary was in a hospital or a resident in a nursing facility.

The release says Mathis falsely billed the Medicaid program for $6,425 through an interactive computer system used by the program.  The crimes occurred between July 28, 2016 and January 31, 2017.

Sentencing has been scheduled for October 30.

(KNZA)--A groundbreaking ceremony is set Friday afternoon for Holton Community Hospital’s  $14.6 million expansion and renovation project.

According to the hospital’s website, the ceremony will take place at 12:30 at the hospital grounds and the public is invited to attend.

The project will include additions to the emergency department, a new nearly 6,600-square-foot clinic building, updated operating area, a renovated specialty clinic, new office space, meeting and training space, updates to current space and room for further growth.

Hospital officials say the existing hospital was built 20 years ago, and with the addition of more in-house services comes the need for more equipment and space.  Officials also say the expansion project will make it possible to recruit more new doctors and offer more services.

Funds have been secured for the project through a $14.6 million low-interest loan from USDA Rural Development to be administered by the city of Holton.  A fund-raising campaign for the project has so far raised more than $2 million.   

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County sheriff is seeking higher wages for deputies.

Sheriff Chad Clary on Monday requested the Doniphan County Commission consider increasing the starting wage scale for deputies so the sheriff’s department can be more competitive with area agencies and hire qualified personnel who would not need to attend a 14-week law enforcement training center.

The board took no action pending submission of a proposal by Clary based on area agencies wage scales.

In other business, Deb Duncan with Unity for All met with the Commission to request funding for the defunct DOVES program, which is now operating under the organization Unity for All.

The Atchison-based organization is a domestic violence safe haven for women and children.

Commissioners took no action pending the submission of additional information on the program.

Doniphan County Historical Society member Pete Duncan informed commissioners of the Kansas Historical Foundation tour to be held in Doniphan County on Friday.

About 60 participants will be touring the Tenant Baker House, Doniphan County Historical Society Museum and Doniphan County Courthouse.

(KLZA)-- The bridge on Route J, over the  Tarkio River west of  Fairfax, Missouri has re-opened to traffic. 

Contractor Phillips Hardy and the Missouri  Department of  Transportation reopened the bridge Monday evening. The bridge replacement project was scheduled to be completed at the end of August, but flooding in the middle of the project caused a delay of about one month. 

For the next week there will be some work done to complete the project meaning some single-lane closures.  Flaggers will be used to direct traffic across the bridge during those times. 

(KLZA)-- Pawnee City is looking to fill a soon to be vacant seat on the City Council. 

Monday night,  Council member Sandi Corbitt-Sears letter of resignation was accepted.  Corbitt-Sears will be moving from Pawnee  City to Minden to help care for her mother.  Her resignation is effective October 17. 

Any qualified person living within the city limits may seek the open Council seat.  Those interested should stop by City Hall and pick up an application, fill it out and return in to City Hall by October 11.  

The person selected will fill the vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term.  

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) - A southeast Nebraska man has been sentenced to jail and probation for stealing thousands of dollars' worth of brass from his employer.
 
Nemaha County District Court records show 26-year-old Justin Heard, of Auburn, pleaded no contest to seven counts after prosecutors dropped seven others in return. He was credited at Monday's sentencing hearing with three days already served and ordered to spend 87 more in jail. He was sentenced to 4 1/2 years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of nearly $22,400.
 
A court document says a surveillance system showed Heard loading brass into a vehicle at Magnolia Metal in rural Auburn. Investigators say he sold the brass for nearly $14,000 to a recycler in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The records say the crimes began occurring in August last year.
 

(KAIR)--A change is made at a heavily traveled Atchison traffic route.

A four way stop configuration has been put in place at the intersection of 2nd and Commercial Streets.

That follows a long-time effort by the City of Atchison to improve traffic flow at that location in the name of safety.

According to Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont, placement of the stops signs meant the removal of the controversial temporary curb median/extensions that had been in place at that location for nearly 2-years. He cites the degrading condition of the equipment, leading to an undesirable aesthetic, as one reason for the removal.

The matter was discussed during a workshop held by the City Commission on September 16.

According to Pregont, the stop signs are put in place on a 90 day trial period, under the direction of Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Once the 90 day period concludes, the City Commission will have to decide whether or not the configuration will remain in place permanently.

(KMZA)--A Pawnee City teenager is being remembered.

15-year-old Kyle Klepper died Saturday from injuries received in a single-vehicle roll-over wreck on Highway 50, north of Pawnee City.  He was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by his father.

Klepper was currently a sophomore at Pawnee City High School.

An obituary from the Wherry Mortuary in Pawnee City describes Klepper as a simple, easy going young man with a heart of gold who would do anything for anyone, especially his family.

Services for Klepper will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 at the Pawnee City High School gymnasium.

Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mortuary, where his family will greet friends from 6 to 8.

Among survivors are his parents, Herbert and Laurie Klepper, and several   siblings.   

Submitted photo 

(KAIR)--A local nurse earns statewide recognition as Physician of the Year.

Nurse practitioner Fonda Lafrenz APRN was selected for the honor by the Kansas Home Care and Hospice Association. She received the recognition during the association’s annual meeting held in Lawrence, Kansas September 19.

According to a news release, Lafrenz, a resident of Hiawatha, was nominated by the administrators of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Home Health and Hospice, located in Hiawatha.

According to the release, Lafrenz, following her retirement in local family practice, continued as a nurse practitioner for two different hospices.

The nomination letter calls Lafrenz “a true hero and champion for those with serious disease,” adding that she is a critical part of the agency’s team.

Lafrenz began her nursing career in 1979, working in home care off and on since 1988. In 2000, she completed her nurse practitioner education.

Northeast Kansas Multi-County Home Health and Hospice provides services to the local counties of Brown, Atchison, Doniphan, Jackson, and Nemaha.

(KNZA)--The city of Horton is requesting Brown County help the city with matching funds for a grant to be sought for the replacement of the Civic Center roof.

Horton City Administrator John Calhoon and Mayor Bryan Stirton met with the Brown County Commission Monday to make the request.

County Commission Chairman Keith Olsen is currently working on an application for a Heritage Trust Fund grant through the Kansas Historical Society. The grant, which is due by November 1, requires a 20 percent local match.

Stirton said the Civic Center was constructed by the WPA in 1937-39.  Calhoon said the building is currently primarily used for agricultural activities.  Olson said the current roof is more than 20 years old.

It was the consensus of the Commission to wait until more information is received before making a decision on the city’s request.  

In other business, county resident Steve Lukert met with the Commission to further discuss a request to have a three-mile stretch of old 75 Highway stripped from U. S. 36 north to Sabetha for safety reasons.

Brown and Nemaha Counties currently share maintenance responsibility for the road.

Lukert plans to meet with the Nemaha County Commission next week.  

Commissioners requested Lukert come back with some cost figures.  

Following an executive session, the Commission accepted the resignation of District 3 Road foreman Todd Gruber with regret.  The resignation is effective September 27

According to his letter of resignation, Gruber has accepted a position with Walnut Township.

He has been with the county for 11 years.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded a grant for the purchase of  recorders for the dispatch office phones.

Sheriff Rich Vernon informed county commissioners Monday of the grant for just over $22,000 through the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council.

The grant requires a 40 percent local match.

The recorders cost just over $37,000.

The cost to the county will be $15,000, which will come from the 911 fund.

In other business, the Commission approved the purchase of two portable defibrillators for the Community Building and Pioneer Building at a cost of $1,800 each.

County Emergency Preparedness Director Russ Lierz reported to commissioners on the active shooter training exercise that took place at the Nemaha Central Schools September 16.

He said they used Marshall County’s mobile command center for the training and would like to outfit the Nemaha County emergency preparedness trailer as a mobile command center.  Lierz said he palns to ask for public donations for the project.

The zoning presentation that had been scheduled for Monday’s meeting was canceled because the attorney who was to give the presentation had a family emergency.  A new date has not been set for the presentation.

The Commission held a 15-minute executive session with the county’s windfarm attorney, James Neeld, to talk about the road use agreement for the Soldier Creek wind farm project.  No action was taken after the session.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved two agenda items during their September 16th meeting to help move forward the development of an area for new home construction in Falls City. 

The Council first approved the expenditure as recommended by the Board of Public Works of up to $346-thousand to install infrastructure for the Champions Crossing Redevelopment Project.  City Administrator Gary Jorn said the Utility Department would put in gas, sewer, water and electricity.  Funds would come from revenues of the utility funds. 

The next step was to amend the Redevelopment Plan to allow the use of Tax Increment Financing for other phases of the project as recommended by the Planning Commission. The TIF funds would be used for grading and streets for the development. 

The Champions Crossing project is to be completed in up to six sub-phases.  Phase I would be the construction of approximately six single family detached homes.

The location of phase I would be north of 28th Street off of Abbott Street. 

(KLZA)-- Nemaha County, Nebraska Commissioners met September 18th. 

The Board appointed Doug Merz, Dylan Handley and Scott Kudrna to the Public Defenders Board.  They will  review the application submitted for appointment of the Nemaha County Public Defender. 

A resolution adopting the Nemaha County Safety Handbook as reviewed and recommended by the Nemaha County Safety Committee was approved.  

Several change orders for the addition to the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office was approved including nearly $11-thousand for the detention door brought about from continued conversations with the State Fire Marshall and another for $10,385 for additional concrete on the east side of the current driveway. 

(KAIR)--An investigation is launched following a Doniphan County fight that happened last weekend, and left a 42-year-old man critically injured.

According to a news release issued by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the altercation occurred early Sunday morning during a party on property located in southern Doniphan County.

According to the release, the victim sustained his injuries during a fight with other party goers. The number of those involved is not stated by the KBI.

The man was transported by a family member to a residence in Atchison, where police and EMS were called around 4:20 Sunday morning.

According to a statement from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, officers responded to the residence, located in the 1600 block of Jayhawk Drive, and found the victim lying outside the home on the ground. Following a police investigation, Doniphan County authorities were notified, who, in turn, called on the KBI.

The victim, according to the KBI, was first transported to the Atchison Hospital for treatment, and later transported to a Kansas City area hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

The victim’s name is not made public.

No arrests have yet been made and the investigation is ongoing.

The KBI continues to be assisted by the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office and the Atchison Police Department.

(KAIR)--Two boil water orders are in place for two rural water districts located in Jefferson County.

Affected are Jefferson County Rural Water Districts 11 and 14.

According to a release from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the boil water orders were issued Tuesday due to confirmed bacteriological contamination.

They will remain in effect until rescinded by KDHE following testing at a certified laboratory.

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.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water Order on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at  kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.

(KLZA)-- A single-vehicle roll-over wreck in Pawnee County over the weekend resulted in the death of 15-year-old who was a passenger in the vehicle.

According to a release from Pawnee County Attorney Jennifer Stehlik Ladman, the wreck happened on Highway 50 north of Pawnee City around 10:30 Saturday morning.

The release says the northbound vehicle came to to rest in a fence line south of 711 Road. Both occupants of the vehicle were ejected.

A 51-year-old male resident of Pawnee City was air lifted to an area hospital where he continues to receive treatment for his injuries. His 15-year-old son died shortly after being transported from the scene.

The wreck remains under investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office and Nebraska State Patrol.

According to the release, identification of the individuals involved and additional details will not be released without consent of the family.

(KNZA)--An Atchison man is facing charges in connection with a Brown County burglary.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant says 41-year-old Nichlos Norton was arrested September 19 following an investigation by the sheriff's department.

Norton made his first appearance Friday in Brown County District Court on charges of burglary and misdemanor theft.

According to the criminal complaint, Norton is accused of the burglary of a barn located at 2979 Kingfisher Road.

Stolen were a chainsaw, handheld wheel grinder and gas.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for Wednesday, September 25.

Norton remains in the Brown County Jail on a $2,500 cash or surety bond.

(KAIR)--No one was hurt, despite a vehicle being hit and dragged by a train Monday morning in Buchanan County, Missouri.

KQ2-TV reports the driver fell asleep, leading to the crash.

Citing Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett, the TV station reports the wreck happened after the vehicle crossed the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and Highway 45, and onto the nearby railroad tracks.

Waking up, the driver tried to drive the vehicle off of the tracks to avoid an oncoming train but was not successful, causing the train to smash into the vehicle, which was then dragged northbound.

The car rolled over after the train came to a stop.

According to the report, the driver was able to walk away from the crash with no injuries.

(KAIR)--Atchison County gains new oversight for road and bridges.

That comes with the hiring of James Harbour as Public Works Director of the Road and Bridge Department.

Atchison County Commissioners on Tuesday approved offering the position to Harbour, who has since accepted, signing the contract that same afternoon.

He begins work October 9.

According to a news release issued by Atchison County Human Resource Director Jamie Madison, Harbour will be responsible for administrative and supervisory work in the planning, construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and noxious weeds.

Harbour brings with him to the position multiple inspector certifications and experience in project management, supervision, and reporting.

He was also an Airman and Intelligent Specialist in the United States Navy aboard the Virginia-based USS Ronald Reagan.

A resident of both Oklahoma and New Mexico, Harbour has been living in Florida for the past several years.

Madison, in the release said that Harbour’s certifications and experience in construction and project management, “will be a great addition” to Atchison County.

Harbour, in the release, said he is “blessed to have been given [the] opportunity,” and has a goal of making “a positive impact in the County.”

According to Madison, Harbour’s starting base annual salary will be $63,000.

He is expected to relocate to Atchison early next month.

(KAIR)--U.S. 59 Highway east of Atchison has been closed again because of flooding.

That word sent out early Tuesday morning in an alert by the St. Joseph Police Department.

The alert says the road is shutdown from Highway 45 to Atchison.

As the Missouri River continues to rise, a local Kansas roadway joins those in Missouri and Nebraska in being closed due to flooding.

According to Doniphan County Emergency Management, K-7 Highway, north of White Cloud, was closed Monday morning due to water over the roadway.

On Sunday, the Missouri Department of Transportation closed U.S. Route 159, from Rulo, Nebraska to Route 111, in Missouri. Route 111 to Route 118, in Holt County, Missouri, was also closed Sunday

In Doniphan County, the river as of Monday morning, had climbed to 21.13 feet. According to Doniphan County Emergency Management, it’s expected to crest Tuesday at 22.6 feet, and then slowly fall to 19 feet.

The Missouri River at Atchison Monday morning stood at 22.81 feet, and is expected to crest Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and then begin a slow decline.

The rise in the river is due to recent heavy rain, leading to an increase in water releases from Gavins Point Dam.

(KLZA)-- Authorities are investigating a rural Humboldt house fire over the weekend, which has been deemed suspicious.

The Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department was called to the scene of the fire about 4 miles southeast of Humboldt shortly after 5:00 Saturday afternoon. 

The large two-story home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Fire Chief Rex Kapel said the house was mainly used as a hunting lodge by its owner who lives in Kentucky.  The house was currently unoccupied.

No injuries were reported.

The origin of the fire is called suspicious in nature and no other details are available. The Nebraska State Fire Marshall and the Richardson County Sheriff's Department are investigating the cause of the blaze. 

.

(KNZA)--Grant funds will be sought for improvement projects at the Hiawatha Municipal Airport.

The city commission during a special meeting Thursday evening approved seeking two grants through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s  Airport Improvement Program for design engineering and renovation of the existing 4-unit T-hangar.   

The design portion of the project is estimated at $24,000.  If awarded, the grant would cover 95 percent of the cost, with the city responsible for the remaining 5 percent or $1,200.

Renovation of the hanger is estimated at $100,000.  If awarded, the grant would cover 85 percent of the cost, with the city responsible for the remaining 15 percent or $15,000.  

City Administrator Mike Nichols said renovation of the hanger would increase the number of aircraft based at the airport, airport revenue and the ability of the city to market the airport to potential businesses looking to locate in the area.

The Commission at their September 16 meeting approved seeking a KDOT grant for the installation of a new lighting system for the airport’s two runways.  If awarded, the grant would cover 85 percent of the project cost.

The city was awarded two grants earlier this year totaling $38,000 for engineering design in preparation for the project.

(KLZA)-- Unemployment figures dipped in all six extreme Southeast Nebraska counties during the month of August. 

Richardson, Pawnee, Otoe and Gage counties all had unemployment rates of 3.3 percent for August.  The rate dipped six tenths of a percent in both Richardson and Pawnee counties from July. In Otoe County the jobless rate went down eight-tenths of a percent.

Despite a drop of eight-tenths of a percent, Nemaha County has the highest unemployment rate in the area at 4.2 percent which is tied for the sixth highest figure in the state. 

In Johnson County the unemployment rate of 3.8 percent is down a tenth and is the 9th highest rate among the states 93 counties. 

Officials say Nebraska's unemployment remained steady at 3.1% in August, matching the July figure.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in a news release Friday that the preliminary August rate was four-tenths of a point higher than the adjusted August 2018 rate of 2.7%.

The new Nebraska rate is well below August's national preliminary rate of 3.7%, which is unchanged from the July and June rate.

(KLZA)-- Two people were injured in a wreck approximately six miles south of Mound City at the intersection of U.S. 59 and U.S. 159 Highways on Monday, September 16 shortly before 5:00 P.M.  

The Missouri Highway Patrol report indicates 59-year-old Chris Kurtz of Oregon, Missouri, was eastbound on US 159, driving a 1999 International 9900 Eagle Truck and 60-year-old Lydia Dearmont of Maitland, Missouri was northbound on US 59 Highway when the wreck occurred. 

The report indicates Kurtz failed to yield to Dearmont's Jeep Grand Cherokee, causing her vehicle to begin to skid. The front drivers side bumper of the Jeep struck the passengers side door of the truck.  

Dearmont was transported to Mosaic Hospital in St. Joseph by the Atchison-Holt EMS with what were described as minor injuries.  

The Holt County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Police Department responded to the scene of the wreck.

Editor's note: due to a reporter's error, an earlier version of this story misidentified the drivers. We apologize for this error. 
 

(KLZA)-- A FEMA mapping project is currently underway in Richardson County to update the Flood Insurance Rate Maps.  

The project includes a new study providing up to date flood hazard information and changes for communities. 

A public open house to hear from floodplain mapping experts from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and flood insurance experts from FEMA will be held from 5 – 7:00 P.M. Tuesday evening at Prichard Auditorium in Falls City. 

Those attending will be able to learn about specific flood risk and flood insurance information for your own property and you will be able to ask questions about the flood study and other topics. 

The preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps will be displayed at the meeting for the public's view. 

(KNZA)--The Jackson Co. Sheriff's office arrested a Denison man Sunday evening  following a manhunt with the help of a drone.

According to a news release from Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, the sheriff’s office received a 911 call around 5:00 about a domestic situation in the 17-thousand block of 190th Road west of the city of Denison.

Morse said when deputies arrived on the scene the suspect, identified as 42 year-old Ronald Bruce Dover, had fled on foot.

The sheriff’s office deployed their drone to assist in the search for Dover, later finding and arresting him about a quarter mile southeast of the scene.

Dover was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he was booked on  charges of criminal threat, domestic battery, endangering a child and criminal restraint.

(KAIR)--Minor delays are expected during an upcoming inspection of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, which connects Atchison to Buchanan County, Missouri.

According to a release from the Kansas Department of Transportation, the routine inspection work is planned from 9:00 Tuesday morning until 3:00 that afternoon.

While the work is conducted, one lane of traffic will be closed in each direction. The outside lanes and shoulders will have traffic cones in place in order to protect the work area. Arrow boards will be used to channel traffic.

KDOT advises motorists to allow extra travel time while the work is conducted.

The bridge inspection team’s work is dependent on weather.

(KLZA)-- Congressional caseworkers from the office of Nebraska Third District Congressman Adrian Smith will be in Auburn and Falls City Monday.

The Caseworker in Your Community program is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with one of Smith's congressional caseworkers who may be able to assist those with various concerns including flood recovery and federal agencies such as the USDA, FEMA, VA, Social Security, Medicare and the IRS.

Caseworkers will be at the Auburn Memorial Library from 11:00 A.M. - noon and at the Falls City Library and Arts Center from 1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.

(KAIR)--An investigation is launched into a midweek burglary at an Atchison residence; and while an arrest is not yet made, Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News leads are developing. “We do have some ideas of what occurred,” Wilson said. “This was a daytime burglary in a residential area. That’s unusual. There was some evidence left behind, there’s some leads that we’re following. The victim helped us in directions that may lead us to a suspect. I think we will resolve this very soon.”

The burglary happened sometime Wednesday afternoon. “Forced entry was made through a rear door at a residence in the 1000 block of North 5th,” Wilson said. “The 45-year-old resident reported the theft of a Ruger .44 caliber handgun, silver coins, liquor, and jewelry, which included wedding rings, earrings, and necklaces.”

Wilson said the total loss is estimated at $4,000.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council heard a presentation Monday evening from Christina Wertenberger, curator of the Stalder Art Gallery at the Falls City Library and Arts  Center, seeking a proclamation declaring Falls City “A city of arts.” 

The City has a rich history of art in Falls City.  Collecting and preserving visual arts of local artists as well as other has been ongoing for more than 100 years. 

In addition to the art collection, Falls City has The Stalder Gallery,  John P. Falter  Museum, Richardson County Historical Museum, Area Artist association Gallery and public sculpture showcasing the dedication the community has towards the arts.  

Wertenberger believes Falls City would be the first community in Nebraska to claim to be a “city of the arts.”  The purpose would be to help increase foot traffic as art patrons tour communities that support the arts. It would be an opportunity to showcase the community and a chance to honor those who have made arts so important in the community.  

Saturday Evening Post Illustrator John Falter is a native son as well as painter Alice Cleaver, artist and author Alan Tubach and jazz musician Pee Wee Erwin.

The City Council is expected to take action on the proposed proclamation during their October 7 meeting.  
 
 

(KAIR)--Several Atchison County thefts, committed in recent days are under investigation; however, authorities can’t yet say if there is any connection between the crimes, with Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie saying there is not currently any evidence to tie them together. “To say they’re related is difficult to determine at this point,” Laurie said.

Laurie said one theft involved a break-in at the Evergreen Cemetery maintenance building, in Effingham. Some type of pry tool was used to force entry through the walk-in door; and once entry was made, it was discovered that a gas can and a STIHL brand weed trimmer were taken.

The report was made September 15, with investigators believing the items were taken sometime between the evening of September 14 and the morning of September 15, with additional missing items reported on the morning of September 16.

Discovered missing at that time were an air compressor, hand tools, a shovel, a rake, and a large spool of weed trimmer string.

According to the report from Laurie, it’s possible those items were taken during a separate incident.

There are not yet any suspects.

Total value of the missing items is approximately $500.

Another theft case, reported on September 16, is also being investigated, with Urban Lawn Care missing more than $1,000 worth of items.

According to the report, a chain saw and two pole saws were taken. However, it’s unclear if they were stolen from the location of the business, at 5537 U.S. Highway 73, in rural Atchison County, or from a job site.

The total loss is estimated at $1,400.

It’s believed they disappeared sometime between September 2 and September 16.

In another theft case, money is reported missing from a Muscotah restaurant.

According to Laurie’s report, the $236 was taken sometime between the early afternoon of September 16 and the morning of September 17.
No forced entry was discovered, and the investigation is continuing.

Another case remaining under investigation involves the burglary of a rural Atchison County residence, located at 5961 206th Road, in Valley Falls.

It was there that several power tools and frozen steaks were taken, with the loss estimated around $50.
According to Laurie, someone forced their way inside the residence, causing damage to the door.

(KLZA)-- A ribbon cutting and open house for the Southeast Community College Learning Center in Falls City is scheduled for Thursday, September 26 at 11:00 a.m. 

The new facility located at 3200 Bill Schock Boulevard will provide training and learning opportunities to the area through a variety of classes and services.  Holly Carr is the Learning Center coordinator. 

The 9,500 square foot facility includes four classrooms, a large manufacturing space and a health science area. Credit and non-credit courses will be offered as well as business and industry training.  

Southeast Community College President Dr. Paul Illich,  Falls City Mayor Shawna Bindle, SCC Board Chairperson Nancy Seim and Carr will be speaking during the grand opening.  

(KAIR)--A local community domestic violence and sexual abuse prevention shelter is among those receiving federal funds.

According to a news release issued by the office of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, more than $1.2 million is earmarked for domestic violence-related services in communities across Kansas.

The funds are made available through the Federal Family Violence Prevention Services Act grant program.

Locally, more than $50,000 is designated for the Leavenworth-based Alliance Against Family Violence. In August, the Atchison City Commission gave unanimous approval to designate the organization as the official domestic violence shelter to provide services to the City of Atchison.

Grant funds are also allocated for use in 18 other Kansas Counties, none within the local area.

According to the release, the federal grant program assists states in their efforts to support the establishment, maintenance and expansion of programs and projects to prevent incidents of family, domestic, and dating violence, as well as to provide immediate shelter, support services, and access to community based programs for victims of such violence.

Kelly, in the release, said the “grant will help provide [the] critical resources where they are needed most.”

The release says the programs receiving assistance provide outreach, shelter, support groups, crisis intervention and advocacy in obtaining protection from abuse orders, court accompaniment, transportation and prevention education in schools and communities.

(KNZA)--A young Hiawatha man charged in connection with the burglary of a Hiawatha liquor store has waived his preliminary hearing.

Michael Fetty was bound over to Brown County District Court Wednesday on felony charges of burglary and criminal damage to property along with a misdemeanor count of theft.

Arraignment was set for October 28.

Fetty and co-defendant, Hiawatha resident Dalton Enke, are accused of breaking into Henry Retail Liquor located in the 12-hundred block of Oregon Street early May 23 and stealing liquor.

A preliminary hearing for Enke, who faces the same charges as Fetty,  is set for October 22.

The pair remain free on bond.   

(KNZA)--The Holton City Commission has approved an ordinance authorizing Sunday sales of package liquor and cereal malt beverages in the Jackson County community.

The ordinance was approved during this week’s meeting on a 5-0 vote.  

The ordinance must be published twice in the official city newspaper and will take effect 61 days after the final publication unless a valid protest petition is filed.  A valid petition would force the matter to a public vote.

If the ordinance becomes law, Sunday liquor and beer sales would be allowed from 12 noon to 8 p.m. except on Easter.

The Holton Recorder reports the city recently received a request from a local liquor store owner to allow Sunday sales.  It was also noted that two other Jackson County communities,  Mayetta and Hoyt, currently allow Sunday beer and liquor sales.

State law allows cities to either pass an ordinance allowing Sunday sales, or allow the city’s registered voters to decide whether it should be allowed.   

Editor's Note: The Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau and Maple Leaf Committee says all events will still be a go in case of rain, however watch their social media for possible change in vendor and entertainment location.

(KNZA)--The annual Maple Leaf Festival will take place Saturday in downtown Hiawatha around the Courthouse Square.

Ryan Meininger, head of the Hiawatha Chamber Maple Leaf Festival Committee,  said this year’s event, which will run from 10 to 6, promises to be bigger and better.

It will include vendors, food trucks, a car show, activities for kids and entertainment.

Meininger says headlining the entertainment will be Nashville artist Erik Dylan, a native of Muscotah.

He said entertainment will be provide on two different stages—with the main stage set up in the middle of Oregon Street and the second stage on the north courthouse steps.

The following is the schedule of entertainment:

10:30-11 a.m. – Costumed Storytelling on courthouse steps

11 – 11:30 a.m. – Jazz Band on courthouse steps

11:45-12:15 – Magician Barron Stringfellow on courthouse steps

12:15-1:15 – Ian Bender and Josh May acoustic on main stage

1:15-1:30 p.m. – Meet & Greet Elsa, Spiderman and Cpt. America on courthouse steps

1:30-2 p.m. – Magician Barron Stringfellow on courthouse steps

2-2:45 p.m. – Tom Keller acoustic on main stage

3-4 p.m. – Bender band on main stage

4-5:30 p.m. – Erik Dylan on main stage
Meininger says back by popular demand is the Discovery Zone Mobile Museum—which will be set up on the north side of the courthouse square.

There will also be inflatables, a rock climbing wall, mechanical bull and obstacle courses.

In addition, Rafter B Ranch will be offering pony rides again.

The day will kick off with the 1st annual Glazin’ the Streets 5K and Donut Dash Fun Run sponsored by Hiawatha Parks and Recreation, beginning with sign-up at 9:00.

(KNZA)--A public health advisory for a local lake has been upgraded, while an advisory has been issued for another local lake due to the presence of blue-green algae.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a news release Thursday that Holton's Elk Horn Lake has been upgraded from "watch to "warning" status.

KDHE also said the Hiawatha City Lake remains under " warning" status.

The release said a health watch has been issued for the Atchison County Lake.

12 lakes in the state are currently under warnings, with 11 under watches.

When a warning is issued, KDHE says water contact should be avoided.

Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water. However, only the fillet portion should be consumed and all other parts discarded.

For lakes under watch status, people are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation, and keeps pets and livestock away from the water.

You should clean fish well with potable water and eat only the fillet portion.

KLZA-- Following public  hearings on the proposed 201920 Fiscal Year budget proposal and the proposed property tax levy on  Tuesday morning, Richardson County Commissioners approved the budget and tax levy.

No one from the public appeared at the hearings to comment.

The property tax levy will be 33.74 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, a decrease from 34.02 cents last year. 

The budget was also approved as proposed at $14,923,372.  an increases of $918,482 amounting to a 6.5 percent increase.  The property tax requirement to meet the budget will be $4,695,654 which includes $400-thousand in cash reserves and nearly $246-thousand for the Jail Bond. 

The Richardson County valuation decreased three-percent this year, amounting to nearly $40-million,  to $1,391,753,212. 

(KMZA)--Three Wetmore residents were injured Wednesday evening two-vehicle northwest Missouri wreck.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it happened on Route B in Ray County shortly after 6:00.

The Patrol reports 31-year-old Stephanie Peuker was attempting to make a U-turn when a vehicle crested a hill and struck her vehicle in the passenger side.

Pueker and two passengers in her vehicle, 52-year-old Lorraine Bounds and a three-year boy, all of Wetmore, were transported by ambulance to Ray County Memorial Hospital for the treatment of what the Patrol described as minor injuries.

The driver of the second vehicle from Bucklin, Missouri was not hurt but a passenger in his vehicle was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.

 OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The Missouri River continues to rise and flood mostly rural land in Nebraska and Iowa, but Interstate 29 remains open near Omaha.
 
Iowa Transportation Department officials expect to have to close parts of I-29 at some point during this week's flooding.
 
The river is expected to crest Saturday near Omaha after overnight rains dropped 1-to-3 inches in the area.
 
The highway remained open Thursday morning although several onramps were closed in southwest Iowa.
 
The lower Missouri River is flooding in Nebraska and Iowa this week because exceptionally heavy rains fell last week in Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska.
 
Officials don't expect the floodwaters to cause significant damage to communities. But many levees remain damaged from severe flooding in the spring.
 
The floodwaters broke through two levees Wednesday in a rural area northeast of Omaha.
 

(KAIR)--A Lancaster teen received hospital care following a single vehicle wreck on an Atchison County roadway Monday morning.

According to a report issued by Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, 15-year-old Alieta Cluck was driving in the 9600 block of K-9 Highway, in rural Atchison County, when the car ran off the road and into a ditch.

Complaining of what Laurie’s report called a neck injury, Cluck was transported to the Atchison Hospital for treatment.

The cause remains under investigation.

It happened shortly after 7:30 Monday morning.

(KAIR)--An Ozawkie man is going to prison, sentenced in connection with a self-inflicted gunshot committed with an illegally possessed handgun.

According to the Office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, 26-year-old Keeno Collins was sentenced Tuesday to 2 ½ years in federal prison.

According to the office, Collins pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In his plea, Collins admitted that he was found by Topeka police, on the grounds of the Topeka West High School, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper left arm. Collins told police he didn’t know what happened. However, with police finding a gun nearby, they were able to match the DNA on the weapon to Collins, who was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2015 Shawnee County drug charge conviction.

(KNZA)--The city of Hiawatha will offer E-billing.

On the recommendation of City Clerk Tish Sims, the Hiawatha City Commission Monday evening approved the purchase of a software program from Gworks for online utility billing.

It will cost the city $1,500 a year plus a one-time installation fee of $600.

Currently, more than 1,500 utility statements are mailed out each month.

Sims estimated “going green” will save the city $3,600 a year.  In addition, she said it will save employee time.

Residents will have the option of signing up to receive their utility bills on-line.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has approved an agreement with a Kansas City, Missouri engineering firm to determine needed repairs at the city’s sewer treatment plant.

The Commission Monday evening approved an agreement with Olsson Associates to troubleshoot the current operational issues with the existing control system at the plant and develop an estimated repair cost.

The firm will provide the service for a fee of $4,900.

The repairs will provide a short term fix as new controls will have to be installed in a couple years to meet Kansas Department of Health and Environment regulations.

In other action, the Commission accepted the lone bid submitted by Jadwin Construction, of Hiawatha, for a sewer line replacement project from 2nd to 3rd Street between Cheyenne and Pawnee Streets.

The bid was for $28,160.  

(KNZA)--The vocal music instructor at Highland Community College has been appointed as artistic administrator for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.

According to a news release from the College, Shayna Leahy previously served the organization as director of production for the previous two summer seasons.
 
Now preparing for its 16th season on the Big Island of Hawaii, the release says the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival brings young musicians from all over the world to the island each summer for intensive study and performance training, affording young artists the opportunity to perform with professional musicians under the guidance of some of the world's most established teachers and mentors.

 Leahy writes, “it’s a great opportunity for me to stay engaged with the professional performing arts world.  The faculty and creative staff for this festival work across the globe.  I am so fortunate to be able to collaborate with them and to bring their knowledge and experiences back to my students here in Kansas.  It helps my students better understand the realities and expectations of emerging artists into the professional realm.”

 Leahy has worked at Highland College since 2004 in the music department and office of admissions before becoming the vocal music instructor in 2007. In addition to teaching vocal music, the Hiawatha resident, directs music on campus. She leads the HCC Lads & Lassies, the premier vocal group on the campus since 1966, the HCC Chorus and co-directs musicals and plays in the theater program. Leahy has also garnered acclaim for her work as a stage director. Leahy's productions of Carmen, Aida, Otello, Il Trovatore, Turnadot, and Madama Butterfly, have all been seen at Wichita Grand Opera, in Wichita, Kansas, in previous seasons. Most recently, she made her New York City Opera debut in 2018 with Il Barbiere di Siviglia in Bryant Park.

(KNZA)--The vocal music instructor at Highland Community College has been appointed as artistic administrator for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.

According to a news release from the College, Shayna Leahy previously served the organization as director of production for the previous two summer seasons.
 
Now preparing for its 16th season on the Big Island of Hawaii, the release says the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival brings young musicians from all over the world to the island each summer for intensive study and performance training, affording young artists the opportunity to perform with professional musicians under the guidance of some of the world's most established teachers and mentors.

 Leahy writes, “it’s a great opportunity for me to stay engaged with the professional performing arts world.  The faculty and creative staff for this festival work across the globe.  I am so fortunate to be able to collaborate with them and to bring their knowledge and experiences back to my students here in Kansas.  It helps my students better understand the realities and expectations of emerging artists into the professional realm.”

 Leahy has worked at Highland College since 2004 in the music department and office of admissions before becoming the vocal music instructor in 2007. In addition to teaching vocal music, the Hiawatha resident, directs music on campus. She leads the HCC Lads & Lassies, the premier vocal group on the campus since 1966, the HCC Chorus and co-directs musicals and plays in the theater program. Leahy has also garnered acclaim for her work as a stage director. Leahy's productions of Carmen, Aida, Otello, Il Trovatore, Turnadot, and Madama Butterfly, have all been seen at Wichita Grand Opera, in Wichita, Kansas, in previous seasons. Most recently, she made her New York City Opera debut in 2018 with Il Barbiere di Siviglia in Bryant Park.

(KAIR)--A local area hospital, whose doors were closed earlier this year, is expected to be sold at auction.

That comes as an auction date is set for the Horton Community Hospital, along with the facility’s properties.

Horton City Administrator John Calhoon, citing the trustee involved with the bankruptcy proceedings which include the Horton hospital, told MSC News the auction date is scheduled for December 19.

According to an email obtained by MSC News from the bankruptcy trustee, as sent to Calhoon, business restructuring firm Sherwood Partners has been selected as investment bankers for the auction of Horton’s hospital, along with six other critical access hospitals included in the bankruptcy proceedings.

Although the fate of the hospital will likely remain unknown until a buyer is found, Calhoon said he is hopeful that the sale would mean a return of at least some healthcare services to the south Brown County community. “If that day comes, December 19, and the hospital is sold, we don’t know who would be purchasing it, but it will sell, and my understanding is there’s no minimum or no reserve set on the property, but if someone purchases it for other reasons...I guess the thing that maybe we need to be optimistic about is potentially someone in the medical area may have some interest in acquiring the property.”

The hospital closed the doors March 12, following a lengthy stretch when employees did not receive paychecks.

The former owner, Kansas City firm EmpowerHMS, headed by Jorge Perez, is facing lawsuits in connection with the closing of the Horton hospital, along with the firm’s other hospital holdings.

Calhoon said it’s his belief that with the controversial Perez now fully out of the picture, new interest will be found in owning and operating Horton Community Hospital. “I think there were some holdouts, as far as moving forward with medical services, due to the ownership was still going to be maintained by Mr. Perez and his associates until proceedings were finalized with the bankruptcy. I think there was some hesitancy in getting too involved with any operations of medical services. In that aspect, it may open up some possibilities, and it may open up quite a bit more interest than what we’ve had.”

However, Calhoon also notes that in a long shot, best case scenario, it’s possible the sale could be stopped, allowing the reopening of the hospital as a critical access hospital, under a management firm of the bankruptcy trustee’s choice, if approved by the bankruptcy court. That could only happen if the hospital’s CMS licensing, which pertains to Medicare and Medicaid funding, is reinstated in the coming months. “There’s still a great concern with the CMS licensing and that still, in my opinion, if we were able to get clarification on the CMS licensing prior to December 19, I think there would be the possibility that the sale would be possibly be canceled, and we open up with a full critical access hospital, clinic, everything we had. I think this does tell us that we will have some different format, or level of medical services. However, I’m saying with great faith that we will, at minimum, have some sort of clinic.”

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

(KAIR)--Tuesday is Constitution Day, as September 17 is set aside each year to commemorate the formation and signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Timed with that date is the announcement of the Center for Constitutional Liberty at Atchison’s Benedictine College.

Funded through what the college calls “a generous contribution from an anonymous donor,” the center’s director has been named. He’s attorney Arman Partamian, who has worked as a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate and for the CIA. He also previously taught for several years as an adjunct at Benedictine College, both the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Sociology and Criminology. His areas of emphasis include constitutional law, philosophy of law/jurisprudence, political philosophy, and national security/intelligence, and I had a chance to talk with him on this Constitution Day.

MSC Radio News Director Brian Hagen talked to both Benedictine College President Steve Minnis and Partamian about the establishment of the center.

(KNZA)--A Holton man facing multiple child sex-related charges has entered into a plea agreement.

34-year-old Phillip Hackathorn pleaded no contest last week in Jackson County District Court to two counts of indecent solicitation of a child.

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

Sentencing was set for October 25.

Hackathorn was arrested in February on a district court warrant following an investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office into alleged incidents involving a 15-year-old occurring between May and August of last year.

During the investigation, the sheriff’s office served search warrants on Hackathorn’s Facebook and Snapchat accounts.

He remains free on a $50,000 bond.

(KLZA)--Richardson County is currently going through a FEMA mapping project to update Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The project includes a new study that provides up to date flood hazard information and changes for the community.

A public open house will be held the evening of Tuesday, September 24th from 5 to 7 at Prichard Auditorium in Falls City to speak with floodplain mapping experts from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and flood insurance experts from FEMA.

At the open house individuals will be able to learn about specific flood risk and flood insurance information for their own property and ask questions about the flood study and other topics.

The Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps will be displayed at the meeting for the public to view.

(KLZA)--Pawnee County Emergency Manager Amanda Burki met with Pawnee County Commissioners last week to discuss the possibility of signing an additional disaster declaration. 

The new declaration would add the disaster dates from July 15 ongoing.  

While Pawnee County has not had any disaster damages from July to the current date, it is recommended the County sign the declaration in case any damages are found.  

Board member voted to approve signing the additional disaster declaration. 

Highway Superintendent Chris Rauner informed the Board that all rock quarries available to Pawnee County are running law or running out of rock.  

UNL Extension Educator Karly Black met with the Board to provide a quarterly update.  Black said there was over 50-percent participation of youth in Pawnee  County in a 4-H experience in the last year.

She also noted during a leave of absence for the  Administrative assistant, the office hours of the Pawnee County Extension office will be changed to 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.  Monday through Friday. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Federal officials say the amount of water flowing down the lower Missouri River this year is approaching the 2011 record and a third round of flooding is expected this week after unusually heavy rains upstream.

Heavy rains dumped more than four times normal in parts of Montana, Nebraska, North and South Dakota last week. That triggered flood warnings and forced the forecast for how much water will flow down the Missouri River to jump to 58.8 million acre feet.

That will be second only to 2011's 61 million acre feet.

The Corps of Engineers doesn't expect major problems or threats to cities with the latest flooding - provided the temporary repairs made to levees since the spring hold up. But communities along the river are bracing for problems.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. (AP) - A 43-year-old St. Joseph, Missouri man could face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in a Lake of the Ozarks boating accident that killed a man.

Cletus Barsch pleaded guilty on Sept. 10 to one count of boating while intoxicated resulting in a homicide and two counts of boating while intoxicated resulting in serious physical injury. Sentencing will be March 11.

The accident happened during the 2018 Memorial Day weekend. Authorities said Barsch was driving a boat that struck another boat. A passenger in the second boat, 20-year-old Alec Potthoff, of Van Meter, Iowa, suffered a serious head injury and died in August 2018 at a care facility in Des Moines, Iowa.

Barsch's 14-year-old daughter and two other passengers on the second boat suffered minor injuries.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Commission has adopted the 2020 county budget as published.

That came following a hearing Monday drawing no public comment.

It contains an estimated tax rate of 42.436 mills, a .699 mill decrease from this year’s budget.

It calls for the county to collect $8.2 million in local taxes.

Even though the mill levy will decrease slightly the county will collect about $345,000 in additional tax revenue due to a nearly $11 million increase in the county’s assessed valuation.  

The county’s tax levy has gone down six consecutive years.

(KLZA)--Johnson-Brock School Superintendent Jeff Koehler informed Board members during their September 11 meeting that the school districts share for the new bus will be $47,727.  

The rebate awarded to the school district will provide $42-thousand toward the bus purchase. Later in the meeting the Board approved a bid to purchase a new bus from Truck Center Companies of Omaha through the Volvo Bus Rebate Program.  

Board members voted to recognize the Johnson – Brock Education Association as the collective bargaining agent for the district teachers for the 2021-22 school year.

Principal Lucus Dalinghaus reported the school enrollment is 349 students which is down five students from last year. He also discussed the possible implementation of a random drug testing program at Johnson-Brock for all students involved in extra curricular activities.   
 

(KLZA)--The freshman class entering Peru State College this year is the largest is 30 years. 

On Monday, August 19, the first day of classes, the class totaled 290 students.  

The large class also led to an increase in students living in the residence halls. Occupancy is up 16 percent over 2018.  

Peru State officials say the increase  as driven partly by the addition of junior varsity sports the fall.  Peru State added junior varsity baseball, softball, men's basketball and women's basketball.  Cheer was also made a competitive team sport. 

Improved dining facilities, a new scholarship structure and other campus upgrades planned to benefit the student experience are also credited with helping attract more students.  

(KLZA)--Richardson County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, September 17 concerning the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget proposal and property tax requirement. 

The hearing will be in the Commissioners room on the second floor of the Richardson County  Courthouse beginning at 11:00 A.M. 

The proposed budged of expenditures amounts to $14,923,372,  a 6.5 percent increase amounting to an additional $918,482.

The property tax request is proposed at 31.97-cents per $100 of assessed valuation, an increase of less than a penny, amounting to a 2.6 percent increase.

The property tax requirement is proposed at $4,497,711 which includes $400-thousand for cash reserves and nearly $246-thousand for the jail bond. The total tax requirement represents at 3.6 percent decrease amounting to $173,743.  

The Richardson County valuation decreased $39,766,620 to $1,391,753212, a three percent decrease. 

(KLZA)--Pawnee  County Commissioners approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2020 as presented during public hearings August 27 when they met last Tuesday.  

The property tax levy request amounts to $1,936, 234. The property tax rate levy will be 25.8665-cents per $100 of assessed valuation.  The total operating budget of Pawnee County will exceed last years by 10-percent. 

In other business Pawnee County Memorial Hospital Administrator Ruth Stephens met with the Commissioners to discuss the Board of Trustees of the hospital. 

Following the discussion the Board voted to expand the number of Trustees for the hospital from three to five.  

Jan Buchholz  and Jackie Hippen were appointed to the new Trustee positions. 
 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - Three law enforcement officers involved in a shooting in St. Joseph, Missouri in August will not face criminal charges.
 
Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Holliday said Friday that he would not charge two officers from the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and one St. Joseph police officer.
 
Holliday said in a news release that 36-year-old Roger Ricker Jr. was shot on Aug. 6 after driving his truck toward the officers at a St. Joseph home.
 
The St. Joseph News-Press reports Ricker was armed with a semi-automatic weapon when he drove toward officers Billy Paul Miller, Erica Tate and Aaron King, who fired on the truck, hitting Ricker several times. He remains in serious condition at Mosaic Life Care.
 
Holliday said charges could be filed against Ricker if his condition improves.
   

(KNZA)--A series of meetings are planned in both Kansas and Nebraska to address telecommunication issues affecting residents of those states.

According to a news release, the meetings are being headed up by members of the Federal Communication Commission’s Outreach Division.

The release says the team will meet with community leaders and groups to share information and resources regarding telecommunication issues that affect their daily lives including the latest telecom scams targeting consumers.

Local stops are planned, including two on Friday afternoon, September 20 in Brown County.

The first will be held at 1:00 in Hiawatha, with a public meeting at the Brown County Services for the Elderly, located at 813 Oregon Street. That will be followed at 2:00 by a apublic meeting with Brown County Officials at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

The team will then travel to Doniphan County, where a public meeting with County officials will be held at 4:00 at 120 East Chestnut Street, in Troy.

Meetings with local leaders are also planned in Troy, Seneca, and Marysville, but those will be closed to the public.

Additional public meetings will be held Saturday, September 21, beginning at 9:30 that morning at the Atchison Public Library, located at 401 Kansas Avenue, in Atchison.

The final local stop will follow that afternoon in Leavenworth, where a public presentation will be held at the Leavenworth Public Library, located at 417 Spruce Street.

A private meeting with local leaders in Oskaloosa is also planned for September 21.

Topics to be addressed at the public meetings include robocalls, spoofing, protecting mobile devices from loss or theft, how to file complaints and comments with the FCC, and the Broadcast Television Transition, and possible affects it might have on consumers.

According to the release, the local visit is the fifth in a series of trips designed to build partnerships with local consumer groups and hear directly from local consumers and community members.

(KNZA)--Highland Community College will celebrate the inauguration of Deborah Fox as the 44th president of the institution on Wednesday, September 25.

According to a news release from the college, the ceremony will be held on the Highland Campus at 2:00 in Culbertson Auditorium with a reception to follow in the Walter Yost Gallery.

Fox will be installed by HCC Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas Smith.

In addition to the installation and remarks from Smith, Harry Moeller, President of the HCC Faculty Association and Instructor of Biology will speak.  Also the HCC Lads & Lassies vocal group will perform.

The event is open to the community.

 Fox took the role on July 1 of this year after a nationwide search was completed in the spring.

A native of Kansas, Fox most recently served as Director of Business Operations & Management for USD 446 in Independence, Kansas.  Previously, she served Highland Community College as the Vice President of Finance & Operations for 14 years and as an Assistant Dean of Regional Instruction for 3 years.

(KNZA)--The search is underway for a new Horton Public Library director.

Cecilia Rettiger has resigned as director, effective September 20.

She has accepted a position with Doniphan County Library District #1 in Troy.

Rettiger took over as director of the Horton library following the retirement of Rita Higley at the end of May 2018.

Applications are currently being accepted for a new director.  Those interested should contact the library to apply.

(KNZA)--A public health advisory has been lifted for a local lake, but two other local  lakes remain under health advisories due to the presence of blue green-algae.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment in a news release on Thursday said Horton’s Mission Lake is no longer under “ watch” status.

However, KDHE said the Hiawatha City Lake remains under “ warning” status and Holton’s Elk Horn Lake under “ watch” status

13 lakes in the state are currently under public health warnings due to blue green algae, while nine lakes are under health watches .

For lakes under “ warning” status, KDHE says direct contact with the water should be avoid.  Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water.  However, only the fillet portion should be consumed and all other parts discarded.

For lakes under “ watch” status, KDHE says people should avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.  You should clean fish well with potable water and eat only the fillet portion.

(KAIR)--An agreement is reached between an Atchison-based company and its union employees.

According to a news release issued by MGP Ingredients, Local 74D of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Thursday ratified a five-year collective bargaining unit agreement with the company.

The release says the agreement, which covers union employees at MGP’s Atchison facility, will take effect on September 16 and extends thorugh August 31, 2024.

MGP Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Dave Rindom, said in the release that the company is pleased with the outcome of the vote by members of the union local, calling the company’s relationship with the union employees “an important factor in MGP’s success.”

The release notes that the previous labor contract between the two sides had been in effect since April 16, 2014.

(KMZA)--A November 5 preliminary hearing has been set for former Marshall County Clerk Sonya Stohs who is facing a felony charge of misuse of public funds.

That came during a status conference Tuesday in Marshall County District Court.

The 44-year-old Stohs was charged in July by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service.

The complaint alleges from May 2013 to April 2019, Stohs used funds belonging to the Marshall County to pay for various personal items, in excess of $100,000.

On April 4, KBI agents served search warrants at multiple locations in Marysville—including the Marshall County Clerk’s Office.

Stohs remains free on a $10,000 bond.

(KAIR)--The hiring of an individual to fill a vacant Atchison County leadership position is on the horizon.

That comes as the County works to fill the role of Atchison County Road and Bridge Superintendent.

According to Atchison County Counselor Patrick Henderson, the County is currently in negotiations with a candidate for the position.
While the person has verbally agreed to fill the role, Henderson said a formal written agreement is forthcoming. According to Henderson, that is likely to be announced at the September 17 meeting of the Atchison County Commission.

The candidate is not from the local area.

He would replace Seth Howard who was terminated in April.

As the process of filling the position moves forward, the Commission is also assessing possible changes in the operations of the road and bridge department.

County Human Resource Director Jamie Madison told MSC News the goal is to have one person serve as the director/manager of the office, handling mostly administrative responsibilities. A second individual would provide oversight, guidance, and assistance during projects and handle some of the day to day scheduling of the employees of the department.

Madison said no official changes have been made as the process moves forward.

(KLZA)-- Heavy rains in Northeast Nebraska and Northwest Iowa earlier in the week coupled with more rain that occurred in Nebraska later in the week and continued higher than normal release rates into the lower Missouri River basin means the Missouri River is on the rise again.

At Rulo the river reading Friday morning was 18.75 feet, with a prediction of the river rising to 21.4 feet by Saturday, September 21. Flood stage at Rulo is 17 feet.

At Brownville where flood stage is 34 feet, the river reading was 35.7 feet Friday morning. The National Weather Service is predicting the river to rise to 38.3 feet by early evening on Friday, September, 20.

At Nebraska City the river reading Friday morning was 18.86 feet, which is less than a foot above the 18-foot flood stage, but the prediction is for the level to reach 20.9 feet Thursday, September 19.

(KNZA)--The Jackson Heights USD 335 Board of Education has ratified a negotiated agreement with teachers for the 2019-20 school year.

The agreement with the North Jackson National Education Association was approved by the Board Monday evening on a 5-2 vote following an executive session.

Board members Neal Keeler and Melinda Wareham cast the “no” votes.

The agreement includes a five percent base salary increase.  Under the agreement, the base salary will increase $1,800, from $35,600 to $37,400.  It also includes $600 “ steps” incorporated into the salary schedule.

In related action, the Board approved a request to raise the daily pay rate for substitute teachers from $90 to $100.

(KMZA)--A mock casualty drill will held Monday morning, September 16 at Nemaha Central schools in Seneca.

According to a news release issued by the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, volunteers will be acting out a school violence scenario during the drill, planned to run from 10:00 to about 12 noon.

The scenario will encompass Nemaha Central and the surrounding area, extending to Nemaha Valley Community Hospital.

The release says residents should not be alarmed as its only a mock training event.

Traffic and commotion is expected around the school, hospital and the streets connecting them. If possible, motorists should avoid travel in that area during the drill.

Nemaha Central schools is conducting the mock drill in conjunction with the Seneca Police Department, Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, Nemaha County EMS, Seneca Fire Department, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and Nemaha County Emergency Management.

The release says the mock drill is intended to be a learning experience for all participants without causing public alarm.

(KNZA)--Local and state officials are working together to address the illness hitting the Hiawatha community.

That’s according to a joint news release issued Thursday evening by the Hiawatha Community Hospital and Hiawatha USD 415.

While it is currently unknown what is causing the illness, the release says the hospital and school district are working closely with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Brown County Health Department to investigate the cluster of illnesses.

The release says the hospital continues to see an elevated number of patients with pneumonia-like symptoms at this time.

If you have a fever, your advised to stay home until you have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.  If you have a fever of 100.4 or greater for 3 days with a cough, your should see your  medical provider. 

An underlying respiratory condition, such as asthma, may make illness worse so you should consider seeing your medical provider soon after illness starts. The release says KDHE does not recommend to exclude a person with a cough from school or school event.  

The release adds a cough could have many causes including asthma, allergies, or other respiratory illnesses and does not warrant isolation. If you only have a cough, it does not mean you are sick with this illness; however, if you are having severe coughing fits, it is recommended you stay home.

As a reminder, the release says you should always practice healthy habits to prevent the spread of germs, especially when you are ill. 

Here's a list of recommendations:
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using the tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
 *If a tissue is not available, please cough or sneeze into your sleeve at the elbow.  Do not cough into your hands.
 *Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.

Please note the HCH Family Practice Clinic holds walk-in clinic Monday through Friday from 7:30 am – 9:00 am.  If you are unable to make it to the walk-in clinic, please call 785-742-2161 for a same day appointment.  

(KNZA)--A competency evaluation has been ordered for a Robinson man facing multiple child sex charges.

A Brown County judge on Monday granted a motion by the attorney for Kirt Allen Linck for the evaluation, which will be conducted by KANZA Mental Health.

The case has been placed on hold pending the outcome of the evaluation.

A criminal complaint was filed May 29 charging Linck with three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child following an investigation by the Horton Police Department.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says the alleged victims are two children, both born in 2015.

Linck also faces a charge of criminal threat in a separate case.

(KNZA)--The Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education has ratified a negotiated agreement with teachers for the 2019-20 school year.

Superintendent Todd Evans says the agreement with the Prairie Hills Education Association was approved following an executive session at Monday’s board meeting.

Under the agreement, teachers will see an average salary increase with 4.9 percent, with an increased cost to the district of 3.5 percent.

Following a separate executive session, the Board approved an administrative compensation package for the 2019-20 school year.  Administrators will see a salary increase of 3 percent.

In other business, the Board approved a new capital outlay resolution.  Evans said its for the same terms the district has been operating under in the recent past.  Its for a mill levy not to exceed six mills for a period of time not to exceed 5 years.

In order to provide better supervision for the sixty-three Sabetha High School students participating in football, the Board voted to add a 6th coach for this school year only.  Evans said they will re-evaluate next fall to see if student numbers warrant a 6th coach at that time.

Following discussion, Evans said the Board expressed an interest in obtaining additional information about working with an architect to do a facility study.  The information will be presented at the board’s October meeting.    

(KNZA)--Hiawatha USD 415 has launched an investigation into allegations of racial bullying targeting one of its students.

In a letter addressed to patrons of the district, USD 415 Superintendent Lonnie Moser said only that the allegations involved one or more students bullying the victim. The letter did not detail how the alleged harassment happened, but online posts from individuals close to the victim cite social media pictures being used as one method to mock the victim.

Moser said the matter is being taken very seriously and is currently under investigation.

He said the administration learned about it on Wednesday and has taken some first steps in addressing the issue; however he did not explain what those actions were. He added the investigation is still ongoing.

After the investigation concludes, Moser says the school district will act in accordance with its established policies. 

(KAIR)--An inmate at a Leavenworth detention facility suffered injuries following a stabbing.

The Leavenworth Times is reporting it happened Friday at the CoreCivic Leavenworth Detention Center.

The 35-year-old man was apparently stabbed by another inmate.

Deputy Chief of Leavenworth Police, Major Dan Nicodemus, told the newspaper the man’s injuries were considered serious.

The case is being forwarded to the Leavenworth County Attorney’s Office for review, and the possible filing of charges.

According to the newspaper, the privately-run center is used to house federal inmates awaiting trial through a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service.

A separate stabbing at the facility on August 23 was investigated by Leavenworth Police.

(KAIR)--A new science teacher is hired for Atchison’s Central School.

That happened during Monday’s regular meeting of the Board of Education for Atchison’s USD 409.

The hiring of Jay Meyers followed an executive session held for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of non-elected personnel.

According to Superintendent of Schools Renee Scott, Meyers is from St. Joseph, Missouri.

According to online profile information, Meyers holds a Ph.D, and formerly worked as a science teacher for the St. Joseph School District for 24-years, from 1995 until his retirement this year.

Meyers has already begun his employment in the Atchison district.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha School Board discussed a patron busing concern when they met this week.

Superintendent Lonnie Moser said a patron who lives near the elementary school said she was concerned that the district allows teachers to drop their kids off at the elementary school in the morning for bus transport to the middle and high schools but the service isn't offered to other students.

Board member Dr. Pete Rosa' said the offer to transport the children of teachers was made several years ago because teachers are asked to be in their buildings at a much earlier time than when school starts.  That creates an issue for the teachers who have students in the middle and high schools.

It was noted that any student can ride a shuttle bus in the afternoon that runs between the schools.

There was discussion about the ramifications of allowing additional drop-offs in the morning. Elementary School Principal Paul Carver said he would be concerned about supervision of the students and where to keep them to wait.

It was the consensus of the board to have the school administrators meet with Transportation Director Mary Clary to determine the feasibility of offering bus transport for students other than those of teacher's kids from the elementary to the middle and high schools.

(KNZA)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is investigating the cause of a pneumonia-like illness affecting Hiawatha students.

Confirmation is delivered in a statement posted to the USD 415 website by Superintendent Lonnie Moser.

Calling the statement an update to a news release issued Tuesday, Moser says representatives of KDHE visited with district officials on Wednesday as they try to find sources for the illness.

He added that there are now more confirmed cases of the illness among the school population.

Noting that a "considerable number of students" were sent home Wednesday based on district protocol, Moser said it does not mean those particular students have the illness, only that the district is taking precautions in order to mitigate this issue and protect our students and staff."

In the earlier release, the school district explained that any student showing a fever of 100 degrees or greater should be kept home from school until fever-free for 24-hours, without the use of medication.

Also, students with a cough should be kept home until it’s resolved or cleared by a physician. Students who attend with a cough may be sent home.

According to the updated release, the district, the Brown County Health Department, and Hiawatha Community Hospital continue to collaborate and communicate multiple times daily.

The releases from the district follow an increase in patients experiencing fever and cough in Hiawatha.

A news release issued Wednesday by Hiawatha Community Hospital says the Family Practice and Emergency Room have seen the increase, with the majority of patients between the ages of 9 and 14.

Due to the illness, the school district has cancelled all activities planned for Thursday evening, September 12. 

Editor's note: Below is the story as it first appeared after the issuance of the first round of news releases. 

(KNZA)--An increase in patients experiencing fever and cough is noted in Hiawatha.

That’s confirmed in a news release issued by Hiawatha Community Hospital, which says the Family Practice and Emergency Room have seen the increase, with patients ranging in age from 9 to 32. The majority of patients are between the ages of 9 and 14, with sore throat and headache also named as symptoms seen in the patients.

The hospital is recommending that anyone experiencing a fever of 100. 4 for three days, with a cough, to see a medical provider. If a patient, including children, has another underlying respiratory illness, such as asthma, the hospital is recommending an immediate visit, not to exclude emergency care.

In conjunction with the information provided by the hospital, Hiawatha’s USD 415 has issued a separate release, stating that there has been “a handful of cases of a pneumonia-like illness” diagnosed in the community and schools.

The school district’s policy regarding illness is clarified in the release, which says that any student showing a fever of 100 degrees or greater should be kept home from school until fever-free for 24-hours, without the use of medication.

Also, students with a cough should be kept home until it’s resolved or cleared by a physician. Students who attend with a cough may be sent home.

Based on what the release calls the advice of medical professionals, all scheduled school activities will take place as planned, and school will remain in session.

(KAIR)--A rumor circulating on social media regarding changes to the operations of Atchison’s Walmart store is confirmed.

On Tuesday, posts regarding a potential change in the hours of operation at the supercenter, located at 1920 U.S. Highway 73, began to swirl, saying that the longstanding 24-hour operations would soon cease.

That’s now confirmed following an inquiry made by MSC Radio News.

According to a statement released by Senior Manager, National Media Relation Casey Staheli, the 24-hour-a-day service will end October 5.

The statement says that on that date, the store will begin operating from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

The change comes after what the statement calls “a recent review of shopping patterns” at the Atchison store, which led to the decision to adjust hours and reallocate resources to better serve customers during peak shopping periods.

The statement does not address social media comments claiming that the change is due to the high number of thefts at the Atchison Walmart location, which, in recent months, began the policy of employees checking customer receipts as they exit the store if items are unbagged, despite MSC News seeking confirmation on that claim.

According to a report from NPR, the policy of checking receipts took effect earlier this year following the controversial decision to eliminate the role of door greeters at 1,000 U.S. Walmart stores. Instead, that position was replaced with “customer hosts” whose expanded responsibilities include checking receipts, according to the Associated Press. 

According to a statement released by Walmart following a separate inquiry, receipts are checked at exits when customers exit with “unbagged, large items such as TVs, computers, furniture, power equipment, etc.”

That policy led to an investigation by ABC10 in Folsom, California in February. A Walmart spokesperson, at that time, told the TV station that Walmart’s “intent is to check every receipt.”

(KMZA)--A presentation on zoning will now be heard at the September 23rd Nemaha County Commission meeting.

An attorney familiar with zoning will conduct the informational session beginning at 9:00 that morning in the Courtroom at the Nemaha County Courthouse.

The session had been scheduled for Monday but the attorney had to cancel.

Commissioners stated at their May 15 meeting their intent to consider establishing zoning as a way to regulate the development of large-scale energy projects—including wind farms.  At the same meeting they implemented a six-month moratorium on new energy developments while they negotiated with NextEra Energy Resources on the Soldier Creek Wind Farm project.

The informational meeting on zoning and an extension of the moratorium were requested at the August 26 county meeting by James Neeld, the attorney representing the county in negotiations.  Neeld also asked commissioners to act on a contract with a third-party engineer to assist with the Soldier Creek project.

The Commission Monday tabled an extension of the moratorium until a future meeting.

The Commission approved an agreement with Cook, Flatt and Strobel Engineers, of Topeka, to assist with the road use agreement for the Soldier Creek project.     

(KNZA)--Enrollment is up in the South Brown Schools of USD 430.

Superintendent Jason Cline reviewed with the Board of Education Monday evening the preliminary enrollment figures for the new school year.

Cline said the current headcount stands at 534 students, which is up from 519 last year.

The official headcount will be taken September 20.

Following an executive session, the Board approved a 5.5 percent pay increase for the district’s administrators and directors.

In other business, the board approved seeking sealed bids on a district owned lot at 233 West 8th Street in Horton.

Cline said the district currently doesn’t have any plans for the vacant lot.

Bids will be opened at the board’s  October 14 meeting.

Following discussion, the Board was in consensus to advertise and hire a director of maintenance.

The Board also accepted the resignations of Brandon Speer as Horton High School head wrestling coach and Michael Mace as Horton High School assistant boys basketball coach.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has accepted a proposal from a Manhattan-based firm to develop a new county website.

County IT Director Sandy Director Monday presented Commissioners with proposals from two companies.

On the recommendation of Carter, the Commission accepted a proposal from CivicPlus for $9,850 annually to host and maintain the site.

Carter said CivicPlus currently host websites in twenty-three of the state’s 105 counties, including neighboring Atchison County.

She said the Secretary of State’s Office recommended the county go with a new website provider for security reasons after the county’s website was hacked during the August 6 primary election.

Carter said the county’s current website was brought on-line in 2003 and last updated in 2014.

She said CivicPlus said they could have the new website on-line by the November 5 general election.      

Atchison, Kan. (Sept. 9, 2019) – Benedictine College has jumped up three spots in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of “America’s Best Colleges” and is now in the top 10. The rankings, published by U.S. News Media Group, list 91 colleges in the Midwest Division of the Best Regional Colleges and Benedictine is listed at #10 in the region, the highest ranked Catholic college in the division, and the #1 school for alumni giving. U.S. News & World Report also lists Benedictine College as a Best Value school and a top school for Pell Grant recipients (under $50,000 family income) to succeed. The complete rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges.

The annual rankings – in which U.S. News groups schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching – provide a resource for parents and students considering higher education opportunities. Using a proprietary methodology, the annual U.S. News rankings represent the most comprehensive look at how schools stack up based on a set of 15 widely-accepted indicators of excellence, and help consumers evaluate and compare data compiled from more than 1,900 accredited four-year schools.

“Benedictine College is pleased to be named a Top 10 college by U.S. News & World Report,” said Stephen D. Minnis, president of Benedictine College. “Additional recognition from the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, Forbes, The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, and others is a clear indication that we are becoming one of the great Catholic colleges in America.”

The completion of Westerman Hall, the science and engineering building, gives Benedictine College the finest science and engineering facility of any small college in America. That $24 million project also included the construction of the Daglen Observatory on a ridge west of campus. At the same time, Benedictine has earned full ABET accreditation for its mechanical, chemical and civil engineering programs. Benedictine has continued to expand its Nursing School and Architecture is now firmly established on the Atchison, Kan., campus. Benedictine College has nearly doubled in enrollment in the past 10 years and is now the largest private college in Kansas according to the Kansas Independent Colleges Association.

Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts colleges located on a wooded 120-acre campus in Atchison, Kan. The school prides itself on outstanding academics, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. The college traces its roots to 1858 and has a mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship. More information is available on the Benedictine website at www.benedictine.edu.

(AP/MSC News)--Kansas health officials say they have confirmed the first death in the state related to an outbreak of a lung disease linked to vaping.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a news release Tuesday the recent death involved a Kansas resident over the age of 50 who had a history of underlying health issues. The unidentified patient was hospitalized with symptoms that progressed rapidly.

The state has had six reports associated to the national lung disease outbreak, including three which they believe to be confirmed or probable cases. The remaining three are still under investigation.

KDHE Secretary Lee Norman is encouraging those who use vape products to stop, at least until the cause of the mysterious illness is found. "You stop, and those around you that you love, have them stop, and maybe even one of these days you can go back to it again when we know more about it," Norman said in a video posted to the KDHE website. 

The national investigation has not identified any specific vaping or e-cigarette products linked to all cases. Many patients report using vaping or e-cigarette products with liquids that contain cannabinoid products, such as THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.

The New York Times reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last month issued a warning to not use vaping ingredients bought on the street, and to stop modifying either nicotine or cannabis e-cigarette devices.

Kansas does not have detailed information on what types of products were used by the deceased.

Gregory Conley is the President of the American Vaping Association. In a release issued following KDHE’s release of information pertaining to the Kansas death, Conley said, "The evidence from multiple state health departments and the FDA continue to point to illicit THC oils as being the cause of this death and other tragedies across the United States.  There is a reason why the Food & Drug Administration has issued a specific warning against vaping THC, but not nicotine vaping products. Recent FDA laboratory testing has discovered nothing unusual in nicotine vaping products.” 

The Associated Press and MSC Radio News both contributed to this report. 

(KLZA)-- Herzog Contracting Corporation is scheduled to start a resurfacing project on Highway 111 stretching from Route T in Forest City to U.S. Highway 59 in Oregon, Missouri. 

A Missouri Department of Transportation release says work will begin Wednesday, September 11 and continue through October. 

Concrete curb work is to begin in the city limits of Forest City and will continue through approximately, October 8. Resurfacing is expected to begin Monday, October 21.  

There will be single-lane closures during the project that will be up to two-miles in length. Flaggers will direct motorists through the work zone.  Work will be done Monday through Saturday during daylight hours.  Some work may also be done on Sundays if necessary to complete the project on time.  

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Board of Education has adopted the budget for the next fiscal year. Action on the budget occurred during a special Board meeting September 4. The action followed public hearings on various budget proposals.

Property values in the Pawnee City School District increased 1.95 percent this year. Based on the valuation increase the total property tax levy will be 98.3867 cents per $100 of assessed valuation which amounts to a tax decrease of 3.1 percent from last year.

The total operating budget of the school district will increased by 3.8 percent.

The property tax request for the General Fund will be $3,020,202; the property tax request for the Special Building Fund will be $80,808; the the tax request for the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund was set at $114,749.

The Pawnee City School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday evening in the Elementary school Library.

(KNZA)--Plans for the construction of a walking trial in Sabetha move forward.

The Kansas Department of Transportation, in a news release, announced it has approved a bid from Bryant and Bryant Construction, of Halstead, in the amount of $301,231 for the project.

The bid letting took place August 21 in Topeka.

The walking trial will run along Sixth Street from Main Street to the Sabetha Sports Complex.

A grant from KDOT will pay for 80 percent of the construction cost, with the city responsible for the remainder plus engineering costs.

City Administrator Doug Allen said the project is be completed this year.  

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) - A judge has set a new trial date for a man accused of killing a Peru State College student.

The judge scheduled the trial of 38-year-old Joshua Keadle to begin Jan. 27. Keadle's attorney had asked for more time to prepare. On Friday the judge eliminated the Sept. 16 trial start and set the new date Monday.

Keadle has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in the disappearance and presumed death of a 19-year-old Tyler "Ty" Thomas. Thomas disappeared Dec. 3, 2010, after leaving a party near the southeast Nebraska campus. The state issued a death certificate for Thomas in 2013, even though her body has never been found.

Keadle is serving a 15- to 20-year prison sentence for the 2008 rape of a 15-year-old girl.

His murder trial has been moved to Gage County from Nemaha County.

STERLING, Neb. (AP) - Authorities say a 57-year-old man died when his vehicle was hit by a train at a crossing in Johnson County.

The Nebraska State Patrol says the man was driving south around 1:45 p.m. Sunday on the east side of Sterling when his vehicle didn't stop at the crossing and was hit by an eastbound coal train.

The man's been identified as Wesley Dorn, who lived in Adams.

(KLZA)-- Higher than normal water releases from upstream dams into the Missouri River will continue into November according to a release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Rainfall in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa in August was more than 150 percent of normal in portions of Montana, North Dakota, much of South Dakota and parts of Nebraska.

The 2019 upper basin runoff forecast is 54.6 million acre-feet. If realized, this would be the second highest runoff in 121 years, surpassed only by 2011.

The water release rate at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton is currently at 70-thousand cubic feet per second, which is nearly twice the average release for this time of year.

This release rate was only eclipsed two times previously, 160-thousand cfs for approximately two months in 2011 and 100-thousand cfs for six hours earlier this year.

The Corps hopes to decrease the releases at Gavins Point through the end of the year, with a goal of getting it down to 62-thousand in October and toward the end of November, attempting to cut the release rate back to 20-thousand cubic feet per second. Runoff in the upper basin will determine the timeline and the cutback on releases.

(KAIR)--One person was transported for hospital treatment following a late morning, Atchison County two vehicle crash Monday.

According to Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, it happened at 2944 Sherman Road, just north of 238th Road, shortly before 10:00.

Laurie, in a release, said the wreck occurred when 64-year-old Sharon Mcquinty, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was pulling out of a driveway. As she did so, her Kia Optima was struck by a Toyota Tundra, driven by 54-year-old Atchison resident Dale Weber.

Mcquinty was transported to the Atchison Hospital by Atchison County EMS for the treatment of what Laurie called non-life threatening injuries.

Weber, and his passenger, 51-year-old Cheryl Weber, were not hurt.

(MSC News)--Ag Partners Cooperative has announced the appointment of an interim president and chief executive officer.

Rod Schroeder begins his tenure September 9, filling in for Stan Remington, former president and CEO, who recently moved out of the area to take another position.

In his role, Schroeder will be a key member of the executive leadership team and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the cooperative’s core business segments until a permanent CEO is hired at the cooperative. Based at Ag Partners headquarters in Seneca, Schroeder will report directly to the Ag Partners Board of Directors.

According to a news release, Schroeder brings with him more than 25 years of agriculture management experience.  He retired in 2013 after leading the Crop Protection division of Winfield Solutions, a Land O’ Lakes Company, since its formation in 2007. Prior to his time at Winfield Solutions, he held positions of increasing responsibility, including CEO, at Aurora Cooperative in Aurora, Nebraska. During his 18-year tenure, the cooperative grew from three to 24 locations and Schroeder was instrumental in the formation of Nebraska Energy, an ethanol producer and Preferred Popcorn, a popcorn processing and marketing company selling globally.

Jason Taylor, chairman of the Ag Partners Board of Directors, said Schroeder will serve as  interim CEO for 4-7 months to give the Board the proper time to thoroughly interview candidates for their next CEO.

(KNZA)--A Horton man is facing several charges, following his arrest in connection with a stolen vehicle.

According to a news release issued by Hiawatha Police Chief John Defore, 36-year-old Zachariah Brown was arrested September 4 as part of the stolen vehicle investigation, which included the assistance of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant told MSC News an off duty deputy, doing yard work, assisted in the arrest of Brown, after he spotted what he believed to be the stolen vehicle. “He had been on duty the night before and there had been a stolen vehicle reported, and he saw it by where he was working at,” Merchant said. “He did as he should. He got on his phone and he called dispatch and they dispatched a city officer over, and they came over and they were doing the investigation. During the course of the investigation, I guess the individual that had been driving the car that was reported stolen was hiding at the time. Unbeknownst to the officer, he tried fleeing on foot, but our off-duty deputy witnessed it and took chase after him.”  

According to Defore, a short scuffle ensued after officers cornered Brown during the foot chase.

Brown was taken into custody, and booked into the Brown County Jail.

Defore said the investigation led officers to the recovery of the stolen vehicle, an illegal firearm, suspected illegal narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says Brown was formally charged Friday with  felony counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and possession of methamphetamine along with a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brown remains jailed on $25,000 bond.

(KAIR)--One person is dead, and another injured, following an apparent electrical accident at an Atchison County-based grain facility late Friday morning.

Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter told MSC News emergency crews were called to Cargill Ag, located in Cummings, around 11:35 Friday morning. He said Atchison County EMS and Atchison County Rescue were among those who arrived on the scene. “Both agencies responded, arrived on scene and found two patients inside the bin that we had to extricate out of the bin that had been electrocuted. We were able to extricate those patients...one was ambulanced to the Atchison Hospital, one was lifeflighted to KU Med.”

The Atchison County Sheriff’s Office investigated the accident, and identifies the man who was killed as 26-year-old Angel Silas-Deleon, of Logansport, Indiana.

He was part of a crew with Seward, Nebraska-based Custom Concrete Specialist that was working on the grain bin.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the exact cause of the accident remains uncertain.

Lanter said the Atchison Fire Department also assisted with the extrication effort.

Editor's note: Below is the story as first reported. 

(KAIR)--An apparent electrical accident at an Atchison County-based grain facility sent two to the hospital.

Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter told MSC News emergency crews were called to Cargill Ag, located in Cummings, around 11:35 Friday morning. He said Atchison County EMS and Atchison County Rescue were among those who arrived on the scene. “Both agencies responded, arrived on scene and found two patients inside the bin that we had to extricate out of the bin that had been electrocuted. We were able to extricate those patients...one was ambulanced to the Atchison Hospital, one was lifeflighted to KU Med.”

Lanter said the Atchison Fire Department also assisted with the extrication effort.

The exact cause of the apparent electrical accident isn’t immediately known.

The Atchison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

Names of the victims aren’t immediately made public.

(KNZA)--One person was injured following a Friday afternoon Jackson County crash that left motorists rerouted into the early evening.

According to a release from Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, it happened at K-9 and U.S. Highway 75, when a Ford Focus was attempting to turn west onto K-9 from Highway 75. As the driver attempted the turn, the car was struck in the rear by a Dodge van.

The Kansas Highway Patrol report states that the driver of the van, 66-year-old Roberta Pike, of Stafford, Kansas, did not see that the car, driven by 65-year-old Corning resident, Dorothy Taylor, had come to a stop.

According to Morse, firefighters and EMS extricated Taylor from the car. She was then transported by Jackson County EMS to Topeka’s Stormont Vail Regional Medical Center.

Although initially treated for life threatening injuries, Morse said Taylor’s condition was later listed as stable.

Pike was not hurt.

According to the KHP, both drivers were buckled up when the wreck happened shortly after 3:45 Friday afternoon.

The roadway reopened shortly after 5:15.

(KMZA)--A presentation on zoning ,which had been scheduled for Monday’s Nemaha County Commission meeting, has been cancelled.

County Clerk Mary Kay Schultejans said Friday that the attorney who was suppose to conduct the informational session had to cancel.

A new date has not been set yet for the presentation.

Commissioners stated at their May 15 meeting their intent to consider establishing zoning as a way to regulate the development of large-scale energy projects including wind farms.  At the same meeting they implemented a six-month moratorium on new energy developments while they negotiated with NextEra Energy Resources on the Soldier Creek Wind Farm project.

The informational meeting on zoning and an extension of the moratorium were requested at the August 26 county meeting by James Neeld, the attorney representing the county in negotiations.  Neeld also asked commissioners to act on a contract with a third-party engineer who will assist with the Solider Creek project.

(KAIR)--A Leavenworth shooting left an 18-year-old man injured.

The Leavenworth Times reports it happened early Wednesday morning, shortly before 2:30, in the 3900 block of Shrine Park Road, located in south Leavenworth.

Citing Leavenworth Deputy Police Chief Major Dan Nicodemus, the newspaper reports that the victim, and a friend, were inside a van parked in a residential driveway when they heard what Nicodemus called “a loud popping noise” as something hit the van.

As they realized that shots were being fired, another vehicle, believed to have been the source of the gunfire, fled the scene.

The two men went inside the residence for help, with the victim realizing he had been shot.

Transported for hospital treatment, the victim’s injuries were considered to be non-life threatening.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

(KLZA)-- The Missouri River Bridge at Rulo is to open to traffic at 5 o'clock Friday afternoon, September 6.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation informed Richardson County Emergency Management Friday morning that shoulder work and painting of lines is to be finished Friday prior to the bridge opening at 5.

Highway 159 on the Missouri side will remain closed east of Highway 111 which goes north along Big Lake.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners Tuesday adopted a resolution setting the number of deputies to be appointed by the Sheriff.

The new resolution allows for one Chief Deputy Sheriff; one full-time Patrol Sergeant; one full-time Training Sergeant; five full-time deputies and one law enforcement dog. That will give the department the authority to have up to 8 positions in addition to the Sheriff.

Following the adoption of the resolution Commissioners approved Sheriff Rick Hardesty's appointment of Roland Merwin as the Chief Deputy, effective immediately.

In other business the Board approved the purchase of a 2020 Ford F150 crew cab 4x4 pickup form Hullman's Ford in Falls City through the Nebraska State Bid contract in the amount of $31,524.

This is the third pickup purchased for the Department this fiscal year. Commissioners have been reviewing the vehicle fleet, mileage and mechanical issues and felt it was better to purchase another new pickup than spend a substantial sum to repair another one.

The Board also approved entering into an agreement with the HTRS School District to provide a School Resource Officer for 20 hours per week during the school year for a fee the school district will pay the County in an amount of $20-thousand. The contract will run through May, 2022.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved the budget proposed for Fiscal Year 2019-20 following a public hearing drawing no public comment Wednesday evening. 

The Total property tax requirement for the budget will be $736,105 with a levy of 47.86-cents per $100 of assessed valuation.  The levy includes 2.9-cents for various interlocal agreements.

City Administrator Gary Jorn said the city valuation  increased approximately $4-million, up about 2.7 percent from the previous years.  Of that total, about $500-thousand dollars was from growth, the rest coming through reassessment of properties.  

The property tax request from the previous year will be about a 14 percent increase.  With the increase in the valuation, the levy decreased one percent. Jorn said city revenues do not keep pace with the increase in expenditures. .

While quite a few proposed expenditures were cut from the budget, Jorn said some were approved including a new vehicle for the Police Department and a new radio system.  A new mower with bagger for the cemetery, a security system or the library and upgrades to the tennis court at Grandview Park. 

One increase noted in the budget was a 5-percent increase in health insurance premiums for city employees and an estimated 2.5 percent wage increase for employees.  

(KLZA)-- Falls City Council members approved on final reading the issuance of General Obligation Water Bonds when they met Wednesday evening. 

The bonds will be  sold to refinance the loan from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for water system upgrades.  

Brad Slaughter with Piper-Jaffrey said the city should realize a savings of around $225-thousand by refinancing the bonds.  
 

(KNZA)--A bid has been accepted for a Hiawatha street improvement project.

The Hiawatha City Commission Tuesday evening accepted the low bid submitted by Keller Construction, of St. Joseph, for a four inch asphalt overlay of the 300 and 400 blocks of South 3rd Street in the amount of $50,448.

The bid was among three received.

The project is scheduled to begin September 30.

In other business, the Commission approved a job description for the new position of facilities maintenance technician.

The Commission then approved moving current city employee Dan Durre to the  position, effective September 7.

Durre will provide maintenance related support to all city departments.

(KNZA)--The City of Hiawatha on Monday ( September 9 ) will begin the process of GIS mapping service locations in the community.

According to a news release from the city, city crews will be locating and marking all sewer manholes, sewer cleanouts, water meters, water values and fire hydrants.

The items will be marked with paint and blue or green flags.

The release says the items may be located in back yards, front yards, streets and alleys.

Then the week of September 23, contractors for the city will be using a GPS probe to satellite locate these services.

Anyone with questions should call City Administrator Mike Nichols at 742-7417, extension 206.

A household hazardous waste collection is will be held Friday, September 6 in both Auburn and Falls City.

County Commissioners work with the Fiver Rivers Resource Conservation and Development, backed by a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to sponsor the event.

Nemaha County residents may bring their items from 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. Friday to the rodeo arena parking lot on the east side of Highway 73.

Richardson County residents can bring their items to the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department, 1820 Towle Street, between 3 and 4:30 P.M.

A $5 donation per household is requested to help keep these events going.

Items that will be accepted include cleaning products, lawn and garden chemicals, paint, used oil, florescent light bulbs, antifreeze and other household items.

You should bring materiala in disposable containers, no larger than five gallons or 50 pounds. Containers will not be returned.

Tires, appliances, science lab chemicals, items containing asbestos, wood preservatives, PCB's, explosives and commercial quantities will not be accepted. The program personnel reserve the right to reject any materials brought in.

For more information contact the Five Rivers RC&D at 402-869-2355.

(KNZA)--A Wednesday morning single-vehicle Brown County wreck claimed the life of a Fairview man.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says killed in the wreck on U.S. 36 Highway at the U.S. 75 junction on the west edge of Fairview was 70-year-old Michael McMillan.

The Patrol reports McMillan was eastbound when for an unknown reason his Chevy Suburban left the roadway and struck a bridge pillar.

McMillan, who was the lone occupant in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Patrol says he was not buckled up when the wreck happened around 10:15 Wednesday morning.

(KLZA)-- One man was injured Wednesday morning when two dump trucks were involved in a wreck on Missouri Highway 111 about a mile west of Craig, Missouri.

43-year-old Cedric Wade of Kansas City, Missouri suffered what the Missouri Highway Patrol described as moderate injuries in the crash.

The Patrol reports Wade was westbound on Highway 111 and the other dump truck was eastbound. Wades truck traveled off the north side of the road, came back onto the road and began to skid, then traveled off the south side of the roadway and overturned.

The second dump truck driven by 51-year-old Jason Willis of Harrisonville, Missouri attempted to avoid the first truck and traveled off the south side of the road.

As the first truck overturned, the front drivers side stuck the front drivers side of the second truck.

Wade was transported to Community Hospital in Fairfax for treatment of his injuries by the Atchison-Holt Ambulance Squad.

(KNZA)--An October 9 preliminary hearing has been set for a Fairview man facing charges in connection with a Brown County chase last week.

According to a report from Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, shortly before 4:00 the afternoon of August 27 a Sac and Fox Officer witnessed a black Durango near U.S. 75 Highway and 200th Road almost cause a wreck.

After the officer requested and was given permission to investigate, he activated his lights and siren and initiated a traffic stop.

As the officer approached the vehicle, Merchant said it drove away and a short chase ensued for several miles.  At one point, the vehicle left the roadway and drove through a standing cornfield to try and elude the officer.  

Merchant said a Brown County deputy located the vehicle in the vicinity of 210th and Coyote Roads.  

33-year-old Adrian Ramirez was arrested on charges of reckless driving, flee and attempt to elude, criminal damage to property, no proof of insurance, illegal registration and tampering with an ignition interlock.

He is currently free on a $2,500 bond.

(KAIR)--Shots fired inside an Atchison residence Thursday morning sent a woman fleeing from the home and left the alleged shooter in custody. “Shortly after 8 a.m. officers responded to a shots fired call at a residence in the 100 block of North 9th,” Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News. “Officers arrived to find that a 35-year-old victim had fled the residence after several shots were fired inside the residence. A 25-year-old male was still in the house when officers arrived, and he was taken into custody very quickly.”

Wilson identified the man arrested at the home as DeAndre Turner-Fults. “It was a domestic situation, they both reside at the residence. Apparently there was a verbal altercation that occurred. At some point, a handgun came into play. According to the victim, the suspect was in the living room area of the house, the victim was on a staircase that leads to a second story when several shots were fired in her direction. She was able to flee the house, ran down the street, police were notified.”

The woman was not hurt.

Turner-Fults was taken into custody for aggravated assault and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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

(KNZA)--A Hiawatha resident wants the city to add camping spots at the city lake.

Donnie Wooddell met with the Hiawatha City Commission Tuesday evening to request the city consider adding camping options at the lake.  Wooddell said surrounding communities allow camping or some form of recreation at their lakes. 

Mayor Bill Collins said the Commission has been considering it. He said electricity and a location for camping sites is not a problem. However, the city needs to obtain quotes for a holding facility or dumping station for sewage.

Collins said the necessary parties would continue to discuss the idea and work to move forward.

Ben Grove, representing Hiawatha Implement, met with the Commission to discuss concerns about the business burning scrap wood at their location.

Grove said they have been burning clean scrap wood for about 8 years and recently built a burn pit.

He said hauling the scrap wood off site creates a lot of issues.

Grove said he checked with the neighboring property owners and all of them indicated they have no problem with them burning at the site, which he says they do about once a month.    

A city ordinance currently prohibits opening burning in the city.

The matter was tabled.  Mayor Collins said he would like to see more research done before a change is made.    

(KNZA)--U.S. Senator Jerry Moran addressed a number of topics at a town hall meeting in Hiawatha Tuesday afternoon at American Legion Post #66--including gun control.

In response to a question from an audience member, the Kansas Republican said Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has indicated the Senate will take up gun control legislation when Congress returns next week from its August break.

Among measures mentioned have been expanding background checks and enacting a red flag law, which would permit police, or family members, to petition a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who presents a danger to others or themselves.

Three women at the meeting urged the senator to support what they called “common sense gun control measures” but another audience member told Moran he needs to be very judicious when it comes to the 2nd Amendment rights of law abiding citizens.

Moran said the issue of gun control is challenging. “ ( With) any kind of ban on weapons, there are still weapons. So what you end up with is something in the black market that isn’t any safer. You have to do something that doesn’t mean law abiding citizens give up a right, and people who don’t care about the law still have guns and use them.”

When it comes to the red flag issue, Moran said due process also matters to him. “ We still have a constitution that protects the ownership and possession of firearms. If you can make the case someone is of danger to themselves or others, and you do that in front of a judge to some legal standard, then that type of concept makes sense to me. But it can’t just be a he said, she said, kind of thing over who is a danger to themselves or others.”

One individual at the meeting attributed the increase in mass shootings across the nation to social media and another to a break down in the family unit.

On Wednesday, Moran took part in a conservation tour that included stops in Brown, Doniphan, Atchison and Wyandotte Counties. Moran was joined on the tour by Matthew Lohr, Chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(KMZA)--A local fire department has received a lifesaving tool to aid in grain bin rescues.

Corteva Agriscience presented the Wetmore Fire Department Tuesday evening with a grain rescue tube.

According to a news release, the tube is made of six panels that slide into place around the victim.  Once inserted, the tube halts the flow of grain and relieves the pressure on the trapped individual.  One cubic foot of grain weighs 50 pounds, and, without the tube, grain can continue to collapse the victim as fast as rescuers remove it.

The release says having the proper rescue tools and training can be the difference between life and death for rural first responders rushing to save someone trapped in a grain bin.

Corteva is donating twenty-one grain rescue tubes to fire departments nationwide.   

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners last week voted to rescind an August 20th motion to reappoint Steve Schawang to the Veterans Service Committee for a 5-year term and an August 13th motion to appoint Terry Malcolm to the Veterans Service Committee, to fill a vacancy which was reported incorrectly to the County Board.  

Commissioners then voted to appoint  Terry Malcolm to fill a 5-year term effective July 1, 2019.

Committee member Jim Owings is an active member of the Veterans Service Committee which was erroneously reported to the Commissioners that he was no longer a member.  

Current Veterans Service Committee members are Wayne Kreutzer, Jameson Baker, Paul Sells, Jim Owings and Terry Malcolm. 

(KAIR)--World-renowned ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard visited Atchison Tuesday, addressing Atchison High School students and faculty, along with community leaders and residents, during a forum held in the school’s gymnasium.

Ballard, who is best-known for his 1985 discovery of the Titanic, is now on a quest to find the plane flown by Amelia Earhart when she disappeared in the Central Pacific Ocean.

During his presentation, Ballard talked about a process of ocean exploration that he helped pioneer called tele-presence. Tele-presence is a process by which high definition video can be streamed in real-time to scientists, education, and the general public.

Ballard refers to his team’s work as the “Second Lewis and Clark” expedition, stating that 50 percent of the US lies unexplored beneath the sea.

Ballard’s presentation included a live video conference with scientists on board his exploration ship, “The Nautilus”, which is exploring the US territories near Howland Island, where many researchers believe Earhart’s plane is located.

In speaking with reporters after the presentation, Ballard expressed confidence that Earhart’s plane would be found. “Oh it’s there,” Ballard said. “We’re not looking for the Loch Ness Monster. I think it’s absolutely going to get found. It’s a question of when, and that really becomes a question of the emerging technologies.”

Dr. Ballard’s invitation to speak came from US Senator Jerry Moran, and was organized in partnership with USD 409 administration.

Moran is the chairperson for the Senate Appropriations Sub-committee that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and funds Dr. Ballard’s research in ocean exploration.

(KAIR)--A summertime traffic stop leads to the arrest of an Atchison man on drug charges.

That’s according to a report from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, who said 33-year-old Scott Fowler was arrested this week, taken into custody on an Atchison County District Court warrant.

The warrant was issued following a July 5 morning traffic stop in the 400 block of South 6th Street, with Fowler arrested at that time for an outstanding Municipal Court warrant.

An on-scene investigation, which included the police department’s K-9 officer, led to the discovery of what police allege was methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Fowler was arrested Tuesday on the District Court warrant charging him with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, as well as driving while suspended.

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

His bond is set at $10,000.

(KAIR)--The alleged driver of a vehicle that led Atchison County authorities on a two-state pursuit that ended on a flooded Missouri road is now in custody.

Arrested Saturday evening was 32-year-old Phillip Roles, of Atchison, who was found by Atchison Police hiding in a residence.

He was taken into custody on an Atchison County District Court warrant charging him with aid and abet possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, aid and abet possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, no drug tax stamp, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and driving while suspended.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie told MSC News Roles had been on the run since the time of the August 21 pursuit that began with an attempted traffic stop in the 500 block of Atchison’s Park Street and ended on Southwest 130th Road, in Platte County, Missouri. “It traveled down a road that had been washed out at a certain point by the floods, about a 50-foot wash out, and the water in there was about waist deep. The vehicle didn’t quite make it across there,” Laurie said.

Roles allegedly fled on foot after the car got stuck, but his passenger, 25-year-old David Pickens, of Atchison, remained, and was arrested on an Atchison County District Court warrant.

During the arrest, Laurie said a distribution amount of methamphetamine was located, as well as heroin.

David Pickens/Credit: Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

Roles, following his Saturday evening discovery, and arrest, was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

His bond is set at $150,000.

Pickens also remains in custody at the Atchison County Jail, held on similar charges, with his bond set at the same amount.

(KNZA)--Brown County Sheriff John Merchant is alerting residents about another  scam circulating in the area.

Merchant said county residents have reported receiving phone calls falsely claiming that their utility bill is overdue.  The caller states unless immediate payment is made through credit card, their service will be immediately shut off.

Residents have reported the threat has been made on water, gas and electric
services.    

Merchant said the caller tries to scare residents into paying by telling them it is against the law to live in a property without utility service and they would report them to the authorities.

He reminds residents this is not how utility companies operate.  

Merchant said if you feel you have been a victim of this scam, notify your  utility company and local law enforcement at once.

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Commissioners reviewed correspondence from Highway Superintendent Chris Rauner during their August 27th meeting regarding landowners who failed to comply with the removal of trees and brush after written notice was sent.

The correspondence was also sent to the Pawnee County  Attorney.  

A letter from the State of Nebraska First Probation District regarding their 2019-20 budget and request for $2,154 from Pawnee County was discussed. 

Representatives from Murphy Tractor and Equipment Company and Nebraska Machinery met with the Board to provide information on new motor graders and snow plows.  

Following the presentations, board members Ron  Seitz and Jan Lang  voted to purchase a new CAT 12M3, motor grader with a snow plow and a $20-thousand parts credit for $256,970 with a three-year payment contract. 

Commissioner Dennis Schaardt was absent from the meeting.  

(KAIR)--A Jefferson County-based health provider is gifted thousands of dollars.

According to a news release issued by FreeState Electric Cooperative, a check for $15,000 was presented Thursday, August 29, to the employees of F.W. Huston Medical Center, in Winchester.

Submitted photo 

The amount of the check was kept secret until the time of the presentation, with the release saying the hospital staff attending the ceremony “were blown away and completely shocked” when the check was presented by Free State Board President Jeanine Murphy.

The donated funds were generated through an internal drive of the electric cooperative. The cooperative’s 80 employees and nine trustees raised $7,500, with those funds matched by FreeState’s primary lender, CoBank, through the bank’s Sharing Success program.

The program matches employee donations dollar-for-dollar, with monies annually donated to a nonprofit organization selected by the cooperative.

F.W. Huston was selected for the services it provides to the community, which includes radiology, urgent care, medical clinics, assisted and senior living, independent living, mental health services, pharmacy services, and apartments. According to the release, the rural hospital has served the area for 60-years and provides 160 jobs. It receives no tax support, and relies heavily on fundraising, private donations, and grants.

FreeState, which has participated in the Sharing Success program for the past 8-years, is the largest rural electric cooperative in eastern Kansas, and the fifth largest in the state of Kansas.

It serves nine local area Kansas counties while providing infrastructure to Fort Leavenworth.

(KAIR)--A single vehicle Atchison County wreck sent an Atchison woman to the hospital during the Labor Day weekend.

According to a report from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, it happened early Saturday morning, sometime between 3:00 and 3:30, when 27-year-old Megan Laflin was northbound in the 8000 block of Pratt Road.

According to Laurie, Laflin’s Lexus ES crashed into a power pole, leaving her with minor injuries.

Laflin was transported to the Atchison Hospital by Atchison County EMS for treatment.

(KNZA)--A sales tax initiative to benefit the Hiawatha Community Hospital will appear on the November 5 general election ballot after a petition is verified.

Brown County Clerk Melissa Gormley said Hospital CEO John Broberg submitted a petition Friday to place a ten year countywide, half-cent retailers sales tax on the ballot.

Gormley said the petition contained 537 signatures, with 499 of those determined to be valid.  That was well over the 343 signatures needed.

Broberg said the Hospital Auxiliary and Grey Ladies were in the hospital’s main lobby for the past two weeks visiting with patients and visitors about the petition.  He said they also had many volunteers who assisted with getting signatures.

The hospital says the tax proposal would provide about 50 to 70 percent of necessary funding to replace the hospital’s aging equipment.  

Proceeds from the tax proposal, which would generate around $700,000 annually, are earmarked solely for the Hiawatha hospital.

If approved by voters, collection of the sales tax would begin April 1, 2020.

Brown County voters during a special election in May defeated by a 29-vote margin a sales tax proposal that would have provided funding for health care services in the county.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Commission is proposing a 2020 county budget of nearly $13.5 million that calls for the county to collect $345,000 in additional tax revenue.

The Commission approved the budget for publication at their August 26 meeting.

It contains an estimated tax rate of 42.436 mills, a .669 mill decrease over this year’s budget.

Even though the mill levy will decrease the county will collect more local taxes due to an $11 million increase in the county’s assessed valuation.

The Commission will consider adoption of the budget following a public hearing at their September 16 meeting, set for 10 o’clock that morning in the commissioners room at the Nemaha County Courthouse.

(KNZA)--The city of Hiawatha is seeking feedback on whether trash pickup should be removed from residential alley's and the city go with curbside pickup only.

Residents can give their input by responding to a survey on the back of their September water bill or on-line at the city's Facebook page.

Mayor Bill Collins said at the city commission's August 19 meeting he would like to get a consensus on how the community feels about the issue and suggested the survey be conducted.

Commissioners are considering an ordinance that would prohibit the operation of trash truck's and other heavy duty trucks over a certain weight in residential alleys.

The issue first came up at the commission's August 5 meeting when commissioners were informed a resident had voiced concerns about trash trucks damaging alleys.