(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners approved a resolution during their November 23 meeting to transfer funds from the American Rescue Plan Act Fund to the General Fund to reimburse the costs of the plumbing project in the Courthouse. 

The. St. Joseph Plumbing and Heating company completed the work this year at a cost of $79,023.  

In other business the Board approved continuing the annual funding of the Greater Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise, economic development organization from august 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022 in an amount of $15-thousand.  

(KLZA)-- Community Medical Center in Falls City reports fewer tests were conducted for COVID-19 at the hospital between November 14 and 29,  but the percentage of positive tests is up.

For the previous two-week period the rate of positive tests was 19.6 percent among the 312 tests conducted.

Between November 14 and 29, there were 254 tests with 24.5 percent of those tested, or 63 of  the 254, testing positive for COVID-19.  There are 39 tests pending. 

Overall since testing started at CMC there have been 5,774 test with 15.9 percent or 918 having positive results for COVID-19.   

(KAIR)-- The Doniphan County Health Department will hold a second pediatric COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children ages 5-17 on Thursday afternoon, December 2.

The clinic will take place from 3 to 6 at the Doniphan County Health Department located at  201 South Main Street in Troy.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only one authorized for children five years old and older at this time. The Federal Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control authorized the vaccine on Nov. 2.

The Health Deaprtment says the children vaccinated must be able to return on Thursday, Dec. 23 to the health department for their second dose of vaccine.

Those with questions can call the Health Department at 785-985-3591.

(KNZA)---The victim a fatal early Sunday morning shooting at an apartment complex in St. Joseph, Missouri has been identified.

The St. Joseph Police Department identified the victim as 25-year-old Jabin Bullock.

Police say Bullock was shot at the Ridge Apartments in the 2100-block of South Riverside Road around 3:30.

Police say his death is being investigated as a homicide.

A suspect is not in custody at this time.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS

(AP) — A federal judge has blocked President Joe Biden's administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on health care workers in 10 states that had brought the first legal challenge against the requirement.

The preliminary injunction issued Monday applies to Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Those states all have either a Republican attorney general or governor.

A federal judge in Missouri said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid had no clear authority from Congress to enact the vaccine mandate for health care providers that participate in the two government programs.

The rule requires workers to receive their first dose by Dec. 6 and their second by Jan. 4. 

(MSC NEWS)--The Kansas Supreme Court has re-appointed District Judge Jim Patton has chief judge in the 22nd Judicial District.

The District is composed of Brown, Doniphan, Nemaha and Marshall Counties.

Patton has served as a district judge since January 1995 and chief judge since 2001.

Also the Kansas Supreme Court has re-appointed David King as chief judge of the 1st Judical District, composed of Atchison and Leavenworth Counties. King has served as district judge since 1986 and chief judge since 1990.

In addition, Jeffrey Elder has been re-appointed as chief judge of the 2nd Judical District.  The district is composed of Jackson, Jefferson, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties. Elder has served as a district judge since 2008 and as chief judge since 2020.

Their terms are effective January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023.

Each of Kansas’ 31 judicial districts has a chief judge who, in addition to their judicial responsibilities, has general control over case assignments within the district, as well as general supervisory authority over the administrative and clerical functions of the court.

(KAIR)--A year-long comprehensive statewide housing needs assessment—the first of its kind undertaken in 27 years—is nearing completion, and Kansans are invited to learn about preliminary findings in a series of regional community meetings, including one planned in Atchison this week.

The study identifies current housing needs and growth opportunities, including goals to guide the state’s future housing development efforts.

Interim Atchison City Manager Justin Pregont, in an email announcing the study, said he “was fortunate enough to serve on the statewide technical committee guiding the completion of this study and Atchison is fortunate enough to be hosting one of the public presentations of the results.”

Ryan Vincent, Executive Director of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, in a release, says with the information from the study, Kansas “can develop a data-driven approach to support growth and benchmarks” to track progress.

According to the release, Omaha-based consultancy, RDG Planning & Design, conducted the in-depth study over the past year. Analysis included a series of 71 virtual and in-person listening sessions with more than 425 community participants across the state, as well as meetings with housing stakeholder groups. Consultants conducted a statewide survey of more than 4,400 respondents and analyzed census data to develop a comprehensive picture of the state’s housing needs, current resources, and growth opportunities.

The findings revealed several key goals to address future housing needs, inlcluding: • Prioritize middle income housing • Diversify housing stock • Extend housing security • Reinvest in older housing stock, including vacant units • Address the building trades labor shortage • Extend existing human capital resources

Kansans are encouraged to learn more about the study’s results and how their communities can expand housing opportunities by participating in upcoming regional sessions, including a meeting planned Wednesday evening in Atchison. According to the release, that session will be held beginning at 5:30 in the USD 409 Community Room, located at 626 Commercial Street, in Atchison.

The release, which notes that the full report and recommendations will be published online following the statewide tour, explains that the state’s housing study was funded and administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity and Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, the state’s housing finance agency.

(KLZA)-- The Fall Community Cleanup event in Falls City sponsored by the City of Falls City was a success.

Nearly five tons of household items and debris were collected by Falls City Sanitation at no cost to citizens. The total was 4.79 tons.  Koelzer Salvage collected two tons of metal for scrap.

A dozen 200 pound carts of shredded papper was removed. The shredding was sponsored by F &M Bank  

Cross Electronics Recycling collected a truck full of items with cords including televisions and computer monitors.  That was sponsored by Frontier Bank.

The next Community Clean-up event is planned for the fourth weekend in April, 2022,  in conjunction with Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations.  
 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Rotary Club has a busy day Tuesday as a lengthy project comes to a successful end.

The local organization has been working on a project to purchase and install new playground equipment for the Falls City Head Start program on West 14th Street. 

$2,500 was raised locally with the Falls City Rotary Club raising $1,500 and $500 contributions each from Community Medical Center and F & M Bank  Falls City.  The Rotary Foundation matched the local organizations $1,500 donation bringing the total of $4,000.  

In addition, the Falls City Rotary paid for the cost to ship the equipment.

Tuesday afternoon local club members will be installing the all-plastic, outdoor set of equipment, which includes five large pieces and two smaller ones at the Head Start property.  
 

(KLZA)-- Judge Vicky Johnson, Nebraska District Court Judge for the 1st Judicial District has informed Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts of her intention to retire as of January 31, 2022. 

Johnson has served 17 years as District Court Judge serving Fillmore, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson , Saline and Thayer counties. She also serves as the presiding judge for the Southeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court.  

The Judicial Resources Commission will be calling a meeting to determine whether or not her retirement will create a judicial vacancy on the district court bench.  That decision is based on the judicial workload statistics.

(KMZA)-- Vermillion USD 380 has been awarded a $243,000 grant from USDA Rural Development to renovate school buildings and upgrade technology within the communities of Centralia, Frankfort and Vermillion.

According to a release from USDA, the renovations will include window replacements, classroom and bathroom remodels, and replacement of an outdated boiler heating system with heating/air conditioning units.

Funds will also be used to purchase security cameras, magnetic door holders, a new school bus, and 240 laptops to replace outdated computer equipment.

Dan Fischer, acting director for USDA Rural Development in Kansas, said the agency is investing nearly $804,000 toward 11 community facility projects, serving more than 29,000 Kansans.

Atchison residents should expect to begin seeing the 2021 Atchison Community Survey arrive in mailboxes.

According to a release from the City of Atchsion, the surveys were postmarked Tuesday, with residents expected to receive it over the next week or so.

According to the City, it’s not guaranteed that every address will receive a survey, although the City says they did their “best to utilize existing 911 and utility addressing databases to cover the City of Atchison.”

The survey, described as being 54-questions long, “has been sent with a postage-paid return envelope to encourage participation.” Residents will have a chance “to provide feedback on nearly every aspect of city government,” with the survey’s questions covering such “topics as quality of services, public safety, code enforcement, infrastructure, parks and facilities, utilities, economic development and city communications.”

The surveys will come from the ETC Institute, a Kansas based company with, what the City calls, “an outstanding record of performance in surveying and reporting community feedback.” Residents are encouraged to respond to the surveys within a few days of receiving them.

Once enough surveys have been received to provide a valid statistical representation, ETC Institute will compile the results, which will be released to the public once received by City officials.

(KLZA)--A Humboldt fire claimed the life of one individual Thursday morning.

According to the Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department they were dispatched to a structure fire at 1055 7th street in Humboldt at 4:23 Thursday morning. When the fire department arrived the structure was fully engulfed in flames.

Initial reports pointed to a wood fired furnace used to melt aluminum scrap as late as 3:00 Thursday morning, Melting temperature of aluminum is 1221 degrees. Most likely the furnace was operating above the temperature capacity of the wood burning unit and the flue.

The Dawson and Stella Fire Departments assisted at the scene and two Nebraska State Fire Marshall's investigators were on site.

Embers also ignited a garage roof 2 blocks south of the initial fire. One of the units left the primary scene to extinguish that fire. The name of the individual who died in the fire has not been released.

(KAIR)--Wiinter weather lies ahead, but the time arrives to think of summer, and the return of Atchison's Amelia Earhart Festival, and the accompanying LakeFest country music concert at Atchison's Warnock Lake. 
The festival has not been held for the past two summers due to the coronavirus pandemic. 
On Wednesday, the LakeFest Committee announced the line-up for the 2022 concert. The release follows: 

--We are excited to announce the lineup is finalized for LakeFest 2022! Mark your calendars! July 15 at Warnock Lake in Atchison, Kansas!

--ACM New Female Artist of the Year will headline LakeFest 2022! Warner Music Nashville’s Gabby Barrett is setting the trend. Barrett has added more elite wins to her goldmine of accolades, including three Billboard Music Awards - Top Country Female Artist, Top Country Song (“I Hope”), Top Collaboration with Charlie Puth (“I Hope”) - iHeartRadio Music Awards Best New Country Artist and the 2021 CMT Music Awards top honor for Female Video of the Year (“The Good Ones”). Recognized as Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2020, an Amazon Music Breakthrough artist, one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Music plus listed in Variety’s 2020 Young Hollywood Impact Report, Barrett is proving why she’s “the face of Gen-Z Country” (HITS). Her meteoric 5X PLATINUM debut “I Hope” was the most-streamed Country song of 2020, highlighted as one of the Best Songs of the year by the Associated Press and Billboard, winner of CMT’s 2020 Breakthrough Video of the Year award, while catapulting to the Top 3 on Billboard's all genre Hot 100 chart. Reigning atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for a record-breaking 27 weeks, “I Hope” was also the first debut single by a solo female artist to top the Country radio charts since 2017 and made her the youngest artist with a #1 debut at Country radio in over two decades. We can’t wait to welcome her to the LakeFest 2022 Stage!

-- For Michael Ray, music is his grandfather singing and sweating on a rural Florida stage. It’s the childhood refuge he found during the pain of his parents’ divorce. It’s family and stories, history and hope. Ray says music saved him, but it did even more: Music made him. In four short years, Ray has built an impressive foundation. Three No. 1 songs – RIAA Platinum-certified “Think a Little Less,” along with“Kiss You in the Morning,” and “One That Got Away” – plus “Get to You” and “Her World or Mine,” brings his tally to four Gold-certified singles. Now, two hit albums into that all-too-rare blend of critically acclaimed and commercially successful career, Ray has released “Whiskey and Rain,” the first single off 7-song collection Higher Education, produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Ross Copperman. Proof that heartbroken wallowing can feel good if it swings, “Whiskey And Rain” has garnered over 66 million streams as it reaches the Top 10 at Country Radio, cementing Ray as the ideal bridge between vintage country cool and modern country’s best sounds.

-- Singer/Songwriter & Atchison County native Erik Dylan will be appearing this year at Lakefest. 

A frequent collaborator to Luke Combs and Riley Green, Dylan contributed to Combs’ record-breaking album What You See Is What You Get and co-wrote Green’s No. 1 hit “There Was This Girl.” The Kansas native also has songs recorded by Parker McCollum, Brantley Gilbert, Elvie Shane, Ashland Craft, Kip Moore, Trisha Yearwood, Ray Fulcher, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Brent Cobb, and more.

An an artist Dylan has enjoyed success as well. His “JJ’s Market” was named one of American Songwriter’s Top 20 Songs of 2020, and his full-length projects include his 2016 debut album Heart of a Flatland Boy and the follow-up Baseball on the Moon (2018), which features duets with Steve Earle and Combs.

The LakeFest concert is a highlight of the 25th Annual Amelia Earhart Festival, which will be held in the hometown of the world-famous aviatrix on July 15 and 16.

The annual concert is held in the park surrounding Warnock Lake, 17862 274th Road, which is three miles southwest of Atchison. Gates and concessions will open at 4 pm. We will open the concert with the National Anthem at 7 pm. Erik Dylan will take the stage immediately following. Michael Ray will perform approximately 8:15, with Gabby Barrett’s appearance at approximately 9:45.

Food vendors and concessions are available on the grounds. NO COOLERS ALLOWED! ( NO BEVERAGES CAN BE CARRIED IN!) The Salvation Army will provide cups of free water.

“We are super excited about the lineup for LakeFest 2022!” Jacque Pregont, Amelia Earhart Festival Coordinator stated. “Gabby Barrett has taken the country music scene by storm and we can’t wait to have her light up the LakeFest stage! Michael Ray highlights his newest music, along with his three number one hits as our middle artist at LakeFest 2022! And we love having Erik Dylan come back home to open for us again. He is such a great talent and everyone in this area should be proud to know he’s from Atchison County and leaving his mark in country music with some great songs! It’s going to be another great night at Warnock Lake!”

Information for purchasing tickets will follow soon. Advance ticket price will be $25 per ticket. Tickets on the day of the concert will be $35. Children 10 and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.

LakeFest 2022 is the prelude to a full day of festivities in Atchison on Saturday July 16. A complete festival schedule will be available as details are finalized at www.visitatchison.com.

####

For any questions concerning LakeFest 2022, contact Jacque Pregont, Amelia Earhart Festival Coordinator, at (913) 426-3911 or aefestival@atchisonkansas.net.

(KAIR)--Wiinter weather lies ahead, but the time arrives to think of summer, and the return of Atchison's Amelia Earhart Festival, and the accompanying LakeFest country music concert at Atchison's Warnock Lake. 
The festival has not been held for the past two summers due to the coronavirus pandemic. 
On Wednesday, the LakeFest Committee announced the line-up for the 2022 concert. The release follows: 

--We are excited to announce the lineup is finalized for LakeFest 2022! Mark your calendars! July 15 at Warnock Lake in Atchison, Kansas!

--ACM New Female Artist of the Year will headline LakeFest 2022! Warner Music Nashville’s Gabby Barrett is setting the trend. Barrett has added more elite wins to her goldmine of accolades, including three Billboard Music Awards - Top Country Female Artist, Top Country Song (“I Hope”), Top Collaboration with Charlie Puth (“I Hope”) - iHeartRadio Music Awards Best New Country Artist and the 2021 CMT Music Awards top honor for Female Video of the Year (“The Good Ones”). Recognized as Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2020, an Amazon Music Breakthrough artist, one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Music plus listed in Variety’s 2020 Young Hollywood Impact Report, Barrett is proving why she’s “the face of Gen-Z Country” (HITS). Her meteoric 5X PLATINUM debut “I Hope” was the most-streamed Country song of 2020, highlighted as one of the Best Songs of the year by the Associated Press and Billboard, winner of CMT’s 2020 Breakthrough Video of the Year award, while catapulting to the Top 3 on Billboard's all genre Hot 100 chart. Reigning atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for a record-breaking 27 weeks, “I Hope” was also the first debut single by a solo female artist to top the Country radio charts since 2017 and made her the youngest artist with a #1 debut at Country radio in over two decades. We can’t wait to welcome her to the LakeFest 2022 Stage!

-- For Michael Ray, music is his grandfather singing and sweating on a rural Florida stage. It’s the childhood refuge he found during the pain of his parents’ divorce. It’s family and stories, history and hope. Ray says music saved him, but it did even more: Music made him. In four short years, Ray has built an impressive foundation. Three No. 1 songs – RIAA Platinum-certified “Think a Little Less,” along with“Kiss You in the Morning,” and “One That Got Away” – plus “Get to You” and “Her World or Mine,” brings his tally to four Gold-certified singles. Now, two hit albums into that all-too-rare blend of critically acclaimed and commercially successful career, Ray has released “Whiskey and Rain,” the first single off 7-song collection Higher Education, produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Ross Copperman. Proof that heartbroken wallowing can feel good if it swings, “Whiskey And Rain” has garnered over 66 million streams as it reaches the Top 10 at Country Radio, cementing Ray as the ideal bridge between vintage country cool and modern country’s best sounds.

-- Singer/Songwriter & Atchison County native Erik Dylan will be appearing this year at Lakefest. 

A frequent collaborator to Luke Combs and Riley Green, Dylan contributed to Combs’ record-breaking album What You See Is What You Get and co-wrote Green’s No. 1 hit “There Was This Girl.” The Kansas native also has songs recorded by Parker McCollum, Brantley Gilbert, Elvie Shane, Ashland Craft, Kip Moore, Trisha Yearwood, Ray Fulcher, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Brent Cobb, and more.

An an artist Dylan has enjoyed success as well. His “JJ’s Market” was named one of American Songwriter’s Top 20 Songs of 2020, and his full-length projects include his 2016 debut album Heart of a Flatland Boy and the follow-up Baseball on the Moon (2018), which features duets with Steve Earle and Combs.

The LakeFest concert is a highlight of the 25th Annual Amelia Earhart Festival, which will be held in the hometown of the world-famous aviatrix on July 15 and 16.

The annual concert is held in the park surrounding Warnock Lake, 17862 274th Road, which is three miles southwest of Atchison. Gates and concessions will open at 4 pm. We will open the concert with the National Anthem at 7 pm. Erik Dylan will take the stage immediately following. Michael Ray will perform approximately 8:15, with Gabby Barrett’s appearance at approximately 9:45.

Food vendors and concessions are available on the grounds. NO COOLERS ALLOWED! ( NO BEVERAGES CAN BE CARRIED IN!) The Salvation Army will provide cups of free water.

“We are super excited about the lineup for LakeFest 2022!” Jacque Pregont, Amelia Earhart Festival Coordinator stated. “Gabby Barrett has taken the country music scene by storm and we can’t wait to have her light up the LakeFest stage! Michael Ray highlights his newest music, along with his three number one hits as our middle artist at LakeFest 2022! And we love having Erik Dylan come back home to open for us again. He is such a great talent and everyone in this area should be proud to know he’s from Atchison County and leaving his mark in country music with some great songs! It’s going to be another great night at Warnock Lake!”

Information for purchasing tickets will follow soon. Advance ticket price will be $25 per ticket. Tickets on the day of the concert will be $35. Children 10 and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.

LakeFest 2022 is the prelude to a full day of festivities in Atchison on Saturday July 16. A complete festival schedule will be available as details are finalized at www.visitatchison.com.

####

For any questions concerning LakeFest 2022, contact Jacque Pregont, Amelia Earhart Festival Coordinator, at (913) 426-3911 or aefestival@atchisonkansas.net.

(KAIR)--The search is underway to fill the position of Atchison City Manager.

According to a release from the City, wanted is “a manager who can maintain an environment of trust and credibility while fostering positive and productive relationships with citizens, elected officials, and employees.”

The position became vacant following the resignation of Becky Berger in August for reasons not made public. She served in the role as city manager from 2018 until her resignation.

A week following her resignation, Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont was installed, by a decision of the Atchison City Commission, to serve as Interim City Manager until the time the position is filled permanently. Pregont has stated publicly that he does “not wish to be considered a candidate for the permanent City Manager position.”

According to the City, “a first review of applications for those seeking to fill the role will begin on December 8 at which time the City Commission will review all candidates and make their selections for interviews.”

(KAIR)--An Atchison woman is dead, killed last week in a Kansas City, Missouri shooting.

Dead is 23-year-old Emeleigh Wilson, identified by Kansas City Police this week after she was found dead inside a vehicle November 17.

Fox4-TV reports the discovery was made near Kansas City’s North 15th Street and Walker Avenue.

Wilson’s body was discovered in the vehicle after a man was found suffering from gunshot-related wounds outside a residence, located near North 16th Street and Walker Avenue.

The TV station, earlier this week, reported that the unnamed man remained hospitalized.

The investigation into the shooting is continuing.

(KLZA)-- A man wanted on a federal arrest warrant for drug distribution charges and a Lancaster County, Nebraska felony warrant was arrested by Richardson County Deputies following a pursuit on Tuesday.  

According to a report from the Richardson County Sheriff's Department deputies located 47-year-old Michael E. Tinsley  leaving a Salem residence.  When deputies attempted to apprehend Tinsley, he fled in a car and an approximate 10-mile pursuit begin on gravel roads west and north of Salem.

Tinsley's vehicle became disabled during the pursuit and he exited the vehicle, disobeying orders before being taken into custody. 

In addition to the arrest on warrants, Tinsley is facing felony charges of escape and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest,  and misdemeanor charges of willful reckless driving , obstructing a police officer and driving under suspension.

An habitual criminal enhancement was added to the Richardson County charges.  If found to be an habitual criminal,  the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 – 60 years in prison. 

(KLZA)-- A man wanted on a federal arrest warrant for drug distribution charges and a Lancaster County, Nebraska felony warrant was arrested by Richardson County Deputies following a pursuit on Tuesday.  

According to a report from the Richardson County Sheriff's Department deputies located 47-year-old Michael E. Tinsley  leaving a Salem residence.  When deputies attempted to apprehend Tinsley, he fled in a car and an approximate 10-mile pursuit began on gravel roads west and north of Salem.

Tinsley's vehicle became disabled during the pursuit and he exited the vehicle, disobeying orders before being taken into custody. 

In addition to the arrest on warrants, Tinsley is facing felony charges of escape and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest,  and misdemeanor charges of willful reckless driving , obstructing a police officer and driving under suspension.

An habitual criminal enhancement was added to the Richardson County charges.  If found to be an habitual criminal,  the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 – 60 years in prison. 

(KLZA)-- The number of COVID-19 cases continue to climb in parts of the listening area.

Community Medical Center in Falls City reported 62 positive tests for COVID-19 between November 8 and 22nd. That represents 19.6 percent of the total tests given. There were 250 negative tests.

In Holt County, Missouri, an additional 21 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed  pushing the number of active cases in Holt County to 46.

The Atchison County, Missouri Health Department reported there are currently 35 active cases in the county.  There have been 117 confirmed cases in Atchison County since November 1.  

(KLZA)-- Fire fighters from the Verdon and Falls City Rural Fire Departments responded to a fire call about 10:30 Monday morning between Falls City and Salem. 

Falls City Rural Fire Department Fire Chief Mike Ramsey said a vacant house on the property owned by Delemer Hullman was completely engulfed in flames by the time fire fighters arrived on the scene. 

The fire started when debris was being burned around the outside the home.  Steady winds pushed the fire to dry grass around the house and led to the house catching on fire.

The house was destroyed by the fire.  No injuries were reported. 
In addition to the area fire departments,  the Falls City Volunteer Ambulance Squad and Richardson County  Sheriff's Department responded to the scene.

(KAIR)--A search for an Atchison man, headed up by the Atchison Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals, ends with his arrest in connection with alleged child-related sex crimes.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, 19-year-old Cameron Johnson was arrested November 17 in Kansas City, Missouri, by the U.S. Marshals, on an Atchison County District Court warrant for indecent liberties with a child.

U.S. Marshals arrest Atchison man on sex-crimes charges

Posted Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 2:26pm

(KAIR)--A search for an Atchison man, headed up by the Atchison Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals, ends with his arrest in connection with alleged child-related sex crimes.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, 19-year-old Cameron Johnson was arrested November 17 in Kansas City, Missouri, by the U.S. Marshals, on an Atchison County District Court warrant for indecent liberties with a child.

First taken to the Jackson County, Missouri Jail following last week’s arrest, Johnson was transported to the Atchison County Jail Monday.

His bond is set at $75,000.

According to Wilson, Atchison Police, on October 18, launched an investigation “that focused on a victim under the age of 16 which led to the warrant for Johnson.”

(KAIR)--Coronavirus cases rise in Doniphan County.  

That's according to a release issued by the Doniphan County Health Department/Home Health.  

According to the latest figures, as of November 19, Doniphan County is reporting 44 active cases of COVID-19. That's up from the 25 active virus cases reported November 15 by the health department.  

Doniphan County has experienced a total of 1,441 positive cases of the virus since the pandemic began.  29 have died.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Police Department and the  Richardson County Sheriff's Department will participate in the “Buckle Up, Every Trip, Every Time” mobilization, November 24 through November 28. 

During the five-day event Falls City Police Officers and Richardson  County Deputies will work extra hours including overtime focusing on and enforcing seat belt and occupant protection violations. 

The overtime pay for the mobilization will be funded through a grant from the Nebraska Department of Highway Safety. 

Both departments reminds everyone to buckle up,  use car seats and drive safely.  

(KLZA)-- Despite some recent warm temperatures,  winter storms could occur at any time.

The Nebraska Public Power District is reminding people of the dangers of downed power lines. 

Winter storms can cause a few different threats to power lines including galloping and downed and floating wires.

Galloping wires occur when high winds force two adjacent power lines to hit each other, which may cause an outage.  Floating wires consist of power lines that may have been broken and are blowing in the wind or are not long enough to contact the ground. 

If you come upon a power line down on the ground or blowing in the wind,  stay clear of the area and notify your local power provider immediately.  Downed lines can have an electrical charge and are very dangerous if not handled professionally.

Motorists should never drive over a power line lying across a roadway and motorists should not try to move it from the roadway.  If a power line falls on top of a drivers vehicle,  the occupants should remain inside the vehicle and call for  help.

If occupants are forced to leave your vehicle because of fire or other emergency,  get to the edge of your vehicle and jump away from the vehicle, landing on two feet and never touching the ground and vehicle at the same time. When moving away from the are, shuffle your feet.

NPPD customers can call 1-877-ASK-NPPD or go to NPPD.com, to report an outage or damaged power line. 

(KAIR)--Two women are facing charges related to a weekend break-in at an Atchison apartment.

Taken into custody Saturday were 20-year-old Kala Woods, of Stover, Missouri and 27-year-old Janice Jimenez-Saavedra, of Atchison.

Child sex crimes earn prison sentence

Posted Monday, November 22nd, 2021 2:03pm

(KNZA)--A Fairview man is going to prison, sentenced Friday in Brown County District Court for child sex-related crimes.

According to Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill, Nathaniel Culver will serve nearly 11-years in prison, with the sentences pertaining to two victims of sexual abuse running consecutive with each other.

Once released, the 39-year-old Culver, according to Hill, “will be subject to lifetime post release supervision and lifetime registration as a sexual offender.”

Culver pleaded no contest in August to amended felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated solicitation of a child. In exchange for the plea, five additional counts were dismissed.

Culver was charged in connection with alleged sex offenses against two children who were age 9 and 11 at the time the crimes were committed.

He was arrested in September 2020 following an extensive investigation by the Hiawatha Police Department, with the assistance of investigators from the Kansas Department of Children and Families, Brown County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

(KLZA)-- Community Medical Center in Falls City will host a Turkey Trot event on Saturday, November 27, beginning at the CMC Campus at 3307 Barada Street beginning at 9:00 a.m. 

Teams of five will take part in either a one mile,  a 5K or 10K Turkey Trot event to promote Health and Wellness.  

The entry fee is $20.  

For each team of five,  Community Medical Center will donate a turkey to the SENCA Food Pantry to help friends and neighbors with the holiday meal. 

For more information contact Linda Santo at 402-245-6704  or by email at lsanto@cmcfc.org.

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Commissioners reviewed the proposed 2021 Commissioner District changes recommended by G Works due to redistricting from the 2020 Census when they met Tuesday.

Following the discussion the Board voted to approve the proposal with only minor changes in the Commissioner Districts. 

Elected County officials met with the Board to discuss salaries for the 2023-2026 term of office.  No action was taken.  

Commissioners also discussed Pawnee  County Courthouse IT security with Tom Nielsen of the Soarin Group but no action was taken.  

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Commissioners reviewed the proposed 2021 Commissioner District changes recommended by G Works due to redistricting from the 2020 Census when they met Tuesday.

Following the discussion the Board voted to approve the proposal with only minor changes in the Commissioner Districts. 

Elected County officials met with the Board to discuss salaries for the 2023-2026 term of office.  No action was taken.  

Commissioners also discussed Pawnee  County Courthouse IT security with Tom Nielsen of the Soarin Group but no action was taken.  

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Commissioners reviewed the proposed 2021 Commissioner District changes recommended by G Works due to redistricting from the 2020 Census when they met Tuesday.

Following the discussion the Board voted to approve the proposal with only minor changes in the Commissioner Districts. 

Elected County officials met with the Board to discuss salaries for the 2023-2026 term of office.  No action was taken.  

Commissioners also discussed Pawnee  County Courthouse IT security with Tom Nielsen of the Soarin Group but no action was taken.  

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Commissioners reviewed the proposed 2021 Commissioner District changes recommended by G Works due to redistricting from the 2020 Census when they met Tuesday.

Following the discussion the Board voted to approve the proposal with only minor changes in the Commissioner Districts. 

Elected County officials met with the Board to discuss salaries for the 2023-2026 term of office.  No action was taken.  

Commissioners also discussed Pawnee  County Courthouse IT security with Tom Nielsen of the Soarin Group but no action was taken.  

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council last week approved a request from Police Chief Jamie Baker to hire an additional Police Officer for the City.

Baker discussed the reasons he requested the additional officer feeling there is an opportunity to strengthen the department, noting how difficult it has been to hire certified officers.   

This will bring the Falls City Police Department to 9 officers plus the Chief. 

Baker is hopeful hiring an additional officer will allow more time for investigative work on cases.  Baker said the investigator is doing a good job keeping up, but said it is difficulty to keep up with covering calls and shifts while doing investigative work. 

The vote request was approved unanimously.  

(KAIR)--Two people required hospital care following a two vehicle, Sunday afternoon, Atchison County crash.

According to a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol, it happened on U.S. Highway 59, 4-miles north of Nortonville, when a Ford F150, driven by 47-year-old Dale Myers, Jr., of Topeka, was traveling northeast on the highway. It crossed the center line, and into the path of another truck, traveling southwest on the highway.

The driver of the second truck, 61-year-old Paul Lanfermann II, of Atchison, attempted to avoid the crash by driving onto the right shoulder of the highway.

However, according to KHP, Myers' truck continued into the path of the truck trying to avoid the crash, with the two vehicles colliding before both going into a ditch and rolling over.

Lanfermann and his passenger, 56-year-old Teresa Lanfermann, were both transported to Amberwell Atchison, with her suffering from a suspected serious injury, while he suffered a possible injury.

According to KHP, everyone was buckled up at the time of the wreck, which happened around 2:45 Sunday afternoon.

(KLZA)-- The Richardson County Sheriff's Office arrested  A Humboldt woman Wednesday evening for failing to register as a sex offender, second offense. 

Deputies have also recommended an enhancement of habitual criminal be added for 29-year-old Felita BraveBull-Bredeson.  The habitual criminal enhancement carries a sentence of 10 – 60 years in prison if found guilty.  

(KAIR)--57 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Jefferson County.  

That number, recorded over a 10 day period ending Monday, is up from 34 active cases as reported November 10.  

Word of the increase was delivered Monday to the Jefferson County Commission by Jefferson County Health Department Administrator Crystal VanHoutan during the Commission’s weekly meeting. At that time, VanHoutan explained that Jefferson County’s percent positivity for the last reporting period stood at 6.6%. That’s down from the previous reporting period due to what the unofficial minutes of Monday’s meeting says is “more testing than the previous reporting period.”  

VanHoutan told Commissioner’s 658 coronavirus booster shots were administered during the health department’s drive thru clinic, held November 10.  

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, as of Monday, Jefferson County has had 2,687 cases of the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

49 have died.

(KAIR)--Two local area boil water advisories have been lifted, with state officials finding no contamination in the water supplies.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Friday, the boil water advisories, one for the City of Lancaster water supply system, located in Atchison County, and the other for Doniphan County Rural Water District No. 3, have both been rescinded.

The advisories were issued because of a loss of pressure in the two water systems, with failure to maintain adequate pressure possibly resulting in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

According to KDHE, laboratory testing samples collected from both the City of Lancaster and Doniphan County Rural Water District No. 3 “indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.”

The advisories were issued Sunday due to what KDHE calls “a loss of pressure in the Atchison County Rural Water District 5C’s distribution system.”

It’s from that district, which serves the City of Lancaster, that Doniphan County Rural Water District 3 purchases its water.

A boil advisory was first issued for the Atchison County rural water district, but that was rescinded Tuesday.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County deputies arrested a Nebraska City man at approximately 1:00 a.m. Wednesday morning after conducting a motorist assist on Highway 62 at the intersection with 645 Avenue. 

During the encounter a probable cause search was initiated.  During the search deputies found a substance alleged to have been methamphetamine. 

32-year-old Eric Shipley of Nebraska City was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and driving under suspension. 

(KLZA)-- 50 positive results have been confirmed from 281COVID-19 tests conducted  at Community Medical Center in Falls City from November 5 -19.  

17.8 percent of the test resulted in a positive result compared to 81.1 percent, or 228 negative results.  In all 281 tests were conducted in the two-week period.

If you have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccinations for COVID,  you are urged to contact your primary care provider.  If you don't have a local provider, please call one of the local clinics for more information or to schedule an appointment. 

Family Medicine Clinic  in  Falls City at 402-245-4475.
Family Medicine Clinic in Humboldt at 402-862-3280.
Family Practice Clinic in Falls City at 402-245-3232.

(KLZA)-- A Vermillion, Kansas woman is facing several charges following her arrest about 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening in Richardson County. 

Deputies conducted a motorist assist on Highway 8 and U.S. 75 Highway.

During the encounter deputies established that 39-year-old Lindsay Arent was under the influence of alcohol.  Arent allegedly began to assault a deputy and resisted arrest.  After deputies took control of the situation, a probable cause search was initiated.  During the search deputies located open containers of alcohol, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. 

Arent was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol,  pretest refusal;  post chemical test refusal,  resisting arrest,  assault on an officer,  obstructing a peace officer and  possession of methamphetamine.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Fire Department was keep busy Tuesday afternoon, responding two fires.

Firefighters responded to 2510 U.S. 73 Highway, north of Hiawatha, shortly before 3:00 to a report of outbuilding on fire.

The small building, which was being used as a shop and a chicken coop, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The building was destroyed, with several chickens killed in the blaze.

The cause of the fire is undetermined.

While firefighters were on the scene, a call came in shortly before 4:30 of a combine on fire.

Two fire trucks had to break away from the structure fire to the combine fire just east of 250th and Horned Owl Roads.

The combine sustained extensive damage in the engine compartment.

No injuries were reported in either fire.

(KAIR)--A five-case increase, over a one week period, in the number of active coronavirus cases in Atchison County.

The uptick is shown in virus-related statistics released Wednesday by the Atchison County office of the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments.

According to the figures, Atchison County currently has 46 active cases of COVID-19, compared to 41 active cases reported November 10.

The latest statistics show that five of the Atchison County cases involve children under the age of 5; five cases involve children between the ages of 5 to 12; seven cases are those aged 13 to 21; 12 are aged 22 to 35; three are 36 to 50; six are 51 to 65; and eight of the cases involve those over the age of 65.

The number of hospitalizations in Atchison County, due to the coronavirus, increased by one over the one week period, with 6 currently hospitalized.

The county has has 2,494 cases since the start of the pandemic.

27 have died.

Meanwhile, the state of Kansas has recorded a sixth child death related to COVID-19, as well as an uptick in school-based COVID clusters.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s update Wednesday showed 152 active clusters, up from 143 last week.

Among the clusters are 54 in K-thru-12 schools, encompassing 694 cases. The number is up from 45 K-thru-12 clusters a week ago. The clusters include 19 schools considered exposure locations, up from seven a week ago.

KDHE defines exposure locations as places with five or more COVID cases in the past 14 days.

Among area northeast Kansas schools on the list is Effingham USD 377, with five cases; Jefferson West Elementary, with 5 cases; Troy USD 429 pre-K-thru-8, with 10 cases; Valley Falls Elementary 2nd grade, with 6 cases; and Valley Heights Junior High in Blue Rapids, with 9 cases.

(KNZA)--An Atchison man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of a Cummings man in 2019 has been sentenced to more than 2 ½ years in prison.

25-year-old Brian Spilman, Jr., recently learned his fate in Doniphan County District Court.

His 32-month prison sentence is to be followed by 24-months post-release supervision.

A Doniphan County jury found Spilman guilty of the felony offense in September.  He had been charged with second-degree murder.

Spilman was among three Atchison men charged in the death of 42-year-old Jason Pantle.

Authorities allege the trio engaged in altercations with Pantle during a September 22, 2019 party in southern Doniphan County. Pantle died later at a Kansas City Hospital after suffering what investigators called serious head injuries.

Scott Vandeloo pleaded no-contest in October to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and scheduled to be sentenced December 8.

A jury trial for the third defendant, Matthew “ Cole” Scherer, is scheduled to begin March 28, 2022.   

(KMZA)--The city of Seneca will use a survey service provider to gather public input on various topics.  

The Seneca City Council Wednesday evening approved a proposal to use " FlashVote” to conduct the surveys.  

Six surveys will be conducted over one year for a cost of $4,800.  

City Administrator Tami Haverkamp said the city’s Planning Commission is interested in determining public opinion regarding wind and solar energy developments, and she has other topics that would be useful.  

In other business, the Council accepted the resignation of Michael Ulmer from the city Planning Commission.  The Council said they are looking for someone to fill his position who lives within the three mile zoning radius of Seneca.

 It was noted there has been no interest so far in filling an upcoming vacancy on the Council.  1st Ward Council member Kylee Bergstrom is resigning effective December 1st.   She is stepping down because she is moving out of the 1st Ward. Anyone interested in filling her unexpired term that lives in the 1st Ward should contact city hall or Mayor Joe Mitchell by December 15

(KLZA)-- Following a lengthy discussion during their November 8 meeting, the Pawnee City Council approved the purchase of a Ricoh IM C2500 photo copier from Access Systems at a cost of $3,289 with a monthly maintenance charge of $33.

The City is trying to get a full refund back on the copier purchase from Capital Business Systems. The company says there will be a 25 percent re-stocking fee,  but that is not mentioned in the CBS contract.

Council members also approved having Mosier Construction excavate the smaller pond at the Well Pond property at a cost of $4,250. Mosier will completely rebuild the smaller pond out to the Well pasture.  

City Foreman Spencer Cumley reviewed the LARM Safety Award in the amount of $500.  The funds will be used toward the previous purchase of hard hats,  Hi visibility clothing, gloves and CPS training.  

The council also learned the State Bank of Table Rock has agreed to waive a penalty on a Re-Use CD.  The money from the CD wil be spent on the new  Pawnee City Fire Station project.  The Council thanked City Clerk / Treasurer Tami  Curtis for her work on getting the penalty waiver approved. 

A $5,000 cost to repair a pump on one of the Fire Trucks will be split between the City and Rural Fire Departments. 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners discussed dispatching services being provided by Southeast Communications 911  Dispatch Center with Sheriff Rick Hardesty when they met Tuesday. 

The Sheriff relayed some of the problems that have occurred with the dispatching services.  The Board requested Sheriff Hardesty begin and continue to attend the monthly Southeast Communications 911 Center  Advisory Committee meetings to relay his concerns with the dispatching problems so that they might be resolved. 

Mark Joy and Mark Novak representing Humboldt Shares, Inc.  presented the organizations quarterly report to Commissioners.  They are planning to develop a micro loan program, develop and update the website and improve their social media contacts along with possibly installing an outdoor sign on the north edge or Humboldt. 

Serving as the organizations officers this year are Mark Novak, President;  Mark Joy, Vice President;  Deb Lewis, Secretary and Crystal Dunekacke, Treasurer.  

A letter was reviewed from the Nebraska State Auditor's office regarding the Village of Preston not filing a budget for the new fiscal year.  The State Auditors Office will initiate procedures to withhold the village State Aid. If an accepted budget is received within 6 months the withheld funds will be disbursed to the Village.   

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Volunteer Fire Department was called to Casey's General Store just before 10 Wednesday evening.

Upon arrival, fire fighters found a water line had broke and that water had leaked down on top of the hot water heater, shorting the electrical connection.

There was no fire but repairs will be required.  
 

(KLZA)-- A new exhibition is opening Friday, November, 19 at the Stalder Art Gallery in the Falls City Library and Art's Center.

The Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street in cooperation with the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Richardson County Arts and Humanities Council is presenting “Crossroads:  Change in Rural America.”

The exhibition will examine the evolving landscape of rural America. 

An opening reception will be held from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Friday.  Those attending the free reception will get the first look at the Crossroads exhibition. Jeff and Mary Barker will provide historical music during the reception. 

The exhibition will be on display through December 27.  The exhibit explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century, examining the societal change and how rural American's have responded. 

The “Crossroads” display can be viewed during regular library hours.
In addition, during the “Small Town Saturday” events in Falls City on Saturday, November 27 the Stalder Gallery will be open from 9:00 a.m. til noon.  
 

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Leavenworth man has pleaded guilty to a felony for throwing his ex-girlfriend's caged miniature poodle in a river.

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said 24-year-old Davion Simpson pleaded guilty Wednesday to animal cruelty in the case and faces possible jail time when he's sentenced Dec. 17.

Witnesses told police that on July 31, Simpson dragged a kennel with the dog inside it out of the back of his car at Riverfront Park in Leavenworth and threw the kennel into the Missouri River. Bystanders rescued the dog from drowning.

Police say Simpson had recently ended his relationship with the girlfriend and had texted a friend of hers that the dog was “gone."

(KNZA)--With the successful approval of a $7 million bond issue for facility improvements in South Brown County USD 430, work is now underway to complete the projects approved by district patrons.

Superintendent Jason Cline, in a news release, said the district is working with Piper Sandler as its bond advisor. The firm will arrange the actual financing for the district. They will begin this process by advertising the bonds for sale on the public bond market. Over the next few months, they will assist the district in completing all necessary paperwork to sell the bonds and transfer the bond proceeds to the district.

Meanwhile, the release says the district’s Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR), DCS Services, will begin the detailed design of the projects. Any necessary architectural and/or engineering drawings will be completed, enabling the specifications for each phase of the project to be developed.

The release says the design phase should be completed as 2021 comes to an end. The design specifications are a necessary part of the competitive bidding process. The CMAR will also work to identify and solicit qualified subcontractors to submit bids on the various projects.

Once bids are awarded, construction will begin. Actual work on the projects will begin in the early spring of 2022. All work should be completed in the fall of 2022.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — All Kansas adults who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are now eligible for booster shots.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced the expansion of eligibility Wednesday.

The announcement came days before an influential U.S. advisory panel on vaccines is set to consider expanded eligibility nationwide, and at least five other states and New York City already have made all adults eligible for boosters.

Kansas had been following federal guidelines that recommended booster shots for people 65 and older and adults 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions such as cancer or diabetes that put them at greater risk of being hospitalized from a COVID-19 infection.

(KMZA)--An officer-involved shooting in Sabetha last month has been ruled justified.

Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert, in a release Wednesday, announced he made the determination after reviewing all evidence presented by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Nemaha County Sheriff's Office and Sabetha Police Department into the officer-involved shooting of Kelly Hall on October 20.

Lippert said he determined that both officers who fired shots at Kelly did so in the defense of other officers at the scene whose lives were endangered when Hall fired an air-powered nail gun. 

Lippert said he has also determined that no charges will be filed against either officer.

He met with KBI agents on Tuesday to review their investigation into the incident. Previously, Lippert reviewed a number of narratives and reports regarding the incident from officers with both the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office and Sabetha Police Department.

Kelly received hospitalized treatment following the incident. He was arrested by the KBI following his release from a Topeka hospital on a charge of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.

A preliminary hearing for Kelly has been set for December 7.

He remains free on a $25,000 own recognizance bond.

(KLZA)-- NioCorp Developments has announced that the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has granted to NioCorp,  an extension until April 4, 2022, as to when construction must be initiated at the Company’s Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project under the current construction air permit.
 
The Project’s construction air permit was issued by NDEE on June 2, 2020, and requires that “construction, reconstruction, or modification of the source” be commenced within 18 months of the permit’s issuance.  The six-month extension recently granted by NDEE was based on the date of the Company’s October 4, 2021, request for such an extension.

Scott Honan, NioCorp’s Chief Operating Officer, said the company is looking forward to the onset of construction-related activities at the Project site, in compliance with the permit, once sufficient project financing is obtained to proceed. 
 

(KLZA)-- The Auburn Board of Education awarded a bid of $1,027,859 to Facility Advocates of Omaha for an HVAC project at the Auburn High School when they met November 8.

The work includes the removal of current  HVAC system, installing new multi-zone HVAC equipment and a new control system.

Equipment will be ordered now with the actual work on the project to begin in May and completion slated for September, 2022.

The Board also approved the annul request for use of school grounds for the Auburn July 4th Fireworks display.  

(KLZA)-- While the U.S. economy will experience a strong holiday buying season, Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss, expects that consumers will see higher prices, fewer bargains and a lack of in-demand products due to supply chain disruptions, worker shortages and soaring inflationary pressures.

He recommends holiday consumers shop early and in-store as shortages and higher prices continue.

Stores within the Mid-America and Rural Mainstreet regions are expected to see strong sales this season, with growth rising up to 10% from last year. Unfortunately for retailers, approximately 5% of the increase in net sales is due to inflation caused by supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages. These supply chain bottleneck disruptions are related to transportation delays and truck driver shortages. In response, 30% of supply managers reported intentional hoarding or stockpiling of inventories to reduce the risks of the supply chain disruptions. 

The second most important factor restraining the U.S. economy is a hiring shortage. As a result, shoppers can expect to encounter longer checkout lines and less customer service assistance – something that hasn’t been seen in decades. 

While online shopping increased last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many consumers will shop in-store to avoid transportation delays that could cause their holiday gifts to arrive late. Consumers also are more likely to shop local than previous seasons because of rising fuel prices. However, with many business closures, shoppers will have fewer retail options, particularly outside of metropolitan areas.
 
Consumers will see fewer deals this holiday shopping season due to hiring shortages, supply chain disruptions and surging inflation rates. Consumers who shop earlier will be more likely to encounter deals than last-minute shoppers. 

 With two federal stimulus programs and an unprecedented Federal Reserve expansion, consumers will likely increase their cash-to-credit ratio this holiday shopping season, resulting from shoppers having a significantly larger cash cushion than in 2020. 
 

(KAIR)--An Atchison man is going to prison, sentenced this week in regards to three different cases.  

According to a release from Atchison County Attorney Sherri Becker, Taggart Lee was sentenced Monday in Atchison County District Court to a total of 7 years and eight months in prison.  

In the first case, the 21-year-old Lee was convicted of attempted robbery and aggravated assault with a knife.  In the second case, Lee was convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated escape from custody.  He was on probation in a third case “when he picked up the 2021 cases.”  

According to Becker, “the District Court Judge ran all three cases consecutive to each other.”

 Lee, earlier this year, became the subject of a search after he walked away from the Atchison County Jail, with Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie saying at the time of the April escape that it was due to “several security policies were not followed by jail security staff.”  

Several days later, Lee was apprehended, and returned to the jail, following a pursuit and search that ended with the escapee in custody.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission is being asked again to approve a Jake braking ban.

Virgil Wiltz, who lives just south of the Hiawatha city limits on U.S. 73 Highway, made the request during Monday's meeting.

Wiltz made the same request in September of last year, but no action was taken at that time. Two new commissioners have since joined the commission.

Wiltz said there has been a big increase in semi truck traffic over the last few years, with more semi's hauling grain to Atchison. As the semi's are coming back into Hiawatha, Wiltz said some are using their Jake brakes to slow down, which he says creates a lot of noise. There is a speed limit reduction directly in front of his house.

County Attorney Kevin Hill said a Jake braking ban would require commission approval of a resolution, which the Sheriff's Department would have to enforce.

Hill sent commissioners a copy of a sample resolution that he drafted last September for their review. The commission would need to decide what area's they want to include in the resolution. The Kansas Department of Transportation would be responsible for the posting of signage.

(KAIR)--A boil water advisory, issued for an Atchison County rural water district Sunday, has been lifted.

According to a release from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the advisory, put in place for Atchison County Rural Water District 5C, was rescinded Tuesday because “laboratory testing samples collected from [the water district’s public water supply] indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.”

The advisory, which included the City of Lancaster, was issued due to a loss of pressure, because “failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.”

(KAIR)--A decrease in the number of active COVID-19 cases in Doniphan County.  

That's according to the latest statistics released Monday by the Doniphan County Health Department/Home Health.  

The figures show 25 active virus cases in Doniphan County, down from 34 active cases reported November 7.  

Doniphan County has had 1,409 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic.  

29 have died due to virus-related causes.

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee County Sheriff's Department has concluded its investigation into a hunting-related fatality on Saturday near Lewiston.

According to a news release from the Sheriff's Department, ballistic testing was completed by the Sheriff's Office  using the weapon and ammunition from the incident. 

The testing was performed at the same location at the same time of day that the incident occurred.

Investigating officers concluded that a series of unfortunate events culminated in the death of 23-year-old Kade Reiman of Weeping Water. The investigation determined that Reiman was struck and killed by a bullet fired by a hunting partner.

The fired round had been shot by the partner at a fleeing doe, and light conditions at dusk along with topography and timing placed Reiman in the line of fire, but his presence was obscured from the view of the hunting partner due to conditions.  

The hunting partner was not identified in the new release.

Reiman was an elementary school teacher in the Palmyra School District who grew up in Auburn and graduated from Auburn High School. 

(KLZA)-- St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 20th and Towle Streets in Falls City will be serving a free Thanksgiving Dinner with all the fixins on Thursday, November 25 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Dinners will be available for carry out and delivery will be offered for shut-ins.  

Drive-ups are welcome. Reservations are encouraged.  You should call to reserve a meal on or before Wednesday, November, 24.  You can call the church office at 402-245-3828 or contact Elysia McGill at 402-801-0521.

Meals can be picked up at the “Southeast parking lot of the church.

(KLZA)-- A Fillmore, Missouri man suffered what the Missouri Highway Patrol described as minor injuries when the pickup he was a passenger in was riding in left the road and overturned about 10:15 Friday night. 

19-year-old Mason Bragg of Oregon, Missouri,  was southbound on U.S. 59 Highway approximately two miles east of Oregon when his pickup traveled off the side of the road, then skidded back across the highway and off the other side before striking a culvert and overturning.  

27-year-old Kyle Harrison of Fillmore was transported by the Atchison-Holt Ambulance District to Mosaic Life Care Hospital in St. Joseph for treatment of his injuries.

The pickup came to rest on its wheels but was totaled in the wreck. 

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

(KLZA)-- Pawnee County Sheriff Braden Lang met with the Pawnee City Council during their November 8 meeting.  

Sheriff Lang reported he has interviewed a candidate for a Deputy position but noted that until he has undergone all the training required by the state, the person cannot work as a deputy sheriff  or even do ride-a-longs. 

The Council suggested writing into a contract that a new deputy would agree to work for Pawnee County for two years or pay back the costs for their training.

Sheriff Lang said it is written in the Deputy Contract, but it is his understanding it would cost more in legal fees to recapture the training costs than could be recovered.   
 

(KLZA)-- The Holt County, Missouri Health Department  has confirmed 15 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the current total number of cases to 20.

The individuals are in isolation in accordance with the  Centers for Disease Control guidelines. 

In Atchison County, Missouri, the Health Department is reporting 46 cases of Covid-19 from November 8 – November 14. 

Among those 46 cases were10 children up to 9 years of age and 10 cases in young people age 10 – 19.  The highest number of cases was the 30-39 age group with 11 confirmed cases.  

As of Sunday, Atchison County had 760 total cases of COVID-19 reported with 44 of them currently active.  17 deaths from COVID have been reported in Atchison County. 

Two Covid patients were hospitalized in  Atchison County with Covid as of Sunday. 

The Atchsion County Health Department reported that as of Sunday, 2,553 residents were fully vaccinated.  Up to that point,  3.41 percent of the fully vaccinated person in the county have tested positive for COVID-19 and are considered to be breakthrough cases. 

The Department report says the data indicates that COVID-19 vaccines administered in Atchison  County thus far have been very effective.  

(KNZA)--The Jackson County Community Foundation's first annual “ Thoughtful Giving Day” was a hugh success.  

277 gifts totaling nearly $84,000 ( $83,860) were given Sunday to benefit 17 non-profit organizations within Jackson County.  Donations were taken both in-person and on-line.  

Contributions to participating agencies received a 50% match that can be used for their most crucial needs.  Giant Communications/JBN Telephone Company provided $20,000 in matching funds.

The Holton Community Theatre Fund generated the largest amount of donations, totaling just over $32,000 ( $32,039).  That was followed by the Friends of Banner Creek Reservoir Fund, which received donations totaling more than $8,700 ( $8,753), and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce General Fund, which received donations totaling more than $7,800 ( $7,810).    

You can find the complete list of donations made to all the participating charitable funds by clicking herehttps://www.thoughtfulgivingday.com/leaderboard.cfm

(KNZA)--The Board of Education for the South Brown Schools of USD 430 has approved a resolution authorizing the offering for sale of up to $7 million in general obligation bonds to finance facility improvements.

The Board took the action at their November 10 meeting.

USD 430 voters approved issuance of the bonds during the November 2nd general election. The bonds are to be paid off over a 20-year period.  

The majority of the bond issue would cover new windows, doors, exterior restoration and updating of the HVAC units at the district's three schools.  In addition, the bonds would cover some concrete repairs across the district and a roof replacement at the elementary school.  

In other business, the board accepted a bid from Hiawatha Ford for the purchase of a new transit van in the amount of $33,880.  It was among two bids received.

Following an executive session, the board voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Jason Cline through the 2023-24 school year.

(KLZA)-- A 23-year-old man died following a hunting accident near Lewiston Saturday afternoon.

Kade Reiman, a second grade teacher and a coach in the Palmyra School District, who grew up in Auburn and graduated from Auburn High School was pronounced dead at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound according to a release from Pawnee County Sheriff Braden Lang.

An investigation into the death of Kade Reiman is ongoing at this time.

(KLZA)- Following months of low instances of COVID-19 in Richardson County,  the case count has climbed significantly recently.

While still below last years peak, the increase in cases has corresponded to an uptick in Covid-related hospitalizations locally and at the state level according to a news release from Community Medical Center CEO Ryan Larsen.

A higher proportion of hospitalizations are coming from younger patients this year versus last year at this time. 

In response,  CMC has returned to a five-day drive-through testing schedule with an order from a practitioner. Clinicians have also had good results locally with monoclonal antibody treatments for patients at higher risk of severe Covid and that meet the necessary criteria.

Covid vaccines are administered at the hospital in Falls City every Thursday.  You can make an appointment by calling 402-245-6547. The week of Thanksgiving, the vaccines will be administered on Wednesday.

CMC has received a shipment of pediatric doses for children ages 5-11.  The Pfizer vaccine is a smaller dose for kids for children in that age range and is 91 percent effective. The second dose is administered 21 days after the first dose.  This will help protect your child and reduces the likelihood they will transmit the virus to family and friends.

Again, to schedule an appointment, call 402-245-6547.

If you have questions about whether a Covid vaccine is the right choice for you and your family, you should talk to your primary care practitioner.  
 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners received an update on dispatching from Sheriff Rick Hardesty when they met November 9.  

The Sheriff said he is working with Southeast Communications 911 Dispatch in Beatrice to work through some technical and procedural items regarding the dispatching services for the Sheriff's Department. 

Sheriff Hardesty also reported the department has requested approval of Stop Program Diversion funds for the purchase of a new Datamaster,  a machine that tests alcohol content of a persons breath.  

Commissioners began the review of the salary recommendation for county officials for the term of office 2023 – 2026.  Current elected officials will be contacted to meet with the Board to receive input from them on the establishment of the salaries for their respective office for the new term.

(KLZA)-- A new member of the HTRS  School Board was sworn in during the Boards November 8 meeting. 

Leah Reyes was appointed in October and sworn in last week.  She will fill the unexpired term of Crystal Dunekacke who resigned. 

Later in the meeting Reyes was elected to serve as the Treasurer.

In other action the Board approved the hiring of Journie Woosley as a paraprofessional. 
 

(KMZA)--The Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education has accepted a bid for a HVAC improvement project at three of the district's schools.

Superintendent Todd Evans said the board at their November 8th meeting accepted the low bid in the amount of $813,360 from Edelman's Lumber, of Sabetha, for the project.

In addition to more efficient HVAC systems, Evans said the project includes filtration and fresh air return improvements at the Sabetha High School, Axtell and Wetmore Schools.

The work is to be done during the summer of 2022, and will be financed with federal COVID relief funds.

In other business, Evans said the board accepted two bids to resolve a drainage issue on the north side of the Axtell School. The first bid for $13,755 is to remove concrete and dirt, and the other bid for $15,870 is to accomplish the related work of ensuring water drainage away from the building.

Evans said the Board also reviewed district teacher survey results regarding the use of technology—including whether teachers would prefer equipping students with an Ipad or laptop.

He said the district has applied for a grant through E-rate funds to assist with the cost of new student devices.

The issue will be revisted at the board's December meeting.

(KNZA)--A Sunday afternoon single-vehicle Buchanan County, Missouri crash claimed one life.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it happened on U.S. 169, south of St. Joseph, shortly after 3:00.

The Patrol reports a pickup truck driven by 36-year-old Joshua Oliver, of Agency, Missouri, was northbound when his vehicle traveled off the north side of the roadway where it went airborne over an embankment and struck a tree.  The pickup truck struck the ground upon landing, started to skid and overturned.

Oliver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was transported to Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph, where he was pronounced dead.

(KNZA)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for Atchison County Rural Water District 5C and the city of Lancaster, located in Atchison County.

The advisory was issued Sunday due to a loss of pressure.  KDHE says failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

A related boil water advisory is also issued for Doniphan County Rural Water District 3. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, it was issued early Sunday evening, due to the Doniphan County water district purchasing its water from Atchison County Rural Water District 5C. 

Customers are advised to boil the water they use for drinking or food preparation for one minute prior to use or use bottled water.

The boil advisory will remain in place until further notice.

A related Boil Water Advisory is also issued for Doniphan County Rural Water District 3.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, it was issued early Sunday evening, due to the Doniphan County water district purchasing its water from Atchison County Rural Water District 5C. Those customers are advised to follow the same precautions, including boiling water that will be consumed, as those put in place for District 5C.

(KNZA)--Two individuals were arrested following an early Saturday morning Jackson County pursuit.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said the Sheriff’s Office was notified shortly after 1:30 that Prairie Band Potawatomie Tribal Police were in pursuit with a vehicle near 174th and L. Roads.  

Morse said Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies entered the pursuit prior to the black Saturn approaching K-16 Highway.  

The vehicle headed east into Holton and east on K-116 Hwy. A Jackson County deputy deployed a tire deflation device, which eventually disabled the car  in the 14-thousand block of K-116 Highway around 2:00.   

Two of the four occupants were arrested.

The driver, 35-year-old Dustin Benton, of Meriden was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony flee and eluding and traffic charges.  

A passenger, 56-year-old Kristina Arb, of Olathe was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  

Both were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

The Holton Police Department assisted with the capture of the suspects.

(KAIR)--Atchison firefighters battled a house fire Saturday evening.

Atchison Fire Chief Pat Weishaar said firefighters were dispatched to 512 T Streets shortly before 6:00 to a report of a kitchen on fire.

When crews arrived, Weishaar said they found the one-story home engulfed in flames.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire, but remained on scene for several hours extinguishing hot spots.

Weishaar said the resident was evaluated by Atchison County EMS, but refused treatment.  One firefighter was transported to Amberwell Hospital for evaluation. The firefighter was released following evaluation with no injuries reported.

Weishaar said a preliminary investigation indicates the fire started from unattended cooking and spread quickly.

He said the house sustained heavy damage and is not habitable at this time.

The Salvation Army is providing resources for the resident.

(KNZA)--A 28-year-old man is jailed in Brown County following an alleged theft in Richardson County, Nebraska.

According to a report from Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, a Sheriff's deputy was dispatched to the vicinity of 315 and Antelope Roads around 3:00 the morning of November 6 to locate two suspects who had been involved in an alleged theft in Dawson, Nebraska.

The suspect vehicle had driven off the roadway numerous times driving through unharvested fields.

Merchant said apparently an individual witnessed the theft and followed the suspect vehicle, which became disabled.

The individual said two people ran from the disabled vehicle, with one of the suspects identified by the individual as Austin Archer.

Merchant said Archer was located nearby, and after investigation, was arrested by Brown County deputies on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction, battery of a law enforcement officer, failure to report an accident, criminal damage to property and driving while suspended.  

Merchant said the investigation is ongoing, with other charges possible.

(KAIR)--A deer in the roadway is cited as the reason behind a Monday afternoon, Atchison County crash that sent a Topeka woman to the hospital.

According to a release from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, Madelyn Criqui was westbound, in the 2100 block of Highway 116, when she swerved to miss a deer. That caused her vehicle to drive off the left side of the highway, where it struck a metal post and continued westbound into the grass. It then went airborne across a creek, landing on the grassy area on the other side.

Criqui was transported from the scene by Atchison County EMS and taken for hospitalized care, with Criqui complaining of back pain.

The wreck happened shortly before 3:30 Monday afternoon.

Authorities continue to warn of the prevalence of deer on area roadways, with the animals most active from October through December due to the rut, or mating season.

(KLZA)-- In the two-week period ending November 10,  Community Medical Center in Falls City recorded 41 positive tests for COVID-19. That represents 21.7 percent of the 189 tests conducted during the period.

There were 146 negative tests. 

Since testing began at CMC there have been 5,364 tests conducted with the positvity rate being 15.4 percent,  amounting to 827 positive tests.

(KNZA)--The Jackson County Community Foundation will hold its first annual “ Thoughtful Giving Day” Sunday to benefit organizations within Jackson County.

Area residents will have the opportunity to make donations to 17 non-profit organizations affiliated with the Foundation.

Donations can be made in-person Sunday afternoon from 1 to 5 at the Holton Community Theatre located at 401 New Jersey Avenue. They can also be made on-line at thoughtfulgivingday.com

Donations made that day will be matched up to $20,000, with that amount being provided by Giant Communications/JBN Telephone Company. The more each organization/fund receives in donations on Sunday, the more of the pro-rated $20,000 match money they will receive.

All donations are tax deductible and go directly to the non-profit organizations.

For more information and a list of the participating organizations go to https://www.thoughtfulgivingday.com/index.cfm

(KLZA)-- The Johnson-Brock Board of Education approved the resignation of Kindergarten - 12th Grade music teacher David Norris at the end of the calendar year when they met Monday evening. 

Principal Lucus Dalinghaus reported the process of developing the 2022-23 course schedule is underway and is currently open for input from teachers. He noted concerns with a large incoming seventh grade class for next year. 

Superintendent Jeff Koehler reported on the options for the roof on the school and noted the new school bus should be arriving this week.  

Tech and Ag Science Instructor Ashton Bohling told the Board that she is now offering AG and Shop classes to the seventh graders. Bohling was a national finalist for a Harbor Freight award.  She did not win,  but did receive a $1-thousand gift card to Harbor Freight and was also approved for a re-vision grant through the Nebraska Department of Education that will provide training, equipment laptops and textbooks.  

(KLZA)- AAA if forecasting a strong rebound in holiday travelers for Thanksgiving. 

The Auto Club Group is predicting 53.4 million Americans will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, a 13 percent increase from 2020.  It is 5 percent higher than in 2019 prior to the pandemic. 

The West North  Central census region which includes Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and four other state will see the greatest share of its population traveling with 19.6 percent of the people in the region expected to travel.

Gas prices are expected to remain elevated through the holiday season. The average price for gasoline is Nebraska this week is $3.22 per gallon.

Air travel is also seeing a boost with the average lowest air fair 27.3 percent less than last year.

Travelers are reminded to be patient.  Road and airports will be busy so plan to arrive at the airport early and expect longer times to get through TSA lines. 

Those driving are urged to make sure you and your vehicle is ready for the trip ahead.  AAA expects to response to over 400-thousand calls for help over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with most of the calls being for dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. 
 

(KAIR)--A Leavenworth woman is dead, and a young child injured, following a single vehicle, late Thursday afternoon Wyandotte County crash.

Dead is 23-year-old Shailee Viramontes, killed when, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol, her car ran off the road and crashed into a pole. That happened while Viramontes was southbound on I-435. The KHP report states it's unknown why the vehicle left the roadway.

Injured in Thursday's wreck was 3-year-old Malachi Viramontes, with the child transported to Children's Mercy Hospital, in Kansas City, for the treatment of what KHP calls suspected serious injuries.

Seatbelts were being worn at the time of the wreck, which occurred shortly before 5:00 Thursday evening.

(KNZA)--Three Galveston, Texas women were arrested Tuesday morning by Jackson County Sheriff's deputies for allegedly stealing from the Holton Wal-Mart.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said the Sheriff's Office was alerted to a possible theft in process at the store shortly before 10:00.

Deputies stopped the suspect vehicle, a 2015 Dodge Charger, east of Arizona Avenue on Banner Road.  The three female occupants were taken into custody. 

Morse said deputies located items believed to have been taken from the Holton Walmart as well as other items believed to have been stolen from other Walmart stores including 22 IPhones believed to have been stolen from a Houston, Texas Walmart.

25-year-old Jovanna Davis was arrested for possession of stolen property, theft, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia.  Davis also had outstanding felony warrants for theft and burglary out of Texas and Arkansas.

27-year-old Desiree Dunford was arrested for theft of property.

25-year-old Valisa Allen was arrested for possession of stolen property, theft, and criminal damage to property.  Allen also had an outstanding felony warrant from the Galveston County, Texas Sheriff’s Office.

All three women were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

(KMZA)--A five-mile stretch of highway in Marshall County between Blue Rapids and Waterville will be dedicated in honor of two Waterville soldiers killed during the Vietnam War.

The Highway—which at that point is both U.S. 77 and K-9---will be dedicated during a ceremony Saturday morning as the Corporal Allen Oatney and Specialist 4 Gene Myers Memorial Highway.

The ceremony will take place at 10:30 at the Waterville Community Center, and a replica sign will be unveiled.

At 11:15, a vehicle procession will go from the Waterville Community Center to the Blue Rapids Community Center, where a lunch will be served at 11:30. A free-will donation will be taken, but veterans can eat free.

Oatney and Myers were killed by hostile fire during the Vietnam War. Myers was killed in June 1969 and Oatney in June 1970.

A bill naming the stretch of highway in honor of the two soldiers was signed into law by Governor Kelly in April of this year.

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Board of Education in a special meeting Wednesday morning accepted a bid for a new HVAC building management system.  

The Board voted to accept a bid from Building Controls and Services, Inc. (BCS) for $74,313 for the control system along with a yearly maintenance agreement of $4,200 as well as a Siemens Design Optic contract of $2,754 per year.

It was among two bids received.  A bid was also received from P1 Group, which the systems were initially purchased from from 5 years ago.  

Maintenance Director Chris Morey reviewed the bids, including a break down of costs over both a 5- year and 7-year period.    

The work is estimated to be completed in December.  

The board voted last month to seek bids after being told by Morey about the issues he was having with the current control system.

(KAIR)--The Board of Education for the Atchison County Community Schools of USD 377 has approved a negotiated agreement with teachers for the 2021-2023 school years.

The Board took the action following an executive session when they met Wednesday evening.

The agreement increases the base salary for a beginning teacher to $40,000 and extends the previous agreement for one year.

(KNZA)--The 25th Annual Jingle Bell Ride will hit the streets of Hiawatha on Sunday, November 14.

Organizers say the goal of the ride is to help the less fortunate children in Brown County experience the joy of Christmas.

Riders will arrive between 11:00 and 1:30 for registration, with fun activities happening around the Brown County Courthouse Square starting at noon.

At 2:00, the riders will take part in a parade on Oregon Street before splitting up to collect donated gifts.

Needed are new unwrapped toys for those of all ages, monetary gifts and children's hats and gloves. 

f you would like to donate a toy or a monetary gift your asked to call 785-741-0861 or you can mail monetary donations to Jingle Bell Ride, P.O Box 434, Hiawatha, 66434.  Donations can also be made through the Hiawatha  Community Foundation's website at hiawathacf.org.

 Last year, the Jingle Bell Ride helped around 90 families and provided toys for about 300 children in Brown County.

(KNZA)--A Texas man was taken into custody Thursday evening following a high-speed vehicle pursuit that spanned two counties.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said the Sheriff's Office was alerted to a pursuit by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police Department around 5:30 that was northbound on U.S. 75 Highway near 206th Road.  The vehicle was allegedly speeding over 100 miles an hour.

Jackson County deputies continued the pursuit into Brown County.

Brown County Sheriff's deputies deployed tire deflation devices, which disabled the vehicle and ended the vehicle pursuit.  The suspect vehicle went into a ditch west of Fairview on U.S. 36 Highway, where the driver fled on foot.

Morse said law enforcement officers located the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Brendon Dion Stephens, of Sachse, Texas, around 5:50 p.m. and took him into custody.

Stephens was booked into the Jackson County Jail on felony fleeing and eluding charges.  

(KLZA)-- A traffic stop on Highway 75 at approximately 12:40 Wednesday morning led to the arrest of a Pawnee  City man on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

A Richardson County Deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding. During a probable cause search, deputies located a substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

26-year-old Nathan Spears of Pawnee City was arrested and is in the Richardson County Jail. 
 

(KAIR)--Two men, accused of stealing from a parked, Atchison vehicle, are in custody.

That word is delivered in a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, who says 52-year-old Louie Martin, of Atchison, and 39-year-old Brett Johnson, of Lansing, were both apprehended Wednesday in the 1900 block of South U.S. Highway 73.

Their arrests came following a late Wednesday morning police investigation focused on the theft of items from a pick-up truck, parked in the area of the arrests. Taken was a carton of cigarettes, binoculars, and a leather cigarette case.

According to Wilson, all of the stolen items have been recovered.

Martin and Johnson were both arrested on charges of burglary and theft.

Once in custody, they were booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KLZA)-- Just past midnight,  Tuesday morning,  Richardson County Deputies conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Dawson, for speeding. 

During a probable cause search, deputies located marijuana,  methamphetamine, concentrated THC, and other items of drug paraphernalia.

18-year-old Trey Carter of Sabetha is charged with possession of marijuana, concentrated THC,  methamphetamine, no license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

(KLZA)-- 35-year-old Michael J. Thornburg was arrested by Richardson County Deputies on Monday, November 8 on a Lancaster County warrant.

Thornburg was arrested in the 100 block of East 18th Street  in Falls City.  The Richardson County K9 Unit was deployed on Thornburg's vehicle and a probable cause search was conducted.

Suspected amounts of methamphetamine was located along with drug paraphernalia.  Thornburg was placed in the Richardson County Jail  and was held on the Lancaster County warrant and possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.  

(KLZA)-- A Shubert man was injured Sunday evening around 5:30, in a single vehicle  roll over wreck on Highway 67 approximately four miles north of Highway 73.

The Richardson County Sheriff's Department reports Leland Vice was northbound on Highway 67 and veered to the left and appeared to have struck the driveway embankment causing the vehicle to become airborne and come to rest on its side. 

The extent of Vice's injuries were not reported.  

The Richardson County Sheriff's Office, Verdon Fire and Falls City Volunteer ambulance Squad all responded tot he scene of the wreck. 

The cause of the wreck is unknown at this time and remains under investigation.  

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Board of Education took no action Monday night on a drainage project bid to repair erosion of a ditch along the northwest side of the school campus.

The project would involve adding pipe and dirt to repair the ditch that has washed out along the west side of the block of property southwest of 10th and E Streets. 

The Board did approve renewal of an agreement with the Tiger Pride Foundation to lease the Table Rock gymnasium for high school sports for $3,500.  The gym will be used for the high school basketball season,  the summer high school basketball and volleyball camps. 

Also approved was the expenditure of $1,200 in Education Foundation funds for 30 CORE5 Reading prescriptions;  $1,185 from the Fine Arts and Foreign Language account to fix stage light fixtures. 

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Board of Education heard an update on COVID numbers in the district's schools when they meet Monday evening.

Superintendent Lonnie Moser said the number of positive coronavirus cases has been trending downward since peaking two weeks ago. As of Monday, he said there were 11 positive cases at the elementary school—including 7 students and 4 staff members; 8 positive cases at the middle school involving students; and two positive cases at the high school—including one student and one staff member.

Some board members said they had been contacted by patrons concerned about the numbers and contact notification by the school district.

Board member Ian Schuetz questioned whether a note could be sent home to parents advising of a positive case in a classroom.

Board President Tom Simmer said it would help parents make an informed decision.

Board member Keith Erdley said he felt the COVID numbers should be publicized somehow to give the facts of what's going on within the district.

Moser told the board he would start posting the numbers on the district's website on a weekly basis.

(KAIR)--A ten case increase of COVID-19 cases is noted since last week in Atchison County. That's according to figures released Wednesday by the Atchison County Office of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health.

The statistics show 41 active positive cases, up from 31, as noted November 3. According to Wednesday's figures, 4 of Atchison County's cases involve those under the age of 5; 10 are aged 5 to 12; 7 are 13 to 21; 10 are 22 to 35; 5 are 36 to 50; 4 are 51 to 65; and 1 case involves a person over the age of 65.

Five are currently hospitalized in Atchison County for virus-related reasons.

(KAIR)--The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has identified 4 locations in the local region as cluster sites known as COVID-19 expsosure locations.

One such location is in Doniphan County, where the Troy USD 429 Pre-K through 8th grades has experienced 12 cases within the past 14 days. In Leavenworth County, the Lansing Correctional Facility has had 20 cases within the past 14 days; and two cluster sites are named in Marshall County, including Georgia Pacific, in Blue Rapids, identified as having 6 cases within the last 14 days; and Valley Heights Junior/Senior High Schools, in Blue Rapids, with 9 cases confirmed within the last 14 days.

According to KDHE, cluster sites are those have five or more COVID-19 cases with symptom onset dates over the last 14 days.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man is going to prison, sentenced to more than 10-years on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aggravated endangering of a child.  

According to a release from Atchison County Attorney Sherri Becker, Christopher Raymond learned his fate Monday in Atchison County District Court.  

Raymond was arrested as the result of a welfare check of a child, conducted by the Atchison Police Department, on March 29.  A search warrant was obtained, due to evidence of drugs being used in the home, and a search led to the discovery of such items as methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia "indicative of distribution activity."  

Raymond pleaded guilty to the charges in September.

 (AP) — A longtime state corrections worker will become the new warden at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in southeast Nebraska.

The Department of Correctional Services announced the appointment Tuesday of Craig Gable.

Gable started in the department in 2011 as a correctional officer and has risen through the ranks at seven different Nebraska prisons.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska Omaha and a master’s degree in public administration from Bellevue University.

Gable replaces outgoing warden Todd Wasmer, who will become the assistant warden at the state’s Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln. 
 

(KTNC)-- The Falls City Veterans Day Celebration will begin Thursday morning at 10:15 a.m. at Falls City High School where a reception will be held for Veterans and their families.  Coffee and rolls will be served. 

The Veterans Day Program will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Falls City High School Gymnasium.  This years guest speaker will be Master Sergeant Ashley Hodge.  

Hodge is from Falls City and entered the Air Force in August, 2003. She is currently a  member of the Nebraska Air National Guard, serving as Flight Leader for the 155th Security Forces Squadron, 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln.  

The combined Music Departments of Falls City and Sacred Heart will perform.

The Veterans Day Parade in  Falls City will begin at 1:30 Thursday afternoon going south on Stone Street from 20th to 14th Street.  Refreshments will be provided by Elk's Lodge #963 at the end of the parade route.

The Veterans Day Supper will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 1700 Harlan Street.  All Veterans and guests are invited.

You can listen to the 11:00 a.m. Veterans Day Program live on KTNC Radio at 1230 A.M.  or 107.1 F.M. 

(KTNC)-- The Falls City Veterans Day Celebration will begin Thursday morning at 10:15 a.m. at Falls City High School where a reception will be held for Veterans and their families.  Coffee and rolls will be served. 

The Veterans Day Program will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Falls City High School Gymnasium.  This years guest speaker will be Master Sergeant Ashley Hodge.  

Hodge is from Falls City and entered the Air Force in August, 2003. She is currently a  member of the Nebraska Air National Guard, serving as Flight Leader for the 155th Security Forces Squadron, 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln.  

The combined Music Departments of Falls City and Sacred Heart will perform.

The Veterans Day Parade in  Falls City will begin at 1:30 Thursday afternoon going south on Stone Street from 20th to 14th Street.  Refreshments will be provided by Elk's Lodge #963 at the end of the parade route.

The Veterans Day Supper will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 1700 Harlan Street.  All Veterans and guests are invited.

You can listen to the 11:00 a.m. Veterans Day Program live on KTNC Radio at 1230 A.M.  or 107.1 F.M. 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Board of Education awarded a bid for a roofing project at North Elementary School when they met Monday evening. 

Boone Brothers Roofing of Omaha was awarded the bid in an amount of $379,750.  

The District 56 Project Committee met in late October to review projects which will allow for the collection of bids and further review by the committee prior to the committee prioritizing projects in early 2022.  The HVAC improvements at the high school and replacement of the artificial turf at Jug Brown Stadium are key projects to be considered. 

In other business the Board approved the resignation effective at the end of the current school year for Damian Causgrove after three years with the Falls City School District as a High School Math teacher. 

The Board approved having a Girls Wrestling Program for the 2021-22 school year.

The Board also learned from Superintendent Tim Heckenlively that there will be a 5.84 percent increase in premiums next year for medical and dental insurance plans.  Nearly every Nebraska school district utilizes the Educators Health Alliance for their employees.  

The average increase over the past 10 years has been 4.4 percent.  The benefit changes for the 2022-23 contract year includes an increase in the deductible and out of pocket maximum for the $3,600 deductible HSA plan.

The Board also approved the School District Audit Report presented by Julie Bauman, CPA.  

It was also noted that the Emergency Connectivity Fund grant awarded to District 56 in the amount of $86,700 will supplement the districts 2021-22 instructional technology purchase allowing for the full funding of $75,900 in student Chromebooks and $10,800 towards the partial funding of teacher Apple laptops.  That will leave approximately $12-thousand for the school district to cover. 
 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners met with Austin Duerfeldt, ARPA Funds Administrator for Richardson County on Tuesday.  

Duerfeldt informed the Board that a recent expense to the County for the installation of new water pipe and sewer pipe within the Courthouse would be eligible for funding through the ARPA funds.  

Discussion was also held regarding the possibilty of continued legislation on the funds introduced to Congress which would offer more options for the use of the ARPA funds to benefit the County. 

A news release will be issued next week requesting Richardson County residents to complete a survey regarding the use of the ARPA funds which will be accessible online on the Richardson County website,  www.co.richardson.ne.us. You can also obtain a copy at the Richardson County Clerk's Office at the Courthouse.  The surveys need to be completed and returned by November 30.  

The Board also met in executive session with County Attorney Doug Merz,  Deputy  County Attorney Samantha Scheitel, Sheriff Rick Hardesty and Chief Deputy Sheriff Roland Merwin to discuss possible litigation.  

(KAIR)--Nine people, including seven teenagers, required hospital treatment, following a two-vehicle, Tuesday night crash, in Buchanan County, Missouri, 2-miles east of Atchison.

According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred when the two vehicles were both westbound on U.S. Highway 59, shortly after 7:00.

The report states that a GMC Sierra was following too closely behind a Dodge Ram Van, with the Sierra's front bumper striking the rear bumper of the van. That caused the GMC Sierra to slide clockwise, before coming to a stop in the westbound lane of the highway.

The van ran off the north-side of the roadway before it stopped.

The driver of the van, 40-year-old Andrew Johnson, of Rushville, Missouri, was transported to Mosaic Life Care, in Saint Joseph, Missouri, for the treatment of serious injuries. His six teenage passengers, four girls and two boys ranging in age from 12 to 15, were also taken for hospital care, with six of the seven transported to Mosaic Life Care, while one teen was taken to Amberwell Atchison. They incurred injuries listed by the Patrol as ranging from moderate to serious.

The driver of the GMC Sierra, a 15-year-old boy from Atchison, suffered moderate injuries while his passenger, 50-year-old Matthew Peltzer, of Rushville, Missouri, suffered serious injuries, with both transported for hospital treatment in Saint Joseph.

The names of the teens are not made public, but the Patrol lists all of those aboard the van as residents of Rushville.

(KNZA)--A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon for a new 30-bed rehabilitation hospital in Elwood.

The rehab hospital will be operated by ClearSky Health and will be located on a six-acre lot right off of U.S. Highway 36 next to Dollar General.

ClearSky executives said they felt Elwood was a good location due to the fact that a hospital of its type isn’t available for 50 miles, along with its ability to work with Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph.

The hospital will provide specialized, rehabilitative care to about 650 patients annually who are living with disabling injuries or illnesses.

The patients will receive individualized care from an interdisciplinary team that includes physical, occupational, and speech therapy; rehabilitative nursing; case management; respiratory therapy; dietary services; and other specialized services.  

Darby Brockette, the CEO of ClearSky Health, said their mission is to give patients the opportunity to be close to their family and friends when recovering while receiving premium care. She said the goal of the new center is to decrease travel for patient supporters and increase the "at-home" atmosphere when staying at the center.

The new facility will feature all private rooms, a rehabilitative gym, dining room, and an activity of daily living space.  

The facility is expected to create about 100 new healthcare jobs for the area.

The facility is expected to open in the winter of 2022.

ClearSky currently owns and operates five other such facilities across the country.  

( photo credit: KQ2-TV)

(KAIR)--An arrest is made, and a stolen vehicle recovered, through the efforts of the Atchison Police Department early Tuesday morning.

Arrested in connection with the crime was 20-year-old Stover, Missouri resident Kala Woods, who was taken into custody around 1:45 Tuesday morning in the 400 block of Main Street.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, his department’s “officers had been alerted that a 1996 Chrysler mini-van, reported stolen to Kansas City, Missouri Police, was in the Atchison area.”

The van was located by Atchison Police near 4th and Main Street, with Woods inside.

She was taken into custody for possession of stolen property, as well as for criminal damage to property, which Wilson, in the release, explains that came “in connection to damage to a vehicle tire following a dispute” in the 900 block of South 4th Street around 11:00 Monday night.

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

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission on Monday meet as a board of canvassers to canvass ballots from the November 2nd general election.

County Election Officer Dawn Boyles reported there were 15 provisional ballots cast during the election. A provisional ballot is cast when there is a question about a voter's eligiblity. After review, the commission approved counting 12 provisional ballots and one partial provisional ballot. Two provisional ballots weren't counted.

Boyles reported there was a tie vote one of the positions on the Morrill City Council between write-in candidates Duane Perry and Kenneth Beckner.

A name was drawn from a cup to determine the winner, with Perry's name being drawn.

He will join write-in candidates Todd Gruber, Kevin Wikle, Brad Stolzenberger and Dan Halstead in filling the five open seats.

Write-in candidate Roger Price was elected Morrill mayor.

Commission Chairman Rich Lemkuhl reported there were 1,380 total votes cast in Brown County and a nearly 22 percent voter turnout—including the provisional ballots.

(KNZA)--A tie vote has been broken for a position on the Doniphan West USD 111 Board of Education.

The Doniphan County Commission, acting as the board of county canvassers, met Monday to canvass ballots from the November 2nd general election.

There was a tie vote for one of three open positions for District 2 on the USD 111 Board between candidates Stacy Halling Hallsworth and Brett Miner, with each receiving 97 votes.  

A coin was flipped by Commission Chairman Wayne Grable to determine the winner, with Hallsworth calling " heads"and Miner calling " tails."  

The coin toss revealed " tails", with Miner declared the winner.  

He will join Michelle Meyer and incumbent Ben Leatherman in filling the three open positions for District 2 on the Doniphan West board.

Editors note: the following release was submitted by Seneca City Administrator Tami Haverkamp

(KMZA)--The City of Seneca is transitioning to a new platform offering user-friendly online solutions for residents. Online utility account access, electronic form submission, and email or text communications are a few of the exciting features.

The new platform, FrontDesk, will offer residents the convenience of accessing their utility account and paying monthly bills online through a single, easy-to-use website. The City strongly encourages customers to sign up for AutoPay and eBilling. There are 2 AutoPay options: Card and eCheck. The eCheck option is free of charge to the customer. If a customer elects to pay by credit or debit card, the processing fee incurred will be passed on to the customer and added to the amount the customer pays.

For customers already having utility payments automatically withdrawn from an account, it is important for them to know they will be required to create a FrontDesk account and update their preferences with new AutoPay information. Payment information will not be transferred from the old system to the new platform. Customers should create a FrontDesk account as soon as possible. Current automatic payment methods will be deactivated May 1, 2022.

In addition to utility account access, FrontDesk equips City staff with the tools to create forms the public user can access and submit electronically. As a pilot to this feature, a Pet Licensing form is live and ready for use. Residents can submit pet information, upload proof of vaccination, and pay fees online, all from the comfort of their home. This equals more time to enjoy Fido and less time running errands.

City staff plans to make more forms available soon, such as Building Permits and Report a Concern.

To set up a FrontDesk account, go to senecakansas.frontdeskgworks.com. If you have question or ideas for additional online features, contact the city office by calling (785)336-2747 or emailing info@senecakansas.com.

(KNZA)--Two Hiawatha residents were injured Monday afternoon in a single-vehicle wreck on a northwest Missouri highway.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 24-year-old Elaine Moore was northbound on I-229 about three miles north of St. Joseph when she lost control of her Ford Expedition, which was pulling two trailers.

The vehicle traveled off the east side of the roadway, striking a bridge rail and a mile marker sign. The trailers became detached and the SUV traveled down and embankment and overturned. 

Moore and a passenger, 44-year-old Jeffrey Davis, were transported by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph with suspected minor injuries.

The wreck was reported shortly after 3:30 Monday afternoon.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly is proposing to eliminate the Kansas sales tax on groceries.

The plan outlined by the Democratic governor Monday would save many families hundreds of dollars a year and consumers a total of $450 million a year.

She unveiled her proposal three days after Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt called on the GOP-controlled Legislature to reduce or eliminate the tax next year. Schmidt hopes to unseat Kelly in the 2022 governor’s race.

Their support is likely to make reducing or ending the 6.5% state sales tax on groceries a top issue for lawmakers once they reconvene in January.

Kansas has the second-highest state sales tax rate on groceries.

(KNZA)--A Holton man has died from injuries after he was struck by a car in Holton.

According to a news release from the Holton Police Department, the Police Department  and Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded to the accident around 6:30 Friday evening on U.S. 75 Highway near the Red Roof Inn.

The release said when officers arrived on scene, they discovered 77-year-old Jimmy Robbins lying in the roadway.

Robbins was transported to Topeka's Stormont-Vail Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The release said the driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.

(KAIR)--Two teenage girls suffered injuries as they walked across a Leavenworth street.

According to a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ariella Rodriguez and Olivia Timmons, both 14-year-old Leavenworth residents, were walking westbound on 10th Avenue, outside of a crosswalk, Sunday afternoon, when a vehicle, eastbound on K-92 Highway, turned south onto 10th Avenue, when it struck the girls.

Both girls suffered what the KHP calls "suspected minor injuries," with Rodriguez transported for treatment at Kansas City's Children's Mercy Hospital. Timmons did not require hospital treatment.

The two persons in the vehicle were not hurt.

According to KHP, the accident happened around 3:00 Sunday afternoon.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man is jailed in connection with an October stabbing that sent another man to the hospital.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, 52-year-old David Barber was arrested Saturday on an Atchison County District Court warrant for aggravated battery related to the October 9 stabbing of a 31-year-old man at a residence in the 500 block of South 6th Street. According to Wilson, it was determined by investigators that the stabbing happened at that location during an argument between the pair, with Barber fleeing the scene after he allegedly committed the crime.

The victim required hospital treatment and was transported to a Saint Joseph, Missouri hospital by Atchison County EMS.

During his Saturday afternoon arrest in connection with the stabbing, Barber earned additional charges, with police alleging that at the time of his arrest, in the 300 block of Atchison’s Santa Fe Street, Barber was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was additionally arrested on related charges.

Once in custody, Barber was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

His bond is set at $30,000.

(KNZA)--Brown and Doniphan Counties continue to see an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

The Brown County Office of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health on Friday reported 69 active cases in the county. That's up from 62 active cases on October 29 and 13 active cases on October 22.

On the positive side, there are currently no COVID-19 related hospitalizations.

Since the pandemic began, Brown County has had 1,542 positive coronavirus cases and 40 virus-related deaths.

Meanwhile, the Doniphan County Health Department on Friday reported 34 active cases in the county. That's up from 22 active cases on October 29 and 13 active cases on October 22.

The Health Department is also reporting one additional COVID-19 related death since October 29, bringing the total number of virus-related deaths to 29 since the pandemic began.

Doniphan County has had 1,376 total positive coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

(KMZA)--The second of two men charged in connection with the death of an elderly Vermillion man in early 2020 has entered into a plea agreement.

19-year-old Jeremy Penix II, of Melvern, pleaded no contest October 27 in Marshall County District Court to a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 83-year-old Donald McLaughlin.

In addition, Penix pleaded no contest to charges of aggravated robbery and arson in the case.

In exchange for the plea, several additional counts against him were dismissed.

Sentencing was scheduled for December 7.

McLaughlin's body was found inside the ruins of his burned out home on January 24, 2020.

Co-defendant Jefferson Goad, of Waverly, pleaded guilty last month to a reduced charge of second-degree murder along with charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and arson.

He's scheduled to be sentenced December 14.

(KNZA)--An Oskaloosa, Kansas man escaped serious injury Sunday afternoon after his semi overturned on a northwest Missouri highway.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said 19-year-old Keaton Bassett was southbound on Highway P in Holt County, about two miles south of Bigelow, when the passenger side tires of his Freightliner semi dropped off the edge of the highway. Bassett overcorrected and his semi overturned in the roadway.

He was transported by ambulance to Community Medical Center in Falls City with suspected minor injuries.

The Patrol says Bassett was buckled up when the wreck occurred shortly after 4:00 Sunday afternoon.         

(KMZA)--The city of Seneca is moving forward with a sewer lagoon dredging project.

The Seneca City Council, when they meet Wednesday evening, accepted a bid from Reed Environmental, of Sheldon, Missouri, for a total of $619,000 for removal of the sludge from the city's three original sewer lagoons.

It was among two bids received.

City officials say the lagoons have become full of solid matter, leading to a loss of capacity.

Reed Environmental's bid estimated the removal of 11-million gallons of material.

Seneca City Administrator Tammi Haverkamp said the city can use $314,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to pay for the project, with the remainder coming from reserves in the sewer fund.

The project is expected to start in the spring of 2022. 
 

(KAIR)--A Friday morning two-vehicle Leavenworth County crash left two injured, including a child.

According to a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol, both vehicles, including a semi tractor-trailer, were northbound on U.S. Highway 73, approaching K-192 Highway.

The semi truck, driven by 33-year-old Mound City, Missouri resident Jerry Bammer, struck the rear end of the SUV in front of it, causing the SUV to rotate three-quarters of a turn, which then struck the side of the trailer being hauled by the semi.

The driver of the SUV, Rachel Berg, of Leavenworth, was transported to Overland Park Regional for treatment of what the KHP identifies as a suspected serious injury. Her 9-year-old passenger was transported to Children's Mercy, in Kansas City, also for a suspected serious injury.

The semi driver was not hurt.

Everyone was buckled up when the wreck happened shortly after 7:30 Friday morning.

(KAIR)--An Atchison man goes to jail, arrested Friday in connection with a September attack that left a woman hospitalized.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, 34-year-old Anthony Barnhart was taken into custody on an Atchison County District Court Warrant for aggravated battery, domestic battery, and criminal threat.

The arrest followed what Wilson says was a September 17 afternoon disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block of North 10th Street.

Atchison Police Officers were called to the scene, where a 36-year-old woman was transported from by Atchison County EMS and taken for hospital treatment of injuries suffered in the disturbance.

According to the investigation, it’s alleged that Barnhart, who had left the area, struck the woman with his hands and feet, as well as with a baseball bat to her head.

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

(KMZA)--A Thursday morning two-vehicle Nemaha County collision left one person injured.

According to the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Wallace O'Brien, of Rocky Comfort, Missouri, was westbound on U.S. 36 Highway when he slowed down to make a left turn onto D Road and his SUV was struck in the rear by a pickup truck driven by 59-year-old Robert Garrett, of Overland Park.

Garrett was transported by ambulance to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca with unspecified injuries.

O'Brien was was not hurt.

The collision was reported around 7:30 Thursday morning.

(KLZA)-- The Nemaha Natural Resources District Board of Directors discussed a Steamboat Trace Trail Improvement Plan with Steve Woerth when they met in October. 

Woerth reviewed the make-up of the Steamboat Trace volunteer committee and their plans to increase publicity of the trail and to improve some physical aspects associated with the trail. Some discussion was held concerning the groups desire to help open up the south end at Brownville.  

Nemaha NRD staff will investigate liability concerns with the NRD's insurance agent. 

The Board also discussed adding Day Use Improvements at Kirkman's Cove and Iron Horse Trail Lakes.  Visitors at Kirkman's Cove have been setting up tailgate type sites along the lake.  The possibility of developing formal tailgating areas to avoid cars parking on the grass was discussed.  Staff members will investigate areas that might work.  

(KLZA)-- As people turn their clocks back this weekend for the end of daylight saving time, the American Red Cross asks everyone to also test their smoke alarms.
Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster and tragically take seven lives every day in this country.
During a fire, early warning from a working smoke alarm plus a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. As the clocks “fall back” when daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 7, it’s also the perfect time to test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed.
In addition to testing your smoke alarms this weekend, follow these three steps get your home ready:
1.  Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
2.  Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. 
3.  Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — that’s the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.
For more information, including safety tips and free resources, visit redcross.org/homefires or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in app stores. 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved hiring Mike Hempel as a police officer during their Monday evening meeting. 

Hempel previously served three years as a police officer in Omaha.  He is certified but will be required to take a 4-week refresher course before he can begin his duties.  

The council tabled a request to rent the former Armory and City Hall building for commercial use by someone wanting to use it for a consignment auction facility until more information is provided.  
 

LANSING, Kan. (AP) — A corrections officer at Kansas’ Lansing Correctional Facility is hospitalized in stable condition after being attacked.

The Kanas Department of Corrections said in a news release that the incident happened Wednesday when the officer “was injured by a resident.” Officials say the incident remains under investigation.

The Kansas Organization of State Employees, the union representing the prison’s corrections officers, told KSNW-TV that a male inmate attacked the female officer around the time of the shift change at 5 p.m.

The union said the officer is believed to have suffered facial fractures and may have a head injury and other broken bones.

Union President Sarah LaFrenz said staffing shortages contributed to the incident. She said the union has for years advocated for additional staffing at the prison and others.

(KMZA)--Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca has announced that Bern-based AHRS Construction has been selected as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR) for the hospital's upcoming construction and remodel project.

Hospital CEO Kiley Floyd said selecting a Construction Manager at Risk was the next step in the process and will help them move from a concept to detailed plans for the project.

Floyd said the hospital’s Building Committee, comprised of Board members, staff and a community member, had met to interview contractors responding to the request for proposals. The group met a second time to review the responses and ultimately make a recommendation to the hospital’s Board of Trustees.

Floyd said they received some dynamic responses. Ultimately, she said the decision came down to who was the most competitive and best responded to the needs of our organization.

AHRS Project Manager Eric Stallbaumer said they are thrilled and very grateful to have been selected for the project. Stallbaumer added they look forward to the partnership and getting the project started.

(KNZA)--A late Thursday night single-vehicle Brown County wreck sent one person to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened on U.S. 75 Highway, a tenth of a mile south of 290th Road, shortly before 11:30.

According to the KHP report, 52-year-old Dennis Cowley, of Scanton, Kansas, was southbound when his semi tractor-trailer crossed the center line, went into the east ditch and struck an embankment.

Cowley was transported to the Sabetha Community Hospital with suspected minor injuries.

The Patrol says he was buckled up when the wreck occurred.

(KMZA)--A Seneca City Council member is stepping down.

The Seneca City Council Wednesday evening accepted the resignation of 1st Ward councilwoman Kylee Bergstrom, effective December 1.

Bergstrom is resigning because she is moving out of the 1st Ward.

She has served on the council since January 2018.

Those interested in filling her unexpired term are urged to contact City Hall or Mayor Joe Mitchell.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved moving forward with upgrades to sidewalks, curbs and parking at Prichard Auditorium when they met Monday evening. 

Ward 4 Council member Derek Leyden said that an American's With Disabilities audit determined that Prichard Auditorium is not in compliance with ADA standards. Richardson County utilizes the Auditorium as a polling place for three precincts during elections.  

A suggestion is to change the sides of the street where there is parallel parking and diagonal parking on 17th Street. Currently the diagonal parking is on the north side of the street with parallel parking on the south side of 17th Street. The change would not result in a loss of parking places on the south side of the building. 

Leyden said the sidewalks on the property and the large cement area  leading to the front doors are in poor condition.  

The good news is, there are federal dollars that would go to Richardson County to help cover at least part of the costs of the upgrades.  The money would then be paid to the City by the County for the improvements.  

In addition, Richardson County would also purchase some rubber ramps that will slope from the basketball arena floor,  out to the entryway floor to bypass the step up onto the playing floor where the voting booths and poll workers are located during voting.  

The City will need to work with the County and with engineers to to determine the work to be done outside and along the street.    

(KLZA)-- It is now time to focus attention  to winter weather and the dangers it can pose to life and property.  November 4th, 2021 is Winter Weather Awareness Day  in Nebraska. 

For this winter, La Niña conditions are forecast to develop later this fall and persist into the winter months. La Niña’s impacts in Nebraska tend to be more subtle compared to the northern and southern parts of the country. A persistent northwesterly flow aloft tends to favor more Alberta clipper type systems and less of the Four Corners type lows, which can bring heavy snow and significant winter weather to the Central and Southern Plains. 

According to the Climate Prediction Center, there are equal chances for above, below, or near normal temperatures and precipitation for all of Nebraska. This comes as no surprise given the relatively weak La Niña signal for this winter and low predictability for Nebraska.

In short, this winter season for Nebraska should start out with above normal temperatures. For Nebraska, there is no strong forecast signal for above, below, or near normal precipitation. The outlook for late winter shows no strong forecast signal for above, below, or near normal temperatures or precipitation. 

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the National Weather Service (NWS) offices serving Nebraska will continue the program called “Pathfinder” this winter across the entire state. This program is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and is a collaborative strategy to proactively manage the transportation system ahead of and during adverse weather events, and translate weather forecasts and road conditions into consistent transportation impact messages for the public. 

Pathfinder is a unique public-private partnership. Entering our 4th year within the pathfinder framework, NWS and NDOT will continue building on the existing relationship. This continued relationship will build on our efforts to create a “shared impact message” for the public. This message will highlight how weather will impact road and travel conditions, be consistent among each entity, and shared across the various dissemination platforms of all parties involved. Pathfinder is a state-wide project, involving all eight NDOT districts, and all six NWS offices serving Nebraska. While the main focus is on winter weather, Pathfinder will be able to address all types of weather impacts across the state, including high-end wind events, dust, and flooding.

The National Weather Service reminds you to be prepared before the storm strikes in both your home and workplace.  This includes having a flashlight and extra batteries handy,  a battery-powered portable radio and a Weather Radio.  Extra food and water should be stored including high energy food and food that does not require refrigeration.  First aid supplies, extra medicine and baby items are also suggested.

On the farm animals should be moved into sheltered areas.  Extra feed  should be hauled to nearby areas and make sure the animals have access to plenty of water. 

If you get caught outside in a winter storm it is important to stay dry and cover all exposed body parts.  Build a fire for heat and to attract attention if possible. 

If you are caught in a vehicle in a storm stay in the vehicle but only run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat.  Be sure to open the window a little bit for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.   Be sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked and be visible to rescuers.  This would including using a piece of cloth, preferably red tied to your antenna or door.   Remember to exercise from time to time, moving your arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating. 

You should always have a winter storm survival kit in your car including a mobile phone and chargers,  a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, a shovel,  tool kit, tow rope and battery booster cables.  A windshield scraper and brush or small broom are also necessities.  Keep blankets or sleeping bags with your and extra dry clothes.  You should also have a large empty can to use as an emergency toilet.  

High calorie, non-perishable food and a can opener are also suggested along with a small sack of sand or ca litter for generating traction under wheels.    

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council members discussed options to improve the accounting procedures at City Hall when they met Monday evening. 

City Clerk Kevin Cluskey said its is an important area in need of attention. Cluskey says since he was hired, former City Treasurer Gary Jorn is not always immediately available when there are questions. 

Cluskey suggested one way to improve the process might be to bring in an accounting consultant.  While the accounting is a group effort,  one person has been mainly responsible for the accounting process.  

Mayor Shawna Bindle noted that looking at the options is a good idea noting that Falls City is one of the only communities of a similar size to have a dedicated treasuser.

The Council approved obtaining bids to find out what hiring an accounting consultant might cost.  

Cluskey also requested utilizing additional parts of the cities Power Manager Software program to see if that could help improve accounting.  The program helps with checks and balances of accounts and he feels by utilizing additional programming available,  it could be the solution to help the City have better accuracy concerning finances. 

The Council approved the request to access the additional software services with an up front cost of $3,646.  Usage of the program would include an annual fee of $1,046. 

(KAIR)--A 32-year-old Atchison man is facing charges in connection with computer crimes and fraud.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, Tyler Chalfant was arrested last Friday “in connection to the fraudulent use of a financial card at two businesses on October 21.”

In connection with those crimes, Chalfant was arrested for computer crime, unlawful use of a financial card, and theft. He was additionally arrested in connection with criminal trespass that occurred at 314 Santa Fe Street, in Atchison.

Once in custody, Chalfant was booked into the Atchison County Jail.

(KAIR)--Coronavirus cases decline in Atchison County, as do hospitalizations related to the virus.

That’s shown in the weekly coronavirus statistics released Wednesday by the Atchison County office of the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments.

According to the latest figures, Atchison County has 31 active COVID-19 cases, down from 58 active cases as of October 27.

Of the current cases, the health department reports that one is under the age of 5; 4 are aged 5 to 12; 8 are aged 13 to 21; 5 are 22 to 35; 4 are 36 to 50; 7 are 51 to 65; and 2 are over the age of 65.

The statistics also show that as of Wednesday, two persons remained hospitalized in Atchison County for the coronavirus, down from 3 as of last week.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Atchison County has experienced 2,428 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. 25 have died.

(KNZA)--November 13 has been proclaimed “ Lena Mae Grier Carper Day” in Hiawatha.

Hiawatha Mayor Bill Collins made the proclamation at Monday evening's City Commission meeting at the request of Hiawatha Middle School teacher Marissa LeMay, who read the proclamation in recognition of her great aunt.

Carper was one of the original plaintiffs in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case to end segregration.

She was born in Hiawatha on November 13, 1920 and attended school in Hiawatha before moving to Topeka in 1939.

The proclamation said Carper made a signficant impact as a global citizen and humanitarian.

LeMay said she also hopes to get signs erected in town in her recognition.

(KAIR)--In Jefferson County, voters Tuesday decided the fate of several school board races, with Matthew Williams winning the race for Jefferson West USD 340 position five, defeating challenger John Clare 369 to 135.

In the race for Valley Falls USD 338 position 5, Jessica Clark defeated Thomas Welsh 261 to 247, according to the unofficial results.

In the contested race for the postion 4 open seat on the Oskaloosa USD 341 Board of Education, McCabe O’Neal defeated Daryl Chess 262 to 239. In the race for the open position 5 seat, Jana Farmer took the victory, defeating Timothy Benyshek 263 to 245. Winning the race for the open position 6 seat was Heath Flax, who defeated Ken Newell 261 to 243.

Valley Falls voters determined who will serve as the Jefferson County city’s Mayor, with Jeanette Shipley winning that race 153 over challenger Lucille Thomas’ 112.

(KNZA)--Jackson County voters made decisions Tuesday.

In contested races for positions on the Jackson Heights USD 335 Board. Elected to position 4 was David Holliday. Matthew Browning was elected to position 5 and  incumbent Douglas Amon won re-election to position six.

In contested races for the Holton USD 336 Board, elected to position four was Ryan Phillips; position five, incumbent Mike Ford; and Position 6, Terry Lierz.

Incumbent Ann Kelly won a three-way race for position six on the Royal Valley USD 337 Board.

In the race for position 1 on the Holton City Commission, Tim Morris won re-election.

And in the race for Mayetta Mayor. Darrel Chapman defeated incumbent Jonathan Wimer.

Unofficial Jackson County election results click here

(KMZA)--The unofficial results for Tuesday's Nemaha County, KS races can be viewed here. 

In Nemaha County,

Voters in Nemaha Central USD 115 overwhelimingly rejected  $36.7 million bond issue for facility improvements, with 496 voting in favor of the bond issue to 1,047 against.

Efforts to recall Nemaha Central Board member Amy Sudbeck failed to gain approval. Sudbeck also won her race for position 1.

Cara Baker won a three-way race for position 2 on the USD 115 Board.

Anissa Bloom was elected to position 4 on the Prairie Hills USD 113 Board. The position is currently held by Ed Reznicek, who didn't seek re-election.

Cody Bletscher was elected as the new mayor of Sabetha. Bletscher defeated Julie Lancaster-Burenheide by a vote of 352 to 261.  He will replace Doug Clark who didn't seek relection.

Maridel Wittmer won re-election as Commissioner of Finance on the Sabetha City Commission by an 11-vote margin over Sharon Kibbe. .

The Nemaha County Clerk's Office reported a nearly 43 percent voter turnout.

The results are unofficial until they are canvassed by the Nemaha County Commission on Monday.

(KAIR)--Tuesday, in Doniphan County, two contests were determined for the Doniphan West Board of Education, with Wesley Keller earning voter support to fill an unexpired term for District 1, defeating challenger Wayne Carter 132 to 21.

In the race for District 2, on the school board, three positions were up for election, with Michelle Meyer earning 122 votes, followed by incumbent Ben Leatherman who gained 106 votes. However, voting was tied for the third position, with Brett Miner and Stacey Halling Hollsworth each earning 97 votes.

Voters also decided the outcome of the race for Elwood Mayor, with incumbent Timmy Kieser, Sr. retaining the seat, defeating challenger Darrell Lamme 119 to 58.

Two positions were up for election on the Elwood City Council, with Samuel Meers taking 106 votes, followed by incumbent Dennis Smith who earned 78. Earning the third seat was Megan Shackelford, with voters casting 63 votes in her favor.

Three positions were decided in the race for the Troy City Council, with two incumbents re-elected, while a third was defeated. Michael Brissett earned 68 votes, followed by fellow incumbent Tim Hanlan's 56. Gaining 55 votes, and earning the third position, was Duane Weishaar, defeating incumbent William Ruhnke, who saw 43 votes cast in his favor.

Five positions on the White Cloud City Council were decided, but candidates ended up tied in the race for the positions.

Incumbent Lois Elrod was the top vote earner in the race with 27, followed by fellow incumbents Leslie Coehlo, with 23 votes, and Michelle Waggoner with 19. However, the fourth position ended in a tie of 18 votes between Brad Cluck and Jennifer Goff. Incumbent Clint Waggoner earned 17 votes, the same number as Richard Nuzum and Jessica Edie.

The unofficial results for races in Doniphan County were tabulated just under two hours after the polls closed Tuesday evening. 
The results can be seen here. 

(KNZA)--A 21.45% voter turnout is reported in Brown County, where the unofficial results were tabulated just 90-minutes after the polls closed. 

The results can be seen here

Results remain unofficial until canvassed. 

In Brown County,

Voters in South Brown County USD 430 approved a $7 million bond issue for facility improvements. The bond issue was approved by a 18-vote margin, with 282 in favor to 264 against.

In contested races for positions on the USD 430 Board. Shelby Rice was elected to position 5 and Sarah Stirton won a three-way race for position 6.

In contested races for positions on the Hiawatha USD 415 Board. Jacquie Kerl won the race for position five by defeating incumbent Andrea Groth by a vote of 350 to 335. Groth was appointed last year to the position to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Pete Rosa. Jim Robidoux won a three-way race for position 6 on the Board, which is currently held by Keith Erdley who didn't seek re-election.

Two new members were elected to the Horton City Commission. Carmela Boller was elected as the new Commissioner of Streets and Utilities. The position is currently held by Wade Edwards, who didn't seek re-election. Tina Nigh was elected as the new Commissioner of Finance by defeating longtime Commissioner Ken Krug bya vote of 152 to 117.

In the race for Powhattan Mayor, Vicki Schuetz defeated incumbent Lyle Chadwell by a one vote-margin.

The Brown County Clerk's Office reported about a 21 percent voter turnout.

The results are unofficial until they are canvassed by the Brown County Commission Monday.

(KAIR)--No changes on the Atchison City Commission, with voters Tuesday re-electing three from a pool of six candidates, vying to fill three open seats.

Dr. Allen Reavis, Jesse Greenly, and Lisa Moody all retained their positions, with Reavis earning 886 votes, Greenly 851, and Moody 778. Reavis and Moody are incumbents, while Greenly was appointed to fill an unexpired term last year.

Their wins knocked out challengers William Murphy, Michael White, and David Deware.

Only minor changes for the Board of Education for Atchison's Public Schools of USD 409, with voters casting their ballots in favor of three incumbents, and one newcomer, to hold four-year terms.

Carrie Sowers, Diane Liebsch, and Sean Crittendon were joined by Deborah Eplee in earning the At-Large positions.

Brandi Ross earned voter approval to continue serving for two-years in the unexpired term she was appointed to fill last year. She retained that position on a vote of 1,218

Sowers took 1,198 votes, followed by Liebsch with 1,103, Eplee with 999, and Crittendon with 794. The four defeated challengers Chuck Tilton and Allison Marschean.

In the race for the Board of Education for the Atchison County Community Schools of USD 377, only one of the three openings was contested, with incumbent Corey Neil winning re-election to position five, defeating challenger Trenton Beagle 226 to 207.

In the City of Lancaster, Matthew Wilburn earned 21 votes in the race for the Mayoral seat, despite no one having officially filed for the position by the June deadline. The seat had been occupied for many years by the late Tim Callahan who, prior to his unexpected death, chose not to seek re-election.

All election outcomes remain unofficial until canvassed by the Atchison County Commission.

(KLZA)-- Two wrecks in Holt County resulted in minor injuries Sunday and Monday.

The Missouri State Patrol reports that Sunday night just before 10:30 a Volkwagen Jetta operated by 39-year-old Jason Hoffman of Forest  City, MO. Traveled off the side of US-59 Highway approximately one-and-a-half miles east of Oregon and struck an embankment causing the car to overturn, coming to rest on its top. 

Hoffman was transported by Atchison – Holt EMS to Mosaic Life Care Hospital in St. Joseph.  The Holt County Sheriff's Department and the South Holt County Fire Department also responded to the scene. 

The car was totaled. 

Monday morning just past 6:30, 60-year-old Dale Black of Forest City was southbound on Interstate 29 approximately four miles east of Oregon when his Chevy Cruze traveled off the west side of the road, struck a mile marker sign and a tree.  

Black was also transported by The Atchison-Holt Ambulance to Mosaic Life Care Hospital in St. Joseph with minor injuries.  The pickup was totaled.  

(KAIR)--Work at Atchison’s MGP Ingredients means a lengthy street closure in the area of the distillery.

According to a release from the City of Atchison, Main Street, from 13th Street to Roberts Street, will be completely closed, effective immediately.

The release notes that the closure will remain in place until the end of MGP’s project, which the City hopes will be completed within 10 days to two weeks.

The release explains that the closure is necessary as MGP begins working on the distillery’s new copper contactor.

(KAIR)--A new program, being launched in Atchison, is “aimed at addressing brick street conditions,” in the city, with the first project set to begin in the very near future.

Announcement of the program, focused on the restoration of the city’s historic brick streets, comes in a release from the City of Atchison.

According to the release, the first project of the new program “will focus on 1,700 square feet of uneven brick areas along North 4th Street between Parallel and Unity [Streets].”

The release notes that the project, estimated to cost $20,000, is expected to begin late this fall, with work possibly lasting into the winter months.

The release explains that “the repair consists of removing brick from the affected areas, installing a rock base, ensuring appropriate compaction, then replacing the brick back and filling the small voids with sand.”

Atchison’s brick streets have long been known outside the local area, with their origin dating back to William “Deafy” Boular, who lost his legs at the age of 12, when, according to roadsideamerica.com, he was run over by a train he could not hear because he was deaf.

Boular, after the loss of his legs, was ultimately fitted with a special pair of boots, which fit the stumps of his legs, making him what the website calls “the perfect height for the job of paving the sidewalks and streets of Atchison with bricks.”

Boular’s bricklaying became known worldwide when Ripley’s Believe It or Not, showcased Boular, claiming that he once laid 46,000 bricks over the course of one, eight-hour workday.

Boular, born in 1869 and died in 1953, is commemorated in Atchison with a life-size statue of his likeness, titled “Lessons From a Master,” that sits in downtown Atchison.

It was dedicated in 2013, three years after Boular was named one of the most fascinating people in Kansas history in a 2010 statewide contest.

(KAIR)--One person is dead, and two others injured, following a single vehicle Leavenworth County crash.
Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens, in a release Monday, said the police department “worked a fatality accident overnight at Tonganoxie Road near the entrance to Shenandoah.”

According to the release, a Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Deputy “discovered what appeared to be damage to a speed sign and debris in the roadway.” Stopping to investigate, the deputy discovered the fatal crash.

According to Kitchens, the involved vehicle “was traveling south on Tonganoxie Road, lost control, left the roadway and went down an embankment.”

A 23-year-old occupant of the vehicle died at the scene, while a 22-year-old woman was flown by Life Flight Helicopter to a Kansas City hospital in critical condition.

A 24-year-old man was taken by ground ambulance to a Kansas City hospital, also in critical condition.

Names were not immediately made public.

According to Kitchens, the Leavenworth Police Department’s traffic unit is handling the investigation.

Multiple fire departments, as well as Lansing Police, and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office all assisted.

(KAIR)--No hospital care was necessary after a pickup truck rolled, while stopped, and ended up down an embankment on the north-side of U.S. Highway 59 Saturday afternoon, south-east of the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce.

According to a report from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, the 68-year-old driver of the truck had pulled into a parking lot on the south-side of the highway, in the 900 block of U.S. 59, to adjust a windshield wiper. As he did so, the truck began to roll from its parked position, with the driver attempting to stop it.

Unable to do so, the truck rolled down the hillside, requiring it to be towed, as Atchison emergency crews oversaw the scene.

According to Wilson, the driver did incur unspecified injuries while trying to stop the vehicle from rolling, and was treated at the scene by Atchison County EMS, but was not transported for hospital treatment.

Brown County unofficial results--advanced ballot only   Click below

https://www.brcoks.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif351/f/pages/unofficial_-_advanced.pdf

(MSC News)-Voters are going to the polls today to decide city and school board races.

In addition, voters in Nemaha Central USD 115 and South Brown County USD 430 voters will decide the fate of bond issues for facility improvements.

Also a Nemaha Central Board member is facing a recall vote. A petition was submitted in July seeking the recall of board member Amy Sudbeck by a group of patrons upset be the board's refusal this spring to change its face mask policy. The petition was determined to be valid in August.

Only registered voters living in the USD 115 board member position 1 boundaries will decide whether Sudbeck should be recalled from office.

She easily won the primary election in August.

The polls opened at 7:00 this morning and will remain open until 7:00 this evening.

(KNZA)--A Circleville man will serve more than one year in jail on charges in connection with a 2020 Jackson County utility vehicle accident that claimed the life of a Fargo, North Dakota teenager.

22-year-old Wyatt Olberding was sentenced Friday in Jackson County District Court on a felony count of involuntary manslaughter along misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving and transporting an open container.

Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller told MSC News that Olberding was granted three years probation on the felony charge, and ordered to serve one year and 3 months in jail on the misdemeanor charges.

He is to begin serving the jail sentence Friday.

Olberding pleaded no contest to the amended charges in August.

13-year-old Iziah Martinez was killed in the accident early July 5 of last year about two miles northeast of Netawaka. Five others, including Olberding, were injured.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department said Olberding was driving a side-by-side UTV besides another UTV when he lost control, causing his vehicle to overturn. Martinez was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

(KAIR)--One person is dead, and two others injured, following a single-vehicle crash in Leavenworth.

Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens, in a release Monday, said the police department “worked a fatality accident overnight at Tonganoxie Road near the entrance to Shenandoah.”

According to the release, a Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Deputy “discovered what appeared to be damage to a speed sign and debris in the roadway.” Stopping to investigate, the deputy discovered the fatal crash.

According to Kitchens, the involved vehicle “was traveling south on Tonganoxie Road, lost control, left the roadway and went down an embankment.”

A 23-year-old occupant of the vehicle died at the scene, while a 22-year-old woman was flown by Life Flight Helicopter to a Kansas City hospital in critical condition. A 24-year-old man was taken by ground ambulance to a Kansas City hospital, also in critical condition.

Names were not immediately made public, but Kitchens said all three are residents of Leavenworth County.

According to Kitchens, the Leavenworth Police Department’s traffic unit is handling the investigation.

Multiple fire departments, as well as Lansing Police, and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office all assisted.

(KLZA)-- An informational meeting to provide Falls City businesses and home owners along Chase, Harlan and Stone Street about Falls City Electrical Distribution System improvements was held last Thursday at Prichard Auditorium.

Falls City Utility Superintendent Ray Luhring said the huge project would be a great benefit to the Falls City.  JEO and Olsson Engineering firms will work together on the project.  

Work will begin at the power plant on south Crook Street in Falls City and the five,  5KV feeder lines will be taken out and the system will be upgraded to 15KV power.  

A major component of the project is to convert approximately 14 blocks of the downtown business alley overhead power lines to an underground system, making the system more resilient to weather events and safer for the public. 

Luhring said a recent major power outage only confirmed the need to move forward with the project.  There are five circuits that distribute power to the community and when all five go down it leaves approximately 60 - 70 percent of the community without power and and it shuts down gas stations as well as restaurants and really cripples the community.  He said this project will help alleviate those issues. 

Luhring explained the change from the current 4.16 KV to 13.8 KV lowers the current and give the system more capacity while running more efficiently and also allows the Electric Department to shut down an isolated problem spot to make needed repairs instead of shutting down a much larger area. 

JEO Consulting Group is the firm leading the project, and the city are looking at federal hazard mitigation grants to help address the estimated $4.1-million cost of the project.  If awarded the FEMA grant could pay up to 75-percent of the cost.  Once the grant application is submitted,  the firm should find out in June or July of 2022 if the application was successful.

Luhring noted that even if the grant application is denied,  the Board of Public Works and the City Council have decided that it is necessary to move forward with the project.  

Letters of support for the project from community businesses and residents to be included with the grant application would be appreciated.  Olsson and JEO will be gathering information from businesses as well for the grant application.  

Mayor Shawna Bindle said the project is very important to the future of Falls City and noted that during the last power outage there were questions about why the City could not supply power with the generators at the power plant, and that the distribution system was the culprit.  She said the City can generate the power needed, but without upgrades to the distribution system that generated power cannot be delivered to customers.  

Preliminary work has started on the project but actual construction is not likely to start until the spring of 2023.  
 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners approved the expenditure of more than $17-thousand for new lighting at the courthouse in  Falls City when they met last week. 

The Board approved a proposal from Jeannes Distribution to convert the courthouse lighting to LEDs from fluorescent at a cost of $11,354 for parts and supplies and $6,403 for labor making the total cost $17,757.

It was noted in the minutes from the meeting that other supplies and contractors contacted about he project did not submit interest in the project. 

(KNZA)--A Sunday evening single-vehicle crash on the southwest side of Hoyt in Jackson County sent a California woman to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened at the intersection of K-214 and 3rd Street.

According to the KHP report, 46-year-old Jody Akkerman, of Hemet, California, was stopped at a stop sign on 3rd Street at the intersection of K-214, when for an unknown reason, she accelerated through the intersection and her SUV struck a tree.

Akkerman was transported to Topeka's Stormont-Vail Hospital with suspected serious injuries.

The Patrol says she was not buckled up when the wreck occurred around 7:20.

(MSC News)--Voters in South Brown County USD 430 and Nemaha Central USD 115 will decide the fate of bond issues for facility improvements during Tuesday's general election.

The USD 430 Board of Education approved a resolution in August placing a $7 million general obligation bond issue on the ballot.

If approved by voters, the bonds would be paid off over a 20-year period and require an an average annual levy of 11 mills.

The majority of the bond issue would cover new windows, doors, exterior restoration and updating of the HVAC units at the district's three schools. In addition, the bonds would cover some concrete repairs across the district and a roof replacement at the elementary school.

The last bond issue in USD 430 was approved in 1998 and paid off in 2017.

The Nemaha Central USD 115 Board of Education voted in July to put a $36.7 million bond issue on the November 2nd general election ballot.

If approved by voters, the bonds would be paid over a 30-year period and require an average annual levy of 13.53 mills.

Except for a classroom addition at the elementary school for the Pre-K program, the bonds would primarily go to fund improvements at the Nemaha Central High School—including construction of a new gymnasium, conversion of the secondary gym to a theater and four new classrooms.

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