(KLZA)-- Agricultural producers and landowners can sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program from January 31 to March 11.  The Grassland CRP signup will run April 4 to May 13. 

CRP is a program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is a key tool in the Biden-Harris Administration effort to address climate change and achieve other natural resource benefits. 

4.6 million acres were enrolled into CRP in 2021, including 2.5 million acres in the Grassland CRP.  Currently there are 22.1 million acres enrolled and the Farm Service Agency has a goal to reach 25.5-million acres for fiscal year 2022.

Landowners can also enroll acres in Continuous CRP under the ongoing sign up, which includes projects through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement program.  

Producers and landowners interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center  to learn more or to apply for the program. You can also learn more at the website,  www.usda.gov.

(KLZA)-- Missouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed the Honorable Corey K. Herron as Circuit Judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit, which includes Nodaway, Atchison, Holt, Gentry, and Worth counties. 

Herron will fill the Circuit Judge vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Roger M. Prokes.

Judge Herron, of Rock Port, currently serves as an Associate Circuit Judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit in Atchison County. 

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Columbia.

(KLZA)-- Auburn Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tonia Greiner has announced she is resigning after more than five years on the job.  

Greiner thanked the Chamber Board for their support during the time she has served and in her decision to step down.

The letter from the Auburn Chamber Board announcing Greiner's resignation also asks those that might be interested in serving on the Board of Directors of the Auburn Chamber to send a letter of interest to 
auburnchamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

(KNZA)--A Nebraska man has been extradited back to Doniphan County to face child sex charges.

According to a release from the Highland Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, in Omaha, arrested 37-year-old Christopher Jimeson on a Doniphan County warrant on January 12 without incident.

The arrest followed an investigation by Highland Police, the Kansas Department of Children and Families and Doniphan County Sheriff's Office.

Jimeson faces charges of aggravated criminal sodomy of a child, aggravated indecent liberties of a child, criminal threat and aggravated endangerment of a child.

The release says the alleged acts occurred at a residence in Highland.

In July 2021, a juvenile reported to the Highland Police Department that she was the victim of sexual assault.

The Department of Children and Families was contacted to assist with interviewing the victim. The Highland Police Department and the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search at a residence in Highland, where evidence was located and seized.

Jimeson is being held in the Doniphan County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

(KNZA)--The number of active cases of COVID-19 decreased in Brown and Doniphan Counties last week.

The Brown County Office of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health on Friday reported 55 active cases in the county, with five hospitalized.  That's down from 70 active cases  on January 21.

Most of the current cases involve those 35 to 44 years old, followed by those 45 to 54 years old.   

The Health Department reports two additional COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the total to 47 since the pandemic began.

Brown County has had 2,277 total positive cases since the start of the pandemic.

 In neighboring Doniphan County, the Health Department on Friday reported 114 active cases.  That's down from 154 active cases on January 21.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Doniphan County has had 2,061 total positive coronavirus cases, with 29 virus-related deaths. 

(KNZA)--A new Jefferson County North superintendent has been named.

The USD 339 Board of Education on Friday announced the selection of Dr. Brad Kempf for the position.

Kempf has been in education for seventeen years and currently serves as the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Emporia USD 253.

He was among three candidates interviewed last week.  The other two candidates were Joe Worthington, who currently serves as principal of Jefferson County North High School, and Jennifer Gatz, who currently serves as assistant superintendent of Prairie Hills USD 113.

According to a release, Kempf was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and has been a Kansas resident since 2008. Since living in Kansas, he has enjoyed living in both Kansas rural and city settings. The release says he is passionate about advocating for all Kansas students and public schools' needs at the state level.

Kempf will take over the reins as the new Jeff County North superintendent on July 1st following the retirement of Denise Jennings at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Editor's note: the following release was submitted by Meadowlark Extension Director David Key

(MSC News )--As we ended our 15th year as a district two of our extension agents announced their retirements! Jody Holthaus from our Holton office announced her retirement effective October 1, 2021. Jody led our district livestock and natural resources program. We will miss her many years of programming experience and creativity especially when dealing with the blue-green algae and pond water quality.

Nancy Nelson also from our Holton office announced her retirement effective December 31, 2021. We were fortunate to have Nancy leading our educational program efforts in the areas of family life and adult development and aging. If you participated in Walk Kansas in the Meadowlark Extension District you knew Nancy.

At their request, no official retirement celebrations were held and well wishes can be sent in care of the Holton Office.

As of December 1, 2021 Ross Mosteller, who  had served as district 4-H and youth agent, is now serving as district livestock and natural resources agent.  He will remain housed in the Seneca Office. Ross has worked in the Meadowlark Extension District as our 4-H and youth agent since 2010 and had worked previously for the River Valley District as their livestock and natural resources agent prior to moving to the Meadowlark District. He graduated from Kansas State University with a BS Degree in Animal Sciences and Industry and is a Bern Kansas native and resides there with his wife and children.

A final announcement regarding staffing changes is that David Hallauer our district crops and horticulture agent will be moving his primary office from our Oskaloosa office to our Holton office. David lives with his wife and children in rural Jackson County and worked for the Jefferson County Extension Office before formation of the Meadowlark Extension District.

The Meadowlark Extension District has opened our District 4-H and youth extension agent position that will now be housed in our Oskaloosa office and we will open our Family and Community Wellness extension agent position in our Holton office later this winter.

(KLZA)-- The number of positive COVID-19 tests conducted at Community Medical Center in Falls City the past two weeks continue to be above the 30 percent threshold.

For the two-week period January 14 – 28 there were 542 tests conducted with 189 or 34.8 percent being positive.

For the Week of January 21 – 28 there 93 positive tests or 33.5 percent of the tests give.

On Thursday, January 27 the hospital in Falls City conducted 38 COVID-19 tests with 39.5 percent coming back positive.

(KLZA)-- The Richardson County Sheriff's Department assisted the U.S. Marshals and Metropolitan Fugitive Task Force in the arrest of 34-year-old Charles Olson of Humboldt on Thursday.  

Olson was wanted on two warrants out of Otoe County and two warrants out of Nemaha County, Nebraska, for sex offender registry issues.

Olson was booked into the Richardson County Jail. 

(KLZA)-- A traffic stop by Richardson County Deputies outside of Dawson Thursday led to an Omaha man being arrested on several charges.

Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located suspected methamphetamine,  drug paraphernalia and approximately $10 thousand in cash of suspected drug money. 

38-year-old Michael Luna was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine;  possession of drug paraphernalia; and warrants out of both Cass and Sarpy counties.  

Further investigation led deputies to suspect the money was being used to purchase narcotics.  The money was seized. 

The drive of the car, Shelton Phils of Omaha was cited for driving while suspended.

(KNZA)--Brown-Atchison Electric Cooperative General Manager Jim Currie is retiring after nearly 44 years of service to the electric cooperative.  

Monday, January 31st will mark his last day.

 Currie began his career with Brown-Atchison in August 1978 as an apprentice lineman.  In 2006, he became line superintendent and was appointed general manager in 2013.  

The cooperative serves members in six different counties—including, Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson and Nemaha.  

Currie says he and his wife, Gale, look forward to traveling and have several places on their bucket list they plan to start checking off.

(KNZA)--The number of active cases of COVID-19 has decreased in Jackson and Nemaha Counties. 

According to statistics released Wednesday by the Jackson County Office of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health, there are 182 active coronavirus cases in the county. That's down from 225 active cases on January 19.

The Health Department reports one additional virus-related death, bringing the total to twenty-two since the pandemic began.

The delta variant continues to be prominent coronavirus strain in the county, with five confirmed cases of the omicron variant.

Since the pandemic began, Jackson County has had 3,644 total positives cases.

Meanwhile, the Nemaha County County Health Department on Wednesday reported 67 active coronavirus cases in the county, with one hospitalization. That's down from 82 active cases on January 19.

The Health Department identified 19 of the current cases as “ breakthrough cases”---those involving individuals who have been vaccinated.

Since the pandemic began, Nemaha County has had 3,027 total positive cases and 61 virus-related deaths.

(KLZA)-- A pair of incumbents filed for reelection in Richardson County this week. 

Neal Kanel of rural Dawson filed to run for reelection to the Humboldt-Table Rock – Steinauer School Board.  

In Falls City, Derrick Leyden filed for reelection as Ward IV Council member.

Both positions are non-partisan. 

Incumbents have until February 15 to file for reelection.  Nonincumbents have until March 1 to file for the May Primary election.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County received bids from two companies for an overlay project consisting of 5.8 miles of road known as the Rulo South Project when they met Tuesday. 

Herzog Contracting submitted a bid of $1,820,340.  Constructors Inc.  submitted a bid of $1,545,929.  

The Board accepted both bids received for the purpose of review by the Highway Superintendent and the project engineer. 

The Board also approved two purchase orders for radio, video and computer equipment and the installation of the equipment in a new patrol vehicle. 

Highway Superintendent Steve Darveau Jr. discussed advertising to fill two vacant positions at the Road and Bridge Department.  Commissioners met with Darveau for just over 90 minutes in executive session to discuss a personnel matter. 

Commissioners also conducted the quarterly jail inspection and found the facility to be in good order. 

(KLZA)-- Pump & Pantry who opened their new store in Falls City in December has announced plans to add two hi-flow diesel lanes to their current location at 1521 Harlan Street. 

To make room for the expansion, the existing buildings on the northwest corner of Harlan Street and East 15th Street, that formerly housed Mid-Town Service Center will be demolished and the hi-flow lanes will be added on the south side of the convenience store.  The estimated completion of the project is summer of 2022.  

In addition,  the news release from Pump & Pantry announced their fuel dispensers are being upgraded. 

Paul Durbin, Brand Manager for Pump & Pantry, noted that hi-flow diesel lanes are a much needed, valuable resource for their customers in Falls City and Southeast Nebraska.

(KMZA)--Marysville has a new police chief.

Marysville City Administrator Austin St. John on Tuesday announced the appointment of Assistant Chief Matt Simpson to the position. 

Simpson, who had been serving as interim chief, assumed the post immediately.

He was among two candidates interviewed earlier this month for the position.  A third candidate withdrew from consideration.

The position has been vacant since former chief Todd Ackerman was fired in September. 

(KMZA)--Two people were found dead in their Pawnee County, Nebraska  home Wednesday following a welfare check.

The Nebraska State Patrol, in a news release, said foul play is not suspected.

The release says the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office was called to the home on Highway 4 near Humboldt after a postal worker noticed the mail hadn't been checked for multiple weeks.

Deputies discovered 55-year-old Dirk Dobrovolny and 86-year-old Ila Dobrovolny dead in their home. There were no apparent injuries.

The sheriff's office asked the State Patrol to assist in the investigation, which is ongoing.

(KAIR)--The Band Perry has been named as the headliner for Atchison’s 2022 LakeFest concert, replacing the originally scheduled Gabby Barrett.

According to a release, Barrett is unable to perform at the July 15 concert due to scheduling conflicts.

LakeFest annually serves as the kickoff for Atchison’s Amelia Earhart Festival, held to honor famed Atchison native and aviator, Amelia Earhart.

The release, issued by Festival Coordinator Jacque Pregont, calls The Band Perry, a Grammy Award-winning sibling trio, “an unstoppable presence in modern music,” with Pregont calling them “terrific entertainers,” while adding that while “having to make a change is always difficult,” the chart topping trio will make for “an amazing show.”

The Band Perry, which has sold two and a half million albums, thirteen million singles, and over 2 billion combined streams, is planning to release their third country album later this year.

They join country artist Michael Ray and singer/songwriter Erik Dylan, an Atchison County native, in performing at the LakeFest Concert, held each year at Atchison’s Warnock Lake, as “the prelude to a full day of [Amelia Earhart Festival] festivities” the next day, Saturday, July 16, in Atchison.

The LakeFest gates and concessions will open at 4:00 on the afternoon of July 15, at the lake, with the concert opening at 7:00 with the singing of the National Anthem.

Dylan will take the stage immediately following, with Ray performing after, at approximately 8:15, followed by the headlining Band Perry at around 9:45 that night.

Tickets can be purchased online at visitatchison.com. Children aged 10 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult.

(KNZA)--A special meeting of the Hiawatha City Commission Wednesday afternoon addressed a further shakeup at the Police Department.  

City Administrator Mike Nichols explained that current Police Captain Dennis Entrikin has tendered his resignation, effective February 9.

That will leave a vacancy at both the Chief of Police and Captain positions.    

As Captain, Entrikin has been handling the duties of the Chief of Police since the termination of former Chief John Defore December 27.

Nichols said Investigator Mickey Gruber has agreed to a temporary promotion to Captain until a new Chief of Police or Captain is hired.

The Commission approved an agreement with Gruber to take on the additional role for the time being.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, the Commission held a series of executive sessions to discuss potential litigation. No action was taken.

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services State Epidemiologis, Dr. Matthew Donahue and his team have completed an in-depth analysis of vaccination rates correlated to hospitalizations. 

The analysis concludes that individuals who received the vaccine for COVID-19,  but not the booster were 11 times less likely to be hospitalized.  More dramatically, individuals who got their booster shot were 46 more time less likely to be hospitalized.  

Another analysis showed that vaccines are incredibly safe.  Nebraska death certificate data shows Nebraskans who were vaccinated are dying at a lower rate than Nebraskans who were unvaccinated, regardless of the cause of death. 

DHHS is urging all Nebraskans who have not done so already to consider getting vaccinated and receive the booster and to consult a doctor if there are questions. 

You can register for the vaccine at vaccinated.ne.gov or call the hotline at 833-998-2275. 

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services State Epidemiologis, Dr. Matthew Donahue and his team have completed an in-depth analysis of vaccination rates correlated to hospitalizations. 

The analysis concludes that individuals who received the vaccine for COVID-19,  but not the booster were 11 times less likely to be hospitalized.  More dramatically, individuals who got their booster shot were 46 more time less likely to be hospitalized.  

Another analysis showed that vaccines are incredibly safe.  Nebraska death certificate data shows Nebraskans who were vaccinated are dying at a lower rate than Nebraskans who were unvaccinated, regardless of the cause of death. 

DHHS is urging all Nebraskans who have not done so already to consider getting vaccinated and receive the booster and to consult a doctor if there are questions. 

You can register for the vaccine at vaccinated.ne.gov or call the hotline at 833-998-2275. 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Sheriff's Deputies executed two search warrants Wednesday resulting in the arrest of five people on various drug charges. 

At approximately 2:30 a search warrant was executed at 1624 Morton Street in Falls City.  During the search Deputies located suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a prohibited weapon.  Three people were arrested. 

22-year-old Donald Richbourg is charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a deadly weapon during a felony and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

25-year-old Sarah B. Fritts is facing two counts of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.  

27-year-old Tylor J. Fritts was arrested on a count of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The second search warrant was executed at approximately 4:30 Wednesday afternoon at 104 Elm Street in Shubert. 

Deputies located suspected methamphetamine,  scales, baggies, drug paraphernalia and prohibited weapons.

Arrested was 53-year-old Mickey Gilliland who was booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine;  three counts of possession of a deadly weapon; three counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a felon; possession of Tramadol; possession of a legend drug;  possession of drug paraphernalia;  unlawful acts relating to drugs and with being an habitual criminal.

55-year-old Georgie Simon is also facing multiple charges.  She was arrested for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver;  possession of cash during a drug statute;  three counts of possession of a deadly weapon and three counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a felon;  possession of Tramadol; possession of a legend drug; possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful acts relating to drugs. 

All of those arrested are being held at the Richardson County Law Enforcement Center. 

(KMZA)--Seneca City Administrator Tammi Haverkamp will be taking on an additional role.

The Seneca City Council at their January 19 meeting approved appointing Haverkamp as Development Administrator.

In the role, she will be responsible for enforcing provisions of the city's subdivision regulations and the city's zoning ordinance.

The Council approved an amendment to her city administrator contract increasing her salary to $70,000 for handling the extra duties.

The Council also approved the appointment of City Superintendent Brian Rusche as Assistant Development Administrator. He had been serving as interim Development Administrator.

In other business, Seneca Area Chamber/SDI Director Kylee Bergstrom presented a proposal for the display of large gnomes at various locations in town. She said the goal is have 10-15 gnomes around town to drive tourism to Seneca. Bergstrom said businesses or individuals would be able to purchase a gnome and have it custom painted.

Mayor Joe Mitchell suggested they wait to vote on the proposed project until they had a full council present. Council members Jim Mitchell and Ray Shinn were absent.

(KNZA)--Brown County will contribute more toward the county's hot meals program.

 At the request of Services for the Elderly Director Wanda Davis, the Brown County Commission voted Monday to increase the portion the county pays for the program from $2.30 to $3.00.

 In other business, the Commission adopted a resolution that extends the local public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic for a period of 60 days unless its terminated earlier.  It has been in place since March 16, 2020.

County Emergency Management Director Don Pounds requested use of American Rescue Plan funds awarded to the county for the construction of a new building for storage of COVID-19 supplies, the Rescue Squad and an Emergency Operations Center.  

Pounds also discussed a proposed resolution establishing flood plain management regulations for unincorporated areas of the county. The Commission voted 2-1 to submit the resolution to the state for approval. Commissioner Bill Pollock cast the lone dissenting vote.  The resolution is needed for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.

(KLZA)-- Johnson County Commissioners adopted a resolution this month establishing the annual salaries for elected officials in Johnson County from January 1, 2023 through 2026.

Starting in 2023 the County Clerk, Treasurer and Assessor will be paid $55 thousand.  Each year the position will receive a three-percent raise increasing the salary to $60,100 for 2026.

The Sheriff will be paid $65 thousand in 2023 with the annual three-percent increase raising the salary to $71,027 for 2026.  

The County Attorney salary will be $60 thousand in 2003 with the increases boosting the salary to $65,564 for 2026. 

Johnson County Commissioners will be paid $22 thousand in 2023 with the pay increase making the $24,040 for 2026.

The County Surveyor will be paid $4,504 in 2023 with the salary to increase to $4,921 for 2026.

The elected officials will also receive health, medical and dental insurance that is offered to other county employees.  

(KLZA)-- Richardson County  Commission Chairman David Sickel has signed a letter to be sent to Southeast Communications 911 Center in Beatrice, addressed to Police Chief Bruce Lang seeking to identify the steps necessary to terminate the current contract between Richardson County and Southeast Communications for dispatch services.  The letter was dated December 4.

The letter says issues continue with various aspects of dispatch, and whether the responsibility lies with the Falls City Police Department or Southeast Communications, the  Sheriffs Office finds itself in the crossfire. 

Issues included the time frame to create a barrier around Falls City and all 911 calls in the County going to Southeast Communications;  the Rural Fire Departments and Humboldt Rescue no longer willing to transfer from utilizing Falls City Police Department Dispatch to Southeast Communications was another issue.

Without making changes to cell phone tower because of this, 911 calls for the Sheriffs' Office will have to be transferred from Falls City P.D. to Southeast Communications, which basically leaves the Sheriffs Office in the same position as before the change was made, which is not beneficial to the citizens of Richardson County. 

The letter reiterates, there seems to be issues between Falls City Police Department and Southeast  Communications. That combined with concerns regarding the stance of the other agencies in the County, the Sheriff's Office will have to rely heavily on the relationship between Falls City Police Department and Southeast Communications which does not appear to be operating very well.

The final paragraph the County requests action to be taken to terminate the contract and avoid any legal proceedings.  Richardson County feels that at the very least,  the contract should be renegotiated but prefer a mutual agreement to terminate the contract.  
 

(KLZA)-- A Nebraska State Patrol news release identified the man found dead after allegedly shooting his wife, then hold officers at bay for several hours in Adams, Nebraska Monday night into Tuesday morning as 40-year-old Thomas Sharp. 

Sharp died of a self-inflicted gunshot would during the standoff at a home on Elm Street in Adams.

The patrol says Sharp's wife called to report he had beaten her, pointed a gun at her and shot her in the hand.  She and her three children escaped.  After several hours, Sharp was found dead inside the home.

No officers were injured.  

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Department of Labor reports the state unemployment rate was 1.7%  in December, which is the lowest rate on record since data collection began in 1976.

Locally the unemployment rates ranged from a low of 1.1 percent in Pawnee, Nemaha and Otoe counties to a high of 1.3 percent in Johnson  County.  The unemployment rate was 1.2 percent in Richardson and Gage counties for December.

Nebraska's 1.7% jobless rate is the best in the U.S.  Utah ranked second with an unemployment rate at 1.9 percent followed by Oklahoma at 2.3 percent. 

(KNZA)--The Brown County Historicial Society is interested in purchasing a tract of land from the city of Hiawatha.

Hiawatha City Administrator Mike Nichols informed the City Commission Monday evening that he was contacted by the Historical Society inquiring whether the city would be interested in selling about three acres between their Ag Museum site and the Fisher Center. 

Nichols said the Historicial Society has a donor who would like to put up a 100-by-60 foot building to house historic windmills. 

The commission voiced no objections.

There will be further talks between the city and Historical Society in the future.

Nichols informed the Commission that he was contacted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield regarding employee health and dental insurance renewal rates for the period beginning April 1. After several years of double digit increases, he said the rates will increase by 4.9% and .5%, respectively.

Nichols also told the commission that the position of Chief of Police has been advertised with five state associations and four national associations. As of Monday evening, he said the city had received inquires from two potential applicants.

In other action, the Commission approved awarding the bid for the landscaping and care of the downtown planters to Wolf River Nursery in the amount of $5,518.

The Commission also approved writing off about $543 in uncollectable utility debt and transfering more than $4,300 in past due utility billing debt to collections.

Local scouts were on hand as City Clerk Tish Sims read a proclamation, which was signed by Mayor Bill Collins, proclaiming the week of February 6 as Scouts-Boy Scouts of America Anniversary week.

(KNZA)--Governor Laura Kelly has sent a presidential disaster declaration request to President Joe Biden due to the damage from the high wind storm Kansas experienced on Dec. 15, 2021.

In the request, Kelly said the storm generated wind gusts between 60 and 100 mph, causing widespread damage across Kansas. The high winds and dry conditions also led to wildfires that burned more than 160,000 acres and resulted in the deaths of two people.

Joint preliminary damage estimates placed the total damages for all involved counties in excess of $15 million. Kelly’s request is for federal funding to help restore damaged public utilities, roads and bridges.

Among counties included in the initial request are Brown, Doniphan, Marshall and Nemaha.

If declared by the president, additional counties may be added if the damages can meet or exceed the county’s public assistance threshold.

(KAIR)--A stolen box truck is recovered, but the investigation into who took the vehicle earlier this month remains ongoing.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, police, Monday afternoon, recovered the 2000 Ford E350 box truck in the 800 block of Riley Street.

The truck had been reported stolen January 14th after it had been taken from the 500 block of North 9th Street.

Anyone with information related to the theft should contact Atchison Police at 913-367-4323.

(KAIR)--A familiar face in Atchison County is saying goodbye to the role she’s held for more than three-decades.

Diane Nielson, who a release refers to as a “dedicated extension agent” who has been “leading educational programming in family and consumer science and positive 4-H youth development for thirty-two years.”

It’s from that role, as an agent for the Atchison County office of K-State Research and Extension, that Nielsen is retiring from, with a career celebration, in her honor, planned for this week. According to a release from the Atchison County Extension office, a come and go gathering will be held Wednesday afternoon, from 3 until 6:00, at the YMCA community room, in Atchison.
The public is invited.

According to the release, Atchison County has been “fortunate” to have Nielson’s leadership, as “her careful identification of local issues and passion for educating county residents has reached a wide variety of audiences during her career as Atchison County Extension Agent,” adding that “her personal interest in such topics of nutrition, food safety, health and well-being, early childhood development, aging and leadership development has caused her to bring research and evidence-based solutions to Atchison county,” along with “innovative teaching methods to individuals and families to offer self-improving ideas to improve their quality of lives.”

The release notes that “K-State Research and Extension Atchison County programs will look much different next year,” citing Nielsen’s absence as well as a $52,000 reduction in “local funding to the extension program.”

(KMZA)--Voters in Nemaha Central USD 115 in a special election Tuesday rejected an attempt to recall  longtime Board of Education member Owen Zinke.

Unofficial results showed 549 votes cast against the recall of Zinke, with 145 votes in favor.

District patrons concerned about the board's stance on mandatory mask requirements for students and teachers in the 2020-2021 school year circulated a petition asking for the recall election.

Zinke has represented position 7, the " at large" position on the school board, since USD 115 was established in 2011, and was previously a member of the board of USD 442.  He currently serves as board vice-president.

A similar attempt to recall board member Amy Sudbeck was rejected by voters in the November general election.

(KMZA )--The Nemaha County Spelling Bee was held on Saturday at the Nemaha County Community Building in Seneca.

Five area schools competed in the event sponsored by the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Delta Kappa Society International. 

The winning word was PETRIFYING.

The first place winner was Josiah Richardson, a 7th Grader at Sabetha Middle School. Josiah is the son of Nicolas and Rachel Richardson

The second place winner was Braxten Cain, a 7th grader at Sts. Peter and Paul School in Seneca.  Braxten is the son of Kevin and Tricia Cain.

As the winner of the Nemaha County Spelling Bee, Richardson will now compete in the state spelling bee in March sponsored by the Kansas Press Association. 

(KAIR)--A familiar face in Atchison County is saying goodbye to the role she’s held for more than three-decades.

Diane Nielson, who a release refers to as a “dedicated extension agent” has been “leading educational programming in family and consumer science and positive 4-H youth development for thirty-two years.”

It’s from that role, as an agent for the Atchison County office of K-State Research and Extension, that Nielsen is retiring from, with a career celebration, in her honor, planned for this week.

According to a release from the Atchison County Extension office, a "come and go" gathering will be held Wednesday afternoon, from 3 until 6:00, at the YMCA community room, in Atchison. The public is invited.

According to the release, Atchison County has been “fortunate” to have Nielson’s leadership, as “her careful identification of local issues and passion for educating county residents has reached a wide variety of audiences during her career as Atchison County Extension Agent,” adding that “her personal interest in such topics of nutrition, food safety, health and well-being, early childhood development, aging and leadership development has caused her to bring research and evidence-based solutions to Atchison county,” along with “innovative teaching methods to individuals and families to offer self-improving ideas to improve their quality of lives.”

The release notes that “K-State Research and Extension Atchison County programs will look much different next year,” citing Nielsen’s absence as well as a $52,000 reduction in “local funding to the extension program.”

(KLZA)-- The Center for Disease Control wants to let people know about the risks of radon poisoning by designating January 24-28 as Radon Awareness Week. Earlier this week, Governor Ricketts named this month as Radon Action Month in the State of Nebraska.  

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General's office estimate radon is responsible for more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. That it is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. Smoking and second-hand smoke, combined with exposure to high radon levels, increase the risk of lung cancer. Nebraska is third in the nation with the potential for high radon levels, the most vulnerable area being the eastern third of the state. The reason behind the vulnerability is the rock layer under ground in Nebraska is closer to the surface than in other areas of the country 

Radon is a naturally occurring odorless and radioactive gas (a byproduct of uranium) that can get trapped in homes and buildings. It exposes the people who live and work inside, increasing their risk of developing lung cancer later in life over time; this risk is even higher among those who smoke cigarettes. Radon is released from rocks, soil, and water, and builds up into homes. Any home in any state, with or without a basement, new or old, can have high levels of radon. When buying a new home, it is almost always less expensive and easier to build mitigation features into these homes than to add them later.

When breathing in radon, radioactive particles from the decay of radon gas gets trapped in the lungs. It takes many years for lung cancer to develop. Most people don't have symptoms until lung cancer is advanced which at that point is harder to treat. For these reasons, it is important to take steps to reduce radon exposure.
 

(KLZA)-- Southeast Nebraska Community Action will conduct their annual Point-in-Time County from 6:00 P.M. Tuesday evening, January 25 through 6:00 A.M. Wednesday morning. 

The Point-In-Time count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness is required to be conducted by Housing and Urban Development,  nationwide  the last 10 days of January of each year.  

The goal is to end homelessness for each community and in the nation as a whole. 

Communities can work with outreach teams, and healthcare and service providers to use the count as an opportunity to connect people experiencing homelessness with housing and vital services.  The PIT count also ensures communities will continue to receive funding to provide homeless services. 

Many communities do not believe there are homeless people living there.  But, they would be surprised to learn there are homeless people staying in abandoned houses or buildings,  vehicles, campgrounds, farm fields,  old campers without electricity or running water and even under bridges.  
In rural areas, homelessness looks much different from what you see on television.

If  you know of anyone or encounter anyone that is homeless, you can get a form to make a report from the SENCA office serving your community or county.  

(KLZA)-- David Sickel will continue to serve as Chairman of the Richardson Count Board of Commissioners in 2022 with John Caverzagie reappointed Vice-Chairman. 

During the Boards annual reorganization meeting this month Steven Darveau Jr. was reaffirmed as Highway Superintendent at an annual salary of $60,214 which represents at 2 percent increase.  He will also be paid an additional $4,500 for have a Class A Highway Superintendent's license.

Mona  Godemann was reappointed Veterans Service Officer at a salary of $20.90 an hour which is a 5 percent increase.

Brian Kirkendall was reappointed Emergency Manager and Noxious Weed Control Superintendent at an annual salary of $51 thousand  as Emergency Manager and $5,050 as Noxioius Weed Control Superintendent.  

( Lincoln ) - The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an incident that occurred overnight in Adams that led to a standoff of several hours.

At approximately 9:50 p.m. Monday, the Gage County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the NSP SWAT Team in response to an ongoing situation on Elm Street in Adams. Deputies had previously responded to a domestic violence incident after receiving a 911 call from the victim. The victim reported that her husband had hit her several times and pointed a gun at her. When he pointed the gun at her, she pushed it away, but the man fired the weapon, striking the victim in the hand. At that point she was able to flee the home to safety. Her children were also able to flee the home unharmed.

After the NSP SWAT Team was activated, numerous attempts were made to contact the suspect. No contact was established, and the SWAT team breached the front door using a light armored vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the suspect was located inside the home, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The entire incident lasted approximately nine hours.

The suspect’s name is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin. The victim was transported to Bryan Medical Center West Campus in Lincoln for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The children are with family. No law enforcement officers were injured.

The Gage County Attorney has requested that NSP investigate the incident. NSP was assisted by the Gage County Sheriff’s Office, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Adams Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, and the Gage County Attorney’s Office. The investigation is ongoing.

(KAIR)--A longtime Atchison attorney, and civic leader, has died.

J. David Farris was a current Atchison City Commissioner who served as City Attorney for 25 years until his 2015 retirement from that role. In 2019, he was elected to the Atchison City Commission, where he served as Vice-Mayor. 

Farris died Sunday at a Kansas City hospital at the age of 83.

His death is confirmed both by Interim Atchison City Manager Justin Pregont and by a remembrance posted to his law firm’s website, with a photograph of Farris, saying “In remembrance of J. David Farris, 1938 to 2022,” posted to the Farris, Fresh, and Werring Law Office web page Monday.

According to the website, Farris retired from the practice of law in the fall of 2019, after more than 50-years of practice in the State of Kansas, “the vast majority of which occurred in Atchison.”

Farris, commonly known as “Dave,” was admitted to practice law in Kansas in 1965 and in Missouri in 1987. According to his law firm, Farris served as the Assistant Atchison County Attorney from 1969 to 1970; as Atchison County Attorney from 1970 to 1974; and as Atchison City Attorney from 1990 to 2015. He was currently serving his term as Atchison City Commissioner, which was to end December 4, 2023, at the time of his death.

Funeral arrangements for Farris are forthcoming.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners approved salaries for elected officials for the term of office 2023 – 2026 during their January 11 meeting. 

The annual salary for the offices of County Assessor, County Clerk of the District Court,  Count Clerk-Register of Deeds and Treasurer was established at $69,249 for calendar year 2023 with an annual salary increase of two-percent during the term which will make the salary in year four, $73,487.

The County Clerk will be compensated $3,000 for additional time and effort to carry out the duties of Election Commissioner each year.

The County  Sheriff salary will be $79,636 in 2023 with the annual two-percent increase making the salary $84,510 in 2026.

The county Attorney Salary will be $90,023 in 2023 and in year 2026 the salary will be $95,534.

County Commissioners will be paid $34,624 in 2023 with the annual two- percent increase boosting the salary to $36,744 in 2026.

The County  Surveyor will be paid $14,965 in 2023, with the salary increasing to $15,882 in 2026.  

In addition each official will receive health, medical and life insurance as offered to all other county employees and will participate in the retirement plan as mandated by State law. 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council received an update on issues with the city streetsweeper when they met last week. 

City Administrator Kevin Cluskey said the 12-year-old street sweeper routinely ends up in the City Shop for repairs after it is used.

Cluskey said the price tag for a new streetsweeper is $245 thousand. The City has budgeted $130 thousand for a new machine. The current machine has an estimated trade value of $35 thousand.

Rose Equipment is working with the City to determine the cost of make upgrades to fix what have become regular issues so see if  the current  machine can be used for another year or two.

(KLZA)-- The initial meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee concerning the proposed expansion of the number of beds at the Richardson County Law Enforcement Center was held January 19.

During the meeting Ray Joy form Falls City agreed to serve as Chairman of the committee with June Bowers of Falls City serving as Vice Chair.

Curt Field with Prochaska & Associates informed the Committee that an updated Needs Assessment for the Law Enforcement Center is nearing completion and will explore the Sheriff's request for a 40-bed addition to the existing facility. The current 24-bed capacity has often been reached and exceeded in the last year which require outboarding of inmates and transport costs. 

Denny Macomber with Nebraska Jail Standards has encouraged Sheriff Hardesty to proceed with the 40-bed addition concept despite the likelihoood that 40 beds would exceed the County's own 20-year future bed needs, due to extreme inmate crowding across the entire state, and the strong likelihood that the additional beds would be filled from out-of-county inmates. 

The updated projections indicate Richardson  County will now need 28 beds  over the next 20 years.  Field explained that the current Needs Assessment document suggests Richardson County may realize additional revenue if a 40-bed addition is constructed since Sheriff Hardesty has agreements to board inmates from other surrounding counties, and has been approached by the U.S. Marshal Service suggesting they might easily fill 20 of those 40 additional beds. 

While COVID-induced inflation has had an impact on estimating costs for such a project, Field projected the cost for an addition to the jail at $4.5 million.  

More information will be gathered on how the projected cost would affect the property tax levy in Richardson County.

The next Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 2 at 6:30 in the District Courtroom at the Courthouse in Falls City.

The Committee must notify the County Board of Commissioners of their recommendation concerning the proposal by either February 22 or the first County Board meeting in March.
 

(KNZA)--Hiawatha firefighters were kept busy over the weekend battling two house fires.

Hiawatha Fire Chief Patrick Sheldon said the first was reported around 8:00 Friday night at 800 North 8th Street.

When firefighters arrived, he said the front of the house was fully engulfed in flames.

Sheldon said the residents were home at the time of the fire and got out safely.

He said firefighters had trouble venting the fire due to the tin roof, and city maintenance crews arrived and helped remove the tin from the roof.

Sheldon said the fire was brought under control by about 10:15 p.m., and crews returned to the station by 12:30 am.

Sheldon said the house is expected to be listed as a total loss.

Beside city mantenance crews, assisting at the scene were the Robinson Fire Department, Hiawatha Police Department, Brown County Sheriff's Office, Town and Country EMS and Squad 48.

Sheldon said the second fire was reported shortly after 2:00 Saturday morning at 512 South 7th Street.

 Upon arrival, smoke was visble coming from residence.

Sheldon said the residents were home at the time of the fire, but made it out safely. He said two children were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but were not transported for hospitalized treatment.

The fire was brought under control by about 4:30 a.m., and crews returned to the station by about 5:15 a.m.

The fire caused signicant damage to the home.

Assisting were the Robinson and Fairview Fire Departments along with Hiawatha Police, Brown County Sheriff's Office, Town and Country EMS and Squad 48.

Sheldon said firefighters were called back to the residence around 7:30 Saturday morning after the fire rekindled, with the Horton Fire Department responding to assist. He said they left the scene by 8:45 am

The cause of the fires is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's Office. 

(KNZA)---The number of active cases of COVID-19 decreased in Brown County last week while they were up in Doniphan County.

Brown County also saw two additional COVID-related deaths and its first confirmed cases of the new omicron variant.

That's according to statistics released Friday by the health departments in each county.

The Brown County Office of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health reported there were 70 active cases in the county, with one hospitalization. That's down from 99 active cases on January 14.

Most of the current cases involve those 10 to 17 years old. The delta variant continues to be the prominent coronavirus strain in the county, with five confirmed cases of the omicron variant.

Since the pandemic began, Brown County has had 2,188 total positive cases, with 45 virus-related deaths.

The Doniphan County Health Department on Friday reported there were 154 active cases in the county. That's up from 101 active cases on January 14.

Since the pandemic began, Doniphan County has had 1,984 total positive cases and 29 virus-related deaths.

(KMZA)--Patrons of Nemaha Central USD 115 will decide in a special election Tuesday whether to recall Board of Education member Owen Zinke.

District patrons concerned about the board’s stance on mandatory mask requirements for students and teachers in the 2020-2021 school year circulated a petition asking for the recall election.  

Zinke, of Seneca, represents Position 7, the “at large” position on the school board and all registered voters in the district can cast a ballot.  

Every precinct will vote at the Community Building in Seneca.   Ballots can be cast from 7 am to 7 pm.    

A “Yes” vote is to recall Zinke, a “No” vote retains his position on the school board.  

Zinke, who’s term expires 2023, has represented Position 7 since USD 115 was established in 2011, and was previously a member of the board of USD 442.   He currently serves as board vice-president.  

A similar effort to recall board member Amy Sudbeck was rejected by voters in the November general election.

(KAIR)--New dump trucks are coming to the City of Atchison. 

Atchison’s Director of Public Works, Clinton McNemee, outlined the specifics of the $457,000 expenditure for the Atchison City Commission Tuesday. 
News Director Brian Hagen has the story below. 

(MSC News)--Vehicle thefts are on the rise in Kansas, with the warning sent that despite the urge to warm that vehicle on a cold winter morning, don’t do so if you have to leave the keys inside and the doors unlocked.  

That message is delivered by AAA Kansas, which encourages vehicle owners to take simple steps to avoid becoming a victim.  

WIBW-TV, citing the latest statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, reports that over 9,000 Kansas residents reported their vehicle stolen in 2020, which amounts to an increase of 15% from 2019.  AAA told the TV station that “car theft is a crime of opportunity,” and by leaving the keys inside the vehicle it makes it that much easier for thieves. The automobile club tells also tells drivers to keep cars in a sheltered, well lit area, with any theft-prone items kept out of sight.  

The top five stolen vehicles in Kansas are full size Ford pickup trucks, full size Chevrolet pickup trucks, full size Dodge pickup trucks, Honda Accords and Honda Civics.

(KAIR)--One person is jailed following what authorities say was a Thursday evening stabbing in Atchison.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News, a 36-year-old man suffered non-life threatening stab wounds in the 500 block of Mound Street, around 7:00 Thursday evening.

Wilson said the stabbing happened during a domestic disturbance at the residence.

He said the victim left the residence and went to police headquarters. He was examined by EMS and subsequently drove himself to the hospital where he was treated and released.

Officers located and arrested 35-year-old year old Shandalyn Foster, of Atchison, in the 500 block Mound Street.

She was booked into the Atchison County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery. 

(KLZA)-- EMC Insurance which has the City of Falls City Insurance conducted a risk management assessment of the cities municipal buildings including the Aquatic Center and Prichard Auditorium.

During Monday night's City Council meeting City Administrator Kevin Cluskey provided the Council with information on recommendations for the facilities. 

Several recommendations were made concerning  Prichard Auditorium, including the exhaust system in the kitchen and a better fire suppression system in the kitchen.  Increasing the height of the rails one the east and west side front row of seating was also suggested. 

The Council felt that since the kitchen is not used often, some of the recommendations were not needed and that some policy changes to use of the kitchen area could alleviate some of the needs for improvements.  

EMC also suggested the east side of the Auditorium be checked by a mason for water damage and to see if water is actually coming into the building and determine what repairs could be made. 

Concerns about the cement leading up to the Auditorium were also noted. Work to improve this area is already being planned. 
The  Council approved responding to the report on how the City will follow through on the recommendations and voted to approve doing the necessary upgrades.  
 

(KLZA)-- The Richardson County Sheriff's Office has released statistics for 2021.

Deputies responded to more than 3,400 calls for service and conducted 3,485 traffic stops.  The number of traffic stops were over 1,900 more than in 2020. 

16 residential search warrants were executed resulting in 28 felony drug arrests.  More than 50 total search warrants were granted for personal property in 2021.

More than 340 grams of methamphetamine were seized in 2021 by the Sheriff's Department.  Mushrooms, cocaine, crack cocaine and numerous prescription pills were also seized.

Deputies also seized 21 firearms along with explosives and numerous items of stolen property.  

469 people were arrested by the Sheriff's Department in 2021 compared to 297 in 2020.  There were 584 booked into jail.  

The Sheriff's Office also initiated an investigation into methamphetamine dealers in Hiawatha, Kansas.  Those individuals were charged in Richardson County following a joint investigation with the Brown County  Sheriff's Department.  

Another case was adopted by the United States Secret Service.

The annual release says that Sheriff' Department looks forward to continuing a proactive approach to public safety in 2022 and beyond.  

(KMZA)--A new superindent has been hired for Marysville USD 364.

The Board of Education in a special meeting Wednesday voted 5-2 to hire current Marysville Junior-Senior High Principal Darren Schroeder for the position.

Schroeder has sent 24 years in the field of education—including 19 years as a classroom teacher and eight years as a building leader. He began his tenure as

He was among two candidates interviewed for the position last week. The other candidate was Jennifer Gatz who currently serves as the assistant superintendent of Prairie Hills USD 113. A third finalist withdrew.

They were selected from among eight applicants.

Schroeder will replace Mike Couch who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

(KMZA)--Two new members joined the Nemaha Central Board of Education when they held their first meeting of the new year on January 10.

Cara Baker joined the meeting via Zoom, while Jason Kramer was present at the meeting.

Baker was elected in November to fill the position held by Dave Clements, who didn't seek re-election. Kramer was elected to fill the position held by Joe Reitz, who didn't seek re-election.

Jason Hammes was unanimously re-elected as board president for 2022 and Owen Zinke as vice-president.

In other business, the Board approved one year contract extensions for the district's administrators through June 2024.

In addition, the Board set a special meeting for January 31 as they continue to discuss and gather input on the possibility of presenting another bond issue to district patrons. Voters in November soundly defeated a 36.7 million bond issue for facility improvements.

(KLZA)-- John Martin of rural Falls City has filed to seek reelection to the Falls City Board of Education. 

The non-partisan School Board positions are 4-year terms. 

Incumbents have until February 15th to file for election.

Non-incumbents have until March 1 to file for the May Primary Election. 
 

(KLZA)-- A Council Bluffs, Iowa man suffered moderate injuries in a single vehicle wreck Wednesday morning shortly before 8:0 A.M. 

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported 57-year-old Bret Johnson was southbound on Interstate 29 in Holt County, Missouri, when his semi crossed traveled off the east side of the road, through the median, and skidded across the northbound lanes of I-29 ans struck an embankment, then continued up the embankment and striking a tree.

The impact with the tree caused the semi to overturn, causing the cargo to spill. The semi came to rest on its top.

Johnson was transported by the Atchison-Holt Ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.  The semi was totaled. 

The Holt County Sheriff's Office, South Holt Fire Department and the Missouri Department of Health responded to the scene of the wreck. 
 

(KMZA)--A Seneca woman faces charges in an alleged home invasion robbery.

50-year-old Ginger Bass was arrested Tuesday by the Seneca Police Department on a Nemaha County warrant for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and battery.

Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert says a complaint filed in Nemaha County District Court alleges that on January 5, Bass entered a Seneca home, without authority, and while in the home, inflicted bodily injury upon the resident while taking her purse.

Lippert said the case was investigated by the Seneca Police Department, with assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Bass posted a $50,000 surety bond following her arrest and is scheduled to make her first appearance in court February 15.

(KAIR)--A scheduling change is made in the search for a new school superintendent for Jefferson County North.

According to a release from the school district, two special meetings, which had been planned for this week, have been canceled.
Instead, USD 339 explains those special meetings, to be held in executive session, will be held to interview the superintendent candidates on Monday and Tuesday.

The previous, possible interview schedule had originally placed the meetings this week, complete with a chance for community members to meet the candidates.

Instead, the meet and greet availability is also moved to Monday and Tuesday, with the release saying “the community meet and greet will be held each of these two days from 3:45 to 4:30” in the afternoon at the school district office in Winchester.

Each candidate, according to initial plans, will participate in tours, meet and greet, and the formal, executive session interview process.

The need to fill the superintendent’s seat comes as current superintendent Denise Jennings prepares to retire on June 30.

(KAIR)--Electric scooters are coming to Atchison.

That follows action of the Atchison City Commission Tuesday, clearing the way for California-based Bird Scooters, which “is seeking to deploy a fleet of 50 to 100 shared, electric scooters in the Atchison market. 
Listen below for the full story from News Director Brian Hagen. 

(KNZA)---The South Brown County USD 430 Board of Education in a special meeting Tuesday voted unanimously to suspend all COVID-19 testing in the district for the next 30 days and adopt new Kansas Department Health and Environment guidelines.

Under the newly adopted plan, if a student or staff member test positive, they must quarantine for five days. On day six, the affected person may return to school but they must wear a well-fitted mask at all times for the next 5 days—including during extra-curricular activities.

If the decision is made not to wear a mask, the person must stay home for 10 days.

To help alleviate some of the pressure on schools created by the current surge in the omicron variant, Superintendent Jason Cline, in a letter to patrons, said KDHE, along with the Kansas Department of Education, support schools implementing a 30-day temporary suspension on all contact tracing activities.

As a result, Cline said the district will no longer notify families whose child may have been in contact, through classroom or extra-curricular settings, with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.

(KMZA)--An informative and interactive Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Workshop is to be held on January 26th at 10:00am in the Community Room at the Seneca Free Library in Seneca, KS. Free and open to the public!

Hosted by Pheasants Forever and with presentation by Mandie Lang, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist for Pheasants Forever, with guest Maegan Winkler, CRP Program Technician for the Farm Service Agency. There will be time for questions with the group after the presentation and individuals may remain after to ask questions.

The Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, is a federally funded on-farm conservation program made possible through the Federal Farm Bill, introduced in 1985. Land that has been in cash crop production is eligible to be converted into native prairie and rented by the government for a yearly payment. Any acreage, small or large, can be fitted to a practice. Whole fields, unproductive land, hard to farm areas, wet spots, and other odd areas are excellent candidates for CRP! Most CRP fields are planted to gorgeous native grasses and forbs and serve as exceptional wildlife & pollinator habitat, provide innumerable benefits to soil & water quality, and are great ways for people to connect with nature.

Come out to this workshop to learn more about eligibility for the program, what types of practices are involved, and how you can implement CRP on your property!

No registration is required, as this is a FREE workshop, but if you have any questions, comments, or would like to know more, please contact Mandie Lang with Pheasants Forever at (785) 336-2164 or aklang@pheasantsforever.org.

(KNZA)--Formal charges have been filed against a St. Joseph, Missouri man in connection with a two-vehicle collision that claimed the life of a former Hiawatha woman.

KQ-2 TV reports the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney's Office on Tuesday charged 30-year-old Steven Ayala with felony driving while intoxicated, resulting in the death of another. Ayala appeared in a Buchanan County courthroom Wednesday.

Police say Ayala traveling in the 15-hundred block of South Belt Highway on January 14 when he drove into the opposite lane and collided with a vehicle driven by 26-year-old Savannah Domann.

Domann was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors say Ayala was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a combination of alcohol and a controlled substance at the time of the wreck.

Domann attended school in Hiawatha for several of her younger years. She graduated from Benton High School in St. Joseph with the class of 2013.

According to her obituary from the Rupp Funeral Home, in St. Joseph, Domann and her boyfriend were expecting a baby girl in July.

Services will be Friday morning at 10:00 at the Word Of Life Church, in St. Joseph.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Commission in a special meeting Wednesday approved the hiring of extra help for the county health officer.

Due to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, Health Officer Heaven Schuette told commissioners she would like to hire Anna Knapp to help out in her office while the numbers in the county remain high.

Knapp will be a relief employee for the county.  She started work Wednesday at a salary of $18 an hour.

Schuette's office on Wednesday reported 82 active coronavirus cases in the county, with three hospitalized. That's up from 72 active cases on January 12.

Her office also reported four additional COVID-related deaths, bringing the total to 61 since the pandemic began.

(KLZA)-- A failed lightning arrester  and a broken switch were the issues causing a power outage on a circuit serving the east side of Stone Street and west side of Harlan Street in Falls City Wednesday morning. 

Falls City Utility Superintendent Ray Luhring said it's difficult to find the issue with a lightning arrester and power was on and off while the city line crew searched for the problem.

Once an issue is found,  power is shut off to protect the workers while they repair the damage.

The outage was in what the City calls Circuit 4, which is one of the circuits included in the plan for major upgrades to the power grid in downtown Falls City. 
 

(KLZA)-- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in testing conducted by Community Medical Center in Falls City continues to climb.

In the two-week period of January 1 to January 17,  there were 151 positive tests which amounted to 30.2 percent.  In the previous report the percentage of positive tests was 24.1 percent.

In the last week,  January 10 – 17 there were 282 tests conducted with 92 positive test results or 32.5 percent.  

(KLZA)-- The community of Peru will receive nearly $7.7 million from the Nebraska Department of Environmental and Energy through the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program to bring a new source of water of the community. 

Through this project Peru will receive water from the City of Auburn.  The Peru application ranked as high priority and  is included on the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program for fiscal year 2022.

The need for the project was escalated when the Peru Water Treatment Plant was  inundated with water during the March, 2019 federally declared flood disaster, mainly due to a levee failure along the Missouri River. 

Peru has 758 residents according to the 2020 Census and is the home to Peru State College. 

The City of Auburn has stated they have adequate capacity to serve the residents of Peru and their existing customers.

Approximately 11-miles of water line will be constructed.  An 8-inch diameter potable water main from the Auburn water system will carry treated water to Peru. A small portion of 10-inch line will be installed along with a booster station to provide the necessary pressure for the water system interconnection. 

A National Environmental Protection Agency review will be required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.  

Peru is eligible for a 40-year loan with zero percent interest.  The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund will fund 5 percent of the project costs coming to more than $384 thousand with the remaining 95 percent being grant funds from FEMA or match from the State of Nebraska.

Peru water rates are estimated to increase by $3.92 per month. The current base rate is $16 for the first one-thousand gallons with an added charge of $5 for every thousand gallons of water used.  

(KLZA)-- A woman and two children from Oregon, Missouri were hospitalized in St. Joseph with what the Missouri Highway Patrol described as  minor injuries following a one-vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon around 12:30.

32-year-old Samantha Kelly was northbound on Route B, approximately a mile north of Holt 285, three miles east of Oregon when she lost control of  her mini van on the slush covered road, traveled off the roadway striking an embankment and multiple small trees before coming to rest in a creek.

Kelly,  a 1 year old male and a 4 year old female were transported to Mosaic Life Care in st. Joseph by the Atchison-Holt Ambulance.

The Holt County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene of the wreck. 

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission heard a COVID-19 update when they met Tuesday.  

County Health Officer Robin Downard informed commissioners there were 84 active coronavirus cases in the county as of Tuesday morning, with two hospitalized.  That's down from 99 active cases reported on Friday.

So far, Downard said there have not been any confirmed cases of the new omicron variant in the county but there have been confirmed cases in the neighboring counties of Atchison, Doniphan, Jackson and Nemaha.  

Downard said last week the county had a 31 percent positivity rate of those tested----up from 20 percent the week before.  

Testing continues at the county Health Department along Amberwell Hiawatha, the Kickapoo Health Clinic and White Cloud Health Clinic.  

Downard said 40 percent of eligible Brown County residents have been vaccinated.

(KNZA)--A St. Joseph, Missouri man was killed late Monday night in a single-vehicle crash in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Police identified the victim as 21-year-old Tyler Jeffries.

Police say Jeffries was a passenger in car that was traveling at a high rate of speed in the 31-hundred block of Faraon Street when it hit a dip in the road. The car went airborne and stuck a tree. The impact caused the car to split in half.

Jeffries was ejected from the vehicle

The driver suffered minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

(KLZA)-- During the January 10, meeting of the Pawnee City Council,   Steve Glenn announced that he and his family are donating $50 thousand for the maintenance of South Park in Pawnee City. 

According to the Pawnee Republican, the park will be renamed VanHorne Park in honor of his family. 

The money will be put into the Pawnee City Community Foundation where the city can access funds when needed.  The agreement is to be for 20 years. 

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved approximately $183 thousand in upgrades to electrical generation engine #8 at the Falls City Power Plant when they met Monday evening. 

Utility Superintendent Ray Luhring told the Council the engine, which was installed in 1981 and is the second newest unit at the Power Plant.  It is one of three engines at the plant, meeting exhaust specs to be used.

An annunciator went out which triggers the alarm system when something is wrong with the engine. The price to replace the part is about $20 thousand.

FMI has submitted a bid to upgrade the engine to totally automate it allowing for a push-button start 
and system monitoring and would automatically shut the engine down when a problem is detected. 

The Falls City Board of Public Works discussed the issue and felt that since the plan is for the engine to be in service for quite a few more years,  they recommended going forward with the upgrades.  

Luhring also noted the  proposed upgrades would be a help for those working at the power plant. He said most of the employees are pretty young, the upgrade would take a lot of the mechanical trouble shooting out of play. He said the young staff is very good with computers which will be required with the new technology.

Farabee Mechanical of Hickman, Nebraska will do the work on the engine.  
 

(KLZA)-- The Citizens Advisory Committee formed by the Richardson County Commissioners to explore the possible expansion of the Richardson County Jail will meet Wednesday evening,  January 19, beginning at 6:25 P.M. in the District Courtroom on the third floor of the Richardson County Courthouse. 

The Committee will meet with representatives of Prochaska & Associates to review the Needs Assessment and other information regarding the proposed expansion of the current 24-bed jail. 

A proposal to add a yet-to-be-determined number of beds to the current facility will need to be recommended by the Citizens Advisory Committee before it can be put to a vote of the citizens of Richardson County.

The meeting is open to the public.  
 

(KLZA)-- Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise held their annual banquet on January 12 at the Elk's Lodge in Falls City.

EDGE Executive Director Lucas Froeschl said that a bill introduced in the Nebraska Legislature on January 11 by First District State Senator Julie Slama that could help pave the way for an additional transmission line to bring more power to Falls City is very exciting for the economic development group. 
The availability of additional power could be a key factor in attracting new industry to Falls City. 

Although it is to be an annual banquet,  the 2021 banquet was cancelled due to COVID-19 issues so this year the awards for both 2020 and 2021 were passed out.

Named the EDGE Investors of the Year were Falls City Mercantile for 2020  and Falls City Foods for 2020.

Falls City Mercantile added a 90 x 45 foot, temperature controlled warehouse addition in 2020 increasing the company's cold-storage capacity by 8 – 10 times.  The also made improvements to aid in  shipping and receiving and increased their buying power.  The $1.25-million investment in their 5th generation family business has lead to a 25 percent increase in sales with a higher potential once the supply chain is corrected. 

Falls City Foods, the 2021 Investor of the Year was recently able to access funding from a Community Development Block Grant Loan to support the purchase of new, more powerful freezer equipment which has effectively doubled the businesses capacity to process meat and poultry for sale to national manufactures, while creating the demand for an additional 10 full-time jobs.   

There were also two new inductees to the Wall of Fame.  

The late Marvin Scheitel who was owner of Scheitel Feed and Seed and served of the Falls City Utility Board and was one of the people responsible for starting the Summer Recreation program in Falls City was named to the Wall of Fame along with Bradley Albu who was instrumental in bringing Watkins Airport Support Products, now known as FAST Global Solutions to Falls City in 1989.  Albu also served on the Falls City Utility Board and as a member of the Falls City, City Council.  

(KAIR)--Two finalists are named as the City of Atchison moves forward in the process of naming a new Atchison City Manager.

According to a release from the City, the two finalists are Amy Finch, an Ottawa, Kansas native, and the current City Administrator for the City of Crookston, Minnesota, as well as Joe Warren, of Atchison, who currently serves as the Atchison Assistant City Manager.

The two finalists were narrowed from a pool of 25 applicants who sought the position.

According to the release, the two finalists are scheduled for a day of tours, in Atchison, writing exercises, and interviews, scheduled for Thursday.

On Thursday evening, a happy-hour style gathering will be held at the Atchison Event Center, from 5 until 6:00, allowing the Atchison community to meet and greet the two finalists.

The position of Atchison City Manager became vacant with the resignation of Becky Berger in August of last year.

(KAIR)--An opportunity to meet the candidates seeking to become the new superintendent of Jefferson County North is set for Wednesday.

According to a release from USD 339, “the Jefferson County North Board of Education will begin interviewing this week for a new superintendent, replacing Denise Jennings as she retires on June 30, 2022. Each candidate will participate in tours, meet & greet, and a formal, executive session, interview with the JCN Board of Education members.

Each candidate will be announced on the school district’s website on the morning of his or her scheduled interview.

According to the release, during the interview process, “school personnel and community members will have an opportunity to stop in for a quick meet and greet from 3:45-4:30 at the District Office in Winchester.” Interviews will be scheduled following a Special Board meeting Wednesday.

Possible interviews will take place weekdays, January 20 through the 26.

(AP)--Kansas health officials say the state will stop contact tracing for COVID-19 next month.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Tuesday that contact tracing has become futile because of increased COVID-19 cases and the public's declining interest in participating.

The change means people who test positive for the virus will be responsible for notifying their close contacts about possible exposure. If the person has been exposed at high-risk settings such as schools or daycares, state or local health departments will notify the setting, which will be responsible for notifying close contacts about the potential exposure.

The change takes effect on Feb. 1.

(KAIR)--Not unlike Kansas City, and other larger cities, electric scooters are coming to Atchison, pending a decision of the Atchison City Commission.

According to the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Commission, the City leaders will be presented with a memorandum of understanding to approve with California-based Bird Scooters.

According to City documents, the company "is seeking to deploy a fleet of 50 to 100 shared, electric scooters in the Atchison Market," with the scooters to be "rentable by anyone with a smart phone and the Bird app."

Allowing the company to supply the scooters falls into the City of Atchison's 2020 Strategic Plan, which calls to explore new transportation methods, create an environment where small businesses grow and entrepreneurship strives, improve quality of recreation opportunities for people of all ages, and to improve public facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

According to the City, "Bird Scooters are deployed in many major metropolitan cities across the United States and the world, but [the company] is already active in smaller Kansas communities such as Fort Scott and Great Bend."

Bird Scooters is proposing a March launch date for the Atchison fleet of scooters, if approved by the City Commission.

Tuesday's Commission Meeting will begin at 4:30 at Atchison City Hall.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City School Board approve the hiring of Joan Albury to serve as a High School Mathematics Teacher and softball coach when they met January 10. 

The Board also accepted the retirement, resignation of Middle School science teacher and coach Roger Lampe effective at the end of the current school year. 

Following a presentation on future transportation purchase options from Tyler Cox with Nebraska Central Equipment the Board approved the purchase of a 2019 Model Blue Bird Vision 77passenger school bus at a cost of $66 thousand.  

Cox noted the bus was immediately available for delivery to help ease the Falls City School District's shortage of available buses, primarily due to delayed delivery of a new bus ordered in the spring of 2021 and a maintenance issue with a route bus.  

Cox also presented information on a five-year lease program for schools to obtain a number of new school buses for an annual ease fee, with any repair costs fully covered by Nebraska / Central Equipment.   

The Board will further consider the lease program during the annual planning workshop on January 24. 

(KNZA)---A Pawnee City, Nebraska man was killed and two Falls City residents critically injured in a two-vehicle wreck early Saturday morning in Otoe County.

The Otoe County Sheriff's Office says 45-year-old Michael McClintock died from injuries received in the wreck on Highway 2, east of Palmyra.

Two passengers in his SUV, a 46-year-old man and 27-year-old woman, both of Falls City, were transported to Bryan LGH West Hospital in Lincoln.

The Sheriff's office says McClintock was eastbound when his SUV collided head-on with a westbound semi tractor-trailer in the westbound lanes.

The driver of the semi, from Nevada, was treated at an area hospital for minor injuries. A passenger in the semi was not hurt.

The sheriff's Office says road conditions at the time were icy with blowing snow.

The wreck, which was reported shortly after 12:30 Saturday morning, remains under investigation.

(KMZA)--Two candidates were interviewed last week to be the new superintendent of Marysville USD 364.

They include Darren Schroeder, who currently serves as Marysville Junior-Senior High School Principal, and Jennifer Gatz, who currently serves as the assistant superintendent of Prairie Hills USD 113.

A third finalist, Julie Crum, who serves as the superintendent of Springer, New Mexico Municipal Schools, withdrew as a candidate after consultation with her family.   

They were selected from among 8 applicants.

The USD 364 Board of Education began their search for a superintendent last summer after Superintendent Mike Couch announced he will retire at the end of the current school year.

The board hopes to make an announcement about a new superintendent this week.

(KNZA)--Brown and Doniphan Counties are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

The Brown County Office of Northeast Multi-County Health on Friday reported 99 active cases in the county.  That's up from 67 active cases on January 7.

As of Friday, three individuals were hospitalized.

The majority of the current cases involve those 10 to 17 years old, followed by those 35 to 44.  

The delta variant continues to be the prominent coronavirus strain in the county, with no confirmed cases of the new omicron variant.  

The Health Department is reporting one additional COVID-19 related death, bringing the total to 43 since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, the Doniphan County Health Department on Friday reported 101 active cases in the county.  That's up from 56 active cases on January 7.  

Since the pandemic began, Doniphan County has had 1,871 total positive cases and 29 virus-related deaths.      

As of January 5, the Health Department says nearly 37 percent of county residents age 18 and over have been vaccinated, with 19 percent of those 12 to 17 vaccinated and two percent of those ages 5 to 11.  

As of January 13, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment notified local health departments that contact tracing of close contacts of positive Covid-19 cases is no longer required. The Doniphan County Health Department said they will continue case investigations for positive cases, but it will now be the responsibility of the COVID-19 positive case to contact those they may have exposed.

(KNZA)--Work is set to begin on the first projects being financed by an up to $7 million bond issue approved by voters in South Brown County USD 430 last November.

That follows action taken by the USD 430 Board of Education when they meet January 12.

Superintendent Jason Cline said the district locked in the final interest rates on the bonds. He said the winning bid provided an interest rate of 1.98 percent for the 20-year financing. Compared to their previous projections of 2.65 percent, the lower interest rate will save the district about one million dollars in interest costs over the life of the financing. Cline said the winning bidder also provided a premium in bond proceeds, which allows the district an extra $227,000 to be used for projects identified in the election ballot or to pay down the bonds early.

The Board approved bids for the first two projects to be completed as part of the bond scope of work. A bid was accepted from Lanter SPS Roofing for the replacement of the elementary school roof, downspouts and guttering in the amount nearly $380,000. A bid was accepted from MCRI, of Fort Scott, Kansas, for the exterior restoration of all buildings in the amount of nearly $208,000.

Cline said the two projects came in $110,000 lower than budgeted.

As work gets underway on these projects, design has begun on the other bond projects. LST Architecture is doing the design work for the HVAC systems and new windows included in the bond scope of work. Once the designs are complete, the plan specifications will be released for bid.

Cline said all bond projects are anticipated to be designed, bid and completed by this fall.

(KAIR)--Atchison Police are searching for a stolen vehicle.

That’s according to a release issued Friday by Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The release says an Atchison resident “reported the theft of a 2000 Ford E350 box truck from the 500 block of North 9th Street."
It’s believed the white box truck was taken sometime between 12 noon Wednesday and 9:00 Friday morning.

Anyone with information related to the missing box truck should contact Atchison Police at 913-367-4323.

(KLZA)-- The Johnson-Brock Board of Education elected Paul Moerer as Board President for 2022 when they met January 10.  

Jeffery Ottemann was elected Board Vice-Presidnet; 
Tom Teten was elected Board Secretary and Kelli Bohling was elected Board Treasurer.

The Board approved a contract extension for Superintendent Jeffrey Koehler through the 2024-25 contact year with the salary to be negotiated for  for the final two years of the contract. 

Board members approved an HVAC bid from Auburn Plumbing and Heating in an amount of $172,900 to be paid for with ESSER III funds.  

The roofing project bid from Armour Roof Company in an amount of $218,115 was also approved.  

(KLZA)--Columbus, Neb. – An issue with a siren caused it to sound off at approximately 8 a.m. Thursday morning near Rock Port, Missouri, just east of Cooper Nuclear Station. According to Nebraska Public Power District officials, this was a false activation of the siren believed to be caused by an internal malfunction in that specific siren. There was no problem at the plant that would have required activation of the siren, and at no time was there a threat to residents of the area around Cooper Nuclear Station. The cause of the false activation is being ascertained. 

(KNZA)--A Thursday evening single-vehicle Brown County roll-over wreck sent an Everest teenager to the hospital.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant said the wreck was reported around 9:15 in the vicinity of Raccoon Road near 110th Road.

Merchant said when deputies arrived on the scene Everest first responders were extricating the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, 18-year-old Grayson Weesner.

He said it appears Weesner's vehicle left the roadway and struck a railroad crossing arm.  The wreck caused the vehicle to overturn before coming to rest in a ditch.

Weesner was flown by Lifestar to a Topeka hospital with what is to believed to be serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The wreck remains under investigation by the Brown County Sheriff's Office.

GNBank is pleased to announce its appointment of Greg Rodvelt as the new Community Branch President for the Hiawatha and Horton, KS locations and will oversee all levels of operations at both locations. Prior to banking, Greg spent 12 years at AgPartners Coop and began his career at GNBank in March 2004. Mark Schifferdecker, GNBank President and CEO, stated, “We have extremely talented staff in the Hiawatha and Horton locations and look forward to serving Brown and surrounding counties under Mr. Rodvelt’s leadership.”

Since 2015, Greg has been a member of the Amberwell Hospital Board in Hiawatha, serving as Chair for the last three years. Greg has been and served on the Kansas Bankers Ag Board for six years while holding officer positions as Vice President and Treasurer the final two years.

Greg graduated from Highland Community College with an associates in Agri-Business, the Bank Leaders of Kansas Program in 2012, the Kansas and Rural Leaders (KARL) program in 2015, and is currently attending the Colorado Graduate School of Banking.

Greg is a life-long resident in Horton, and resides just outside of Horton with his wife Gretchen, where they operate a small cow and calf operation. They have two grown children, Loagan and Rylee.

GNBank is a full-service community bank in 14 communities, with expertise in agriculture, commercial, small business, and residential real estate and consumer services. GNBank is known for being ethical, adaptable, customer-centered and invested in its communities. Its promise is to be “The Best Place to Bank and Borrow”.

(KAIR)--A Powerball ticket, sold in the local region, is worth $1 million.

That’s according to the Kansas Lottery, which says, in a release, the ticket was sold in Northeast Kansas, which includes such local counties as Atchison, Doniphan, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson, Nemaha, Marshall, Leavenworth, and Pottawatomie.

According to a release from the Kansas Lottery, the Powerball ticket “matched all five numbers but not the Powerball to win $1.”

The winning numbers in Wednesday’s drawing were 12-21-22-30-33 Powerball 24.

Wednesday’s drawing means the second millionaire of 2022, through Kansas Lottery wins, with the grand prize ticket for the Holiday Millionaire Raffle sold in South Central Kansas.

(KAIR)--A 41-case increase in the number of positive, Atchison County COVID-19 cases is reported this week by health officials.

According to statistics released Wednedsay by the Atchison County office of the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Atchison County has 223 active coronavirus cases, up from 182 cases confirmed January 5.

The number of those county residents hospitalized for COVID-19 has decreased by half, over the course of a week, with 6 currently hospitalized, down from 12 hospitalized last week.

The latest figures show that of Atchison County's 223 cases, 11 are under the age of 5; 28 are age 5 to 12; 51 are 13 to 21; 50 are 22 to 35; 37 are 36 to 50; 31 are 51 to 65; and 15 are over the age of 65.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Atchison County has had 3,356 cases since the start of the pandemic.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Board of Education reorganized for 2022 during their Monday night meeting. 

June Bowers was elected President of the Board for the next year with Richard Malcolm elected Vice-President. 

The Board approved continuing the contract of Superintendent Tim Heckemlively through June 30, 2024.  A three percent increase in salary was approved as part of the contract making his salary $158,620.

Heckenlively reported that the December 14 windstorm that moved through the area caused extensive damage to areas of the high school roof.  An insurance claim has been filed and the schools roofing consultant is soliciting lump sum bids to provide supervision, labor, materials and equipment for installation of the damaged roof.  

Heckenlively noted that due to the timing and many school districts already having scheduled roof work for the summer of 2022, it could be 2023 before the permanent repairs can be made.  The roof has been patched for now so no water should leak through.  
 

(KLZA)-- First District State Senator Julie Slama has introduced two bills this week important to Southeast Nebraska. 

LB 977 was introduced Tuesday. The bill requests ARPA funds to upgrade Falls City's electrical infrastructure.

The upgrades would ensure Falls City has the electrical capacity to thrive and attract economic development projects. 

Monday Senator Slam introduced LB 887 which would authorize Peru State College to provide a larger selection of Master's Degree programs. 

Currently state statutes authorize Peru State to offer master's degrees only in the fields of Education and Organizational Management. 

Slama says the limitation poses a competitive disadvantage for the college to attract students that want to pursue an advanced degree.  

(KLZA)-- Joseph Buckminster has filed for the Falls City Ward 2 City Council seat up for election this year.  

Buckminster was appointed to complete the term when Lucas Froeschl resigned to take a position as Executive Director of Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise last year. 

The deadline for incumbents to file for office is February 15.  
 

(KLZA)-- The Auburn Public Schools are closed through Sunday. 

The temporary shut down is due to district protocols which closes the school when more than 11 percent of the students are out ill and because of a high rate of absenteeism among staff. 

The school buildings are undergoing cleaning while they are closed. 

Students will be required to wear masks at the Middle School and High School when they return to class on Monday, January 17. Masks are also recommended for those attending the elementary school. 

School activities scheduled off the Auburn School grounds for the rest of this week will be allowed.  Participants will be required to wear a face mask, except during the competition.

(KMZA)--Sabetha Community Hospital recently welcomed Dr. James Longabaugh as the new Chief Executive Officer.

Having lived in the Sabetha community for twenty-four years, a release from the hospital says Dr. Longabaugh is a familiar face within the organization and community.

Dr. Longabaugh received his Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University and then went on to complete his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri. Following that, he completed residency at Smoky Hill Family Practice Residency in Salina, Kansas.

Dr. Longabaugh and his wife, Michele, moved to Sabetha in 1997 when he began working as a family physician at the Sabetha Family Practice and Sabetha Community Hospital. In addition to being a family physician, Dr. Longabaugh has served as the Medical Director for the Sabetha EMS and has served on numerous boards and committees at the local and state level.

The release says Dr. Longabaugh not only brings experience to this position, but also leadership. The release adds his leadership style encourages open communication and focuses on providing patient-centered care.

Dr. Longabaugh and his wife, Michele, have three children, Matt, Jordan, and Jake.
 

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha School Board welcomed two new members when they held their first regular meeting of the new year Monday evening.

Roni Tietjens and Jim Robidoux took their seats on the board after being sworn in by Brown County Clerk Dawn Boyles.

The other new board member, Jacquie Kerl, was unable to attend Monday's meeting.

Tietjens fills the seat vacated by John Wright and Robidoux fills the seat vacated by Keith Erdley. Both didn't seek re-election.

Kerl defeated board member Andrea Groth in the November general election. Groth was appointed in July 2020 to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Pete Rosa.

In other business, the board approved a modification to the start time for board meetings.

Beginning with next month's regular meeting, they will be moved up a half-hour to 6:30 p.m.

The change will remain in place through the current fiscal year.

(KAIR)--A special election, for the purpose of establishing a countywide ambulance service in Doniphan County, is off the table.

That follows Monday’s meeting of the Doniphan County Commission, with County Clerk Peggy Franken, at that session, explaining that “there is no statutory authority for the County Commission to call a non-binding advisory election.”

That follows the Commission’s decision last month to set a special, March 8 election to allow voters to decide whether or not to establish the ambulance service.

According to the unofficial minutes of Monday’s meeting, Franken also explained to the Commission that “Kansas Attorney General Opinions discourage the County Clerk/Election Official from holding or participating in advisory elections.” Also, the election database cannot be used in any way to administer an advisory election.

Because of those factors, Franken Monday recommended to the Commission that a survey be mailed to county taxpayers “to gauge a response to the formation and funding of a county wide ambulance service.”

Following her presentation, the Commission unanimously voted to rescind the motion to hold the special, March 8 election.

They then voted in favor of mailing the survey asking if Doniphan County Commissioners should levy a tax to establish and operate a countywide ambulance district.

Surveys must be returned on or before March 1.

Also Monday, the Commission held its annual organizational meeting, with Second District Commissioner Wayne Grable elected as Commission Chair for 2022.

Timothy Collins was elected to serve as the Commission’s Vice-Chairman for the year.

(KNZA)--A scammer is calling residents in Jackson County, claiming they need to pay up to avoid arrest.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said his office received a number of reports of the scam Wednesday.

He said the scammers identify themselves as a sheriff’s deputy. They tell the person they have a warrant, and need to make a payment over the phone to resolve it.

Morse says it’s a scam to get personal information to steal your money. He said the Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office will not call people to resolve warrants this way.

Anyone who receives such a call should not give any personal or banking information, and should contact law enforcement.

(KNZA)--Face masks are now required at Horton City Hall.

The city announced in a post on its Facebook page Wednesday that visitors and employees entering City Hall are required to wear an appropriate CDC approved mask and take their temperature upon entering, effective immediately.

Masks are available right inside the front door for those who don't have one.

The city says the mandate is part of their enhanced effort to protect their staff, visitors and the community.

Residents are encouraged to pay their utility bills online, by phone or by using the black drop box at the City Hall front door.       

Those with any obvious signs of illness--such as fever, cough or sore throat--are asked not to enter City Hall.  

(KLZA)-- The latest figures form the Community Medical Center in Falls City indicate the rate of positive tests for COVID-19 the past two weeks has increased. 

AS of Tuesday there were 102 positive test results or 24.1 percent of the 413 tests conducted.  There were 311 negative results or 73.5%. Some test results are still pending for the period of December 28 through January 11.

Overall thre have been 7097 tests performed at the hospital in Falls City with 1221 positive results which is a 17.2 percent positivity rate.  

(KNZA)--A jury trial has been set for a Hiawatha man facing multiple child sex-related charges.

28-year-old Richard Hargett pleaded not guilty Monday in Brown County District Court to one count of internet trading in child pornography and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

A three-day jury trial was set, beginning May 10.

Hargett was arrested last October following an extensive investigation by the Hiawatha Police Department following a case referral by the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

As part of the investigation, officers served a search warrant on Hargett's residence where they seized electronics, hard drives, computers and other data storage devices, which were believed to have been used for the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 14.

(KLZA)-- The Pawnee City Board of Education officers for 2022 will be Lisa Hunzeker serving as Board President.  Mary Moser as Vice president.  Hope Koester will serve as Secretary and Jason Vetrovsky will be the Treasurer. 

Board members approved a new two-year contract for Superintendent Brian Rottinghaus.  The contract will be for July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024 with a salary of $131-thousand for the first year. 

A contract for Principal Derek Niss was approved for July, 2022 through June 30, 2023 with a salary of $95-thousand.

In other action by the Board, the administration was authorized to proceed with the beginning construction to rebuild the football / track press box.  

(KLZA)-- The number of active COVID-19 cases in Holt County, Missouri increased from 19 on Monday to 28 cases on  Tuesday. 

The Holt County Health Department reported 14 additional cases with all those individuals in isolation in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. 

In Atchison County, Missouri there were 49 active cases of COVID-19 reported Sunday but none of the cases required hospitalization at that time. 
Among those suffering with COVID-19 the age range was from infant to more than 80 years of age. 

Atchison County has reported 1056 cases of COVID-19 with 21 deaths reported due to COVID.  

(KLZA)-- A rural Humboldt home was destroyed by a fire Monday.  

The Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department was called to the Mark Bratrsovsky home approximately a mile north and a mile east of Humboldt at 10:30 a.m.

Fire fighters were on the scene for about six hours. 

The single story home was destroyed by the fire.

The Nebraska State Fire Marshall's Office investigated the cause of the fire.  While the cause is officially undetermined the wiring or possibly a wood stove may have been the cause.

Bratrsovsky was home at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.  

The Dawson Fire Department also responded to the fire call. 

(KNZA)--A Tuesday morning two-vehicle Doniphan County wreck claimed the life of a St. Joseph, Missouri man.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened on U.S. 36 Highway, west of K-238 at Elwood, shortly after 8:30.

The Patrol says 59-year-old Raymond Sauter was westbound when his Honda Accord struck the rear of a semi tractor-trailer that was traveling at a low speed.

Sauter, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The semi driver from Massachusetts and a passenger from Utah, who was in the sleeper section of the semi, were not hurt.

The wreck closed down a portion of U.S. 36 for a period of time.

(KAIR)--Coronavirus cases soar in Jefferson County, as the health department urges residents to take steps to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant.

Jefferson County has had 239 new cases of COVID-19, in the ten-day period leading up to Monday, according to Health Department Administrator Crystal VanHoutan, who provided the County Commission with a coronavirus update during their regular weekly meeting. She explained that those new cases are up from the county’s 128 cases during the last ten day period, which brings the total number of current Jefferson County coronavirus cases to 367.

According to VanHoutan, Jefferson County’s percent-positivity is 25.8-percent, an increase of 14.96-percent from last week.

The unofficial minutes for Monday’s meeting says that VanHoutan explained to the Commission that hospital capacity in the northeast Kansas region is 116 total staffed ICU beds, with 105 of those being used at this time.

She also told the Commission that there have been three cases of the fast-spreading Omicron variant, confirmed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in Jefferson County, but she believes there are more cases that “were just not sequenced by KDHE.”

VanHoutan also reported that schools are seeing a number of absences due to the coronavirus.

Ending her report, VanHoutan “strongly recommended that people wear masks and social distance due to the speed of the spread of Omicron virus.”

Following the presentation, the Commission, by consensus, agreed “they would strongly recommend masks be worn.”

According to KDHE, Jefferson County has had 3,753 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.

53 have died.

(KAIR)--The new year means new leadership at a local bank, with the former President saying goodbye as a new one steps in.

According to a release issued by Atchison’s Exchange Bank and Trust, Mark Windsor stepped down as President at the close of business December 31, ending his 40-years with the bank.

Windsor’s retirement, as the release puts it, meant him “simultaneously passing the presidential baton to long-time Exchange colleague Charles “Chuck” Swinford.”

The release notes that Windor’s career with the Exchange Bank “spans nearly a quarter of the bank’s 165-year existence,” saying that “following a stint as senior vice president of the State Bank in Lancaster...[Windsor] joined Exchange as vice president of consumer loans in 1981. Following his serving “in various other officer-level capacities,” Windsor “was promoted to president in 2007, succeeding Rich Dickason, who was named and continues to serve as chief executive officer.”

Swinford has been with Exchange for over 30 years and currently serves as executive vice president of lending, as well as market president of the bank’s branch facilities in Effingham, Easton and Troy, and Rushville, Missouri.

(KNZA)--20 students and staff members of Holton High School have tested positive for COVID-19.

That’s according to a letter sent to patrons of USD 336 Monday.

It states that the high school was alerted to the positive tests Monday, adding that the school thanks “those who contacted the school so [school leaders] could start working on the issues and could ask questions to speed up the contact tracing aspect of this investigation.”

The letter than outlines the options facing those students and staff members, including those who are, and aren’t required to stay at home, dependent on testing and vaccination status, and explains the at-home learning options available for those students requiring remote classroom learning.

As of January 5, Jackson County, the location of Holton High School, was reporting 124 active cases of COVID-19.

According to statistics released last week by the Jackson County office of the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, three cases involve the omicron variant, while 72 involve the delta variant.

Jackson County has had a total of 2,816 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.

21 have died.

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved a resolution during their January 3 meeting to execute a contract with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy that will provide the City with approximately $150-thousand in loan forgiveness on a sanitary sewer system update project which includes sewer lining and manhole work.

The City received a loan of $450-thousand for the project.

In other action the Council elected Mitch Merz as Council President for 2022 with Derek Leyden elected acting President of the Council.

The appointment of Merz to the be the City Council representative on the EDGE Board and Rob Gerweck to the Board of Adjustments was also approved.   

(KNZA)--The city of Hiawatha has begun the search for new chief of police as two commissioners respond to the termination of the former chief. 

The Hiawatha City Commission voted Monday evening to advertise for the position.

In a surprise move at their December 27 meeting, the Commission voted 3-2 to terminate John Defore. No reason was publicly stated for the action.

Commissioners Dave Middendorf and Becky Shamburg, who cast the dissenting votes, again voiced their opposition to the decision and how the matter was handling at Monday's meeting.

Shamburg said she felt the vote was made on personal opinions, not on facts.  "Chief Defore worked for Hiawatha almost ten years and in less than 2 ½ minutes his tenure was ended, all because the Mayor said he wasn't pleased with the chief and felt we needed to go in another direction. A direction, by the way, I still have know idea what that is.  In my opinion, a tremendous mistake has been made. Three of our commissioners fired a police chief who has done nothing but improve our police department. More importantly from what i've heard, Chief Defore had the respect of the officers who he led, which makes for a better and more effective police force."

Middendorf said he was “ dumbfounded and appalled ” at the way Defore was terminated, saying it kind of reminded him of a lynching. " There was no notice prior to the meeting I was made aware of that there was a problem with the police chief and the continuation of his employment was going to be determined in the meeting. But yet three of the governing body were ready and willing to terminate the chief with no discussion of their justification prior to the vote. A decision of this signficance by the governing body deserves careful consideration and discussion, and should not have been made in haste."

Middendorf and Shamburg said they felt an executive session should have been called so the entire commission could have been made aware of the Mayor's concerns with the police chief before the action was taken.

(KNZA)--20 students and staff members of Holton High School have tested positive for COVID-19.  

That’s according to a letter sent to patrons of USD 336 Monday.  It states that the high school was alerted to the positive tests Monday, adding that the school thanks “those who contacted the school so [school leaders] could start working on the issues and could ask questions to speed up the contact tracing aspect of this investigation.”  

The letter outlines the options facing those students and staff members, including those who are, and aren’t required to stay at home, dependent on testing and vaccination status, and explains the at-home learning options available for those students requiring remote classroom learning.  

As of January 5, Jackson County, the location of Holton High School, was reporting 124 active cases of COVID-19.  According to statistics released last week by the Jackson County office of the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, three cases involve the omicron variant, while 72 involve the delta variant.

Jackson County has had a total of 2,816 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.  21 have died.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has organized for the new year.

During their annual organizational meeting Monday, 2nd District Commissioner Lamar Shoemaker was elected chairman for 2022.

The Commission approved a resolution designating The Horton Headlight as the official county newspaper. That came after the Commission accepted the lone bid submitted by the newspaper for the publication of legal notices in the amount of $2.50 a column inch. Many of the same legal publications will also be published in the Hiawatha World.

The Commission approved a resolution designating the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company and Morrill and Janes State Bank---a division of Bank of Blue Valley—as the official 2022 Brown County banks for checking and investments.

In other business, Brown County resident Dean Tollefson appeared before the Commission to voice his concerns about the security measures in place at the courthouse.

The Commission also approved the re-appointment of Dr. Jessica Jarvis to the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Board of Health for a three-year term.

(KNZA)--Services have been set for Sergeant Jeremy Goldsberry with the Richardson County Sheriff's Office.

Goldsberry died Sunday in Falls City at the age of 46.

A memorial service for Goldsberry will be held Tuesday morning, January 18, at 10:30 at the Dorr and Clark Funeral Home, in Falls City.

Following the service, he will be laid to rest in the Steele Cemetery in Falls city.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 7 to 8 at the funeral home.

He had worked in law enforcement in Richardson County for much of the last 20 years.

Goldsberry began his career in law enforcement as an officer with the Iowa Tribe, later working as a Falls City Police Officer before joining the Richardson County Sheriff's Office.

A Sabetha man facing multiple child sex charges has entered into a plea agreement.  

The Nemaha County Attorney's Office says 41-year-old Marvin Nix pleaded no contest last week in Nemaha County District Court to one count each of aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.  

In exchange for the plea, an additional count of aggravated criminal sodomy was dismissed.  

Sentencing was scheduled for February 17.

Nix is charged in connection with alleged sex offenses involving a child under the age of 14 occurring on or between June 1 and August 23, 2021.  

He was arrested last August following an investigation by the Sabetha Police Department.  

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

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners have scheduled January 19 at 6:30 p.m. for the Citizens Advisory Committee to meet with representatives of Prochaska & Associates to review the Needs Assessment and other information regarding the proposed Richardson County Jail expansion project. 

A proposal to add a yet to be determined number of beds to the current 24-bed facility would need to be recommended by the Advisory Committee before it is put to a vote of the citizens of Richardson County. 

The Board has approved advertising on social media sites for sale, used surplus cell phones from the Sheriff's Department.

During their January 4 meeting, Commissioners also approved a letter of support for the Richardson County House of Hope project. 

(KLZA)-- The filing period for the May, 2022 Primary Election has begun in Nebraska. 

Incumbents can file for re-election or a different office through February 15.

Non-incumbents seeking election must file for office by the March 1, deadline.

When the filing period opened January 5, several people filed for re-election in Richardson County.

Richard Hardesty of Humboldt filed to run for Sheriff as a Republican. Hardesty was appointed Sheriff in September, 2019 and is running for the office for the first time.

Pamela Scott of Falls City has filed for another term as Clerk of the District Court on the Republican ticket.  

Donald Ferguson has filed for re-election to the Ward One Council position in Falls City. The City Council seats are non-partisan positions. 

(KAIR)--The cause of the loud boom, heard throughout Atchison County Sunday afternoon, has been confirmed.

That follows area authorities, including the Atchison Police Department and Atchison County Sheriff’s Office, searching for the cause of what was described on social media by Atchison-area residents as an explosion.

Wilson, Sunday, told MSC News the investigation was continuing, saying that the rumor that the cause was due to the release of steam from a railroad car was incorrect.
Instead, he said Sunday, new, unconfirmed information, involving “the intentional setting off of an explosive” was a possible cause.

On Monday, Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie confirmed that it was an explosive, Tannerite to be exact, that had been detonated in the area of U.S. Highway 73, approximately 3-miles west of the Atchison city limits.

According to Laurie, his office, Sunday, was contacted by a resident who explained “that they were celebrating the life of a loved one who recently passed,” with Laurie saying “the resident apologized for all issues it may have caused and assured that there were no injuries to anyone or any animals.”

Laurie, in the release, says that while the Tannerite “may not have been used as recommended by Tannerite, at this time, it is not believed any laws were violated,” adding that the Sheriff’s Office recommends following the manufacturer’s recommendations when using such products. He also asked that anyone using such explosives to contact the Atchison County Dispatch Center prior to doing so.

Editor's note: below is how MSC News first reported the story. 

(KAIR)--The cause of what’s been described as a loud boom heard Saturday afternoon in Atchison remains unknown.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News Police Officers “checked all industries, rail yards, elevators...[but] nothing was ever found.”

That followed residents throughout Atchison, and in Atchison County communities such as Lancaster, reporting what was described by some as a loud explosion, with residents taking to social media to share how it shook homes from one side of the city to the other, and beyond.

Online conjecture placed the blame on a rail car, determined to be steaming, near 14th Street and U.S. Highway 59, with police Saturday afternoon blocking that area to traffic for a time. However, Wilson said that was an unrelated incident, “known to the adjacent industry,” and was not the cause of the loud boom, heard around 3:25 Saturday afternoon.

In the same online discussion, minutes after the explosion was heard, one commenter made reference to acquaintances using the explosive, Tannerite, but those comments were not apparently visible as of Monday morning. However, Wilson, in his correspondence with MSC News Sunday evening, said information, not yet confirmed by Police, points to “an intentional setting off of an explosive,” but it’s not yet clear if that is connected to the social media comments.

The investigation is ongoing.

(KNZA)--The Richardson County Sheriff's office is mourning the loss of one of their own.

The Sheriff's Office, in a Facebook post, announced that Sergeant Jeremy Goldsberry died Sunday morning in Falls City.

The Sheriff's Office said their hearts are with his family, friends, and everyone that loved and cared about him.

The Post says Sergeant Goldsberry was a well respected and important piece of the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office who has worked in law enforcement in Richardson County for much of the last 20 years. The Sheriff's Office added he will be greatly missed.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

(KNZA)--A Kansas City, Missouri woman was killed early Sunday morning in a wrong-way collision on Interstate-29 about one mile north of Faucett, Missouri.

According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 53-year-old Kim Pawling was southbound in the northbound driving lane as a northbound semi-tractor trailer approached.

Both vehicles attempted to avoid colliding by turning into the passing lane, but the front left corner of Pawling's Jeep Renegade struck the front left corner of the semi.

Pawling was pronounced dead at the scene.

The semi driver, from Tennessee, was not hurt.

The wreck was reported shortly before 1:00 Sunday morning.

(KNZA)--A woman died Friday afternoon in a St. Joseph, Missouri apartment fire.

Firefighters were called to the Brittany Village Apartment Complex in the 1700 block of North 36th Street around 4:00 and discovered a fire in one of the apartments.

Police say the body of 24-year-old Amber Nagle was discovered inside a bedroom in her unit after the fire was extinguished.

Police say an autopsy will be conducted to determined an official cause of death.

The other occupants of the apartment complex were safely evacuated and later allowed to return to the building.

KQ-2 TV reports the fire department believes a malfunctioning furnace may have started the fire, but an official cause remains under investigation.

(KNZA)--A Saturday evening two-vehicle Doniphan County wreck sent two to the hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says the wreck was reported shortly after 6:00 at the intersection of U.S. 36 Highway and Randolph Road, between Troy and Wathena.

According to the KHP report, 58-year-old Scott Hoffman, of Wathena, was southbound on Randolph Road when he attempted to turn east onto U.S. 36 and his Pontiac Grand Prix was t-boned by a westbound Chevy Cruze driven by 23-year-old Devan Rule, of Liberty, Nebraska.

Hoffman and a passenger in his vehicle, 55-year-old St. Joseph, Missouri resident Sherri Seymour, were transported to Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph, with suspected serious injuries.

Rule was not hurt.

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

(KAIR)--A Highland man is facing charges in connection with the abuse of his infant daughter.

The arrest of 19-year-old Seth Ramsey Thursday night was made “after an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Highland Police Department, and the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office.”

That’s according to a release issued Friday afternoon by the KBI, which says that at around 11:15 Thursday night, KBI agents, along with the Police and Sheriff’s departments, “arrested [Ramsey] for two counts of abuse of a child, aggravated battery, and aggravated endangering a child.”

According to the release, the arrest stems from Ramsey allegedly physically abusing his 2-month-old daughter.

Following his arrest, Ramsey was booked into the Doniphan County Jail.

Search warrants were executed Tuesday at the infant’s residence, located at 307 North Carolina, Apartment 7, in Highland, “and for her parents’ cellular phones.”

The release explains that a family member, on January 2, “noticed the infant was having trouble breathing and sought help for her at Hiawatha Community Hospital,” but “due to the severity of the infant’s injuries, medical staff contacted police and transferred her to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.”

The child was treated and released, “and is currently recovering from her injuries.”

The investigation is ongoing and formal charges are pending.

(KNZA)--The arraignment for a former Doniphan County Sheriff's deputy facing multiple charges has been pushed back.

Nathaniel Keller had originally been scheduled to appear in a Doniphan County courtroom Wednesday, but his arraignment was postponed to February 16.  

At the hearing, Keller is expected to enter a plea to the 15 counts against him.  They include criminal sodomy, three count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, furnishing alcohol to a minor for illlicit purposes and promoting obscenity to minors.  In addition, he's charged criminal restraint, criminal threat, four counts of domestic battery, criminal damage to property, stalking and aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim. 

Keller is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl on several occasions between May and December 2017. In addition, he's charged with crimes alleged to have occurred in 2019 and 2021.

Keller was arrested in June of last year after Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents served a search warrant on his home.

He remains free on a $500,000 bond.

(KNZA)--The Seneca City Council officially has a new member.

Lukas Koch took his seat on the Council Wednesday evening after being sworn in by City Clerk Michele Spring.

The Council voted last month to appoint Koch to fill the Ward 1 council position left vacant by the resignation of Kylee Bergstrom. He was the lone candidate to express an interest in filling the position.

Also sworn in Wednesday evening for another term were Mayor Joe Mitchell, 2nd Ward councilwoman Alice Lackey and 3rd Ward councilman Jim Mitchell. They faced no opposition during the November general election.

Following discussion, the Council approved a $1 per hour cost of living increase for city employees for 2022.

The Council also approved a request from the local Drivers License Office for an exception to the city's truck route for January 10-13 to allow them to give the CDL license exam on those days.

The Council was told there are only nine offices in Kansas that give the exam.

(KNZA)--The cause of a house fire that claimed the life of a Wathena woman has been listed as undetermined.

The blaze, which occurred early Dec. 30 at 508 N. Third St. in Wathena, claimed the life of a 65-year-old Trudy Oglesby, whose body was found inside the residence after crews extinguished the flames.

The Kansas Chief reports the owner of the home, Randy Foley, was able to escape.

The home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The Wathena Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Elwood Fire Department.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office investigated the blaze.

(KNZA)--The Kansas Department of Transportation has approved bids for two bridge replacement projects on K-187 in Nemaha County.

Reece Construction Company, of Salina, was awarded the contract for both projects.

They include the replacement of a bridge over Weyer Creek about three miles north of the K-187/K-9 junction for a cost of just over $942,000, and the replacement of a bridge over the Fisher Creek Drainage nearly six miles north of the K-187/K-9 junction for a cost of more than $1.4 million.

A construction start date hasn't been announced for the projects.

The bid letting took place December 15 in Topeka.

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners voted to award the bid to remove a bridge on Pony Creek Road southeast of Salem and replace it with a box culvert to Vogtscapes, Inc. at a bid price of $269,333.

The bid was the lowest of three submitted for the work last week and is to be completed in 2022. As part of a state bridge match program Richardson County will be responsible for 45 percent of the cost.

Commissioners also voted to advertise to accept sealed bids for the Rulo South Overlay Project until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25. 

Highway Superintendent Steve Darveau Jr. reported that a road department employee has resigned and that one will be retiring.  Darveau will be advertising to fill the two vacancies.  

(KLZA)-- Falls City EDGE Executive Director Lucas Froeschl updated the City Council Monday night on an effort to partner with Zulkoski / Weber  with OPPD and the Falls City Board of Public Works regarding a request for America Rescue Plan Act funds for a new electrical transmission line for Falls City.

Froeschl said First District State Senator Julie Slama is helping with the effort having drafted a bill on behalf of all cities of the second class in Nebraska for electrical transmission lines. He says this is Falls City's greatest need for economic developoment. 

Froeschl said the process will move quickly during the 60-day legislative session and talked about the need for help lobbying the legislative body.  There will be about two weeks to put together information before debate begins on the proposals for ARPA funds. Froeschl said without lobbyists providing information on the topic to the State Senators, there is little chance the proposal will be approved.

The State ARPA funds are likely to be used for water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.  OPPD feels that the electrical transmission line proposals fit within the guidelines. 

EDGE and the Board of Public Works are discussing sharing the costs for paying for lobbyists on a 50-50 basis.

In discussing the importance of an additional transmission line to provide extra electricity to Falls City, during his Quarterly EDGE report, Froeschl noted that a company looking for 320 acres at a greenfield site with access to 30-million bushels of corn to create 70 full time jobs and a $900 million capital investment was approached by EDGE.  The company was looking a rail options and the ability to build their own wind turbines for excess power but would have required 50 megawatts of power while Falls City currently has just two additional megawatts of power.  

(KNZA)--Two Falls City, Nebraska residents were injured in a two-vehicle wreck in Holt County, Missouri Thursday afternoon.

According a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 43-year-old Kylie Holman was northbound on U.S. 159 about 4 miles east of Fortescue when her vehicle crossed the center line and struck a southbound semi-tractor trailer.

Holman was lifeflighted to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph with suspected serious injuries.

A 12-year-old girl, who was a passenger in her vehicle, was taken by private vehicle to Mosaic with suspected minor injuries.

The semi driver, 62-year-old Jesse Knapp, of Craig, Missouri, was not hurt.

The Patrol says both occupants of the Holman vehicle were buckled up at the time of the wreck, while Knapp wasn't wearing a seat belt.

The wreck was reported shortly after 4:30 Thursday afternoon.

(KLZA)-- Following an executive session Tuesday,  Richardson County Commissioners voted 2-1 to send a letter to Southeast Communication 911 Center in Beatrice inquiring about ending the contract for dispatching services.

The agenda for Tuesday's meeting included discussion about an incident that occurred at the intersection of Highways 75 and 8 which allegedly included several people involved in a wreck requiring emergency services. 

Third District Commissioners moved to send the letter inquiring about ending the three year contract.  He said that problems with dispatching remain six-months into the contract and called it ridiculous for what the Richardson County is paying for the service.

Commissioner David Sickel also voted to send the letter.  2nd District Commissioner John Caverzagie said he feels the County should assess the situation after meeting with the provider and dispatch center.  

Karas said he feels the letter will either help straighten out the issues,  or the dispatching could be moved back to the Sheriff's Office. 

Commissioners voted to make the switch from the Falls City Police Department providing emergency dispatching to the regional service in June of 2021.

County Clerk Mary Eickhoff said Thursday the letter has been written and will be sent once reviewed by the Board for their approval.  

(KLZA)-- The Falls City Police Department participated in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization December 17 through January 1.

Officers made 212 traffic stops during the period which resulted in 30 citation being issued and 177 written warnings being issued.

Officers also responded to 144 calls for service during the  mobilization, making three arrests including one felony drug possession arrest. 

Falls City Police Officers worked a total of 32 hours of overtime during the mobilization period.  The overtime was funded through a grant provided by the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.   

The Falls City Police Department encourages all drivers to drive safely,  buckle up and don't drink and drive.  

(KLZA)-- A $20-thousand donation is going to help upgrade the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department's  recently purchased Tower 1, platform fire truck. 

In a release from the Department, Fireman Jon McQueen noted that Amalia Pizzagalli Morehead had made the donation on December 20.  The donation will be used to upgrade the LED lights on the 95-foot truck purchased from Burlington, Vermont last year.  The truck has been in service since April.

The pre-inspection report on the 2003 truck suggested that with all the advance technology of LED lights, if purchased, the department should  look to do an upgrade. 

With more than 125 lights the cost to replace the most important ones including all the light bars,  front and rear warning lights along with four telescoping white scene lights and the buckets spot light was estimated between 25 and 50-thousand dollars.  

The Department has been pushing to replace all the emergency and white scene lights to relieve the strain on the electrical system and its generator using the current quartz  halogen lights. 

New, the truck cost $800-thousand. Falls City was able to purchase the truck from the Burlington Fire Department for $80-thousand and its expected to be in service for more than 15 years in Falls City.  

Mrs. Morehead is from Burlington, Vermont and noted in her card to McQueen that she has always had a “soft spot in her heart for the fire department and the police” for the dangerous work they perform.  She noted that she hoped others would contribute as well.

The Fire Department is in hopes or receiving $30-thousand in donations so they can have the work performed in Falls City rather than taking the truck to Omaha to a company specializing in upgrades of emergency equipment. 

The Falls City Volunteer Fire Department has filed papers to become a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Volunteer Fire Company so donations to the Department are tax deductible.

The goal is to have the upgrades started in March.

If you wish to donate, you can make checks to the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department and mail them to 2207 Barada Street in Falls City.  
 

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska Public Service Commission approved the awarding of 60 grants Tuesday totaling nearly $18-million from the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program.

Nebraska Public Service Commission Chairman Dan Watermeier said the funding will go a long way in the state's efforts to help make high speed broadband available to unserved and underserved  Nebraskans. 

The 60 grants awarded were submitted by 19 providers for a total of $17,771,964.  Certain applicants, whose applications were denied due to a challenge to only part of the project will be given a chance t apply for the remaining funding of just over $2-million.

Among those receiving funding was Pinpoint Communications, Inc. to serve  Nemaha County, Nebraska which will received $870,400 to serve 98 locations and  Peru will receive $150,597 to serve 88 locations.  

Windstream Nebraska, Inc.  will receive $61,114 to provide service to 205 locations in Union and $219,155 to provide broadband service to 857 locations in Wymore.  

In all, the grants will provide broadband service to 12,392 locations across Nebraska through 19 providers. 

(KAIR)--A fiery, Thursday morning single vehicle, Jackson County rollover crash claimed no lives, courtesy of the assistance of a passerby.

That’s according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse who said, in a release, the two men entrapped inside the burning vehicle were able to escape “when a passerby stopped and helped remove the windshield, rescuing both men.”

One of the two was transported by Jackson County EMS to Holton Community Hospital for treatment of what Morse said “appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.”

The second man was was treated at the scene and refused further treatment.

Details about the two are not released.

According to Morse, the crash happened west of Denison, on K-16 Highway, near 198th Road, with his Deputies notified of the injury accident around 8:40 Thursday morning.

As they, the Holton Fire Department, and Jackson County EMS, arrived on the scene the wrecked pickup truck was fully engulfed with flames, with the two men saved shortly before by the unnamed passerby.

(KMZA)--Advanced voting is underway for a January 25 special election in Nemaha Central USD 115 on the recall of board member Owen Zinke.

Registered voters that live in USD 115 may vote an advance election ballot either by mail or in person at the Nemaha County Clerk's Office.

The last day ballots may be mailed out is Tuesday, January 18. Voters may vote in person up until 12 noon on Monday, January 24.

A recall petition was deemed valid by the Nemaha County Clerk's Office last October.

The petition was circulated by a group of patrons upset by the board's refusal in the spring to change its mask policy from “ required” to “ recommended."

Zinke was among the majority of board members who voted against changing the policy in April and again in May.

The petition alleges he failed to perform his duties as prescribed by law by not allowing parents to make decisions regarding the healthcare of their children when attending school.

A similar effort to recall board member Amy Sudbeck was turned down by voters during the November general election.

(KAIR)--A Wednesday morning wreck, at Atchison’s River Road, may have been due to a medical issue.

That’s according to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, which states that “it is believed the driver,” identified as 74-year-old Atchison resident Francis Wiltz, “was suffering a medical episode that caused the accident,” which sent Wiltz’s pickup truck, eastbound on Commercial Street, off the roadway at River Road, where it “struck the Veteran’s Park pavilion.”

According to Wilson, Wiltz was transported from the scene by Atchison County EMS and taken to Amberwell Atchison for treatment of his injuries.

(KAIR)--A Wednesday morning wreck, at Atchison’s River Road, may have been due to a medical issue.

That’s according to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, which states that “it is believed the driver,” identified as 74-year-old Atchison resident Francis Wiltz, “was suffering a medical episode that caused the accident,” which sent Wiltz’s pickup truck, eastbound on Commercial Street, off the roadway at River Road, where it “struck the Veteran’s Park pavilion.”

According to Wilson, Wiltz was transported from the scene by Atchison County EMS and taken to Amberwell Atchison for treatment of his injuries.

(KNZA)--The Kansas Department of Transportation has approved bids for highway improvement projects in Brown and Doniphan Counties.

In Brown County, Herzog Contracting Corporation, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was awarded the contract for an intersection improvement project on U.S. 75 Highway in the amount of $5.4 million. According to a release from KDOT, the improvement project will take place from 260th Street to 300 feet north of K-246.

In Doniphan County, Herzog Contracting Corporation was awarded the contract for a milling and overlay project on a nearly 9 mile-stretch of K-120 from the junction with K-20 to the south city limits of Highland for nearly $1.4 million ( $1,368,463).

Also in Doniphan County, a bid was approved from Dustrol Inc., of Towanda, Kansas in the amount of just over $768,000 for the recycle and overlay of a more than 6-mile stretch of U.S 36 Highway from about one mile east of the junction with K-136 to the north city limits of Wathena.

Start dates for the three projects haven't been announced.

The bid letting took place December 15 in Topeka.

(KLZA)-- During an Otoe County court appearance Monday,  for 22-year-old Donald Pack of Nebraska City, it was revealed that 21-year-old David Holmes of Nebraska City was the victim in a New Years Eve shooting death in a  Nebraska City apartment.

KETV in Omaha reports Pack is currently in the Otoe County Jail facing charges of second degree murder,  possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and three counts of intentional child abuse. 

Pack is suspected of shooting Holmes on New Years Eve.  

During a court appearance Monday it was revealed that Pack called the police telling them he had shot someone and was on foot with a loaded gun.   Pack allegedly told officers he did not intentionally shoot Holmes, that it was an accident.  Pack was arrested just a few blocks from the scene of the shooting. 

Holmes was found on a couch with a gunshot wound to his head.

Bond for Pack has been set at $1 million.  

(KAIR)--A slick roadway played a role in a late Monday afternoon crash at Atchison’s River Road that left an elderly Atchison man in need of hospital care.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, it happened in the 1000 block of North River Road, where a pickup truck, driven by 68-year-old Terry Wall had been southbound on River Road. Wall lost control of the truck, which slid on the icy road, struck an embankment, and rolled over on its side.

Atchison County Rescue responded to the scene, removing the windshield of the truck so that Wall could be removed from the vehicle.

Once freed, Wall was transported by Atchison County EMS to Amberwell Atchison for treatment.

The wreck happened shortly after 4:00 Monday afternoon.

According to Wilson, the wreck remains under investigation.

(KAIR)--A costly theft is reported in Atchison County, leaving the County’s Sheriff’s Department searching for suspects.

According to a release from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, an Atchison resident, on Christmas Eve, reported that two batteries had been stolen from a center pivot irrigation system.

According to Laurie, the theft took place in the 13000 block of 322nd Road, between Labette and McPherson Road, on the south side of the roadway, in rural Atchison County.

The loss is estimated at approximately $1,000.

Laurie notes in the release that “other similar thefts have occurred in Doniphan County, where wiring was removed from center pivot irrigation systems.”

Anyone with information related to the investigation should contact the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office at 913-367-4323.

(KMZA)--After practicing family medicine in the Onaga community for 46 years, Dr. Tom Walsh retired at the end of 2021.  

Dr. Walsh and his wife, Marcia, moved to Onaga in 1975 to join his father’s practice. He would later become affiliated with what is now the Community HealthCare System of northeast Kansas. Marcia would rise to become the system’s chief operating officer.  

Dr. Walsh announced his plans to retire last March.  

Community HealthCare System will hold a retirement celebration for Dr. Walsh on Thursday afternoon, January 6, from 4 to 6 at Onaga Community Hospital and the public is invited to attend.  

Hors d’oeuvres and cake will be served and remarks made.

To protect the health of all, Dr. Walsh and his family request that only those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 attend. The usual COVID-19 screening procedures will be in place for all who attend.

(KAIR)--Crews from a number of Atchison County-based fire departments battled a blaze Monday, located at 16032 286th Road.

Due to the fire, the Atchison County Road and Bridge Department, Monday morning around 9:00, made a post to social media saying that 286th Road from Pratt Road to Neosho Road would “be closed this morning due to a structure fire.”

Around 12 noon Monday, the department updated the post, saying that the roadway had reopened.

According to Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, fire departments from the Walnut, Mount Pleasant, and Shannon Townships responded, along with the Effingham, Lancaster, and Atchison fire departments. Atchison County EMS, and the Sheriff’s Office, were also on the scene.

No injuries are reported.

The cause of the fire is not immediately available. 

(KLZA)-- Richardson County Commissioners approved the use of STOP program funds for the purchase of  DataMaster breath analyzer equipment for the Sheriff's Department when they met last week. The cost for the equipment is $8,345.

The Board also heard a report from Sheriff Rick Hardesty on the dispatching services provided through Southeast Nebraska Communications 911 Dispatch Center in Beatrice.  The Board requested the Sheriff to begin and continue to attend the monthly Southeast Communications 911 Center Advisory Committee meetings to relay his concerns with the dispatching problems that have been experienced so that they might be resolved.

Bids were opened for a road construction project southeast of Salem.  Three bids were received ranging from $268,460  up to $302,997.

The Board accepted all three bids for further review.

Commissioners also approved entering into an agreement with the City of Falls City for a Joint Aerieal Photo Project with “Pictometry”.  

(KLZA)-- 2022 is the second session of the 107th Legislature in Nebraska.
The 60-day session will begin Wednesday, January 5 with a projected completion date of April 20. 

First District State Senator Julie Slama anticipates that with carryover bills from the 2021 session and new bill introduction Senators will likely have more than 1,000 bills to consider. 

With American Rescue Plan and a successful  year for the Nebraska economy the state will have a record amount o funds available for tax relief and other projects.  

Slama says it will be important for Senators to remain mindful that these funds are taxpayer dollars and mostly one-time revenues.  The Legislature will not be able to throw money at unsustainable plans to increase long-term spending. She want to see funds returned to taxpayers as tax relief and invested in broadband expansion and rural main streets while considering one-time investments on projects that will draw additional tourism to Nebraska.  

In her Legislative Session Preview Slama said she will introduce bills important to Southeast Nebraska and rural Nebraska as a whole including making ATVs and UTVs street legal through a statutory framework to cut red tape for sheriff's departments and a bill to expand advanced degree offerings at Peru State College.

( AP) - A suspect has been arrested following a deadly shooting in Nebraska City on Friday night. 

Reports indicate that 22-year-old Donald Pack of Nebraska City was booked on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

Pack was arrested a few blocks away from the apartment where officers discovered the victim dead Friday night.  Police recovered the weapon thought to have been used in the shooting.  

The name of the 21-year-old victim was not immediately released.  

(KAIR)--Atchison Police are searching for a vehicle, reported stolen over the weekend.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, the 2012 Dodge Ram, owned by an Edgerton, Missouri man, was parked in the 1500 block of Atchison’s Main Street, in the alley north of Main, with the keys inside, at the time it was stolen.

It’s believed the truck was taken sometime between 6:40 and 7:10 Saturday evening.

Wilson describes the pickup as a white flatbed truck with aluminum tool boxes mounted on each side of the flatbed.

Anyone with information pertaining to the theft should contact Atchison Police at 913-367-4323.

(KNZA)--A slight increase in the number of active cases of COVID-19 is being reported in Brown County.  

According to figures released Friday by the Brown County Office of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health, there are 62 active cases in the county.  That's up from 59 active cases on December 23.

As of Friday, two were hospitalized, down from six on December 23.  

14 of the current cases involve thoses up to the age of 17.  

The Health Department is also reporting one additional COVID-related death, bringing the total to 42 since the pandemic began.  

Brown County has had 1,866 total positive coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic.  

Meanwhile, the number of active cases of COVID-19 has declined in neighboring Doniphan County.  

The Doniphan County Health Department on Thursday reported 50 active cases in the county.  That's down from 74 active cases on December 23.  

Of the current active cases, the Health Department said 10 were vaccinated.

Since the pandemic began, Doniphan County has had 1,720 total positive cases and 29 virus-related deaths.

(KNZA)--Two were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop north of Holton on New Year's Day.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said a deputy stopped a vehicle in the area of U.S. 75 Highway and Columbine Drive for a traffic infraction around 8:45 Saturday morning.

During the stop, Morse said a quantity of methamphetamine and a hallucinogenic drug was located in the vehicle.

40-year-old Jessica Lynn Andrews, of Topeka, and 36-year-old Russell Washington IV, of Axtell were arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Andrews was also arrested for transporting an open container and Washington for driving while suspended. Washington also had several outstanding warrants from Shawnee County, Marshall County, and the Topeka Police Department.

Both were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former Leavenworth woman faces sentencing in February after being convicted of charges in the hit-and-run death of a Leavenworth teenager.  

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said a jury found 28-year-old Amber Alexander guilty last week of second-degree murder, interference with law enforcement and failure to stop at the scene an accident following a 2 1/2  day trial  in Leavenworth County District Court.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Alexander had several drinks before leaving a bar in Lansing and driving to Main Street in nearby Leavenworth in August. Alexander allegedly struck a 16-year-old girl  before speeding away and crossing a bridge into Missouri.  

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2.

(KNZA)--A Hiawatha woman escaped serious injury in a New Year's Day crash in Doniphan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 20-year-old Diamond Lashay Worten was westbound on U.S. 36 Highway when her 2008 Chevy Impala left the roadway and spun backwards striking several fence posts.  Her vehicle then traveled over a cement culvert, coming to rest on its wheels.

Worton was transported to Hiawatha's Amberwell Hospital by private vehicle for the treatment of possibile injuries.

The Patrol says Worten was not buckled up when the wreck occurred shortly before 11:00 Saturday morning.