(KNZA)--Two people were injured Friday evening in a three-vehicle crash in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 6 p.m. at U.S. 36 Highway and Coyote Road, east of Fairview.

The Patrol says a van driven by 33-year-old Francisco Torres-Melendez, whose address was listed as unknown, was stopped while attempting to turn north when it was rear-ended by an eastbound car driven by 51-year-old Mandy Nott of Holton.

The impact sent the van into the westbound lane, where it was struck on the passenger side by a pickup driven by 43-year-old Holly Grant of Horton.

Torres-Melendez was taken to Amberwell Health in Hiawatha with suspected serious injuries. Nott was taken to Sabetha Community Hospital with suspected minor injuries.

Grant was not injured.

The Patrol says all three were alone in their vehicles and were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

According to Atchison County Clerk Susan Carrigan, in answer to questions posed through email by MSC Radio News, Damon Bowen has been hired to fill that position. His duties in that role began August 10.

Bowen brings permanency to the role that's been held since early this year by Emily Sternsdorff following an early January UTV crash that left then Superintendent Joe Snyder injured. Sternsdorff was first named as acting Superintendent on January 20 and then installed officially in the interim at the May 12 meeting of the Commission.

It's not immediately clear when Bowen was hired for the position, with his name not found in any 2026 Commission meeting minutes, with the last discussion pertaining to the Road and Bridge Superintendent scheduled to be held in Executive Session at the July 28 meeting. The Commission did not hold a meeting on August 4, days prior to Bowen's August 10 start.

According to past reporting by MSC Radio News, Bowen, a resident of Muscotah, was hired as Transportation Director and Bus Supervisor for the South Brown County Schools of USD 430 in 2019. His resignation from that position was accepted by the school leaders in April of this year.

Nemaha County Sheriff Rich Vernon/Credit: Nemaha County

(KMZA)--Longtime Nemaha County Sheriff Rich Vernon is stepping down.

Vernon has submitted his resignation, effective November first. The Centralia Republican has served as sheriff since 2006.

Nemaha County Republican Party Chairman Ray Shinn says the county Republican Central Committee will meet September 15th to select a replacement. The name will then be forwarded to Governor Laura Kelly for appointment.

Anyone interested in the position should contact Shinn with their resume or qualifications.

Gary Hermesch/Credit: Nemaha County Sheriff's Office 

(KMZA)--A man accused of killing a Seneca priest has been found incompetent to stand trial.

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office says a Nemaha County judge ruled Thursday that Gary Hermesch is not competent to stand trial and ordered involuntary commitment proceedings to be initiated.

Hermesch is charged with first-degree murder in the April 3rd, 2025, killing of Father Arul Carasala outside the Sts. Peter and Paul rectory in Seneca.

A judge ordered Hermesch to undergo a competency evaluation in November 2025. He was later transported to Larned State Security Hospital for further evaluation.

An evaluation report was issued to the court in late July, and that report was the basis for Thursday’s decision.

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office took over prosecution of the case in early August.

(KAIR)--No injuries were reported in an apartment building fire Tuesday afternoon in Atchison.

Fire crews were called shortly after 4:30 to 410 Santa Fe Street following a report of a fire on a second-story balcony.

Atchison Fire Chief Patrick Weishaar, in aa release, says when crews arrived, they found a third-story deck burning. Firefighters quickly brought the flames under control, but remained at the scene removing unstable and charred portions of that deck and the second-story deck below, where the fire had begun to spread.

Officials say there is no positive evidence showing how the fire started. However, a barbecue grill and an ashtray were found near the area where the fire is believed to have originated.

That follows the outcome of the court case against Calhoon, filed by the Atchison County Attorney asserting that Kansas law doesn't allow two such positions to be held simultaneously, with an Atchison County District Court Judge ruling in favor of that claim. 

Judge John Fresh, on August 21, ruled that the law is clear and unambiguous, and that Calhoon is ineligible to hold both offices at the same time.

Calhoon, who was appointed to fill the unexpired Commission term in January, was defeated weeks prior to the ruling in his August 4 Republican Primary attempt to gain election to a full term, as the court case continued. 

Now, the Atchison County Republican 2nd District precinct persons are to select a replacement to fill Calhoon's seat until a new 2nd District Commissioner is elected in November's general election. County GOP Committee Chair Derek Franklin tells MSC News that will happen during a Republican Party Convention on the evening of Tuesday, September 15, at the Atchison County Courthouse, beginning at 5:15. 

Whoever is elected that evening will fill the role until Atchison County voters, in the general election, select either Republican Randell Vanderweide or Democrat John Setich to serve a full term as 2nd District Atchison County Commissioner. 

(KMZA)--The sixth annual Nemaha County STEP Foundation Match Day has set a new record, raising more than 500-thousand dollars for local charitable funds.

The August 28 event generated 502-thousand, 500 dollars — more than 200-thousand dollars above last year's total.

Fifty-one charitable funds participated, and the foundation's 55-thousand-dollar matching pool was fully matched.

Cardinal Academy raised nearly 70-thousand dollars, while the Spring Creek Golf Course Improvement Fund received more than 103-thousand dollars, including a 50-thousand-dollar matching gift from Jim and Patricia Koch.

The Spring Creek funds will help pay for cart path improvements at the golf course.

"We are extremely grateful for everyone who makes Match Day's success possible. Our communities work together to strengthen the whole county, and we are very blessed to live where we do. Thank you to everyone who shows up, gives, and continues to support our mission," said Tory Jost, Executive Director of the Nemaha County STEP Foundation.

"The excitement of the day was electrifying. You could feel the pride as people arrived with checkbooks in hand to give back to their favorite nonprofits. We had a constant flow of donors and nonprofit leaders who kept the board members busy all day. Thank you to all the nonprofits that worked hard in order to get the word out about their projects and communities to make the day a success," said Maggie Grier, STEP Board President.

Linda Dillard/Credit: Nebraska State Patrol 

(KLZA)--The Nebraska State Patrol is once again asking for the public's assistance in the 5-year-old case of the disappearance of 58-year-old Linda Dillard of Fairbury, who was last seen near Table Rock on June 16, 2021.

Volunteers and law enforcement conducted a large scale, three-day search near the Table Rock Wildlife Management Area in March of 2022.

Investigators say they are confident Dillard's remains were not in the area where she disappeared.

The State Patrol believes Dillard, who was reported missing four days after she was last seen, may have been the victim of a crime.

Search warrants filed in Lancaster and Pawnee counties indicate she may have been kidnapped or murdered.

Richardson County Commissioners continued their review of requested budgets for the new fiscal year when they met Wednesday.

The proposed County Board proposed budget was completed reviewing changes that were made from the budget requests from all departments.

The proposal calls for a total budget of expenditures of $22,424,406. That represents an increase from the 2025 fiscal year budget of $1,232,602 amounting to a 5.8 percent increase.

The property tax request for the proposed budget would be $8,284,080 which would include $400,000 in cash reserves and $279,316 for the bond payment on the jail.

The tax requirement would be an increase of $2,103,698, an increase of 34 percent.

The property tax levy would increase by just over 8.3-cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 38.34 cents per $100. That increase is 27.6 percent.

The total valuation for Richardson County for fiscal year 2026 increased 4.75 percent to $2,160,620,189, an increase of $102,734,238.

Due to the proposed levy increase, Richardson County officials will need to participate in a joint public hearing on Tuesday, evening, September 22 at 6:30 in the District Courtroom on the 3rd floor of the courthouse in Falls City.

The Board of Commissioners will conduct a public budget hearing on the proposed county budget on Monday evening, September 21 at 6 in the Commissioners Room at the courthouse.

According to minutes from the commission’s August 25 meeting, Commission Chair Casey Quinn raised the issue after a resident suggested the county pursue a data center.

Because Atchison County has no zoning regulations, Quinn wants to determine what could happen if a property owner reached an agreement with a data center company.

The county counselor told commissioners they could directly regulate data centers without adopting comprehensive zoning. He planned to contact officials in Leavenworth County, where the issue has been studied extensively. Quinn also planned to seek information from the Kansas Association of Counties.

Commissioner James Campbell said residents have expressed interest because data centers could generate revenue and jobs. Others have raised concerns about noise, water use and tax incentives.

Campbell supports targeted regulations and believes the county could negotiate terms that benefit residents if a company eventually shows interest.

The matter remains under discussion.

(KAIR)--Although the current hot temps may not feel like fall, an annual tradition of the season returns to the Atchison Riverfront this month.

Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jill Thorne says the annual Muddy River Music Festival, complete with free admission, will feature an afternoon and night of local, live music. That will happen Saturday, September 12, from 2 to 10:00, at the riverfront.

Through a partnership with the Atchison Art Association, local artists will be on-site, displaying, and selling their work.

Other vendors, including food trucks and beverages will also be there, with items available for purchase.

(KNZA)--Hiawatha Police are reminding motorists about the importance of seat belts and child restraints.

Police say Kansas law requires drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, and children must use age- and size-appropriate safety restraints.

Children under four must be secured in a child safety seat. Children ages four through seven generally must use a booster seat, unless they meet certain height or weight requirements.

Children ages eight through 13 must use a seat belt once they have outgrown a booster seat, and everyone age 14 and older is required to wear a seat belt.

Hiawatha Police participate in the NHTSA and K-DOT Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, which includes enforcement of seat belt and child passenger safety laws.

Police say seat belts help prevent serious injuries by keeping occupants inside the vehicle and reducing the risk of being thrown into the vehicle's interior or other passengers.

Thomas Pahmahmie/Credit: Brown County Sheriff's Office

(KNZA)--A Horton man accused of a violent incident in January involving a female victim has pleaded no contest to three felony charges as part of a plea agreement.

Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill says 30-year-old Thomas Pahmahmie entered the plea Monday in Brown County District Court to aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, aggravated domestic battery and criminal threat.

A judge accepted the plea and found Pahmahmie guilty.

In exchange for the plea, charges of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping were dismissed.

Sentencing is set for November 2nd.

Hill says Pahmahmie faces a presumed prison sentence under Kansas sentencing guidelines.

He was charged following an investigation by the Horton Police Department.

Hill said Pahmahmie's bond was revoked, and he was remanded to the Brown County Jail to await sentencing.

(KNZA)--A pedestrian is dead following a vehicle-pedestrian crash Tuesday night in St. Joseph, Missouri.

The St. Joseph Police Department says officers were called to Highway 36 and Riverside Road shortly before 9:50 p.m.

A male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The department’s Traffic Unit is investigating. No other information has been released.

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has approved a resolution prohibiting data centers and commercial battery energy storage facilities in the county.

The resolution was approved Monday following a recommendation from the Brown County Planning Commission after a public hearing in August.

The new zoning regulations define data centers to include facilities used for computing, data storage, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and similar operations.

Commercial battery energy storage facilities with a capacity of at least one megawatt-hour are also prohibited, with limited exceptions.

The resolution takes effect after it is published in the official county newspaper.

Mary Lou Moore/Submitted

(KNZA)--A Hiawatha woman is preparing to celebrate 102 years of family, farming and finding the bright side of life.

Homestead Senior Living is inviting the community to a birthday celebration Sunday afternoon for resident Mary Lou Moore.

Moore was born in Hiawatha and later lived on a farm outside the community with her late husband. She raised two children and also worked for her husband.

Moore credits her longevity to enjoying each day, appreciating her loving family and looking for the good in life instead of worrying about the future.

Her 102nd birthday celebration will be Sunday afternoon, September 6, from 2:00 to 4:00, at Homestead Senior Living, 400 Kansas Avenue in Hiawatha.

Cake and refreshments will be served.

(KNZA)--Brown County commissioners have adopted an $18.1 million 2027 budget that remains revenue neutral.

The budget passed Monday on a 2-to-1 vote, with Commissioner Bill Pollock voting against it.

Three county residents attended the public hearing and thanked commissioners for keeping the budget revenue neutral, while urging them to continue looking for ways to reduce the tax burden.

Pollock proposed moving industrial development funds into the commissioners’ budget to give them more oversight of how the money is used.

Pollock said the funds should be available to any group or individual with a valid plan to increase industry and economic growth in Brown County, rather than being designated specifically for the Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development or Horton Industrial Development Corporation.

No action was taken on the proposal. Commissioners Lucas Heinen and Richard Tesoriero said they were open to discussing the idea further.

The budget sets the property tax rate at 40-point-329 mills, the revenue-neutral rate, and calls for the county to collect nearly $9.3 million in property tax revenue.

(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Commission has filled two positions.

Commissioners unanimously approved Cody Boos as the new Emergency Preparedness Director at their August 24th meeting. He’ll begin work September 15th at an annual salary of $70,000.

Boos will also oversee facility maintenance and projects. He replaces Eddie Aldrine, who resigned in May after serving in the position since 2022.

The commission also approved Mary Gatza of Junction City as the county’s new Human Resources Manager. She’ll begin September 14th at an annual salary of $68,000.

Gatza began her human resources career in 2011 following a 15-year career in law enforcement.

Her hiring comes as the county administrator position is set to end December 31st. County Administrator and Counselor Austin Parker will continue as county counselor under a new 2027 contract with no pay increase.

(KNZA)--Jackson County is searching for a new Road and Bridge director.

The county commission accepted the resignation of Joe Gardner at its August 24th meeting. His resignation is effective September 5th.

Gardner has served as director since December 2025.

The director oversees the day-to-day operations of the county’s Road and Bridge Department, including road and bridge construction and maintenance, employee schedules, planning and equipment maintenance.

The county is accepting applications for the position through September 30th. Applications are available at the county clerk’s office.

(KLZA)-- Following three months of remodeling, a grand opening celebration for the HyVee grocery store in Falls City kicked off with a ribbon cutting event Tuesday morning.

Formerly known as Dollar Fresh, a brand associated with HyVee, the change over to HyVee is now complete. Store Manager Clint Sailors told MSC News it's been a long three months for staff and probably the customers while the remodeling has been completed.

The newly renovated store now offers a full-service meat counter, full-service bakery, a Candy Shoppe, rotisserie chicken and 10,000 new items, offering customers a new level of service and selection.

The bakery will offer cake decorating, fresh breads and sourdoughs. The meat counter will offer HyVee signature brats, house cut steaks, fresh sea food and new bunkers fill of a variety of meats.

HyVee is located in the 1300 block of Stone Street and will be open daily from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

In a release, Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie says a deputy attempted to stop a Ford F-250 pickup shortly before 11:00 Friday night on River Road, north of the Atchison city limits.

The driver continued into Doniphan County before the deputy ended the pursuit because of safety concerns.

Laurie says the deputy identified the vehicle and driver as 19-year-old Brandon Albright who was arrested at his Atchison residence around 1:00 Saturday morning.

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

(KAIR)--An Atchison County woman has been sentenced to one-year of probation for insurance fraud.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt says 30-year-old Amber Conner pleaded guilty July 13 in Atchison County District Court to one felony count of insurance fraud. She was sentenced August 24.

Investigators determined Conner opened a new insurance policy after her vehicle had already been damaged. She then falsely reported the date of the damage in an attempt to obtain coverage.

Schmidt says insurance fraud increases costs for families and businesses across Kansas, and the department will continue working to hold offenders accountable.

The Kansas Department of Insurance investigated the case. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office handled the prosecution.

The Commission meeting of August 25 has been unavailable, with the video posted by the county following that meeting containing no video or audio. 

Scheduled during that meeting was discussion related to the topic of data centers, but the outcome outside the Commission Room has remained unavailable. However, Atchison County Commission Chair Casey Quinn, through email correspondence with MSC News, says the discussion was brief based on a question posed by a constituent. The minutes of that meeting, approved during Tuesday's Commission meeting, will be, Quinn says, posted to the County's website. 

"Technical difficulties" were cited Tuesday morning in a social media statement from the County prior to that day's September 1 meeting of the Commission regarding online Zoom access. The County, in a later follow-up to that social media statement, clarified that online attendance would be available, but those joining would need to be signed in as an authenticated user due to Zoom security updates. Quinn, in her email, echoed that, telling MSC News that "Zoom has made changes on their platform which caused the issue[s]" with availability of meeting video. 

(KNZA)--Brown County Appraiser Steve Markham has resigned.

County Commissioners unanimously accepted Markham’s resignation Monday, effective immediately, following an executive session.

No reason was publicly given. Commission Chairman Lucas Heinen said he could not comment because it was a personnel matter.

Markham had served as county appraiser since March 2019.

Heinen says the commission plans to appoint an interim appraiser while it searches for a permanent replacement.