(KMZA)--The Seneca City Council has hired a new Parks and Recreation Director.

Council members Wednesday night approved the hiring of Lori Gray for the position. Gray will begin work in August at a salary of 25 dollars an hour. She replaces Jordan Weaver, who resigned last November.

The Council also approved the hiring of Loren Heideman as a seasonal employee at 13 dollars and 50 cents an hour.

In other business, Kim Linck of the Manhattan-based accounting firm Varney and Associates presented the city’s 2025 financial audit report.

Linck issued an “unmodified” opinion, the highest level of assurance an audit can receive, indicating the city’s financial statements are accurate and reliable. No recommendations were made, and the council voted to accept the audit report as presented.

The council also approved a rebuild of the city’s street sweeper. City Superintendent Brian Rushe said the machine has been experiencing belt tracking problems. A mechanic from Key Equipment in Kansas City determined the conveyor cage needed replacement.

Rushe recommended moving forward with a rebuild that will include a new cage, rollers, conveyor and conveyor motor. He said the rebuilt machine should remain in service for another ten years.

Joshua Jefferson/Credit: Jackson County Sheriff's Office

(KNZA)--Additional details have been released in connection with an hours-long standoff Wednesday evening in Holton that began with an animal cruelty investigation.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says officers with the Holton Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded just after 5:15 p.m. to a residence on New Jersey Street.

Authorities say 36-year-old Joshua Jerome Jefferson, of Holton, allegedly dragged a dog from a neighboring yard while beating and strangling the animal. A neighbor who attempted to intervene was allegedly battered by the suspect.

When officers arrived, they reportedly observed Jefferson assaulting the neighbor. Morse says Jefferson then refused commands from officers and threatened to retrieve a weapon and force law enforcement to shoot him before barricading himself inside the home.

After several hours and repeated unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the suspect, officers entered the residence and located Jefferson hiding in a basement crawl space wrapped in a blanket. He was taken into custody around 11:30 Wednesday night.

Jefferson remains jailed in Jackson County on charges that include aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery, criminal damage to property, and animal cruelty. Bond has been set at 100-thousand dollars.

Assisting agencies included the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office.

That's confirmed today, Friday, May 22, in a social media post from the City of Atchison.

Following the discussion it was decided there was not enough damage to public property to warrant an emergency disaster declaration.

Later in the meeting the Board met with Kirkendall reviewing the activity during the storm event on the 18th. Commissioner Bobby Campbell said he received messages and calls regarding the sounding of the outdoor warning sirens.

Kirkendall explained how the sirens operate and that on the 18th, there was a problem with sounding the sirens as the generator at the Courthouse was not operating and the system that runs the outdoor sirens was running on battery backup, which quit with the second round of tornado warnings that were issued in Richardson County.

A repair crew traveled through the storm and arrived in Falls City that evening to assess the situation with the generator and believe that lightning had damaged the generator during a storm the previous weekend.

Discussion was then held in regards to having a small generator to be used as a back-up to run the computer system that signals the outdoor warning sirens. No action was taken.

Jorn said progress is being made on the city audit report that needs to be submitted to the state and that he expects the auditors to be in town to complete field work. It is expected the audit will be completed sometime in August.

In a related note, Jorn said that because the audit has not been submitted, the city highway allocation funds are currently being withheld. The funds will be released once the audit report is filed with the state.

The Council later approved submitting a preapplication for a $4 million grant with the money to be used to aid water service customers in paying for their portion of replacing water service lines.

The EPA in mandating complete removal and replacement of lead and galvanized water lines and it is recommended customers replace their portion of the service to their properties as well. 60% of the grant funds may be forgiven with the 40% reimbursement passes on to water customers.

Jorn also provided an update on the status of the $5 million grant for a new electrical substation. Some additional information has been submitted which is currently being reviewed.

An application for around $5.6 million for a five year project to replace gas lines in the community has also been submitted. The total cost of the project is not yet known.

The Council also approved making a change of software for utility billing, general ledger and payroll which should be less costly than what the city is paying for current software services.

The Concert in the Sky was nominated in the USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for 2026 and earned 5th place. Voting began April 13 and ended May 10. Votes were cast once per day from the start to the finish. 

In 2024, the Atchison fireworks earned third in the nation, followed by a fourth-place finish in 2025. 

Atchison's placement in the rankings trails displays in Addison, Texas, New York City, Detroit, Michigan, and the Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. 

The annual 28-minute Concert in the Sky draws an estimated 30,000 visitors each year to celebrate the July 24, 1897 birth of Amelia Earhart in Atchison. The show is produced by Stellar Fireworks, Inc., of Wichita.

The 2026 Amelia Earhart Festival is scheduled for the weekend of July 17 and 18, including the ticketed kickoff concert Friday night, July 17, featuring headliner Blackhawk, with Lorrie Morgan opening. The Concert in the Sky follows a full day of activities Saturday, July 18, and is scheduled to begin around 9:30 that night after the traditional aerobatics performance, with those events free to the public at Atchison Riverfront Park near the Amelia Earhart Bridge.

The Concert in the sky is choreographed to music, simulcast on KAIR 93.7 FM, allowing synchronized listening anywhere the fireworks can be viewed.

In a release, the City of Atchison says the pool at 1201 Commercial Street is tentatively scheduled to open Saturday afternoon at 1:00. However, the city says opening day may be delayed due to low water temperature, which staff will continue to monitor. The city is asking residents to stay tuned for updates.

The city says when the pool does open, opening day will be free admission. Regular pool hours are 1:00 until 6:30 daily, with extended hours Tuesday and Thursday until 9:00.

Admission is free for ages two and under while daily admission for the season is one dollar. A 10-day punch pass is nine dollars.

NPPD has been studying possible locations for the next-generation reactor, known as a small modular reactor, or SMR — a smaller nuclear design the utility says can provide flexibility, efficiency and safety.

16 potential sites across the state were initially identified and the field now narrowed to four locations.

Thomas Kent, president and CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District, said naming the four sites is not a go-ahead announcement for construction, but a look at communities with “strong compatibility” that would meet federal siting guidelines.

The timeline for operation would be eight to 10 years until operation, according to Kent.

The study is funded through a state program launched after the Nebraska Legislature in 2022 allocated $1 million to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for a feasibility review of siting options for advanced nuclear reactors. The department created the Nuclear Plant Siting Feasibility Study Program to administer the funding, which the state received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Nebraska currently has one operational nuclear facility, Cooper Station, located near Brownville.

The City's generating of power was at times unable to be started so power would not be fed back up the line to OPPD from Falls City to where personnel were working on the downed power lines.

In addition, once Falls City received the all-clear to generate power locally, there were some mechanical issues that slowed the process which lengthened the amount of time customers were without power.

City Administrator Gary Jorn told the City Council Wednesday night that the issues are being reviewed. Jorn said he feels part of the issue was changing from two work shifts at the power plant to one man shift, reduced the number of people doing maintenance from eight to four. Jorn said staffing was discussed and plans will be made concerning staffing and said that needed upgrades and to equipment and personnel will be costly.

Power was restored around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning to most Falls City Utility customers.

Susie McElroy/Credit: Chapel Oaks Funeral Home 

(KNZA)--A dedication ceremony is set Saturday morning, May 23, to officially rename the Hiawatha Aquatic Park in honor of former longtime pool manager Susie McElroy.

Hiawatha Parks and Recreation will host the dedication at 10:30 a.m. at the Aquatic Park located at 203 East Iowa Street.

The community as well as past and present Aquatic Park staff is invited to attend.  There will be a ribbon cutting, as well as donuts, giveways and more.

The Hiawatha City Commission last November approved dedicating the aquatic park in McElroy’s name in recognition of her years of service.

McElroy served as aquatic park manager from 1996-2010.

She died in 2012 after a long battle with cancer.

HCF Match Day this weekend

This Memorial Day weekend, the Hiawatha Community Foundation will host its 6th Annual “Give Back to Move Forward” Match Day, a three-day community giving event benefiting more than 50 local funds.

From Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24, all qualifying donations made through the Foundation will be matched 100 percent while match funds remain available. Eligible gifts are $25 to $1,000 and can be directed to participating community funds.  

Donations can be made in person at the Fisher Center in Hiawatha Friday evening from 4:00 to 7:30.  The in-person kickoff event features local organizations, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and additional food available from the Country Cabin food truck. Hourly drawings will also be held, with winners directing $250 grants to participating funds.  

Online giving will be open from 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 22 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, May 24 at Give Back To Move Forward.   

The website provides information on participating funds, a donation form, and a live leaderboard tracking contributions throughout the weekend.

Chase Wendt/Credit: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

(KNZA)--A Grantville man is facing multiple charges following a domestic incident Sunday in Jefferson County.

18-year-old Chase Wendt was arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department following the incident.

Wendt was formally charged Monday in Jefferson County District Court with two counts of aggravated assault, criminal threat, and misdemeanor counts of domestic battery, battery, and criminal damage to property.

According to court documents, Wendt is accused of threatening two individuals with a knife during the incident.

He remains in the Jefferson County Jail on a 50-thousand-dollar bond.

A preliminary hearing in the case is expected to be set during a June 11th court appearance.

Incumbent candidates for Village Board seats have until July 15 to file with an August 3rd deadline for nonincumbents to file.

Elaina J. Strecker has filed to seek reelection to another 4-year term on the Village Board in Barada.

Ricky J. Ramer of Stella has filed to run for a position on the Village Board of Stella.

Denise Koso will seek reelection as a Verdon Village Board member.

The fourth filing is an affidavit from Vincent “Vinny B” Behrens of Falls City to seek the Ward IV Council seat in Falls City as a write-in candidate.

Bing Bindrum and Rick Lemerond filed to run for the non-partisan position prior to the deadline prior to the Primary Election.

However, when a second tornado warning was issued for the Falls City area later, the sirens did not sound.

Richardson County Emergency Management Director Brian Kirkendall told MSC News that when the power was on during the first tornado warning, the sirens sounded. After the power went out in Falls City, the backup generator at the courthouse did not work.

It is believed that a lightning strike possibly occurred the previous Saturday causing an issue, which left the generator stuck in reboot mode. That left the courthouse without power and the computer system that triggers the sirens to sound, was unable to send a signal to the sirens to sound when the second tornado warning was issued.

(KAIR)--Jefferson County officials have adopted a local disaster emergency proclamation as wildfires continue to burn across western Kansas.

According to the unofficial minutes of Monday’s Jefferson County Commission meeting, Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers asked the board to sign the Disaster Resolution for, as the minutes say, "a preparation just in case something happens." The resolution, which took effect Monday, includes coverage for wildfires moving forward. 

The motion passed unanimously.

Meanwhile, wildfires continue to spread across western Kansas and have burned tens of thousands of acres. Sparked by dry thunderstorms, the fires have been fueled by extremely dry conditions and high winds, with firefighters from across the state, many of them volunteers, responding to help.

According to a release, the Fleming-Jackson-Seever American Legion Post 6 and Lt. Jared Fox Jackson VFW Post 1175 will honor their comrades by visiting Atchison-area cemeteries for Memorial Day presentations.

The VFW schedule begins Monday morning with an 8:30 gathering at the VFW Post, followed by Oak Hill Cemetery at 8:50, Mt. Vernon Cemetery at 9:10, St. Patrick’s Cemetery at 9:35, Sumner Cemetery at 10:00, Sugar Creek Cemetery in Rushville, Missouri, at 10:35, and a Veterans Park riverfront presentation at 11:00.

The American Legion schedule begins Monday morning with an 8:30 gathering at the Legion Post, followed by Lancaster Cemetery at 9:00, Effingham Evergreen Cemetery at 9:25, Effingham St. Ann’s Church Cemetery at 9:40, Sunset Memory Gardens at 10:20, and Mt. Calvary Cemetery at 10:35.

Both organizations are scheduled to join together at 11:00 Monday morning at Veterans Park at the Atchison Riverfront, near the USS Arizona Memorial, for the morning’s final presentation.

Those who wish to attend are encouraged to arrive at their cemetery of choice about 20 minutes prior to the scheduled times, as all times are approximate due to travel.

Atchison City Manager Mark Westhoff/Credit: City of Atchison

(KAIR)--A City of Atchison social media post intended to recognize the City's Streets Maintenance Department during Public Works Appreciation Month sparked criticism, and City Manager Mark Westhoff is now inviting residents to bring concerns directly to him.

In a response posted to the City's official Facebook page Tuesday night, Westhoff said he was disheartened by comments made under the message of recognition posted earlier that afternoon. Westhoff, in his response, thanked the streets crew and other city employees for their daily work and professionalism.

Westhoff said concerns about employee performance should be directed to him or other city leadership, rather than aired on social media.

He also invited residents with broader questions and concerns about city services, strategies, priorities, and the city budget to set up a one-on-one meeting with him by phone or in person using an online scheduling link shared in the post and found here.

James Costello, Jr./Credit: Shawnee County Sheriff's Office   

(KNZA)--A Valley Falls man is in custody following a brief stolen-vehicle pursuit Tuesday morning in southeast Topeka.

Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill says the incident began around 9:40 a.m., when a deputy reported a stolen Chevrolet pickup near Southeast 21st and Southeast Pennsylvania Avenue. Deputies, along with the Topeka Police Department, moved into the area and quickly located the vehicle.

Hill says the truck fled at a high rate of speed before being found abandoned a short time later near Southeast 12th and Southeast Bellview.

The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Lawrence.

A K-9 unit tracked the suspect to an area near Interstate 70 under the Southeast Golden Avenue bridge, where officers located him running on foot.

The suspect, identified as 45-year-old James Costello Jr., was taken into custody without incident.

He was booked into the Shawnee County Jail on multiple felony charges, including fleeing law enforcement, drug possession, and possession of stolen property.

The investigation is ongoing.

(KMZA)--Staff from the National Weather Service surveyed tornado damage Tuesday from storms that moved through northeast Kansas Monday afternoon and evening.

According to a preliminary report, an EF-1 tornado with estimated wind speeds up to 95 miles an hour touched down shortly after 4:45 Monday afternoon about four miles east of Bern in Nemaha County. The tornado traveled northeast for more than two-and-a-half miles. Damage included a barn losing parts of its roof and wall, a small barn being destroyed, and debris carried about a quarter mile.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., another EF-1 tornado with estimated winds up to 95 miles an hour touched down about one mile east of Blue Rapids in Marshall County. The tornado traveled northwest for about 12 miles. It destroyed several grain bins and snapped large tree limbs and some tree trunks.

Then, shortly after 7:15 p.m., an EF-1 tornado with estimated winds up to 100 miles an hour touched down three miles southeast of Circleville in Jackson County. The tornado traveled northeast about eight miles. Damage included a destroyed barn and outbuilding, several large tree branches broken along its path, and windows blown out on the south-facing porch of a structure.

No injuries were reported.

Picture credit to Jr. Chaney of Rock Port, MO. football field

(KLZA)-- An extremely dangerous storm system that spawned tornadoes, produced 70-80 mph straight-line winds, brought large hail and heavy rain to Southeast Nebraska, Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri on Monday afternoon and evening caused extensive damage in areas but fortunately no fatalities or injuries have been reported.

Richardson County Emergency Management Director Brian Kirkendall said that a tornado that touched down more than one time beginning southwest of Salem in a pasture area, then picked up, set down just northeast of Salem, shifted direction and went straight east from the pumping stations north of Fall City and then traveled straight east damaging six residents, completely destroying an implement shed, and two garages, a tree blew onto a house and the roof was torn off of a utility shed.

Train traffic was also disrupted on the Union Pacific line at Strausville where a grain bin blew onto the Union Pacific railroad tracks bringing train traffic to a halt.

Kirkendall says his department is still looking for damage that hasn't been reported. There were a number of utility poles that were broke off by the storm system.

Kirkendall noted that as of Monday morning, the Muddy Creek north and east of Falls City is flooding some area roads.

In Auburn, Nebraska strong winds caused major damage to trees, which in turn caused damage to homes, buildings and vehicles. City Council President Nathan Seitz says the National Weather Service will be investigating to determine if the damage was done by a tornado or straight-line winds.

Seitz had high praise for the work by the Auburn Board of Public Works employees who were out all night restoring power to Auburn area residents and businesses and for the efforts by the Auburn Street Department. The Council President also praised the efforts made by the Street Department in clearing the street of limb and tree debris.

Auburn residents have been clearing trees and limbs and are asked to take them to the rodeo grounds on J Street to dispose of limbs.

Johnson and Pawnee County Emergency Management Agency Director Megan Buckley said while there was damage reported in Johnson County, there were no confirmed tornadoes.

Tree damage and power pole damage was reported and crews are continuing to search for additional damage.

There was a confirmed tornado on the ground in Pawnee County but Buckely says no damage has been reported from that storm.

Buckley is asking for residents of Johnson and Pawnee counties to report any damage to her office. Drones will be utilized to see if any damages can be found.

If you have damage in Johnson or Pawnee County, you may reports it online at the Johnson County Emergency Management Page or to a link on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/jccemg.

In Northwest Missouri, heavy rains were reported along with strong winds. The football and track around the field at Rock Port is underwater from overflow of a creek next to the field.

That comes following last week's meeting of the Board of Education when the school leaders accepted the resignation of Dr. Latisha Williams following an executive session focused on matters of personnel.

When the resignation was announced, followed by comments of gratitude from Superintendent Laura Batson for Williams, a round of applause was given in Williams' honor.

Batson, during an appearance on 93.7 FM's Co-Host Monday, said Williams resignation is due to her acceptance of an education position outside the Atchison school district. “She is absolutely a bright spot,” Batson said in reference to Williams. “I hate that she's leaving us to Shawnee Mission, but she'll represent us well. Has definitely left her mark and her fingerprint on 409, and will always be a part of the Phoenix family.”

The school board, following the executive session and just prior to the conclusion of its May 11 meeting, accepted Williams' resignation unanimously.

On Saturday, Batson helped oversee senior graduation, her first since beginning her role as USD 409 Superintendent last summer. “I love the family feel of it. I love the laughter. I love seeing the personality of the students and the staff that shown through the day, “Batson said. “I saw the oak leaf celebration tradition. I've never seen that before, and that was something really special to get to experience. And I love just how the community came together to celebrate.”

Following the graduation of just over 100 seniors, the remaining district students wrapped up the school year on Monday.

In a release, the college says anonymous flyers from a group calling itself the “Coalition of Catholics Against Jewish Supremacy” were repeatedly left on campus in late April following a conference hosted on campus exploring Church teaching on Catholic-Jewish relations.

Benedictine says the flyer attacked a faculty theologian, labeled those connected to the campus event as “antichrists,” and included language the college says suggested Jewish people, including those in the community, are less than human.

The college says students took the initiative to remove the flyers from cars in campus parking lots, and that student groups were among the first to respond. The college points to its student Latin Mass Society, which issued a statement expressing disgust and disappointment with the flyer’s contents.

The college, in regards to questions raised about possible repercussions for distributing the flyers, says any student found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct is subject to disciplinary procedures, but that process is confidential.

Benedictine says the incident has reinforced its commitment to official Catholic teaching on relations with the Jewish people, and will continue its mission of affirming the worth and dignity of each individual.

Photo credit: Hiawatha Fire Department/Facebook

Update:  The Kansas Forest Service announced Wednesday afternoon that the wildfires were contained, and members of the Brown County Wildland Fire Task Force returned home Wednesday evening.  

(KNZA)---Brown County firefighters are assisting in battling wildfires in southwest Kansas.

Brown County Emergency Management organized a Wildland Fire Task Force to assist with the growing wildfire situation in southwest Kansas. 

The team is currently being deployed to support firefighting efforts near Ashland, Kansas. The task force includes personnel from the Everest, Fairview, Robinson, and Hiawatha Fire Departments. 

In total, 10 firefighters and five fire apparatus departed early Tuesday morning to assist crews already battling the fire. 

On Monday, 17 separate fires were identified in Meade and Clark Counties. So far, the fires have burned 85,000 acres, three homes and miles of power lines.

According to the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office,  lightning strikes from recent storms could have ignited the burns, and ongoing winds threaten further spread.  

Photo credit: Jackson County Sheriff's Office 

(KNZA)--Two Colorado residents are facing drug and alcohol-related charges following a traffic stop in Jackson County last week. 

According to Sheriff Tim Morse, a deputy stopped a Chevrolet Silverado shortly before 9 p.m. on May 13th on Q.4 Road near 158th Road for alleged traffic violations.

Morse says a probable cause search of the vehicle led to the arrest of 53-year-old Terry Miller of Lakeland, Colorado, and 40-year-old Angelina Weatherspoon of Brighton, Colorado.

Miller was arrested on charges of interference with law enforcement, possession of opiates, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, transporting an open container, failure to provide proof of insurance, unlawful registration acts, and driving while suspended.

Weatherspoon was arrested on charges of interference with law enforcement, possession of opiates, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and transporting an open container.

Both were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

Tornado north of Sabetha/Credit: Sabetha Fire Dept.

(MSC News)--Severe storms swept across parts of northeast Kansas and southeast Nebraska Monday afternoon and evening, producing multiple reported tornadoes, damaging winds up to 80 mph, large hail, and heavy rainfall. Forecasters had warned of a significant severe weather outbreak, with a rare “moderate risk” designation issued for the region before storms developed.

In Nemaha County Kansas,  Emergency Management Director Eddie Aldrine reported a tornado touched down about five miles northwest of Sabetha. He said it struck a few farms before moving into Richardson County, Nebraska.

Communities in southeast Nebraska reported tornado sightings in Gage, Pawnee, Richardson, and Nemaha counties. Flash flooding stranded vehicles in some areas, while emergency crews responded to downed trees, damaged power poles, and structural damage.

In the next few days, weather officials and local emergency managers are expected to conduct storm surveys to determine tornado strength and assess the extent of the damage.

There were no immediate reports of fatalities or serious injuries.