Wabaunsee County News

Three people were hurt late Wednesday in a one-vehicle accident on a Wabaunsee County road about a mile north of Alma.

A portion of K-99 highway in Wabaunsee County was closed this afternoon because of flash flooding south of Interstate 70.

Sentencing for a former longtime state fire inspector who pleaded no contest to sexually soliciting a 13-year-old girl in September 2006 has been postponed until Aug.

The three Republican candidates for the Kansas Senate's 18th district remained generally positive and issue-oriented Monday during a joint appearance on "Jim Cates @ CJOnline" netcast.

Fire district proposed budgets came in all over the map, and some departments may have to convince their constituents they need the funds they've requested.

Wabaunsee County Commissioners heard proposals from Fire District Nos. 3-8 Monday, and warned districts proposing levies of five mills or more that the proposal will need to be voted on by residents in the fire district.

County Attorney Norbert Marek explained why.

He said at one point there was a cap of five mills on fire districts and the legislature had lifted that cap. However, a judge ruled last year that fire districts requesting five mills or more still must pose the question to their voters.

ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA...AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

A Great Bend woman was killed and another was injured Thursday night in a one-vehicle accident on Interstate 70 in Wabaunsee County.

Seven northeast Kansas lawyers seeking appointment as a district judge will be interviewed Friday by an eight-member judicial nominating commission.

Ministers in the Wabaunsee County Ministerial Alliance conducted a press conference Monday to express interdenominational cohesiveness on the issue of marriage.

The alliance, which is comprised primarily of ministers at churches in the USD 329 area, has been discussing the issue of marriage for a number of years, according to Maple Hill Community Congregational Church Pastor Andrew McHenry.

"This came about several years ago, kind of with the recognition of the divorce epidemic," he said.

Discussion in recent weeks about the historic bridge on the east side of Lake Wabaunsee led to a meeting Monday between Wabaunsee County Commissioners and other interested parties to discuss the bridge's future.

Lake Wabaunsee Resident Marita Elliott said news that the bridge might need to come down worried her so much she had trouble eating or sleeping.

"I'd like to address the commission regarding the word we received that the bridge is unsafe," she said.

She said she and other representatives from the lake were present to lobby for repair and preservation of the bridge.

A Harveyville woman was arrested early Sunday on charges of hosting an alcohol party for minors and disorderly conduct.

Church leaders from across Wabaunsee County are taking a stand to preserve the sanctity of marriage.

Newly awarded federal grants paired with increased presence on the national board strengthen the YWCA of Topeka's services, programming and overall ability to positively impact the organization's mission.

Harold W. "Bubba" Harper, 50, of Paxico, was arrested in connection with criminal discharge of a firearm, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

Gerald W. Hartman Jr., 44, of Eskridge, was arrested in connection with sexual exploitation of a child and endangering a child, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

Wabaunsee County Commissioners gave the go-ahead for developing of a truck stop at the intersection of Kansas Highway 99 and Interstate 70 during their meeting Monday.

Thane Brethour said he is willing to help protect the water supply used by the neighbor to the north of the property, and also answered commissioners' questions about the proposed stop.

Brethour said a number of studies are being done, including traffic studies for the Kansas Department of Transportation and utility studies for the City of Alma.

Here's an opportunity to help out at the 12th annual Governor's Golf and Fishing Classic.

    Developer Thane Brethour appeared before members of the Wabaunsee County Planning Commission Thursday night and gave his pitch for a truck stop facility located at the intersection of I-70 and Hwy-99.   Brethour's project, labeled "Plaza of the Flint Hills" starts with a truck stop and projects growth that involves a significant development at the busy intersection.  

  Brethour has worked on the project for a number of months and has provided extensive information to Zoning Administrator David Stuewe as well as members of the planning board.   Additional copies of the Plaza in the Flint Hills proposal were available Thursday eve-ning.

  According to Wabaunsee County Sheriff Doug Howser deputies from his office were dispatched Sunday morning, at approximately 6:30 a.m., to the intersection of Phillips Creek  and Wabaunsee Road.  That intersection is two miles northwest of Alma.  A citizen reported that there was a vehicle at that location with an unresponsive driver.

  Officers determined that the driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and that he had died from an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound.   According to authorities the driver was preparing for a hunting outing and apparently mishandled the firearm resulting in the accidental discharge of the gun.

The first official budget request of the year gave commissioner hope that budgets might be manageable this year.

The Extension office staff brought a budget request with an entire increase of a little less than $4,000, or less than 3 percent.

The budget has increases in supplies, stationary and postage, travel and salaries, but has a decrease in the equipment fund.

Commissioners had been predicting a difficult budget year with everyone facing tight times and many county department budgets already tight as well, and will be continuing to hear requests during the next several weeks.