Chase County, KS

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Chief Judge in Chase and Lyon counties will retire following a 32-year career helping keep the community safe and fair. Kansas Courts says Chief Judge Merlin Wheeler will retire on Sept. 3, following 32 years of service to the 5th Judicial District, which includes Chase and Lyon counties.

Felony arraignment is next for a Milford man accused of wounding an Emporia man during a shooting incident on a Chase County highway earlier this year. Eric McClure, age 38, allegedly shot Erik Reyes as one SUV passed another on Kansas Highway 150 west of Elmdale on May 13. Reyes was treated at Newman Regional Health and released. Reyes testified at a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Results of the 2022 Lyon County primary election are set to be certified Tuesday morning. The Lyon County Board of Canvassers will convene at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse Commission chambers for that purpose. According to Lyon County Clerk Tammy Vopat, the county had an unofficial voter turnout of more than 46 percent with a little more than 300 provisional ballots.

TOPEKA—Chief Judge Merlin Wheeler will retire September 3 after serving 32 years in the 5th Judicial District.  . The 5th Judicial District is composed of Chase and Lyon counties. Wheeler graduated from Dodge City Community College, Emporia State University, and Washburn University School of Law. Before becoming a judge,...

The Kansas Turnpike Authority has awarded a bid for painting several bridges in Chase County. Linder Painting of Lincoln, Nebraska, won the contract with a bid of $489,000. Painting will take place on four bridges at mile marker 99.96 and 101.38, both northbound and southbound. Work should be done by October 2023. The KTA says bridge painting is a preservation project that keeps steel in good condition.

EMPORIA, Kan. (WIBW) - Four Kansans will be interviewed to fill a district judge vacancy in Lyon and Chase counties. Kansas Courts says the Fifth Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy. the vacancy will be created by the Sept. 3 retirement of Chief Judge Merlin Wheeler.

The only primary race in Chase County this year came down to Cedar Point vs. Matfield Green; and one skinny vote. Unofficial results from Tuesday’s Kansas Primary show Rick Robinson received 146 votes for District 1 Commissioner. Alan Phipps had 145.

A pretrial conference in federal court is next for a Chase County man accused of having and trying to distribute child pornography. Walter Haskin waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday. At this time, federal court documents do not list the date or time for Haskin’s next hearing. Haskin, age 26...

With high temperatures set to approach 100 degrees — again — on Friday, the National Weather Service has expanded a heat advisory affecting area counties. Initially, Chase and Greenwood counties were included in an advisory from 1-8 pm. Now Lyon and all surrounding counties are in an advisory for that time. Air temperatures are expected around 97 degrees with a peak heat index as high as 105 at the Emporia Municipal Airport.

Heat alerts are back again for part of the KVOE listening area. Chase and Greenwood counties are in heat advisories from 1-8 pm both Thursday and Friday. This follows another hot day across the KVOE listening area Wednesday, although the heat didn’t last all day thanks to storms in the morning and late afternoon. The Emporia Municipal Airport reached 97 with a peak heat index of 107 shortly after noon.

The red-hot roles will be reversed as this week ends, in terms of weather. After being left out of a heat advisory earlier this week, Chase County will be in one Friday from 1-8 p.m. while Lyon County will not. Greenwood County will be part of the advisory as well.

The next step comes Monday in the search for the next Chase County Sheriff. There’s interest both within the county and without. “All of the candidates are extremely qualified,” said Rick Robinson, a member of the Republican selection committee.”

Chase County had an impressive voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary election. County Clerk and Election Officer Connie Pretzer said 58.87% of voters cast their ballots in the eleciton. That’s 1,105 ballots out of 1,877 eligible voters.

The only primary race in Chase County this year came down to Matfield Green vs. Cedar Point. A country farmer against a “Country Store.” And one skinny vote.