SCRANTON, Kan. – The Osage County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Topeka man was arrested Monday near Scranton in connection with attempted vehicle burglaries in the area.

A press release from the sheriff’s office said after receiving information regarding possible attempted vehicle burglaries in Scranton, Monday morning, Feb. 8, 2021, Osage County deputies arrested Jamie L. Chenoweth, 34, Topeka. Chenoweth was transported to the Osage County Jail on suspicion of vehicle burglary.

The sheriff’s office was assisted in the arrest by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information about the incidents to contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit at 785-828-3121, or to remain anonymous, contact Osage County Crime Stoppers at 877-OSCRIME (877-672-7463).

OSAGE COUNTY, KS – A Melvern woman was arrested on drug charges after an Osage County Sheriff’s Office investigator checked an occupied vehicle about 1 p.m. Monday on state Highway 268 near South Berryton Road.

A sheriff’s office report said Cynthea R. Vanvalkenburg, 49, of Melvern, was taken into custody Feb. 1, 2021, and transported to Osage County Jail after investigation of the vehicle revealed narcotics and an open container inside.

Vanvalkenburg was booked into jail on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and transporting an open container.

A vehicle pursuit raced through Melvern yesterday, causing the school to be locked down until a suspect, identified as Joshua B. Franks, 30, of Melvern, was arrested after abandoning his vehicle in a field southeast of town.

A report from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy had attempted to stop a car for a traffic violation around 10:49 a.m. Feb. 3, 2021, near East 325th Street and south state Highway 31, south of Melvern, Kan.

The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit entered Melvern, where the suspect drove through a field before striking a sheriff’s patrol unit and another vehicle. The pursuit continued on rural roads southeast of Melvern until the suspect entered a field in the 5600 block of East 325th Street and abandoned his vehicle. Two K-9’s and a helicopter from Kansas Highway Patrol responded. A perimeter of the area was established, and Franks was eventually located and taken into custody without further incident.

During the pursuit, Marais des Cygnes Valley School in Melvern voluntarily went into lockdown for the safety of students and staff, and remained on lockdown until notified it was safe to resume regular activities. A notification from USD 456 Superintendent Joe Sample said the school cancelled its planned early-release for the day and classes continued until normal dismissal time, and regular after school activities resumed.

Franks was transported to Osage County Jail on suspicion of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery, burglary, fleeing to elude, reckless driving, obstruction of the legal process, criminal damage to property, and several traffic violations.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Coffey County Sheriff’s Office, and Osage County EMS.

LYNDON, Kan. – The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Osage County created by Judge Shannon Rush’s resignation Feb. 1, 2021.

The 4th Judicial District is composed of Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, and Osage counties. Nominees can apply or be nominated, but either must be submitted on a nomination form and include the nominee’s signature.

Kansas law requires the district magistrate judge to be a resident of Osage County at the time of taking office and while holding office; a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.

Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerks of the district court in Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, or Osage counties, the clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center, Topeka, or online at www.kscourts.org/Judges/Become-a-Judge.

The nominating commission will convene by telephone conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, to determine the candidates to be interviewed. The commission will convene to interview nominees at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 6. Interviews are open to the public. The location for the interviews will be determined at a later date. After interviewing the nominees, the commission will appoint a district magistrate judge.

After one year in office, the new magistrate judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Eric Rosen, as the nonvoting chair, Craig Cole, Garnett, Anthony Mersman, Greeley, Phyllis Gardner, Lyndon, Janet Walsh, Osage City, Heather Landon, Ianne Dickinson, and Forrest Lowry, all of Ottawa, and Cody Haddock, Waverly.

OSAGE COUNTY, Kan. – A Prescott man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a vehicle pursuit on state Highway 68 and U.S. Highway 75.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office reported that around 4:34 p.m. Jan. 26, 2021, a sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation near milepost 8 on K-268. The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit, tire deflating devices were used and eventually caused the vehicle to come to a stop. The pursuit ended near 173rd Street on U.S. 75.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Louis W. Charley, 33, of Prescott, Kan. He was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on suspicion of driving while suspended, fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving and speeding.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol.