TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for a portion of Osage County Rural Water District 8. The advisory affected the portion of the water district located north of state Highway 4, in Wabaunsee and Shawnee counties.

The advisory was issued because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the water district indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. 

Osage County Sheriff’s Office has reported a suspect in an Osage County burglary has been arrested in Topeka, and stolen property was recovered after officers served search warrants in a Topeka neighborhood.

In a press release issued today, Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn reported officers responded to a residential burglary alarm around 12 p.m. yesterday, Dec. 12, 2019, in the 9900 block of west 177th Street, near Burlingame. About the same time, a citizen in the area also contacted the sheriff’s office to report a suspicious truck with three subjects and gave specific details about them.

After an attempt to locate notice was issued on the vehicle, it was stopped by a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in Topeka. During the investigation, Jacob Wright, 26, Topeka, was arrested for burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. Wright is being held at the Osage County Jail pending formal charges.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Topeka Police Department then executed two search warrants in the 3200 and 3300 blocks of SW Oakley Avenue in Topeka, and recovered stolen property.

The sheriff reports the investigation of the case is ongoing and more suspects are still at large. Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call Osage County Crimestoppers at 877-OSCRIME.

LYNDON, Kan. – A Burlington woman was killed in a two-car crash Thursday evening about 2 miles north of Lyndon on U.S. Highway 75.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that Jennarene S. Hawkins, 24, Burlington, was a passenger in a northbound 2003 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Darian A. Hess, 20, Topeka, at about 7:50 p.m. Dec. 5, 2019, on U.S. 75 at milepost 129, or about 1/4 mile north of 229th St. The KHP report said Hess had attempted to pass a commercial motor vehicle with insufficient clearance and collided head on with an oncoming southbound 2008 Dodge Durango driven by Amber M. Walters, 33, Lyndon, on the west shoulder of the highway.

Hawkins was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital, but died from her injuries. Hess was transported to KU Medical Center with suspected serious injuries. Walters and one of three children in her vehicle, Daymian M. Walters, 9, were transported to Stormont Vail with suspected serious injuries. Two other passengers in the Durango, Cherish P. Roney, 1, and Serenity R. Qujnonez, 2, were reported as possibly injured and also were transported to Stormont Vail.

The report said that Hawkins was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, but Hess was. In the Walters’ vehicle, all occupants were using safety restraints except for Daymian.

During the investigation and clearing of the accident, U.S. 75 was closed from the roundabout at state Highway 268 to the interchange at U.S. Highway 56. The highway was reopened about 1 a.m. Friday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Editor’s note: Revised Dec. 6, 2019, to show Jennarene S. Hawkins’ hometown as Burlington as corrected in the Kansas Highway Patrol crash log.

SALINE COUNTY – The Salina Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Salina man. The whereabouts of Kenneth “Kenny” Reitcheck, 69, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him. Reitcheck is described as a white male, 5 feet 9 inches, 175 pounds, blue eyes, and gray hair.

Reitcheck has not been seen since Nov. 4, 2019. He is known to suffer from diminished mental health capabilities and is on disability assistance, but has not attempted to access funds since before he was last seen. He is known to frequent the Salina area, but may have family in northwest Kansas, near Colby. He does not have a phone, vehicle, or any identification.

If anyone locates him or has information about his whereabouts, they are asked to contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210.