NEWTON, Kan. — As expected, a man facing three counts of capital murder and three counts of first-degree murder waived his right to a preliminary hearing this morning in Harvey County District Court.

Jereme Nelson is accused in the the October 2016 shooting deaths of 37-year-old Angela Graevs, 33-year-old Travis Street and 52-year-old Richard Prouty in rural Harvey County.

Arraignment is set for Nov. 3 in front of Judge Joe Dickenson.

A co-defendant, Myrta Rangel, had similar charges dismissed in Harvey County and faces federal charges related to the Nelson case including possession of a firearm, obstruction and providing a firearm to a felon.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cleanup and repairs are being done in preparation for the Kansas State Fair after teens vandalized displays and buildings over the weekend.

Police report that three 13-year-old teens used knives to slash tents near the Gate 3 area, spray painted a number of portable buildings on display and several fair structures, and poured stain over a number of hot tubs at a vendor’s booth. The merchandise was undamaged

Fair GM Susan Sankey says she is disappointed by the actions of the teens and that the damage is still being assessed. She also noted that law enforcement’s presence will certainly be stepped up from now until the fair is over.

Sankey says repairs to their buildings are being made, although some are just temporary, especially where some buildings were attacked with spray paint. Several vendors had damage either to tents or product to an extent that is not known at this time.

Police took the youth in Sunday morning after responding to the report of a stolen truck from Skaets restaurant. The pickup was found inside the fairgrounds, which led to the discovery of the teens and the damage. Officers say the vandalism is a felony due to the dollar amount of the damage done.

The Reno County District Attorney’s Office says one of the three teens remains in custody while one was left to his parents and the third released from youth detention.

WICHITA, Kan. – Officials at the Dwight D Eisenhower Airport in Wichita are inviting residents of the area to come and welcome home military veterans as they return from Washington D.C. on the 51st Kansas Honor Flight!

The flight is expected to land around 11:40 a.m., but they’re encouraging those wanting to attend to arrive early.

A free park-and-ride shuttle service starts at 10:00 a.m. at Slumberland Furniture in Wichita.

They also suggest that you make a sign, bring friends and family and meet airport officials at baggage claim to celebrate these local heroes

The event runs next Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Numerous water rescue teams, along with support staff, have been deployed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal through the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to assist the state of Texas with flooding from Hurricane Harvey.

Under an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), teams comprised of various departments and equipment from across the state have come together as a single task force to assist in water search and rescue efforts.

Fire department personnel from Hutchinson, Salina, Mission Township, Manhattan, Olathe, Chanute, Neodesha, Parsons, Pittsburg, Sedgwick County, Shawnee, Derby, Winfield and Newton will be supported by personnel from South Hutchinson Police, Saline County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal. South Hutchinson Police are sending their mobile command vehicle to assist in the effort.

Some of the state task force deployed Wednesday evening. Others will deploy today and head to College Station, Texas, where they’ll receive their eventual assignments. The task force is expected to return on Sept. 6.

Hutchinson Fire Captain Breck Heller is deploying with this group.

*Photos courtesy of South Hutchinson Police Chief Scott Jones.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Area companies are making it known they are interested in employees that are losing their jobs from the closing of Eaton Thursday and the pending layoff of 140 employees at Siemens/Gamesa.

According to Tucky Allen of Kansas WorkforceOne, employees from Eaton have been exposed to numerous opportunities for employment from companies as small as Yoder Smokers, to Viega and Johns Manville. He is confident that most, if not all, have a job waiting for them.

Allen also says 18 different companies have announced their intentions to be at a job fair for Siemens employees on Sept. 19. He expects that number to double. Allen says the need to find a capable workforce along with low unemployment means area companies are very active in looking for workers.

According to Allen: Viega, Johns Manville, Kuhn Kraus, Collins Bus and Phizer are companies coming to the job fair.

Hutchinson Community College is also helping out with the job fair, providing transportation to Siemens employees from the factory to the Sports Arena throughout the event.

MCPHERSON COUNTY —  The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is in charge of investigating a Monday night fatal officer-involved shooting in McPherson County. On Tuesday, police identified the man who died as 24-year-old William Matt Holmes, Newton. A passenger in the vehicle was arrested at the scene.

Just after 10:30 p.m. Monday, Newton Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle reported to have been involved with a car burglary. The vehicle fled the scene and led officers on a high-speed chase north on Interstate 135. Speeds during the chase reached over 100 miles per hour, according to police.

After running over stop sticks, the vehicle came to a stop in the median near mile marker 51.

The occupants of the vehicle refused to exit for several minutes. When the driver finally came out, he became combative.

Officers expended every less-lethal option, trying bean bag rounds, a Taser, and even a K-9, but those efforts were unsuccessful. When the driver tried to harm the K-9, an officer attempted to physically subdue him.

During the altercation, the driver got ahold of the officer’s gun and tried to pull it away from the officer. The Newton officer told other officers and asked for help. A McPherson County Deputy saw the driver trying to take the gun and felt compelled to use lethal force to protect the officer’s life.

First aid was immediately rendered and Holmes was transported to a hospital, where he died.

Both officers involved were treated for injuries sustained and are in good condition.

————

MCPHERSON COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is in charge of investigating a Monday night officer involved shooting in McPherson County.

Just after 10:30 p.m. Monday, Newton Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle reported to have been involved in a car burglary. The vehicle fled the scene and led officers on a high-speed chase north on Interstate-135, according to a social media report.

After running over stop sticks, the vehicle came to a stop in the median just north of Moundridge.
The occupants of the vehicle refused to exit for several minutes, and then when the driver came out, he became combative. Officers expended every less lethal option, trying bean bag rounds, a Taser, and even a K-9, but those efforts were unsuccessful. When the driver tried to harm the K-9, an officer attempted to physically subdue him.

During the altercation, the driver got ahold of the officer’s gun and tried to pull it away from the officer. The Newton officer told other officers and asked for help. A McPherson County Deputy saw the driver trying to take the gun and felt compelled to use lethal force to protect the officer’s life.

First aid was immediately rendered and the driver was transported to a hospital where he died.

Both officers involved were treated for injuries sustained and are in good condition. Police did not release the name of the driver.