Route 458 south of Clinton Dam was closed to through traffic earlier today, Thursday, June 8, for a major rehabilitation project.  The project’s limits are from the E 800 Road (Route 1/1039) intersection to approximately 1,000 feet north of the N 1156 Road intersection.  We anticipate Route 458 being closed to through traffic through September 2017.

The Douglas County Commission recently received a resignation letter from the Trustee of Palmyra Township, and it is the responsibility of the Commissioners to appoint a replacement. The responsibilities of the township trustee are set out in in Article 3 of KSA Chapter 80.

Route 458 south of Clinton Dam will be closed to through traffic on Thursday, June 8, at 8:00 AM.  Route 458 will remain open to through traffic through June 7.  Douglas County’s contractor, King’s Construction, is currently working on portions of the project that are not in the existing road alignment.  .  

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today that Marquis J. Young, 28, Lawrence, entered pleas to aggravated battery and abuse of a child on Monday, May 22, 2017, in the Division 5 courtroom of the Douglas County District Court.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that this afternoon a jury convicted Lawrence resident Derek J. Edmonds, 25, of felony abuse of a child and aggravated battery.

After careful review of the prior trial testimony in State of Kansas v. Galen Satoe, 2014CR000948,  and all evidence available to the State, a decision has been made not to proceed with a third trial at this time.  The State remains convinced this crime occurred; however, without additional evidence to present to a jury, we cannot conclude that another trial would result in a different outcome.

The District Attorney’s Office will offer no additional comment.           

The Douglas County Public Works Department announces that beginning Tuesday, May 30, Route 458 will be closed from E 800 Road (Route 1/1039) to N 1075 Road for the first phase of a major rehabilitation project.  The full project will realign curves, add paved shoulders, rehabilitate the pavement, replace narrow drainage structures, and improve roadside safety.  Route 458 will be closed to traffic during drainage structure replacement work, currently anticipated to take four months to complete, weather permitting.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that yesterday afternoon a jury convicted Lawrence resident John Timothy Baker, 33, of robbery.

Lawrence, Kansas - On July 8, 2015, Home Rule Resolution No. HR-15-7-3 was passed by the Board of County Commissioners. This resolution changed the process of burn bans in unincorporated areas and was necessary to promote fire safety and to protect persons and property from the dangers of open burning. After feedback from the community, Douglas County Emergency Management and the Douglas County Fire Chiefs provided recommended changes to the resolution which were approved by the County Commission on March 29, 2017.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that Carrody M. Buchhorn, 42, is expected to have a first appearance on Monday, April 17 in the Pro Tem Division of the Douglas County District Court.  Buchhorn is charged with felony murder associated with the death of an infant in a Eudora daycare in September 2016. 

Bond has been set at $250,000 cash/surety.

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  Charges are merely allegations of criminal conduct.

The Kansas River bridge at Lecompton will have one lane closed beginning April 24 through mid-May, weather permitting.  The one open lane will be narrow with an 11’ width.  The narrow open lane will restrict vehicles over legal width (8.5'), including wide agricultural equipment, from crossing the bridge.  Alternating one-lane traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic signals with anticipated delays of 3-5 minutes. 

*Media Releases by the District Attorney’s Office are limited by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced today a jury convicted Baldwin City resident Teri Lynn Johnson, 34, of unlawful sexual relations, sexual exploitation of a child and promoting obscenity to minors.  Johnson was a paraprofessional employed by the Lawrence Public Schools to work in the day school, which is located within the Juvenile Detention Center at the time of the crimes, but is no longer employed there.