Merriam resident thrown through bar window in fight

A Gardner man was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday by Lawrence Police after he allegedly pushed someone through the plate glass window at a downtown bar.

Nathan M. Findley, 24, was booked into the Douglas County Jail for battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

A 26-year-old Merriam man told police he was walking through Louise’s Bar Downtown, 1009 Mass., when a scuffle broke out and he was pushed through the window. The victim suffered a cut to his arm but refused ambulance transportation to the hospital, police said.

Findley was arrested shortly after the incident by an officer who saw him in the 900 block of Vermont Street. Findley was later released on $300 bond and given a notice to appear at 1:30 p.m. April 17 in Lawrence Municipal Court.

Lawrence resident arrested after collision with train

A Lawrence man who allegedly drove around train-crossing gates and was struck by a train was arrested early Saturday morning by police.

Gary H. Dawes, 22, 155 Indian Ave., was taken to the Douglas County Jail for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended driver’s license.

Dawes was allegedly driving a 1996 Honda Accord about 3:40 a.m. southbound on East 1600 Road just outside the northern Lawrence city limits, according to Douglas County Sheriff reports. He allegedly drove around railroad crossing gates and an eastbound Union Pacific train struck the back of the car, tearing off its bumper.

Shortly after the collision a Lawrence Police officer saw the car a few blocks away and stopped it because it appeared to have been in a wreck. Dawes was arrested.

Dawes was later released from jail and given a notice to appear at 8:15 a.m. April 17, in Lawrence Municipal Court.

Power failure at Dillons store forces disposal of dairy items

A power failure forced Dillons, 3000 W. Sixth St., to discard an aisle of dairy products Monday.

Signs in the aisle told shoppers, “Due to power failure, we are out of product. We will be getting fresh items in tomorrow morning. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

A produce-section employee, who would not give his name, said the power failure was caused by a bad wire from the main line.

Products affected included eggs, butter, margarine, cheese, sour cream, pudding and oven rolls. The items were discarded in a Dumpster behind the store.

Other areas of the store, such as dairy products in cases with doors, meat aisles and produce, were not affected.

Store manager Larry Bussinger would not comment and referred calls to Dillons headquarters in Hutchinson.

Suspect in hunting accident makes first court appearance

A Topeka man charged with involuntary manslaughter in a 1998 accident that killed a 16-year-old appeared Monday in Douglas County District Court.

Joseph Beier, 24, waived his right to have the charge read to him. Judge Pro Tem Peggy Kittel scheduled a hearing for 2 p.m. Monday before Judge Jack Murphy.

Beier is accused of being liable in the accidental death of Misty Taylor, a Topeka teen shot to death near Lecompton in November 1998.

This is the third time Beier has been charged in the incident. The first time the charge was dropped by the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. The second time the charge was dismissed by Murphy because of a violation of the speedy trial law. The charge was refiled last month.

Another man who was with Beier and Taylor, Donald Koch, then 22, Topeka, was convicted in August 1999 of involuntary manslaughter. According to his trial testimony, Koch was holding Beier’s rifle when it discharged, the bullet striking Taylor. Koch was sentenced to three years of probation.