Driver in car chase faces multiple charges

Charges were filed Tuesday against a woman who allegedly led Lawrence Police on a chase Monday that ended near Tonganoxie after her car was rammed by a police car.

Thiwan Shepard, 25, 2557 Cedarwood, was charged with attempting to elude police officers, reckless driving, misdemeanor theft and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Shortly after 9 a.m. Monday police received a report that a woman drove off without paying for gasoline at Hillcrest Amoco, 914 Iowa, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

A patrol officer pursued the car as it sped through Lawrence and east on U.S. Highway 24-40 traveling up to 90 miles per hour, a prosecutor said.

Shepard also was wanted on warrants for failure to appear in other cases, including one alleging theft, according to police.

A Tonganoxie officer stopped the suspect’s car by ramming it, Pattrick said.

Shepard is to be in court 2 p.m. Thursday. Her bond was set at $5,000. She has additional bonds of several thousand dollars set in other cases against her.

Elementary Schools: Walk to School Day today

Don’t be surprised today if you see many children and their parents walking to school.

Kansas Walk Your Child to School Day, sponsored by Kansas SAFE KIDS, is designed to teach children about pedestrian safety and to make communities more aware of the dangers children may face on their trip to and from school each day.

Participating this year are: Cordley, Deerfield, East Heights, Hillcrest, New York, Pinckney, Prairie Park, Quail Run, Riverside, Schwegler, Sunflower and Sunset Hill elementary schools in Lawrence.

Schools in Baldwin and Eudora also are involved.

Parents or guardians who walk to school will be asked to complete a survey about safety hazards on the route and will be treated to a light breakfast.

In this area, the event is coordinated by Douglas County SAFE KIDS Coalition.

High school: Free State homecoming activities begin tonight

Homecoming festivities begin tonight at Free State High School with a bonfire and pep rally.

Sandy Unruh of the Free State Booster Club said the fire would be ignited at 7:45 p.m. west of the high school, 4700 Overland Drive.

The homecoming parade will begin at 2:40 p.m. Friday, starting at 15th Street and Wakarusa Drive, and finishing at the high school, Unruh said. A reception for king and queen candidates will follow the parade.

Free State’s new royal couple will be crowned at halftime of Friday night’s football game between Free State and Leavenworth. The game starts at 7 p.m. in Haskell Stadium.

6News Productions: ‘River City’ to explore museum, speech

Tonight through Tuesday, “River City Weekly” will bring you “Discover Your Treasures” from Watkins Community Museum of History and excerpts from a recent Dole Institute of Politics symposium at Kansas University with Brian Lamb, C-SPAN president and chief executive officer.

At Watkins, appraisers serve as sleuths to help solve the mystery behind many precious antiques.

And from KU, Lamb talks about the Internet’s impact on the public’s involvement in politics today.

For clips of Lamb in dialogue with Dole Institute Director Richard Norton Smith, go to www.6Productions.com.

Greg Hurd is the show’s host, and it premieres at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, with encores at 7:30 weeknights and 9 a.m. Saturdays on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.