Oskaloosa fire damages county work garage

Oskaloosa — A Tuesday-morning fire, possibly caused by lightning, heavily damaged Jefferson County’s maintenance garage and destroyed two trucks as well as office records, an emergency official said.

Firefighters from Oskaloosa, McLouth, Ozawkie and Fairview Township responded to the blaze when it was reported shortly before 7 a.m., Jefferson County Emergency Management Director Don Haynes said.

A county employee reporting for work discovered the fire at the garage, which is on the east edge of Oskaloosa at 15049 94th St.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but lightning is a possibility, Haynes said. The Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

A damage estimate wasn’t available, but Haynes said about a third of the building was heavily damaged. No one was injured.

Federal charges filed in Lawrence shooting

Kansas City, Kan. — A Kansas City, Mo., man was charged in U.S. District Court with assisting in an attempt to kill a federal witness in Lawrence.

Mark Manuel McGee, 22, whose street name was “Smooth,” appeared in court Monday on a complaint accusing him of aiding and abetting an attempt to kill a woman who was a witness in a drug case.

On April 29, the woman witness was shot while in her car at a stop sign at Seventh and Locust streets in North Lawrence. Her car also was struck head-on by another car.

The witness cooperated with Lawrence Police and the Douglas County Drug Enforcement Unit in an investigation that led to a four-count indictment against Andre Lamar Ivory, for distributing crack cocaine.

In court papers, a Lawrence detective recounted details of a series of recorded conversations prior to the shooting in which Ivory and his associates talked about identifying the person responsible for Ivory being arrested.

Sheriff’s Office seeks help finding fugitive

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday asked for the public’s help finding a man wanted for failing to appear in court on charges including battery and illegally possessing a gun.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Matthew J. Thomas, 21, is wanted for failing to appear on charges of battery, making a criminal threat, interference with duties of police, and possessing a firearm. He’s also wanted by federal authorities for a weapons violation.

Call Crime Stoppers at 843-TIPS.