Kiowa County Courthouse moved

TOPEKA—Due to extensive tornado damage to the Kiowa County Courthouse in Greensburg, district court operations have been relocated to Mullinville, a community approximately 10 miles west on Highway 400, under an order entered this morning by Chief Justice Kay McFarland.

The first proceeding in the relocated court is scheduled for 3 p.m. today when five persons being held for burglary and theft arising from looting following the tornado are to make their first court appearance. Appearing before District Judge Daniel Love, chief judge of the 16th Judicial District, which includes Kiowa County, are: James W. Sweene, Jacob B. Kilgore, Joseph G. Novak, Spencer T. Basoco, and Joel A. Dominguez, all being held in the Pratt County Jail.

The court’s new location is 102 W. Highway 400, which is adjacent to the Mullinville branch of the Haviland State Bank. The district court will be located there until the Kiowa County Courthouse is “sufficiently repaired and suitable for the return of court business,” the Supreme Court order states.

Court officials, including Chief Judge Love, Chief Clerk of the Court DeLanna Nichols and Debra Schmidt, clerk of Kiowa County District Court; salvaged court equipment and moved court records and supplies to Mullinville Monday and Tuesday.

Chief Justice McFarland Wednesday morning expressed her appreciation on behalf the Court and the 16th Judicial District for the assistance of Haviland State Bank staff, students from Greensburg High School, electricians, carpenters and others who helped relocate the court.