🌱 Menninger Clock Tower Up For Renovations + Topeka Road Rage Crash

Good morning, everybody! I'm back with your fresh copy of the Topeka Patch newsletter. Follow along to find out the most important things happening these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

Windy with plenty of sunshine. High: 67 Low: 37.

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Here are the top three stories today in Topeka:

1. Sunflower Development Group (SDG) plans to convert Topeka's Menninger Clock Tower into 65 units of affordable senior housing. SDG, which has twice turned old schools into affordable senior housing complexes, was recently awarded a $637,500 grant by the state of Kansas. The company hopes to close the purchase of the property within 45 days and begin work later this year after receiving the tax credits it is seeking from the Kansas Housing Resources Corp. (The Topeka Capital-Journal)
2. Kaleb C. Roberts, a 27-year-old man from Topeka, was arrested after a domestic battery incident in Central Topeka. He was found inside a stolen vehicle near SW 97th and Topeka Blvd and was charged with aggravated battery, theft of a motor vehicle, and aggravated endangering a child. Roberts is being held on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4. (WIBW 13 News)
3. The Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office announced that it will not file criminal charges in the case of a Topeka man who died from injuries sustained in a road rage incident earlier this year. Gregorio Castillo, 68, passed away due to injuries sustained in a Feb. 15 road rage incident. However, after reviewing the case, the DA's office found insufficient evidence to file charges against the other person involved in the fight. (KSNT News)

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Today in Topeka:

• May Day Cookies At Dialogue Coffee House (8:00 AM)
• Building Readers: Baby Bookworms At Shawnee County Library (9:30 AM)

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From my notebook:

• New homes are for sale in Topeka and the surrounding area, catering to those who are looking for a new home or are just interested in other properties nearby. They range from a listing priced at $4,500 to a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house priced at $335,000. (Patch)
• Safe Kids Kansas is hosting its annual Safe Kids Day at the Topeka Zoo to promote safety on May 6. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about different ways to keep their families safe and participate in a safety scavenger hunt. The first 500 kids will receive a superhero cape and there will also be free bike helmets that can be fitted for children. (Topeka Zoo via Facebook)
• Studio 62 in Topeka is offering a family fun-filled painting event this weekend on May 6. An artist will be available to help participants choose a painting to recreate or provide materials for a new idea. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. (785 Design)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.