🌱 Soldier Creek Bridge May Be Closed + Oakland Homeless Meeting

Hello, everybody! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your fresh copy of the Topeka Patch newsletter, full of all the things you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and warmer. High: 67 Low: 41.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Topeka:

1. A bridge near the intersection of 70th Street and Valencia Road in north Shawnee County that provides a crossing over Soldier Creek may soon be closed due to concerns about its structural integrity. Anywhere from 50 to 75 cars drive over the bridge every day. County leaders said the bridge needs significant, costly repairs to be deemed safe or Mother Nature will eventually bring it down. (KSNT News)
2. Topeka city councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala has called a public meeting to address concerns about the homeless situation in the Oakland community. Valdivia-Alcala said the meeting will mainly focus on how to deal with one homeless man who trespasses and peeks into windows of houses, as well as at least one other homeless man who has wandered that area for years. Both are said to be currently causing a "crisis" in the community. (Topeka Capital-Journal via Yahoo News)
3. A West Topeka Denny’s restaurant open since 1993 closed for the last time on Sunday. “The lease was up on the property,” Denny’s Regional Manager Bob Micek said. “It wasn’t a sudden decision. The landlord for whatever reason decided not to renew the lease.” Employees were offered the opportunity to transfer to the city's only other Denny's location at 3210 Southwest Topeka Blvd. or to locations in Wichita and Kansas City. (KSNT News)

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Today in Topeka:

• Abandoned Topeka At Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help to locate a man wanted for charges of indecent liberties with a child and rape. If you know the whereabouts of Richard S. Gilliand, please contact Shawnee County Crime Stoppers on the P3 Tips mobile app or call (785) 234-0007. (Shawnee County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• On Monday, Mar. 27, an excavation project will completely close SW Gage Boulevard on the south end of 10th Street for at least 180 days. Work is expected to be done in phases with changing traffic patterns. (WIBW)
• A Topeka-based USPS worker who has been performing as "JR Juggles The Clown" for nearly 40 years is getting his own statewide holiday. Jerry Loney will be honored on May 6 at Redbud Park and then give a performance in character as "JR Ruggles." (NOTO Arts and Entertainment District)

That's it for today! I'll see you back in your inbox soon with a new update.

— 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.