Maize

Last Friday, the CW Crew headed to Maize to check out Maize South High School's Relay for Life. Check out our video!

The city of Maize is notified that their insurance rating has improved. The protection class is now at a level 3 after an evaluation from the Insurance Services Office. Previously it was at a level 4. The improvement is being credited to the relocation of Sedgwick County Fire Station 33 as well as the improvements to the water distribution system in the city. The class change mostly affects commercial and industry property but some residential insurance premiums may be affected.

A single call to 911 can have several possible locations.  It's a problem first responders want to fix in one Wichita suburb. "Right now this is Central and Maize," said Officer Branden Stitt, pointing at a street sign on a corner in the City of Maize.  "And, six miles, five and a half miles, south of here there's an exact sign that says Central and Maize. " The City of Maize is worried growing pains could pose a danger to its residents.  The problem? A few house numbers and a street name are in both Maize and Wichita.

A 15-year-old Maize student is in trouble with thelaw after posting a threat through Twitter Monday afternoon. Police say the boy threatened to carry out an attack similar to the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut last week. The boy said it wasn't an actual threat and police say the boy didn't have the means to carry out such an attack, but they take all threats seriously. The boy was arrested for disorderly conduct and terroristic threats. Police say the case is in the hands of Juvenile Court.

Fire investigators say a man's car was likely on fire when it hit a home Friday morning between Bentley and Maize. Emergency crews say the driver began losing control of the vehicle about a half mile away from the crash site and may have been unaware of a fire in one of the wheel wells. Map - Location of Crash Officials on the scene say the driver suffered serious burns. The man who was in the house at the time, Carl Donham, called 911. "I thought my house was going to burn down," he said.

Mike Gast knew that a fire station closer to Maize, would mean a few changes. "You hear sirens more often, but you know, they're closer to help if you need it, so that's good. " But the one thing that he hoped would change, that hasn't, is his home insurance. "I had to inquire on it and I need to check on it again because I don't know if it has lowered it or not. " That is, until now. After three years at it's new location, Sedgwick County Fire Station 33 has lowered Maize's fire protection rating by one point.

A Maize man beat out thousands of entries to win a national contest. It was sponsored by Toyota and Nascar. Not only did Jeff Hallowell get the spot-light on national television, but he also shed light on a disease that affects millions. What started out as a fun project between father and son turned into fifteen minutes of fame. Jeff Hallowell and his 8-year-old son were on National TV Sunday. They were presented with an actual race car with the logo they designed. The car was featured in the parade lap before Nascar's nationwide series race in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Maize Police Department warns car owners about a rash of auto burglaries. Since New Year's Eve, officials have had reports of approximately 18 car break-ins. Missing items include phones, CDs, and portable electronics. In some cases thieves rummaged through unlocked cars and left without stealing anything. Investigators say the crooks are targeting cars parked on the street and in home driveways. Officials think many of the cases are connected. Police remind you to lock car doors, keep windows rolled up, and keep valuables out of plain sight.

Parents in the Maize school district who protested their student's assigned schools, will be able to send their child to the school of their choice. It's an update to a story Eyewitness News brought you last month. There are no geographical school boundaries in the growing school district. About 85-percent of the students in the district live outside the city limits. Most of them live closer to the new Maize south high school.  Parents told Eyewitness News the district needs a better plan for the future.

The five firework stands in the City of Maize are being guarded by police officers this week.  Maize Police Lieutenant Craig Brasser says the officers are guarding the stands in an effort to protect them from vandalism. "I think it makes them think twice before coming to a tent with police cars and police officers inside," says Krehbiel Wholesale Fireworks tent operator Dana Handy. Brasser says this is a proactive move to prevent crime from occurring, especially after the recent armed robberies of fireworks stands in Derby and Goddard.

It's the last day of school for students in the Maize District.   In addition to the usual fun and class parties, students made time for a final life lesson. One by one students in Christine Newman's class walked up to a jar and deposited coins and dollar bills to help victims of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado. Maize Central 5th grader Dakota Schell recognized it could have easily been her school hit by a massive tornado. "If it was us, we would all want somebody to be there for us. So it's nice to give back to them," she said.

A Maize teacher is under arrest. The teacher was booked on two counts of criminal threats. According to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office, the James Stiverson made threats against a school administrator during a Maize High School soccer game. In a letter sent home to parents, principal Chris Botts said the employee was arrested after making disturbing comments to another staff member about violence towards the school. Botts also said appropriate disciplinary action was taken.

A single call to 911 can have several possible locations.  It's a problem first responders want to fix in one Wichita suburb. "Right now this is Central and Maize," said Officer Branden Stitt, pointing at a street sign on a corner in the City of Maize.  "And, six miles, five and a half miles, south of here there's an exact sign that says Central and Maize. " The City of Maize is worried growing pains could pose a danger to its residents.  The problem? A few house numbers and a street name are in both Maize and Wichita.

The Maize school district will reverse course on the issue of random drug testing next fall. Students who take part in sports and other extra curricular activities will no longer be required to submit to random testing. Maize High senior Lucas Schauer's routine was brifely interrupted Tuesday.  He was called into the office to give a urine sample. "I just went in and gave them my sample and then went back to class," he said. Schauer tells Eyewitness News he's never had a problem with the district's policy.  He thinks staying drug-free is part of the privilege of participating in school activities.  But Schauer knows many of his peers found the testing too invasive.

Firefighters are on the scene of a house fire in NW Wichita.  Crews were called to the 1400 block of Fieldcrest, which is near 13th & Maize Road. When fire crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and fire coming from the home. They went to work - fighting the fire inside the house. One firefighter fell through the burning floor, but got caught on a floor joist and didn't fall all the way through to the basement. That firefighter was checked out at the scene.  He was not hurt and went back to work fighting the fire.

Parents in the Maize school district who protested their student's assigned schools, will be able to send their child to the school of their choice. It's an update to a story Eyewitness News brought you last month. There are no geographical school boundaries in the growing school district. About 85-percent of the students in the district live outside the city limits. Most of them live closer to the new Maize south high school.  Parents told Eyewitness News the district needs a better plan for the future.

Eyewitness News has received calls, e-mails, and Facebook messages from a group of Maize parents wanting to be heard. They say the school district's preference system isn't fair. Now they're pushing for change. “The goal of this is to draw boundaries,” says Maize parent Amy Allen.  Her 8th grade boy wanted to go to Maize South, but was denied. Maize, a fast growing district that just four years ago had only one high school, now has two. There's the original Maize High, a larger 6A school.  There's also Maize South, a smaller 5A. Maize South was built just four years ago. There are no boundaries.  Instead, the district has a preference system which allows parents and students to choose.  But as the district grows, that preference isn't always granted.

The Maize school district prepares to ask the community about the needs of its schools, and a possible bond issue. Over the past year-and-a-half the Maize district had planning groups look at possible improvements. The final results include $74.9 million worth of improvements and expansions in five areas. Some of the biggest possible improvements come at the middle school level. The planning committee proposed building a new middle school and renovating the current Maize Middle School at 45th and Maize.

The Maize Police Department warns car owners about a rash of auto burglaries. Since New Year's Eve, officials have had reports of approximately 18 car break-ins. Missing items include phones, CDs, and portable electronics. In some cases thieves rummaged through unlocked cars and left without stealing anything. Investigators say the crooks are targeting cars parked on the street and in home driveways. Officials think many of the cases are connected. Police remind you to lock car doors, keep windows rolled up, and keep valuables out of plain sight.

A crash early Thursday afternoon kills a three-year-old boy and sends an infant to a Wichita hospital in critical condition.  The boy's child safety seat was thrown from the minivan on impact. The crash between a minivan and tanker happened around 12:30 at 119th Street West at 53rd Street North in Maize.  When authorities arrived, they found the driver of the minivan with the infant in her arms.  Although they believe the girl was in a car seat at the time of the crash. The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office says the driver of a minivan ran a red light and collided with a tanker truck.