Bowling alley owner jailed on arson charge

Friday, June 13, 2008

OBERLIN -- The Oberlin man accused of burning his bowling alley and lounge three years ago waits in Decatur County jail for a preliminary hearing Monday morning.

Decatur County Sheriff Ken Badsky and Deputy Jay Tate arrested Ken Morgan of Oberlin June 6, on two charges of arson. Judge John Bremer set Morgan's bond at $100,000.

Morgan owned the two establishment with Maurice Zodrow.

The Oberlin Herald reported in 2005 that Undersheriff Randy McHugh started the investigation of the Memorial Day weekend fire and turned it over to Kansas state fire marshal Melvin Dale of Garden City. After a nine-hour investigation, Dale declared the fire an arson.

In 2006, Morgan and Zodrow sued Heritage Managing Agency Ltd., an underwriter of Lloyd's of London, for the $300,000 insurance policy on the building.

The Herald reports that court records indicate that the insurance carrier's defense (for inaction on the payment) was that the owner(s) set or had someone set the fire. In 2007, the lawsuit was settled out of court and dismissed.

Although the settlement was never disclosed, Zodrow said it was not enough to rebuild.

Damages were estimated at $750,000.

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