On Wednesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President Jason Smith. We also spoke with Deb Watkins with the Animal Shelter to preview the adoption event on Friday.
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA — A Kansas woman has been charged with embezzling from the U.S. Postal Service while she was an employee. The U.S. attorney’s office announced the charge against 37-year-old Kimberly Kirchner, of Atlanta, Kansas, on Tuesday in a news release. The crime is alleged to have occurred this year and last year in Cowley County. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
DODGE CITY — Authorities say a western Kansas police officer was not using lights and sirens when he crashed his patrol vehicle into a car while responding to an emergency call and killed the driver. The Wichita Eagle reports Cpl. Shane Harris was responding to a break-in call Saturday morning when 26-year-old Vanessa Guzman drove into the path of the patrol vehicle in Dodge City. The resulting collision rolled her car over a guardrail. She was ejected as the car rolled and died of her injuries. Harris was treated for a minor injury.
Officers responded to the report of shots fired in the Southwest part of Manhattan on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at approximately 1:50 AM. A 28-year-old man is being treated at Via Christi for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The suspect is known to the victim. There is no threat to the public. This is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information, please contact the Riley County Police Department at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward up to $1,000.00.
The K-State Alumni Association will soon begin a nearly year-long effort in partnership with publishing firm Publishing Concepts to update their alumni directory. The project will begin in February and will involve Publishing concepts reaching out to K-State alumni to collect updated career, contact and education information. According to the Alumni Association, this information update will help the university in creating job placement guides for current and former students. It also helps with national-ranking placements and staying in contact with alumni. K-State last released an Alumni Association Directory in 2015. The upcoming effort to update alumni data is expected to be completed in…
A crowd of about 20 people gathered at the Union Pacific Depot in downtown Manhattan Tuesday to watch as SAVE Farm Chief Executive Officer Craig Bowser officially announced his candidacy for the Kansas State Senate. Bowser will be running as a Republican to represent the Manhattan-area 22nd district, which is currently represented by Democratic Senator Tom Hawk. Here is Bowser on why he chose this location for his announcement. During his announcement, Bowser, who was joined at the podium by his wife, Erin, and son, Gavin, emphasized agriculture as one of the pillars of his campaign. He also talked about…
Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility construction-bid decision delayed The Pottawatomie County Commission has decided to delay accepting a bid for the construction of the Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility for at least another week. The county received a bid that came in about $300,000 beneath the projected cost of the project, allowing for building enhancements that were originally taken out of the budget. Public Works Director Peter Clark says the low bid creates room in the budget for these enhancements, but there are some architecture and engineering costs that could take the project slightly over budget. Commissioner Pat Weixelman decided not to vote, saying he wants…
Riley County Police Department’s K9 is receiving a body armor donation from a national charitable organization. Monster, the RCPD K9, will receive a bullet and stab protective vest from non-profit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Monster’s vest is sponsored by a fundraiser hosted by Beth Frank of Alaska K9 Center, North Pole and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Alaska K9 Center”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks. Corporal Jared Hayes, who has been Monster’s partner since 2017, says “being a K9 handler is like a marriage when the canine is…
DODGE CITY, Kan. — A winter storm has coated roads and closed schools in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Tuesday for several counties along the western border between the two states, where it predicted up to 7 inches of snowfall. The National Weather Service warned of a “hazardous commute” in a tweet. In Kansas, transportation officials say many roads in the western part of the state are partially or completely covered. In Oklahoma, transportation officials said blowing snow was causing “severe driving conditions” in three Panhandle counties.
RUSSELL, Kan. — A woman who was stopped in Kansas with 21 pounds of methamphetamine has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison. The U.S. attorney’s office says 30-year-old Maria Alonso-Espinoza, who is from Mexico, was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Her brother was driving her car last February when the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped them near Russell. Troopers found the meth hidden in the driver’s side rear quarter panel. Prosecutors say Alonso-Espinoza was taking the methamphetamine from Colorado to Wichita for distribution.