GRANDVIEW PLAZA — A lightning strike during severe thunderstorms Saturday evening sparked a fire at a 36-unit building at Geary Estates Apartments, displacing residents and prompting a multi-agency response. Grandview Plaza police and fire crews arrived at the apartment complex shortly before 6 p.m. after lightning struck the center portion of the building, Grandview Plaza police chief Korie Martin told The Mercury. Geary Estates Apartments is at 1215 Cannon View Lane in Grandview Plaza, near Fort Riley. The fire occurred as severe thunderstorms moved through the Junction City and Grandview Plaza area. The National Weather Service had issued severe thunderstorm…
Author: Arturo Mauricio-Gonzalez
WESTMORELAND — County planning officials on Thursday said they plan to make additional changes to proposed regulations for large-scale data centers after reviewing public comments from a recent hearing. Planning commissioners said they appreciated the detailed feedback from residents, particularly suggestions addressing decommissioning, site restoration, financial assurances, stormwater management, water use and annual compliance reporting. Chairman Judd McCormack said there were things in the comments that hadn’t been considered. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
The Riley County board of health unanimously approved several agreements for local programs Tuesday, including a childcare licensing contract that provides more than twice the funding initially anticipated. Brittany Phillips, budget and finance officer, said the county had budgeted about $50,000 for the childcare licensing agreement, but will now provide about $112,000 under the new contract. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Riley County 4-H judging teams brought home two state championships and a reserve championship from the Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes last month, marking the county’s first appearance on three statewide traveling trophies. Nine Riley County 4-H members competed Aug. 22-23 at K-State in livestock judging, meat judging, a livestock skillathon and quiz bowl. The competitors won state championships in livestock judging and the quiz bowl and finished as reserve champions in the skillathon. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Countywide sales tax collections were 8% higher in August than the same month last year, Riley County treasurer Shiloh Hager told commissioners on Monday, although collections were down 9% from July. Riley County ended August with total assets of $79.07 million. Investment income through August totaled $2.19 million, representing 78% of the $2.8 million budgeted for the year. Hager said the county was earning 4% on its checking account, while the highest certificate of deposit rate received in August was 4%. The county also reported $40,040 in interest income from its ARPA account to date. To view the full article…
The Riley County Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding between Riley County and Wichita State University to provide internship opportunities for emergency medical students with Riley County emergency services. Students would complete a background check and county orientation before beginning an internship. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Riley County commissioners fine-tuned the pay and expectations for the new county administrator position during their Thursday meeting. The administrator will report to the county commission and oversee more than a dozen departments, including emergency services, health, finance, the county appraiser, county counselor and human resources. Human resources director Elizabeth Ward presented information on the proposals. The commission discussed potential benefits Aug. 20 and directed staff to explore the costs and potential options. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Pawnee Mental Health Services is turning attention to two significant behavioral health concerns in Riley County: suicide and substance use. During the Riley County Commission meeting on Monday, Pawnee Mental Health CEO Mike Rezkalla cited Kansas Department of Health and Environment data showing 7,126 suicide deaths statewide between 2011 and 2024. Riley County accounted for 113 of those deaths during the same period. The Riley County figure represents 1.6% of all suicide deaths recorded in Kansas during those 14 years. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Riley County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a request to exchange more than $323,000 in federal transportation funds for state dollars that will be used for future transportation projects. The Kansas Department of Transportation is making $323,157 available to Riley County for the 2026 federal fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. John Ellermann, Riley County public works director and county engineer, presented the request to commissioners. “The exchange of federal dollars for state dollars, it gives us a little bit more freedom to do projects the way we want to do them without a…
The Riley County board of canvassers unanimously certified the official results of the 2026 primary election Thursday after reviewing provisional ballots and election results from polling locations across the county. Residents case a total of 12,513 ballots. Riley County clerk Rich Vargo presented the 2026 primary election canvass report to the board, including the total number of ballots cast at each polling location. Clerk’s office staff members also reviewed provisional ballots and recommended which should be accepted, partially counted or rejected. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.