The area is expected to see another winter storm Thursday night into Friday, and some bitterly cold temperatures will follow. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect Thursday evening through noon Friday, while a Wind Chill Watch takes effect Friday night through noon Tuesday. Kansas Mesonet Manager Chip Redmond says the track of storms is mostly uncertain, but he is expecting the storm to follow the same track of the storm earlier this week. Redmond explains the main concern with this system. Temperatures are expected to fall rapidly following the storm, continuing into early next week. Redmond says while the…
Author: Bernie Fancella
Daytime warming centers are available across the community, for those needing relief from extreme cold temperatures. Among them is the Be Able Community Center at 431 South 5th Street. Executive Director Scott Voos says this time of year tends to be one of the busiest times for the organization. The organization came about during another cold spell that hit Manhattan, the Polar Vortex in February 2021. Voos says various safety and emergency services in Manhattan have put together a system for safe shelters when the weather becomes dangerous and they’re happy to provide this service. For those needing further accommodations,…
Manhattan City officials hosted area legislators for a luncheon Friday to discuss some of the key issues the city is prioritizing in 2024 Dark Store Theory The Dark Store Theory is complex, but at it’s root level, is a tactic used by corporations to have their properties assessed as if the store were closed and empty. This would force a building to be taxed based on pure market value of the location instead of the amount of profit generated by the location. Recent Dark Store controversies have involved Walmart in Overland Park. 51st District Representative Kenny Titus (R-Manhattan) says the…
The Manhattan area has seen unusually high temperatures this winter. While that might make the daytime more pleasant, there are some side effects that come from this. Meteorologist Chip Redmond, manager of Kansas Mesonet says December’s weather led to an unusual statistic. Redmond says the higher temperatures have caused the air to hold more moisture. As those temperatures fluctuate, freezing fog is more prevalent. Chances for light snow are possible Friday, with a better chance for accumulating snowfall on Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures are also expected to turn colder next week.
The Manhattan-Ogden School Board unanimously approved a slight change to its Pandemic Response Plan, which is updated twice a year to comply with federal coronavirus funding the district receives. Superintendent Eric Reid says at the beginning of the school year, the district was requiring masks for anyone who self-identified as a close contact of a COVID-positive individual. “That really hasn’t been readily done where people are doing their own contact tracing. It’s hard to enforce. Basically it’s a drop of all mask requirements even on close contacts, so people will have a choice of whether they want to (mask up)…
Riley County Extension Director Gary Fike is requesting the county hire an engineering firm to evaluate the structural viability of Pottorf Hall. The building is used for a wide variety of activities, and gets extensive use during the Riley County Fair. Fike says it has numerous structural issues. The north wall of the building has moisture issues. Over time the floor has developed cracks and has some sinking issues near the east wall, in addition to other deficiencies that could that lead to safety concerns. County Clerk Rich Vargo says public works crews have tried to figure out where some…
The Aggieville Starbucks location could undergo some changes in the near future. The Manhattan Urban Planning Board met last Thursday, and heard a renovation proposal aimed at the drive thru, as explained by Assistant Director of Community Development John Adam. Exterior changes would include a rebuilt sidewalk, the addition of a pergola, or shade structure, over the outdoor seating, moving of the menu board and moving the service window. The latter two items would be done to improve drive thru efficiency, according to a memo submitted by the Manhattan Community Development Department. The pickup window would move forward by a…
State lawmakers met with Riley County officials Thursday to discuss some of the county’s priorities ahead of the next legislative session. Riley County officials favor some kind of legislation that gives counties authority to force landowners to clean up nuisance properties. County Counselor Clancy Holeman presented Senate Bill 162, a mirror of a Sedgwick County bill for assessing liens on properties that a court has determined to be in need of cleanup. 51st District State Representative Kenny Titus gave some feedback on the discussion. 66th District State Representative Syndey Carlin expressed a common sentiment on the laws regarding these properties:…
Junction City and Geary County are at odds over who should pay the EMS bill. In 1967, the two governments agreed that the Junction City Fire Department would handle EMS calls in Geary County, and not just in the city limits. The non-reimbursed costs for the service to the county are split with one-third paid by the city and two-thirds paid by the county. Geary County officials announced in July they no longer wished to continue the agreement at that cost split. A new agreement was discussed but no action could be taken, due to the 2024 budget already having…
The Salvation Army needs bell ringers for the holiday season Salvation Army Bell Ringer Karla Johnson says they need volunteers to ring bells for the red kettles. Johnson says the money donated in Riley County stays in Riley county, and that money is put to very good use locally. One of the more modern issues with the red kettles is that many people only carry plastic. Johnson encourages new volunteers to have fun with bell ringing, as that brings more attention to the causes the Salvation Army supports. Anyone interested in volunteering their time can sign up at RegisterToRing.com. Shifts…