Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County department heads are proposing changes to how their annual performance evaluations are handled, saying the process has become redundant, unproductive and lacking in meaningful dialogue with commissioners. Planning Director Amanda Webb told commissioners that while staff still want regular engagement and feedback, the current format used in recent years has not produced useful interaction for either side. “We’ve all kind of realized it’s not generating the meaning or being as useful as we’d like it to be,” Webb said. “Repeating what we’ve been telling you throughout the year just isn’t doing what we want it to do.” To…

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of the Junction City water supply system after a water main break early Wednesday morning. The area affected is west of Jackson Street in Junction City, including Geary County Rural Water District #1. The advisory remains in place until further notice. Local officials say information will be updated throughout the day on the KDHE website and on the Geary County Emergency Management social media pages. City public works crews have been on site since around 7 a.m. Customers should observe the following precautions until…

Two Manhattan area women were seriously injured Saturday night after their vehicle struck a deer on I-70 in Shawnee County. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 71-year-old Phyllis Trudell of St. George was driving westbound near Carlson Road around 11:15 p.m. when her car hit a deer and overturned several times. Both Trudell and her passenger, 66-year-old Susan Cherry of Ogden, were taken to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka with serious injuries. Troopers say both women were wearing seatbelts.

Junction City’s vice mayor, Al Gordon was arrested over the weekend on a felony charge of aggravated assault; use of a deadly weapon. Geary County Jail records show Gordon was taken into custody at 2:41 p.m. Saturday. Gordon, who serves on the city commission is set to have his term expire in January 2026. He was elected to the board two years ago. He sought re-election this year but fell short of advancing through the August primary. Online court records show Gordon has a pending misdemeanor charge of domestic battery, stemming from an incident on Jan. 23. A pretrial conference…

Riley County may be on the hook for an extra $100,000 as part of the ongoing remodel of the old EMS station at 2011 Claflin Road. The $2.8 million renovation project will convert the space into the new headquarters for Emergency Management and Riley County Fire District No. 1. Director of public works John Ellerman told the Mercury Thursday that when planning the project, county officials had looked at some site work, such as removing and replacing old concrete and asphalt parking lots. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.

County commissioners approved a resolution Monday that will permit financing a major renovation at the Riley County Transfer Station. On Oct. 23, commissioners approved a contract with NF Construction of Marion, Kansas for the tipping floor and chute repair project, totaling $592,540. The county learned it didn’t have the funding available in its solid waste fund to finance the project. Budget and Finance Officer Brittany Phillips said staff had to determine the legality of financing the project under home rule authority. “We actually had to get the attorney general’s insight on this because this isn’t something we would normally finance,”…

Riley County officials invited the public to review and comment on the latest draft of the county’s comprehensive plan, officially titled “Riley County Together 2040.” The plan will replace the county’s existing Vision 2025 plan, outlining land-use goals, growth priorities and ways to implement those strategies through 2040. County planner Amanda Webb told commissioners Monday the draft plan is available for viewing on the county’s website. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.

C. Clyde Jones, known to many in the community as Mr. Manhattan, died Friday. He was 102. Jones was the first dean of the College of Business at Kansas State University, and then was instrumental in the development of the athletics department. He also was known for his charitable work and civic involvement. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at First United Methodist Church on Poyntz Ave. Visitation and lunch with the family will follow. A private family burial will occur prior to the service. Born in Huntington, West Virginia on Dec. 21, 1922, Jones…

City officials approved demolition of the former Hop & Skip convenience store at the southwest corner of Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Kimball Avenue, and the site could soon house a popular fast food restaurant. A demolition permit appeared on the city of Manhattan’s weekly building receipts detail list on Monday. JRAL Construction is the contractor for the property at 2223 Tuttle Creek Blvd. The property owner is listed 2223 Tuttle Creek LLC, Fadi Bedros, 4104 Berkshire Circle, Manhattan. According to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes, the Manhattan Fire Department reviewed building plans for a new McDonald’s at that location. In…

Riley County officials will soon consider new regulations on short-term rentals in unincorporated areas, which they hope will address community concerns and improve oversight of properties listed on platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO. The proposed amendments include a 500-foot separation distance between units, requiring properties be current on all property taxes and county fees and requiring the property’s responsible agent respond in person within one hour of any complaint or emergency. Riley County Public Information Officer Vivienne Leyva said it’s something the county has been working on for several months. “It seems like folks are still trying to figure…